Rainwater conservation and yield of sorghum (Sorghum biclor) as influenced by tillage and cover management practices in red soils

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during kharifof 2002 to 2003 at 2% slope in red soils at Datia, Madhya Pradesh to evolve a suitable tillage and surface mulching practice for higher rainwater conservation for aug- menting the crop growth and yield of sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Monech.] under rainfed conditions. Nine treatment combinations [T,, zero tillage (no crop); T,, T, + sorghum; T,, T , in situ surface mulching; T,, traditional + tillage (no crop); T,, T , sorghum; T,, T , in situ surface mulching; T,, improved tillage (no crop); T,, T , sor- + + + ghum and T,, T , in situ surface mulching] were evaluated under randomized block design with 3 replications. + Maximum infiltration rate (5.6 cmlhr), pore space (47.9%), water holding capacity (37.1 cm of 0-30 cm soil layer) and water stable aggregates (48.1 1 and 49.92 of 0-15 and 15-30 cm soil layer, respectively) and lowest bulk density (1.38 Mg/m3) were recorded under improved tillage + sorghum + in situ surface mulching (T,). Bulk den- sity was maximum (1.54 Mg/m3) under zero tillage (T,). Owing to higher rainwater conservation (78.9% mean of 2 years) growth, yield attributes and yield of sorghum increased significantly under increasing tillage depths and in situ surface mulching. Thus highest grain (3.31 tlha) and stover (9.98 tlha) yield and moisture use efficiency (7.84 kglha-mm) were recorded under T,. The results indicated that improved tillage coupled with in situ surface mulch- ing of sunnhemp was helpful for higher rain water conservation and increasing the yield of sorghum under rainfed conditions in red soils under semi - arid conditions of Madhya Pradesh.