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Impact Of Precision Leveling On Spatial Variability Of Moisture Conservation In Arid Zones Of Karnataka
1S. Upadhyaya, 2P. Balakrishnan, 2B. Pujari, 2M. Patil, 2P. Kanannavar
1. UC Davis,California,USA
2. UAS Raichur,Karnataka,India

Precision farming is the need of the hour for increasing the food production by providing innovative techniques to address spatial variability prevalent in agricultural fields.  Laser leveling is such a technique that can assist in reducing spatial variability in soil moisture content across a field.  This approach is particularly helpful in arid regions such as Raichur. A study was conducted in research farms of UAS, Raichur to find the feasibility of using a tractor operated laser guided land leveler to control spatial variation in moisture content distribution. A comparative evaluation of the laser guided land leveler with the existing system of leveling with respect to    leveling index, moisture distribution was undertaken. The results showed that the standard deviation of reduced levels before leveling was 11.42 cm and after using the laser leveler was 1.43 cm. The standard deviation of reduced levels before leveling was 14.43 cm and 8.63 cm after leveling using the conventional leveler for leveling.  This accounted for a reduction of 47.42 per cent for laser leveling. From contours analysis higher accuracy of grading was observed when the fields were graded with the laser leveler which led to uniform distribution of moisture storage in the field. After rainfall of 19mm and 70mm at different durations, the average uniformity coefficients of moisture content distribution and standard deviation in case of precision leveled fields were found to be 93.63 per cent and 3.53 per cent respectively. The same were 74.41 per cent and 10.73 per cent respectively in case of traditional leveling. The leveling indices after leveling were 1.22 cm and 6.69 cm, respectively, for precision leveled and traditionally leveled fields. The spatial variability of moisture conservation was observed to be very less in case of precision leveled plots as compared to traditionally leveled plots. However, the cost of operation was 23.14 per cent higher in case of Laser guided precision leveler. The practice of precision leveling reduces the spatial variability by reducing leveling index and also enhancing better conservation of moisture and its utilization in arid zones of Northern   Karnataka where water resources are very limited.

Keyword: Precision leveler, Laser leveler, Moisture conservation, Spatial Variability,Moisture Contours