Open AccessEFFECTS OF RAINWATER HARVESTING ON YIELD OF WHEAT AND MAIZE CROPS IN PAKISTAN
Author(s) -
I. Jan,
Shahin Shah Khan,
Tariq Mahmood
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
pakistan journal of agriculture, agricultural engineering and veterinary sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2663-7863
pISSN - 1023-1072
DOI - 10.47432/2021.37.1.4
Subject(s) - rainwater harvesting , irrigation , agriculture , rainfed agriculture , yield (engineering) , agronomy , crop , geography , agroforestry , environmental science , biology , ecology , materials science , archaeology , metallurgy
This paper attempts to identify the effect of rainwater harvesting (RWH) and rainfed irrigation on yield of wheat and maize crops in Pakistan. The study was carried out in two villages, namely, Reerh and Ghoutar of district Mansehra, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. A total of 200 farming households were randomly selected from both villages. A questionnaire survey was conducted to collect primary data. The descriptive analysis shows that farmers in the research area had adopted small-scale, indigenous RWH schemes such as channels, bunds, tanks, and rooftop collection. A paired-samples t-test was used to compare the yield of wheat and maize crops between irrigated and rainfed farming systems. The results of the paired t-test confirmed a difference in yield of wheat and maize in irrigated and rainfed conditions. The study concludes that the large portion of uncultivated land could be cultivated if water shortage problem is resolved through the promotion of community-led RWH schemes in the area. This will help in sustainable agricultural development in the area.