Catchment, storage and command relationship in the micro-watershed farm pond to enhance crop productivity under rainfed agriculture

In the western Vidarbha zone, characterized by medium-deep black soil and an average slope of 1%, the runoff from a 5 ha catchment area was monitored and harvested in a farm pond over a period of 10 yrs. This harvested water was subsequently used for supplemental irrigation in soybean and chickpea crops. Research indicates that approximately 450 m3 of runoff can be collected from a 1 ha catchment, which can irrigate about 0.91 ha during the kharif or rabi seasons with a protective irrigation depth of 5 cm. Using water from harvested farm ponds for micro-irrigation can increase soybean yields by 22% and chickpea yields by 45%, with one or two instances of protective irrigation. Water use efficiency (WUE) for vegetables ranges from 1.88 to 3.33 kg m3. Given India's uneven rainfall distribution, harvesting runoff in rainfed areas through farm ponds tailored to specific catchment areas is crucial. This study provides useful insights into the runoff collected from a one-hectare catchment and offers guidance on the dimensions needed for effective farm pond construction.