Influence of in-situ soil and water conservation measures on energy efficiency and productivity of jowar crop in rainfed agriculture

A field experiment was conducted during the Kharif season of 2014-15 at Agro- Ecology and Environment Centre, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola to study runoff, soil and nutrient loss, growth and yield of crop and to estimate the in situ soil and moisture conservation. Total seven treatments were used to study the impact of in-situ soil and water conservation measures on runoff, soil and nutrient losses, energy efficiency and B:C ratio. Biometric observations such as plant height (cm) and cob length (cm) were favorably influenced in treatment T7 followed by treatment T6, T5, T4, T3, T2 and T1. Highest plant height 159.6 cm and cob length 32.9 cm was found in treatment T7. Productivity of Jowar was favorably influenced by treatment T7. Highest grain yield 17.05 q/ha was recorded in treatment T7 followed by treatment T6,T5,T4,T3,T2 and T1. Water use efficiency was more dominant in treatment T7 i.e.6.78 kg/ha/ mm followed by 6.23 (T6), 5.99 (T5), 5.86 (T4), 5.62(T3) and 5.44(T2),and 4.96 in treatment T1. Higher B:C ratio (1.61) and Energy efficiency (14.36) was observed in treatment T7. Data regarding soil moisture content at various depth viz.,15 cm,30 cm,45 cm, and 60 cm shows that highest moisture content at all depth was found in treatment T7.