Assessment of different methods of rice (Oryza sativa. L) cultivation affecting growth parameters, soil chemical, biological, and microbiological properties, water saving, and grain yield in rice–rice system

Field experiments were conducted at DRR farm located at ICRISAT, Patancheru, in sandy clay loam soils during four seasons, Kharif 2008, Rabi 2008–2009, Kharif 2009 and Rabi 2009–2010, to investigate growth parameters, water-saving potential, root characteristics, chemical, biological, and microbial properties of rhizosphere soil, and grain yield of rice (Oryza sativa L.) by comparing the plants grown with system of rice intensification (SRI) methods, with organic or organic + inorganic fertilization, against current recommended best management practices (BMP). All the growth parameters including plant height, effective tillers (10–45 %), panicle length, dry matter, root dry weight (24–57 %), and root volume (10–66 %) were found to be significantly higher with in SRI-organic + inorganic over BMP. With SRI-organic fertilization, growth parameters showed inconsistent results; however, root dry weight (3–77 %) and root volume (31–162 %) were found significantly superior compared to BMP. Grain yield was found significantly higher in SRI-organic + inorganic (12–23 and 4–35 % in the Kharif and Rabi seasons, respectively), while with SRI-organic management, yield was found higher (4–34 %) only in the Rabi seasons compared to BMP. An average of 31 and 37 % of irrigation water were saved during Kharif and Rabi seasons, respectively, with both SRI methods of rice cultivation compared to BMP. Further, total nitrogen, organic carbon%, soil dehydrogenase, microbial biomass carbon, total bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes were found higher in the two SRI plots in comparison to BMP. It is concluded that SRI practices create favorable conditions for beneficial soil microbes to prosper, save irrigation water, and increase grain yield

Not Available

Not AvailableThis paper examines the employment generation potential of watershed development programmes and identifies the factors that contribute to the shift in labour absorption in farming activities over control situation. Analysis of secondary data collected from the watershed implementing agencies revealed that on an average watershed programmes helped to generate one time employment ranged between 26 and 76 mandays per hectare, for soil conservation, forestry and other works. Primary survey revealed that utilization percentage out of available labour at average households increased due to watershed development programmes. Employment elasticity with respect to various factors of production in crop cultivation worked out and showed negative price elasticity of demand for labour whereas, employment elasticity with respect to all other factors were found to be positive indicating their positive influence on labour demand. A decomposition analysis revealed that about 61% of the employment growth in watersheds over control situation was attributable to technology effect. Labour efficiency was much higher in the watershed than the control villages as evident from higher labour income. The study establishes that the watershed development programme had the potential of creating huge employment opportunities at the farm level in semi-arid tropical region of India.Not Availabl

Not Available

Not AvailableCompartmental bunding (CB) and improved chickpea varieties were evaluated in ten farmers’ fields during rainy-winter(kharif-rabi) seasons of 2012-13 in Vertisols at Bellary, India. Adopting improved chickpea varieties of BGD103 andJG11 during winter season increased the grain yields from 12.5 to 15.9%, respectively over locally cultivated A1 variety.The CB that was laid out during July (rainy season) conserved rainwater in-situ and further increased the grain yield ofchickpea up to 36.7% in BGD103 and 43.9% in JG11. The increase in grain yield from 24.2% (JG11) to 27.8% (BGD103)indicates that CB is effective for in-situ rainwater conservation and improving profile soil moisture in Vertisols. Howevertechnology gap during study period was higher compared to extension gap and it was attributed to drought situation withonly 81.2% of mean annual rainfall. Technology index was higher in this study and varied from 48.3% (Cultivation ofBGD103 variety with CB) to 60.6% (Cultivation of JG11 variety without CB) indicating that technology index can bereduced and chickpea yields can be increased and sustained with adoption of improved chickpea production technologiesincluding in-situ rainwater conservation practices at farmers fields. Correlation studies also indicate that grain weight,stover weight and total dry matter production per plant ultimately determine the chickpea grain and stover yields in theVertisols of Bellary region during winter season. Higher gross and net returns with greater B:C ratio was observed withlayout of farmers fields with CB and cultivation of JG11 variety.Not Availabl

Not Available

Not AvailableNot AvailableNot Availabl

Not Available

Not AvailableThis paper examines the employment generation potential of watershed development programmes and identifies the factors that contribute to the shift in labour absorption in farming activities over control situation. Analysis of secondary data collected from the watershed implementing agencies revealed that on an average watershed programmes helped to generate one time employment ranged between 26 and 76 mandays per hectare, for soil conservation, forestry and other works. Primary survey revealed that utilization percentage out of available labour at average households increased due to watershed development programmes. Employment elasticity with respect to various factors of production in crop cultivation worked out and showed negative price elasticity of demand for labour whereas, employment elasticity with respect to all other factors were found to be positive indicating their positive influence on labour demand. A decomposition analysis revealed that about 61% of the employment growth in watersheds over control situation was attributable to technology effect. Labour efficiency was much higher in the watershed than the control villages as evident from higher labour income. The study establishes that the watershed development programme had the potential of creating huge employment opportunities at the farm level in semi-arid tropical region of India.Not Availabl

Not Available

Not AvailableOccurrence of frequent droughts of varying intensities is a critical constraint in improving agricultural productivity in the dry tropics. This paper quantifies meteorological drought from long-term annual rainfall data. Analysis of primary survey data from two watersheds indicated that moisture stress and fodder shortage were the major shocks experienced by farmers during drought, which caused low productivity of crops and animals. Farmers had their own strategies to cope with the drought like diversifying farming practices, borrowing, migration, sale of assets and livestock. The logit regression model indicated that coping strategies were influenced by number of earning family members, availability of irrigation facility, animal holding and income from non-farm sources. There is an urgent need to implement drought mitigation measures by central and state government institutions through both short and long term strategies covering technological and policy interventions like alternate cropping systems that augment soil moisture conservation, emphasis on water harvesting and ground water recharge, ensuring fodder and seed supplies, credit assistance, etc.Not Availabl

Not Available

Not AvailableThe behaviour of farmers towards soil and water conservation (SWC) technologies – basically under three categories viz, engineering, agronomy and forestry - tends to undergo changes over time during the post adoption phase of the watershed. They prefer continuance as such or with some technological gaps or discontinuance altoget her corresponding to the nature of these respective technologies. The probable reasons behind their behavioral pattern might disclose some ideas to help redesigning these technologies or at least the approach, for an effective technology transfer and its sustainability. Hence, it was found necessary to analyze the post adoption behavior of selected watershed farmers with reference to these SWC technologies. Joladarasi, a semi-arid watershed in Bellary district, Karnataka was identified, and a study were undertaken for this purpose in 2012. A questionnaire addressing the behavioural pattern of the farmers with reference to the selected technologies was prepared and data were collected from selected 50 small farmers. The collected data were analyzed using a set of behavioural indices developed for this purpose. The results showed that rate of continuance adoption were comparatively high in the case of engineering technologies (92.96%), followed by that of agronomy (51.61%) and forestry (16.66%). The rates of technologies with technological gap were comparatively more in the field of agronomy (29.03), whereas the non adoption rate was highest among forestry technologies (83.34%). It was concluded that, in case of engineering technologies, apart from mere transfer of technology, farmers have to be trained on skills of maintenance of those structures. With reference to agronomical measures, a situational contingency plan to try different options must be a part of the package of practices. For sustainable adoption of forestry oriented technologies, sensitization on community participation must be emphasized, as they have high potential in common lands.Not Availabl

Not Available

Not AvailableThe control of DBM and other pests of cabbage are done exclusively by spraying of synthetic insecticides. Of all the pests of cabbage, DBM has developed resistance to many of pesticides and it has become very difficult. In this context, an effort was made to demonstrate Integrated Pest management practices include Neem and Pomgamia soap. The adoption of IPM assessed in terms of yield, returns and cost revealed a definite positive economic impact of adoption of IPM technology on cabbage.. The yield was higher on Demo plot (22054.1 Kg/Acre) than control plot (18056.44 kg/Acre). The net returns were higher by Rs. 69214.5/Acre, indicating an increase of 54.40 per cent due to adoption of IPM. The BCR was higher at 2.68 for Demo plot than control plot at 1.94. The major constraints for adoption of IPM are the non-availability of seeds of the trap crop at the time of sowing of main crop and non-availability of botanicals at nearby pesticide dealers.Not Availabl

Not Available

Not AvailableThe study was conducted in semi arid region of southern part of India to examine the changes in productivity and returns due to implementation of watershed management projects. Data collected from 402 sampled beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries' (control) revealed significant difference in productivity of crops in watershed and control villages. Decomposition analysis of difference in returns from crop enterprises between watersheds and control villages indicated that the contribution of technological component was positive which signified that with the existing level of input use in the control farms, the returns from crops could have been increased significantly on implementation of watershed development programmes. This calls for a wider coverage of watershed development programmes in order to bring all the areas under land treatment activities for improving the productivity levels.Not Availabl

Not Available

Not AvailableStudy was conducted in a semi-arid watershed with the objective to analyse the economic aspects of livestock enterprise. The study revealed that expenditure on feed and fodder and family labour formed the chunk among the different cost components. Average maintenance cost and returns from buffalo was highest compared to other type of animals. Labour use pattern reveals that the human labour input in livestock rearing was mostly family labour. The gross income per animal during a year was Rs. 4195.31 from cow and Rs. 6276.67 from buffalo inside watershed and the same was Rs. 4229.50 and Rs. 6412.00 outside the watershed. The results showed that there was little influence of watershed management programme over the yield and costing aspects of livestock enterprise.Not Availabl