Utilization of wetland ecosystem through fish-crop diversification for enhanced productivity and economic stability for fish-farm community of Indian sub-continent

This paper deals with a number of case studies that were undertaken during the last 8- 10 years in utilizing divergent æTalÆ wetland ecosystems (deep, semi-deep, temporary in a range of agro-ecological zones like NAZ, OAZ and Coastal Zone of the region) for the development of integrated management programmes using a range of approaches. These included (i) system approach (excavation & renovation, methodological approach), (ii) management (fish-crop management, inter & post-harvest care & processing, marketing), (iii) integrated natural resource management utilizing organic as well inorganic sources, and (iv) low-cost fish-feeds, based on fish-crop diversification. This paper also deals with some endangered indigenous fish species. The unique approach of watershed plans (bherri system), which were formulated for upright production systems, was economically successful. Economic indicators reveal there were comparative advantages of mixed farming systems compared to monoculture, exhibiting less than 2.5 fold gains even for resource poor fish farming families.Fishery management, Resource management

Evaluation of potential rice (Oryza sativa L.) genotypes with different levels of N under rainfed shallow lowland situation

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the yield of potential rice genotypes during kharif season, 2012 and 2013 at Rice Research Station, Bankura, West Bengal, India on sandy loam soil of slightly acidic in reaction (pH: 5.7). This experiment was conducted in split-plot design with three replications. The results indicated that 105 kg N ha-1, the yield attributes recorded maximum number of panicles m-2 (307.9), panicle length (25.3cm), panicle weight (2.32g), number of filled grains per panicle (117.8), 1000-grains weight (24.5g) and finally recorded highest grain yield (4.80 t ha-1) than lower fertilities. While, 70 kg N ha-1 was remained closed to 105 kg N ha-1 in number of panicles m-2, panicle weight and number of filled grains per panicle. Among the potential rice varieties ‘Sampriti’ (IET 21987) recorded the highest grain yield (4.66 t ha-1) under rainfed shallow lowland situation of red and laterite zone of West Bengal. The highest grain yield (4.80 t ha-1) was obtained at 105 kg N ha-1and it was statistically at par with 70 kg N ha-1 (4.62 t ha-1). Therefore, the increased in grain yield of rice by the varieties due to overall respective performance in growth and appreciable improvement in the yield attributing characters

Optimization of Aquatic-Terrestrial Ecosystem in Relation to Soil Nitrogen Status for the Cultivation of Fish and Aquatic Food Crops of the Indian Subtropics

A case study was undertaken during wet and postwet seasons to improve the perennial and alternate submerged saucer-shaped ponded lands (tal and semi-tal lands) in the coasts and northeastern plains of the Indian subtropics through pisciculture and cultivation of starch- and protein-rich aquatic food crops like water chestnut (Trapa bispinosa Roxb.) and makhana or fox nut (Euryale ferox Salisb.). The study revealed that the physico-chemical properties of soils (pH, organic C, organic matter, available N, P, and K) as well as quality of water (pH, EC, BOD, COD, CO3+, HCO3�, NO3-N, SO4-S, and Cl�), growing fish, makhana, and water chestnut was remarkably influenced by different moisture regimes and exhibited a significant improvement of soil health. The amount of organic C, available N, P, and K content were found significantly highest in the treatment where makhana was grown under alternate flooding and drying situation with a depth >2 m as compared to other treatments. Such enrichment of soil fertility, particularly in available N and P content, might be due to the accumulation of considerable amounts of biomass and fish excreta and their subsequent decomposition in situ in the soils. Therefore, the present study suggests that the N-enriched soil may effectively be utilized further for growing subsequent arable crops surroundings during summer season, which not only saves the amount of applied N fertilizer but also increases the apparent N efficiency with simultaneous increase in yield, and would benefit the farmers in this region

Influence of Different Organic Waste Materials on the Transformation of Nitrogen in Soils

Organic waste materials like crop residues, well-decomposed cow dung, composts, and other rural and urban wastes are considered highly useful resources in enhancing soil fertility and also in build-up of soil organic matter. Organic matter decomposition provides plant nutrients in soil, which in turn increases crop productivity. Availability of nutrients and nitrogen (N) and phosphorus from organic waste materials is dependent upon the nature of organic residues, climatic conditions, and soil moisture activity. Keeping these factors in view, the present investigation was undertaken to study the transformation of N from different organic waste materials in two contrasting soils from an eastern India, subtropical region. The results showed that the amounts of ammoniacal-N (NH4-N), nitrate-N (NO3-N), hydrolysable N (HL-N), and nonhydrolysable (NHL-N) were increased for up to 60 days of soil submergence and increased further with the increase (1% by weight of soil) of organic residue application. Considering the effect of various organic waste materials, it was found that the amounts of NH4-N, NO3-N, HL-N, and NHL-N were higher with the application of groundnut hull as compared to wheat straw and potato skin, which may be due to relatively narrow carbon:N ratio of groundnut (22:43) than that of wheat straw (62:84) and potato skin (71:32); however, the results showed that the release of NH4-N, NO3-N, HL-N, and NHL-N was in the order of groundnut hull > wheat straw > potato skin

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Not AvailableA field experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of paclobutrazol (PBZ) as a growth retardant on excessive vegetative growth and yield of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) at District Seed Farm, under Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Nadia, West Bengal during kharif season in 2013 and 2014. The experiment was in split-plot with 6 main-plot treatments (PBZ @ 0, 50, 100, 150, 200 and 250ppm) and 3 sub-plot treatments (single spraying at 30 and 50 days after emergence (DAE) and double spraying at 30 and 50 DAE). During reproductive stage significantly shorter plants (upto 28% less plant height) were observed due to PBZ application as compared to control. At harvest significantly higher dry matter production was recorded from PBZ @ 250ppm (232.1 g m-2 ) and from double spraying at 30 and 50 DAE (231.1 g m-2 ). The number of pod plant-1 and sound mature kernel (%) had showed positive impacts and finally increased the dry pod and haulm yield. The maximum dry pod yield was 1745 kg ha-1 and 1610 kg ha-1 with PBZ @ 250ppm and double spraying at 30 and 50 DAE, respectively. The highest benefit: cost ratio was also from PBZ @ 250ppm and double spraying at 30 and 50 DAE. A highly positive correlation among different attributes were recorded except plant height which was negatively correlated with other attributes i.e. dry matter production, number of pods plant-1 and yield was recorded. Therefore, PBZ @ 250ppm with double spraying had considerable positive influences on number of pod plant-1, total dry pod yield (Kg ha-1) of groundnut as well as on the benefit: cost ratio.Not Availabl