Vol. 10, Special Issue 12 (2021)

Author(s):
Siddappa C Angadi, Chidanand P Mansur and Mouneshwari R Kammar

Abstract:
Conservation of land and water not only controls land degradation but also can lead to sustain productivity. Considering the above facts, a study was under taken to document and identify indigenous soil and water conservation practices prevalent in Hungund, Badami, Bagalkot, Bilagi, Jamakandi and Mudhol talukas of Bagalkot district of Karnataka. Study revealed that with the help of long historical knowledge, traditions and experiences indigenous practices for soil and water conservation were developed by farmers. Snow ball technique methodology was used for the study (No. of samples 120). The most common practices followed by farmers are categorized as agronomical measures like tillage (deep summer ploughing), bunding and vegetative barrier, soil mulching (sugarcane trash, sunflower stalks etc), erosion control and runoff diversion structure (sand bags structure as gully check, brushwood structure), water harvesting, seepage control and groundwater recharge (farm pond and check dams). These indigenous techniques of soil and water conservation are mostly individually managed. Presently the adoption percentages of these ITK are low due to unawareness, non-availability of suitable implement and financial difficulty. By the improvement the existing technology, these practices may be more adoptable among the farmers.