An experiment was conducted on the farmers’ field in Adesipada village of Khajuripada block of Kandhamal district of Orissa under NAIP, Component-3. As Kandhamal district was affected mostly by heavy rainfall during rain season, the crop lands were mostly damaged by the heavy rain and top fertile soil was eroded, so the poor tribal farmers they face a heavy loss. So this trial was construction of works was conducted during the year 2009-2010 in Khajuripada cluster with following objectives: 1) To increase farm production through suitable soil and water conservation measures; 2) To monitor the soil loss. The treatments are: 1) V-ditch at 10 m HI; 2) Miniature bund at 10 m HI; 3) Control. It is observed that the 15% of area was lost due to soil erosion in control. So V-ditch at 10 m H.I. should be recommended for North Eastern Ghat Zone of Orissa for production of maize. It conserved 40% higher soil loss compare to bunding and higher B.C. ratio of 1:25 compared to other treatment. It has also got the highest green cob yield of 115.5 q/ha compared to other treatments.

INTRODUCTION

In India, over 60% arable lands are rainfed which support 40% of Indian population and contribute nearly 44% of total food production. These areas contribute to production of major proportion of nutritious (coarse) cereals (87.5%), pulses (87.5%), oilseeds (77%), rice (48%) and cotton (65.7%). In addition, a large population of India’s cattle wealth thrives in the rainfed region. With a view to maximizing the crop productivity in these areas, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi launched the NAIP projects. This project is under Component-3, operating under OUAT in three districts viz. Kandhamal, Dhenkanal and Kalahandi. As Kandhamal district was affected mostly by heavy rainfall during rainy season, the crop lands were mostly damaged by the heavy rain and top fertile soil was eroded, so the poor tribal farmers they face a heavy loss. So these trials and construction of works were conducted during the year 2009-2010 in Khajuripada cluster. Many authors they define the effect of contour bund to check soil erosion. Subudhi et al. [1] and Samra [2] reported that renovation of terrace and plantation of fruit plants, timber plants improved biomass production, net returns, growth of crop, productivity, reduction of runoff in the range of 1.5-10.8 times, peak flow rate by 20 times and soil loss in the range of 1.2 to 5.2 times, as well as water table rise. Subudhi et al. [3] have reported that effect of vegetative barrier like Vetiver has increased the rice yield, decrease the soil loss and decrease the runoff compared to farmers practice. Arora and Gupta [4] reported that there is a growing need for rain water management since 96 m ha out of 142 m ha of net cultivated land of the country is rainfed. Scientific use of these resources will definitely increase the productivity and conservation of resources like soil and water. Kumar [5] reported that impact of different soil& water conservation techniques viz. contour bunding, terracing, land leveling, smoothening and gully plugging, sowing across the slope, vegetative barrier, increase the Kharif crops by 25-30% [6]. Establishment of vegetative barrier with mechanical measures were more effective in controlling soil erosion(3.8 t ha^-1) over conventional method (9.64 t ha^-1) and run-off thereby making more moisture available for crop growth [7,8].

OBJECTIVE

1.       To increase farm production through suitable soil and water conservation measures.

2.       To monitor the soil loss.

TREATMENTS

T1. V-ditch at 10 m HI

T2. Miniature bund at 10 m HI

T3. Control

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

It is observed from Table 1 that the 15% of area was lost due to soil erosion in control. So V-ditch at 10 m H.I. Figures 1 and 2 should be recommended for North Eastern Ghat Zone of Orissa for production of maize. It conserved 40% higher soil loss compare to bunding and higher B.C. ratio of 1:25 compared to other treatment. It has also got the highest green cob yield of 115.5 q/ha compared to other treatments.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Er Subudhi CR, Associate scientist acknowledges the help of Vice Chancellor, Dean of Research, OUAT, Bhubaneswar; Dr. Behera B, CPI, Comp-3; Dr. Panigrahi B, Head Department of SWCE, for both financial and guidance to carry out the research work. He acknowledges the help of all the scientists and staff of AICRPDA, Phulbani for carryout the project successfully. He acknowledges the help of SCO, Phulbani and their staffs who helped in construction of farm ponds in Kandhamal district. He also acknowledges the help of others who helped in this project. Lastly he thanks to Dr. Mishra PK, AICRPDA, Hyderabad, for his valuable suggestion in this project.

1.       Subudhi CR, Behera B, Sethi PK, Sharma KN, Swain SN (2004) Creation of temporary structures across drainage line in degraded watershed. Indian Journal of Power and River Valley Development, pp: 164-167.

2.       Samra JS (2002) Watershed management a tool for sustainable production. Proceedings of Indian Association of Soil and Water Conservationists, Dehradun Conference, pp: 1-10.

3.       Subudhi CR, Pradhan PC, Senapati PC (1999) Effect of grass bund on erosion loss and yield of rainfed rice, Orissa, India. T. Vetiver Network 19: 32-33.

4.       Arora D, Gupta AK (2002) Effect of water conservation measures in a pasture on the productivity of Buffel grass. Proceedings of Indian Association of Soil and Water Conservationists, Dehradun Conference, pp: 65-66.

5.       Kumar M (2002) Impact of soil and water conservation on erosion loss and yield of Kharif crops under ravenous watershed. Proceedings of Indian Association of Soil and Water Conservationists, Dehradun Conference, pp: 301-303.

6.       Eswaran VB (2002) Wasteland development. Proceedings of Indian Association of Soil and Water Conservationists, Dehradun Conference, pp: 17-19.

7.       Subudhi CR, Behera B, Sethi PK, Sharma KN, Swain SN (2004) Waste weir for safe disposal of excess runoff from field. Indian Journal of Power and River Valley Development, pp: 307-310.

8.       Subudhi CR, Behera B, Sethi PK, Sharma KN, Senapati PC (2004) Conservation trenches for plantation crop. Indian Journal of Power and River Valley Development, pp: 329-332.