Sustainable Dryland Technologies for Improving Productivity and Livelihood Security in Alfisols of Karnataka

Operational Research Project on dryland agriculture with its main focus on participatory technology demonstration functioned at Alanatha cluster of villages from 2010 to 2014. Based on the PRA and benchmark survey, technical interventions have been taken up under different themes. Opening of moisture conservation furrow between paired rows of pigeonpea in finger millet + pigeonpea (8: 2) and groundnut + pigeonpea (8: 2) intercropping systems recorded higher finger millet grain equivalent yield (3156 kg/ha) and groundnut equivalent (1007 kg/ha) yield with higher net returns( 37390 and 18842/ha, respectively) and higher values of sustainable yield index (0.56 and 0.30, respectively). Introduction of pigeonpea + field bean (1: 1) intercropping system resulted in higher pigeonpea equivalent yield (1173 kg/ha), sustainable yield index value (0.43) and net returns ( 32415/ha) compared to sole crop of pigeonpea (1093 kg/ha), field bean (461 kg/ha). Improved medium duration finger millet variety GPU-66 produced higher grain yield (2722 kg/ha) and net returns ( 25542/ha) followed by variety ML-365. Improved pigeonpea variety TTB 7 produced higher seed yield (879 kg/ha). Application of organic and inorganic fertilizers along with micronutrients gave maximum net returns ( 36504/ha), sustainable yield index value (0.72) and higher yield (2899 kg/ha) compared to farmers’ practice. Pre-emergent application of alachlor @ 2.5 lt/ha along with one hand weeding recorded lower weed menace and higher groundnut pod yield (499 kg/ha).