Soil Moisture Based Estimation of Length of Growing Period for Efficient Crop Planning in Micro Landforms of Chaka Watershed, Purulia, India

Abstract

Estimation of length of growing period (LGP) is essential in any cropping system as it determines crop selection, yield potential, different farming practices and has direct impact on agricultural productivity and sustainability. Considering this, an agro-topo pedological study has been carried out for Chaka watershed, Purulia, West Bengal, India, to assess length of growing period based on soil moisture availability. It is observed that along with the influence of climatic parameters length of growing period varies with change of micro landform depending on available water holding capacity (AWC) and actual soil moisture storage (ASMS). Soil samples from different landforms have been collected at regular incremental depth to get values of available water holding capacity and actual soil moisture storage. Soil moisture storage is observed to increase sequentially from the undulating ridge top to back slope, foot slope, and finally the valley fill, which are locally referred to as tarn, baid, kanali, and bahal respectively. Accordingly, length of growing period varies in different topographical situation from 158 to 184 days. The span of growing period is 150-160 days in tarn, 160-170 days in baid, 170-180 days in kanali and 180-190 days in bahal.  Based on this aspect, a cropping system with alternate crops and a cropping pattern suited to the actual growing period in different micro-landforms has been suggested.