Effect of vegetative barriers on resource conservation and productivity of sunflower (Helianthus annus L.) in Inceptisols of Maharashtra

摘要

A study under dryland condition was conducted for five years at Zonal Agricultural Research Station, Solapur to assess the feasibility of various types of vegetative barriers as interbund management for controlling runoff, soil loss and augmenting theproductivity of sunflower. Vegetative barriers of Cenchrus ciliaris, Dichanthium annulatum and Leucaena leucocephala were established during 1998-99 at 21 m horizontal interval as an interbund measures. The results showed that vegetative barrier of Cenchrus ciliaris recorded the minimum runoff of 17.60 mm and soil loss of 0.361 ha~(-1) with higher grain yield of sunflower (8.67 q ha~(-1)) followed by Dichanthium annulatum and Leucaena leucocephala. Soil moisture was higher under vegetative barrier treatments (123 mm) as compared to control (89 mm). Among the various vegetative barriers, Cenchrus ciliaris conserved slightly higher moisture than other vegetative barriers.