• Authors:
    • Singh, V. K.
    • Sah, A. K.
    • Prakash, O.
    • Singh, R. K.
    • Singh, S. N.
  • Source: Outlook on Agriculture
  • Volume: 39
  • Issue: 3
  • Year: 2010
  • Summary: Rice-wheat is the most commonly employed cropping system on around 14 million hectares of land extending across the Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP). The IGP region covers the South Asian countries of Pakistan (2.2 million ha), India (10.5 million ha), Nepal (0.5 million ha) and Bangladesh (0.8 million ha). The major challenge facing the IGP's rice-wheat cropping system is to sustain long- term productivity. This system has a pivotal role in the food security and livelihoods of millions of farmers and workers of populous countries such as India, particularly in central Uttar Pradesh. The system's productivity and economic gains have been consistently decreasing, mainly because of the delayed sowing of wheat after the rice harvest and the fatigued soil condition. The region's farmers lose valuable time for pre-sowing irrigation and field preparation due to the gap of two to three weeks between the harvesting of rice and the planting of wheat. If wheat sowing is delayed beyond the optimal time (by late November), yields plummet at the rate of 30 kg per ha per day. The adoption of resource conservation technologies, such as zero tilled wheat sowing, is considered essential to maintain the productivity of the rice-wheat cropping system. Economic analysis of data for two years from six on- farm demonstrations shows that the zero tillage method of wheat cultivation is the most economical and attractive option for the farming community of central Uttar Pradesh. A high grain yield and reduced cost of cultivation per hectare, reduction in the density of weeds, especially Phalaris minor, and greater water saving were noted in zero tilled wheat sowings compared with conventional practices. As a result of field demonstrations and farmer training programmes, the introduction of zero till drill wheat sowing has expanded rapidly and has made significant contributions to the tillage revolution in the study area.
  • Authors:
    • Bagwan, N.
  • Source: International Journal of Plant Protection
  • Volume: 3
  • Issue: 2
  • Year: 2010
  • Summary: Crop root exudates of 20 crops like groundnut, soybean, pigeonpea, green gram, black gram, chickpea, pea, cowpea, mustard, cotton, castor, sunflower, safflower, sesamum, sorghum, pearl millet, maize, wheat, onion, and garlic were used in this study. Large variations of inhibitory effect of root exudates on S. rolfsii were observed. Low concentrations of root exudates (5% and 10%) had no effect on inhibition of mycelial growth and germination of sclerotia while, at high concentration (20%) inhibited the mycelial growth and germination of sclerotia. Mycelial growth, dry mycelium weight and sclerotial germination were recorded lowest in root exudates of sunflower, maize, pearl millet, sorghum, safflower, garlic, and onion. Mycelial growth, dry mycelium weight and sclerotial germination was recorded highest in root exudates of soybean, groundnut, green gram, black gram, pigeonpea, chickpea, pea and cowpea. It was observed that the root exudates of maize, sunflower and pearl millet showed a highest percentage of inhibition of mycelial growth and sclerotial germination. Another interesting of thing was observed that root exudates of groundnut, soybean and pea stimulate the mycelial growth and germination of sclerotia as compared to control. The results of this study suggested that the intercropping or crop rotation of safflower, maize, pearl millet, sorghum, sunflower, garlic, and onion with groundnut may be useful for the management of stem rot of groundnut and also for reduction of soil population of S. rolfsii in groundnut field. Similarly intercropping or crop rotation of soybean, green gram, black gram, chickpea, pea and cowpea with groundnut should be avoided. Based on these findings, it is hypothesized that root exudates of some crops contain antifungal compounds, while other stimulate the growth of fungal pathogens. Cultivation of safflower, maize, pearl millet and sorghum with groundnut could lead to a reduction in the occurrence of stem rot disease, especially when chemical control is not effective and economically costly. However, further investigation is necessary for isolation and identification of antifungal compounds in root exudates related to host-pathogen interaction.
  • Authors:
    • Yaduraju, N. T.
    • Das, T. K.
    • Tadesse, B.
  • Source: Weed Biology and Management
  • Volume: 10
  • Issue: 3
  • Year: 2010
  • Summary: Parthenium is widely distributed across the uncropped areas of the tropics. It has slowly encroached into many crops and causes considerable yield loss. It heavily infests sorghum, which is widely cultivated by the resource-poor farmers in Africa and Asia. Its interference and management in sorghum in these cropping systems is not well understood. Therefore, this experiment was undertaken to determine the appropriate parthenium management techniques to use in sorghum crops. All the studied weeds, in combination with parthenium, offered greater competition to sorghum than parthenium alone. Similarly, under a composite stand of weeds, parthenium was inferior in competitiveness to the other weeds until 60 days after sowing (DAS); by 90 DAS, it could accumulate a higher dry weight due to its consistent growth. A pre-emergence treatment of atrazine (0.75 kg ha -1) with wheat straw mulch (5.0 t ha -1) brought about a consistent and significant reduction in the parthenium growth and, consequently, increased the sorghum yield by 90.8%. Cowpea intercropping with and without pendimethalin (1.0 kg ha -1) as a pre-emergence treatment could not control parthenium between 0 and 60 DAS, but could reduce the parthenium growth during the later period of 60-90 DAS, which resulted in a significant increase in sorghum growth. These intercropping treatments increased the sorghum grain yield by 156.2% and 142.4%, respectively, over the unweeded control and by 18.5% and 12.1%, respectively, over the weed-free control. These treatments also promoted a higher uptake of N, P, and K by the sorghum crop. Thus, cowpea intercropping was the most effective method for parthenium management vis-a-vis sorghum yield improvement, followed by cowpea intercropping with pendimethalin and then by atrazine as a pre-emergence treatment with wheat straw mulch.
  • Authors:
    • Sarma, K. K.
    • Debnath, M. C.
    • Borah, B. K.
    • Das, B.
  • Source: Insect Environment
  • Volume: 15
  • Issue: 4
  • Year: 2010
  • Summary: Gram pod borer, Helicoverpa armigera Hubner is the most important pest on chickpea. The present study was undertaken to study the effect of different intercrops on the incidence of gram pod borer on chickpea. The experiment was conducted at Regional Agricultural Research Station, Shillongani, Nagaon (North-east India) in rabi season, 2007-2008. Seven crops were used as intercrops viz., linseed, marigold, wheat, mustard, fennel, coriander and garlic. The chickpea variety, PantG-186 was sown in 5 x 4m size plots and the ratio with intercrop was 4:1, except the sole crop which was used as check. Each intercrop was replicated thrice in RBD. Recommended package of practices were followed. For observation of larvae, ten plants were selected randomly from each plot and their count was recorded weekly. Similarly, for pod damage, ten plants randomly selected were uprooted at harvest and per cent pod damage was assessed by counting all the pods.
  • Authors:
    • Karmakar, R.
    • Das, S. K.
    • Das, I.
  • Source: SATSA Mukhaptra Annual Technical Issue
  • Volume: 14
  • Year: 2010
  • Summary: In India, rice-wheat cropping system (RWCS) has contributed and will continue to contribute largely towards food security. Well-planned steps are necessary to make it sustainable and more productive without any adverse effects on the natural resources and the environment. Past studies indicate that sustainability of RWCS in the Indo-Gangetic Plains is at risk mainly due to decline in groundwater levels, soil organic matter content and nutrient availability, increased soil salinization and pest incidence. Practices for sustainable management diversified crop rotations that enhance soil cover and fertility, and accelarated adoption of resource conserving technologies like zero-tillage, bed planting, laser leveling, surface seeding, intercropping of high value crops, furrow irrigated raised bed planting technique, etc., all of which have been briefed in the present paper.
  • Authors:
    • Shiva, D.
    • Ashok, K.
    • Jat, N.
  • Source: Indian Journal of Agronomy
  • Volume: 55
  • Issue: 4
  • Year: 2010
  • Summary: Meager information is available on the use of Sesbania in conjunction with-crop residue and N-dose in maize-wheat cropping system. Therefore, an attempt was made to substitute the fertilizer N through organic sources in maize-wheat cropping sequence. Hence a field experiment was conducted for 2 year from 2006-2008, on maize ( Zea mays L)-wheat ( Triticum aestivum L. emend. Fiori & Paol) system to evaluate the influence of four organic sources (control, Sesbania green manure (SGM), wheat straw; and the combination of SGM and wheat straw), and three fertilizer N levels (0, 60 and 120 kg/ha) on maize. The residual effect of above treatments and response of wheat to direct N application (0, 40, 80 and 120 kg/ha) were also assessed. The highest plant height, dry matter accumulation, leaf area index, yield attributes, yield (4.48 and 4.86 t/ha during each year) and N uptake by maize were recorded with the application of SGM in combination with wheat straw closely followed by SGM alone. Maize responded significantly to fertilizer N up to 120 kg/ha (4.63 and 4.96 t/ha grain yield during each year) and the residual effect of that also affected significantly the growth and yields of succeeding wheat. Statistically higher plant height, dry matter accumulation, leaf area index, effective tillers, test weight, yields and N uptake by wheat were recorded under residual fertility of organic sources. Under the influence of residual fertility of N, wheat growth and yield parameters responded significantly up to 120 kg N/ha. Wheat also responded significantly to direct N application with respect to all growth and yield parameters and N uptake by wheat. SGM and SGM+wheat straw treatments resulted in gain of N content. Regarding the effect of N levels, N gain was found with all N levels. It was concluded that conjoin use of organic and inorganic sources of N was essential for higher productivity of maize-wheat cropping sequence.
  • Authors:
    • Gill, R. I. S.
    • Baljit, S.
    • Navneet, K.
  • Source: Indian Journal of Agronomy
  • Volume: 55
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2010
  • Summary: Field experiments were done to standardize the agronomic practices of wheat grown in association with poplar ( Populus deltoides Bartr.) plantation at Ludhiana, Punjab. The study was conducted under block plantation of poplar (Clone G-48) grown at a spacing of 5*4 m, (accommodating 500 trees/ha) at the age of 2, 3 and 4 years in 2004, 2005 and 2006, respectively. The soil of the site was low in available N and medium in available P. Three seed rates (100, 125 and 150 kg/ha) and combinations of 3 N (125, 187.5 and 250 kg N/ha) and 2 P levels (27 and 40.5 kg P/ha) were evaluated to find out the optimum fertilizer and seed requirement of wheat (cv. PBW 343) intercropped with poplar. The height and diameter of trees increased from 10.4-15.1 m and 10.4-16.5 cm, respectively in the span of 2 years (2004-06). Wheat yield under poplar reduced with the increase in tree age. However, the crop under poplar responded positively to higher fertilizer and seed rates. The yield of sole wheat was significantly higher when compared with intercropped wheat. Among 3 seed rates, 25% additional seed rate (125 kg/ha) over recommended to sole wheat significantly increased (6%) the grain yield of wheat under poplar plantation. Among different fertilizer levels, grain yield of wheat was significantly higher (3.93 tonne/ha) at 50% additional N than recommended to sole wheat with recommended P i.e. at 187.5 kg N and 27 kg P/ha. N and P uptake by wheat was higher in sole wheat than under poplar. Additional application of seed and nutrients over the recommended levels significantly increased their uptake. The benefit cost ratio in poplar plantation were highest with the application of 150 kg/ha seed and 187.5+27 kg N+P/ha to wheat.
  • Authors:
    • Dhyani, S. K.
    • Dar, S. A.
    • Ram, N.
  • Source: Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences
  • Volume: 80
  • Issue: 5
  • Year: 2010
  • Summary: A field experiment was conducted during 2005-07 at Jhansi to elucidate the influence of shoot pruning on growth of [ Albizia procera (Roxb.) Benth] and grain yield of intercrop. The experiment was conducted in split plot design with 2 crop sequences, namely blackgram ( Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper) - mustard ( Brassica juncia L. Czern. & Coss.) and greengram ( Vigna radiata Roxb.) - wheat ( Triticum aestivum L. emend. Friori & Paol.) with 3 pruning regimes (70% canopy pruning, 50% canopy pruning and control unpruned). The results reveal that the growth of A. procera (dbh, height and canopy diameter) was significantly ( P <br/> 0.05) higher in control (unpruned trees) compared with the 50% canopy pruning and 70% canopy pruning. Grain yield of greengram-wheat crop sequence was 41.21 and 83.45% higher than the blackgram-mustard crop sequence. Among the pruning regimes, 70% canopy pruning gave 129.94% higher grain yield than the control (unpruned trees).
  • Authors:
    • Biradar, D. P.
    • Rathod, P. S.
    • Patil, V. C.
  • Source: Journal of Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Sciences
  • Volume: 32
  • Issue: 4
  • Year: 2010
  • Summary: A field experiment was conducted at Regional Agricultural Research Station, Bijapur on medium deep black soil during rabi seasons of 2004 and 2005 to study the influence of different rabi intercrops on growth and productivity of senna. The treatment consists of five rabi crops (chickpea, safflower, linseed, mustard and wheat) and senna in sole stand as well as intercropping system and safflower+chickpea (2:4) intercropping system as a check. The sole crop of senna recorded significantly better growth and growth parameters as compared to intercropped senna. The leaf and pod yield of senna also followed the same trend as that of growth and growth parameters with different rabi intercrops. Growing of senna with safflower adversely reduced the growth and growth parameters, leaf and pod yield as compared to chickpea, linseed, mustard and wheat.
  • Authors:
    • Dube, R.
    • Dhyani, S.
    • Ratan, S.
    • Sharma, A.
  • Source: Indian Journal of Agronomy
  • Volume: 55
  • Issue: 4
  • Year: 2010
  • Summary: A field experiment was conducted at Selakui, Dehradun from 2001 to 2004 to study the effect of tillage, viz. conventional tillage (CT) and minimum tillage (MT); and weed-control practices, viz. chemical and mechanical weeding along with legume mulching, viz. in situ grown sunnhemp ( Crotalaria juncea L) and subabul [ Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit] on soil moisture conservation, crop productivity and soil health in maize ( Zea mays L)-wheat ( Triticum aestivum L. emend Fiori & Paol.) cropping system. CT gave higher grain yield of maize (+0.11 to 0.17 t/ha), but wheat performed equally well under CT (2.48 t/ha) and MT conditions (2.36 t/ha). Chemical weeding with herbicides (alachlor in maize and isoproturon in wheat) resulted in 7.8 and 9.9% higher yield of maize and wheat, respectively over mechanical weeding. Beneficial effect of live mulching with sunnhemp or Leucaena was similar (12.3-14.7%), while their combined application increased the maize yield by 19.1% over no mulching. Further, enhanced soil moisture conservation due to mulching at maize harvest led to greater productivity of wheat by 16.1% with sunnhemp or Leucaena, and 27.0% with sunnhemp+ Leucaena. Nitrogen uptake of maize and wheat increased significantly with chemical weeding and legume mulching, but tillage practices made no effect on wheat while in maize it was lower under MT. Wheat gave 4-5 times more net returns than maize, and the net B:C ratio of the system was >1.0 with chemical weeding and legume mulching. Tillage and weed-control practices made no effect on organic C and total N status of soil but legume mulching improved these parameters and reduced bulk density associated with increased infiltration rate. It was concluded that CT along with legume mulching in maize and MT in wheat, and chemical weeding of both the crops was beneficial for improving moisture and nutrient conservation, and achieving higher productivity and profitability of maize-wheat cropping system under Doon valley conditions.