干旱区生态环境知识资源中心

The wagarwadi watershed comprising 324 hectares in Aundha (Nagnath) Taluka of Hingoli District, Maharashtra State was developed by College of Agricultural Engineering, Marathwada Agricultural University, Parblumi in collaboration with State Department of Soil Conservation which falls in semi-arid tropics. The mean annual rainfall of area is 990mm. The watershed area was completely virgin, grazed and almost completely eroded and the farmers of the area were facing acute shortage of drinking water. The ground water level was lowered down. The people of the area were facing acute shortage of drinking water during summer season. Considering these factors, an watershed area was treated with various conservation measures such as contour and staggered trenches, Nala bunds, cement plugs, loose bolder dams, contour bunds, graded bunds, Nala training works, Diversion drains, afforestation and pasture development, etc. at wagarwadi watershed in the catchment of Puma river a tributary of river Godavari. Relationship between rainfall-intensity duration return period was developed for designing the different soil conservation structures in watershed. Evaluated rainfall erosion index values for planning cropping system and management practices for keeping the soil loss into permissible limits. These values were used in choosing the best time for establishment of erosion resistant vegetation. These values were also used for predicting the soil loss from watershed. Analyzed rainfall for determining occurrence of droughts, which were useful for deciding the cropping pattern, crop varieties, date of sowing and various other agricultural operations to be carried out in watershed area.

The water balance and aquifer model for the area was developed using NEWSAM software. The underground water recharge was significantly improved and helped in raising the water table from 0.3m to 2.5m in. wells located inside the watershed The soil loss was measured as 6 16 t(.)ha(-1), 5.39 t(.)ha(-1) and 2.04 t(.)ha(-1) during the year 1997-1998, 1998-1999 and 1999-2000, respectively which reflect to decrease in erosion as affected by soil and water conservation measures. The initial average crop productivity has been increased from 4.65 q(.)ha(-1) to 6.71 q(.)ha(-1), 8.15 q(.)ha(-1) and 8.73 q(.)ha(-1) during 1997-1998, 1998-1999 and 1999-2000 respectively. The initial cultivated area of the watershed 138 ha has been increased to 155 ha after completion of soil and water conservation works in the watershed Considering the agro-ecological situation in wagarwadi watershed, the cropping pattern which are most stable, productive and profitable were recommended as per soil type for rainfed and irrigated conditions in the watershed area.