PERMANENT RAISED BEDS TECHNOLOGY FOR IMPROVED CROP PRODUCTION UNDER MONSOON RAINFALL CLIMATE CONDITIONS
IQBAL, Hassan (1), Muhammad Shafiq (1), Nasir M. Khan (3)
(1) Water Resources Research Institute (WRRI), NARC, Islamabad.
(3) Graduate School of Agriculture & Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Japan
Major parts of Pakistan falls in monsoon rainfall zone of Asian countries. More than 50% of total annual rainfall is received during monsoon (July-September) in the form of heavy storms. Summer season crops like maize, soybean and sunflower etc. are quite sensitive to wetness especially during high temperatures and on soils with low permeability. During growing seasons because of heavy rainfalls, temporary waterlogging results in significant loss of crop yields/agro-productivity. Permanent raised beds technology provide good soil physical conditions and offers an opportunity for achieving good crop harvest from soils having low permeability, seasonal waterlogging (like monsoon climate regions) and saline/sodic conditions. This technology was tested/evaluated at Mardan district of Pakistan for a summer crop season, which accommodates monsoon period. It was observed that under furrow-bed the soil bulk density was 6% less and cumulative water intake was 1.8 times gre!
ater over basin irrigation method. Root biomass and plant heights were 15% and 3% greater than compared to basin irrigation method. Better soil physical conditions also improved the maize plant roots and shoots. Plants under furrow-bed bore greater and healthier cobs, which resultantly increased maize grain yield of about 30% over basin irrigation method.
Submittal Information
Name :
Date :
IQBAL HASSAN
30-May-01-19:36:23
Organization :
Theme :
Water Resources Research Institute (WRRI), NARC, Islamabad.
Theme 5
Address :
Presentation :
House No. 1204, Sunnar Street, NOWSHERA CANTT, NWFP, PAKISTAN.
