Agropedology 2023, 33 (01), 57-62 doi.org/10.47114/j.agroped.2023.jun 5 Farm Pond Technology for Crop Productivity Enhancement in Rainfed ecosystem of Marathwada Region of Maharashtra * M.S. Pendke , W.N. Narkhede, P.H. Gourkhede AICRP for Dryland Agriculture, Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Agricultural University, Parbhani-431402 Abstract: Marathwada region is traditionally a drought-prone region. The region receives annual rainfall in the range of 500 to 1100 mm and major area comes under assured rainfall zone (60%). Rainfall in uncertain and erratic in this region and sometimes suffers from severe droughts. The productivity of all crops decreases with either deficiency of rainfall and its distribution or due to moisture stress in critical growth period due to dryspells occurred in July and August. Thus, protective irrigation to rain fed crops particularly during dryspells from harvested water in farm pond is important concept of dryland agriculture for assured crop production. Major crops of the region are soybean, cotton, pigeon pea, sorghum, green gram and black gram during kharif season. Similarly, gram, rabi sorghum and safflower are grown in rabi season. Based on the farmers need, technical interventions were taken up under NICRA (National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture) action research project through preparedness. Farmers had constructed farm ponds through Government schemes on their field for harvesting runoff water. Similarly farmers procured sprinkler set from the Government government schemes. Farmers were advocated to apply farm pond water using sprinkler set during critical dryspells period in kharif and during critical growth period in rabi season. Optimum use of farm pond water to soybean and pigeonpea during kharif season resulted in increase in crop yield up to 50 per cent. Similarly, application of farm pond water to gram in rabi season resulted in productivity enhancement in gram. Key words: Dry spell, farm pond, protective irrigation, sprinkler irrigation *Corresponding author: (Email: mspendke1@rediffmail.com) Introduction Rainfall is a basic resource for all the forms of water in semi-arid tropics. Several management options are available at farm level to increase rainwater use efficiency. Marathwada region is traditionally a drought- prone region. The region receives mean annual rainfall of 880 mm and major area comes under assured rainfall zone. In Marathwada region, out total cultivated area of 57.94 lakh ha, 49.60 lakh ha area is rain fed. The impact of climate change and variability in the region on agricultural production is quite evident in the recent years. Rainfall is the key variable influencing crop productivity of soybean under rain fed condition. Intermittent and prolonged dry spells are the major cause of yield reduction. Occurrence of frequent dry spells during critical crop growth period are common feature of the region which lowers the productivity of all crop due to moisture stress condition. The South-West monsoon account for nearly 75% of the precipitation and exerts a strong influence on the kharif food grain production and the economy in terms of agricultural output, farmers income and price stability. The onset of monsoon, the amount of rainfall and its distribution are crucial factors which influence the performance. The probability of erratic monsoon rains is about 40%. There is need to develop appropriate strategies to deal with such eventualities.