Lateritic Zone Of West Bengal Research Articles

Performance of lathyrus varieties under different establishment methods in Red and Laterite Zone of West Bengal

A field experiment was conducted in split-plot design to study the performance of lathyrus varieties (Nirmal, Prateek and Ratan) under three different establishment methods (broadcasting, line-sowing and dibbling) at Regional Research Sub-Station, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Raghunathpur West Bengal during rabi season of 2020-21. Irrespective of varieties, lathyrus sown on line sowing and dibbling methods required 2.0 and 3.2 more days to complete life cycle over broadcast sowing. Though, broadcast sowing of lathyrus led to highest number of plants/m (34.2) at maturity stage compared to line sowing (26.8 plants/m) and dibbling (23.2 plants/m) method, but crop sown in line yielded highest (1401 kg/ha) with highest net return (INR. 21,745/ ha). Among three varieties, Ratan appeared suitable due to greater seed yield (1337 kg/ha), net return (INR. 19,723/ha) and B: C ratio (1.57) than Nirmal and Prateek in red and laterite zone of West Bengal.

Agronomic evaluation of rice (<i>Oryza sativa</i>) landraces for sustainable crop resilience in a changing climate

Water scarcity and the adverse effects of climate change have significant impact on rice cultivation, leading to declining yields worldwide. The study focuses on red lateritic zone of West Bengal, where irregular rainfall and low water retention pose formidable challenges for farmers. The study was carried out at Zonal Drought Resistance Paddy Research Station, Hathwara, Purulia, West Bengal during 2021 and 2022 to evaluate the agronomic performance of selected landraces, known for their tolerance to stress. Characters like plant height, days to maturity, total grain/ plant, filled grains/plant, and spikelet fertility showed positive correlations with seed yield. Proline content and chlorophyll levels were higher in landraces as compared to the existing varieties. Findings suggest that late-maturing varieties exhibit tolerance mechanism while early varieties demonstrate an escape mechanism in response to water stress. The research underscores that by harnessing the genetic diversity of landraces rice breeding can be enriched to enhance resilience against changing climatic conditions. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into mitigating the impact of climate change on rice cultivation by utilizing landraces in breeding programs, ensuring food security, and supporting the livelihoods of vulnerable farming communities.

Seasonal incidence and distribution pattern of insect pest infesting onion ecosystem in the red lateritic zone of West Bengal

Seasonal incidence and distribution pattern of insect pest infesting onion ecosystem in the red lateritic zone of West Bengal

Vertical Distribution of Water Soluble Boron and Its Correlation with Physicochemical Properties in Lateritic Soils of West Bengal, India: A Comprehensive Study

The vertical distribution of water soluble boron and its relationship to certain soil properties was investigated from soil samples collected at various locations of lateritic soils of West Bengal during 2020-2021. In the lateritic zone of West Bengal, India, a total of 150 soil samples have been collected from 50 sites within two blocks: Bolpur and Illambazar. According to the study, the majority of soils have a clay loam to sandy clay loam texture. The soil pH of the surface soils of the study area ranged from 4.33 to 6.69 with an average value of 5.62, indicating that the majority of soils are strongly acidic to moderately acidic in reaction. The organic carbon content (%) of the surface soils (0–20 cm) of Bolpur and Illambazar blocks varied from 0.32 to 0.58 and 0.33 to 0.99 respectively, and it was found that most of the soils have low to medium organic matter content. With depth, the soil pH increased and the organic matter content decreased in the study area. In the surface soils of the Bolpur block, the water soluble boron content ranged from 0.16 to 0.33 mg kg-1 with its mean content of 0.24 ± 0.046 mg kg-1, whereas in the soils of the Illambazar block, it ranged from 0.15 to 0.33 mg kg-1 with a mean content of 0.25 ± 0.051 mg kg-1. From the results, it is understandable that water soluble B status decreased across the depth and that most of the soils under study were deficient in water soluble B content. From the correlation study, it was found that, water soluble boron significantly and positively correlated with clay content, pH, OC content, CEC and amorphous Fe and Al, indicating the importance of managing these parameters to enhance the availability of soil B. The results of the study would be very helpful to the scientists in advising B application for fruitful crop development in the lateritic soils of the region.

GIS-remote sensing-based village-level hydrological balance approach for agricultural water planning

Ensuring food security through the increase in food production can be realised by converting agricultural fallow lands into cultivable ones and assuring irrigations in three crop seasons in all agricultural lands. That can be done through a village (i.e., mouza) level water management planning through rainwater harvesting. This needs step by step procedures based on hydrologic balance for providing the best way of management of water resources to secure precious agricultural lands from man-made degradation. This study was conducted at a mouza Gohalura in the Red and Laterite Zone of West Bengal, India. In that village major crops grown were ‘Aman’ rice (A practices of Rice cultivation by transplanting in rainy season and harvested in early winter season) during the rainy (i.e., monsoon) season; Groundnut during Rabi under both rainfed and irrigated farming situations and ‘Boro’ rice (a practice of rice cultivation by transplanting in late winter and harvesting in early summer) in summer. The major problems in crop production in that village were some rainfed agricultural lands with erratic and uncertain rainfall of which about 26 percent (i.e., 464 mm) received during non-monsoon period (15 October to 7 June), and a high infiltration rate of soil. Shortfall in annual water balance of 248.13 mm could be managed through existing river lift irrigation from the adjoining river Dulung, a tributary of the Subarnarekha River. Application of GIS and remote sensing were useful in land use land cover classification, creation of a digital elevation model of the village and calculation of areas under individual classes of land. Creating and renovating water harvesting ponds in the mouza would facilitate multipurpose benefits for the farming community including agriculture in three crop seasons in all cultivable lands through such rational water management planning in that village. Following such village-wise water balance approach another 16.37 ha (i.e., agricultural fallow out of the total agricultural land area of 40.23 ha) i.e., about 69 per cent increase in irrigated area could be made possible. Such methodologies could be projected for other areas, and that could be followed in other areas also.

Evaluation of new biomolecules for combating rice yellow stem borer, Scirpophaga incertulas (Walker), Lepidoptera: Pyralidae; under red lateritic zone of West Bengal

Evaluation of new biomolecules for combating rice yellow stem borer, Scirpophaga incertulas (Walker), Lepidoptera: Pyralidae; under red lateritic zone of West Bengal

Effect Of Nitrogen And Potassium On Pomegranate Cv. Bhagwa Under Red And Lateritic Zone Of West Bengal

The experiment was conducted with five levels of nitrogen and four levels of potassium per plant with twenty treatment combinations were applied to three years old pomegranate cv. Bhagwa trees at the Regional Research Sub-Station, Sekampur, Birbhum of Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, West Bengal. The highest yield was observed with N60 (4.103 kg/plant). In potassium application the yield /plant varied between 2.96 kg/plant (K0) to 3.664 kg/plant (K40). The combined application of N80K40 resulted in a 28.07 % (212.60g) increase in fruit weight compared to the control treatment (166.00g). The highest number of fruits/plants was recorded in treatment N60 (20.438) and lowest in control (13.688). Significantly maximum number of fruits /plants was noted in K40 (18.550). The highest increase in aril weight and juice weight could be observed with the application of N60K60 treatment. Quality analysis of the fruits showed maximum TSS with the 60 g/plant k. It is concluded that the combined application of N@60g and K@40 g per plant is beneficial in improving the yield and quality of three years old pomegranate plants under the red lateritic zone of West Bengal.

Fruit based agroforestry systems - potential means for sustaining carbon sequestration, improving soil health and diet of community in red and lateritic zone of West Bengal, India

Fruit-based agroforestry systems (AFS) can assure food security towards Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and improvement in carbon sequestration, soil qualities of low-fertile degraded land. Those were revealed through observations on farmers’ practices, literature reviews and results from different agroforestry arrangements of mango with gamhar and eucalyptus; and sweet orange with gamhar for two years (2017-18 to 2018-19) of alley cropping with pigeon pea, green gram, cowpea and toria in ongoing AF experiments at Regional Research Station (Red & Lateritic Zone), Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Jhargram, West Bengal, India. Total carbon stock as well as potential food energy production were higher in AFS than either in sole silvi tree, fruit tree or plots under alley crops, because of better performances of all tree and crop components in AFS. Mango with eucalyptus-based AFS gave higher carbon stock (62.33 t ha-1 yr-1) including improvement in degraded acidic soil pH (6.20%), SOC (11.86%), available N (9.09%), available P (13.97%), available K (11.64%) contents in soil. In that way, fruit-based agroforestry systems can be used as a viable alternative land use to improve soil health, diet and livelihood security even of resource-poor farm families throughout the year, especially during their impoverished needy times in a year.

Changing characteristics of meteorological drought and its impact on monsoon-rice production in sub-humid red and laterite zone of West Bengal, India

Changing characteristics of meteorological drought and its impact on monsoon-rice production in sub-humid red and laterite zone of West Bengal, India

Bioefficacy of Some Newer Generation Insecticides Against Chilli Thrips, Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood

An experiment was conducted in the pre-kharif season during the months of January–June of the years 2018 and 2019 at farmer’s field at Benuria, Birbhum, in the lateritic zone of West Bengal, India. ‘Tejaswini’, a promising popular variety, was taken for the study. Four-week old plants were transplanted and plot size was 5.0×5.0 m2, in a Randomized Block Design with thirteen treatments, including control with three replications in both the seasons. Three consecutive sprayings were done at 30, 50 and 70 days after planting. The lowest population of thrips was observed in Broflanilid 20% SC @ 25 g a.i. ha-1 and it was statistically superior over Dinotefuran 20% SG @ 30 g a.i. ha-1, Profenofos 50% EC @ 500 g a.i. ha-1 and Azadirachtin 3% @ 15 g a.i. ha-1.While, non-significant differences in insect populations were recorded among Spinosad 45% SC @ 73 g a.i. ha-1, Fipronil 5% SC @ 50 g a.i. ha-1, Spirotetramat 15.31% OD @ 60 g a.i. ha-1, Tolfenpyrad 15% EC @ 150 g a.i. ha-1, Imidacloprid 17.80 % SL @ 25 g a.i. ha-1, Thiamethoxam 25% WG @ 25 g a.i. ha-1, λ-cyhalothrin 5% EC @ 15 g a.i. ha-1 and Difenthiuron 50% WP @ 300 g a.i. ha-1, respectively. The newer molecule, Broflanilid 20% SC @ 25 g a.i. ha-1 was found most efficacious against the chilli thrips among the treatments, and this molecule can be recommended to effectively manage the chilli thrips.

Characterization and Identification of Native Pseudomonads from Red and Lateritic Regions of West Bengal

Agricultural crops are facing a continuous threat due to biotic and abiotic stresses, thus, limiting the crop productivity, and thereby, threatening food security. Plant roots attract several kinds of microbes that induce resistance in plants against these stresses by enhancing the activity of the antioxidant enzymes, phenolic and other non-phenolic compounds, and thereby, have a beneficial effect on plants. Vast research has been carried out on biocontrol agents to manage soil-borne plant pathogens, but there has been limited success in the development of region-specific, commercially viable microbial inoculants. The present research was framed with a view to screen and evaluate native Pseudomonads from the rhizosphere of different crops in lateritic soils and their exploitation in biotic and abiotic stress management under the red and lateritic zone of West Bengal. In the lateritic area of West Bengal, the lowest pH as well as the highest culturable rhizobacterial population was found in the soil of Bankura. Among all the isolated rhizobacteria, 43.33% were found to be moderately antagonistic against three different soil-borne plant pathogens viz., Rhizoctonia solani, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Sclerotium rolfsii—while only 6.67% were found to be very highly antagonistic against these soil-borne plant pathogens. Augmented seeds of tomato, cowpea and French bean with native rhizobacteria enhanced the vigour index and 16.67% of the isolates were found to have a high value of vigour index in the normal and acid stress conditions. Based on acid tolerance, antagonistic activity and the seed vigour assay, a total of 13 isolates from 97 of lateritic area were selected. Out of the 13 selected isolates, 7 were positive for protease and lipase production, 8 isolates were positive for the production of HCN, siderophore and salicylic acid production and 9 isolates were found to be positive for IAA, phosphate solubilisation, amylase and chitinase production. Species of beneficial Pseudomonads such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, P. fluorescens, P. Plecoglossicida, P. helmanticensis, P. geniculate, P. baetica and P. putida were found. Five isolates were used to study the effect on plant growth in terms of germination (%), root and shoot length, as well as fresh root and shoot weight and disease patterns in terms of pre- and post-emergence damping-off under the semi-field condition.

Assessment of wet season agricultural droughts using monthly MODIS and SAR data in the red and lateritic zone of West Bengal, India

Assessment of wet season agricultural droughts using monthly MODIS and SAR data in the red and lateritic zone of West Bengal, India

Evaluation of Potentiality of Different Mango Genotypes for Flowering, Fruiting and Yield of fruits under the Red and Lateritic Zone of West Bengal

The present investigation was carried out at mango orchard of Rathindra Krishi Vigyan Kendra, near Palli-Siksha Bhavana (Institute of Agriculture), Sriniketan, Visva- Bharati, West Bengal, during the period of 2014- 2015 to study the potentiality of different cultivars of mango with regards to flowering, fruiting and yield of fruits. Total nine mango cultivars namely, Amrapali, Mallika, Kohitur, Ranipasand, Golabkhas, Bombai, Kohinoor, Enayat pasand and Safdar pasand were selected. One mango tree represents a single replication and each treatment or a cultivar was replicated three times. The observations were recorded as tree height(cm), tree spread(cm), trunk girth shoot length(cm), shoot girth (cm), primary shoot girth (cm), number of panicles per branch, length of panicle at anthesis, full bloom period (days), number of fruits per panicle at maturity, number of fruits per tree and fruit yield (kg/tree). Amongst all the evaluated Cv. Mallika, Golabkhas and Kohinor was found to be superior under the red and lateritic zone of West Bengal. As per the result found these identified cultivar may be considered as a good donor for hybridization programme to evolve the superior varieties and can be recommend for commercial multiplication and production specially under the red and lateritic zone of West Bengal.

Evaluation of rice hybrids in terms of growth, productivity and grain quality under system of Rice Intensification

A field experiment was conducted at Palli Siksha Bhavana, Visva-Bharati, West Bengal to study the performance of five rice hybrids namely 6129 Gold, Tej Gold, 6444 Gold, Prima Gold and PHB 71 in terms of growth, productivity and grain quality under System of Rice Intensification (SRI) during kharif season. Observations revealed that 6129 Gold recorded highest hills m-2 (17.3), no. of panicles m-2 (215.5) and no. of filled grain per panicle (212.4). But owing to least 1000 grain weight (22.6 g) compared to other hybrid rice cultivars, 6129 Gold achieved lower grain yield (5.6 t ha-1). By accounting higher 1000 grain weight (25 g) and other yield attributing characters, Prima Gold performed best in terms of grain yield (6.9 t ha-1). Besides yield and yield attributing characters, grain quality (hulling, milling and head rice recovery) was also better in Prima Gold. Considering all the observations it can be concluded that Prima Gold and 6444 Gold performed better in moisture striven red lateritic zone of West Bengal under SRI.

Variation of total acidity as influenced by land uses and soil depths in lateritic belt of West Bengal

Soil acidity induces iron, aluminium and manganese toxicities along with restricting phosphorus availability, reducing microbial population in soil and thereby reduces crop productivity. Among the different nature of soil acidity, total acidity is very important in determining nutrient supplying capacity of the soil. To study depth-wise and land use-wise variation of total acidity (TA) and its relationship with soil properties, fifty-four representative soil samples were collected from three depths (viz., 0-20 cm, 20-40 cm and 40-60 cm) from 6 various land uses viz., forest land, orchard land, pasture land, cultivated rice land, cultivated rice-potato land and fallow land of Birbhum district of lateritic zone of West Bengal. The soil samples were analyzed for TA and soil properties like pH, EC, organic C, bulk density, particle density, available N, P2O5 and K2O using standard methodology. It was observed that there was significant depth-wise and land use-wise variation of TA. In all the land uses, TA was decreased with depth. In surface 0-20 cm soil depth, TA was highest and lowest in cultivated rice-potato and pasture land respectively. While in 40-60 cm soil depth the highest and lowest TA was documented in cultivated rice-potato and fallow land respectively. The mean TA irrespective of soil depths was highest and lowest in cultivated rice-potato and pasture land respectively. The mean TA irrespective of land uses was highest and lowest in surface 0-20 cm and 40-60 cm soil depth respectively. The interaction effect of land uses and soil depth showed that TA was highest in surface 0-20 cm soil depth of cultivated rice-potato land, and lowest in 40-60 cm soil depth of fallow land. The TA was significantly positively and negatively correlated with OC and BD of soil.

Seasonal incidence and management of red cotton bug (Dysdercus koenigii) infesting Bt cotton under Red lateritic zone of West Bengal

A field study was undertaken in the Institutional Research Farm, Institute of Agriculture, Visva-Bharati, Sriniketan to evaluate the seasonal incidence and population variation of red cotton bug with respect to weather conditions and its insecticidal management during kharif, 2018-19. Experiments were conducted in a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications having nine different insecticidal treatments including one untreated control. Red cotton bug population was recorded from Second week of August and continued till harvest with a peak population Peak population at Second week of November. Multivariate correlation studies showed that the red cotton bug population was significantly positively correlated with Temperature Gradient and significantly negatively correlated with Relative Humidity and Rainfall. Among the different insecticides tested combination of Imidacloprid 6% + Lambda Cyhalothrin 4% SL @ 500 ml/ha proved most effective and giving 71.14% and 94.84% pest population reduction in two consecutive treatment imposition.

Seasonal incidence and management of red cotton bug (Dysdercus konini) infesting Bt cotton under red lateritic zone of West Bengal

A field study was undertaken in the Institutional Research Farm, Institute of Agriculture, Visva-Bharati, Sriniketanto evaluate the seasonal incidence and population variation of red cotton bug with respect to weather conditions and its insecticidal management during kharif, 2018-19. Experiments were conducted in a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications having nine different insecticidal treatments including one untreated control. Red cotton bug population was recorded from Second week of August and continued till harvest with a peak population Peak population at Second week of November. Multivariate correlation studies showed that the red cotton bug population was significantly positively correlated with Temperature Gradient and significantly negatively correlated with Relative Humidity and Rainfall. Among the different insecticides tested combination of Imidacloprid 6% + Lambda Cyhalothrin 4% SL @ 500 ml/ha proved most effective and giving 71.14% and 94.84% pest population reduction in two consecutive treatment imposition.

Comparative Study of Energy Utilization and Green House Gas Emission by Hybrid Rice Grown under Two Different Cultivation Systems in Red Lateritic Zone of West Bengal

A field experiment was carried out at Agriculture Farm, Palli Siksha Bhavana, Visva-Bharati, Sriniketan, West Bengal, India during kharif season of 2015 to compare rice cultivation in conventional transplanting (CT) and system of rice intensification (SRI) in terms of energy use, energy input output relationship and green house gas emission. Results showed that regardless of cultivars, conventional transplanting consumed 62.39% higher energy over SRI. Maximum energy input was associated with non renewable and indirect sources. Higher dose of nitrogenous fertilizer had contributed to 32.35% and 26.26% to the total input energy in CT and SRI respectively. Energy use efficiency (13.22), energy productivity (6.94 kg MJ-1), energy profitability (12.22) and energy intensity (4.60 MJ Rs-1) of hybrid rice varieties were noted higher in SRI. Maximum green house gas emission from rice field was also attributed to fertilizer nitrogen followed by diesel in both the system. Total green house gas emission in CT was estimated to 834.85 (kg CO2ha-1) i.e. 1.8 times of SRI. Engirdling different energy indices, total input energy and green house gas emission, the system of rice intensification was emerged as the most energy efficient and sustainable rice production system in resource stricken areas (Red Lateritic Zone).

Production oriented survey (POS) on different aspects of rice cultivation and farmers practices under red and lateritic zone of West Bengal, India

Production oriented survey (POS) on different aspects of rice cultivation and farmers practices under red and lateritic zone of West Bengal, India

Seed yield of linseed varieties grown as ‘paira’ crop as influenced by dates of sowing

Linseed is an industrial crop cultivated for its seeds, fibres and oil purpose. Linseed crop can met their requirement i.e. moisture and nutritional demand from stored soil moisture and residual fertility status in "utera? or "paira? system of cropping. On the basis of this fact an experiment was conducted on “Seed yield of linseed varieties grown as paira crop as influenced by dates of sowing” in red and laterite zone of West Bengal during rabi season of 2012-13 and 2013-14 at Rice Research Station, Bankura, West Bengal, India. Poor in organic matter content, available phosphate and bases, hard structure of iron and aluminium patterned as honeycomb are present in the subsurface regions of the profiles and kaolinite is the predominant clay minerals of red and lateritic zone (western part) of West Bengal. This experiment was laid out in a split-plot design with three replications and compared two factors (dates of sowing and linseed varieties). Objective was identifying the optimum date of sowing and suitable linseed varieties grown as „paira? crop under changed climate in red and laterite zone of West Bengal. The experimental results revealed that the highest seed yield (534 kg ha-1 as pooled value) was recorded from the treatment D1 i.e. linseed sown on 15th November. The lowest seed yield (489.2 kg ha-1 as pooled value) was obtained with treatment D3 i.e. linseed sown on 29th November. Among linseed varieties, T-397 has yielded highest seed yield (573.4 kg ha-1 as pooled value). Lowest seed yield (409. 3 kg ha-1 as pooled data) was recorded from Neela variety. From the present study it may be concluded that linseed sown on 15th November is the best time and T-397 is the suitable linseed variety grown as "paira? crop under changed climate in red and laterite zone of West Bengal.