Recommended Package Of Practices Research Articles

Performance of maize (Zea mays) + field bean (Dolichos lablab) intercropping system under natural, organic and conventional farming practices

The present study was carried out at Zonal Agricultural and Horticultural Research Station, Babbur Farm, Hiriyur, Chitradurga, Karnataka during rainy (kharif) season 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 to study the productivity and economics of maize (Zea mays L.) + field bean (Dolichos lablab L.) (4:2) intercropping system under different farming practices. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four farming practices as treatments, viz. T1, Natural farming (NF); T2, Organic farming (OF); T3, Recommended package of practices (RPP) and; T4, Farmer practices (FP) with five replications. Results revealed that the recommended package of practices (RPP) recorded a significantly higher maize grain yield (6045 kg/ha), seed yield of field bean (538 kg/ha), maize equivalent yield (9625 kg/ha). Cost of cultivation in different farming practices indicated the lowest labour cost incurred in organic farming (₹25405/ha) and material cost in natural farming (₹14576/ha) as compared to other farming practices. Among the farming practices, lowest cost of cultivation was observed under natural farming (₹45436/ha) as compared to other farming practices. The gross returns (₹166471/ha) and net returns (₹109428/ha) were again significantly higher in RPP over other farming practices.

Reflex of Different Pest Management Modules against Sucking Insect-pests and Pod Borer for the Safety of Beneficial Insects in Vegetable French Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Background: Natural farming (NF) is a farming system that uses environmentally friendly pest and disease management practices. In contrast to chemical farming, it avoids use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides and fungicides and hence, offers an alternative way for the eco-friendly pest management for the sustainable crop production. French bean crop is ravaged by wide array of insect pests wherein, sucking insect-pests like aphids, leaf miner and pod borer causing considerable damage. To manage these pests, farmers are spraying both recommended and non-recommended synthetic chemical pesticides having adverse effects on environment and human beings. Methods: Field experiment was conducted to evaluate the pest management strategies against sucking insect-pests and pod borer infesting French bean over a period of three years from 2019-20 to 2021-22 at College of Horticulture, Sirsi, Uttar Kannada (Hill Zone of Karnataka) during summer season. Four pest management modules viz., farmers practice, organic farming, natural farming (NF) and recommended package of practices (RPP) were evaluated to manage the pests in an eco-friendly manner. The field experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with five replications comprising of four treatments. The standard protocol was followed for recording observations. Result: Among the different modules tested, farmers practice recorded lowest population of aphids, leaf miner and pod borer and was at par with recommended package of practices. Whereas, Organic farming and natural farming recorded moderate level of pest infestation and quite safe for maintaining the predators like Coccinellids, Chrysoperla carnea and spider population for natural predation. The cost of plant protection measures was also least in these modules which indicates the socially and economically acceptable farming practices which may be adopted for safer French bean production.

Effect of natural farming, organic farming, and recommended package of practices on yield and economics of irrigated wheat (Triticum aestivum)

An experiment was carried out on a split-plot design with two uneven controls, viz. four foliar concentrations of cow urine, and jeevamrutha under natural farming which were compared with Organic farming (OF), and Recommended package of practices (RPP) given by University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad (UASD). The treatments were replicated thrice. The study found that the UASD RPP recorded significantly higher grain yield, straw yield, gross return, net return, and B:C ratio than OF and natural farming practices. The grain yield reduction in the best treatment (cow urine @50% + jeevamrutha @100%) was 16% lesser than RPP, and 2% higher than OF. However, the cost of cultivation in natural farming with cow urine @50% + jeevamrutha @100% was lesser to the extent of 6.91 and 30.42% than UASD RPP and OF. Hence, the study indicates that irrigated wheat can be grown under UASD RPP followed by natural farming treatment more profitably.

Effect of jeevamrutha on quality and bio-chemical attributes of guava (Psidium guajava L.) cv. L-49 under Northern transition zone of Karnataka

The present field investigation was conducted at Regional Horticultural Research and Extension Center, Kumbapur, Dharwad, Karnataka, during 2019-20 and 2020-2021.The objective of the study was to study the influence of application of liquid jeevamrutha at different dosage and frequency on fruit quality and biochemical characteristics of guava cv. L-49. The experiment was designed in two factorial randomized block design with each factor having three levels. Three different levels of liquid jeevamrutha viz., 500 l/ha, 750 l/ha and 1000 l/ha at different frequencies like 15 days, 21 days and 30 days was applied to guava trees in the effective root zone area. The combination effect of dosage and frequency of application was compared with recommended package of practice (RPP). The results showed that, application of higher dosage of liquid jeevamrutha i.e., 1000 l/ha at an interval of 15 days recorded improved quality and biochemical attributes. Similarly in interactions also D3F1 (Application of liquid jeevamrutha @ 1000 l/ha at 15 days interval) recorded higher TSS (12.40 O Brix), TSS to acid ratio (31.44), ascorbic acid (156.25 mg/100 g), reducing sugars (4.68%), non-reducing sugars (2.69%), total sugars (7.37%), shelf life (7.67 days).When the interactions were compared with control treatment (RPP) significantly higher TSS, sugar content, ascorbic acid and shelf life was recorded in control treatment.

Influence of different dosage and frequency of liquid jeevamrutha application on leaf nutrient status of guava (Psidium guajava) cv. L-49 under Northern Transition Zone of Karnataka

The present field experiment was conducted at Regional Horticultural Research and Extension Center, Kumbapur, Dharwad during 2019-20 and 2020-2021. The objective of the study was to study the influence of application of liquid jeevamrutha at different dosage and frequency on leaf nutrient status (N, P, K, Ca, Mg & S) of guava cv. L-49. The experiment was designed in two factorial randomized block design with each factor having three levels. Three different levels of liquid jeevamrutha viz., 500 l/ha, 750 l/ha and 1000 l/ha at different frequencies like 15 days, 21 days and 30 days was applied to guava trees in the effective root zone area. The combination effect of dosage and frequency of application was compared with recommended package of practice (RPP). The results showed that application of higher dosage of liquid jeevamrutha i.e., 1000 l/ha at an interval of 15 days recorded significantly higher leaf nutrient status. Similarly in interactions also D3F1 (Application of liquid jeevamrutha @ 1000 l/ha at 15 days interval) recorded significantly highest nitrogen (1.79 % and 1.56 %), phosphorous (0.30 % and 0.23 %), potassium (0.73 and 0.68 %), Sulphur (0.54 % and 0.49 %), calcium (2.30 % and 2.09 %) and magnesium (0.68 % and 0.50 %) at flowering and after harvest respectively.

Evaluation of Some IPM Modules Against Red Ant <i>Dorylus Orientalis</i> Westwood in Potato

Field experiments were conducted at Charaibahi village, Jorhat, Assam during 2015-17 to evaluate six ecofriendly IPM modules against red ants Dorylus orientalis Westwood in potato. Among the modules evaluated, Module-II (pre sowing treatment of mustard oil cake @ 150 kg/ ha+ wood ash 150 kg/ ha+ panchagavya @ 3% and soil drenching with neem oil @ 5 ml/ lit after 1st and 2nd earthing up (25 and 60 DAS) recorded the lowest tuber damage both in weight (8.65%) and number (10.70%) basis and found at par with the recommended package of practices (RPP) (application of malathion 5% dust @ 40 kg/ ha+ mustard oil cake @ 150 kg/ ha in the soil after 1st and 2nd earthing up) recording 8.18 and 10.20% tuber damage, respectively. The same module also recorded highest tuber yield (119.37 q/ ha) which was at par with the RPP (120.12 q/ ha). The maximum benefit cost ratio (1.41) was recorded in RPP followed by Module-II (1.33) and Module-VI (1.26). The untreated control plot registered a very high level of tuber damage (25.93 and 28.70 on weight and number basis, respectively) having maximum population of red ants (3.95 numbers/ m2 ) with a tuber yield of 89.91 q/ ha.

Influence of iron and zinc on yield, quality of chickpea and status of iron and zinc in post harvest soil

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is the most important and ancient pulse crop being traditionally grown during rabi season and cultivated mainly in semi-arid regions. The content of iron and zinc in the soil of Regional Agricultural Research Station (RARS) is below the critical level. A field experiment to study the effect of iron and zinc nutrition on growth, yield and nutrient uptake by chickpea conducted in the vertisols of the Regional Agricultural Research Station (RARS), Vijayapur during rabi 2017-18. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with ten treatments and three replications. The treatments included RPP (Recommended package of practice) and application of iron @ 2, 4 and 6 kg ha-1 and zinc @ 2, 3 and 4 kg ha-1 in combinations along with RPP (RDF (Recommended dose of fertilizer) @ 10:25:00:: N : P2O5 : K2O kg ha-1). The results of the experiment revealed that, the application of iron and zinc in combinations resulted in significant increase in growth, yield and nutrient uptake by chickpea over RPP alone. Among the different treatments RPP + 6 kg Fe ha-1 + 4 kg Zn ha-1 was resulted in the maximum test weight (28.28 g), seed (2065.4 kg ha-1) and straw (1734.9 kg ha-1) yield. Similarly, higher protein content, uptake of nutrients (Fe and Zn) by the crop and residual iron and zinc status in soil were recorded due to the application of RPP + 6 kg Fe ha-1 + 4 kg Zn ha-1. These results were at par with the application of RPP + 6 kg Fe ha-1 + 3 kg Zn ha-1 and lower values were recorded in the treatment that received RPP alone. Finally it could be concluded that the application of fertilizers containing iron and zinc helpeds to improve crop yield, protein content and nutrient uptake by chickpea crop and residual soil fertility in terms of iron and zinc.

Adoption behaviour of the farmers of Goalpara district of India towards aquaculture technology

A study was conducted during 2009 to 2010 to investigate the adoption behaviour of the fish growers towards the innovations in aquaculture technology in Goalpara district of Assam. The district produces 5,347 tonnes of fish per annum against its biophysical potential of 40,969.25 tonnes. Seven critical recommended practices of pond management were selected to study the extent of adoption and correlated with thirteen socio-economic and psychological variables of the growers. Statistical techniques and tools like frequency and percentage analysis, mean score, standard deviation (SD), Co-efficient of variance (CV) and simple correlation were used. The results revealed that the farmers of the district have not yet adopted the recommended package of practices and they lack entrepreneurial spirit in aquaculture operation. The study suggested the need of paradigm shift from the current perception on aquaculture as a poverty alleviation programme to a prestigious income generating enterprise.    Key-words: Aquaculture, adoption behaviour, pond management, scaling up.