Effect of sowing condition on yield ofpaira crops grown after rainy-season rice (Oryza sativa)

Abstract

In low-lying rice (Oryza sativa L.) lands 2 cm water depth above soil), fitting in split- under rainfed conditions in eastern part of plot design replicated 4 times, where soil- India, grasspea (Lathyrus sativa L.) is com- water conditions were in the main plot and monly grown as paira or piara or utera crop crops in the subplots. Soil was clayey loam (crop that is sown by broadcast, before har- having average soil fertility (0.62% organic vest pf preceding rice crop under muddy C, 0.06% total N, available P,O, 17 kglha, condition and raised under no-tillage rainfed available K,O 165 kglha and pH 6.9). Seeds relay system, with soil residual moisture) for of grasspea, lentil, Indian mustard and lin- higher yields and continuous crop (Das and seed @ 50, 30, 8 and 20 kg/ha respectively Sarkar, 1990). With the introduction of were broadcast over the standing transplant- short-duration rice varieties, it is now possi- ed rainfed rainy-season (kharij) rice (IR ble to grow other paira crops (Das and Sen, 36) 1 day before harvest in respective treat- 1992). But the conditions of soil and water ment conditions, created by addition of wa- at sowing of paira crop, are very important ter and drying at sowing. Only 20 kg Nlha for higher crop prosecution. Since such in- through urea was applied by broadcast over formation is not available, an experiment the standing paira crops 15 dayFafter sow- with 4 paira crops after transplanted in rainy ing (DAS). Rice was harvested on 28 Octo- season (kharlj) rice was initiated on 4 soil- ber 199 1; while grasspea, lentil, Indian mus- water conditions. tard and linseed were harvested on 15 The field experiment was conducted at March, 1 March, 15 February and 10 March, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya 1992 respectively. Winter paira crops re- Farm, Kalyani, during the winter season ceived about 150 mm rainfall during their 1991-92, with 4 crops, viz. Nirmal growth period. grasspea (Lathyrus sativa L.) B 77 lentil The maximum seed and stover yields (Lens culinaris L.) B 9 Indian mustard were obtained from grasspea, followed by [Brassica junca (L.) czemj. & Cosson] and Indian mustard and lentil, whereas linseed Neelam linseed (Linum usitattisinurn L.); showed the poorest performance in respect and 4 soil-water conditions (hardy - of seed and stover yields, under rainfed no- no ex- cess moisture, hard soil, hair cracking (no tillage relay crop after transplanted kharif excess moisture, soil not so hard but hair rice. Among these 4 crops grasspea estab- c~acks), m.uddy (excess moisture slight here lished in a better way under different situa- and there, soil in soft muddy condition), and tions. Das and Sen (1992) reported that un-