Maize is the third most important crop in India after rice and wheat. Demand for maize feed and food is projected to increase and India would need 45 million tonnes by 2022. But the average productivity is very low 3.05 tonnes/ha. The use of drip irrigation in irrigated maize cultivation is a contemporary yield enhancing and water-saving strategy. While, the productivity gains per ha due to drip irrigation of maize varied from 27 to 84.6%, water saved by drip varied from 30.6 to 33.5% among different farmers when compared to furrow method of irrigation. Besides these advantages, the farmers could reduce the production costs per ha to the tune of 15.1 to 18%. Discounted cash flow analysis employed suggests that drip investment in maize is economically viable even without subsidy. These incentives are the key to scaling adoption of yield enhancing and resource conserving drip irrigation technology in irrigated maize to meet future food demand. The present policies like PMKSY (Pradhan Mantri Krsihi Sinchayee Yojana) at country level and some state level policies like TSMIP, APMIP, GGRC and RDIP implemented in maize growing states with the aim of extending irrigation cover in tune with “Har Khet ko Pani” and enhancing farmer’s income i.e., “Per Drop More Revenue” may encourage farmers in large scale adoption of drip irrigation in maize with continued support of research and extension agencies.
Four seeding rates (25, 30, 35 and 40 g/m2) of rice in nursery were tested for seedling vigour recorded at 10, 17 and 24 DAS at Malan during 2013 and 2014. The seedling vigour so obtained in nursery was subsequently evaluated in field during kharif 2013. Thus twenty four treatments comprised of combinations of three seedling ages (10, 17 and 24 days) and two spacings (20 × 20 cm and 20 × 15 cm) in main plots and four seedling vigour from four seeding rates (25, 30, 35 and 40 g/m2) in sub plots were evaluated in split plot design. Seedling shoot length under all seeding rates (25-35 g/m2) was significantly higher compared to check (40 g/m2) during 2013. In the next year, shoot and root length (30-35 g/m2), tiller per seedling and leaves per seedling (25-30 g/m2) of 24 days nursery was significantly higher over check (40 g/m2). Plant height, tillers, leaves and dry matter accumulation were significantly higher when younger seedlings aged 10 and 17 days were used. The crop raised using 10 days old seedlings matured 3-5 days earlier than 24 days old seedlings. Wider spacing resulted in more plant height, tillers, leaves and dry matter accumulation. Seedlings from 25, 30 and 35 g seed/m2 resulted in significantly taller plants than 40 g/m2. The seeding rate, seedling age and plant spacing did not significantly influence rice productivity thereby permitting flexibility to the rice farmers in the adoption of these factors.
Five methods of rice establishment methods viz. zero tillage, row seeding in prepared bed, broadcast seeding of pre-sprouted seeds in puddle field, row seeding of pre-sprouted seeds with drum seeder and manual transplanting; 3 methods of wheat establishment viz. zero tillage, conventional tillage and bed planting were evaluated to assess the productivity and profitability of rice–wheat system to find out the suitable alternative to the standard transplanting method. Transplanted paddy resulted in significantly higher grain yield (3.98 tonnes ha−1) followed by drum seeding (3.37 tonnes ha−1), broadcast seeding of sprouted seeds (3.23 tonnes ha−1), row seeding in prepared bed (2.92 tonnes ha−1) and zero tilled rice (2.76 tonnes ha−1). Conventional tillage in wheat produced 10 and 18 per cent more grain yield as compared to zero tilled and bed planted wheat, respectively. Net returns (Rs 30,819 ha−1) and benefit: cost ratio (1.37) from rice-wheat cropping system were highest from broadcast seeding of pre-sprouted seeds in puddle field–zero tillage wheat, followed by Rs 30,069 ha−1net return from RM3 – conventional tillage wheat. Bed planting of wheat was least economical for all rice establishment methods except transplanting method. Transplanted method of rice can be profitably replaced with sowing of pre-sprouted seeds in puddle field with subsequent wheat established either by zero tillage or by conventional tillage.
In Himachal Pradesh, rice (Oryza sativa L.) is grown manure (2 : 1) and turning green manure at 25 days after under various topo-sequences ranging from uplands to sowing + 50 % recommended fertilizer dose; T,, line sowing lowlands at varying elevations covering an area of 78 000 ha (80 kg seedha) + recommended fertilizer dose + 5 tonnes and the average rice productivity of the state is 1 960 kg/ha
A field experiment was conducted at Malan during kharif 2006 and 2007 to evaluate the productivity and profitability of rice under system of rice intensification (SRI) and integrated crop management (ICM). The SRI involved transplanting of 10–12 days old single seedling/hill at 25 cm x 25 cm; ICM involved transplanting of 15–18 days old 1–2 seedlings/hill at 20 cm x 20 cm spacing and were compared with conventional transplanting (CT) of 4 weeks old 2–3 seedlings/hill at 20 cm x 10 cm spacing. The treatments (CT, SRI, ICM) were tested in 2 sets,1 with same date of nursery sowing (consequently with different transplanting dates) and another with same date of transplanting (with different dates of nursery sowing). The SRI and ICM methods outperformed CT under same date of nursery sowing. The plants under SRI and ICM were taller by 7.4 cm and 6.1 cm, respectively and matured 7 days earlier compared to CT (124 days). More tillering at hill level compensated and thus effective tillers/m2 in ICM (247) were at par with CT (244) but were less in SRI (203). Panicle weight (g) was significantly more in SRI (3.75) followed by ICM (3.01) and CT (2.85). On an average ICM (6.67 t/ha; 14.5%) and SRI (6.43 t/ha; 10.6%) produced significantly more grain yield compared to CT (5.81 t/ha). NPK uptake was significantly more in ICM (98.9, 19.6, 96.8 kg/ha) followed by SRI and CT. On an average, ICM recorded significantly higher net return (Rs 40,943/ha) and benefit:cost ratio (2.04) followed by SRI (Rs 39,120/ha and 1.98). Under same date of nursery transplanting, the number of effective tillers/m2 were significantly less under SRI (164) and ICM (214) and so the productivity and profitability in new methods was less. Thus, it is concluded that under mid hills of Himachal Pradesh, ICM was promising to increase the productivity and profitability of transplanted rice.
Pyrazosulfuron-ethyl at 25 g ha−1 applied 10 days after transplanting (DAT), tank mixed (3 DAT) or sequential application of butachlor 938 g ha−1 (3 DAT) and Almix at 4 g ha−1 (25 DAT) were identified as promising alternatives to the commonly used herbicide butachlor at 1:5 kg ha−1.
A field experiment was conducted during 2002–03 to 2004–05 at Malan, Himachal Pradesh, to explore the possibility of an alternative to farmyard manure (FYM) as a component of integrated nutrient management in rice (Oryza sativa L.) – wheat (Triticum aestivum L. emend. Fiori & Paol.) system. Five organic sources, viz. FYM 5 t/ha gobhi sarson straw 5 t/ha, mushroom spent compost 2.5 t/ha, FYM 2.5 t/ha + gobhi sarson straw 2.5 t/ha, FYM 2.5 t/ha + mushroom spent compost 1.25 t/ha, were applied in all possible combinations at three fertility levels, viz. 50, 100 and 150% of recommended fertilizer dose (RDF) to rice crop. Direct and residual effects of organic sources significantly affected the productivity of rice-wheat cropping system. Statistically equal rice and wheat yields were obtained with application of FYM 5 t/ha (5.03 t/ha rice, 2.48 t/ha wheat) and FYM 2.5 t/ha + mushroom spent compost 1.25 t/ha (4.94 t/ha, 2.33 t/ha), whereas gobhi sarson straw 5 t/ha recorded lower yields (4.24 t/ha, 1.99 t/ha). Rice responded significantly up to 100% recommended dose (4.77 t/ha); residual effects of fertility levels on wheat did not differ significantly. Standard control (100% RDF to both crops) resulted in significantly higher grain yield of wheat compared with mean of others receiving only 50% RDF. Nutrient uptake uptake (159.1 kg N, 35.0 kg P and 147.9 kg K/ha) and net returns (Rs 41,535/ha) from the rice-wheat cropping system recorded higher values with FYM 5 t/ha, followed by FYM 2.5 t/ha + mushroom spent compost 1.25 t/ha (155.0 kg N, 32.5 kg P and 139.0 kg K/ha; Rs 39,132/ha). The soil-available NPK status remained fairly constant under different treatments. Thus, FYM 2.5 t/ha + mushroom spent compost 1.25 t/ha applied to rice helped in sustained productivity and profitability of the cropping system statistically equal to that with FYM 5 t/ha.
Field experiment was conducted under All India Coordinated Rice Improvement Project at CSKHPKV Rice Research Station, Malan during 1996 to 2000 to evaluate the bio-efficacy of promising herbicides for weed control in direct seeded sprouted puddled rice. The weed infestation reduced the grain yield of sprouted rice from 24.1 to 43.3% during different years. The mean reduction over five years duration was worked out to be 35.5%. Application of butachlof+safener 50 EC at 1.0 kg ha−1 within three days of sowing remaining statistically at par with anilofos+2, 4-DEE 24+32 EC at 0.40+0.53 kg ha−1 at 10 DAS reduced the accumulation of dry matter by weeds significantly and resulted in higher grain yield. These treatments were as good as two hand weedings at 20 and 40 days after sowing.
The present investigation was planned to understand the variability and inter-relationship among various nutritional quality attributes of maize kernels to identify potential donors of the respective traits for future hybridization programs. Sixty-three maize inbred lines were processed for the estimation of protein, starch, fat, sugar, 100-kernel weight, specific gravity, and moisture level of the grain. The results reveal that a wide variability among protein, starch, 100-kernel weight, specific gravity, and fat was seen, with special emphasis on the protein concentration that varied from 8.83 to 15.54%, starch (67.43–75.31%), and 100-kernel weight (9.14–36.11 gm). Factor analysis revealed that the protein concentration, starch, and 100-kernel weight, the three major components, comprise 68.58% of the kernel variability. Protein exhibited a significant negative correlation with starch and 100-kernel weight, indicating that an increase in the protein concentration will down-regulate the starch and 100-kernel weight. The inbred lines are proposed as donors for the development of high cultivars for their respective traits, viz., high protein (DMR WNC NY 403 and DMR WNC NY 404), high starch concentration (DMR WNC NY 2163, DMR WNC NY 2219, DMR WNC NY 2234, DMR WNC NY 2408, DMR WNC NY 2437, and DMR WNC NY 2466), high 100-kernel wt. (DMR WNC NY 2113, DMR WNC NY 2213, DMR WNC NY 2233, DMR WNC NY 2234, DMR WNC NY 2414, DMR WNC NY 2435, DMR WNC NY 2465, and DMR WNC NY 2474), sugar (DMR WNC NY 2417), and specific gravity (DMR WNC NY 2418). Genetic distance analysis revealed that DMR WNC NY 397 and DMR WNC NY 404 are the farthest apart inbred lines, having major differences in their protein, fat, starch, and sugar contents, followed by DMR WNC NY 2436 and DMR WNC NY 2394, DMR WNC NY 2212 and DMR WNC NY 2430, DMR WNC NY 396 and DMR WNC NY 2415, DMR WNC NY 404 and DMR WNC NY 2144, and DMR WNC NY403 and DMR WNC NY 2115. Moreover, this study proposes that these possible combinations of lines (in a breeding program) would result in genetic variability with simultaneous high values for the respective characteristics.
'%3e%3ccircle r='20' fill='%23008'/%3e%3ccircle r='17.5' fill='%23fff'/%3e%3ccircle r='3.5' fill='%23008'/%3e%3cg id='d'%3e%3cg id='c'%3e%3cg id='b'%3e%3cg id='a' fill='%23008'%3e%3ccircle r='.875' transform='rotate(7.5 -8.75 133.5)'/%3e%3cpath d='M0 17.5.6 7 0 2l-.6 5L0 17.5z'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3cuse xlink:href='%23a' transform='rotate(15)'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3cuse xlink:href='%23b' transform='rotate(30)'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3cuse xlink:href='%23c' transform='rotate(60)'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3cuse xlink:href='%23d' transform='rotate(120)'/%3e%3cuse xlink:href='%23d' transform='rotate(-120)'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/svg%3e)