Soil & Water Conservation Research Institute, Chakwal

Pothowar region in Northern Punjab (1.82 Mha) is the watershed/catchment area for Indus River. It generates huge runoff, estimated to be around 6 MAF/year, due to its undulating topography, lesser crop cover and poor capacity of rural communities. The torrential rainfall pattern erodes around 1billion ton soil loss/annum generates peak runoff flow during monsoon causing land degradation on account of severe soil and water losses. The runoff is reported to cause downstream damages resulting in flood. Erratic rainfall and loss of water through runoff are main agriculture problems in the sloppy lands of the dryland farming area.  Huge losses of soil in rainfed areas because of erosion has caused frustration among the inhabitants, therefore, many of them have chosen alternate professions. The loss of soil through runoff is occurred by high intensity of rainfall, low vegetation and low organic matter of the soil. The other problem of rainfed areas is moisture stress; long dry spells effect the crops, while sometime rain may be enough for both winter and summer crops but improper water conservation leads to poor crops. Because of uneven topographic features, unequal distribution and erratic rains, major portion of rainwater is lost as run-off, which can be utilized for enhancing agricultural production if properly conserved. Successful conservation of diminishing water and land resources are needed to feed an ever-increasing population and alleviating poverty. Soil and Water Conservation Research Institute was established in 1989 at Chakwal to develop technology for soil and water conservation and efficient use of available moisture for sustainable and profitable crop production.  This institute consists of 12.31acre area including research and office area. The main objective is to develop specific technology for climatic zones of rainfed areas, this institute has also developed its research stations at Sohawa, Jhelum and Fatehjang, Attock.

Mission

SAWCRI aims to conduct local field-scale participatory research through using various techniques to harvest rainfall at the point of its origin and its subsequent use for minimizing land degradation and increasing crop cover/productivity in the Pothohar region.

Objectives

• To develop appropriate soil & water conservation low cost technology for different ecological zones including rehabilitation of gullied lands and water harvesting
• To standardize soil & crop management practices to arrest soil & water losses and raise the productivity
• To develop a system to monitor surface runoff and soil losses under different land use, soil types and rainfall patterns

Achievements

Following are the research achievements of the institute:

1. Use of High-Efficiency Irrigation Systems

2. On-Farm Composting for Soil Health Improvement

3. Management of Gullied/Eroded Lands Without Bulldozing

4. Moisture Conservation through Hydrogel Application

5. Promoting Sustainable Growth with Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR)

6. Conservation of Moisture by Green Manuring

7. Rainwater Harvesting Techniques

8. Upscaling of Farm Water Control Structures

9. Upscaling of Gypsum Technology for Crop Improvement

Initiatives

• ​Developing an indigenously designed rainwater-based groundwater recharge system to harvest rainwater and replenish aquifers; this reduces runoff and erosion, improves local water tables, ensures reliable irrigation in dry spells, reduces crop failure risk, and lowers pumping costs for farmers.
• Promoting grass strips such as Mott grass and Super Napier grass under rainfed conditions for erosion control; this reduces topsoil loss, increases infiltration, maintains soil fertility, and simultaneously provides livestock fodder, lowering feed costs and raising farmers’ income.
• Promoting high-efficiency irrigation systems such as responsive drip irrigation, nano-tube irrigation, bubbler irrigation, and spiral pipe irrigation for high-value crops; these save 30–60% water, prevent salinity buildup, improve crop productivity and quality, reduce irrigation energy needs, and enhance farm profitability.
• To promote the adoption of technologies, assessing organic fertilizers compared with farmers’ practices in wheat under medium and low rainfall conditions with expanding trials to farmers’ fields; this builds soil organic matter, improves water-holding capacity, stabilizes wheat yields during drought, reduces fertilizer costs, and increases grain quality and farmer returns.
• Diversifying cropping patterns with soybean, sesame, safflower, linseed, barley, and medicinal plants; these crops improve soil health, require less water, spread production risks, enhance protein and oilseed supply, and provide farmers access to higher-value markets.
• Promoting summer medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) on less-productive soils and in medium/high rainfall areas of Potohar; these crops conserve soil, require modest water, reduce erosion, utilize marginal lands productively, diversify income sources, and offer premium market returns.
• Testing anti-transpirants such as to reduce water stress and enhance soil organic matter through the application potassium humate; this improves water-use efficiency, strengthens soil structure, stabilizes yields under drought and heat, reduces irrigation needs, and protects farmers’ income in stress years.
• Disseminating standardized soil and water conservation technologies directly to farmers through field demonstrations, guides, and digital platforms; this accelerates adoption, enhances regional production stability, reduces farmer risk, and shortens the path from innovation to income.

Facilities

Following are the facilities provided by the institute:

• Technical guidance to farming community to monitor the Soil and water
• Technical guidance to conserve Soil and water
• Provision of technical brochures and manual guide for soil and water conservation practices
• Execution of Farmers field for awareness of soil water conservation technologies
• Capacity building of farmers, professionals on soil and water conservation techniques, and rain water harvesting and moisture conservation etc.

Services

The following advisory/technical services are provided to the farmers:

• Guiding farmers in installing low-cost erosion control structures, such as loose-stone water control structures and vegetative barriers, to reduce soil erosion and improve rainwater infiltration for enhanced moisture retention.
• Assisting farmers in stabilizing degraded and deeply eroded lands (gullies) using biological and mechanical measures to restore soil productivity and prevent further land degradation.
• Providing technical support for designing and constructing micro-catchments in fields and rooftop rainwater harvesting systems to store water for supplemental irrigation, especially for household use and kitchen gardening.
• Regularly visiting farmers’ lands with field teams to offer personalized technical advice on soil and water management, crop selection, and conservation practices based on on-site observations and local conditions.
• Installing and promoting the use of water-saving irrigation technologies such as drip, bubbler, and micro-sprinkler systems, enabling farmers to irrigate efficiently with minimal energy and water loss.
• Educating farmers on the use of soil amendments like gypsum to improve soil structure and water-holding capacity, and encouraging green manuring practices to enhance soil organic matter and moisture retention.
• Improving soil health and fertility through on-farm composting by training farmers to prepare compost from farm and household waste, and promoting kitchen gardening practices.
• Developing and distributing easy-to-understand brochures and manuals in local languages to provide step-by-step guidance on implementing various soil and water conservation techniques.
• Organizing farmer field days and conducting live demonstrations of conservation practices, allowing farmers to witness the benefits and interact with experts for better understanding and adoption.
• Conducting gender-inclusive training sessions, workshops, and practical demonstrations to empower farmers (both male and female), students, and professionals with the skills needed to apply effective soil conservation, rainwater harvesting, and moisture management techniques.

How to Avail Service: 

The above mentioned technical advisory services are provided to farmers, professionals and youth, both males & females through:

• Direct interaction (staff visit to farmers & vice versa)
• Farmer days/trainings
• Electronic media (radio talks etc.)
• Print media (newspaper, brochures, manuals, leaflets)
• Social media (facebook, website, WhatsApp, You tube  etc.)

Contacts of the Focal Person

Allied Stations

Soil and Water Conservation Research Station, Fatehjang

Total geographical area of Punjab Province is 20.65 million hectares. Out of these 7.30 million hectares are designated as Barani tract with only 3.10 million hectares available for cultivation.  The agriculture in Barani areas is confronted with two main problems i.e., soil erosion and water stress.  Soil and water are critical natural resources that sustain human life and the lives of all other creatures on our planet.  The careful husbandry of these natural resources is essential for food security and environmental protection. Sustainable use of these resources is imperative to socially, economically and ecologically viable communities.  The huge losses of soil in Barani area because of wind and water erosion has caused frustration among the inhabitants, therefore, many of them have chosen alternate professions.  The problem is further accentuated with uncertain behavior of rainfall.  Therefore, Soil and Water Conservation Research Institute was established by the Govt. of Punjab to develop technology for soil conservation and efficient use of available moisture for sustainable and profitable crop production. To

employ the findings and to develop technology for different climatic zones of rainfed area, Soil and Water Conservation Research Stations were established at Fateh Jang (District Attock) and Sohawa (District Jhelum) under ADP scheme during 2004.

Objectives

• Development/standardization of sustainable and low cost technology for soil & water conservation including rehabilitation of gullied lands and water harvesting under different ecological zones of Barani tract
• Standardization of soil & crop management practices to arrest soil & water losses
• Development of a system to monitor surface runoff and soil losses under different land use, soil types and rainfall patterns

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Soil and Water Conservation Research Station, Sohawa

The area of Pothwar (1.82 million hectares) in northern Punjab is the source of water for the Indus. There is a high volume of runoff due to the undulating plateau, and it is estimated at approximately 6 million acre feet annually. Precipitation in the rain runoff one billion tones of soil annually when water flows to its base during the monsoon season. The soil is low due to severe loss of soil and water. Due to water runoff there is devastation in the lower slopes which causes floods. Uncertain rainfall and excessive flow of water are the cause of problems of rainforest and sloping surface agricultural lands. One of the major causes of soil erosion is heavy rainfall. This level of emptiness and the reduction of organic matter in the soil include. Another major problem is the lack of moisture in the rainforest areas. Lack of rainfall for a long time has a bad effect on the production of crops. Due to lack of methods of conserving sufficient water despite the rains, good yields are not possible. Due to uneven and unpredictable rains, most of the rainfall is lost due to flow Production can be increased if properly protected.

Gradually reducing water and groundwater resources can address growing population and poverty reduction problems if successfully adopted.

The Soil and water Conservation Research Station was established in Sohawa in 2004 to solve the soil and water problems of the rainy areas. To discover new ways to conserve soil and water and introduce them. Production of profitable and sustainable crops can be achieved by using water efficiently. The area of this Station is 0.3 acres.

Objectives

• Development/standardization of sustainable and low cost technology for soil & water conservation including rehabilitation of gullied lands and water harvesting under different ecological zones of Barani tract. 
• To standardize soil & crop management practices to arrest soil & water loses and raises the productivity.
• To develop a system to monitor surface runoff and soil losses under different land use soil types and rainfall patterns. 

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