- Authors:
- Ahlawat, I. P. S.
- Gangaiah, B.
- Source: Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences
- Volume: 80
- Issue: 3
- Year: 2010
- Summary: The 2-year field investigation carried out in a sandy loam soil at New Delhi indicates that furrow irrigated raised bed (FIRB) planting of chickpea+linseed intercropping in 2:1 row ratio receiving irrigation at 0.4 IW/CPE ratio may be recommended for higher productivity and profitability.
- Authors:
- Raut, D. V.
- Bhopale, A. A.
- Awaghad, P. R.
- Rathod, A. L.
- Source: Annals of Plant Physiology
- Volume: 24
- Issue: 1
- Year: 2010
- Summary: The study of cropping pattern assumes a great significance as it is one of the important path for balanced development of agriculture to meet the human requirements. In this context, an effort has been made to examine the changes in cropping pattern in Akola district (M.S.) extent of crop diversification and economics. The present study was based on secondary data collected from different government publications. The data covered a period of 21 years i.e. 1986-87 to 2006-07. In all 8 crops were considered for study. Simple tabular analysis was used to examine the changes in cropping pattern in various tahsils of Akola district (M.S.). In order to study the extent of crop diversification Herfindahl index has been used. In order to study the economics of crop diversification, land concentration ratio in tahsils with comparative advantage was computed for selected years. Tahsil wise analysis showed that the area under kharif jowar has found to be decreased in all the tahsils of Akola district Area under tur crop was decreased in Barshitakali and patur tahsil. The area under mung has found to be increased in all the tahsils. Cotton still remains as major crop of the district. In majority of tahsils of Akola district i.e. Balapur, Barshitakali and Patur, Crop diversification has significantly increased during the study period. While in Murtizapur tahsil it has showed more or less stationery diversification. The results of analysis of economics of crop diversification revealed that, no one crop has shown increasing or decreasing trend of land concentration ratio over the time. Particular crop was beneficial in the particular year in the district.
- Authors:
- Singh, J. P.
- Tripathi, R.
- Srivastava, P.
- Behera, S. K.
- Singh, N.
- Source: Biomass and Bioenergy
- Volume: 34
- Issue: 1
- Year: 2010
- Summary: Jatropha curcas L., a multipurpose, drought resistant, perennial plant belonging to Euphorbiaceae family has gained lot of importance for the production of biodiesel. The properties of the crop and its oil have persuaded investors, policy makers and clean development mechanism (CDM) project developers to consider Jatropha as a substitute for fossil fuels to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, basic agronomic properties of Jatropha are not thoroughly understood and the environmental effects have not been investigated yet. Grey literature reports are very optimistic on simultaneous wasteland reclamation capability and oil yields. Studies were undertaken at Solar Energy Centre, Gurgaon, India to evaluate the plant performance under different agro-practices with special reference to irrigation scheduling, VAM and biofertilizers' applications, plant spacing, pruning trials for maximizing tree architecture and higher biomass. Parallel experiments were undertaken to understand the scope of J. curcas for intercropping practices in the under storey of dominating monoculture tree stands (Prosopis, Acacia and Neem).
- Authors:
- Balasubramanian, A.
- Lakshmi, K. V.
- Sankaran, N.
- Source: Madras Agricultural Journal
- Volume: 96
- Issue: 1-6
- Year: 2009
- Summary: A field experiment was conducted during North East Monsoon season of 2002 and 2003 at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore to study the productive and economically viable integrated rainwater and nitrogen management practice for dryland maize under different rainfall situations. It is concluded that for early withdrawal of rainfall around 45 DAS, two supplemental irrigations given at tasseling and silking stages through run off recycling from farm pond increased growth, yield parameters, grain yield by 134 percent and net returns by Rs.3389 ha -1 over rainfed maize in 2002. For moisture stress at tasseling and soft dough stages, two supplemental irrigation increased growth, yield attributes, grain yield by 88 percent and net return by Rs. 3305 ha -1 over rainfed maize in 2003. Application of 40 kg N ha -1 with intercropping and incorporation of either sunnhemp or cowpea at 45 DAS increased yield and net returns of maize over sole maize with out inorganic nitrogen.
- Authors:
- Abrol, V.
- Sankar, G.
- Singh, B.
- Sharma, P.
- Source: Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences
- Volume: 79
- Issue: 11
- Year: 2009
- Summary: A Field experiment was conducted during 2005-06 and 2006-07 at Dryland Research Sub Station, Dhiansar to study the influence of tillage and mulching practices on crop productivity, economics and soil properties of maize-wheat system under rainfed situation. Four different tillage methods, viz conventional, minimum, no tillage and raised bed were used in the main plots and four different mulch materials, viz straw, polyethylene, soil mulch including no mulch were used in the sub-plots. Tillage practices significantly influenced the yield of maize and wheat. Grain yield of maize and wheat was statistically at par in conventional and minimum tillage system and significantly higher than no tillage system in both the years. Mulching also resulted in increased in yield. Significantly higher mean grain yield of maize (1.91 tonnes/ha) and wheat (0.63 tonnes/ha) was recorded from polyethylene mulch, followed by straw mulch (1.77 tonnes/ha, 0.61 tonnes/ha) respectively. Minimum tillage and polyethylene mulch or straw mulch conserve more moisture and infiltration rate than other tillage methods and mulch application. The highest mean net returns (Rs 10 078) and benefit:cost ratio (1.28) was obtained with minimum tillage and lowest with conventional tillage (Rs 8 631 0.90). Minimum tillage in conjunction with polyethylene mulch or straw mulch was economically profitable and improve, the crop production and soil quality for maize-wheat sequence in rainfed condition.
- Authors:
- Peeyush, S.
- Vikas, A.
- Shankar, G.
- Source: Research on Crops
- Volume: 10
- Issue: 3
- Year: 2009
- Summary: A field experiment was conducted during 2005-06 and 2006-07 at Dryland Research Sub-Station, Dhiansar to study the influence of tillage and mulching management on soil physical and chemical properties and crop yield on maize-wheat system under rainfed situations. Maize and wheat yield was statistically at par in conventional and minimum tillage and significantly higher over control. Increase in bulk density was higher in conventional tillage as compared to the minimum tillage. Reduction in infiltration rate was 17.24% higher in conventional tillage than minimum tillage. Minimum tillage improved the net return, benefit:cost ratio as well as fertility status. Application of plastic mulch resulted in maximum grain yield, infiltration rate and nutrient status than no mulch.
- Authors:
- Abrol, V.
- Singh, J. P.
- Hussain, S. Z.
- Source: AMA-Agricultural Mechanization in Asia, Africa and Latin America
- Volume: 40
- Issue: 1
- Year: 2009
- Summary: Tillage is a major farm operation that consumes time, energy and expense. Dryland cultivation practices need to minimize cost of production in all crops. An experiment has been conducted on two tillage systems: (1) conventional and (2) reduced tillage, to save energy in production of maize and wheat in Jammu, India. Three tillage treatments in combination with three fertilizer treatments were used. The highest yield of maize was 20.50 q/ha with conventional tillage + interculture. The next highest yield for maize was 20.16 q/ha with 50% conventional tillage + weedicide + interculture. The highest yield of wheat was 29.33 q/ha with 50% conventional tillage + weedicide + interculture. The next highest yield of wheat was 27.87 q/ha with conventional tillage + interculture. The fertilizer treatment showed the highest average grain yield of maize of 21.90 q/ha with 100% N with inorganic fertilizer. The next highest fertilized treatment with maize was with 50% N through organic + 50% N through inorganic fertilizers for a yield of 19.85 q/ha. A similar trend was found for wheat with the highest average grain yield of 29.00 q/ha with 100% N through inorganic fertilizer. The next highest fertilized treatment with wheat was with 50% N through organic + 50% N through inorganic fertilizers with a grain yield of 28.25 q/ha. The operational energy and cost of operation were higher in the conventional tillage system (5013.8 MJ, Rs. 10 574 and 2907.53 MJ, Rs.11 347.33) than in reduce tillage (3625.39 MJ, Rs.9750 and 2227.20 MJ, Rs.10 335.30) and the benefit cost ratio ranged from 1.52: 1 to 0.36: 1 and 1.08: 1 to 1.41: 1 in production of maize and wheat, respectively.
- Authors:
- Source: Agricultural Situation in India
- Volume: 66
- Issue: 7
- Year: 2009
- Summary: This study examines the cost and returns of dry land maize in the Jammu District of Jammu and Kashir state in India; the resource use efficiency and estimates the extent of instability in cropped area, yield and net returns.
- Authors:
- Manoj, K.
- Suresh, K.
- Yadav, S.
- Pawan, K.
- Source: Haryana Journal of Agronomy
- Volume: 25
- Issue: 1/2
- Year: 2009
- Summary: A field experiment was conducted for four consecutive years from 2002-03 to 2005-06 in pearl millet-wheat cropping system under semi-arid conditions at research farm of CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, India. The experiment consisted of four treatments viz., T 1: Recommended package for both the crops, T 2: Recommended package for both crops+FYM 10 t/ha to pearl millet, T 3: Recommended package for bothcrops+FYM 10 t/ha to pearl millet+30% higher seed rate and T 4: Recommended package for bot the hcrops+Intercropping of clusterbean in paired rows of pearl millet. Incorporation of FYM 10 t/ha during the kharif season in pearl millet and 30% higher seed rate alongwith recommended package of practices resulted in increased grain yield of pearl millet as well as wheat leading to maximum cropping system productivity, profitability and water productivity. Incorporation of FYM 10 t/ha during the kharif season in pearl millet also increased yield of both the crops, while intercropping of clusterbean in paired rows of pearl millet resulted in increase of pearl millet yield only.
- Authors:
- Source: Agricultural Water Management
- Volume: 96
- Issue: 12
- Year: 2009
- Summary: The intensive irrigated rice-wheat systems in the northwest Indo-Gangetic Plains of South Asia are built on a long tradition of canal irrigation and the more recent advent of tubewells. Findings from farm surveys are used to examine water management and water productivity in the rice-wheat belt of India's Haryana State and Pakistan's Punjab province. Attributes of the irrigation sources help explain the widespread interest in groundwater use and the relative demise of canal water use. In each area groundwater now is the main irrigation source, used either solely or in conjunction with surface water. The ownership of tubewells is near universal among the surveyed farms, whereas conjunctive water use is more widespread during the monsoon season, among better endowed farmers and in the Pakistan Punjab. In Pakistan Punjab farmers primarily rely on diesel powered tubewells whereas Haryana farmers mainly use relatively cheaper electric power. Water productivity indicators for rice are markedly lower than those for wheat - largely reflecting significantly higher water inputs in paddy cultivation - but also vary between the study areas and by the prevailing water use, reflecting the limited incentives for farmers to use water wisely. A combination of technological, land use and market based approaches is likely to be most effective in achieving sustainable water management in these intensive cereal systems.
