Sustainable Rainfed Agriculture and Watershed Management

Contents: Preface. 1. Dry farming and Rainfed agriculture: an introduction. 2. Dryland types and their climatic classification. 3. Climate in rainfed agriculture. 4. Soils in dryland agriculture. 5. Land and crop management practices in rainfed agriculture. 6. Drought types and their management. 7. Climatic analysis for crop planning. 8. Plant ideotypes, choice of crops and varieties, crop substitution and cropping systems in drylands. 9. Contingent crop planning and midterm correction for aberrant weather conditions. 10. Weed management practices in drylands. 11. Soil fertility management in drylands. 12. Soil and Water Conservation Measures. 13. Water management in rainfed agriculture. 14. Crop protection in dryland crops. 15. Mechanization of Rainfed Agriculture. 16. Crop yield and productivity. 17. Conservation Agriculture. 18. Integrated farming systems for dryland areas. 19. Agroforestry. 20. Alternate land use based farming systems in rainfed agriculture. 21. Wasteland Development: Definition, Extent and Classification. 22. Watershed management. 23. Rain water harvesting on watershed basis. 24. Sustainable Rainfed Agriculture and Watershed Management. References. 

The New Education Policy 2020 (NEP-2020) of India has proposed several changes in the present higher agriculture education system such as holistic multidisciplinary education while continuing focus on agriculture and developing professionals with the ability to understand and use local knowledge, traditional knowledge and emerging technologies, while being cognizant of critical issues of declining profitability and/or productivity but enhanced economic aspirations of farmers, climate change, food sufficiency, etc. The rainfed production systems in a watershed include i) crop and cropping systems; ii) diversified land use including agro-forestry, dryland horticulture including fruit trees on homestead, farmland, fisheries, etc, iii) livestock and animal husbandry including poultry, pisciculture (fishery), rabbit rearing, apiculture, etc, and iv) grazing ground and pasture including grazing practices, grazing/cut and carry systems, stall feeding, etc.

This book ‘Sustainable Rainfed Agriculture and Watershed Management’ covers the local knowledge, traditional knowledge and emerging technologies on rainfed agriculture, rainfed based farming systems, conservation agriculture, alternative land use systems for dryland areas, wasteland Development aspects and watershed planning and management from different countries that suite India and neighbouring countries. Horticulture, agroforestry, seed spices, medicinal and aromatic plants, animal husbandry fishery, livestock and beekeeping, etc., are integral component of rainfed farming systems. As this book covers the principles and practices of rainfed agriculture, rainfed based farming systems, agroforestry and watershed planning and management, it is suitable all agricultural universities in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, African counties, etc. This book will be a ready reckoner for under graduate students of Agriculture, Horticulture, Forestry and Agricultural Engineering as well as to the extension officers and personnel interested in rainfed agriculture and watershed management. This book can be also used as a reference book for the M.Sc. (Ag) students in Agronomy. This book is valid for a minimum period of ten years.