Relationship between Rainfall, Runoff, Soil Loss and Productivity in North Eastern Ghat Zone of Odisha

Abstract

A trial was conducted at All India Coordinated Research Project ,OUAT, Phulbani during the year 2007-09 with the objectives to quantify the runoff and soil loss under different cropping systems and develop relationship among them. The treatments tried were T1-Sole crop of rice, T2- Sole crop of pigeon pea. T3-Sole crop of groundnut,T4-Pigeonpea and rice in alternate strips, T5- Pigeon pea and groundnut in alternate strips, T6-Intercrop of rice and pigeon pea (5:2), T7- Intercrop of groundnut and pigeon pea (4:2),T8-Uncultivated fallow,T9-Cultivated fallow, All crops were planted across the contour. Intercrop of groundnut and pigeon pea (4:2) gave significantly higher rice equivalent yield compared to other sole crops. Mean rice equivalent yield was 38.62q/ha. Groundnut + pigeon pea (4:2) introduction increased the yield by 158% as 97% and 21% when compared with sole crop of rice, pigeon pea and groundnut respectively. Groundnut + pigeon pea (4:2) gave the lowest runoff of 309mm which is 23% less than the cultivated fallow (401mm).Groundnut + pigeon pea (4:2) gave the lowest soil loss (8.03t/ha) which is 47% lower than the cultivated fallow (with highest soil loss 15.19 t/ha).The Groundnut + pigeon pea (4:2) gave the lowest (24.2%) mean runoff of the rainfall compared to other treatments. The relationship among rainfall, runoff and soil loss was found out which can be used to predict the runoff and soil loss from rainfall for same type of soil condition and slope. The Thus it can be concluded that intercropping of groundnut with pigeon pea planted along contour may be practiced to increase crop yield and lowering the soil loss and runoff in the hilly tribal areas of Kandhamal district of Odisha.