000			02072nam a2200253Ia 4500
008			220216s9999 xx 000 0 und d
100			_aGeorge S
245		0	_aImpact of conservation pits on growth and yield of mature rubber
260			_bJournal of Rubber Research _c2007
300			_a44-53
520			_aRunoff and erosion substantially and seriously limit crop production in a tropical country like India. Appropriate runoff management techniques that enhance water conservation and reduce erosion to acceptable rates minimise these effects. The effect of conservation pits on soil moisture conservation and growth and yield of rubber was evaluated in a field experiment conducted from 1998 to 2005 in a mature rubber plantation in the central region of the traditional rubber growing tract in India. The treatments comprised conservation pits taken at the rate of 100, 150, 200 and 250 ha-1 and a control without pits. The experimental field was well drained with an average gradient of 17;-22;. Growth and yield of rubber were significantly influenced by the presence of pits. Yield of rubber was enahnced by 15;in the plots with 250 pits ha-1. Soil moisture storage estimated at depths of 10, 20, 30, 40, 60 and 100 cm, was substantially higher where pits were at the rate of 250 ha-1, indicating the contribution of pits towards ground water recharge. The presence of pits positively influenced the leaf water potential. The quantity of soil conserved in the pits ranged from 4.58 t ha-1 as the number of pits increased from 100 to 250. The quantity of nutrient conserved ranegd from 12-29, 6-13 and 27-62 kg ha-1 of N, P an K respectively. The proposed field water harvesting technique was proved to be quite useful in the conservation of soil and water in rubber.
650			_aGrowth
650			_aMoisture
650			_aNutrients
650			_aRunoff
650			_aSoil erosion
650			_aWater conservation
650			_aYield
700			_aJohn J
700			_aJoseph P
700			_aPhilip A
700			_aPunnoose K I
942			_cJS
999			_c60729 _d60729