scholarly journals Impact of Land Configuration and Strip-Intercropping on Runoff, Soil Loss and Crop Yields under Rainfed Conditions in the Shivalik Foothills of North-West, India

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 6282
Author(s):  
Anil Khokhar ◽  
Abrar Yousuf ◽  
Manmohanjit Singh ◽  
Vivek Sharma ◽  
Parminder Singh Sandhu ◽  
...  

Maintaining sustainable crop production on undulating, sloppy, and erodible soils in Shivalik foothills of North-west India is a challenging task. Intercropping is accepted as a highly sustainable system to reduce soil erosion and ensure sustainable production by making efficient use of resources. Field experiments were conducted in the rainy season (July to September) during 2015, 2016, and 2017 to evaluate the effect of land slopes and maize and cowpea strip-intercropping on productivity and resource conservation at the Regional Research Station, Ballowal Saunkhri located in the Shivalik foothills. During three years of experimentation, a total of 23–26 runoff events were observed in the maize crop grown in the rainy season. The results from this 3-year field study indicate that maize grain yield was significantly higher on a 1% slope and cowpea on a 2% slope. This accounted for significantly higher net returns (US$ 428 ha−1) with a benefit-cost (BC) ratio of 2.0 on a 1% slope. Runoff, soil, and nutrient losses were higher on a 3% slope as compared to 1% and 2% slopes. N, P, and K loss on a 3% slope were 3.80, 1.82, and 4.10 kg ha−1 higher, respectively than a 1% slope. The adoption of a strip-intercropping system with a 4.8 m maize strip width and 1.2 m cowpea strip width resulted in significantly higher maize equivalent yield than sole maize and other strip-intercropping systems. This system showed the highest land equivalent ratio value (1.24) indicating a 24% yield advantage over sole cropping systems of maize and cowpea, and fetched the highest net returns (US$ 530 ha−1) with a benefit-cost ratio (BC ratio) of 2.09. This system also reduced runoff and soil loss by 10.9% and 8.3%, respectively than sole maize crop. On all the land slopes, maize and cowpea strip-intercropping systems showed a significant reduction in N, P, K, and organic carbon loss as compared to sole maize. Thus, on sloping land, the maize and cowpea strip-intercropping system decreases surface runoff, soil, and nutrient loss, and increases yield and income of the farmers as compared to a sole maize crop.

2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 685-688
Author(s):  
Syful Islam ◽  
Mangal Chandra Chanda ◽  
Mohammad Rashidul Haque ◽  
Razia Sultana ◽  
Muhammad Yunus

Estimating profitability and yield gap between research station and farm level of Binamoog-8 was conducted in five major Binamoog-8 growing areas of Bangladesh, namely Ishwardi, Magura, Natore, Jessore and Meherpur. The average cost of production in farm level of Binamoog-8 is Tk. 47373.55ha-1 and higher in Ishwardi (Tk. 53454.92 ha-1) followed by Meherpur, Magura, Natore and Jessore of Tk. 45160.28, Tk. 44300.14, Tk. 45232.95 and Tk. 48719.47 per hectare, respectively .The major shares of total cost were human labour, power tiller and irrigation. The net returns were Tk. 41160, Tk. 42902.30, Tk. 53603.18, Tk. 47494.60 and Tk. 40437.16 per hectare followed in Ishwardi, Meherpur, Magura, Natore and Jessore, respectively. The highest net return (Tk. 53603.18 ha-1) comes from Magura district for Binamoog-8.The undiscounted average benefit cost ratio over full cost basis were 1.77, 1.95, 2.21, 2.05 and 1.83 for Binamoog-8 in field level for Ishwardi, Meherpur, Magura, Natore and Jessore, respectively. The average yield gap of Binamoog-8 in farm level and research station was 129.05 kg per hectare. The yield gap between research station and farm level were 102.97 kg, 185.50 kg, 45.85 kg, 128.50 kg and 182.45 kg per hectare for Binamoog-8 in Ishwardi, Meherpur, Magura, Natore and Jessore, respectively. The highest yield gap between research station and field level was in Meherpur (185.50 kg per hectare) and lowest in Magura (45.85 kg per hectare). Farmers were facing various constraints in Binamoog-8 cultivation. Different strategies, such as lack of quality seed and fertilizer in appropriate time, lack of credit facilities, rainfall during germination period, insect infestation and pathogen infection, pod maturity in different times have been discussed as strategies to minimize yield gaps.Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. December 2016, 2(4): 685-688


1982 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 277-287 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. S. Reddy ◽  
R. W. Willey

SUMMARYA series of experiments was designed to evaluate a wide range of possible cropping systems for deep Vertisols of the Indian semi-arid tropics. The introduction of a rainy season maize crop, compared with traditional fallowing, had little effect on the yields of post-rainy season crops of sorghum, chickpea and pigeonpea. Introducing a rainy season sorghum crop caused severe yield reductions of post-rainy season crops in one year but only slight reductions in two subsequent years. Intercrop systems of maize/pigeonpea or sorghum/pigeonpea, and a three-crop system of maize/pigeonpea/chickpea, appeared very promising. Gross returns were usually much higher for the improved systems that utilized both the rainy and post-rainy seasons, though differences in net returns were not quite so great because of the extra costs of growing the additional rainy season crops.


Author(s):  
G. Manjulatha ◽  
B. Sowjanya ◽  
E. Rajanikanth

Aim: To compare the cost and return analysis of conventional maize cultivation with mechanization. Place of Study: A field experiment on maize crop cultivation by conventional and mechanization was conducted at Agricultural Research Station, Karimnagar during Kharif, 2019-20. Methodology: The cost concepts were used to estimate the cost of cultivation under conventional and Mechanization methods. The cost concepts viz., cost A1, cost A2 cost B1 cost B2 and cost C1, cost C2 and C3 were used in the present study. Results: The total costs of cultivation under conventional and mechanization methods were Rs.117794.78 and Rs.104137.92 per hectare respectively indicating 12 % saving with mechanization. Similarly gross returns were Rs. 146064.00 in conventional method against Rs.146988.00 in mechanized method.  Net returns recovered were 52% higher with mechanized method i.e Rs.42850.08 compared to conventional method Rs.28269.22. In the same way returns per rupee of investment in conventional method and mechanization were 1.23 and 1.41. Mechanization in cultivation also saves time, labour usage and reduces drudgery.


Author(s):  
Jagmohan Kaur ◽  
Thakar Singh ◽  
K. S. Saini

Background: Intercropping is an effective tool to enhance productivity, biodiversity and stability of the fragile agro-ecosystem. In the era of shrinking resources, intercropping based on pulse crops like soybean can play an important role in crop diversification as well as agricultural sustainability. But, the information on soybean based intercropping systems is limited and needs to be explored for north-west India. Methods: A field experiment was conducted during kharif seasons of 2015 and 2016 to evaluate the effect of different soybean based intercropping systems under different planting patterns on productivity, profitability and energetics. Soybean crop was planted as sole as well as in intercropping systems viz., soybean (45 cm) + mung bean (1:1), soybean (45 cm) + cowpea fodder (1:1), soybean (45 cm) + groundnut (1:1), soybean (45 cm) + maize fodder (1:1) , soybean (60 cm) + mash (1:1), soybean (60 cm) + mung bean (1:2), soybean (60 cm) + cowpea fodder (1:2), soybean (60 cm) + groundnut (1:2), soybean (60 cm) + maize fodder (1:2) and soybean (60 cm) + maize (grain) (1:1). Result: The pooled results over two years elucidated that soybean equivalent yield was affected significantly by different intercropping systems. Soybean (45 cm) + groundnut (1:1) produced the highest soybean equivalent yield and it was significantly better than all other systems except soybean (60 cm) + groundnut in 1:2 row ratio. Similar trend was followed by production efficiency. Both, soybean (45 cm) + groundnut (1:1) and soybean (60cm) + groundnut (1:2) systems produced significantly higher energy productivity as compared to sole soybean. The highest gross (Rs. 98185 /ha) and net returns (Rs. 56122/ha) were obtained in soybean (45 cm) + groundnut (1:1) intercropping system whereas the highest benefit cost ratio was obtained in soybean (60 cm) + maize fodder (1:2) system.


2013 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
SMA Hossain ◽  
MA Baque ◽  
MR Amin

The Imidacloprid insecticide, Gaucho 70 WS at 1.5, 2.5, 3.5, 4.5 and 5.5 g/kg seed was used as seed treatment and monocrotophos 40 WSC at 1120 ml/ha was applied as foliar spray on CB9 cotton cultivar to suppress aphid, whitefly and thrips, and impact on their natural enemies during 2008-2011 at the Regional Cotton Research Station, Dinajpur, Bangladesh. The activity of natural enemies, such as ladybird beetle, lacewing, syrphid, and spider population on the sucking pests attacking cotton cultivar CB9 and yield of cotton were recorded. Imidacloprid significantly reduced aphid, whitefly, and thrips population on cotton crops compared to untreated control or foliar spray of monocrotophos 40 WSC at 1120 ml/ha. Ladybird beetles, lacewings, syrphids, and spiders were abundant in the field but their population decreased in the treated plots compared to untreated control. The CB9 cotton cultivar produced significantly higher yield (1.73 t/ha) with a benefit cost ratio 12.47 when seeds were treated with Imidacloprid at 5.5 g/kg fuzzy seed. This study indicated that Imidacloprid (Gaucho 70 WS) used as a seed treatment may be suggested to the cotton growers for controlling sucking pests. Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 38(1): 61-70, March 2013 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjar.v38i1.15190


2014 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 177-182
Author(s):  
Bime M.J ◽  
Fon D.E ◽  
Ngalim S.B ◽  
Ongla J

Rice production and processing over the years has been on an increase with more small holders entering the business. This study on profitability of processing and marketing of small scale rice processors had as objective to analyse the profitability levels of rice processing and marketing by small scale processors, determine the value added to the commodity at each stage  and also identify the constraints faced by these processors. The study used primary data collected using well-structured questionnaire from millers only, miller traders for white/parboiled rice through a multistage sampling technique. Results showed that the net processing income (3,151,201), value added (8,147,456) and efficiency (138) for miller-traders of white rice was highest, followed by miller-traders for parboiled rice and lastly millers only. Results further showed that millers only had Benefit/cost ratio of 0.4 indicating that milling only is not profitable due to small quantities milled, and high fixed cost. Miller-traders for parboiled rice had a benefit/cost ratio of 2.3 implying that their venture is most profitable. Based on the results, it was recommended that millers only should purchase large quantities of paddy to enable them reduce the overhead cost. Also the services of parboilers should reflect in the sales price of parboiled rice so that the parboiling services can be paid for.


2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 12-17
Author(s):  
Srijana Pandey ◽  
Sapana Parajuli ◽  
Biplov Oli ◽  
Surya Dhungana

The research was conducted at Beltari Sandhikharka-10, Arghakhanchi district to study about the effect of various doses of boron on growth and yield attributing characters of cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis) during off-season from February to June in 2020. Five treatments; B0 (control/no application), B1: 2kg/ha, B2: 4kg/ha, B3: 6kg/ha, B4: 8kg/ha which are the different doses of boron application were laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with 4 replications. The growth parameters like plant height, number of leaves per plant leaf length and leaf breadth of largest leaf were recorded multiple times with 15 days interval. Days to curd initiation and Days from curd initiation to harvest were recorded by regular field observation. The yield parameters; curd weight with leaves, Marketable curd weight, average curd yield, incidence of hollowing were recorded during harvest. The economics from application of boron doses in cauliflower production was obtained in terms of cost of cultivation, gross returns, net returns, and benefit cost ratio. The result showed that the growth and yield attributing characters of cauliflower were significantly affected by application of boron in which the value of these parameters was found significantly higher in B1 followed by other treatments. The average curd yield of cauliflower in B1 was found to be 12.39 mt/ha which was 48.92% higher than that of B0 with curd yield 8.32 mt/ha. Similarly, the net return was found significantly the highest in B1 and the lowest in B0. The result showed that application of boron in the range of 2-4 kg/ha is preferred to control and higher doses in respect of both productivity and economics.


Author(s):  
Pandit S. Rathod ◽  
D.H. Patil ◽  
S.B. Bellad ◽  
Rachappa V. Haveri

Background: Bio-fortification, the process of integrating nutrients into food crops, provides a sustainable and economic way of increasing the density of micronutrients in important staple crops. Agronomic bio-fortification is the easiest, practicable and fastest way for bio-fortification of pulse grains with Fe, Zn, or other desirable micronutrients. Increasing micronutrient rich foods and improving dietary diversity will substantially reduce micronutrient disorders.Methods: A field experiment was conducted during the post rainy seasons of 2015, 2016 and 2017 at Zonal Agricultural Research Station, Kalaburagi, University of Agricultural Sciences, Raichur (Karnataka) to know the effect of soil and foliar fertilization of Zn and Fe on chickpea genotypes. Two genotypes (Annigeri 1 and JG 11) and six fertilization treatments (Control, 0.5% Zn, 0.1% Fe, Zn + Fe, seed treatment with 2 g Zn kg-1 seeds and soil application of Zn) were tested in medium black soils in split plot design with three replications.Result: The pooled data of three seasons indicated that the genotype JG 11, performed better than Annigeri 1 in terms of seed yield (1309 kgha-1), net returns (₹ 31634ha-1) and B: C ratio (2.52). On biofortification of Zn and Fe, foliar fertilization of Zn @ 0.5% + Fe @ 0.1% at flowering stage recorded significantly higher grain yield (1321 kgha-1), net returns (₹ 31179ha-1) and B: C ratio (2.44) over rest of the treatments. Further, foliar fertilization of Zn + Fe had significant influence on nutrient concentration (Zn and Fe) in chickpea grains. Thus, it could be concluded that combined biofortification of Zn + Fe to chickpea crop could be the viable agronomic intervention for getting higher productivity and nutritional security.


Author(s):  
Firdoz Shahana ◽  
M. Goverdhan ◽  
S. Sridevi ◽  
B. Joseph

A field experiment was conducted during 2016-17 at AICRP on Integrated Farming Systems, Regional Sugarcane and Rice Research Station, Rudrur to diversify existing rice-rice cropping system with less water requiring crops under irrigated dry conditions for vertisols of Northern Telangana Zone. The experiment was laid out with twelve cropping systems as treatments in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications. The twelve combinations of cropping systems tested during kharif and rabi seasons were rice – rice (check), maize + soybean (2:4) – tomato, maize + soybean (2:4) - rice, maize - sunflower + chickpea (2:4), maize - chickpea, Bt cotton + soybean (1:2) on broadbed – sesame + groundnut (2:4), Bt cotton - sesame + blackgram (2:4), soybean – wheat, soybean – sunflower + chickpea (2:4), turmeric – sesame, turmeric + soybean (1:2) on flat bed – bajra and turmeric + soybean (1:2) on broadbed – sesame + blackgram (2:4). On system basis, significantly higher productivity in terms of rice equivalent yield (REY) of 23830 kg ha-1 was recorded with turmeric+soybean (1:2) BBF– sesame+blackgram (2:4) turmeric – sesame cropping sequence. However it was on par with turmeric – sesame and turmeric + soybean (1:2) on flat bed – bajra crop sequence with productivity of 23332 kg ha-1 and 21389 kg ha-1 respectively. Lower productivity was recorded with rice-rice cropping system (10725 kg ha-1). Significantly higher system net returns were recorded with Bt. cotton – sesame + black gram (2:4) on BBF (Rs222838 ha-1) closely followed by Bt Cotton + Soybean (1:2) (BBF) - Sesamum + Groundnut (2:4) (Rs221160 ha-1) and Maize+soybean (2:4)–tomato (Rs212909 ha-1). Lower system net returns were recorded in conventional rice-rice system (Rs88179 ha-1). Bt. cotton – sesame + black gram (2:4) and Bt Cotton + Soybean (1:2) (BBF)- Sesamum + Groundnut ((2:4) and Maize+soybean (2:4)–tomato were economically superior with REE of 152.71%, 150.81% and 141.45%. Rice- Rice cropping adopted by majority of farmers is less productive and economically inferior indicating wider scope of diversifying existing rice- rice cropping system with high productive, economically viable cropping systems in vertisols of Northern Telangana Zone.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 482-487
Author(s):  
Sitesh Chatterjee ◽  
◽  
Palash Mondal ◽  

The experiment was conducted at Rice Research Station, Chinsurah, West Bengal, India during June-November 2010, 2011 and 2012 to evaluate the different doses of nitrogen and potash fertilizers on the incidence of Scirpophaga incertulas and Cnaphalocrocis medinalis in Swarna (MTU 7029) variety. Among the three straight fertilizers, N was applied at three split doses while P2O5 and K2O were applied basally. Eight treatments with different doses of N:P2O5:K2O viz. 40:40:20, 40:40:40, 80:40:20, 80:40:40, 80:40:60, 120:40:40, 120:40:60 and 0:40:0 were laid out in RCBD with three replications. The observations on dead heart (DH), white ear head (WE) and leaf folded (LF) were noted down. The pooled data of three consecutive years revealed the lowest DH% and WE% in 80:40:40 (3.96% DH and 4.70% WE) while lower LF% was recorded in 80:40:60 (1.75%) and 80:40:40 (2.02%). Percent DH, WE and LF were comparatively higher in both 120:40:60and 120:40:40. However, the treatments supported higher plant height and tillers hill-1, panicles hill-1 and 1000 grain weight which resulted in the highest grain (4926 kg ha-1) and straw (6028 kg ha-1) yield in 120:40:60 followed by the treatment 80:40:60 with 4907 kg ha-1 and 5972 kg ha-1, respectively. The results reflected that higher pest damage due to N at the dose of 120 kg ha-1 could be compensated by K2O @ 60 kg ha-1 which boosted the yield. Based on benefit-cost ratios, the treatments 80:40:40 and 80:40:60 proved cost effective.


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