Soil and water conservation techniques in cashew grown along steep hill slopes
2010
Rejani, R. | Yadukumar, N.
Cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.), the highest foreign exchange earning perennial horticultural crop in India is generally grown as a rainfed crop along steep slopes of hills or on neglected land unsuitable for any other crop. In India, cashew experiences severe moisture stress from January to May, adversely affects its flowering and fruit set. In order to harvest the rainwater and to make it available to the cashew plant during critical period, an in situ soil and water conservation experiment was conducted at Directorate of Cashew Research, Puttur, Karnataka, India during 2003-2010. This experiment was laid along contour with five treatments namely, modified crescent bunds, coconut husk burial, reverse terraces, catch pits and control plot without any soil and water conservation. Among the treatments, modified crescent bund and coconut husk burial were superior. These two treatments reduced the annual runoff (22.3 and 20.4% of the annual rainfall compared to 36.9% of the annual rainfall in control), soil loss (47 and 49% of control) and nutrient loss. Also it increased the mean soil moisture content, growth of plants, yield of cashew (6.45 and 6.60t/ha respectively compared to 4.88t/ha in control for the first 5 harvests) and net profit from cashew garden (40% more than control). In addition to this, the groundwater level in nearby wells and ponds increased. Hence, the barren land even in steep slopes with proper soil and water conservation measures can be effectively utilized for cashew cultivation.
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