Advanced farm mechanization technologies were introduced in the watershed area under the in-situ moisture conservation component for on-farm assessment. Experimental demonstrations were conducted in farmers’ fields, and results were compared with conventional practices. The implements evaluated included a paired row planter, a Broad Bed Furrow (BBF) planter, and a multipurpose plastic mulch sheet-laying machine. The Paired row planting method increases yield by 13 to 17% and enhances rainwater harvesting by 27 to 42% compared to traditional practices, thereby improving water-use efficiency and reducing input costs. The observed yield variations were associated with enhanced rainwater conservation and optimized seed and fertilizer use.
The BBF planting system significantly improved growth characteristics in crops such as bottle gourd, bitter gourd, and tuberose compared to flatbed sowing. The adoption of plastic mulching, which has increased by nearly 50% since the early 1990s, proved beneficial for early production, improved fruit quality and higher yields in horticultural crops. Black polythylene mulching is particularly effective in conserving soil moisture and enhancing productivity in water-scarce rainfed regions.
