Table of Contents
Introduction to Dryland Horticulture
Dryland horticulture involves cultivating horticultural crops in regions where annual rainfall or precipitation is just enough to balance evapotranspiration, resulting in a limited growing period. The primary challenge in these areas is moisture conservation to sustain crop growth. This practice is vital in regions like India, where dryland agriculture supports a significant portion of the population and contributes to food security.
Definition and Importance of Dryland Horticulture
Dryland refers to regions where the annual rainfall is low, causing limited growing periods for crops. Dryland Agriculture is farming in these areas, typically without irrigation, relying solely on rainfall. Dryland Horticulture specifically pertains to the cultivation of horticultural crops in such regions, often supplemented by harvested rainwater. Rainfed Horticulture depends entirely on natural rainfall.
Dryland agriculture occupies about 68% of India’s cultivated area, supporting 40% of the human population and 60% of livestock. It produces 44% of the country’s food, playing a crucial role in food security. However, frequent droughts due to erratic monsoon patterns, along with degraded soils and declining groundwater levels, pose significant challenges.
Categories of Dryland Agriculture
Dryland agriculture can be categorized based on annual rainfall:
Dry Farming
Cultivation in regions with annual rainfall less than 750 mm, often resulting in crop failures due to prolonged dry spells.
Dryland Farming
Occurs in areas with annual rainfall between 750 mm and 1150 mm, with relatively less frequent crop failures.
Rainfed Farming
Conducted in regions with over 1150 mm annual rainfall, with little to no soil moisture stress during the crop period.
Importance of Dryland Horticulture
Dryland regions, despite their harsh conditions, are rich in horticultural diversity and have the potential for high-quality fruit, vegetable, flower, and spice production. Technological advancements in horticulture can significantly boost productivity and income in these regions. Key benefits include:
- Supporting livelihoods and ensuring nutritional and income security.
- Utilizing untapped natural resources to double farm income in arid regions.
- Producing seeds and quality planting materials for large-scale horticultural production.
Present Status and Future Scope
Contribution to Horticultural Production
- Significant portion of fruit crops (60%) produced under rainfed conditions in varied proportions across regions.
- Temperate fruits in the Himalayas, mangoes and plantation crops in the Northeast, cashew and mangoes in the Western Coast, and other fruits in the Northern, Central, and Southern Plateaus are predominantly rainfed.
Potential Fruit Crops for Dryland Horticulture
Arid Ecosystem
- Ber, Khejri, Ker, Khajoor, Bael, Aonla with arid legumes, grasses, and seed spices.
Cold Arid Ecosystem
- Chilgoza, Chuli, Almond, Walnut, Pecan, Pistachio, Chinese Jujube with local vegetation.
Sub-humid Ecosystem
- Mango, Litchi, Aonla, Jackfruit, Custard Apple, Guava, Cashew, and Pomegranate with ragi, black gram, groundnut, niger, sesamum, and grasses.
Humid Ecosystem
- Mango, Coconut, Areca Nut with tuber crops, turmeric, ginger, black pepper, and cardamom.
Integrated Farming Systems
- Agroforestry systems with fruit crops, timber, and fiber plantations, along with intercrops and grasses.
- Silvipastoral systems involving lopping trees and grazing understory grasses and bushes in forests and plantations.
Comparison of Dryland and Rainfed Agriculture
Dry Farming
- Emphasis on soil and water conservation, sustainableyields, and limited fertilizer use based on moisture availability.
- Constraints: Wind and water erosion.
Rainfed Agriculture
- Emphasis on excess water disposal, maximum crop yields, high input levels, and control of water erosion.
- Constraints: Water erosion.
Limitations of Dryland Horticulture
Moisture Stress
Semi-arid regions face severe moisture stress and poor soil and water quality.
Soil Quality
Soils in these areas are often shallow, marginal in fertility, and low in water-holding capacity.
Rainfall Variability
Annual rainfall ranges between 200-500 mm, significantly less than potential evapotranspiration.
Abiotic and Biotic Stresses
Extreme temperatures, soil salinity, wild animals, insects, and diseases pose significant challenges.
Resource Constraints
Small land holdings, poor resources, and limited access to irrigation hinder productivity.
Strategies for Dryland Horticulture
Moisture Conservation
Techniques like mulching, contour bunding, and terracing help retain soil moisture.
Drought-Resistant Crops
Cultivating crops like ber, custard apple, amla, and mango that require less water.
Supplemental Irrigation
Utilizing harvested rainwater for irrigation during critical growth stages.
Improved Varieties
Using high-yield, drought-resistant crop varieties.
Agroforestry
Integrating horticultural crops with forestry practices to maximize land use and productivity.
Strategies for Dryland Horticulture
Ber
- Adaptable to various soil types, regular manuring and irrigation during fruit development, and pruning.
- Spacing: 6-9 meers.
Guava
- Suitable for rainfall > 750 mm and pH ranging from 4.5 to 8.2, regular irrigation, and light pruning.
- Spacing: 5.5-6 meters.
Amla
- Tolerant to slightly alkaline soils, light irrigation until establishment, and fruiting at 8 years.
- Spacing: 7.5-9 meters.
Mango
Irrigation required during summer (March-May) at 15-20 day intervals for fruit retention and maturity.
Prefers slightly deep soils with good drainage and pH 6.5-7.6. 3.
Spacing: 10×10 meters (deep soils) or 9×9 meters (medium-deep soils).
