Evaluation of Loose Stone Terrace Structures for Soil Moisture and Fertility Conservation in Sloppy Lands of Attock District, Pakistan

Abstract

Loose Stone Terrace Structures (LSTS) are among the important measures to enhance the water conservation and to obtain maximum crop yield. Present study was designed to evaluate the impact of LSTS on soil moisture conservation, wheat yield and physico-chemical characteristics of soil. Wheat was sown on the upstream of LSTS consisting of two major blocks; one with structure and other without structure while under both there were two sub-blocks; one with recommended dose of fertilizer and other with famer practice. In this way there were four treatments including Recommended Dose with Structure (RDWS), Recommended Dose without Structure (RDWOS), Farmer Practice with Structure (FPWS) and Farmer Practice without Structure (FPWOS). The economic evaluation of the structures indicated that the LSTS (average cost US$ 35.85 per structure) is very cost-effective. LSTS enhanced profile soil moisture retention up to 21% by reducing run off and wheat yield was increase up to 15% in RDWS. Soil fertility level improved significantly, trend revealed that LSTS have conserved the soil nutrients by minimizing the run off and soil sediment loss. It was also noticed that gully development was minimized greatly due to the safe disposal of surplus rain water which had improved the soil structure of cultivated lands and stopped fertility depletion.

Keywords: Loose stone structures, water-harvesting structures, rainfed, wheat production