Soil and Water Conservation Techniques in Rainfed Areas

Agronomic measures and engineering measures are the techniques for soil and water conservation in rainfed areas. Agronomic practices for soil and water conservation help to improve the rate at which water is absorbed by the soil. These are used when the land slope is less than 2%. Agronomic measures include conservation tillage, deep tillage, conservation farming, contour farming, mulching, growing of cover crops, and strip cropping. However, engineering measures are extremely important in preventing erosion on agricultural land. When agronomic methods alone are not sufficient, they are typically utilized where land slope is greater than 2%. These measures include bunding, terracing, trenching, basin listing, and subsoiling. Moreover, Microcatchments are useful for erosion control and in situ moisture conservation. These are used when the land slope is 2–8%. In situ moisture conservation is the practice of storing rainwater where it falls in order to use it effectively. The following list includes the various in situ moisture conservation techniques that affect how the land is configured: furrows and ridges, tied ridging, broad bed furrows, dead furrows, compartmental bunding, scooping, interplot water harvesting, and Zingg terracing or conservation bench terracing.