Compartmental bunding means the entire field is divided into small compartments with pre determined size to retain the rain water where it falls and arrest soil erosion. The compartmental bunds are formed using bund former. The size of the bunds depends upon slope of the land. Compartmental bunds provide more opportunity time for water to infiltrate into the soil and help in conserving soil moisture.

Compartmental bunding Summer ploughing with compartmental bunding Cotton crop cultivation under Compartmental bunding in red soils

Salient features :

• Compartmental bunding is an effective moisture conservation measure in dryland.
• It is suitable for lesser rrainfall areas and the slope is < 1%
• The lands are divided into small compartments with the dimension of 8 x 5 m2.
• Small compartments act as a dam and store the rainfall received in the compartments for longer period.
• It increases water holding capacity of the soil.
• It can be formed while ploughing itself or before early sowing.
• Reduces the formation of cracks.
• It will overcome the disadvantages of contour bunding.

Field view of compartmental bunding	Horticultural crops in Compartmental bunding
Compartmental bunding before sowing	Moisture conservation in cropped field in compartmental bunding

Summer ploughing, broad bed and furrows, ridges and furrows, random tie ridging, compartmental bunding etc. are the various in situ water harvesting methods for black and red soils cause an increase of up to 15 per cent in crop yields.