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Hedge row intercropping impact on run-off, soil erosion, carbon sequestration and millet yield

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Abstract

Reducing run-off and soil loss are important determinants for maintaining productivity and sustainability on sloping agriculture lands. To control water induced soil erosion, a field study was conducted during 2010–2014 to assess the impact of hedge row intercropping on soil erosion, nutrient dynamics, soil moisture and yield of finger millet (Eleusine coracana L.) on 5 and 10% land slope in combination with conservation treatments. The treatment Gliricidia + Trench planting (G + TP) reduced run-off by 29%, soil loss by 45–48%, and loss of soil organic carbon (SOC), N, P and K by 42–47, 62–65, 54–58 and 51–56%, respectively over control. Similarly for Leucaena + Trench planting (L + TP), the values were 17–19, 27–40, 28–37, 42–50, 39–49, and 37–46%, respectively, over control. Reduced run-off in the G + TP treatment increased soil moisture storage by 11–29%. Intensive pruning of Gliricidia plants for 5 years yielded greater fresh leaf biomass (12–17 Mg ha−1 year−1), whereas Leucaena yielded only 4–5 Mg ha−1 year−1. The SOC, N, P and K conservation efficiencies of G + TP were 42–47, 62–64, 54–58 and 51–56% on 5 and 10% land slope, respectively. Gliricidia hedge row intercropping showed promise for improving the conservation potential of the system by maintaining high productivity. Results of this study will act as a technical reference for the adoption of the Gliricidia based hedge row technology for increasing intercrop productivity as well as conserving soil resources in the Eastern Ghats sloping agriculture lands.

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Acknowledgements

Funding supports from ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation as in-house project are gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Research Centre, Sunabeda, Koraput, Odisha, India

    H. C. Hombegowda, Partha Pratim Adhikary, Praveen Jakhar & M. Madhu

  2. ICAR-Central Research Institute for Jute and Allied Fibres, Barrackpore, West Bengal, India

    D. Barman

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  1. H. C. Hombegowda
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  2. Partha Pratim Adhikary
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  3. Praveen Jakhar
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  4. M. Madhu
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  5. D. Barman
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Correspondence to H. C. Hombegowda.

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Hombegowda, H.C., Adhikary, P.P., Jakhar, P. et al. Hedge row intercropping impact on run-off, soil erosion, carbon sequestration and millet yield. Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst 116, 103–116 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-019-10031-2

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