• Authors:
    • Rathore, P.
    • Singh, H.
    • Singh, K.
    • Gumber, R. K.
  • Source: Journal of Cotton Research and Development
  • Volume: 26
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2012
  • Summary: A field experiment was conducted at PAU, Regional Research Station, Faridkot during kharif 2009 and 2010 to evaluate the performance of two arboreum varieties (FDK 124 and LD 694 as check) under two plant geometries (67.5*45 and 67.5*60 cm) and three nutrient levels (i.e. 56.25, 22.5 kg NP/ha; 75, 30 kg NP/ha and 93.75, 37.5 kg NP/ha). New variety FDK 124 yielded 24.5 per cent significantly higher seed cotton yield (2814 kg/ha) as compared to LD 694 (2260 kg/ha) due to significantly more number of bolls. Pooled data further indicated that significantly higher seed cotton yield was recorded under closer geometry of 67.5*45 cm (2613 kg/ha) than wider plant geometry of 67.5*60 cm (2460 kg/ha). Though, yield attributing parameters such as bolls/plant were statistically improved in wider as compared to closer spacing but it could not compensate yield due to significantly higher plant population in the later case. Among nutrient levels, similar seed cotton yield was recorded with application of 93.75, 37.5 kg NP/ha (2688 kg/ha) and 75, 30 Kg NP/ha (2587 kg/ha) but both were significantly better than that of 56.25, 22.5 kg NP/ha (2335 kg/ha). So, 75, 30 kg NP/ha and plant geometry of 67.5*45 cm seemed to be ideal for new variety FDK 124 for realizing higher productivity under the specific agro climatic conditions of Faridkot.
  • Authors:
    • Vanham, D.
    • Laghari, A. N.
    • Rauch, W.
  • Source: Hydrology and Earth System Sciences
  • Volume: 16
  • Issue: 4
  • Year: 2012
  • Summary: The Indus basin is one of the regions in the world that is faced with major challenges for its water sector, due to population growth, rapid urbanisation and industrialisation, environmental degradation, unregulated utilization of the resources, inefficient water use and poverty, all aggravated by climate change. The Indus Basin is shared by 4 countries - Pakistan, India, Afghanistan and China. With a current population of 237 million people which is projected to increase to 319 million in 2025 and 383 million in 2050, already today water resources are abstracted almost entirely (more than 95% for irrigation). Climate change will result in increased water availability in the short term. However in the long term water availability will decrease. Some current aspects in the basin need to be re-evaluated. During the past decades water abstractions - and especially groundwater extractions - have augmented continuously to support a rice-wheat system where rice is grown during the kharif (wet, summer) season (as well as sugar cane, cotton, maize and other crops) and wheat during the rabi (dry, winter) season. However, the sustainability of this system in its current form is questionable. Additional water for domestic and industrial purposes is required for the future and should be made available by a reduction in irrigation requirements. This paper gives a comprehensive listing and description of available options for current and future sustainable water resources management (WRM) within the basin. Sustainable WRM practices include both water supply management and water demand management options. Water supply management options include: (1) reservoir management as the basin is characterised by a strong seasonal behaviour in water availability (monsoon and meltwater) and water demands; (2) water quality conservation and investment in wastewater infrastructure; (3) the use of alternative water resources like the recycling of wastewater and desalination; (4) land use planning and soil conservation as well as flood management, with a focus on the reduction of erosion and resulting sedimentation as well as the restoration of ecosystem services like wetlands and natural floodplains. Water demand management options include: (1) the management of conjunctive use of surface and groundwater; as well as (2) the rehabilitation and modernization of existing infrastructure. Other demand management options are: (3) the increase of water productivity for agriculture; (4) crop planning and diversification including the critical assessment of agricultural export, especially (basmati) rice; (5) economic instruments and (6) changing food demand patterns and limiting post-harvest losses.
  • Authors:
    • Vadaria, K. N.
    • Nariya, J. N.
    • Solanki, R. M.
    • Modhvadia, J. M.
    • Rathod, A. D.
  • Source: Journal of Cotton Research and Development
  • Volume: 26
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2012
  • Summary: A field experiment was conducted at Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh during kharif 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 to evaluate the effect of different levels of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium on growth, yield and quality of hybrid Bt cotton. The results indicated that significantly higher seed cotton and stalk yields, growth and yield attributes, quality parameters as well as total uptake of N, P, K were obtained with the application of N @ 240 kg/ha, P 2O 5 @ 50 kg/ha and K 2O @ 120 kg/ha. The seed cotton yield of Bt cotton increased to the tune of 20.51, 6.90 and 13.27 per cent with the application of 240 kg N/ha, 50 kg P 2O 2/ha and 120 kg K 2O/ha, respectively as compared to control.
  • Authors:
    • Dhaka, A. K.
    • Dahiya, S. S.
    • Pannu, R. K.
    • Singh, M.
  • Source: Crop Research
  • Volume: 43
  • Issue: 1/2/3
  • Year: 2012
  • Summary: The survey was conducted in Haryana state during rabi season of 2005-06 on 972 farmers in 54 villages of 16 districts with respective cropping system i. e. pearl millet-wheat, cotton-wheat and rice-wheat. The 18 farmers from each village were selected randomly covering small (4.0 ha) group of land holders. Only those farmers were selected, who had grown PBW 343 variety of wheat. The sample sizes for pearl millet-wheat, cotton-wheat and rice-wheat of all three small, medium and large farm size groups were 90, 108 and 126, respectively. Yield reported in rice-wheat system was higher than cotton-wheat and pearl millet-wheat system. Maximum yield was observed with the use of more than five bags urea/ha. Numbers of irrigations above 4 and seed rate above 100 kg/ha were also reported to increase in yield. Protein content of wheat in pearl millet-wheat system was the highest. Protein content in late sown wheat in pearl millet-wheat system was higher than cotton-wheat and rice-wheat systems. Seed rate of 100 kg/ha and nitrogen dose of five bags of urea/ha gave significantly higher protein content. Quantitative production of wheat in rice-wheat and cotton-wheat cropping systems was higher than pearl millet-wheat system but quality in terms of protein content was significantly superior to both the rice-wheat and cotton-wheat systems. Hence, export market should be developed in quality grain producing zone i. e. in pearl millet-wheat growing areas, where lower percentage of farmers use higher nitrogen doses and cultivation practices were numerically better than other cropping systems.
  • Authors:
    • Grace, P. R.
    • Ogle, S.
    • Paustian, K.
    • Antle, J.
    • Basso, B.
    • Aggarwal, P. K.
  • Source: Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment
  • Volume: 146
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2012
  • Summary: Soil organic carbon sequestration rates over 20 years based on the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC) methodology were combined with local economic data to determine the potential for soil C sequestration in wheat-based production systems on the Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP). The C sequestration potential of rice-wheat systems of India on conversion to no-tillage is estimated to be 44.1 Mt C over 20 years. Implementing no-tillage practices in maize-wheat and cotton-wheat production systems would yield an additional 6.6 Mt C. This offset is equivalent to 9.6% of India's annual greenhouse gas emissions (519 Mt C) from all sectors (excluding land use change and forestry), or less than one percent per annum. The economic analysis was summarized as carbon supply curves expressing the total additional C accumulated over 20 year for a price per tonne of carbon sequestered ranging from zero to USD 200. At a carbon price of USD 25 Mg C -1, 3 Mt C (7% of the soil C sequestration potential) could be sequestered over 20 years through the implementation of no-till cropping practices in rice-wheat systems of the Indian States of the IGP, increasing to 7.3 Mt C (17% of the soil C sequestration potential) at USD 50 Mg C -1. Maximum levels of sequestration could be attained with carbon prices approaching USD 200 Mg C -1 for the States of Bihar and Punjab. At this carbon price, a total of 34.7 Mt C (79% of the estimated C sequestration potential) could be sequestered over 20 years across the rice-wheat region of India, with Uttar Pradesh contributing 13.9 Mt C.
  • Authors:
    • Huchche, A. D.
    • Srivastava, A. K.
    • Panigrahi, P.
  • Source: Agricultural Water Management
  • Volume: 104
  • Year: 2012
  • Summary: The scarcity of irrigation water is one of the major causes of low productivity and decline of citrus orchards. The present study was planned with a hypothesis that the drip irrigation (DI) could save a substantial amount of water over surface irrigation, besides improving the yield of citrus plants. The experiment was conducted for 3 seasons during 2006-2009, with 'Nagpur' mandarin ( Citrus reticulata Blanco) plants budded on rough lemon ( Citrus Jambhiri Lush) rootstock in central India. The effects of DI and basin irrigation (BI) on soil chemical properties and crop responses were studied. DI was scheduled every-other-day at 40%, 60%, 80% and 100% of the alternate day cumulative evaporation ( Ecp) measured in Class-A evaporation pan. DI except irrigation at 40% Ecp proved superior to BI, producing more growth and fruit yield of plants. The higher plant growth was recorded with higher regime of DI. The maximum fruit yield in DI at 80% Ecp, using 29% less irrigation water resulted in 111% improvement in irrigation water productivity under this treatment over BI. The heavier fruits, with lower acidity and higher total soluble solids, were harvested in DI at 80% Ecp compared with BI. The significant variation of soil water content at 0-0.2 m depth under DI indicated the confinement of effective root zone of the plants in top 0.2 m soil. The maximum rate of net-photosynthesis, stomatal conductance and transpiration in leafs was recorded in DI at 100% Ecp. However, the plants under DI at 80% Ecp exhibited the highest leaf water use efficiency. The maximum salinity build-up with highest decrease in pH was observed in 0-0.2 m soil under DI, whereas the salinity development was prominent in 0.4-0.6 m soil with an increase in pH under BI. The gain in available macronutrients (N, P and K) and loss of micronutrients (Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn) in soil followed the similar trend of EC. The leaf nutrient (N, P, K, Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn) analysis revealed that DI produced significantly ( P
  • Authors:
    • Huchche, A. D.
    • Srivastava, A. K.
    • Panigrahi, P.
    • Singh, S.
  • Source: Journal of Plant Nutrition
  • Volume: 35
  • Issue: 2
  • Year: 2012
  • Summary: Evaluation of drip irrigation treatments scheduled at 40, 60, 80, and 100% of alternate day cumulative pan evaporation (Ecp) against basin irrigation method was undertaken in 1-year-old 'Nagpur' mandarin ( Citrus reticulata Blanco) trees budded on rough lemon [ Citrus jambhiri (L)] rootstock on an alkaline Inceptisol soil type for three seasons during 2003-2005. Growth responses showed significantly ( P≤0.05) higher annual increase in tree height (0.44-0.50 m), scion girth (37-45 mm), and canopy volume (0.508-0.986 m 3) under drip-irrigation except irrigation at 40% Ecp, compared to tree height (0.40 m), scion girth (36 mm), and canopy volume (0.463 m 3) under basin irrigation. The highest magnitude of increase in different growth parameters was observed with drip irrigation at 80% Ecp, which produced the net water saving of 32% over basin irrigation method. Response on leaf nutrient composition under drip irrigation at 80% Ecp likewise produced the similar response, [2.27% nitrogen (N), 1.98% potassium (K), and 121.8 ppm iron (Fe)], significantly ( P≤0.05) higher than under basin irrigation (1.12% N, 1.04% K, and 98.3 ppm Fe), with other nutrients, e.g., phosphorus (P), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) remained unaffected.
  • Authors:
    • Shinde, B. P.
    • Patale, S. W.
  • Source: Adv Pl Sci
  • Volume: 25
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2012
  • Summary: A study was conducted to determine the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi inoculation on growth of cotton grown under well watered and water stressed pot culture conditions. 15 days old cotton seedlings were planted in earthen pots after treatment with or without the AM fungi. Roots were sampled after 45, 90, and 135 days of growth stages to quantify AM fungi. Mycorrhizal colonization was higher in water-stressed plants than well-watered plants. Biomass was higher in mycorrhizal than non-mycorrhizal plants irrespective of water treatments. However the plants irrigated with alternate watering schedule had shown higher biomass and than those treated with daily watering. The improved growth in cotton plants reported here demonstrate the potential of mycorrhizal inoculation to reduce the effects of drought stress and useful for the better performance under stress conditions.
  • Authors:
    • Parhad, V. N.
    • Ramamurthy, V.
    • Patil, N. G.
  • Source: Journal of Cotton Research and Development
  • Volume: 26
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2012
  • Summary: An experiment was conducted on farmer's field to observe the effects of different drip irrigation regimes on water use efficiencies (WUE) and soil moisture status for cotton variety NHH44 in Vidarbha region during 2001 and 2002. Treatments were based on open pan evaporation approach. The highest cotton yield was obtained from the least irrigation treatment (T 1). WUE ranged from 0.02 kg/ha/mm in the treatment T 5 to 0.34 kg/ha/mm in T 1. The greatest irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) was observed in treatment T 1 (2.26 kg/ha/mm), and the smallest IWUE was in treatment T 5 (0.18 kg/ha/mm) in the experimental years, indicating saving of more than 58 per cent irrigation water. Soil moisture status was below 50 per cent of available water capacity (AWC) for 105 days in 2001 as compared to 135 days in 2002 in T 1 implying that light irrigations in place of 6 cm for the clay soils in this part would be preferable and drainage of excess rainwater could be critical to improve yields.
  • Authors:
    • Pujari, B. T.
    • Halepyati, A. S.
    • Prabhu, G.
    • Desai, B. K.
  • Source: Karnataka Journal of Agricultural Sciences
  • Volume: 25
  • Issue: 2
  • Year: 2012
  • Summary: The field experiment was conducted at College of Agriculture Farm, Raichur on medium black soil during kharif, 2009 to study the weed management in Bt cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum L.) under irrigation. The results revealed that among the weed management treatments, weed free check recorded significantly higher uptake of nutrients (111.01, 31.21 and 129.11 NPK kg ha -1) and was followed by pendimethalin 38.7 CS (PRE)+quizalofop ethyl 5 EC (POE)+IC and HW at 60 DAS (T 12). With regards to yield and economics, pendimethalin 38.7 CS (PRE)+quizalofop ethyl 5 EC (POE)+IC and HW at 60 DAS (T 12) gave significantly higher seed cotton yield (14.06 q ha -1) and higher gross returns (Rs 35,150 ha -1), net returns (Rs 11,857 ha -1) and BC ratio (1.51).