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Agronomic Measures Vegetative Measures For Watershed Development Session - 3 AGRONOMIC MEASURES People’s Science Institute Agronomic Measures Content • What are the different agro-climatic zones of Meghalaya? • What are the major farming systems of Meghalaya? • What are the major farm based enterprises? • What are the major constraints in farming in Meghalaya? • What is sustainable farming? • What are the different types of agronomic measures? • What are the benefits of these measures ? Agronomic Measures Agro-Climatic Zones of Meghalaya Zones Location Soil Type Principal Crops 1 Warm and humid with medium Hills and northern slopes in north and Light to medium Rice, maize, wheat, rainfall (1270-2032 mm) western parts of West Garo Hills, texture with generally jute and mesta, northern parts of East and West Khasi high depth. rapeseed-mustard, Hills and north eastern parts of Jaintia cotton and ginger Hills. 2 Humid and moderately cold in Central plateau of Garo Hills and a Light to medium in Maize, ginger, cotton winter with high rainfall (2800- portion of the Central plateau of West texture and generally and tea 4000 mm): Khasi Hills. very deep 3 Humid with moderately warm Central plateau of East Khasi Hills, West Light to medium in Vegetables, especially summer and severe cold winter with Khasi Hills and Jaintia Hills texture and generally potato, upland rice, tea high rainfall (2800-6000 mm) very deep. and ginger 4 Humid and warm with very high Southern slope comprising of eastern Light to medium in Oranges, turmeric and rainfall (4000-10000 mm) part of Jaintia Hills, southern part of East texture and deep to soybean Khasi Hills and a portion of southern very deep. edge of West Khasi Hills 5 Humid and hot with high rainfall Southern part of West Garo Hills and a Moderate to very deep Rice, jute and mesta (2800-4000 mm) part of the southern part of West Khasi and light to heavy in and oilseeds Hills texture Agronomic Measures Average Annual Rainfall Of Hill States Average Sl. No. State Meteorological Divisions annualrainfall (mm) 1. Arunachal Pradesh Arunachal Pradesh 2,782 2. Assam Assam 2,818 3. Meghalaya Meghalaya 2,818 4. Nagaland Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura 1,881 5. Manipur Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura 1,881 6. Mizoram Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura 1,881 7. Tripura Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura 1,881 8. West Bengal Sub-Himalayan West Bengal 2,739 9. Sikkim Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim 2,739 10. Himachal Pradesh Western Himalaya 1,251 11 J & K Western Himalaya 1,011 12 Uttarakhand Western Himalaya 1,667 India 558 West Rajasthan 313 Agronomic Measures Major Farming Systems of Meghalaya S. Farming Systems No. 1 Agriculture + Horticulture + Animal Husbandry + Fishery 2 Agriculture + Horticulture + Animal Husbandry 3 Agriculture + Horticulture 4 Agriculture + Sericulture + Horticulture + Animal Husbandry 5 Agriculture + Horticulture + Animal Husbandry + Sericulture Agronomic Measures Major Farm Based Enterprises Farm Based Enterprise Agriculture - Paddy, Maize Horticulture – Tomato, Ginger, Turmeric, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Chilies, Strawberry, and flowers like Gerbera, Anthurium Animal Husbandry – Poultry, Pig, Rabbit Fishery – Cage culture Sericulture – Mulberry silk worm Agronomic Measures Constraints of Farming in Agriculture People of Meghalaya are predominantly dependent on agriculture. More than 70% of the State's total population is engaged in agriculture and allied activities, which also contributes around 22% of the State's Gross Domestic Product Constraints Undulating topography The state of Meghalaya is highly Imbalance use of NPK fertilizers prone to the effects of climate change Deficiency of micro-nutrients Poor transport and infrastructure because of its geo-ecological fragility, Inadequate credit support humid monsoon climate, and socio- Poor or non-existent marketing system economic conditions Slash and burn agriculture Majority of the districts of Meghalaya have experienced variation in precipitation and temperature • West and East Garo hills districts showed decrease in precipitation • West Khasi hills district has the highest increase in precipitation • West part of the state increase in minimum temperature as compared to the eastern part • Central parts have increase in maximum temperature Source: State Action Plan of Climate Change Agronomic Measures Sustainable Farming The FAO definition of sustainable agricultural development is "the management and conservation of the natural resource base, and the orientation of technological and institutional change in such a manner as to ensure the attainment and continued satisfaction of human needs for present and future generations”. Importance of Sustainable Farming • Production of sufficient human food, feed, fiber, and fuel to meet the needs of a sharply rising population. • Protection of the environment and expansion of the natural resources supply. • Sustainment of the economic viability of agriculture systems. Agronomic Measures Types of Agronomic Measures • Contour Farming • Crop Rotation • Strip Cropping • Mulching • Composting Contour Framing Mulching • Green Manures • Mixed Farming • Agro-forestry • Horticulture:Cultivation of vegetables / spices • Agri-horticulture Composting Green Manure Strip Framing Agronomic Measures Contour Farming Contour Farming refers to applying all tillage practices, such as, ploughing, planting, cultivation & harvesting on the contour i.e. across the slope rather than up and downhill. This helps in conservation of moisture and reduces erosion by reducing surface runoff. The furrows between the ridges developed by contour tillage operations catch and hold the water, thereby, checking the high water velocity. 00 Flow Ridge Ridge Furrow Agronomic Measures Benefits of Contour Farming 1. Prevents soil erosion: Farming across slopes i.e. perpendicular to the flow of water, acts like a barrier, which slows the runoff water, thus conserving soil. Contour farming can reduce soil erosion by as much as 50% compared to farming up and down hills. 2 . Improves water conservation: With slowing down of surface flow, more water is absorbed into the soil resulting in moisture conservation. 3. Boosts nutrients: As it retains the top soil of the farm, the nutrients are saved resulting in reduction of investments especially on fertilizers and manures. 4. Increases yields: Reducing runoff, soil erosion, and increasing fertility all results in increase in crop yields. On slopes between 2% and 10% and precipitation under 200 mm per year, the yields increase by margins of up to 50%. On steep slopes or under conditions of high rainfall intensity and soil erodability, contour farming might develop and may increase gully formation. Agronomic Measures Crop Rotation and its Benefits Crop rotation is the practice of growing a series of different types of crops in the same area across a sequenced of growing seasons. It reduces reliance on one set of nutrients, pest and weed pressure, and the probability of developing resistant pest and weeds. Advantages of Crop Rotation Increases soil fertility Increases crop yield Increase in soil nutrients Reduces soil erosion Limits concentration of pests and diseases Reduces the stress of weeds Improves the soil structure Reduces pollution Agronomic Measures Strip Farming and its Benefits Strip cropping is a practice of growing field crops in strips usually following the natural contours of the terrain to prevent water erosion of the soil. Strip cropping involves planting crops in strips across the slope, with alternate strips of grain and/or forage crops. Benefits • Reduces soil erosion from water and wind. • Reduces rate of soil erosion and the runoff velocity. • Increases infiltration rate of the soil under cover condition. • Reduces transport of sediment and other waterborne contaminants. • Protects growing crops from damage by windborne soil particles. • Improves water quality. Agronomic Measures Types of Strip Farming Strip cropping is generally of three types Buffer strip cropping: In this case the strips are established to take care of critical, i.e. steep or highly eroded, slopes in fields under contour strip cropping. Contour strip cropping: Contour strip cropping is the growing of a soil-exposing and erosion permitting crop in strips of suitable widths across slopes on contour, alternating with strip of soil protecting and erosion-resisting crop. Field strip cropping: A specialized strip cropping where crops are planted in parallel bands across a slope but do not follow contour lines; bands of grass or other close-growing species are alternated with the bands of cultivated crops. Agronomic Measures Mulching Mulching: The process of covering the open surface of the ground by a layer of some external material. The material used for covering is called as Mulch. It is usually practiced when cultivating commercially important crops, fruit trees, vegetables, flowers, nursery saplings, etc. Benefits: • Encourages microbial activity and worms in favor of soil. • Suppresses growth of weeds. • Evaporation is reduced. • Helps to maintain humidity • Prevent soil erosion • Control weeds • Add nutrients to the soil. Agronomic Measures Types of Mulching Commonly available organic mulches include: • Leaves • Grass clippings • Peat moss • Wood Chips • Bark chips. • Straw mulch • Pine needles Agronomic Measures Composting Composting is the process that speeds up decomposition of organic materials by providing ideal conditions for microorganisms to thrive. Compost is rich in nutrients Process
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