Impact of land use pattern and land configurations on surface run-off and soil erosion during south-west Monsoon at Parbhani

The Parbhani district of Marathwda region comes under the assured rainfall zone having more than 800 mm of rainfall in 40 to 45 rainy days. The impact of land use pattern and land configuration on surface runoff and soil erosion during from 1995-96 to 2001-02 was carried out to quantify the amount of surface run-off and loss of surface soil due to soil erosion under influence of south-west monsoon rain and to identify and suggest the suitable land use pattern for minimizing these losses of natural wealth. This study reveals that sorghum crop sown on ridges recorded lowest runoff followed by cotton in all seven years as where sorghum crop sown on ridges reduced considerable soil loss as compared to other treatments i.e., cotton on ridges and soybean on flat beds. If the fields are sloppy having about 1 % slope it is highly desirable to sow the sorghum and cotton crop on ridges and furrows across the slope to protect the soil losses from fertile upper soil layer. The land should not be kept fallow during monsoon season.