RESOURCE MANAGEMENT FOR SUSTAINED PRODUCTION IN ARAVALI REGION

Abstract

IN ARAVLI HILL REGION OF SOUTH- WEST HARYANA , AN INTEGRATED WATERSHED MANAGEMENT INCLUDING MECHANICAL , VEGETATIVE AND AGRONOMIC MEASURES WAS EXECUTED FOR EFFECTIVELY USING NATURAL RESOURCES FOR OPTIMISATION OF PRODUCTIVITY. TREATMENT OF HILLY CATCHMENT AREA BY PROVIDING A SERIES OF STRUCTURAL MEASURES LIKE CHECKDAMS, GULLY PLUGS, PERCOLATION , EMBANKMENTS , CONTOUR TRENCHES , DIVERSION BUNDS ETC. PROVED VERY HELPFUL IN REDUCING THE RUNOFF, SOIL LOSS , INCREASE IN GROUND WATER RECHARGE AND NATURAL REGENERATION OF VEGETATION. BESIDES , AFFORESTATION OF HILLS AND WASTELANDS DOWN BELOW WITH THE SPECIES LIKE ACACIA TORTILIS , ACACIA NILOTICA AND PROSOPIS JULIFLORA NOT ONLY PROVIDED SUFFICIENT GROUND COVER TO THE DENUDED HILLS BUT ALSO INCREASED THE AVAILABILITY OF FODDER , FUEL AND TIMBER IN THE REGION. VARIOUS IN SITU WATER HARVESTING TECHNIQUES IMPLEMENTED IN THE COMMAND AREA INCREASED MOISTURE CONTENT IN THE SOIL PROFILE WHICH IN TURN INCREASED CROP YIELD OF BAJRA, GUAR, WHEAT , MUSTARD , GRAM AND BARLEY BY 45,32, 27 ,59 ,27 AND 67% RESPECTIVELY. THE FERTILIZER CONSUMPTION IN TERMS OF NITROGEN , PHOSPHOROUS AND ZINC INCREASED BY 158 , 475 AND 392 % RESPECTIVELY. THE POSITIVE EFFECT OF GROUND WATER AUGMENTATION WAS REFLECTED IN THE FORM OF INCREASE IN NUMBER OF TUBEWELLS BY 252.4 % , RESPECTIVELY .