6 research outputs found
Bio-mulching for ginger crop management:Traditional ecological knowledge led adaptation under rainfed agroecosystems
111-122Sustainability of organic farming depends on the
organic inputs. As such, other than a few fertilizers and plant protection
measures, there have been scanty resources available to farmers for continuing
organic farming. Some farmers in India have evolved traditional ecological
knowledge (TEK) based location specific practices to sustain their
agroecosystems and continue organic farming. In this paper, an attempt has been
made to explore TEK-led adaptations in bio-mulching to grow ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) as a crop
and to test empirically the best practices including identifying the best
leaves and local bio-mulching materials applied by farmers. The role of TEK-led
adaptive practices for controlling moisture loss, temperature regulation,
reduced disease incidence, quality yield and economic aspects of ginger
production are examined. The study was conducted in nine randomly selected
villages of Champawat district, Uttrakhand (Western Himalaya). Data was
collected using open ended questions in association with participatory rural
appraisal (PRA) tools. Results indicated that farmers have developed major TEK
led adaptive practices for organic ginger production after seeding in the
field, namely using the leaves of oak (Quercus leucotrichophora A. Camus.), chir pine needles (Pinus roxburghii Sarg.), local mixed grasses (e.g., Chrysopogon fulvus (Spreng.) Chiov, [Cymbopogon
distans (Nees ex Steud.) W. Watson], [Pennisetum<span style="font-size:9.0pt;letter-spacing:
-.1pt;font-weight:normal;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold" lang="EN-US"> glaucum<span style="font-size:9.0pt;letter-spacing:
-.1pt;font-weight:normal;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold" lang="EN-US"> <span style="font-size:9.0pt;letter-spacing:-.1pt;
font-weight:normal;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold" lang="EN-US">(L.) R.Br. syn. Setaria glauca (L.)
P. Beauv], [<span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-weight:normal;
mso-bidi-font-weight:bold" lang="EN-US">Heteropogon<span style="font-size:9.0pt;letter-spacing:
-.1pt;font-weight:normal;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold" lang="EN-US"> contortus<span style="font-size:9.0pt;letter-spacing:
-.1pt;font-weight:normal;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold" lang="EN-US"> <span style="font-size:9.0pt;letter-spacing:-.1pt;
font-weight:normal;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold" lang="EN-US">(L.) P.Beauv. ex Roem. &
Schult].<span style="font-size:9.0pt;letter-spacing:-.1pt;font-weight:normal;mso-bidi-font-weight:
bold" lang="EN-US"> <span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-weight:
normal;mso-bidi-font-style:italic" lang="EN-US">shrubs [Chromolaena<span style="font-size:9.0pt;letter-spacing:
-.1pt;font-weight:normal;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold" lang="EN-US"> odorata<span style="font-size:9.0pt;letter-spacing:
-.1pt;font-weight:normal;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold" lang="EN-US"> <span style="font-size:9.0pt;letter-spacing:-.1pt;
font-weight:normal;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold" lang="EN-US">(L.) R.M.King & H.Rob.] syn.
Eupatorium
odoratum <span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-weight:normal;
mso-bidi-font-style:italic" lang="EN-US">L.) and animal wastage. This
last consists of mixed oak, bhimal (Grewia optiva J.R. Drumm ex Burret), kharik (Celtis australis L.), <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:
normal">timala (<span style="font-size:9.0pt;
font-weight:normal;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold" lang="EN-US">Ficus<span style="font-size:9.0pt;letter-spacing:
-.1pt;font-weight:normal;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold" lang="EN-US"> auriculata<span style="font-size:9.0pt;letter-spacing:
-.1pt;font-weight:normal;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold" lang="EN-US"> <span style="font-size:9.0pt;letter-spacing:-.1pt;
font-weight:normal;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold" lang="EN-US">Lour.syn.
Ficus roxburghii Stud.) leaves, grasses,
paddy and finger millet straw and cow dung and urine. Women were observed to be
using more of these TEK led adaptive practices than men. Empirical field
studies carried out on TEK led adaptive practices under rain-fed agro
ecosystems of farmers revealed significant results including longer rhizome
length (up to 6.50 cm), higher number of rhizomes per plant (35.30), higher
ginger yield (211.50 q/ha), higher B:C (benefit to cost) ratio (1:2.18) and
lower percentage of disease (<span style="font-size:9.0pt;
font-weight:normal;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold" lang="EN-US">bacterial wilt; soft rot and leaf
spot)
incidence (17.5%) in oak leaf
mulch. Soil moisture conservation (44.75%) and optimum soil temperature (24.80 0C)
were recorded as significantly better under the oak leaves for using
bio-mulching as compared to all other TEK led bio-mulching practices for
organic ginger production. The oak leaves used as bio-mulch in organic ginger
increased yield by 43% and net returns by 61% as compared to no mulching
(control). It is concluded that, under temperate climate and rain-fed agro
ecosystems, TEK led adaptive practices by farmers in growing ginger are
economically feasible, energy efficient and ecologically sustainable, through
the addition of soil organic carbon. However, there is need for scientific and
institutional promotion in participatory modes for such practices, with a
provision for integrating these practices with science and policy on climate
adaptation.<span style="font-size:9.0pt;letter-spacing:-.1pt;
font-weight:normal;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold" lang="EN-US">
</span