Introduction
A watershed is defined as any spatial area from which rain or irrigation water is collected and drained through a common point. The watershed framework provides a logical unit for the integration of the sustainable use of land and water. It helps augment soil and groundwater resources. It also enjoins the biophysical, social and economic inputs, which if optimally managed, lead to diversified high agricultural production, control of environmental degradation and provide a mechanism for the recharge of groundwater aquifers.
Watershed thus ensure water adequacy to crops and reduce the risks of yield loss due to water related stresses. In watershed area only 20-30% retain in the soil and remaining waste as evaporation or as run off. The main aim is to manage the land and water resources for sustained production. Therefore, it is important to conserve water in situ and made available to the crops. To use available water efficiently in watershed area crop planning should be according to soil type and depth for irrigating the crop and using available water efficiently. If there is limited irrigation the water should be applied at the critical stage of crop.
|
S. |
Soil Type |
Soil Depth (cm) |
Crops to be taken |
|
1. |
Very shallow |
Less than 7.5 |
Grasses, Agro forestry, and rainfed fruit trees |
|
2. |
Shallow |
7.5-22.5 |
Grasses, horse gram(hulga),kidney bean(matki),castor(erandi),agroforestry,rainfed fruit trees |
|
3. |
Medium deep |
22.5-45 |
Contour and continuos strips sowing bajra, jowar, sunflower, red gram (tur), castor (erandi), groundnut, black gram (udid), green gram (mung), bajra + tur or sunflower + tur (2:1 inter cropping), under irrigation – wheat, gram, sunflower and vegetables etc. |
|
4. |
Medium deep |
45-60 |
Kharif jowar, red gram (tur), cotton, groundnut, black gram(udid),rabi jowar,gram, safflower .sunflower,under irrigation- wheat, gram, sunflower, summer ground nut, vegetable etc. |
|
5. |
Deep |
More than 60 |
All kharif crops, crop rotation, under irrigation – wheat, gram, sunflower, summer groundnut, vegetable etc. |
Ag.
Technologies
(Agricultural
Engineering)
