Author(s): Zubair Ahmad Khan, RK Srivastava, Sheikh Aadil Mushtaq, Malik Arif Bashir, Maliqa Majid, Adil Majeed and Ussama Zaffer

Abstract: Conservation agriculture (CA) has emerged as a promising approach for improving soil health and enhancing the sustainability of rainfed farming systems, particularly in ecologically fragile and water-stressed regions like the Kandi belt of Jammu. Assessing soil physical properties is essential for evaluating the effectiveness of conservation agriculture (CA) in enhancing water retention, infiltration, and overall soil health, particularly in dryland ecosystems. These parameters directly influence resource use efficiency and agricultural sustainability. This study examines the effects of CA practices on soil moisture dynamics, infiltration rates, and bulk density in the Akhnoor tehsil of Jammu district. The field experiments were conducted during the wheat-growing season of 2019 on sandy clay soils to assess the influence of conservation structures specifically contour bund cum trench, contour trench, and contour bund on soil physical properties. Measurements were taken at distances of 1?m and 5?m from these structures. The results indicated notable improvements in infiltration rates, with increases of 114.28%, 100%, and 85.71% at 1?m from the respective structures, and 39.53%, 25.58%, and 11.63% at 5?m. Additionally, soil bulk density (0-10?cm depth) measured 0.5?m from the structures was reduced by 5.063%, 3.797%, and 3.165%, respectively, compared to control plots. The CA-treated areas also exhibited consistently higher soil moisture throughout the season, indicating enhanced water-use efficiency. Although no severe drought occurred during the study period, the findings highlight the potential of conservation agriculture to improve rainwater utilization and increase the resilience of dryland farming systems under variable climatic conditions. These results affirm CA as a key strategy for promoting sustainable agriculture and mitigating the risks associated with climate change in vulnerable agro ecological zones.

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