Future Smart Crops for paddy fallow agri-food systems in Southeast Asia

Food security, as defined by the United Nations’ Committee on World Food Security, is the condition in which all people, at all times, have physical, social and economic access to sufficient safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life. Over the coming decades, a changing climate, growing global population, increasing incomes, changes in food choices, rising food prices, and environmental stressors, such as increased water scarcity and land degradation, will have significant yet uncertain impacts on food security. There are different aspects having direct links to meeting food security at the global level, including globalization of markets..

Nitrogen response of sweet sorghum genotypes during rainy season

Sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) is a smart biofuel crop, which can be grown under tropical rainfed conditions without sacrificing food and fodder security. Three sweet sorghum cultivars (viz. ICSA 52 SPV 1411, CSH 22 SS and ICSV 93046) were grown under six nitrogen levels (0, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 kg ha–1) on Vertisols during two rainy (kharif) seasons at ICRISAT, Patancheru, India. The results from two-year trial indicated that out of three sweet sorghum cultivars evaluated, sweet sorghum hybrid CSH 22 SS produced highest green stalk (46.90 t ha–1) and ethanol yield (1940 l ha–1) compared to other cultivars. The three cultivars responded well to applied N doses up to 150 kg ha–1, however, application of N beyond 90 kg ha–1 did not result in any significant increase in grain yield and economic returns. Net economic returns of Rs 32,898 ha–1 (US$ 601.21 ha–1) were significantly higher with 90 kg N ha–1 application as compared to other levels of fertilization. It is concluded that for obtaining the highest green stalk yield, ethanol yield and thereby maximum economic returns, sweet sorghum cultivar, viz. CSH 22 SS should be fertilized with 90 kg N ha–1

Human Capacity Development to adopt Best Practices

The concept of capacity development, which emerged during the 1980s, gained prominence in the 1990s and currently has wide usage in community development (Eade, 1997; UNDP, 1998; Bolger, 2000). The term capacity development is usually discussed as an approach to development and cooperation. Capacity development encompasses human resource development as an essential part of development (FAO, 1998). It is a process by which individuals, groups, organizations and societies enhance their abilities to identify and meet development challenges in a sustainable manner (UNDP, 1998). It is human resource development, which is a process of equipping individuals with the understanding of access to information, knowledge, training and skills that enables them to perform effectively. There is a direct relationship between capacity building and agricultural education..

Enhancing water I use efficiency of maize-chickpea sequence under semiarid conditions of southern India

Maize is one of the three most important cereal crop species (after wheat and rice), and is grown throughout a wide range of climates. Maize is desired for its multiple environmental benefits of growing chickpea (Cice!' a1'ietinu111 L.) have been increasingly recognized in semiarid condition and inclusion of chickpea in cerealbased cropping systems has shown to improve the efficiency of nutrient (Walley et a1., 2007). WUE of maize is a function of multiple factors, including physiological characteristics of maize and chickpea, genotype, soil characteristics such as soil water holding capacity, meteorological conditions and agronomic practices. Hence, to improve WUE, integrative measures should aim to optimize agronomic practices viz, efficient irrigation methods and suitable landform management and improved practice of fertilization....

Sweet sorghum bagasse – A source of organic manure

Bagasse or silage is an important by-product in the sweet sorghum-based ethanol industry. Above ground biomass distribution in sweet sorghum forms 90% of the total biomass produced and that includes stem, leaves and panicle with grain. It is estimated that bagasse makes 30% of the total biomass of sweet sorghum, which is composed of cellulose (15-25%), hemi cellulose (35- 50%) and lignin (20-30%) with Net Calorific value: 4,125 Kcal kg-1 (ash free); depending on the genotypes (Grassi 2001). Approximate composition of sweet sorghum bagasse is given in Table 1. It is estimated that 6-7 kg of bagasse will be produced for every liter of ethanol produced from sweet sorghum. Even though bagasse has multiple uses such as being a source for energy cogeneration, animal feed and organic manure, it is important to work out the trade-offs between its uses as a source of bio-fuel and carbon balance in the whole production-to-consumption chain. In this context, recycling of bagasse into organic manure and using it in the crop husbandry is an environmentally safe measure of sequestering carbon in the soil. Sweet sorghum is promoted in the semi-arid regions where organic carbon content in the soil is generally low and the application of bagasse as organic manure assumes great importance for sustaining the soil fertility. The direct application of bagasse to the soil causes temporary lock up (immobilization) of soil nitrogen (N) due to wider C: N (~35:1) ratio and hence, it is important to bring down the C: N ratio by vermicomposting to use it as organic manure. Composting is the value addition method for enriching organic residues with low N content and this can be done either through microbial flora or along with earthworms. Generally, composting of organic residues with earthworms is referred to as vermicomposting, which is a rapid and simple method. The composition of vermicompost is superior in terms of macro and micro nutrients; besides, it is rich in plant growth promoting substances. The composting of sweet sorghum bagasse with earthworms is focused in the project and protocol was standardized for the same through laboratory and on farm trials

Sustainability of different cropping systems under varying sowing dates in Marathwada region

The Held experiments were carried out at Instructional Farm. AIC’RP on Dry land Agriculture, Marathwada Agricultural University. Parbhani during the rainy season o f 2001-2005 on eight different cropping systems consisting o f important food, pulse and oilseed crops o f Marathwada region under varied weather conditions. The results revealed that intercropping o f sorghum (CSH-9) t pigeonpea. pear m illet pigeonpea and castor + soybean sown in 26 meteorological w e eM M W ) produced the highest grain yield and average productivity o f the system during all the years o f experimentation as compared to rest o f the cropping systems. Similarly, castor soybean produced the highest sorghum grain equivalent which was at par with soybean + pigeonpea. Arhorhtm cotton + soybean and cotton (N I111-44) + soybean. The sowing o f all the crops and cropping systems on 26 MW recorded significantly highest sustainable yield index (0.^2) as compared to sowing o f all cropping systems on delayed sowing dates

Soil nutrient status as influenced by different micronutrient management practices in pearl millet cultivars

Two field experiments were conducted during Kharif, 2018 and 2019 on clay loam soils at Zonal Agricultural and Horticultural Research Station, Babbur farm, Hiriyur, Karnataka to estimate the post harvest soil nutrient status in pearl millet cultivated plots. Micronutrient (Zn and Fe) management strategies include application of NPK, deficit iron and zinc through soil, foliar application and FYM enriched with iron and zinc along with PGPR in main plots and three pearl millet cultivars ICTP 8203 Fe (Dhanshakti), ICMH 1202 and WCC 75 (local cultivar) as sub plots laid in split plot design replicated thrice. As compared to the initial soil status, the availability of N, P2O5 and K2O was reduced, while Zn and Fe availability increased in micronutrient applied treatments. The study confirmed that after two years of experimentation, the soil available N (242 kg ha-1), P2O5 (27 kg ha-1) and K2O (286 kg ha-1) was higher with RDF alone (F1) than other micronutrient management practices, while enriched FYM + PGPR (F4) and soil application (F2) treatments were on par with each other and retained higher soil available Zn (0.60 and 0.59 ppm) and Fe (4.0 and 3.80 ppm), respectively. Plots with local cultivar WCC 75 (G3) revealed significantly higher availability of nitrogen (243 kg ha-1) and micronutrients (0.47 and 3.70 ppm Zn and Fe, respectively) in the soil over other two pearl millet cultivars

Soil fertility as influenced by alternate sequential cropping systems to rice-rice (Oryza sativa L.) in Tunga Bhadra project area

A field experiment was carried out in farmers field near Agriculture Research Station, Siruguppa in Karnataka during kharif and rabi of 2014-15 to Study influence of alternate sequential copping systems to rice-rice (Oryza sativa L.) system on fertility status of soil in Tunga Bhadra Project (TBP) Area. The experimental site was medium deep black with soil pH (8.01), EC (0.54 dS m-1), available nitrogen (240.80 kg ha-1), P2O5 (22.90 kg ha-1) and K2O (347.49 kg ha-1). The experiment comprised of seven sequential cropping systems viz., T1: Rice-maize, T2: Rice-sorghum, T3: Rice-chickpea, T4: Rice-sesame, T5: Maize-chickpea, T6: Cotton-sesame and T7: Rice-rice. These treatments were laid out in completely randomized block design with three replications. The study revealed that significantly higher rice equivalent yield (REY) was recorded in cotton-sesame cropping system (13117 kg ha-1) compared to rest of the cropping systems. Significantly higher system productivity was recorded with maize-chickpea (35.94 REY kg ha-1 day-1) cropping system and it was significantly superior over existing rice-rice (26.89 REY kg ha-1day-1) cropping systems. Significantly higher available nitrogen (210.21 kg ha-1) and P2O5 (34.22 kgha-1) in soil was noticed with ricechickpea cropping system whereas significantly higher available K2O was obtained after the harvest of rice-rice cropping system (330.10 kg ha-1). The cotton-sesame and maize-chickpea crop sequences are more productive and sustainable as they improve the productivity and fertility status of soil when compared to other cropping sequences and can be a better option for the farmers of the Tunga Bhadra Project area, Karnataka

Comparative Evaluation of Direct Dry-Seeded and Transplanted Rice in the Dry Zone of Karnataka, India

Sustaining yield and economic stability of direct dry-seeded rice needs to be considered before setting into large scale adoption of the emerging rice production system in the dry zone areas of Karnataka state, India. The study was aimed at comparing direct dry-seeded and transplanted systems of rice cultivation with the participation of farmers concerning rice growth, yield, water productivity, and economic returns. Samba Mahsuri (BPT 5204) rice cultivar was used in the two-year farmer participatory field study conducted at Raichur district of Karnataka. The rice grain yield, harvest index, 1,000-grain weight, and above-ground biomass did not differ among direct dry-seeded and transplanted rice systems. Results of this study indicated that higher grain yield with direct dry-seeded rice can be achieved by using rice cultivars that can produce more productive tillers plus longer panicles and not necessarily high biomass. Irrigation water use for direct dry-seeded rice is lesser by around 46% compared with transplanted rice due to dry cultivation during land preparation and flush irrigation at early crop growth stages. Grain yield of direct dry-seeded rice, which was comparable to that of transplanted rice and with higher water productivity, indicates that this system can be more attractive to rice farmers in the dry zones. Slight reduction in grain yield (5%) with direct dry-seeded rice compared to transplanted rice was compensated by 44-48% lower production cost, resulting in significantly higher net returns by US$ 230 ha-1 (23%) compared to transplanted rice. The benefit-cost ratio was significantly higher in direct dry-seeded rice by 69%. Considering usual drought and unstable water supply situations in the dry zones, it is anticipated that farmer adoption of direct dry-seeded rice system will be increased due to the benefits of greater profitability, better grain yield of improved cultivars, and higher water productivity