Abstract

Background: Rainfed agriculture faces increasing challenges due to climate variability, irregular precipitation patterns, and growing water scarcity. Soil moisture retention has become critical for sustainable crop production in these systems.

Objective: This study evaluates the effectiveness of various organic mulching strategies for enhancing soil moisture retention in rainfed agricultural systems and their impact on crop productivity and soil health parameters.

Methods: A comprehensive field experiment was conducted over three growing seasons (2021-2023) across different agro-climatic zones. Five organic mulch treatments were tested: rice straw (RS), wheat straw (WS), sugarcane bagasse (SB), corn residue (CR), and legume residue (LR), compared against bare soil control (BS). Soil moisture content, temperature, organic matter, and crop yield parameters were monitored throughout the study period.

Results: Organic mulches significantly improved soil moisture retention by 25-45% compared to bare soil. Sugarcane bagasse showed the highest moisture retention capacity (42.3% improvement), followed by rice straw (38.7%) and legume residue (35.2%). Mulched plots demonstrated 15-30% higher crop yields, improved soil organic matter content (0.8-1.4% increase), and reduced soil temperature fluctuations by 3-7°C.

Conclusion: Organic mulching represents a viable and sustainable strategy for moisture conservation in rainfed agriculture. The selection of appropriate mulch materials based on local availability and crop requirements can significantly enhance agricultural productivity while improving soil health and resilience to climate variability.