The experiment will be conducted in earthen pots ( medium size ) and the amendments will be applied to each pot as per treatment there will be 12 treatment in three replications and there will be 36 pots in all. The soil of ravines will be filled ( 7.5 kg ) will be incubated at field moisture content for one month to complete the soil reaction / decomposition. After one month the seeds (10) of testing crop (oat) will be placed and after harvest of the crop soil will be analyzed for different physio-chemical properties.

1. Synopsis SeminarSynopsis Seminar
On
Enhacing ravinous soil health byEnhacing ravinous soil health by
organic & inorganic amendmentsorganic & inorganic amendments ””
22.11.201322.11.2013
Head of the DepartmentHead of the Department
Dr. S.K. VermaDr. S.K. Verma
Presented by Guided By
H.S. Raghuwanshi Dr.S.K.VermaH.S. Raghuwanshi Dr.S.K.Verma

2. RAVINES are the network of gullies. India is having 2.06 million
hectares of ravine lands which constitute 0.61% of total geographical area
(328 million hectares). Very extensive degradation of land has occurred along
some of major river system of the country in various states in the form of
deep gullies. These gullies are an indication of very bad management of land
resource in India. Apart from the fact that the gullied lands have been
completely destroyed, the gullies are constant menace to the adjoining table
lands. There is hardly any historical record to show when the deterioration
started, but it is reasonable to assume that indiscriminate use of land leading
to disturbance of ecosystem has been one of the main causes for formation of
ravines. Erratic, short duration and high intensity rainfall, erodible nature of
soil, week geology of alluvium, steep slopes and overgrazing have combined to
aggravate the situation.
National Commission on Agriculture (1976) estimated that 3.67 million
hectares of land are damaged to these ravine. A rough estimate suggests that
about 8,000 ha is added to these ravines annually and the nation is losing
about Rs 157 cores worth of produce of fiber, food and fire wood per annum.
There are 4 major areas of severe ravines erosion on the map of India. The
largest is the Yamuna-Chambal Ravines Zone. The ravines flank the Yamuna
river for nearly 250 km and in Agra and Etawah attain a depth of more than 80

3. warriors to the nation and is a major producer of oil seeds, pulses and the
milk. Even maximum productivity of wheat is achieved under limited
irrigations. Soil and water quality is very good. But the precious land has been
converted into ravines. Here, therefore, an effort has been made to assess the
situation of ravines of Chambal in Madhya Pradesh, review the efforts made to
control, reclaim and eliminate the ravines and to utilize them properly for
improving the ecology, social and economic conditions of the people.
In Madhya Pradesh, ravines lie mostly along the rivers Chambal, Sindh, Betwa,
Kunwari and other tributaries of river Yamuna. These are mainly north flowing
peninsular rivers in the State. The river-basin-wise area of ravines in the state,
is given in table-3 for major river basins so affected.
Out of estimated 43.86 lakh ha area under ravines in the country, about 6.83
lakh ha is in Madhya Pradesh. And out of that, nearly 5.7 lakh ha is in Chambal
and Gwalior divisions of the state (Table 1) showing that the Chambal basin
suffers most severely from the problem of land degradation due to ravine
formation. An abrupt fall in altitude between the main Vindhyan hill ranges,
situated in South-West and Western part of the state and the course of the
Chambal in the North-West, together with alluvial deposition in between, results
in heavy soil erosion in this area. The bed level of river Chambal controls the
maximum depth of ravine erosion for its tributaries whereas, for other rivers
like Betva, it is river Yamuna which decides the depth and base level of
erosion. Ravines affected leading top five districts in Madhya Pradesh are,

4. Sheopur)1.92 (area in lakh ha.), Bhind 1.19,Gw alior 1.08, chhatarpur 0.40,
guna (including ashoknagar) 0.97
Ravine Soil are sandy in texture, low in organic carbon and low to very low in
nitrogen and phosphorus. The physical properties like aggregate analysis,
dispersion ratio, binding capacity (Zeta potential) are very poor and low in
organic carbon (anonymous 2013) estimated. The water dispersible aggregates
show that the soil of ravine/study area has very weak binding properties. The
study shows that the percentage of silt and clay fractions of soil are more in
disperse condition (dispersion ratio of 0.80 to 0.90) in all soil profiles and
depths . Maximum aggregates (50 to 70%) are in finer size (>125 micron)
fraction only very less (8-14%) are in coarser (>1 mm) size.
Ravines are described as a “Cancer of the Land” and are the severest
form of erosion. Potentially, the table lands of these area are highly productive
under better managed conditions. The climate and the quality of soil and water
are good. The area is free from major insect pest and diseases of the crops.
Thus, The land degradation is a major issue for its use and if needs special
managements for its resilience and amendments may play a role to improve the
soil and productivity. If properly managed these ravines can be converted into
lush green areas providing better food, fodder, fuel wood, fiber and medicinal
crops/plants resulting into better socio economic environment to the people of
the ravines. The management of ravines soil and keeping these points in view

5. (ii) To estimate elevation in health due to application various amendments.
(ii) To observe the effect of amendments on plant growth & yield.
A brief review work done in M.P. India and abroad:
Bonde et al.,(1977) due to continuous application of organic manures
over years, there, was an increase in cumulative infiltration for 120 minutes
indicating that continuous application of heavy dose of FYM and Green
manuring improved soil aggregate.
At central soil and water conservation research and Training institute,
research center, vasad, seven combinations comprising bajra, cotton and bidi
tobacco were studied under rainfed conditions. crop rotations involving kharif
pulses ( moong and cowpea ) and oilseed crops ( mustard and safflower ) gave
maximum returns (subash chandra,1983). Moong and cowpea gave yield
ranging from 820 to 1,016kg/ha (average of 4 years)
Singh,(1991).The work on ravine reclamation at Ramgarh, Distt.
Etawah (U.P.) in Yamuna catchment indicated that good attempt has been made
in conservation of deep ravinous areas. The mechanical soil conservation
programme of constructing bunds for gully plugging at shorter intervals is a
sound moisture conservation practice.
Prajapati et al, (1993). A fifteen years studies in Yamuna ravines near
Agra (U.P.) revealed that a silvipastoral system consisting of Acacia nilotica +
Cenchrus ciliaris and Acacia tortilis +Cenchrus ciliaris planted at 3X3 m spacing
produced the average yield of 5.0 Mg/ha/yr (2.5Mg fuel + 2.5Mg forage) and

6. (4.2Mg fuel + 2.7Mg forage), total dry biomass, respectively .
Yadav et al. (2002) also reported higher available status of N.P.K.
and S in soil after harvesting of black gram in reclaimed soil sodic soil due
to application of gypsum.
Das et al. (2010) reported that application of spent wash was
found beneficial by in highly saline (EC 20.7 dsm 1) soil correcting‾
constraints and improving yield @25 kg. grain m3 along with nutrients’
uptake in paddy. Wastewater (120mˉha) was found most favorable
concentration for growing paddy in red and laterite soil type (ph ˉ 7.0).˂
Gahlot, et al. (2011).The application of lower doses of digested
spent wash to the soil, either as soil amendment or along with irrigation,
has a beneficial effect on soil nutrients, thereby increasing the uptake of
nutrients by the crop and ultimately resulting in increased crop
productivity.
Cheng et al.,( 2006), Lehmann, 2007a and Chan and Xu, (2009),
reported that after biochar additions, the pH of soils may increase or
decrease, depending on the pH and liming value of the biochar. Biochars can
have pH values of below 4 or above 12, depending on feedstock type,
pyrolysis temperature and degree of

7. oxidation, which generates very different living conditions for microorganisms
in biochar pore spaces. Given the often observed spatial proximity of
microorganisms and biochar surfaces), the pH of biochars may therefore have
a very important influence on total microbial abundance.
Kumar et al. (2010), observed that the application of FYM alone or in
conjunction with green manuring was effective in enhancing organic carbon
content as well as available Zn in the soil. Similarly, green manuring every year
with dhaincha & sunhemp was as effective as FYM alone or in conjoint
application with green manuring.
Technical Programme of work.
(Including location of place of work; facilities available etc.)
(A) Location of place of work : The experiment will be conducted in pot
medium at College of Agriculture, Gwalior
(M.P.)
(B) Facilities available : All necessary facilities are available at College
of Agriculture, Gwalior (M.P.)

8. (C) Details of experiment:
The experiment will be conducted in earthen pots ( medium
size ) and the amendments will be applied to each pot as per
treatment there will be 12 treatment in three replications and
there will be 36 pots in all. The soil of ravines will be filled ( 7.5
kg ) will be incubated at field moisture content for one month to
complete the proceedings. After one month the seeds of testing
crop ( oat ) and after harvest of the crop soil will be analyzed
for different physio-chemical properties.
Details of treatments: Design: - C.R.D.
T1 – Gypsum @1.00 ton ha.
T2 – Gypsum @2.00 ton/ha
T3 – Green manuring @kg/ha
T4 – Biochar @165 ton/ha
T5 – Spent wash @50,0000 liter/ha
T6 – Gypsum + Green manuring (T1 + T3 )
T7 – Green manuring + Biochar (T3 + T4 )
T8 – Gypsum + Spent wash (T1 + T5 )
T9 – Gypsum + Biochar (T1 + T4 )
T10 – Gypsum + Spent wash (T1 + T5 )
T11 – Green manuring + Spent wash ( T3+ T5 )

9. (D) Methodology :
Observations to be analyzed & recorded:
(a)Physical properties of Soil:
(i)Water holding capacity : Keen box method
(ii)Hydraulic conductivity of soil : Sample by constant head method-(ii
block(1995)
(iii)Bulk density : Core method ( Klute, et al. , 1986)
(iv)Porosity :
(v)Aggregate analysis : Determine the aggregate analysis
using yoder s apparatus method (1936)҆
(b)Chemical properties of Soil:
(i)EC : 1:2.5 Soil: water Suspension ( Jackson,1967)
(ii)PH : 1:2.5 Soil: water Suspension ( Jackson,1967)
(iii)N. : Alkaline permanganate method by ( Subbiah and Asija, 1956)
(iv)P. : Extraction with 0.5M NaHCO3 using by ( Olsen et. al; 1954)
(v) K. : Extraction with Neutral Normal NH4 OAc by (Stanford and
English ,1949)
(vi)Organic carbon : Walkley and black method,1934).

10. (c) Crop
(i) Growth rate (ii) yield parameter (iii) Organic
carbon
Collaboration with other deptt:-
(Specify Details).
Department of agronomy, College of Agriculture, Gwalior.
Department of Statistics, College of Agriculture, Gwalior.
Bibliography :
Chan K.Y., Zwieten Van, Meszaros L., Dowine I., Joseph A.S.,(2007).
Agronomic values of greenwaste biochar as a soil amendment.
Australian journal of soil research 45, 629.
Das Madhumita, Charaborty H., Singandhupe R.B., Muduli S.D., and
Kumar A., (2010). Utilization of distillery wastewater for improving
production in underproductive paddy grown area in india.
Journal of scientific & industrial research vol.69,july 2012,pp. 560-563.

11. Dhurva-Narayana V.V. (2002) soil and water conservation research in India pp.
337,338,339,355.360.Ravines, central soil and water conservation research training institute
dehradun.
Gahlot D.K., kukreja K., suneja S. and dudeja S.S. (2011). Effect of digested distillery spent wash on
nodulation, nutrient uptake and photosynthetic activity in chickpea. Acta agronomica, 59
(1).pp.- (2011) DOI: 10.1556/aagr:59.2011.1.
International Biochar Initiative: United states of America
Kumar Kiran, and Phogat V.K. (2010). Characterization of Spent wash from different distillery
operating in haryana its utilization as source of liquid manure in agriculture. journal of the
Indian society of soil science vol.58,no.3,pp. 347-351 (2010).
Kumar sunil, Singh A.P. and Tiwari sanjay, (2010) Imact of long-term application of green
manuring on vertical distribution of GTPA extricable Zinc and organic carbon. Journal of the
Indian society of soil science vol.58, no.1,pp.91-93 (2010).
Prajapati, M.Cm, Nambiar K.T.N., Puri D.N., Singh J.P. and Malhotra B.M.. 1993. Acacia nilotica and
Cenchrus ciliaris silvipasture for sustainable productivity of fuel and fodder in ravines. In:
Agroforestry in 2000 AD for the semiarid and arid tropics. Extended Abstract (Eds) A.S.
Gill, Deb Roy and A.K. Bisaria, NRCAF, Jhansi pp. 33-34 .

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fertilizers and organic manure on soil properties and yield. Journal of
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