Journal of Advances in Biology & Biotechnology

Soil salinity, poor-quality irrigation water, nutrient imbalance and water scarcity are major constraints to agricultural and horticultural productivity in the semi-arid regions of Rajasthan, where substantial spatial variability in soil and water resources necessitates farmer-oriented, location-specific extension interventions. The present study assessed documented extension interventions of Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Pali, with particular emphasis on soil-health management, salinity mitigation, crop diversification and horticultural development. Institutional records, documented farmer-participatory interventions and published studies associated with KVK Pali were compiled and analysed using descriptive statistics, including percentage contribution, percentage change, mean, median, minimum, maximum and range, as appropriate. During 2021–22, KVK Pali conducted 6 on-farm tests, 358 crop frontline demonstrations, 100 training programmes and 567 extension activities, besides 12 field days, 11 Kisan Gosthies and 5 Kisan Melas. A salinity-management intervention involving 86 farmers from five villages recorded soil pH of 7.78–9.33, soil electrical conductivity (EC) of 0.29–7.40 dS m⁻¹ and mean soil EC of 1.46 dS m⁻¹, while more than 75% of open-well irrigation-water samples had electrical conductivity of 5.0–13.2 dS m⁻¹. Following the intervention, 63% of beneficiary farmers were reported to be aware of sustainable soil-health management and willing to adopt balanced fertiliser use in accordance with agro-advisories and Soil Health Cards. Eight crop-diversification combinations showed increases in net returns ranging from 16.6 to 28.9%, with a descriptive mean increase of 22.33% and median of 22.10%. In a documented muskmelon intervention, productivity increased from 47.8 to 64.5 t ha⁻¹ between 2016 and 2019, while net income increased from ₹38,475 to ₹52,400 ha⁻¹ and the benefit: cost ratio increased from 2.77 to 4.10. Overall, the evidence supports an integrated extension approach combining diagnosis of soil and water constraints, Soil Health Cards, irrigation-water management, farmer–scientist interaction, improved and salt-tolerant varieties, crop diversification, horticultural technologies, demonstrations, market linkage and follow-up support. Future assessment of extension effectiveness should complement activity-based indicators with longitudinal measurements of technology adoption, soil-quality improvement, water productivity and farm profitability.