Dryland Agriculture: Response of Castor (Ricinus communis) to Moisture Conservation Practices and Zinc Fertilization

The crop production remains unstable in rainfed regions, as they suffer from one or more factors such as moisture deficits, lack of nutrients, soil erosion and unfavourable soil physical conditions resulting in low infiltration of rainwater in soil and poor crop establishment and subsequently larger yield gap. The most efficient and cheapest way of conserving rainwater is to hold it in-situ which can be achieved by subsoiling. Subsoiling shatters the hardpan or compact layer present in the profile and helps infiltration of rainwater in lower layer of soil. Further the rainfed soils are not only thirsty but hungry due to low fertility status owing to high temperature induced exhaustion of organic matter. Among micronutrients, deficiency of zinc is most common and widespread. Hence, balanced fertilizer use is essential to sustain the crop production in rainfed agriculture. So, the research efforts towards the in situ moisture conservation practices coupled with zinc fertilization is of prime importance. The book deals with results obtained regarding effect of subsoiling and zinc on growth and yield of castor and soil properties.