Management of Vertisols for Maximising Crop Production - ICRISAT Experience

Vertisols are an important group of soils in the semi-arid tropics (SAT) of lndia and elsewhere. They have high water-storage capacity and high production potential, which remains under-utilised because of the difficulty of managig these soils and the use of traditional technology. Drought and poor dniw are twin problems which discourage most farmers from cropping these mils m the rainy season and make them resort to post-rainy cropping, A technology based on the watershed concept, broadbed-and-furrow syrtan and land management, use of improved implements, high-yielding varieties, double-cropping and intercropping systems, balanced.we of fertiliser and good crop management practices has been evolved and tested for 8 yearsat lCRlSAT Center, near Hyderabad. The technology offers the possibility of incrtosing yield to 3 to 5 tonnesl ha and of giving profits up to 250% on the investment. The improved technology reduces soil and water lossand increases production. It is likely to improve the employment potential and well-being of the people of the SAT. The technology needs trials in different agroclirnatic environments in lndia and also critical evaluation and modification elsewhere