Studies on Soil-Water Behaviour and Crop Production under Rainfed Conditions

Retention and transmission of water in an alluvial sandy loam soil were studied. The soil had low water retention characteristics (24.2 to 4.8% at tensions of 0.1 to 15 atmospheres), slow infiltration rate (1 cm/h) and moderately slow permeability (0.9 cm/h). Under rainfed condition, the amount of water left after the harvest of kharif (monsoon) crops was insufficient to raise rabi (winter) crops, which could be cultivated only after kharif fallow. Total amount of available water in rabi after kharif fallow varied from 111.6 to 203.5 mm. Among the rabi crops, barley, mustard and safflower could use this available soil water more efficiently. Application of fertilizer N up to 60 kg/ha raised the yield and water use efficiency of barley. Use of different types of mulches after sowing of barley to control evaporation losses from the bare soil between the rows did not increase the grain yield and water use efficiency.