• Authors:
    • Gajbhiye, K. S.
    • Ray, S. K.
    • Prasad, J.
    • Singh, S. R.
  • Source: Agropedology
  • Volume: 19
  • Issue: 2
  • Year: 2009
  • Summary: Detailed soil survey of Selsura KVK research farm of Dr. P.D.K.V., Akola in Wardha district, Maharashtra was carried out using 1:6000 scale cadastral map. There were nine soil series and thirteen mapping units. The soils were very dark gray to very dark grayish brown in hue 10YR, calcareous and clayey but differed in depth and are classified under Entisols, Inceptisols and Vertisols. In general, pH (8.0-9.2) increased with depth whereas reverse trend was observed for organic carbon. Soils of Selsura-1 are prone to sodicity problems. DTPA-Zn and Fe were deficient in these soils but DPTA-Mn and Cu were optimum. The mapping units were grouped under II to IV land capability classes and 2 to 4 land irrigability classes. Except soils of Selsura-7 series (very shallow), others are moderately or marginally suitable for one or more commonly growing rainfed kharif crops viz. cotton, sorghum, pigeonpea, soybean and groundnut.
  • Authors:
    • Kumar, S.
    • Thakral, S. K.
    • Kadian, V. S.
  • Source: Haryana Journal of Agronomy
  • Volume: 25
  • Issue: 1/2
  • Year: 2009
  • Summary: A field experiment was carried out from 2003-04 to 2005-06 at Agronomy Research Area of CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar to find out the profitable crop rotation in south-west Haryana. In the rotation the different kharif season crops i. e. cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum L.), soybean [ Glycine max (L.) Merrill], mungbean [ Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek], pearl millet [ Pennisetum glaucum (L.) Emend. Stuntz] and sorghum [ Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] were grown with rotation in rabi season crops i. e. wheat [ Triticum aestivum (L.) Emend. Fiori & Paol.], barley ( Hordeum vulgare L.), chickpea ( Cicer arietinum L.) and raya ( Brassica juncea L.). Based on the mean of three-year rotation, cotton-based rotation registered maximum land use efficiency, whereas it was lowest in sorghum-based rotations. Among the different crop rotations, cotton-barley and soybean-wheat were found profitable based on the net returns and B:C ratio. Pearl millet-based crop rotations were found remunerative as compared to other kharif season crops.
  • Authors:
    • Jajoo, S. B.
    • Kamble, P. O.
    • Shinde, K. J.
  • Source: Green Farming
  • Volume: 13
  • Issue: 1 (Special 1)
  • Year: 2009
  • Summary: A study was conducted to suggest optimal resources allocation for crop plan to net benefit maximization using linear programming model for Akola district in Maharashtra state. Resources management plan was developed with allocation of land and water for different crop activities to maximize the net return taking into account land capability classification, availability of water in different season, crop water requirements, food requirement and affinity towards the crops of the peoples in district. In existing crop plan during kharif season major area is under cotton (43.45%) followed by jowar (17%) whereas in proposed optimal crop plan without capital constraints major area was allocated under soybean (30%), cotton+tur (20%) of the total cultivable area of the district. In rabi major area in existing is under gram (5.2%) whereas in proposed plan area is allocated to wheat (20%), gram (20%). In existing summer area is 0.18% and annual was nil whereas in proposed plan is 3% and 4.13% respectively. In existing gross investment and net return per hectare was 10341 and 5203 Rs/ha whereas in proposed plan is 14864 and 8833 Rs/ha. In proposed plan net return per hectare increases by Rs. 3630.
  • Authors:
    • Karayel, D.
  • Source: Soil & Tillage Research
  • Volume: 104
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2009
  • Summary: The purpose of this research was to examine the performance of a modified precision vacuum seeder for no-till sowing of maize ( Zea mays L.) and soybean ( Glycine max L.) following wheat ( Triticum aestivum). A wavy-edged disc and side gauge wheels were fabricated and mounted to each unit of a common precision vacuum seeder (with a hoe opener on one row unit and a double disc-type opener on another row unit) and used to sow at three forward speeds (1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 m s -1). Multiple index, miss index, quality of feed index and precision of the distribution of the seeds along the length of the row, sowing depth uniformity, mean emergence time and percent emergence were determined. Sowing depth uniformity, mean emergence time and percent emergence of both maize and soybean seeds were decreased and precision of the distribution of the seeds along the length of the row was increased as a result of increasing forward speed. The distribution of the seeds along the length of the row, sowing depth uniformity and percent emergence of the seeder equipped with the double disc-type opener was better than the seeder equipped with the hoe-type opener. The precision of the distribution of the seeds along the length of the row for forward speeds of 1.0 and 1.5 m s -1 experienced in this study was well below 29%, and therefore is acceptable for both maize and soybean seeds. The modified precision vacuum seeder generally performed best using the double disc-type furrow opener at the forward speed of 1.0 m s -1, based on the distribution of the seeds along the length of the row, sowing depth uniformity, and percent emergence.
  • Authors:
    • Bernards, M. L.
    • Wilson, R. G.
    • Jordan, D. L.
    • Wilcut, J. W.
    • Shaw, D. R.
    • Owen, M. D. K.
    • Weller, S. C.
    • Johnson, W. G.
    • Kruger, G. R.
    • Young, B. G.
  • Source: Weed Technology
  • Volume: 23
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2009
  • Summary: Corn and soybean growers in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Mississippi, Nebraska, and North Carolina, as well as cotton growers in Mississippi and North Carolina, were surveyed about their views on changes in problematic weeds and weed pressure in cropping systems based on a glyphosate-resistant (GR) crop. No growers using a GR cropping system for more than 5 yr reported heavy weed pressure. Over all cropping systems investigated (continuous GR soybean, continuous GR cotton, GR corn/GR soybean, GR soybean/non-GR crop, and GR corn/non-GR crop), 0 to 7% of survey respondents reported greater weed pressure after implementing rotations using GR crops, whereas 31 to 57% felt weed pressure was similar and 36 to 70% indicated that weed pressure was less. Pigweed, morningglory, johnsongrass, ragweed, foxtail, and velvetleaf were mentioned as their most problematic weeds, depending on the state and cropping system. Systems using GR crops improved weed management compared with the technologies used before the adoption of GR crops. However, the long-term success of managing problematic weeds in GR cropping systems will require the development of multifaceted integrated weed management programs that include glyphosate as well as other weed management tactics.
  • Authors:
    • Takle, S. R.
    • Kunte, A. P.
    • Bhise, V. B.
  • Source: Resource-use efficiency in irrigated Indian agriculture 2009
  • Year: 2009
  • Summary: The present study was conducted on irrigated farms to study the resource use efficiency and returns to scale in the command area of Penganga irrigation project. A sample of 310 farmers was scientifically chosen out of which 94 were from head-reach, 100 from middle reach and 116 belonged the tail reach location of the command area and the study was conducted during the agricultural year 2004-05. The study was confined to three foodgrains, i.e. green gram, kharif Jowar and Wheat, and four cash crops, viz., cotton, sugarcane, banana and soyabean. A Cobb-Douglas production function was fitted to estimate the resource-use efficiency and returns to scale in the crop production in irrigated Indian agriculture. The study observed that some of the resources have been either under-utilised or over-utilised; hence to increase the agricultural production all the resources should be used efficiently. Along with the efficient use of all the resources, new technology should also be adopted for increasing productivity. The ratio of marginal value product to factor cost for some resources (human labour, bullock labour, fertilisers and seeds) was found to be more than one, indicating the operation of increasing factors returns. In general for cash crops, the study suggests to increase the use of resources viz. bullock labour, working capital, seeds and irrigation so as to increase the production of the cultivated cash crops.
  • Authors:
    • Kushwaha, S. S.
    • Gajja, B. L.
  • Source: Current Agriculture
  • Volume: 33
  • Issue: 1/2
  • Year: 2009
  • Summary: An attempt has been made to document the change in the cropping pattern in Rajasthan, India. The study was based on the secondary data from 1980-81 to 2006-07. There was no major change in the cropping pattern, but in some crops such as rape, mustard and soyabean a shift was recorded. The increase in irrigation facilities in the state had observed increase in irrigated crops such as cotton, groundnut in some parts, wheat, soyabean, rape and mustard while some crops had witnessed the reduction in area. This indicated some minor change in the cropping pattern. However, the cropping pattern was mainly influenced by physical, economic, technological and institutional factors such as capital and market location and price of the crop at harvest time had definite temporal changes. The crop diversification had been witnessed in favour of oilseed crops.
  • Authors:
    • Hunt, T. E.
    • Magalhaes, L. C.
    • Siegfried, B. D.
  • Source: Journal of Economic Entomology
  • Volume: 102
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2009
  • Summary: The soybean aphid, Aphis glycines Matsumura (Hemiptera: Aphididae), is native to Asia and was recently (2000) detected in North America. Since then, it has become a significant threat to U.S. soybean production. Although neonicotinoid insecticide seed treatments, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam, have been suggested as a method of control, the season-long efficacy is still uncertain. Therefore, the use of imidacloprid and thiamethoxam seed treatments to control soybean aphid in Nebraska were examined. Soybean aphid populations were monitored weekly in an irrigated field study planted during the later half of the typical Nebraska planting window during 2005 and 2006. Imidacloprid and thiamethoxam were quantified by leaves through time, and leaf specific bioassays were conducted. In 2005, aphid populations were very low; however, in 2006 aphid numbers were significantly higher than 2005, reaching ~1,200 aphids per plant in the untreated plots. Aphid injury significantly reduced yield and individual seed size in 2006. Imidacloprid significantly reduced aphid densities in 2006 but not below the economic threshold. In 2006, thiamethoxam held aphid densities below the economic threshold. Leaf specific bioassays and leaf specific imidacloprid and thiamethoxam quantification indicated that thiamethoxam was present in the plant at higher concentrations and for a longer period.
  • Authors:
    • Fernandes, C.
    • Cora, J. E.
    • Marcelo, A. V.
    • Martins, M. dos R.
    • Jorge, R. F.
  • Source: Revista Brasileira de Ciência do Solo
  • Volume: 33
  • Issue: 2
  • Year: 2009
  • Summary: Decomposing crop residues in no-tillage system can alter soil chemical properties, which may consequently influence the productivity of succession crops. The objective of this study was to evaluate soil chemical properties and soyabean, maize and rice yield, grown in the summer, after winter crops in a no-tillage system. The experiment was carried out in Jaboticabal, Sao Paulo, Brazil on a Red Latosol (Oxisol), in a completely randomized block design, in strip plots with three replications. The treatments consisted of four summer crop sequences (maize monocrop, soyabean monocrop, soyabean/maize rotation and rice/bean/cotton rotation) combined with seven winter crops (maize, sunflower, oilseed radish, pearl millet, pigeon pea, grain sorghum and sunn hemp). The experiment began in September 2002. After the winter crops in the 2005/2006 growing season and before the sowing of summer crops in the 2006/2007 season, soil samples were collected in the layers 0-2.5; 2.5-5.0; 5-10; 10-20; and 20-30 cm. Organic matter, pH, P, K +, Ca 2+, Mg 2+, and H+Al were determined in each soil sample. In the summer soyabean/maize rotation and in maize the organic matter contents and P levels were lower, in the layers 0-10 cm and 0-20 cm, respectively. Summer rice/bean/cotton rotation increased soil K levels at 0-10 cm depth when sunn hemp and oilseed radish had previously been grown in the winter, and in the 0-2.5 cm layer for millet. Sunn hemp, millet, oilseed radish and sorghum grown in the winter increased organic matter contents in the soil down to 30 cm. Higher P levels were found at the depths 0-2.5 cm and 0-5 cm, respectively, when sunn hemp and oilseed radish were grown in the winter. Highest grain yields for soyabean in monoculture were obtained in succession to winter oilseed radish and sunn hemp and in rotation with maize, after oilseed radish, sunn hemp and millet. Maize yields were highest in succession to winter oilseed radish, millet and pigeon pea. Rice yields were lowest when grown after sorghum.
  • Authors:
    • Marinov-Serafimov, P.
  • Source: Selskostopanska Nauka (Agricultural Science)
  • Volume: 42
  • Issue: 5
  • Year: 2009
  • Summary: During the period 2006-2008 in the experimental field of the Experimental station of soybean - Pavlikeni is displayed field trial in non-irrigated conditions for establishing the efficacy and selectivity of the herbicide Diflufenikan - 500 g/l (Pelican 50 KS) in soybean agrocenosis background in natural mixed type weediness. Results obtained may be generalized in the following more important conclusions: Herbicides Diflufenikan - 500 g/l (Pelican 50SC) has relatively high selectivity (EWRS 2-3 ball) and is suitable for treatment of soybean crops after germination before sowing at a dose of culture 125 ml/ha. Herbicide effectiveness Diflufenikan - 500 g/l (Pelican 50 KS) varies from 73 to 89% on annual dicotyledonous weeds ( S. nigrum; Amaranthus spp.). Less herbicide effect (from 25 to 50%) is established under Ch. album and the least (from 8 to 52%) in the group of weeds annual Monocotyledon ( Setaria spp., Eh. crus-galli). The increase in grain yield of soybean varies from 11.3 to 106.0% compared to the control variant (control - zero) and is in direct relation to the effect achieved in the fight against weeds.