ADOPTION OF DIRECT SEEDED RICE (DSR) OVER PUDDLED-TRANSPLANTED RICE (TPR) FOR RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND INCREASING WHEAT YIELD

Global rice production has revealed signs that it may no longer be stable in the future. Along with the increasing population, the resources for rice production are declining. Moreover, water needs labor force for transplanting rice has become insufficient because laborers are shifting from agriculture to industry, public works, and overseas job. In view of this, the Direct-seeded rice has been put forward as an appropriate substitute to traditional puddled-transplanted rice with efficiency to save water, reduced labor requirement, mitigation of green-house gas emission, and adaptability to climatic risks. It has potentiality to increase the productivity of the subsequent non-rice crop i.e. wheat particularly in Rice-Wheat cropping system, the dominant cropping system in South Asia. However, the DSR suffers from several constraints, particularly high weed infestation. The system has been proved farmers-friendly but requires more enhancements in technological approach to realize higher benefits. In recent years, strategies have been made in promoting the DSR technology by different organizations. Scientists are working in developing suitable varieties and agronomic packages for encouraging the DSR. This review describes the resource and environmental constraints of traditional puddled-transplanted rice cultivation, analyzes the advantages and constraints of DSR, and solutions to problems of DSR in Nepal.

An Efficient Agrobacterium Mediated Transformation of Pineapple with GFP-Tagged Protein Allows Easy, Non-Destructive Screening of Transgenic Pineapple Plants

Quite a few studies have been conducted to improve the Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of pineapple, which is the second most important commercial tropical fruit crop worldwide. However, pineapple transformation remains challenging, due to technical difficulties, the lengthy regeneration process, and a high labor requirement. There have not been any studies specifically addressing the introduction of GFP-tagged genes into pineapples through Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, which would enable easy, non-destructive expression detection. It would also allow expression localization at the organelle level, which is not possible with GUS a reporter gene that encodes β-glucuronidase or a herbicide resistance reporter gene. Here, we report a method for the introduction of GFP-tagged genes into pineapples through Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. We used embryonic calli for transformation, and plants were regenerated through somatic embryogenesis. In this study, we optimized the incubation time for Agrobacterium infection, the co-cultivation time, the hygromycin concentration for selection, and the callus growth conditions after selection. Our strategy reduced the time required to obtain transgenic plants from 7.6 months to 6.1 months. The expression of GFP-tagged AcWRKY28 was observed in the nuclei of transgenic pineapple root cells. This method allows easy, non-destructive expression detection of transgenic constructs at the organelle level. These findings on pineapple transformation will help accelerate pineapple molecular breeding efforts to introduce new desirable traits.

Assessment of paddy harvesting practices of Southern Delta Region in Bangladesh

Paddy in Bangladesh is an important cereal crop for national food security. Harvesting is the process of collecting mature paddy from the field. Timely harvesting operation is known as crucial and influential processes on quantity, quality and production cost of paddy. The aim of the study was to assess the manual and mechanical harvesting systems of paddy in southern delta region of Bangladesh in terms of labor cost, infield harvesting losses, and time required for harvesting. Several experiments were conducted to compare mechanical and manual harvesting systems. Mechanical harvesting of Aman paddy (November-December 2016) and Boro paddy (April-May 2017) was conducted using two models of reaper and a mini-combine harvester at Dumuria and Wazirpur Upazilas of Khulna and Barisal districts, respectively. An experiment was also conducted at the same locations to determine labor requirement and time for harvesting paddy manually. To determine manual harvesting loss, an experiment was conducted at BAU farm, Mymensingh. Total cost savings in paddy harvesting were found 52% and 37% for mini-combine harvester and reaper, respectively over manual harvesting system. Similarly, labor savings using mini-combine harvester and reaper were found 65% and 52%, respectively over manual harvesting system. The total harvesting losses (including harvesting, threshing and cleaning) were also found 1.24%, 4.22% and 6.36% for using mini-combine, reaper and manual harvesting systems, respectively. The results indicated that manual harvesting is a slow and cost involving system. On the other hand, lack of awareness among farmers about the benefits of mechanical harvesting system and lack of skill manpower for operating and servicing harvesters are major barriers for adopting mechanized harvesting system in southern delta region. This study revealed that mechanical harvesting of paddy using either reaper or mini-combine harvester will assist to strengthen food security in southern delta of Bangladesh. Progressive Agriculture, Vol. 30, Suppl. 1: 57-64, 2019

Performance of Permanent Vegetable Production Systems Designed with the PermVeg Model for the Red River Delta, Vietnam

The aim of the research described was to design permanent vegetable production systems for the Red River Delta in Vietnam. Permanent vegetable production systems better meet the increasing consumer demand for vegetables and may increase farmers’ income. Optimum crop sequences for permanent vegetable production in the Red River Delta were designed with the recently developed model PermVeg. The crop sequences designed were tested in a field experiment from May 2007 to May 2009. The production systems tested were five systems designed according to the scenarios of (i) high profitability, (ii) low labor requirement, (iii) low costs of pesticide use, (iv) high level of crop biodiversity, and (v) low perishable products, respectively. The five systems were compared with the traditional vegetable production system. At local prices, only the high profitability and low labor requirement systems yielded significantly higher profits than the traditional system. At city wholesale market prices, profits of all permanent vegetable production systems were significantly higher than that of the traditional system, except for the low perishability system. Permanent vegetable production systems required more labor than the traditional system. Labor-day incomes of permanent vegetable production systems generally were not higher than those of the traditional system. The labor-day income increased only with the low labor requirement system at city wholesale market prices. The model outcomes correlated reasonably well with the labor requirement and the length in days of production systems in the field. The model poorly predicted profits and costs of pesticide use. We concluded that permanent vegetable production systems can yield higher profits than the traditional system, and can contribute to enhancing employment opportunities and increasing household income.

Effect of Lopping on Lodging, Productivity and Labor Utilization for Rice Cultivation at Transplanting Aman Season

To study the effect of lopping on lodging, productivity and labor utilization for rice cultivation an experiment was conducted at BRRI Farm, Gazipur during Transplanting Aman in a randomized complete block design (Factorial) with three replications. The experimental treatments were: three lopping Viz. i) Control i.e., no lopping ii) lopping at 30 DAT and iii) lopping at 45 DAT; and two cultivars viz. i) BR 22 and ii) BRRI dhan32. Interaction effect of lopping and variety was not significant. The tallest plant (123 cm) was found in ‘no lopping’ treatment followed by lopping at 30 and 45 DAT. A similar trend was observed in lodging (%) and labor requirement for harvesting of rice. Lopping at 45 DAT produced the highest number of filled grain panicle-1 (117), grain yield (5.9tha-1) and straw yield (6.5tha-1) followed by lopping at 30 DAT and no lopping (control). However, there was no significant effect of lopping on labor requirements for threshing of rice. Therefore, effect of lopping on the yield and yield contributing characters of rice showed that lopping had positive effect on yield and decreasing lodging tendency of the studied variety. It was found that lopping at 45 DAT and 30 DAT could increase the rice yield. BR22 and BRRI dhan32 had statistically similar effect on lodging tendency.

Reproductive performance of fixed-time artificial insemination in swine and factors for the technology success

ABSTRACT: Fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI) is a reproductive technology that aids in obtaining an appropriate time to perform single artificial insemination (AI), thus reducing the number of inseminations per sow bred. FTAI protocols can either be based on estrus detection or day of weaning, aiming to synchronize ovulation using ovulation inducers. The protocols involving estrus detection usually employ porcine luteinizing hormone (pLH) as an inducer and, in general, satisfactory reproductive performance is observed. For protocols based on weaning day, the main hormone used is analog of gonadotropin-releasing hormone such as triptorelin and buserelin. Regardless of the protocol, the number of piglets born is usually not affected by FTAI. However, a possible compromise in the farrowing rate should be considered. The FTAI in gilts requires progestogen treatment for estrus synchronization, increasing the labor requirement and cost of protocol. Some of the benefits of FTAI are a reduced number of semen doses required, advantage of planning the breeding time and; consequently, optimizing labor involved. However, the limitations include a slight reduction in the fertility index due to the compromised farrowing rate in some cases, costs incurred by following the protocol, and difficulty in measuring all the conceptual benefits under commercial conditions. The aim of this review is to approach the reproductive performance of the current protocols of FTAI, considering the benefits and limitations of this technology in swine production.

TINJAUAN SOSIOEKONOMI PEMANFAATAN FESES SAPI DENGAN TEKNOLOGI VERMICOMPOSTING

<p>The Cibodas village is located in Pasir Jambu subdistrict at Bandung Regency, majority community livelihood edged is dairy cattle and agriculture. The problem of waste management in terms of cattle manure that could potentially produce methane (CH4) as one of the greenhouse gases (GRK), and when the cattle manure dumped into the River then it can pollute the rivers directly. The purpose of this study is to see how big the benefits of social and economic aspects of the utilization of cattle manure at the farmer scale. A series of Research include : 1) collect opinions and responses to ranchers, livestock farmers and administrators, by filling the questionnaire against the management of the cattle manure, 2) Observations of operational at the process of vermicomposting in two locations, namely in kampong Papak Manggu and kampong Injeman Cibodas village, during the activities of Demontration plot. The observed data covering 1) production process of vermicomposting (worm production and the weight of the raw materials, daily activities, results of casting, mass balance and quality of organic fertilizer) 2) Required total working hour of process of vermicomposting 3) Space and facilities requirement 4) cost and price analysis. The research show that vermicompost is suitable to be implemented in processing cattle manure, base on the following reason : a) cleaning of the environment b) minimum labor requirement c) providing additional income d) availability of organic fertilizer.</p>

Spray Hose Irrigation System Increased Yield of Polyethylene Mulched Shallot

Spray hose is a micro-irrigation system using perforated hose as for micro irrigation. Shallot conventional cultivation requires lots of water and labor man days therefore is more efficient. Shallot cultivation system needs to be developed to increase yield and to reduce production cost. This research was conducted to compare conventional cultivation methods with using Spray hose and polyethylene mulch for shallot production. This research was conducted in a hydromorphic alluvial soil type at the Center for Tropical Horticulture Studies Field Station in Kersana, Brebes, Central Java (S 6 o, 55’, 20.536”; E 108o, 51”, 50618”) from May to July 2016. The experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with a single factor and three levels of planting system, i.e. conventional ‘Surjan’ system without mulch, one line spray hose with mulch, and two lines spray hose with mulch, with five replications. The result showed that shallots production using of polyethylene mulch and two-line spray hose had higher yields than the conventional method. In addition, this system is more efficient in terms of labor requirement. Cost Revenue Analysis shows that conventional cultivation R/C ratio was 1.72, one-line spray hose R/C ratio was 1.92, while two-line spray hose was 2.26. This study demonstrated that the use of polyethylene mulch combined with two-line spray hose significantly improved shallot growth and increased bulb production, and more cost efficient.Keywords: R/C ratio, micro irrigation, labor, ‘Surjan’ system, soil drench, fertilizerConclusionIrrigation of shallot with two-line spray hose resulted in a better crop growth and a higher yield than conventional planting system and one-line spray hose for polyethylene mulched shallot. Conventional planting system using more water and labor requirement than the two other treatments. Combination of two-line spray hose and polyethylene mulch had the most eficient cost production of shalot compared to the conventional system and one-line spray hose.