Abstract

Systematic studies on evaluation of contour bunding in drought prone area in respect of runoff, soil losses, crop yields and moisture distribution in the inter bunded area were carried out at the Dry Farming Research Station, Solapur. The runoff and soil losses were found to be 3 to 4 times more from the unbunded area, indicating thereby usefulness of contour bunding from soil and water conservation point of view in drought prone area. The yields of pearl millet and red gram were increased by 26.76 per cent and 25.81 per cent respectively in contour bunded ares. The increase in yield in contour bunded area was mainly due to more water conserved in the soil. The moisture content and eventually the yields were found to be more near the bund and decreased towards the centre of the field in contour bunded area. However, there was less variation in the crop yield and moisture content in the unbunded area.

Keywords: