• Authors:
    • Priess, J. A.
    • Lapola, D. M.
    • Bondeau, A.
  • Source: Biomass and Bioenergy
  • Volume: 33
  • Issue: 8
  • Year: 2009
  • Summary: The governments of Brazil and India are planning a large expansion of bioethanol and biodiesel production in the next decade. Considering that limitation of suitable land and/or competition with other land uses might occur in both countries, assessments of potential crop productivity can contribute to an improved planning of land requirements for biofuels under high productivity or marginal conditions. In this paper we model the potential productivity of sugarcane and jatropha in both countries. Land requirements for such expansions are calculated according to policy scenarios based on government targets for biofuel production in 2015. Spatial variations in the potential productivity lead to rather different land requirements, depending on where plantations are located. If jatropha is not irrigated, land requirements to fulfill the Indian government plans in 2015 would be of 410 000 to 95 000 km 2 if grown in low or high productivity areas respectively (mean of 212 000 km 2). In Brazil land requirements, are of 18 000-89 000 km 2 (mean of 29 000 km 2), suggesting a promising substitute to soybean biodiesel. Although future demand for sugarcane ethanol in Brazil is approximately ten times larger than in India, land requirements are comparable in both countries due to large differences in ethanol production systems. In Brazil this requirement ranges from 25 000 to 211 000 km 2 (mean of 33 000 km 2) and in India from 7000 to 161 000 km 2 (mean 17 000 km 2). Irrigation could reduce the land requirements by 63% and 41% (24% and 15%) in India (Brazil) for jatropha and sugarcane respectively.
  • Authors:
    • Pawar, A. D.
    • Bhoge, R. S.
  • Source: Annals of Plant Physiology
  • Volume: 23
  • Issue: 2
  • Year: 2009
  • Summary: The effects of organic and inorganic farming practices on the performance of sorghum were studied in Rahuri, Maharashtra, India, during the rabi season of 2007-08. The treatments consisted of: (T1) farmyard manure (FYM; 10 t/ha); (T2) dhaincha [ Sesbania aculeata] green manure at 10 t/ha; (T3) 75% of the recommended NPK fertilizer rates (RFR) + 3 t FYM/ha + Azospirillum + PSB [phosphate solubilizing bacteria]; (T4) 100% RFR (100:50:50 kg NPK/ha); (T5) farmers' practice (10 kg N + 3 t FYM/ha); and (T6) soyabean-rabi sorghum rotation. T1, T2 and T3 induced early flowering, whereas T4 delayed flowering. T3 resulted in the highest 100-seed weight (35.80 g), grain yield (29.24 quintal/ha), fodder yield (53.14 quintal/ha), and benefit-cost ratio (2.17). The results indicated that the amount of inorganic fertilizers can be reduced by 25% using organic fertilizers as substitutes. [1.0 quintal=100.0 kg].
  • Authors:
    • Suryawanshi, J. S.
    • Bhondave, T. S.
    • Ranshur, N. J.
    • Talathi, M. S.
    • Pinjari, S. S.
  • Source: International Journal of Agricultural Sciences
  • Volume: 5
  • Issue: 2
  • Year: 2009
  • Summary: Present investigation was carried out at Pulses Research Unit, DnPDKV, Akola (M.S.) during kharif and rabi season in wilt sick plot, in which fungi population was observed more in rhizosphere of sunflower, soybean, and groundnut as compared with sorghum, mung and udid. There was a gradual increase in the propagules of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. ciceri from sowing to harvesting of chickpea. In correlation study the inoculum range of 10.11 to 14.00 per cent was recorded and there was positive but non-significant correlation between the inoculum available and the wilt incidence in chickpea.
  • Authors:
    • Prasad, Y. E.
    • Prasad, V. R.
  • Source: Mysore Journal of Agricultural Sciences
  • Volume: 43
  • Issue: 2
  • Year: 2009
  • Summary: The present investigation is aimed at studying the relative economics of soybean based cropping systems against cotton mono crop in Gottipadu village of Prattipadu mandal in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh. Regression analysis of soybean. Bengalgram revealed that, all the variables contributed positively but non-significant except plant protection chemicals. Regression analysis of soybean+redgram (inter crop) cropping system revealed that area and plant protection chemicals made positive and significant contribution and machine labour made negative and significant contribution towards the gross returns. Regression analysis of soybean-jowar cropping system revealed that plant protection chemicals made a significant and positive contribution whereas fertilisers made a significant and negative contribution towards gross returns. Regression analysis of cotton revealed that area, seed, manual labour and machine labour made a significant and positive contribution towards the gross returns.
  • Authors:
    • Jadon, C.
    • Meena, D. S.
    • Kumar, R.
  • Source: Haryana Journal of Agronomy ALSO THE JOURNAL OF RURAL AND AGRICULURAL RESEARCH, pp. 17-18, June, 2010
  • Volume: 25
  • Issue: 1/2
  • Year: 2009
  • Summary: The field experiment was undertaken during 2004-05 to 2007-08 on ARS, Kota to evaluate the performance of soybean-wheat, soybean-chickpea, soybean-coriander and soybean-onion cropping sequences in heavy textured, non-calcareous soils. The results revealed that soybean-onion sequence was more productive and remunerative compared to other sequences in irrigated areas of humid southeastern plain of Rajasthan.
  • Authors:
    • Prakash, V.
    • Pandey, S. C.
    • Kundu, S.
    • Bhattacharyya, R.
    • Srivastva, A. K.
    • Gupta, H. S.
  • Source: Soil Research
  • Volume: 47
  • Issue: 6
  • Year: 2009
  • Summary: We analysed results of a long-term experiments, initiated in 1973 on a sandy loam soil under rainfed condition and in 1995-96 on a silty clay loam soil under irrigated condition, to determine the influence of using different combinations of mineral fertiliser (NPK) and fertiliser+farmyard manure (FYM) at 10 Mg/ha on soil organic carbon (SOC) content and its changes in the 0-0.45 m soil depth. Fertilisation always caused a net gain in SOC stock. Such gain was positively proportional to the amount of C incorporated into the soils. Concentration of SOC in the 0-0.45 m depth increased by 44% in NPK+FYM treated plots compared with NPK (44.4 Mg C/ha) after 32 years under rainfed condition and by 14% in the NPK+FYM treated plots compared with NPK (41.76 Mg C/ha) after 9 years under irrigation. Mean (across treatments) total C added under the rainfed and irrigated systems was 2.67 and 3.03 Mg/ha.year, respectively. It was estimated that ~20 and 25% of the gross C input contributed towards the increase in SOC content under the rainfed and irrigated systems, respectively. Carbon loss from native soil organic matter (SOM) averaged ~61 and 261 kg C/ha.year under the rainfed and irrigated systems, respectively. Furthermore, mean stabilisation of added C in the plots under the rainfed condition (~16%) was higher than that (~13%) observed under the irrigated condition. Conversion of total added C to SOC was similar in the NPK and NPK+FYM treated plots under both growing conditions. In the NPK+FYM plots, ~38 and 29% of the C added through FYM was accounted for in the form of total SOC under the rainfed and irrigated conditions, respectively. The estimated quantity of biomass C required to maintain equilibrium SOM content under the rainfed and irrigated systems was 0.29 and 1.08 Mg/ha.year. The total annual C input by the soybean-wheat rotation in the unfertilised control plots under rainfed condition was 0.87 Mg/ha.year and with N fertiliser only under the irrigated condition was 1.75 Mg/ha.year. Thus, SOC augmentation under long-term soybean-wheat cropping was due to higher annual C input than the required amount to maintain equilibrium SOM content. Although FYM addition along with NPK improved total SOC stock and carbon sequestration potential, it did not encourage the stabilisation rate of added C. Hence, C stabilisation that takes into account the total C added in the system is a better indicator of assessing SOC sequestration. In summary, mineral fertilisation improved C sequestration capacity of soybean-wheat system in the Indian Himalayas and manure addition along with mineral fertilisers further improved it.
  • Authors:
    • Deshmukh, R. G.
    • Rathod, V. J.
    • Pawar, M. D.
  • Source: Journal of Soils and Crops
  • Volume: 19
  • Issue: 2
  • Year: 2009
  • Summary: To study the cropping sequences adopted by farmers in selected area, and study the economics of different cropping sequences, the resource productivity and use efficiency in different cropping sequences this study was undertaken in the three districts of Western Vidarbha viz., Buldhana, Washim and Akola. The study was based on secondary data. The required data were collected from Agricultural Price Scheme (APC) located in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Statistics, Dr. PDKV, Akola. Out of 220 farmers covered by APC scheme in the three districts of Western Vidharbha, the farmers who grew kharif as well as rabi crops in season were purposively selected for study. In all 101 farmers were selected. Cropping pattern followed in the study. In all 101 farmers were selected. Cropping pattern followed in the study area was diversified in nature, cotton, jowar and mung crops dominated the cropping pattern. Other crops like tur, udid, soybean were also grown on selected holdings. Gram and wheat crop occupied 18.12 and 2.89 per cent of gross cropped area. Net return of Cost "C" were observed the highest in cotton-fallow i.e. Rs. 5684.34 followed by Cotton+tur-Fallow Rs. 4052.22 and Soybean-Fallow Rs. 3570.55. The regression analysis indicated that variables viz., area under crop, machine labour, nitrogen were found to be positive and significant. Bullock labour in case of Jowar-Fallow i.e. -1.33* was negative and significant thereby indicating the use of these inputs decrease the values of gross output. The marginal value product (MVP) to factor cost ratio indicate optimum resources use efficiency of a particular input. The ratio of MVP to factor cost for area under crop was found to be greater than unity which inferred that this resource was underutilized in all cropping sequences.
  • Authors:
    • Khating, L. E.
    • Shirale, S. T.
  • Source: Annals of Plant Physiology
  • Volume: 23
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2009
  • Summary: A field experiment was conducted on clay soil (Typic Haplusterts) of MAU, Parbhani during 2002-03 to study the effect of application of organic, inorganic and organic combined with inorganic nutrient sources on yield of various cropping systems, NPK uptake and balance in soil. Recommended dose of fertilizers and combined application of glyricidia @1.5 t ha -1+25% RDF increased grain yield and N, P, K uptake. The highest total grain yield (2335 kg ha -1) was recorded by RDF fallowed by glyricidia @1.5 t ha -1+25% RDF (2213 kg ha -1) and it was at par with each other. The cropping systems sorghum+pigeonpea recorded highest yield (2438 kg ha -1). The maximum N, P and K uptake (142.16, 23.92 and 63.71 kg ha -1 respectively) was recorded with the soybean+pigeonpea cropping system. There, was more buildup of available N, P and K in soil with soybean+pigeonpea cropping system with FYM followed by glyricidia.
  • Authors:
    • Venkateswarlu, B.
    • Vittal, K. P. R.
    • Srinivasarao, C.
    • Kundu, S.
    • Wani, S. P.
    • Sahrawat, K. L.
    • Marimuthu, S.
  • Source: Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis
  • Volume: 40
  • Issue: 15/16
  • Year: 2009
  • Summary: Soil carbon (C) pool plays a crucial role in the soil's quality, availability of plant nutrients, environmental functions, and global C cycle. Drylands generally have poor fertility and little organic matter and hence are candidates for C sequestration. Carbon storage in the soil profile not only improves fertility but also abates global warming. Several soils, production, and management factors influence C sequestration, and it is important to identify production and management factors that enhance C sequestrations in dryland soils. The objective of the present study was to examine C stocks at 21 sites under ongoing rainfed production systems and management regimes over the last 25 years on dominant soil types, covering a range of climatic conditions in India. Organic C stocks in the soil profiles across the country showed wide variations and followed the order Vertisols > Inceptisols > Alfisols > Aridisols. Inorganic C and total C stocks were larger in Vertisols than in other soil types. Soil organic C stocks decreased with depth in the profile, whereas inorganic C stocks increased with depth. Among the production systems, soybean-, maize-, and groundnut-based systems showed greater organic C stocks than other production systems. However, the greatest contribution of organic C to total C stock was under upland rice system. Organic C stocks in the surface layer of the soils increased with rainfall (r=0.59*), whereas inorganic C stocks in soils were found in the regions with less than 550 mm annual rainfall. Cation exchange capacity had better correlation with organic C stocks than clay content in soils. Results suggest that Indian dryland soils are low in organic C but have potential to sequester. Further potential of tropical soils to sequester more C in soil could be harnessed by identifying appropriate production systems and management practices for sustainable development and improved livelihoods in the tropics.
  • Authors:
    • Changade, N. M.
    • Khodke, U. M.
    • Chavan, M. L.
  • Source: International Journal of Agricultural Engineering
  • Volume: 2
  • Issue: 2
  • Year: 2009
  • Summary: Historical weather data can be used to develop and modify the management practices to increase the production with the conjunctive use of rain and irrigation water as per the water needs of the crop. Regional scale crop and water resource planning needs determination of reference crop evapotranspiration (eto), probability distribution of rainfall and ETo, and estimates of magnitude and duration of water deficit and surplus which can promote crop production in both irrigated and dryland areas. Daily weather data of 16 years (from 1984 to 2001) for five locations i.e., Aurangabad, Beed, Nanded, Parbhani and Osmanabad of Marathwada region was used to determine reference crop evapotranspiration (ETo). The rainfall and ETo data were analysed to ascertain their fit to various probability distributions. The goodness of fit was determined by chi 2 tests. The developed crop coefficients were used to estimate crop water requirements of 8 major crops of the region. Effective rainfall was used to determine the weeks at which the rainfall exceed or fall deficit of crop water requirement. The study indicated that normal distribution gave the closest fit to the weekly rainfall and ETo data. The seasonal water requirement of cotton, groundnut, sugarcane and banana is higher at Parbhani whereas that of kharif sorghum, rabi sorghum, wheat and soybean is higher at Osmanabad than other places in the region, the effective rainfall meets the water need of kharif sorghum and soybean. The rainfall values during the critical growth stages of rabi (sorghum and wheat) and summer crops (groundnut, banana and sugarcane) are deficit than their water requirement in the respective weeks and hence require irrigation during those periods. Among the row crops, wheat and groundnut can only be grown under irrigation. Annual excess rainfall for various crops ranges between 561-749 mm for kharif sorghum, 124-195 mm for rabi sorghum, 0-15 mm for wheat, 624-808 mm for soybean, 633-786 mm for cotton, 453-609 mm for sugarcane and 526-703 mm for banana. If the excess rains are effectively harvested, the irrigation potential could be raised in the region.