Khadin cultivation: a traditional runoff farming system in Indian Desert needs sustainable management

Khadin cultivation is a typical land use system of runoff farming followed since 15th century in 100–200 mm rainfall zone in Jaisalmer district of western Rajasthan. The soils in khadins are fertile due to regular settlement of fine sediments brought down by the runoff water and their potential for producing food grain is well recognized for securing a dependable harvest. However, the productivity from khadin cultivation remains low due to many factors. Some of the thrust areas and strategies for better management of khadins with higher productivity on sustainable basis include designing of new khadins with provision of spillway, recycling of excess stored water for either growing of crops in down reaches or for life saving irrigation in upper reaches and adjoining land, conservation measures to ensure availability of soil moisture to crops over a period of their duration, standardization of fertilizer requirement of different crops and adoption of multi-production systems such as agroforestry, fisheries, etc. To predict the crop productivity from khadin cultivation on sustainable basis; there is a need to generate data on productivity in relation to rainfall, catchment area, ponding depth, status of conserved moisture, and soil fertility for different crops over a period of time for low, normal and above-normal monsoon. Future research has to be directed to develop short-duration varieties whose water requirement matches with the availability of conserved moisture in khadins. Emphasis has to be given on integration of multipurpose woody perennials like Acacia nilotica (Linn.) Del sub sp. indica, Prosopis cineraria (Linn.) Druice, Zizyphus mauritiana Lamk. etc., and fruit bearing plant species such as Cordia myxa Linn. and Phoenix dactylifera Linn. for enhancing productivity from khadin cultivation.