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The Effect of Cumulative Erosion and Rainfall on Sorghum, Pearl Millet and Castor Bean Yields Under Dry Farming Conditions in Andhra Pradesh, India

SUMMARY Topsoil depth and yields of sorghum, pearl millet and castor bean were found to be positively correlated when monitored over thirteen seasons under widely varying rainfall conditions on an Alfisol in Andhra Pradesh, India. Yields responded up to 2.5 times more to topsoil depth when rainfall in the critical period exceeded evapotranspiration than under drier conditions. Yield variations were explained by topsoil depth in cereals, and by the interaction between rainfall during the critical period and topsoil depth in cereals and castor bean (R2<0.72). The expected yield losses as a result of erosion, based on 56 years of rainfall data, were 138, 84 and 51 kg ha−1 cm−1 for sorghum, pearl millet and castor bean, respectively. Quadratic models explained the yield losses due to cumulative erosion under conditions of both poor and good rainfall during the critical period. Sorghum and pearl millet tended to produce no yield when erosion exceeded 34 cm and castor bean when it exceeded 40 cm. There was less reduction in yield when rainfall was poor, up to about 10 cm of erosion, than when rainfall was good. The results indicate that pearl millet and castor bean are more suitable than sorghum for low rainfall and eroded conditions.