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Field experiments were conducted at DRR farm located at ICRISAT, Patancheru, in sandy clay loam soils during four seasons, Kharif 2008, Rabi 2008-09, Kharif 2009 and Rabi 2009, to investigate plant growth parameters, water-saving potential, plant root characteristics, chemical, biological and microbial properties of the rhizosphere soil, and grain yield of rice (Oryza sativa L.) by comparing the plants grown with system of rice intensification (SRI) methods, with organic fertilization only or organic + inorganic fertilization, compared with currently recommended best management practices (BMP).All of the growth parameters including plant height, effective tillers, panicle length, dry matter, root dry weight, and root volume were found to be significantly higher with the SRI-organic + inorganic treatments over BMP.With SRI-organic fertilization only, growth parameters showed inconsistent results; however, root dry weight and root volume were found to be significantly greater compared to BMP.Grain yield was found significantly higher in the SRI-organic + inorganic treatments (12−23% and 4−35% in the Kharif and Rabi seasons, respectively), while with SRI-organic management only, yield was found higher (4−34%) only in the Rabi seasons compared to BMP. On average, 31% and 37% of irrigation water were saved during Kharif and Rabi seasons, respectively, with both SRI methods of rice cultivation compared to BMP. Further, total nitrogen, %organic carbon, soil dehydrogenase, microbial biomass carbon, and total bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes were found higher in both sets of SRI trials in comparison to BMP. It is concluded that SRI practices create more favorable conditions for beneficial soil microbes to prosper, save irrigation water, and increase grain yield.

Compartmental bunding (CB) and improved chickpea varieties were evaluated in ten farmers' fields during rainy-winter (kharif-rabi) seasons of 2012-13 in Vertisols at Bellary, India. Adopting improved chickpea varieties of BGD103 and JG11 during winter season increased the grain yields from 12.5 to 15.9%, respectively over locally cultivated A1 variety. The CB that was laid out during July (rainy season) conserved rainwater in-situ and further increased the grain yield of chickpea up to 36.7% in BGD103 and 43.9% in JG11. The increase in grain yield from 24.2% (JG11) to 27.8% (BGD103) indicates that CB is effective for in-situ rainwater conservation and improving profile soil moisture in Vertisols. However technology gap during study period was higher compared to extension gap and it was attributed to drought situation with only 81.2% of mean annual rainfall. Technology index was higher in this study and varied from 48.3% (Cultivation of BGD103 variety with CB) to 60.6% (Cultivation of JG11 variety without CB) indicating that technology index can be reduced and chickpea yields can be increased and sustained with adoption of improved chickpea production technologies including in-situ rainwater conservation practices at farmers fields. Correlation studies also indicate that grain weight, stover weight and total dry matter production per plant ultimately determine the chickpea grain and stover yields in the Vertisols of Bellary region during winter season. Higher gross and net returns with greater B:C ratio was observed with layout of farmers fields with CB and cultivation of JG11 variety.

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