PRINCIPLES

OF
AGRONOMY
IYellamanda Reddy
G.H. Sankara Reddy

KALYANI
 PRINCIPLES
OF
AGRONOMY

DR. T. YELLAMANDA REDDY

Former Dean of Agriculture
Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University
Administrative Office, Rajendranagar
Hyderabad-s00 030
PROF. G.H. SANKARA REDDY
Former Professor & University Head
Department of Agronomy
Andhra Pradesh Agricultural University
Hyderabad-500 030

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SOIL CONSERVATION 603

plots. Soil erosion was significantly lower (182 kg/ha) in the stone walled terracing than nonterraced
felds (3,525 kg/ha) under Mediterrancan conditions. Similar trend was observed with respect to
runoff.

Broad Base Terrace. Deep black soils with high clay content develop deep cracks in summer
and bunds in these soils breach extensively during rainy season, cspecially when the rains are of high
intensity. In such soils, broad based terraces are constructed. A terrace is a combination of ridge and
channel built across the slope on a controlled grade. These terraces have wide base and Jow height
of ridge and usually formed with machinery. Excess rain water is led at non-erosive velocity into
grassed waterways.
Zing Terracing. Zing terracing is adopted in lands with 3 to 10 per cent slopes and bench
terracing is recommended on steeper slopes. Zing terraces are constructed in medium to deep soils
in moderate to high rainfall areas. The length of the field is divided into donor area and receiving
levelled whereas the lower
area in the ratio of 2: 1to 5:1, but usually 2:1. The donor area is not
Zing terracing
receiving area is levelled and provided with a bund of cross sections area 0.3 to 1.5them.benefit
area for of crops
is adopted to cut down the length of slope, to harvest runoff from upper
downpours.
grown in lower side and to ensure adequate drainage during periods of heavy
Trenching. Rainwater, which falls in the ridge area, flows unchecked carrying gets with it eroded
eroded soil deposited
soil into the flatter portion of the watershed referred to as the valley. This water harvesting work
life. Thus, any
as silt in the reservoirs and ponds, thereby reducing their appropriate
undertaken in the valley will become meaningless unless measures such as contour
on the ridge. Contour trenches serve to
trenching are undertaken to control runoff and soil erosion
moisture profile in the area adjacent
collect the rainwater that falls in the ridge area. This way the soil
fertile top soil also gets deposited in
to the trench gets improved. Along with the water, the eroded
the trench.
checking the velocity of runoff in the
Contour trenching is a simple, and a low-cost method of trenches
along a contour line. Contour
ridge area of any watershed. A contour trench is a trench dug
moisture conditions in order to raise tree
are made in non-agricultural land for providing adequate rainfall and depth of soil available. The
slope,
and grass species. The size of the trench varies with
from 10 to 30 m. The trenches
trenches are usually of 60 cm x 40 cm in size. The spacing varies
of the soil forms the spoil bank. The
are half refilled with excavated material and remaining half these trenches for
m. Rain water is held in
trenches are not continuous, but broken at intervals of 60
on the spoil bank.
some time and facilitate growth of vegctation. Planting is done
continuous contour trench of 0.60 m
The performance of cashew in staggered trenches and
contour trench showed its superiority in
depth was superior over rest of the structures. Continuous
conservation practice on area
reducing runoff and soil loss; hence it was recommended as best soil
having 7 to 8 per cent slope (Mane et al., 2009).
Soil and moisture conservation efficiency was higher in combination of contour staggered
trenching and cover crop of beans new tea plantation. Tea canopy leaf area index and yield of
green tea leaves were significantly higher in cover crop of beans and contour staggered trenching.
Cover crop of beans and contour staggered trenching + beans in new tea plantation showed higher
economic viability and environmental benefits (Madhu et al., 2001). Contour trenches were taken
up on degraded hill with 10-20% slopes and planted with Acacia catechu seedlings. The soil moisture
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24 + 920 = 944 Pages
20" x 30" 118
KPP S 37307 2 Formes
S-38200 2
1992, Dr. Reddy, T.
Yellamanda
Prof. Reddy, G.H.
Sankara
First Edition. 1992
2nd Revised
3rd Revised Edition, 1995
4th Revised Edition, 2002
5th Revised Edition, 2010
Reprinted, Edition, 2016
2019,
6th Revised 2020, 2021, 2022
Edition, 2023
Typesetting at
Kalyani Publishers
ISBN 978-93-272-691 5-4
PRINTED IN INDIA
Printed at: Yash
Printographics, Noida