Response of wheat cultivars to foliar potassium fertilization under irrigated saline environment

A field experiment with split-split plot design (SSPD) was conducted to study the response of two winter wheat (Triticumaestivum L.) cultivars (viz. salt tolerant cultivar KRL-1-4 and salt non-tolerant cultivar HD-2894) under saline irrigation regimes with and without foliar potassium fertilization on growth and grain yield of wheat during rabi 2011-12 and 2012-13. Potassium in the ratio of K+: Na+ (1: 10) was applied as foliar application during the heading stage of the crop. Results showed that the grain yield of KRL-1-4 and HD-2894 cultivars with foliar potassium fertilization at the heading stage increased by 6.5 to 22% and 3 to 15% during rabi 2011-2012, respectively under different saline irrigation regimes as compared to the control. Moreover, the results of rabi 2012-13 showed an increase in grain yield ranging from 4.5 to 20% for KRL-1-4 as compared to the control. Statistical analysis of grain yield parameter showed that the foliar potassium application in both varieties resulted in significant yield difference at 0.05 probability level as compared to the non-foliar application. Overall, it was observed that the foliar potassium fertilization increased the grain yield of both wheat cultivars, while the salt tolerant cultivar performed better than the salt non-tolerant cultivar under irrigated saline regimes

Precision nitrogen, irrigation and cultivation regimes for enhanced yield, and nutrient accumulation in direct-seeded basmati rice (Oryza sativa)

A field experiment was conducted during rainy (kharif) seasons of 2019 and 2020 at ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi to monitor the effect of precision nitrogen (N) and water management options on yield and nutrient acquisition in grain and straw of direct-seeded rice (DSR, basmati) (Oryza sativa L.). Experiment was conducted under two cultivation methods, in a triplicate split-plot design (SPD). The main-plots were allocated to 6 combinations of 2 DSR cultivation approaches, viz. growing DSR in ploughed land (CTDSR); and growing DSR without tilling the land (ZTDSR); and 3 water regimes [adequate water; water supply at 20% available soil moisture exhaustion (ASME); and 40% ASME + silicon (Si) supply @80 kg/ha]. Sub-plots had 3 N supply decisions, viz. 100% recommended rate of N (RRN: 150 kg/ha); NutrientExpert (NE) + leaf colour chart (LCC); and NE + soil plant analysis development (SPAD) meter-based N scheduling. Conventional till-direct seeded rice produced 1.9, 3.1 and 5.7% greater grain yield, grain protein content and protein yield, respectively, over ZTDSR; the respective improvement in grain N, P and K uptake was 5.9, 7.9 and 4.9%. Adequate water regime resulted in 11.5, 7.3 and 18.7% more grain yield, grain protein content and protein yield, respectively, over water supply at 20% ASME with concomitant enhancement in grain N, P and K uptake of 19, 24 and 23%, respectively. A significant improvement in grain yield (9.2%), grain protein (11.7%) content and protein yield (22.1%) was detected with NE® + SPAD meter- based N application over RRN; the N, P and K uptake in grain also spiked by 22.1, 42.1 and 31.7%, respectively. Hence, NE + SPAD-based N application and adequate water regime (irrigation at 72 h of drying of surface water) could be beneficial for improving yield and quality of both CA-based and conventionally cultivated DSR

Sensor-based precision nutrient and irrigation management enhances the physiological performance, water productivity, and yield of soybean under system of crop intensification

Sensor-based decision tools provide a quick assessment of nutritional and physiological health status of crop, thereby enhancing the crop productivity. Therefore, a 2-year field study was undertaken with precision nutrient and irrigation management under system of crop intensification (SCI) to understand the applicability of sensor-based decision tools in improving the physiological performance, water productivity, and seed yield of soybean crop. The experiment consisted of three irrigation regimes [I1: standard flood irrigation at 50% depletion of available soil moisture (DASM) (FI), I2: sprinkler irrigation at 80% ETC (crop evapo-transpiration) (Spr 80% ETC), and I3: sprinkler irrigation at 60% ETC (Spr 60% ETC)] assigned in main plots, with five precision nutrient management (PNM) practices{PNM1-[SCI protocol], PNM2-[RDF, recommended dose of fertilizer: basal dose incorporated (50% N, full dose of P and K)], PNM3-[RDF: basal dose point placement (BDP) (50% N, full dose of P and K)], PNM4-[75% RDF: BDP (50% N, full dose of P and K)] and PNM5-[50% RDF: BDP (50% N, full P and K)]} assigned in sub-plots using a split-plot design with three replications. The remaining 50% N was top-dressed through SPAD assistance for all the PNM practices. Results showed that the adoption of Spr 80% ETC resulted in an increment of 25.6%, 17.6%, 35.4%, and 17.5% in net-photosynthetic rate (Pn), transpiration rate (Tr), stomatal conductance (Gs), and intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci), respectively, over FI. Among PNM plots, adoption of PNM3 resulted in a significant (p=0.05) improvement in photosynthetic characters like Pn (15.69 µ mol CO2 m−2 s−1), Tr (7.03 m mol H2O m−2 s−1), Gs (0.175 µmol CO2 mol−1 year−1), and Ci (271.7 mol H2O m2 s−1). Enhancement in SPAD (27% and 30%) and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) (42% and 52%) values were observed with nitrogen (N) top dressing through SPAD-guided nutrient management, helped enhance crop growth indices, coupled with better dry matter partitioning and interception of sunlight. Canopy temperature depression (CTD) in soybean reduced by 3.09–4.66°C due to adoption of sprinkler irrigation. Likewise, Spr 60% ETc recorded highest irrigation water productivity (1.08 kg ha−1 m−3). However, economic water productivity (27.5 INR ha−1 m−3) and water-use efficiency (7.6 kg ha−1 mm−1 day−1) of soybean got enhanced under Spr 80% ETc over conventional cultivation. Multiple correlation and PCA showed a positive correlation between physiological, growth, and yield parameters of soybean. Concurrently, the adoption of Spr 80% ETC with PNM3 recorded significantly higher grain yield (2.63 t ha−1) and biological yield (8.37 t ha−1) over other combinations. Thus, the performance of SCI protocols under sprinkler irrigation was found to be superior over conventional practices. Hence, integrating SCI with sensor-based precision nutrient and irrigation management could be a viable option for enhancing the crop productivity and enhance the resource-use efficiency in soybean under similar agro-ecological regions

Modelling soil water balance and root water uptake in cotton grown under different soil conservation practices in the Indo-Gangetic Plain

Although soil conservation practices are being promoted as better environmental protection technologies than traditional farmers’ practice, limited information is available on how these practices affect soil water balance and root water uptake. The root water uptake (RWU) patterns of cotton grown under soil conservation practices and soil water balance in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) fieldsunder a cotton-wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cropping system were analyzed using the Hydrus-2D model. The treatments were: conventional tillage (CT), zero tillage (ZT), permanent narrow beds (PNB), permanent broad beds (PBB), ZT with residue (ZT+R), PNB with residue (PNB+R) and PBB with residue (PBB+R). Results in the third year of the cotton crop indicated that the surface (0–15cm layer) field saturated hydraulic conductivity in both PNB and PBB plots were similar and were significantly higher than in the ZT plots. Computed potential transpiration rates (Trp) under CT were lower than in other treatments, due to less radiation interception and lower Leaf Area Index (LAI). Both PNB and PBB plots had higher Trp and crop yields than CT plots, which were further improved by residue retention. Predicted soil water content (SWC) patterns during the simulation periods of third and fourth years showed strong correlation (R2=0.88, n=105, P<0.001, the root mean square error (RMSE)=0.025, and the average relative error (AVE)=7.5% for the third year and R2=0.81, n=105, P<0.001, RMSE=0.021, and AVE=9% for the fourth year) with the actual field measured SWCs. Cumulative RWU (mm) were in the order: ZT (143

Study on the Impact and Adoption of Soil and Water Conservation Technologies in Eastern Ghats of India

Land degradation is a serious problem world-over and need immediate attention. The eastern Ghats of India spreading over 19.8 Mha have suffered severe erosion due to shifting cultivation, deforestation, over grazing and faulty land use. Site specific soil and water conservation measures were implemented in Kokriguda watershed, a representative of the eastern Ghats of India, for monitoring their impact on resource conservation, productivity and income of tribal farmers as well as their adoption by the tribal farmers. Cost effective soil and water conservation (SWC) measures viz., contour and stone bunds, trench-cum-bunds with vegetative barriers and hedge rows, sunken ponds, loose boulder check dams etc. were constructed at suitable locations. Bio-engineering measures were generally preferred. These land treatments resulted in reduction in soil loss and runoff by 82 and 51%, respectively, rise in water table by 0.32 m, and increase in crop yield by 15 to 38% within four-year period. Irrigated area increased from 2 to 35 ha due to water resources developed. Total income from vegetable cultivation using harnessed water for the whole village increased to Rs. 1.4 lakh.year-1. Farmers’ participation in soil and water conservation activities was appreciable, and their contribution to different activities varied from 5 to 10 per cent. However, education and support services to convince the farmers about the problem of soil degradation and training on soil conservation practices is essential for large scale adoption of soil and water conservation measures

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Not AvailableThe state of Odisha is severely affected by water erosion induced land degradation due to its hilly and undulating terrain and unsustainable land management practices. Ensuring sustainable development of the state needs appropriate land use plan taking into account the heterogeneity in soil and land resources. In this study, the maximum permissible soil loss rates (‘T’ value) were computed for 159 mapping units of Odisha by integrating most sensitive soil indicators such as infiltration rate, bulk density, water stable aggregate, organic carbon and fertility status to assess soil quality governing soil resistibility to erosion. For each mapping unit, indicator soil attribute values were quantitatively expressed in 0 to 1 scale and an aggregate score was computed from the attribute scores and the corresponding weights. The results suggested a wide difference in the ‘T’ value among the regions and mapping units, with values varying from 2.5 to 12.5 Mg ha-1 yr-1. About 45% of total area of the state has a ‘T’ value of 10 Mg ha-1 yr-1 and 32% having ‘T’ value of 7.5 Mg ha-1 yr-1. In general, the southern, northern and western regions of the state have a lower ‘T’ values than the coastal plains and delta region. Major chunk of area under Eastern Ghats, Garhjat hills, Dandakaranya and Mahanadi basin has ‘T’ < 10.0 Mg ha-1 yr-1 and can’t afford to lose more than 7.5 Mg ha-1 yr-1 of soil. The information generated shall serve as a useful guide for devising differential conservation and resource use plans on the basis of soil resource potential.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableLand degradation due to water erosion is a major impediment for optimum land productivity in West Bengal (WB). Sustainable development of the state needs appropriate land-use planning taking into account the heterogeneity in soil and land resources. In this study, the maximum permissible soil loss rates (T values) were computed for 115 mapping units of WB by integrating the most sensitive soil indicators such as infiltration rate, bulk density, water stable aggregates, organic carbon and fertility status to assess soil quality governing soil resistibility to erosion. For each mapping unit, indicator soil attribute values were quantitatively expressed in the 0 to 1 scale and an aggregate score was computed from the attribute scores and the corresponding weights. The results suggested a wide difference in the T values among the regions and mapping units, with values ranging from 2.5 to 12.5 Mg ha–1 yr–1. In the state as a whole, about 88% of the area has ‘T’ value of 12.5 Mg ha–1 yr–1. The relatively plain lands in the Indo-Gangetic plain, coastal and delta plain and the Bengal basin have a higher soil loss tolerance of about 4.0 Mg ha–1 yr–1 than the hilly and undulating regions in the Eastern Himalaya and Eastern plateau regions. The information generated will serve as a useful guide for devising differential conservation and resource use plans on the basis of soil resource potential.Not Availabl

Simulation of maturity duration and productivity of two rice varieties under system of rice intensification using DSSAT v 4.5/CERES-Rice model

Crop growth models have been considered as potential tools for simulating growth and yield of crops. Hence, Decision Support System for Agro-technology Transfer/Crop Estimation through Resource and Environment Synthesis (DSSAT v 4.5/CERES-Rice) model was applied to the data recorded in two years (2008 and 2009). The field experiment included two rice varieties (‘Pant Dhan 4’ and ‘Hybrid 6444’) cultivated with system of rice intensification (SRI) method, under three irrigation schedules (irrigation at 1, 3 and 5 day after disappearance of ponded water) and two planting spacings (20 cm x 20 cm and 25 cm x 25 cm). The model was calibrated using data of 2009 and validated with the data of 2008. For ‘Pant Dhan 4’ maturity was slightly under predicted (gap 2-6 days) by the model with an overall gap between observed and predicted values being 2%, during 2009. However, model predictions were closer (gap 1-2 days) during 2008. The predicted maturity of ‘Hybrid 6444’ was close to the observed one (gap 1 day) but it was over predicted for the year 2008. The model predicted the yield of both the varieties with fair accuracy. The overall gap between predicted and observed yield was 5% for ‘Pant Dhan 4’ and 11.4 % for ‘Hybrid 6444’. Hence the model can be used for predicting maturity and yield of these rice varieties grown with SRI method.