Multiple Water Use in Gardenland Integrated Farming System for Enhancing Productivity

A model of integrated input management to suit small farmers under garden-land conditions was studied at Agricultural Research Station, Bhavanisagar during 2015 and 2016 in an area of 1 ha. The objective of the study was to achieve better utilization of available resources to maximize returns by integrating cropping, dairy, poultry and vermin-compost, to recycle farm and livestock wastes effectively to assure stability in production and returns. The results over the two year period revealed that by integrating allied enterprises with crop activity, income and productivity can be enhanced. Integrated Farming System recorded lower water consumed (14249 m3) compared to conventional farming system (22925 m3). The higher gross income of Rs.5,62,044/- physical water productivity (8.26 kg m-3) and economic water productivity (39.44 Rs.m-3) recorded under Integrated Farming System compared to conventional farming system.