Foreword

This publication summarizes the reports, conclusions, and recommendations of the Consultants' Workshop on the State of the Art and Management Alternatives for Optimizing the Productivity of SAT Alfisols and Related Soils. The workshop was hosted by ICRISAT, 1-3 December 1983, and had the following objectives:

1. Review the important environmental, physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of SAT Alfisols and "related soils", and identify major constraints to their effective agricultural utilization.
2. Assess the current state of the art on effective management of SAT Alfisols under rainfed conditions with particular reference to the following.
a. Soil and water conservation and management.
b. Optimum requirements for effective crop establishment and growth.
c. Water supply development and efficient use for supplemental irrigation.
d. Fertility and nutritional requirements.
e. Alternative cropping systems.

The full workshop proceedings are scheduled for publication in 1985. Meanwhile, we hope that the synthesized information included in this report will benefit farming systems researchers and practitioners working on these soils.

J.S. Kanwar
Director of Research