Sustainable Quality Fodder Production under Temperate Mountain Agriculture in Kashmir

Inadequate supply of quality feed and fodder is the primary cause of lower productivity of milch animals in India. Oats (Avena sativa L.) is an important fodder crop in J&K. Jammu and Kashmir state the fodder requirement is about 4.31 million tonnes against the available 3.26 million tonnes (Anonymous, 2008). Kashmir valley experiences a long lean period of winter, resulting in scarcity of green and quality fodder which results in drastic decrease in milk production. Therefore, to meet the need of animal products, there is a great importance of fodder cultivation to compensate fodder scarcity during lean period (Rabi crops remain dormant due to snow/ freezing temperatures). The best measure related to forage quality is animal productivity, which can be affected by nutrient intake, digestibility and utilization efficiency. Quality forage must have high intake, digestibility and efficient utilization. Physiological characteristics have significant impacts on growth and development of plants grown in production systems. Keeping the above facts in view, the present investigation was undertaken to identify the parents and their crosses for physiological and forage quality traits which are economically sustainable for forage yield and quality for sustainable consumption in hill agriculture

Fodder Yield, Nutrient Uptake and Quality of Oats (\u3cem\u3eAvena sativa\u3c/em\u3e L.) as Influenced by Different Agronomic Practices

The green fodder requirement and availability in India does not match and leaves a shortfall of about 63%. There is a little possibility of any tangible increase in fodder area due to competition from other economically competitive agricultural crops (Aulakh et al., 2012). Therefore, there is urgent need to maximize the tonnage and quality of fodder within the existing farming systems. Multicut nature of the crop ensures continuous supply of fodder. Kashmir valley possesses temperate type of climate, with snowfall and harsh conditions in the winter. Behaviour of crop under these conditions is entirely different from rest of country, which can be modified through different agronomic manipulations to derive maximum benefits. Sowing time has great impact on fodder yield. In agronomic techniques fertilizer management is the most important aspect. To improve supply of fodder over a period best cutting management needs to be evaluated. In view of these an experiment was undertaken to study the response of fodder oat to different sowing dates, fertility levels and cutting managements

Crop Establishment Methods and Weed Management Practices Affect Grain Yield and Weed Dynamics in Temperate Rice

Higher demand and cost of labor and water shortage have forced the farmers to look for an alternate method of cultivation in rice as a substitute to the existing conventional transplanting. Dry direct seeding and water seeding have emerged as better alternatives over transplanting method. These methods not only result in labor saving, but also result in significant water saving in rice. These are important adaptation strategies to the impending climate change. However, the direct seeding method is confronted with severe weed infestation and yield losses if weeds are not managed well. Against this backdrop, a field study was undertaken during kharif seasons of 2019 and 2020 to evaluate the effect of crop establishment methods and weed management practices on rice and its associated weed flora. The results demonstrated that grain yields obtained under water seeding (WS) were statistically at par with transplanting (CT), but significantly superior to dry direct seeding (DDSR). Yield attributes were significantly superior in WS as compared DDSR, but were at par with CT. Weed density followed the order of DDSR > WS > CT. With the advancement in age of the crop, sedges dominated in DDSR, whereas broad-leafweeds (BLW) dominated in WS and CT methods of establishment. All the herbicides reduced the weed density significantly as compared to weedy check. Penoxulam (PE) reduced the weed density and weed dry matter on an average by 91% and 92% at 30 DAS/DAT over weedy check, respectively. PE proved significantly superior in controlling all the sedges and grasses but was less effective against BLW. Maximum reduction in yield due to weeds was observed in weedy check (WC) (58%) and the lowest was observed in PE (3%). Application of PE @ 22.5 g ha−1 under the WS method of crop establishment resulted in highest average weed control efficiency and grain yield

Response of Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Cultivars to Variable Rate of Nitrogen under Wet Direct Seeding in Temperate Ecology

Transplanting rice appears to pose many problems, including depletion of freshwater reservoirs and competition for labor. Conversely, direct seeding allows us to overcome shortcomings associated with conventional transplanting. Nitrogen is a crucial nutrient needed for plant growth and yield. Therefore, this study was executed to analyze the influence of nitrogen on the performance of rice genotypes grown by direct seeding in wet soil. The experiment comprised various rice cultivars, i.e., Shalimar Rice-1, Shalimar Rice-3, Shalimar Rice-4, and Jhelum, and nitrogen (N) levels, i.e., 0, 90, 120, and 150 kg/ha. Shalimar Rice-4 produced a maximum grain yield (6.39 t/ha), followed by Shalimar Rice-3 and Jhelum). The application of 150 kg N/ha showed maximum values for growth parameters, yield attributing traits, and grain yield (6.68 t/ha); however, it remained at par with 120 kg N/ha. Crop water productivity was highest in Shalimar Rice-4 (0.49 kg/m3), and the same showed a consistent increase with increasing N levels from 0–150 kg/ha, with a comparable value of 0.49 to 0.51 recorded at 120 and 150 kg N/ha. Moreover, the Shalimar Rice-1 variety required the maximum in growing degree days (GDD) and helio-thermal units (HTU) to attain different phenological stages till physiological maturity (131 days). However, the cultivar Shalimar rice-4 (SR-4) performed better by registering significantly higher heat use efficiency (HUE) (4.44 kg/ha °C/day). Additionally, the highest net return and the benefit-cost ratio were registered by Shalimar Rice-4. B:C ratio of 1.75 was realized from application of 150 kg N/ha, which remained very close to that achieved with 120 kg N/ha. In conclusion, the rice cultivar Shalimar Rice-4 with the application of 120 kg N/ha could boost rice production under DSR in water-scarce regions of temperate northern India

Response of Fodder Oats to Fertility Levels and Cutting Management at Different Sowing Dates

A field experiment was conducted at the Experimental Farm of Division of Agronomy, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar, Srinagar during Rabi 2009-10 and 2010-11 on silty clay loam soil low in available nitrogen, medium in available phosphorus and potassium and sufficient in available calcium with neutral pH. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design replicated thrice with three sowing dates (September, 20, September, 30 and October, 10), three fertility levels (150 : 70 : 40, 125 : 60 : 30 and 100 : 50 : 20 kg N:P2O5:K2O ha-1) and two cutting levels (single cut and double cut). The study revealed that the crop sown on September, 20 recorded significantly higher plant height, number of tillers m-2, leaf area index and dry matter production upto 120 DAS. However, at harvest September, 30 and October, 10 sown crops at par with one another recorded significantly higher plant height, number of tillers m-2, leaf area index and dry matter production than September, 20 sown crop. October, 10 sown crop recorded significantly higher leaf stem ratio upto 150 DAS, however, at 180 DAS and at harvest leaf stem ratio remained similar under different sowing dates. Both total green and dry fodder yields (1st + 2nd cut) recorded with September, 30 and September, 20 sown crops were at par but significantly higher than October, 10 sown crop. Similar trend was also noticed in case of pooled data over two years. At first cutting September, 30 sown crop recorded higher nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and calcium uptake whereas at second cutting October, 10 sown crop at par with September, 30 sown crop recorded significantly higher nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium uptake. Crude protein content was higher and crude fibre and ash content were lower in October, 10 sown crop compared to other sowing dates. The results also indicate that the plant height, number of tillers m-2, leaf area index, dry matter production, leaf stem ratio were significantly higher with fertility level 150 : 70 : 40 kg N:P2O5:K2O ha-1. The said treatment also recorded significantly higher total green and dry fodder yield (1st + 2nd cut) than other fertility levels. The fertility level 150 : 70 : 40 kg N:P2O5:K2O ha-1 recorded significantly higher nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium uptake while calcium uptake was significantly higher with fertility level 125 : 60 : 30 kg N:P2O5:K2O ha-1. Crude protein and ash content remained significantly higher at highest fertility level whereas crude fibre content was not significantly affected. The results also indicate that the single cut crop recorded significantly higher plant height, number of tillers m-2, leaf area index and dry matter production than double cut (excluding 1st cut) crop at different growth intervals, however, leaf stem ratio at 90, 120 and 150 DAS was significantly higher in double cut crop. The double cut crop recorded significantly higher total green and dry fodder yield (1st + 2nd cut) than single cut crop. Nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and calcium uptake recorded under single cut crop was significantly higher than double cut crop (excluding 1st cut). The double cut crop recorded higher crude protein content but significantly lower crude fibre and ash content than single cut crop. The study revealed that the oats crop sown on September, 30 fertilized with 150 : 70 : 40 kg N:P2O5:K2O ha-1 and cut twice viz., December, 15 and 50 per cent flowering proved to be most economic in terms of benefit cost ratio, net and gross returns

Farmer’s perception of climate change and adaptation strategies under temperate environmental conditions of Kashmir, India

A study was conducted in nine different topographical locations of Kashmir valley to know the perception of the farmers about climate change. Adaptation and mitigation strategies adopted by the farmers were also documented over a specified period viz., 1980-2019. Results from the observed data revealed warming trends in all seasons, however, winter and spring season temperatures have shown statistically significant increasing trends at the rate of 0.040C/year. Analysis of seasonal and annual precipitation data shows a decreasing trend at the rate of -4.5 mm/ year. The farmers in the study areas had perceived that the climate has changed for the last four decades. Increasing temperature, frequent droughts and less snowfall were the main visual parameters experienced by the farmers. About 30-35% of the farmers have adopted different strategies by default to mitigate ill effects of climate change. However, the majority of the farmers (70%) have not adopted any strategy to cope up with the impacts of climate change. Farmers (>90%) have stressed on provision for an early warning system, timely supply of inputs, provision of financial support and nutrients for soil enrichment as viable options to combat the ill effects of climate change. 

Characterization of Pre-Breeding Wheat (<i>Triticum aestivum</i> L.) Germplasm for Stripe Rust Resistance Using Field Phenotyping and Genotyping

Wheat is highly affected by stripe rust disease, particularly under cooler environments, and the losses can reach up to 100 percent depending on the intensity of infection and the susceptibility of the genotype. The most effective method to manage this disease is the use of resistant varieties. In the present study, 192 wheat genotypes were evaluated for stripe rust resistance under field conditions and also in a laboratory using molecular markers. These lines included pre-breeding germplasm developed for rust resistance and some high-yielding commercially grown wheat varieties. Out of 192 genotypes, 53 were found to be resistant, and 29 showed moderate resistance reaction under field conditions, whereas the remaining genotypes were all either moderately susceptible or susceptible. Under controlled conditions, out of 109 genotypes, only 12 were found to be resistant to all the six virulent/pathogenic pathotypes. Additionally, a selection of 97 genotypes were found resistant in field screening and were subjected to molecular validation using the markers linked to major R-genes, viz., Yr5, Yr10, Yr15 and Yr17. Nine genotypes possessed the Yr5 gene, twelve had the Yr10 gene, fourteen had the Yr15 gene and thirty-two had the Yr17 gene. The resistance genes studied in the current study are effective in conferring resistance against stripe rust disease. The genotypes identified as resistant under both field and controlled conditions can be used as sources in stripe rust resistance breeding programs