Biodrainage for preventing water logging and concomitant wood yields in arid agro-ecosystems in North-Western India

Abstract

This study presents development of a farmer’s agroforestry model involving tree species that bioremediate water table through efficient biodrainage (evapotranspiration). An abandoned waterlogged (water table up to 2 m) degraded farm area (900 m x 200 m) adjacent to Balsamand canal at CCS HAU farm at Hisar, India was planted with 10 tree species (Callistemon lanceolatus, Eucalyptus tereticornis clone-3, E. tereticornis clone-10, E. tereticornis clone-130, Eucalyptus hybrid clone (E. tereticornis x E. camaldulensis), Melia azedarach, Pongamia pinnata, Prosopis juliflora, Tamarix aphylla, and Terminalia arjuna). Some trees showed excellent survival and establishment over past 6 years. Further, a ‘cone of depression’ of water table immediately beneath each strip plantation was also noted as compared with no depression in the control. Depression was to the maximum magnitude beneath strips of Eucalyptus species (80-97 mm), Prosopis juliflora (82 mm) and Tamarix aphylla (79 mm). An overall 20 cm decline in water table was observed on entire site over this period making it arable. It is opined that prudent strip plantation of trees on this model of agroforestry system raised on farmer’s field bunds lowers saline water table remediating degraded arable land and proved a low cost, high returns, socially acceptable and environmentally friendly. It has been implemented on 4900 ha waterlogged areas of Haryana, and could be planted elsewhere with similar agro-climatic conditions.