In the present situation of globalization and health awareness demand of the virtuous horticultural crops has increased worldwide. The increasing demand for the fruits and vegetables and market competition has forced the farmers to produce more and high-quality fruits and vegetables for sustaining in the international market. Use of organic mulching is one of the suitable methods which could help the horticultural growers to increase the production with good quality of produce. Looking to the water scarcity and the challenges that arise due to climate change, adoption of organic mulching at large scale by the Indian farmers would help the farmers to overcome several problems considering the advantages of organic mulching. From the findings of the several studies shown that mulching with organic materials increases the soil nutrients, maintains the optimum soil temperature, restricts the rate of evaporation from the soil surface, restricts the weed growth and prevents the soil erosion. It also helps to improve the soil health. Organic mulches are cheap materials; therefore, the cost of mulching is also economical. In this paper, an attempt has been made to overview on the various types of mulching, mulching techniques, benefits and limitations of mulching.

Twenty five points were identified at 10 m grid interval and field measurements were performed using double ring infiltrometer method. Result of soil analysis suggests sandy loam and loamy sand texture and the bulk density and particle density have varied from 1.412-1.716 g/cm 3 and 2-3.03 g/cm 3 , respectively. The basic infiltration rate has varied from 0.3 cm/h to 6.8 cm/h. Result show that sand, particle density and organic carbon content have a positive correlation with infiltration rate by 0.75, 0.18 and 0.22, respectively, whereas silt, clay, bulk density and moisture content, have a negative correlation with infiltration rate by −0.41, −0.73, −0.33 and −0.22, respectively. The analysis performed for five classes considering the combination of soil properties and subjected to regression analysis. Result shows that in order to predict soil infiltration rate based on few properties of soil with seven independent variables, multi-linear regression model E IR =-30,578.81-305.56(sand%)-306.16 (silt%)-0.306.33(clay%)-5.18(BD%)+.34(MC%)+4.18(PD)+16.85(OC%) with R 2 (0.80), mean RMSE (1.52) and standard error (2.39) is the best model for the estimation of infiltration rate and recommended for the study area.

A study was under taken for identifying the trends in pre and post-monsoon groundwater levels using Mann-Kendall test and Sen’s slope estimator, and for time series modelling of groundwater levels for forecasting the pre and post-monsoon water levels in Karnal district of Haryana. Results showed that the groundwater levels had significantly declined during 1974 to 2010. Average rates of water level decline were 0.228 and 0.267 m/yr during pre and post-monsoon seasons, respectively. There was rapid decline in water level between 2001 and 2010. The ARIMA (0, 1, 2) was identified as the appropriate model for time series modelling and forecasting. Results showed that the pre and post-monsoon groundwater level in 2050 would decline by 12.97 m and 12.00 m over the observed water level in 2010, and reach to a level of 29.95 m and 28.14 m below ground surface. The average rate of decline of pre and post-monsoon groundwater level in the district during this period would be 0.32 and 0.30 m/yr, respectively.

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Worldwide water management in irrigated and rain-fed agriculture is becoming more and more complex to overcome the expected water scarcity stress. In addition to this, challenges of global warming and climate change would have to be met through the judicious application of water in agriculture through climate-smart water technologies. Agriculture is an important sector in India and many developing countries, providing huge employment opportunities to rural populations, and supporting them to achieve food and nutritional security goals. In this paper, an attempt has been made to address challenges of increasing food production and improving rural livelihoods, while safeguarding critical water resources for sustainable use through adaptive measures for effective water management, particularly in drought-prone regions. An integrated approach needs to be implemented in agricultural water management through adoption of innovations such as water harvesting, micro-irrigation and resource conservation farming to increase water-use efficiency in agriculture and other critical services to humans and animals. The aim of this study is to facilitate an improved understanding of the potential implications of climate change and adaptation options for agricultural water management and thereby assist policymakers in taking up adaptation challenges and developing measures to reduce the vulnerability of the farming sector to climate change.