At a glance
Four facts that settle most exam questions on this topic
In-situ conservation
Bunds, contour farming, mulch, and residue keep rain where it falls.
Gypsum is targeted
It fixes sodic soil specifically, not every hard or compacted soil.
Drip and AWD
Deliver water near roots, or let rice fields dry before reflooding.
Field savings ≠ basin savings
Water saved on one farm may have recharged a neighbour’s well.
On this page
Follow the field’s water balance
Ask one question first
Rain and irrigation add water. The soil stores some for roots, and plants use it as they grow.
- Some water evaporates, runs off, or moves below the root zone. Crop water need changes with weather and growth stage.
- The first question to ask: is water missing from the root zone, or is too much water sitting there?
Rain and irrigation enter the soil and roots, which drives crop growth. Other paths pull water away too: evaporation, runoff, and deep drainage.
Keep rain in the field
In-situ moisture conservation: keeping water where it falls
- Level fields. Spread irrigation more evenly. Small bunds hold rain long enough to soak into the soil.
- On slopes. Contour farming follows level lines. Terraces and grass strips slow runoff and soil loss.
- Cover crops. Mulch, crop residue, and cover crops shade the soil, reducing direct evaporation and erosion.
- Tillage. Reduced or zero tillage can help retain that cover, though weeds still need separate control.
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) lists zero tillage, laser levelling, and bed planting among its resource-saving methods.
True or False: Mulch and crop residue can shade soil and reduce direct evaporation.
Why gypsum needs a diagnosis
Match the method to the problem
| Field problem | Useful first step | Check before use |
|---|---|---|
| Rain runs off a slope | Contour rows, bunds, or terraces | Land slope and safe drainage |
| Bare soil dries fast | Mulch or crop residue | Termites, weeds, and planting method |
| Water pools unevenly | Field levelling | Cost and soil movement |
| Sodium makes soil seal | Soil test, then gypsum if advised | Sodicity, water quality, and dose |
- Gypsum supplies calcium. In sodic soil, excess sodium can block water entry entirely.
- Calcium can help improve that soil’s structure and infiltration, but gypsum does not fix every hard or compacted soil.
- Test the soil and irrigation water before buying gypsum. The right rate always depends on the specific site.
Watch this trap: gypsum treats sodic soil specifically. It is not a general fix for every compacted or hard field.
True or False: Gypsum can improve water entry when excess sodium harms soil structure.
Deliver water near roots
Drip, sprinklers, and rice-specific methods
- Drip irrigation. Places small flows near roots. Sprinklers spray water over a wider field area.
- Either can reduce field application compared with poorly managed flood irrigation, though costs, filters, pressure, and repairs all matter.
- Alternate wetting and drying (AWD). For irrigated rice, this lets the water level fall below the surface before reflooding, and needs careful water control.
- Direct-seeded rice. Avoids nursery transplanting and can reduce early field flooding, though weed control and local soil conditions affect results.
Storing rain and choosing crops
- Farm ponds store runoff for a later dry spell, though open ponds also lose water to evaporation.
- Recharge pits and check dams may help groundwater where geology allows. The Central Ground Water Board says design must fit local terrain.
- Shorter-duration varieties and suitable planting dates can avoid peak dry periods.
- Deficit irrigation. Giving less than a crop’s full water need. Water stress during flowering or grain filling may sharply cut yield, so it needs expert timing rather than a blanket rule.
True or False: Every field needs gypsum, residue cover, and reduced tillage together.
Count shared water, not only field water
True or False: Drip irrigation can reduce water applied to a field without proving basin-wide savings.
2026 Update: Reservoirs Run Low, Making These Practices Urgent
An uneven monsoon puts pressure on the rabi season ahead
In late September 2026, the Central Water Commission reported India’s 178 major reservoirs at only 70% of live capacity, below both the 10-year average and last year’s level for the same week.
- South India was hit hardest: reservoirs across Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu held just 50% capacity, with rainfall running well below normal.
- Western and central India fared better, at 84-86% capacity, but still trailed 2025 levels for the same date.
- The 2026 monsoon was uneven month to month: a June deficit, a slight July surplus, then sizeable deficits in both August and September.
- This shortfall makes water-saving farm practices like drip irrigation, mulching, and alternate wetting and drying more urgent for the coming rabi sowing season.
Separately, a government backgrounder reported Per Drop More Crop covering over 115 lakh hectares by July 2026, about 8.11% of India’s net sown area. That is scheme coverage, though, not a measure of basin water actually saved.
True or False: In late September 2026, India’s major reservoirs held less water than both the 10-year average and the same week in 2025.
Think it through: why might a farm use less irrigation while the local basin saves little water?
Some water leaving a field may return to a stream or recharge an aquifer nearby. A farmer might also use the water saved on more land instead of less.
A complete answer measures withdrawals, crop use, and return flows across the whole basin, then checks who actually gains access, especially tail-end farms downstream.
What examiners test here
UPSC Prelims 2017 listed three practices: reduced tillage, gypsum before irrigation, and leaving crop residue on the field.
- UPSC CSP 2017The keyed answer includes all three, since each can help conserve water in a suitable field. The question does not mean every farm needs gypsum; its benefit depends on the soil’s specific problem.
Quick Q&A
What is in-situ moisture conservation?
Keeping water where it falls, through bunds, contour farming, mulch, and crop residue.
Does gypsum fix every hard or compacted soil?
No. It specifically treats sodic soil, where excess sodium blocks water entry.
What is alternate wetting and drying (AWD)?
A rice-irrigation method letting the water level fall below the surface before reflooding, saving water.
Does saving water on one field prove a river basin saved water?
No. Water leaving a field may recharge a neighbour’s well or return to a stream.
What financial assistance does PDMC give small and marginal farmers?
55% of the cost, compared with 45% for other farmers.
How full were India’s reservoirs in late September 2026?
About 70% of live capacity nationally, and just 50% in South India, both below normal.
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MCQ on Water Conservation Practices in Agriculture
Try 6 practice questions on in-situ conservation, gypsum, drip irrigation, and PDMC.
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