CONTINUOUS CONTOUR TRENCHES–A USEFUL CONSERVATION MEASURE FOR GROUNDWATER RECHARGE

R. S. Patode; M. B. Nagdeve; K. Ramamohan Reddy

Volume : IV, Issue : II, February - 2015

CONTINUOUS CONTOUR TRENCHES–A USEFUL CONSERVATION MEASURE FOR GROUNDWATER RECHARGE

R. S. Patode, M. B. Nagdeve, K. Ramamohan Reddy

Abstract :

The study was undertaken on the field of All India Coordinated Research Project for Dryland Agriculture, Dr. Panjaao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola. The area under study was divided into four micro-catchments. Catchments A and C are treated with continuous contour trenches (CCT) and B and D are non-treated. The catchment A and B are having custard apple plantation and catchment C and D are having Hanuman phal plantation. The water levels were observed during 2012 to 2014. On an average during all recorded months the ground water recharge in the CCT treated catchment was more compared to the non treated catchment. It was also observed that during below average rainfall years the groundwater recharge in CCT treated catchment was more by 38.64% and 33.97% over non treated catchment and this will clearly indicate the usefulness of continuous contour trenches for conservation of rainfall and thereby increasing the groundwater recharge.