Devaraja, K.VINOD, B. N.2023-01-112023-01-112020-11-05Th-12692https://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810191796The study was conducted at All India Coordinated Research Project for Dry Land Agriculture, UAS, GKVK, Bangalore to study the runoff and soil loss under different soil conservation practices with pigeon pea crop and the treatments consists of organic mulching (T1), sub-soiler (T2), staggered trenches (T3) and control (T4). The results clearly indicated that total runoff (1283.33 m3 ha-1) and soil loss (2559.91 kg ha-1) was lower in T1, (44.9 per cent and 38.4 per cent over the control). The nutrient losses (N:16.16 kg ha-1; P:4.56 kg ha-1; K:5.83 kg ha-1) were lower in organic mulching treatment over other conservation practices. Soil physical properties such as bulk density, particle density were lower and higher water holding capacity was observed in sub-soiler treatment. Similarly, higher soil moisture was recorded in organic mulching treatment at different intervals of the crop stage and at different depths which was 41.18 per cent higher than the control. Due to better moisture conservation with organic mulching treatment, better plant growth (193.02 cm height at harvest), crop yield (2086 kg ha-1), net returns (Rs. 69104 ha-1) and B:C ratio (3.29) were documented compared to other treatments. Overall, it can be concluded that in pigeon pea cropping system, organic mulching was found to be efficient in reducing both runoff and soil loss resulting in higher crop productivity and profitability.EnglishThesis