Water use pattern and related agrometeorological indices of rabi & kharif sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) at Deccan plateau

The agrometeorological data pertinent to estimation of water use and related agrometeorological indices of KBSH - II (1988 to 1991) and MORDEN varieties of sunflower (1992 and 1993) cultivated both in rabi and kharif seasons, were used to understand the comparative water use pattern and agrometeorological indices for getting an idea about the crop condition at Bangalore. The study revealed that mean weekly water use was higher in almost all the years during the kharif season than during the rabi season except in 1990 and the consumptive water use increased with development of the vegetative cover of the crop reaching a peak value in the vegetative growth stage. The ARI (agroclimatic rainfall index) and cumulative YMI (yield moisture index) were always higher during the kharif season than correspondingly those during the rabi season and showed yearly and seasonal variability in different growth stages which was due to the moisture stress condition of the soil as well as prevailing weather conditions of the atmosphere. In case of AI (aridity index), high values were observed at early and late crop growth stages during the kharif season which showed that the crop experienced less aridity between vegetative to seed formation stage. The water use efficiency (WUE) of the crop also revealed wide variation due to variety and season.

Comparative studies on energy balance components and their inter relations on soybean crop and bare soil in kharif season at Pune situated in semi-arid tract

Comparative studies of radiation balance components at different growth stages on soybean crop and bare soil were made at Central Agrometeorological Observatory (CAgMO), Pune. Continuous measurements of net, reflected and global solar radiations were made over cropped field as well as over bare soil all throughout the growth phases in kharif season of 1995. Net and reflected radiations and albedo over canopy were higher by 7, 26 and 25 per cent respectively than bare soil. The net short wave (absorbed) radiation and net long wave (out-going) radiation evaluated over the canopy were less than those over bare soil by 5 and 20 per cent respectively. The mean daily net, reflected, net short wave and net long wave (out-going) radiation were 9.86, 3.86, 15.35 and 5.49 MJm-2 respectively and the albedo was 20 per cent over soybean canopy whereas for bare soil they were 9.23, 3.07, 16.15 and 6.91 MJm-2 and 16 per cent respectively. The mean daily global solar radiation during the crop growing season was 19.20 MJm-2. The highest albedo (26 per cent) of the crop recorded in the 10th week after sowing (WAS) was in correspondence to maximum LAI (5.9) observed at pod formation stage.

Influence of Different Fertility Management Practices on Productivity and Economics of Forage Soybean

Background: Quality and higher fodder production is one of the important aspects to get higher productivity from live stock. India suffer a net deficiency of 35.6% green fodder, 10.95% dry crop residues and Jammu and Kashmir faces a net deficit of 19% in fodder. The choice to grow cultivated fodder crops during kharif season in Kashmir is limited and are grown generally under rainfed conditions. The major kharif season fodder cereal crops are maize and sorghum and the legume fodder crops are cowpea and soybean. To improve the quality and yield of fodder crops, it is important to standardise production technology for legume fodder crops. Methods: A field experiment was undertaken at Agronomy Farm, Faculty of Agriculture, Wadura of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir during kharif 2019 and 2020 to study the impact of different fertility management practices on productivity and economics of forage soybean. The experiment comprising of seven treatments laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Result: Application of N, P2O5, K2O (30, 90, 45 kg/ha) along with 0.1 tons/ha vermicompost recoded higher green fodder productivity and growth characters of soybean. However application of N, P2O5, K2O (20, 60, 30 kg/ha) was found economically viable option.

Monthly climatic water balance at selected locations in India

Meteorological data (1971-2000) for twenty seven (27) well distributed locations in India, have been utilized to compute average monthly rainfall (RF) and potential evapotranspiration (PET). In the present study, potential evapotranspiration (PET) has been calculated by using FAO recommended Penman-Monteith equation. An attempt has been made to identify the months of water deficit / surplus and these have been discussed in relation to crop planning for both seasons Monsoon or Kharif (June to September) and Rabi (October to February).In northwest, west and central zone, water deficit is observed at several stations in Kharif and all stations in Rabi. The average RF/PET ratio in this zone is 0.53 indicating that except in Pantnagar and Adhartal (0.94), crop selection and planning do not favour crops requiring more water. During Kharif season RF/PET ratio of several stations, except Hissar and Jodhpur, is more than 1, suggesting successful cropping with rainfall. In east and northeast zone, water surplus is observed at all the stations in Kharif. Water deficit in Rabi occurred at most of the places during December, January and February. RF/PET ratio during Kharif season ranges between 1.44 and 5.93 suggesting none of the stations undergo water deficit during the crop growing period. For the stations selected in south zone, water deficit in Kharif occurred at many places in the months of June, July and August. Water deficit in Rabi occurred at many places during January and February. During Kharif RF/PET ratio is less than 1 except for Rajamundry and Pattambi. This emphasizes the need for proper crop selection for successful cropping with limited moisture.

Regional scale cropping systems management options in Telangana using WorldClim data

The present study evaluates the existing district-wise cropping system of Kharif and Rabi season prevailing in Telangana State of India. In kharif season, it was observed that all districts of the states are water surplus and whereas during Rabi season all districts become water deficit. In order to enhance the agricultural production and agricultural based rural economy, alternate cropping system weresuggested. Due consideration was given to the existing water resource and farming practices prevailing in the respective district. Re-appropriation of area under various crops was suggested for two scenarios namely, ‘A’ and ‘B’, aimed for reduction in crop water requirement by 10 % and 20 %, respectively. In scenario ‘A’, it was suggested to reduce the area under transplanted paddy and ground nut by half and 40% respectively,in kharif season and substantial enhancement in the area under redgram. For rabi season the area under transplanted paddy could be reduced to half for scope to double the area under oilseed. The scenario ‘B’ however is feasible in 3 districts, suggests restricting the area under groundnut to comprehensive increase in pulse area. For rabi in scenario ‘B’, it is recommended to further reduce the area under oilseed, paddy and other crops allows more crop diversity including millets, sorghum and caster. The economic analysis suggested that the alternate scenario has the potential to significantly improve the benefit cost ratio apart from enhancement in water productivity.

Spatial analysis of rainfall variability and rainfed rice crop using GIS Technique in West Bengal (India)

The rainfed areas receive mean annual precipitation in range of 500-1500 mm with high degree of variability and are beset with problems of mid-season drought and associated impacts on the crop productivity. In this paper, analysis of weekly, monthly, annual rainfall and weekly rainfall probabilities in relation to crop productivity has been carried out for all the stations of the study area in West Bengal where rain-fed agriculture is predominant. However, duration of dry spells and its probabilities, climatic derivatives like commencement and cessation of rainy season, length of growing period (LGP) and estimates of water balance parameters have been carried out, in respect of all blocks in the identified three districts in West Bengal. The mean productivity during kharif season indicated that, highest productivity values of 3 to 3.5 t/ha are noticed in the block of central districts of Burdwan, Bankura, Birbhum, Hoogly districts. Perhaps, irrigation facilities in these districts might have helped in arriving at such high productivity rates. Low productivity of 1 to 1.5 t/ha have been noticed in two to three blocks of South 24-Paraganas and in Jalpaiguri districts. The productivity levels of northern districts, viz., Jalpaiguri, Coochbehar, West Dinajpur, South 24-Paranagas vary from 1.5 to 2.0 t/ha. The lowest productivity of 11.28 q /ha in Jaldha and 14.89 q /ha in Manbazar in 1996 can be due to heavy rainfall conditions in June and again in August. The mean productivity pattern of rice crop during kharif season in identified districts was analyzed with respect to occurrence of number of dry spells at different growth stages and average MAI values. The productivity was also related to monthly rainfall (July) and correlations have been mentioned for Jaldha block (0.22) and Manbazar block (0.64). The highest productivity of 2-3 t/ha are recorded in hot sub-humid to humid regions of West Bengal where LGP vary from 150 to 200 days. From the study of the probability of dry and wet spells and MAI during different crop phenophases, the most vulnerable phases can be identified in each region.

Impact of Exogenous Plant Growth Regulators on Physiological Traits, Tendril and Flowering in Horsegram (Macrotyloma uniflorum Lam) under Kharif Season

Background: Horsegram is an important pulse crop grown as Rabi crop in Tamil Nadu. Kharif sown crop could not flowers may be because of more number of tendrils produced as compare to Rabi sown crop. Hence, an attempt was made to reduce the number of tendrils and induce flowering in horsegram during Kharif season by plant growth regulators. Methods: A field experiment was conducted to study the impact of plant growth regulators viz., salicylic acid (100 ppm), chlormequat chloride (CCC - 250 ppm), mepiquat chloride (250 ppm), tri iodo benzoic acid (TIBA - 200 ppm) and nitrobenzene (0.2%) on physiological traits and tendril growth associated with flowering in horsegram during Kharif. Different treatments were applied through foliar application at 25 Days after sowing. Result: Among the PGRs, foliar application of TIBA registered the lowest number of tendrils (2.3) followed by CCC (3.0) compared to other treatments. Higher root length of 16.8 cm and RWC of 82.3% was found in CCC treatment. CCC also registered the highest photosynthetic rate (27.15 µmol m-2 s-1), transpiration rate (18.06 mmol m-2 s-1) and lowest leaf temperature (26°C) compared to other treatments. The highest soluble protein content of 13.1 mg g-1 was also estimated in CCC treatment followed by mepiquat chloride (12.51 mg g-1). Sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS) activity did not show any significant difference between the treatments. Number of flowers buds formed per plant was zero and hence the flowering did not take place in any treatments. Among the plant growth regulators used, TIBA and CCC registered its positive action on reduced the number of tendrils and leaf temperature, but not enough to induce flowering under Kharif season.

Evapotranspiration and heat unit requirement of cowpea

Weighing gravimetric lysimeters are used to measure actual evapotranspiration of cowpea for an experiment conducted for two years during Kharif 2004 and 2005. A multiple regression equation has been generated for relating crop coefficient of cowpea with week after sowing. The highest value of crop co-efficient was found to be 1.015 on 6th week after sowing under Bangalore climate, the average values of actual evapotranspiration from cowpea crop and heat unit requirements over a period of 89 days in the Kharif season are found to be 284.8 mm and 1293 degree days respectively.

El Nino/La Nina and IOD impact on Kharif Season Crops Over Western Agro-Climatic Zones of India

Climate modes like ENSO (El Nino Southern Oscillation) and IOD (Indian Ocean Dipole) produce an impact on the monsoon rainfall over India. Monsoon rainfall is extremely important for the agriculture of our country. The impact of these climate modes on monsoon rainfall thus in turn affects the rain-fed crops (Kharif). In this study, four Kharif season crops namely Rice (Oryzasativa), Maize (Zea mays), pulses and sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) are chosen over four arid/semi-arid agro-climatic zones of western India to study the effect of the climate modes on selected crops. The detailed analysis has been carried out to show the impact of El Nino/La Nina (phases of ENSO) and IOD years on the crop productions over the mentioned zones viz. (Central plateau & hills region; Western plateau & hills region; Gujarat hills and plains region; Western Dry region) from 1966-2011. Rice production has been largely affected during drought years associated with El-Nino. The production of Pulses shows marginal improvement during the neutral years or non-El Nino/non-La Nina. The Maize production seems to be better in La Nina years as compared to neutral years and worst in the El Nino years. El Nino years provides a minor impact on Sugarcane productions in different zones. La Nina years are well suited for sugarcane production in any zones of our study. Positive IOD years are associated with poor crop productions as compared to negative IOD years mostly in all zones due to the co-occurrence of positive IOD years with El Nino. The correlations between positive IOD and rainfall are much weaker as compared to the correlations between the El Nino and rainfall in the years of co-occurrences over the zones making El Nino much more influential than positive IOD events.