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

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Not AvailableAn investigation was undertaken at New Delhi, India during 2011–2013 to assess the agro-economic potentiality of four promising high-value crops’ imbedded diversified intensive cropping systems (DICS) in order to diversify the cereal–cereal based rotations and owning maximum profitability in Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGPR) production systems. Cowpea–potato–mungbean (C–P–Mb) system proved as best viable option in realizing highest system-productivity in terms of mungbean-equivalent-yield (MEY), water-productivity and energy-relationships besides enhancing soil physico-chemical and microbiological properties; followed by Kharif onion–wheat–mungbean (O–W–Mb) system. C–P–Mb system also observed significantly highest net-returns, production and monetary-efficiencies. Application of 75 % recommendedNPK (RDF) + vermicompost (VC) @ 5 t per ha registered highest system-productivity (MEY) and production-efficiency followed by 100 % RDF, respectively. Application of 75 % RDF + VC @ 5 t per ha also registered higher available N, P, soil–organic–carbon and DTPA-extractable micro-nutrients, besides enhanced microbial–biomass–carbon, respiratory and dehydrogenase activities. Overall, C–P–Mb and O–W–Mb systems supplied with75 % RDF + VC @ 5 t per ha may prove as viable alternative DICSs for enhanced system-productivity, profitability, water-productivity, energetics, and soil-health under irrigated IGPR.Not Availabl

Zinc partitioning in basmati rice varieties as influenced by Zn fertilization

Zinc (Zn) ferti-fortification using different sources and methods in Zn deficient soils is being advocated to increase Zn concentration in rice kernel as an alternative to pursuing greater Zn-use efficiency (ZnUE). A two-year field study was conducted to assess the effect of Zn application on Zn content and uptake at several growth stages and in several parts of the rice kernel: hull, bran, and the white rice kernel. Variety ‘PB 1509’ with 1.25 kg Zn ha−1 as Zn-EDTA + 0.5% foliar spray (FS) at maximum tillering (MT) and panicle initiation (PI) stages registered the highest Zn content in hull, bran, and white rice kernel. Among parts of the rice kernel, Zn concentration decreased in the order hull > bran > white rice kernel, indicating that brown rice kernels are much denser in Zn content than polished rice. Considering the higher Zn accumulation in the bran, brown rice consumption, especially in Asia and Africa, could be recommended to overcome Zn malnutrition. The variety ‘PB 1401’ showed the highest Zn uptake in rice straw, while ‘PB 1509’ showed the highest Zn uptake in hull and white rice kernel. Application of 1.25 kg Zn ha−1 (Zn-EDTA) + 0.5% FS at MT and PI and 2.5 kg Zn ha−1 ZnSO4·7H2O (ZnSHH) + 0.5% FS at MT and PI resulted in higher Zn uptake than other treatments. On average, about one third of total Zn uptake remained in the white rice kernel, with the remaining two thirds accumulating in both hull and bran of brown rice. Zn-EDTA along with 0.5% FS, despite the application of a lower quantity of Zn leading to the highest Zn mobilization efficiency index (ZnMEI) and Zn-induced nitrogen recovery efficiency (ZniNRE), produced the highest kernel yield. However, of the two Zn sources, Zn-EDTA contributed more to the increase in ZnUE than did ZnSHH

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Not AvailableZinc (Zn) ferti-fortification using different sources and methods in Zn deficient soils is being advocated to increase Zn concentration in rice kernel as an alternative to pursuing greater Zn-use efficiency (ZnUE). A two-year field study was conducted to assess the effect of Zn application on Zn content and uptake at several growth stages and in several parts of the rice kernel: hull, bran, and the white rice kernel. Variety ‘PB 1509’ with 1.25 kg Zn ha−1 as Zn-EDTA + 0.5% foliar spray (FS) at maximum tillering (MT) and panicle initiation (PI) stages registered the highest Zn content in hull, bran, and white rice kernel. Among parts of the rice kernel, Zn concentration decreased in the order hull > bran > white rice kernel, indicating that brown rice kernels are much denser in Zn content than polished rice. Considering the higher Zn accumulation in the bran, brown rice consumption, especially in Asia and Africa, could be recommended to overcome Zn malnutrition. The variety ‘PB 1401’ showed the highest Zn uptake in rice straw, while ‘PB 1509’ showed the highest Zn uptake in hull and white rice kernel. Application of 1.25 kg Zn ha−1 (Zn-EDTA) + 0.5% FS at MT and PI and 2.5 kg Zn ha−1 ZnSO4·7H2O (ZnSHH) + 0.5% FS at MT and PI resulted in higher Zn uptake than other treatments. On average, about one third of total Zn uptake remained in the white rice kernel, with the remaining two thirds accumulating in both hull and bran of brown rice. Zn-EDTA along with 0.5% FS, despite the application of a lower quantity of Zn leading to the highest Zn mobilization efficiency index (ZnMEI) and Zn-induced nitrogen recovery efficiency (ZniNRE), produced the highest kernel yield. However, of the two Zn sources, Zn-EDTA contributed more to the increase in ZnUE than did ZnSHH.Not Availabl

Tillage, crop establishment, residue management and herbicide applications for effective weed control in direct seeded rice of eastern Indo–Gangetic Plains of South Asia

Weeds are the major production constraint in direct seeded rice (DSR) due to the concurrent emergence of competitive weeds and absence of water at initial growth stages to smother weed growth, leading to decreased crop yield. DSR has emerged as an alternative to the conventional water, labour and energy–intensive puddled transplanted rice (PTPR) in the eastern Indo–Gangetic Plains (IGP) of India. Hence, three field experiments were conducted (2008–2010) to evaluate integrated weed management options that included transplanted rice under puddled and unpuddled conditions, zero till DSR with or without residue retention and cover crops, zero till transplanted rice (ZTTPR) (experiment I); different combination of herbicides with or without cover crops (experiment II and III). Results revealed that during 1st year of study, zero–till direct seeded rice (ZTDSR) with (ZTDSR + R) or without (ZTDSR–R) residue retention and ZTDSR after the cover crops of sesbania [Sesbania aculeata (Willd.) Pers.] (ZTDSR + SB) or cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] (ZTDSR + CP) had greater weed density and dry matter accumulation than puddled transplanted rice (PTPR). However, in the 2nd and 3rd years, similar or lower weed density and dry matter accumulation was recorded in zero–tilled (ZT) plots. In 3rd year, plots under ZTDSR–R, ZTDSR + R, ZTDSR + SB, and ZTDSR + CP accumulated 14.3, 33.3, 23.1, and 60%, respectively, less weed dry matter over PTPR. Plots under ZTDSR produced almost similar or more grain yield to PTPR in all the three years of experimentation. On the basis of 3 years’ average data, the highest grain yield was recorded in plots under ZTDSR + R or –R followed by ZTTPR and ZTDSR + CP. While in experiment II, mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek] as cover crop fb bispyribac–Na at 25 g ha resulted in the highest grain yield in 2008; but in 2009, weed free plots were superior–most. With regard to herbicides, pre–emergence application of pendimethalin EC at 1000 g ha; effectively controlled aerobic grassy weeds such as Eragrostis tenella var. japonica (Thunb.) Roem. & Schult. but was ineffective against Echinochloa colona (L.) Link. Similarly, bispyribac–Na at 25 g ha was most effective for control of E. colona and Commelina benghalensis L., but incompetent against E. tenella. Overall, from the weed management viewpoint, this study recommends combination of pendimethalin at 1000 g ha fb bispyribac–Na at 25 g ha for effective control of diverse weed flora encountered in DSR

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Conservation agriculture in irrigated intensive maize-based systems of north-western India: Effects on crop yields, water productivity and economic profitability

In north-western India, maize-based systems are being advocated as an alternative to rice-based systems to address the issues of resource degradation, particularly declining water tables and climate-change-induced variability in rainfall and temperature. Conservation agriculture (CA) based best-bet crop management practices may increase crop and water productivity, while conserving and sustaining natural resources. In a 6-year study of conservation agriculture experiment established in 2008, we have evaluated the performance of CA-based management practices [permanent bed (PB) and zero tillage (ZT)] and conventional till (CT) for four intensified irrigated maize systems [maize-wheat-mungbean (MWMb), maize-chickpea-Sesbania green manure (MCS), maize-mustard-mungbean (MMuMb) and maize-maize-Sesbania (MMS)]. Significant (P < 0.05) tillage and cropping system interactions were observed for system productivity. Agronomic performance (yield attributes) of all the crops (except wheat) grown in sequence with maize was maximum with ZT, however wheat outperformed on PB over ZT and CT. In the initial two years, higher system productivity (maize equivalent yield) was recorded in PB (8.2–8.5 Mg ha−1), while from third year onwards ZT registered maximum productivity (11.3–12.9 Mg ha−1).The system glucose equivalent yield increased by 0.6 Mg ha−1 under ZT and PB compared to CT. Economic profits from maize-based rotations were invariably higher either in MMuMb or MWMb systems, while in terms of glucose equivalent yield, MMS and MWMb rotation were highest. Synergistic effects of summer legumes (mungbean and Sesbania) after winter legume/oilseed/cereal were observed on yield of individual crop vis-a-vis system productivity and irrigation water use. ZT and PB practices reduced the irrigation water requirement by 40–65 ha-mm and 60–98 ha-mm, respectively compared to CT system, resulted enhanced system water productivity by 19.4% equally under both ZT and PB. Net profit from the maize-based systems under ZT was up to 31% higher with 72$ ha−1 lower production cost compared to CT. Results from our study showed that adoption of CA based tillage practices in MMuMb and MWMb system for sustainable increase of crop and water productivity in north-western region of India

Long-Term Conservation Agriculture and Intensified Cropping Systems: Effects on Growth, Yield, Water, and Energy-use Efficiency of Maize in Northwestern India

Conservation agriculture (CA)-based best-bet crop management practices may increase crop and water productivity, while conserving and sustaining natural resources. We evaluated the performance of rainy season maize during 2014 under an ongoing long-term trial (established in 2008) with three tillage practices, i.e., permanent bed (PB), zero tillage (ZT), and conventional tillage (CT) as main plots, and four intensified maize-based cropping systems, i.e., maize-wheat-mungbean, maize-chickpea-Sesbania (MCS), maize-mustard-mungbean, and maize-maize-Sesbania) as subplot treatments. In the seventh rainy season of the experiment, maize growth parameters, yield attributes, yield, and water- and energy-use efficiency were highest at fixed plots under ZT. Maize growth parameters were significantly (P < 0.05) superior under ZT and PB compared with CT. Maize yield attributes, including cobs per m2 (7.8), cob length (0.183 m), grain rows per cob (13.8), and grains per row (35.6), were significantly higher under ZT than CT; however, no significant effect of cropping systems was found on maize growth and yield attributes. Zero tillage exhibited the highest maize productivity (4 589 kg ha−1). However, among the cropping systems, MCS exhibited the highest maize productivity (4 582 kg ha−1). In maize, water use was reduced by 80.2–120.9 mm ha−1 under ZT and PB compared with CT, which ultimately enhanced the economic water-use efficiency by 42.0% and 36.6%, respectively. The ZT and PB showed a 3.5%–31.8% increase in soil organic carbon (SOC) at different soil depths (0–0.45 m), and a 32.3%–39.9% increase in energy productivity compared with CT. Overall, our results showed that CA-based ZT and PB practices coupled with diversified maize-based cropping systems effectively enhanced maize yield and SOC, as well as water- and energy-use efficiency, in northwestern India