Influence of different transplanting date and weed management practices on yield and quality of basmati rice (Pusa Basmati-1509)

A field experiment was conducted during kharif 2014 at students’ farm of Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, college of agriculture, Kaul (Kaithal). The experiment consisted of four transplanting dates (June 15, July 5, July 25 and August 15) in main plots and six weed control treatments in sub plots treatments consisted of pre-emergence application of pretilachlor, oxadiargyl alone and sequential application of pre and post emergence herbicides viz., pretilachlor fb bispyribac, oxadiargyl fb bispyribac, weed free check and unweeded check. Based on research investigation it was observed that early transplanting dates (June 15 and July 5) produced taller plant, higher tillers/m2 and crop dry matter accumulation at all growth stages. Early transplanting produced significantly higher number of effective tillers/m2 (263) along with higher number of filled grain/ panicle (85) than delayed planting (July 25 and August 15). The 1000-grain weight was not affected by time of transplanting. The highest grain yield (4363 kg/ha) was recorded under June 15 transplanting which was statistically at par to the grain yield (4058 kg/ha) obtained under July 5 transplanting. Among the weed management practices tried, weed free check resulted in the highest values of plant height (104.2 cm), tillers/m2 (305), crop dry matter accumulation (964 g/ m2), effective tillers/m2 (271), grains length (8.5 cm), filled grains/panicle (86.3) as well as grain (4516 kg/ha) and straw yield (5506 kg/ha) which were however, comparable to pre-emergence application of oxadiargyl followed by bispyribac-sodium applied at 25 DAT and pretilachlor followed by bispribac-sodium at 25DAT

Assessing the Attitude of Farmers towards Improved Fodder Production Technologies in Jhansi District of Bundelkhand Region

The present study was carried out in 2020 with the aim of assessing farmer's attitude towards improved fodder production technology in Jhansi district of Bundelkhand region. An ex post Facto research design was used in the present study. Three villages from Babina block were selected purposively for investigation of farmer’s attitude towards various fodder based technological intervention. From each village, 20 farmers were purposively selected. Thus, a total of 60 farmers were selected for the present study. The results revealed that majority of the respondents belonged in middle age category (58.33%), more than one third had middle class education (36.67%), medium family size (53.34%), semi-medium land holding (41.67%), percentage of the respondents involved in dairy+crop farming (100%), medium herd size (53.33%), medium experience in dairy farming (51.67%) and medium annual income i.e. Rupees 155000 to 350000 (53.34%). The results revealed that majority of the participants who had high, moderate and low attitude towards improved fodder production technologies were 16.67, 23.33 and 15.00% respectively. It was concluded that, there was an inclination of positive response and concern for improved fodder technologies among respondents and vast majority of the respondents (85.00 %) had a moderately to highly favorable attitude

Deciphering the role of phosphorus management under conservation agriculture based wheat production system

Phosphorus (P) is a vital element required by all living organism (plants, animals and microbes etc.). Its application in agriculture, whether in conventional or conservation agriculture, requires careful attention due to its low use efficiency, which typically does not exceed 20%. With the increasing acceptance of conservation agriculture (CA), it is crucial to develop protocols for P management to ensure sustainable wheat production. Therefore, a field trial was conducted from 2016–2017 to 2017–2018 in the India's semiarid eco-region to study the role of P on wheat productivity, quality, and resource use efficiency under CA-based production system. We assessed the impact of tillage operations and P management practices on wheat productivity, quality, and resource use efficiency. Three tillage and residue management options such as CT-R (conventional tillage without residue); NT-R (no tillage without maize residue) and NT + R (no tillage with maize residue @ 2.5 Mg ha−1) were laid-out in main plot and five P management options subplots viz. P1 (nitrogen and potash according to recommended but not P); P2 (17.2 kg P ha−1); P3 (17.2 kg of P ha−1 + microbial fertilizer); P4 (17.2 kg P ha−1 + compost inoculant culture) and P5 (34.4 kg P ha−1) in split plot design with three replicates. The results indicates that the combination of no-tillage with residue retention (maize residue @ 2.5 Mg ha−1) (NT + R) and the application of 34.4 kg P ha−1 (P5) significantly improved grain yield by ~43.2% compared to the control treatment (conventional tillage with no residue, CT – R, and no phosphorus application). NT + R also resulted in significantly better amino acid (~22.7%) and net protein yield (~21.2%) compared to CT – R. Regarding the P management strategy, the highest amino acid (49.1%) and protein yield (12.5%) were observed under the P5 treatment compared to the no-phosphorus treatment. Conjoint use of NT – R, along with the application of 17.2 kg P ha−1 and PSB (Phosphorus Solubilizing Bacteria), resulted in a significant increase in energy use efficiency of ~58% over other treatments combination. Furthermore, the NT + R plot that received 17.2 kg P ha−1 + PSB demonstrated higher P agronomic efficiency (~43%) and recovery efficiency (~53%) over control. The study's findings underscore the significance of adopting efficient P management strategies in CA to ensure the sustainable production of wheat

Sustainable intensification strategies: balancing productivity, quality, and profitability in agri-food systems with resource optimization

ContextMeeting the rising global nutritional demands is a critical challenge due to population growth, increasing incomes, shrinking natural resources, and climate change. Enhancing crop productivity while ensuring sustainability requires innovative and efficient agricultural practices. The System of Crop Intensification (SCI), adapted from the System of Rice Intensification (SRI), offers a promising solution by optimizing agronomic management for various crops, such as wheat, millets, maize, sugarcane, rice, and soybean.Research questionThis review examines the potential of SCI in improving crop yields, profitability, and resource use efficiency. The primary research question is: How does SCI impact crop productivity, soil health, and farmers’ income compared with conventional farming methods?MethodsThe review synthesizes recent studies and field trials on SCI adoption across multiple crops and regions. Key agronomic modifications considered include wider planting geometry, improved water management, organic manure application, residue retention, and integrated weed management. The effects of SCI on yield, nutrient uptake, soil quality, resource-use efficiency and economic returns were analyzed.ResultsSCI practices have demonstrated a significant yield increase, often more than doubling production compared with conventional methods. The adoption of SCI has resulted in a 15%–25% yield improvement in major field crops, along with enhanced oil and protein content, increased nutrient uptake, and improved water-use efficiency. Although SCI involves higher initial production costs, the increased crop yields compensate for the expenses, leading to higher net returns for farmers.ConclusionsSCI is an effective and sustainable agronomic approach that enhances productivity while improving soil health and resource-use efficiency. The approach contributes to climate resilience and profitability, making it a viable option for small and marginal farmers. The observed improvements in soil–plant interactions indicate the need for further scientific exploration of the mechanisms driving these benefits.ImplicationsSCI provides an ecologically sustainable solution to global food security challenges. Its adoption at a wider scale can significantly increase farmer incomes, enhance soil fertility, and contribute to environmentally friendly farming practices. Encouraging research, demonstration, and policy support for SCI will be crucial in ensuring its widespread implementation and long-term success

Assessing the Attitude of Farmers towards Improved Fodder Production Technologies in Jhansi District of Bundelkhand Region

The present study was carried out in 2020 with the aim of assessing farmer's attitude towards improved fodder production technology in Jhansi district of Bundelkhand region. An ex post Facto research design was used in the present study. Three villages from Babina block were selected purposively for investigation of farmer’s attitude towards various fodder based technological intervention. From each village, 20 farmers were purposively selected. Thus, a total of 60 farmers were selected for the present study. The results revealed that majority of the respondents belonged in middle age category (58.33%), more than one third had middle class education (36.67%), medium family size (53.34%), semi-medium land holding (41.67%), percentage of the respondents involved in dairy+crop farming (100%), medium herd size (53.33%), medium experience in dairy farming (51.67%) and medium annual income i.e. Rupees 155000 to 350000 (53.34%). The results revealed that majority of the participants who had high, moderate and low attitude towards improved fodder production technologies were 16.67, 23.33 and 15.00% respectively. It was concluded that, there was an inclination of positive response and concern for improved fodder technologies among respondents and vast majority of the respondents (85.00 %) had a moderately to highly favorable attitude.</jats:p

Effect of silicon and phosphorus fertilization on growth, productivity and profitability of aerobic rice (Oryza sativa)

A field experiment was conducted at ICAR- Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi during rainy (kharif) seasons of 2015 and 2016 to study the effect of silicon and phosphorus levels on yield, yield attributes and economics of aerobic rice (Oryza sativa L.). Four levels each of phosphorus (0, 30, 60 and 90 kg P2O5/ha) and silicon (0, 40, 80 and 120 kg Si/ha) were tested in a factorial randomized block design (FRBD) and replicated three times. Growth and yield attributes were significantly higher when phosphorus and silicon were included in the nutrient management of aerobic rice cultivation. Growth, yield, yield attributes and economics were significantly affected by the combined application of silicon and phosphorus. The highest aerobic rice grain yield (5.66 and 5.62 t/ha), net returns (Rupees 92.4×103 /ha and 90.1×103 /ha) and yield attributes were recorded with 90 kg P2O5 /ha during both the years of experimentation. However, it was at par with 60 kg P2O5 /ha during both the years of experimentation. In case of silicon application, highest grain yield (5.53 and 5.65 t/ha), net returns (Rupees 90.7×103 /ha and 92.4×103 /ha) and yield attributes were recorded with 120 kg Si/ha, however, it was at par with 80 kg Si/ha during both the years of experimentation. Therefore, the application of phosphorus and silicon should be adopted for achieving higher productivity and profitability of aerobic rice.</jats:p