• Authors:
    • Dube, R.
    • Dhyani, S.
    • Singh, R.
    • Sharma, A.
  • Source: NUTRIENT CYCLING IN AGROECOSYSTEMS
  • Volume: 87
  • Issue: 2
  • Year: 2010
  • Summary: Mulching with vegetative materials is a highly beneficial and widely-investigated agro-technique in rainfed areas but the adoption of this practice has been constrained due to non-availability of mulch biomass locally. Live mulching with fast-growing annual green manure legumes like sunnhemp ( Crotalaria juncea) or prunings of Leucaena leucocephala grown as hedge rows can be done for moisture conservation as well as nutrient cycling in the maize-wheat cropping system, which is predominantly followed in the high rainfall sub-mountainous region of north-western India. A field experiment was conducted at Selakui, Dehradun during 2000-2004 to study the effect of legume mulching, viz. in situ grown sunnhemp and Leucaena prunings, along with varying N levels, viz. 0, 30, 60 and 90 kg N ha -1 (to maize), and 0, 40 and 80 kg N ha -1 (to wheat) on productivity, soil moisture conservation and soil physico-chemical properties. Intercropped sunnhemp added 0.75-1.45 t dry matter and 21.6-41.3 kg N ha -1 at 30-35 days, while Leucaena twigs added 1.89-4.15 t dry matter and 75.2-161.3 kg N ha -1 at 60-65 days of maize growth. Live mulching with sunnhemp or Leucaena biomass improved soil moisture content at maize harvest (+1.15-1.57%) and crop productivity by 6.8-8.8% over no mulching. Combined use of both the mulching materials was more effective in improving the soil moisture content (+2.08-2.29%) and grain yield (15.1%) over their single application. Response of maize to N fertilizer application was significant up to 90 kg N ha -1, and it was relatively more pronounced under the mulching treatments. Residual effect of mulching on wheat showed an increase in yield of 10.2% with sunnhemp or Leucaena, and 27.9% with sunnhemp+ Leucaena. There was an improvement in organic C and total N status of soil, and a decrease in bulk density associated with an increase in infiltration rate due to mulching at the end of 4 cropping cycles. It was concluded that legume mulching is a highly beneficial practice for enhanced moisture and nutrient conservation, leading to increased productivity and soil health of maize-wheat cropping system under Doon valley conditions of north-western India.
  • Authors:
    • Kripa, S.
    • Singh, R.
  • Source: Annals of Plant Protection Sciences
  • Volume: 18
  • Issue: 2
  • Year: 2010
  • Summary: Field studies were conducted in Uttar Pradesh, India, during the 2007/08 and 2008/09 rabi seasons, to determine the effect of intercropping on the mustard aphid ( Lipaphis erysimi) incidence. Indian mustard was intercropped with wheat, barley, pea, chickpea, lentil, linseed and radish, with a sole crop of Indian mustard as the control. The aphid population was determined and yield was recorded at harvest. Results showed that mustard intercropped with barley registered minimum mean aphid population index (2.35) and maximum mean yield of mustard (2.67 q/ha), followed by mustard + wheat, having mean aphid index of 2.53 q/ha and 2.67 q/ha, respectively. Mustard intercropped with linseed and chickpea were also better than the control in checking the incidence of mustard aphid, having 2.88 and 3.09 mean aphid indexes, respectively. However, the mustard intercropped with pea, lentil and radish were at par with the control.
  • Authors:
    • Meena, B.
    • Swaminathan, S.
    • Verma, T.
  • Source: Annals of Plant Protection Sciences
  • Volume: 18
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2010
  • Summary: Field studies were conducted in India, during the 1999/2000 and 2000/01 rabi seasons, to detemine the impact of intercrops on the incidence of Lipaphis erysimi on Indian mustard. The treatments comprised Indian mustard+wheat (2:3; 3 rows of intercrop and 2 rows of Indian mustard), Indian mustard+barley (2:3), Indian mustard+chickpeas (2:2) and Indian mustard. Aphid populations were recorded from 5 randomly selected plants from each plot at weekly intervals from initial appearance to harvest. Visual counts of aphids were made to record the populations on wheat, barley and chickpeas. Higher aphid numbers were recorded on Indian mustard and Indian mustard+chickpea intercrop. The average number of aphids was higher during the 1999/2000 season and lower during the 2000/01 season. The peak population was observed during the second and fourth weeks of February. The Indian mustard+chickpea intercrop had significantly higher aphid populations (320.35), followed by Indian mustard (234.71) during the 1999/2000 season possibly due to the plant height and the extra nitrogen made available by chickpeas resulting in better succulence of Indian mustard. The range of aphid populations was 153.60-320.35/5 plants during the 1999/2000 season and 118.88-125.81/5 plants during the 2000/01 season.
  • Authors:
    • Somendra, N.
    • Anand, K.
    • Tripathi, A.
  • Source: Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences
  • Volume: 80
  • Issue: 2
  • Year: 2010
  • Summary: A field experiment was carried out during winter ( rabi) seasons of 2003-04 and 2004-05 at Kanpur to find out the production potential and economic viability of winter maize ( Zea mays L.) intercropped with potato ( Solanum tuberosum L.), Indian mustard [ Brassica juncea (L.) Czernj. & Cosson], toria ( Brassica campestris var. toria), pea ( Pisum sativum L. sensulato), linseed ( Linum usitatissimum L.) and wheat ( Triticum aestivum L. emend. Fiori & Paol.) for central plain zone of Uttar Pradesh. Values of land equivalent ratio (LER) and area-time equivalent ratio (ATER) with all the intercropping systems were greater indicating advantage in yield, land-use efficiency and monetary return/unit time and space over the respective monocultures. All the intercrops with maize recorded significantly higher maize-equivalent yield than the sole crop. Intercropping of maize with potato was more advantageous than the other intercrops. Maize+potato appeared to be biologically the most efficient and economically viable system giving the highest maize grain yield (6 091 kg/ha), maize-equivalent yield (13 792 kg/ha), production efficiency (276.1%), land equivalent ratio (2.14), area-time equivalent ratio (1.91), monetary advantage (Rs 39 017) and net realization (Rs 32 369/ha), followed by maize+pea. Indian mustard, toria and wheat were found non-compatible with winter maize.
  • Authors:
    • Shrikant, C.
    • Urkurkar, J.
    • Alok, T.
  • Source: Indian Journal of Agronomy
  • Volume: 55
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2010
  • Summary: Field experiments were conducted at Raipur in Inceptisols between 2003-04 and 2007-08 to compare organic, integrated and chemical fertilizer nutrient inputs pakages in scented rice ( Oryza sativa L.) - potato ( Solanum tuberosum L.) a high value cropping system. Seven different nutrient treatments, 5 of them having use of organic inputs and 1 each having integrated (50% through fertilizers and 50% through organic nutrients) and 100% through fertilizers were studied in RBD with 3 replications. Organic transition effect in which decline in yield from 1 to 3 years and again increase in yield was noticeable in rice under organic nutrient inputs packages. These treatments followed a steady increase and registered 20 to 50% more yield at the end of study compared to first year yield i.e. 2003-04. However, effect of different organic inputs packages on potato tuber yield was not stable over the years. Total productivity in terms of rice equivalent yield of the system (13.36 tonne/ha) and total net return (Rs 92,634/kg) was highest with chemical fertilizer treatment closely followed by integrated inputs use. 100% N (1/3 each from cowdung manure, neem cake and composed crop residue) appreciably increased the organic carbon (6.3 g/kg) over initial value (5.8 g/kg). However, availability of P and K did not show any perceptible change after completion of five cropping cycles under organic as well as integrated nutrient approaches.
  • Authors:
    • Kumar, S. N.
    • Byjesh, K.
    • Aggarwal, P. K.
  • Source: Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change
  • Volume: 15
  • Issue: 5
  • Year: 2010
  • Summary: Climate change associated global warming, rise in carbon dioxide concentration and uncertainties in precipitation has profound implications on Indian agriculture. Maize ( Zea mays L.), the third most important cereal crop in India, has a major role to play in country's food security. Thus, it is important to analyze the consequence of climate change on maize productivity in major maize producing regions in India and elucidate potential adaptive strategy to minimize the adverse effects. Calibrated and validated InfoCrop-MAIZE model was used for analyzing the impacts of increase in temperature, carbon dioxide (CO 2) and change in rainfall apart from HadCM3 A2a scenario for 2020, 2050 and 2080. The main insights from the analysis are threefold. First, maize yields in monsoon are projected to be adversely affected due to rise in atmospheric temperature; but increased rainfall can partly offset those loses. During winter, maize grain yield is projected to reduced with increase in temperature in two of the regions (Mid Indo-Gangetic Plains or MIGP, and Southern Plateau or SP), but in the Upper Indo-Gangetic Plain (UIGP), where relatively low temperatures prevail during winter, yield increased up to a 2.7°C rise in temperature. Variation in rainfall may not have a major impact on winter yields, as the crop is already well irrigated. Secondly, the spatio-temporal variations in projected changes in temperature and rainfall are likely to lead to differential impacts in the different regions. In particular, monsoon yield is reduced most in SP (up to 35%), winter yield is reduced most in MIGP (up to 55%), while UIGP yields are relatively unaffected. Third, developing new cultivars with growth pattern in changed climate scenarios similar to that of current varieties in present conditions could be an advantageous adaptation strategy for minimizing the vulnerability of maize production in India.
  • Authors:
    • Pitchai, G. J.
    • Kumar, V. S.
  • Source: Asian Journal of Soil Science
  • Volume: 5
  • Issue: 2
  • Year: 2010
  • Summary: Maize is the third most important cereal crop after wheat and rice grown in virtually every suitable agricultural region of the globe. Maize being an exhaustive crop responds well to higher levels of NPK. The use of organic sources had significant effect on macro and micronutrients and thus it helps in sustenance of the soil fertility. For the study, a field experiment was conducted in Malayalathanpatty village, Madurai to evaluate the response of maize (Super 900M) with different organic sources like vermicompost, sewage sludge, green leaf manures and composted coir pith combined with inorganic fertilizers. There were ten treatment combinations replicated thrice in RBD in Annaiyur soil series (Entic Haplustert). The results showed that the highest grain yield of 4402 kg ha -1 was recorded in treatment that received vermicompost @ 5 t ha -1 with 75 per cent RDF and it was found to be superior to over other treatments.
  • Authors:
    • Ghosh, P. K.
    • Das, A.
    • Saha, R.
    • Kharkrang, E.
    • Tripathi, A. K.
    • Munda, G. C.
    • Ngachan, S. V.
  • Source: Current Science
  • Volume: 99
  • Issue: 7
  • Year: 2010
  • Summary: Productivity of rainfed monocropping farming system in North Eastern Region of India is low and it is a high economic risk activity. Intensive natural resources mining, continuous degradation of natural resources (soil, water, vegetation) and practice of monocropping under conventional agricultural practices will not ensure farm productivity and food security in the coming years. In order to keep the production system in different land situations sustainable, conservation agriculture based on no-till system is an alternative to reconcile agriculture with its environment and overcome the imposed constraints of climate change and continuous inputs cost. Studies on conservation tillage and residue management in different land situations were conducted during 2006-2009 and they are highlighted in this article. In terrace upland, growing mustard completely on residual moisture following upland rice/maize was possible when it is practised under conservation tillage (crop residue of all crops, including weed biomass incorporated). Similarly, in valley upland, growing second crop of pea in rice fallow is possible if two-thirds or half of rice residues are retained on the soil surface under zero tillage. A long-term study (2006-2009) revealed that double no-till practice in rice-based system is cost-effective, restored soil organic carbon (70.75%), favoured biological activity (46.7%), conserved water and produced yield (49%) higher than conventional tillage. Therefore, conservation tillage practised in terrace upland, valley upland and low-land situations ensured double-cropping, improved farm income and livelihood in rainfed NE India.
  • Authors:
    • Prema Borkar
    • Bodade, V. M.
    • Patil, E. R.
  • Source: Green Farming
  • Volume: 3
  • Issue: 2
  • Year: 2010
  • Summary: An attempt has been made regarding the temporal variation in sources of irrigation and their impact on the rainfed agriculture in Maharashtra State. The study is based on secondary data culled from the publications of the Agricultural Statistical information Maharashtra State, Pune. The data pertains to a period of twenty-five years i.e., from 1980-81 to 2004-05 and were subjected to compound growth rate analysis. From this study, it may be concluded that there has been a marginal increase in the total irrigated area in the study period. The growth of well irrigation was observed to be higher than surface irrigation. The cropping pattern of Maharashtra is shifting from cereals to pulses, oilseeds and commercial crops due to better returns.
  • Authors:
    • Patil, S. G.
    • Ralevic, P.
    • Loon, G. van
  • Source: Journal of Sustainable Agriculture
  • Volume: 34
  • Issue: 8
  • Year: 2010
  • Summary: Agriculture including crop production and animal husbandry provides for the food, fodder, and fuel needs in rural regions of many countries such as India. Using the knowledge pertinent to complex mixed cropping-livestock systems at the village level, the goal of this study is to develop a rational method for crop selection, such that the capacity for production of food, fodder and biomass fuel can be examined under various cropping patterns. An agricultural survey is carried out in November 2007 for three villages located in the dryland agro-ecozone of Karnataka State, India. Various demands, including human food energy and protein requirements, and constraints, including land area, are modeled for optimal cropping pattern. A clear recommendation of the study is that a substantial shift in village-wide area planted to cereal crops, in all cases over 50%, is necessary to satisfy human and livestock demands. Additionally, there are visible and growing population pressures on the resources in the dryland, semi-arid regions of India, and these strategies will need to be supplemented by improved agronomic practices directed toward increased productivity.