Performance Assessment of Soil Moisture Meter under Sandy Clay Loam Soil

Background: Irrigation performs a substantial function for the growth of Agricultural vegetation. Soil supplies essential nutrients for the growth of plant and provides anchor support to the roots of the crops. Soil Moisture permits the requirement for water system to be measured ahead of a yield giving indications of misery. Knowing the soil moisture status empowers exceptionally productive water system, giving the water as and when required and wiping out the inefficient utilization of water when water system isn’t required. Methods: Sandy clay loam soil contains a decent arrangement of plant supplements and supports most sorts of plants and yields. So in the field plentiful accessibility of this soil its texture is discovered by estimating soil moisture. Result: Within the research we developed a soil moisture meter based on capacitive type sensor the output is analog voltage which is calibrated to soil moisture percentage and its performance is comparatively investigated with different moisture sensor under sandy clay loam soil. The proposed model is highly emphasized on the soil moisture percentage that is the level of water content in the soil. The percentage value is displayed in the LCD. The deployment cost is highly reduced in the proposed model.

Comparison of Low-Cost Methods for Soil Water Holding Capacity

Purpose: The use of cost-effective methods for measurement of WHC is common in underdeveloped and developing countries, but the accuracy of these cost-effective methods compared to the sophisticated and more expensive alternatives is unclear. Methods: To compare different WHC measurement methods, 30 random samples of clay loam and sandy clay loam soils of Jhansi, India were used. The methods compared here were: FAO in-situ method (FAO), Keen Raczkowski box method (KM), funnel method (FM), column method (CM) and pressure plate method (PPA). Results: For WHC measurements the PPA results were comparable to KM and FM methods for sandy clay loam, and KM and FAO methods for clay loam. Conclusion: Therefore, until a reliable method that matches the results of sophisticated analytical methods of soil water measurement is available, different inexpensive analytical methods can be used, but they must be chosen with caution. The findings from this study will facilitate appropriate selection of a suitable method.

Flushing of Soils Highly Contaminated with Cd Using Various Washing Agents Derived from Sewage Sludge

The suitability of sewage-sludge derived washing agents (SS_WAs) (dissolved organic matter DOM; humic-like substances HLS; soluble humic substances SHS), was assessed for removing Cd from highly contaminated (300 mg/kg) sandy clay loam and clay. The soils were remediated via column flushing at two flow rates, 0.5 and 1.0 mL/min. The stability of the flow velocity (FV) depended on the type of SS_WA and decreased in the following order: DOM > HLS > SHS. Cd was most effectively removed during the first hours of flushing, and the process proceeded with a first-order kinetics. The overall process efficiency was higher at flow rate of 1.0 mL/min than at 0.5 mL/min and ranged from 65.7 (SHS) to 75.5% (DOM) for the sandy clay loam and from 64.7% (SHS) to 67.8% (DOM) for the clay. However, all SS_WAs at both flow rates removed the most mobile Cd fraction (F1) with an efficiency above 90%. Flushing improved soil characteristics in terms of the content of organic matter, humic substances and nutrients. Among all SS_WAs, DOM was the most suitable for remediation of highly Cd-contaminated soils due to high efficiency of Cd removal, the high stability of its FV during flushing and the simple manner of DOM recovery from sewage sludge.

DEVELOPMENT AND TESTING OF BED FORMER IMPLEMENT POWERED BY HAND TRACTORS

Soil tillage, like making raised beds, is time-consuming and labour-intensive if it is done without the help of mechanization. Therefore, this study aims to develop and test a bed former powered by a hand-tractor for upland. It was carried out in the experimental field (sandy clay loam texture) at a furrower depth of 15 cm and 20 cm with a tractor forward speed of 0.5 m/s. The bed's former design results have dimensions of length, width, and height of 1200x1000x 820 mm. The performance test results showed an increase in tillage depth resulted in increased bed height, bed width, bed width, and slip. However, field capacity decreases with increasing tillage depth. The bed former's performance was found to be satisfactory in general.

Response of rice (Oryza sativa L.) productivity and nutrient uptake to nitrogen and boron fertilization in Typic Ustifluvents soil

Nitrogen and boron are necessary for the metabolic activities of rice for its growth. With this perspective, a field experiment was conducted in farmer’s field during 2020 at Kuttalam, Mayladuthurai district, Tamilnadu in sandy clay loam(Padugai Series – TypicUstifluvents) to predict the response of rice (Oryza sativa) to different levels of nitrogen(N) and boron (B) application. The treatments consisted of Factor A- Nitrogen levels, 0, 75, 150, 225 kg ha-1 and Factor B- Boron levels 0, 1.5, 3.0 kg ha-1. Fifteen treatments were conducted in a Factorial randomised block (FRBD) design with three replications. The test crop was rice with a variety ADT 46. Concerning nitrogen alone, the highest grain (5344 kg ha-1) and straw yield was recorded in N3(225 kg ha-1). Among the boron levels tested, the highest grain (4695 kg ha-1) and straw yield (6509 kg ha-1) was registered in B1 (1.5 kg ha-1) in rice. The highest total nutrient uptake viz., N(88.2 kg ha-1), P(30.5 kg ha-1), K(105.0 kg ha-1) and B(172mg kg-1) were recorded in N3B1. Among the N alone, the highest total nutrient uptake viz., N(78.1kg ha-1, P(26.3kg ha-1), K (95.8 kg ha-1) and B(156.6 mg kg-1) in N3. Concerning B alone, the highest nutrient uptake viz., N(60.5, kg ha-1) , P(17.8kg ha-1) K(74.9 kg ha-1) and B(112.1mg kg-1) were registered in B1 over other B levels. The highest grain (5631 kg ha-1) was recorded in N3B1 (225 kg N ha-1 and 1.5kg B ha-1) than other interactions. The study concluded that applying nitrogen and boron is required to achieve the maximum yield of rice in sandy clay loam soil.

Response of chilli to drip irrigation on sandy clay loam soil under Madukkur soil series (Typic ustropept) in cauvery New Delta Zone

In Tamil Nadu, one of the most important agro-climatic zone dictating the total rice production is by Cauvery Delta zone. In Cauvery Delta zone the area under rice cultivation has been reduced drastically and this situation forms the base for a paradigm shift from rice cultivation to alternate crops that requires less amount of irrigation water. Suitable alternate cropping pattern plays an important role in improving the purchasing power of farmer with the help of inclusion of commercial crops in rice based cropping system. Chilli is an important spice cum vegetable crop cultivated extensively in India. This project is indented to study the fertigation system in one of promising alternate crops in chillies in rice ecosystem. By keeping all these points in view, the present investigation was undertaken to study the response of chilli to drip irrigation on sandy clay loam soil under Madukkur soil series (Typic Ustropept) in cauvery new delta zone. Field experiment was conducted at Soil and Water Management Research Institute, Kattuthottam, Thanjavur financially supported by Department of Science and Technology under SERB programme with a budget outlay of Rs. 13.0 lakhs for three years during 2012-2015 in strip plot design with four replications. The results revealed that Sub surface drip fertigation at 10 cm depth recorded the maximum plant height, number of branches, number of flowers and number of fruits at B2 irrigation regime (IW/CPE = 0.75). Total green chillies yield was higher under sub surface drip fertigation @ 10 cm depth at IW/CPE=1 (15.59 t ha-1) followed by surface drip fertigation at IW/CPE = 0.75 (13.50 t ha-1) and sub surface drip fertigation @ 10 cm depth at IW/CPE = 0.75 (11.17 t ha-1).Thus, introduction of chillies as an alternate crop under sub surface drip fertigation @ 10 cm depth technology during January under Broad bed furrow method of cultivation paves the way for improving the social security to the rice farmers.

Suitability of Rice Transplanters and Weeders in Different Soil Types

Aim: To evaluate the performance of existing models of rice transplanters in different soil types, to evaluate the performance of existing models of power weeder in different soil types, and to reduce the cost of cultivation and enhance the rice production and profitability. Study design: Strip plot design with different soil types as main-plot treatments(3),existing models of rice transplanter(5) as sub-plot treatment and existing models of power weeder(3) as sub-sub-plot treatments. Place and duration: Experiments were conducted in six locations of delta zones of Tamil Nadu representing three soil types’ viz., sandy clay loam, sandy loam, and clay loam during samba season(2019 & 2020) with the medium duration rice variety ‘TKM 13. Methodology: Transplanter machine related parameters of actual field efficiency, theoretical capacity and field efficiency and weeder machine related parameters of field capacity and field efficiency and weed control efficiency was observed in different soil types. Suitability of transplanter and weeder combination on rice growth and yield parameters and yield, reduction of cost of cultivation and increase in net return and net income were observed and calculated. Results: Among growth and yield parameters, the 6 row yanmar transplanter along with conoweeding combination were recorded higher tillers and productive tillers (16.28 &20.65/hill), number of filled grains (113&145/panicle) seed yield (5922 &5733kg/ha) respectively in sandy clay loam and sandy loam soil. Similarly, higher net return(Rs.70195/ha& Rs.55343/ha)) and BCR(2.62& BCR(2.28) in sandy clay loam and sandy loam soil respectively. Furthermore, they achieved additional grain yield of 1769 kg/ha and 1873 kg/ha with the additional net profit of Rs.37027/ha& Rs.34813/ha in sandy clay loam and sandy loam soil respectively. Yanmar 8 row transplanter along with single row power weeder combination were recorded higher productive tillers (15.25/hill), filled grains(122/panicle) and seed yield (5506 kg/ha) with higher net return (Rs.58175/ha) and BCR(2.32) in clay loam soil. Furthermore, they achieved with an additional grain yield of 1121 kg/ha with additional net profit of Rs.24618/ha and net income change of Rs.24618/ha in clay loam soil compared to farmers practice. Conclusion: Cultivation of rice by using 6 row yanmar transplanter and weeding by cono weeder along with agronomic practices is important to achieve higher yield performance and net return and BCR in sandy clay loam soil and sandy loam soil. Cultivation of rice by using 8 row Yanmar transplanter for transplanting and single row power weeder for weeding operation along with recommended agronomic practices is important to achieve higher yield performance and net return and BCR in clay loam soil.