Soil and Water Conservation Practices for Enhancing Productivity in Dryland Farming: A Review

Abstract

Dryland farming supports a substantial proportion of global food production but is increasingly constrained by erratic rainfall, frequent droughts, and progressive soil degradation. Inefficient rainfall utilization, excessive runoff, soil erosion, and declining soil organic matter significantly limit crop productivity and system resilience in dryland regions. Soil and water conservation (SWC) practices offer effective and sustainable solutions to address these challenges by improving in-situ moisture conservation, enhancing soil health, and stabilizing crop yields. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the role of in-situ and ex-situ SWC practices in enhancing productivity of dryland farming systems. Key in-situ measures such as conservation tillage, residue mulching, contour farming, cover cropping, and land configuration techniques (e.g., broad bed and furrow, tied ridging) are discussed for their effectiveness in reducing runoff, increasing infiltration, and minimizing evaporation losses. Ex-situ interventions, including rainwater harvesting structures, farm ponds, and watershed-based approaches, are examined for their potential to provide supplemental irrigation and improve water availability during critical crop growth stages. The review further highlights the importance of organic matter management and soil health improvement in enhancing soil structure, water-holding capacity, and nutrient cycling under dryland conditions. Evidence from long-term field experiments indicates that integrated SWC practices significantly improve water use efficiency, nutrient use efficiency, and yield stability, while reducing land degradation. In the context of climate change, SWC practices emerge as key components of climate-smart agriculture by strengthening resilience, reducing vulnerability to drought, and offering mitigation co-benefits through carbon sequestration. Despite proven benefits, adoption of SWC practices remains limited due to socio-economic constraints, knowledge gaps, and site-specific challenges. The review underscores the need for location-specific, integrated, and participatory approaches to scale up SWC technologies for sustainable intensification of dryland farming systems.