SOILS OF BISWANATH COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE FARM: SURVEY AND LAND USE PLANNING

Not AvailableSoil is a unique living entity. It has its origins in physical, chemical and biological interactions between the parent materials and the atmosphere. The very existence of mankind depends on this natural resource. This resource has to be guarded against depletion of its individual intrinsic values for sustainable agricultural production. There is a growing realization on the scientific management of soil health both at the national and international level. Scientific management of soil needs location and site specific information pertaining to the nature of soil and other land resources, their constraints, potential and suitability for various crops and other uses. In this context soil survey plays an important role in exploiting the potential soil resources and basic information and principles for their better utilization. It is appreciated that our faculty members of the Department of Soil Science, AAU Jorhat and the Scientist from AICRP(DA), BNCA, AAU Biswanath Chariali have conducted a detailed soil survey of the farm of Biswanath College of Agriculture and prepared a soil survey report covering all the aspects pertaining to scientific management of the land resource. I sincerely hope that the report will provide the desired information on the soils of the area and offer the guidelines to develop better land use planning.Not Availabl

Climate Resilient Agriculture Experiences from NICRA Implementation in North Bank Plains Zone of Assam

Not AvailableClimate change impacts on agriculture are being witnessed all over the world, but countries like India are more vulnerable in view of the huge population dependent on agriculture, excessive pressure on natural resources and poor coping mechanisms. The warming trend in India over the past 100 years has indicated an increase of 0.60°C. The projected impacts are likely to further aggravate field fluctuations of many crops thus impacting food security. There are already evidences of negative impacts on yield of wheat and paddy in parts of India due to increased temperature, water stress and reduction in number of rainy days. Increased abnormalities in amount and distribution of rainfall has also been observed in North Bank Plains Zone (NBPZ) of Assam along with increase in numbers of wet spell driven flash floods and seasonal droughts in recent years. Planned adaption is essential to increase the resilience of agricultural production to climate change. Several improved agricultural practices evolved over time for diverse agroecological regions in India have potential to enhance climate change adaptation, if deployed prudently. Management practices that increase agricultural production under adverse climatic conditions also tend to support climate change adaptation because they increase resilience and reduce yield variability under variable climate and extreme events. Keeping this in view, National Innovations on Climate Resilient Agriculture was implemented under All India Coordinated Research Project for Dryland Agriculture, Biswanath Chariali centre on 2011in two selected villages of North Lakhimpur, Chamua and Ganakdoloni. The main aim of the project is to enhance resilience of Indian agriculture to climate change and climate variability through strategic research and technology demonstration. In this bulletin the authors have penned down the experiences gained from implementation of NICRA in NBPZ of Assam. It is hoped that the bulletin will be able to serve the purposes towards achieving its objectives and act as a benchmark study for the entire area. It is expected that the information contained in this bulletin will be exploited by the scientist of different disciplines and extension officials for making rational recommendation. The authors will remain ever grateful to Project Coordinator, (AICRPDA), CRIDA, Hyderabad and Director of Research (Agri), AAU for their guidance, encouragement and sincere support. The authors extend thankfulness to the fellow Scientists, Research Associates and other technical staff for their cooperation and help. The authors express their thankfulness to Sharada Offset, Biswanath Chariali for printing the report.Not Availabl

Adaptation Strategies for Climate Variability in the High Rainfall Zone of India, Assam

The NICRA project is being implemented in two villages viz., Chamua (since 2010–2011) and Ganakdalani (since 2012–2013 till 2016–2017), which are situated in the west of Lakhimpur district of North Bank Plains Zone of Assam. Chamua village is situated in Kherajkhat Mauza (Taluka), which is 45 km away from North Lakhimpur, the headquarter of district Lakhimpur. On the other hand, Ganakdoloni is situated at Dhalpur Mauza, situated 60 km away from North Lakhimpur and 15 km away from the local township Narayanpur. During 2017–2018 four villages viz., Jakaipelua, Borbali, Borkhet, and Nogaya were adopted under the project. Analysis of long-term rainfall data confirmed the significant decreasing trend of annual as well as monsoonal rainfall in both the Brahmaputra and Barak basins of Assam, India. Variability of rainfall has been increasing in terms of the increased frequency of high-intensity rains and the reduced number of rainy days, leading to localized flash floods and the occurrence of multiple dry spells. Mean season-wise rainfall 2011–2021 indicates long dry periods during the winter season, leading to prolonged dry spells affecting crop growth. About 69% of total rainfall (average annual rainfall of Assam is 2000 mm) is received during the monsoon season, resulting in flash floods leading to crop damage. Out of 12 years of investigation, 10 years are deficit years, resulting in crop stress both during the monsoon and post-monsoon period. Preparation and implementation of real-time crop contingencies are important in responding to weather aberrations in different strategies like preparedness, real-time response, etc. Identification of various adaptation strategies, including climate-resilient crops and cultivars, rainwater harvesting and recycling, efficient energy management through farm mechanization, dissemination of weather information, and weather-based agro-advisories to farmers in a real-time basis, is important adaptation technologies for building climate-resilient agriculture. The study showed that adaption of climate-resilient crop and cropping system and use of harvested rainwater resulted in a 12 to 30% increase in yield observed by the cultivation of high-yielding rice varieties (HYVs) (Ranjit, Gitesh, Mahsuri, etc.) when sown in time (before 15th June) over late sowing conditions (after 20th June). In the case of early season drought, replacement of long duration traditional varieties with short duration HYV and life-saving irrigation using harvested rainwater increased yield by about 59% (short duration var. Dishang) over non-irrigated fields. In case of mid-season and terminal drought, application of an additional dose of 22 kg ha−1 MOP at maximum tillering to grain growth period an increase in yield of about 33% (Ranjit), 32% (Gitesh), 64% (Shraboni), and 57.5% (Mulagabharu) has been observed over farmers’ practice. In highly flood-affected areas under lowland situations replacement of submergence tolerant varieties (Jalashree and Jalkuwari) with traditional deepwater rice varieties resulted in reduced crop loss due to the genetic trait of the deepwater rice, which can withstand water logging for a long period. With an increase in the level of mechanization through the use of machinery available in the custom hiring center the human and animal hour requirement for paddy cultivation was reduced from 795 to 350 hrha−1 and 353 to 23 hrha−1, respectively. Alternate land use in terms of low-cost poly house, vermicompost production, and mushroom cultivation also resulted in nutritional security and generation of higher income for the farmer

Retrospection of Outbreaks of <i>Spodoptera mauritia </i>Boisduval in NER India: The Solution Lies in Ecological Engineering, Not in Insecticides

Rice cultivation in North East India is organic by tradition; however, the recent outbreaks of the rice-swarming caterpillar, Spodoptera mauritia Boisduval, have compelled rice-farmers to use synthetic insecticides. The outbreak in 2016 affected more than 56,768 ha of winter rice in 28 districts of Assam. About 25,545–42,576 L insecticide was applied in the state to combat the outbreak. This is one of the highest insecticide loads ever to be added to the rice ecosystem of Assam. Such a load, if added repeatedly with the reoccurrence of outbreaks, may affect the innate resilience of the rice ecosystem in the long run. In this paper, the outbreak of RSC has been analysed from an ecological perspective in order to replace the existing policy of exclusive dependence on insecticide. The review will help the researchers, extension workers and policy makers of the rice producing countries, more specifically in Asian countries, which together account for more than 91% of the world’s rice production

Retrospection of Outbreaks of Spodoptera mauritia Boisduval in NER India: The Solution Lies in Ecological Engineering, Not in Insecticides

Rice cultivation in North East India is organic by tradition; however, the recent outbreaks of the rice-swarming caterpillar, Spodoptera mauritia Boisduval, have compelled rice-farmers to use synthetic insecticides. The outbreak in 2016 affected more than 56,768 ha of winter rice in 28 districts of Assam. About 25,545–42,576 L insecticide was applied in the state to combat the outbreak. This is one of the highest insecticide loads ever to be added to the rice ecosystem of Assam. Such a load, if added repeatedly with the reoccurrence of outbreaks, may affect the innate resilience of the rice ecosystem in the long run. In this paper, the outbreak of RSC has been analysed from an ecological perspective in order to replace the existing policy of exclusive dependence on insecticide. The review will help the researchers, extension workers and policy makers of the rice producing countries, more specifically in Asian countries, which together account for more than 91% of the world’s rice production

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Not AvailableThe intermittent dry spells during growing season of winter or sali rice, cultivated in NBPZ of Assam located in the foothills of Eastern Himalayan region, is a major weather risk causing widespread damage to the crop. Herein, variability of rainfall in Lakhimpur district situated in NBPZ was studied. A significant decreasing trend of annual and seasonal rainfall was observed. Significant decrease in monsoon rainfall and increase in monthly rainfall variability clearly explains the recent rainfall fluctuations with increasing frequency of intermittent dry spells and flash floods. A participatory evaluation trial was conducted in Chamua village of Lakhimpur district having different land situations to identify climate resilient technologies to cope with seasonal drought in sali rice. High-yielding short-duration varieties, viz., Dishang, Luit, Lachit and Kolong, and medium-duration varieties, viz., Basundhara, Mohan, Mulagabhoru and TTB-404 performed consistently better than the long-duration HYV or the traditional varieties under upland and medium land situations, respectively. Though the effect of dry spells on long-duration varieties cultivated on low lands was least, yield of these varieties reduced up to 43.07% when sowing was delayed beyond 23rd of June. Performance of the delayed sown varieties was further declined, when exposed to dry spells at later growth stages. However, adverse impact of dry spells can be managed effectively by replacing farmers' varieties with short and medium-duration high-yielding varieties in upland and medium lands, respectively, and manipulating sowing time of long-duration varieties for low lands.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableSix levels of energy input were used to cultivate three Sali paddy varieties of different durations. Operationwise as well as source-wise energy output, energy efficiency and energy productivity for different levels of energy input in paddy varieties were determined. Studies showed that with increase in the level of mechanization, The human and animal hour requirement for paddy cultivation was reduced from 795 to 350 and 352.5 to 22.5 hr/ha, respectively. Thus mechanization helped in a substantial reduction of drudgery of human and animals. Total energy requirement for paddy cultivation in the studied six levels of energy input ranged from 5630 to 8448 MJ/ha. Energy used in paddy cultivation could be reduced by 8 to 23% through increasing the level of mechanization. Under these six input energy levels and varieties, output parameters viz., output energy, energy use efficiency and energy productivity ranged from 35456 to 85922 MJ/ha, 5.94 to 13.09 and 0.4 to 0.89 kg/MJ, respectively. For all the levels of energy input, higher values of output energy parameters were observed in the long duration variety Ranjit compared to other two varieties. The benefit-cost (B:C) ratio under different levels of energy input varied from 0.95 to 2.90.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableSix levels of energy input were used to cultivate three Sali paddy varieties of different durations. Operationwise as well as source-wise energy output, energy efficiency and energy productivity for different levels of energy input in paddy varieties were determined. Studies showed that with increase in the level of mechanization, The human and animal hour requirement for paddy cultivation was reduced from 795 to 350 and 352.5 to 22.5 hr/ha, respectively. Thus mechanization helped in a substantial reduction of drudgery of human and animals. Total energy requirement for paddy cultivation in the studied six levels of energy input ranged from 5630 to 8448 MJ/ha. Energy used in paddy cultivation could be reduced by 8 to 23% through increasing the level of mechanization. Under these six input energy levels and varieties, output parameters viz., output energy, energy use efficiency and energy productivity ranged from 35456 to 85922 MJ/ha, 5.94 to 13.09 and 0.4 to 0.89 kg/MJ, respectively. For all the levels of energy input, higher values of output energy parameters were observed in the long duration variety Ranjit compared to other two varieties. The benefit-cost (B:C) ratio under different levels of energy input varied from 0.95 to 2.90.Not Availabl

Climate Risk Management at Farmer’s Field through Adaptation Strategies for Resource-Poor Farmers of Assam, Northeast India

Farmers in Assam's North Bank Plains Zone are generally resource-poor and have limited adaptation ability; rainfall anomalies make the Zone's rainfed agriculture very sensitive, risky, and unprofitable. Participatory on-farm trials involving 25 farmers (5 from each village) representing different land situations for evaluating various adaptive strategies on rice-based cropping systems were conducted from 2011 to 2020. Ten years of rainfall data (2011-2021) are evaluated in connection to dry spells and their effects on rainfed rice-based farming systems. The village receives 2848.5 mm of annual rainfall, with distribution patterns of 25%, 67%, 5.0%, and 3% during the pre-monsoon, monsoon, post-monsoon, and winter seasons, respectively. Among the years under study, it has been observed that during 2010, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2020, the district received excess annual rainfall and deficit in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2018, 2019 and 2021,respectively. The current studies were designed with two primary strategic components in mind viz., Real-time Contingency Planning (RTCP) and Preparedness. Interventions under the RTCP were designed to deal with delayed monsoon onset, early-season drought, mid-season dryspell, and terminal drought in winter rice and rabi crops. Preparedness includes changes in cropping pattern, in situ and ex situ rainwater management systems, alternate land use under low-cost polyhouse, mushroom cultivation, vermicompost production, fodder bank and village seed bank to cope with weather aberrations. An increase in yield of HYV rice varieties Ranjit (33%), Mahsuri (12.3%) and Gitesh (32%) was observed when sowing was done before 15 June over late sowing conditions. An increase in yield of 21.73 % and 44.60%. 58.67% as compared to farmers' Practice during 2013-14, 2014-15, and 2016-17 respectively, has been observed. The performance of double cropping systems recorded the highest B: C ratio of 2.03 and 1.75 in winter rice + rapeseed followed by winter rice + potato sequence as compared to mono-cropping of winter rice

Building climate resilient agriculture through traditional floating rice in flash flood affected areas of the North bank plains zone of Assam

632-638Flash floods are a recurrent phenomenon in the North Bank Plains Zone (NBPZ) of Assam, India, causing wide spread damage to rice (Oryza sativa L.) crop growing during Kharif season. Therefore, it is imperative to identify indigenous technical knowledge and integrate this with mainstream technologies, Maguri and not only to enable more effective ways of coping with such extreme events but also to enhance the adaptive capacity of small-scale local farmers of the NBPZ. Identifying and evaluating traditional crop varieties in the NBPZ that are flood tolerant is one approach that may help manage weather hazards and build climate resilient agricultural systems. This research represents investigations on more flood-resistant local rice varieties. In 2013 and 2014, participatory on-farm trials were conducted in Ganakdolonivillage, a community in NBPZ affected by flash floods. Thirty sites covering 20 ha were selected to evaluate the performance of five traditional floating rice (bao)varieties: Kekua, Tulshi, Dhushuri, Bahadur Rangabao. In both the years, the rice fields were affected by flooding multiple times, to a depth of up to 173 cm. The rice varieties recommended for normal, submergence and deep water situations could not perform well and were damaged extensively. The traditional rice varieties generally growing in deep water situations, however, endured the flash floods, performing better and producing grain yields from 1628 to 3000 kg ha-1. Amongst these traditional varieties, Dhushuri recorded the highest grain yield in both the years