Effect of rain water conservation practices on soil moisture status in rainfed Bt. Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)

Abstract

Field trials were conducted during kharif 2018 at Agronomy Research farm, Department of Agronomy, VNMKV, Parbhani. To study the Effect of Rain Water Conservation Practices on soil Moisture Status of Rainfed Bt. Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L). The experiment was laid out in randomized block design, replicated thrice with seven treatments. Treatments were T1 - Opening furrow (Every row) 30 DAS, T2 - Opening furrow (Alternate row) 30 DAS, T3 - Straw mulching 30 DAS, T4 - Application of herbicide (Pyrithiobac sodium PE + POE), T5 - Application of Superabsorbent @ 5 kg ha-1, T6 - Intercropping (Cotton + soybean (1:2)), T7 - Recommended practices (Control). The study shows that the rain water conservation practices like treatment (T1) Opening furrow (Every row) 30 DAS recorded the higher mean moisture content at 15, 30 and 45 cm depth at all growth stages of crop and water productivity (Kg m3) and rain water use efficiency (Kg ha-1 mm-1) over the other treatment followed by treatment (T3) straw mulching and treatment (T2) Opening furrow in (Alternate row) 30 DAS.