Low-cost interventions for big impacts in dryland production systems

Chander, G and Reddy, T Y and Kumar, S and Padmalatha, Y and Reddy, S and Adinarayana, G and Wani, S P and Reddy, Y V M and Srinivas, K (2019) Low-cost interventions for big impacts in dryland production systems. Archives of Agronomy and Soil Science (TSI). pp. 1-12. ISSN 0365-0340

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Abstract

A study at selected action sites in semi-arid region of Andhra Pradesh, India, showed widespread land degradation due to low levels of soil organic carbon (78% of fields) and deficiencies of available nutrients like phosphorus (34%), sulfur (93%), calcium (33%), zinc (84%), boron (73%), and copper (33%). Soil test-based addition of deficient micro- and macronutrients increased food grain production by 30–40% and straw (which is used as fodder) production by 10–30%. Micro-watershed scale low-cost cement-lined farm-ponds at smallholder farm level proved a scalable technology for drought-proofing of crops resulting into additional crop yield by more than 30% during 2015. Augmentation of water sources also facilitated farmers’ to successfully diversify the production system. Shared machinery resources improved the operational and economic efficiency of farm sowing operations through higher crop yields by around 10%. We conclude that a mix of low-cost critical interventions if out-scaled in a large number of dryland small holdings through policy support may not only improve productivity and livelihoods, but also enhance their abilities to effectively cope with the climatic aberrations.

Item Type:	Article
Divisions:	Research Program : Asia
CRP:	UNSPECIFIED
Uncontrolled Keywords:	On-farm mechanization, rainfed agriculture, rainwater management, soil health, dryland production systems, semiarid region, Andhra Pradesh, dryland small holdings, Micro-watershed, drought-proofing of crops
Subjects:	Others > Andhra Pradesh Others > Rainfed Agriculture Others > Semi-Arid Tropics Others > Soil Others > Drylands Agriculture Others > Water Resources Others > Indian Agriculture
Depositing User:	Mr Ramesh K
Date Deposited:	22 Jan 2019 11:09
Last Modified:	23 Jan 2020 08:48
URI:	http://oar.icrisat.org/id/eprint/11047
Official URL:	http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03650340.2018.1560426
Projects:	UNSPECIFIED
Funders:	UNSPECIFIED
Acknowledgement:	This work was supported by the CGIAR Research Program on Dryland Systems, which was led by the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA).
Links:	Google Scholar

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