Effects of rice husk biochar and raised bed on CO2 flux and shallot (Allium cepa L.) production on peatland

This study aims to assess the effect of rice husk biochar, raised beds, and chicken manure on the CO₂ flux and shallot production on peatland. This study adopted a factorial randomized block design with three factors and three replications. The P1 treatment was recommended by the Swamp Land Agricultural Research Institute by adding chicken manure (5 ton ha⁻¹) and rice husk biochar (5 ton ha⁻¹) while the P2 treatment was recommended by the Vegetable Research Institute by adding chicken manure (10 ton ha⁻¹). The raised beds heights were 20 cm (A) and 30 cm (B). Variance analyses were applied to each observation variable and followed by Duncan's Multiple Range Test at a 5% level. The P1A treatment was the best in improving the shallot production up to 10.88 tons and producing the lowest CO₂ cumulative flux up to 0.158 ton ha^-1 season^-1.

Growth and Yield Responses of Red Onions to Different Nutrient Availability in Fertigation System

Nutrient availability affected plant growth and yield. This study aimed to examine the effect of interval application and fertigation frequency toward plant growth and yield, and further determined the most proper fertigation interval and frequency that support the highest plant growth and yield. Experiment was arranged in Split plot randomized Completely Block Design. The main plots were interval of nutrient application, i.e., 3 days interval, 6 days interval, 9 days interval. The sub plots were the frequency of nutrient application, i.e., once/day, 2 times/day, 3 times/day. The plot size for each treatment was 2.5 m×1.3 m and plant spacing was 15 cm×20 cm. Space between beds was 1 m. Red onions (Bima variety) were planting in a raised bed covered with silver black polythene mulch. Before planting, 5 ton/ha manure and 1 ton/ha lime were mix with the soil. Fipronil 1.5% was applied with dose 8 kg/ha to control grubs. Nutrient was mixture between liquid organic fertilizer (7.5 mL/L), rabbit urin (5mL/L) and AB Mix (7.5 mL/L A+7.5 mL B). The nutrient was dispensed 150 mL/plant according to treatment using fertigation system operated remotely using Internet of Things. The nutrient was given from 14 DAP (Days After Planting) until 68 DAP. Irrigation water was dispensed 150 mL daily in the same way. The interval of fertigation significantly affected the growth of red onion (plant height, number of leaves and number of yield). Three days interval of nutrient supply resulted in the tallest plant, highest number of plant leaves, and highest number of bulbs. However, the frequency of nutrient supply daily significantly affected the yield of red onion. The application of nutrient three times/day provided the highest yield (economical dry weight). Further research to examine the effect of fertigation of red onion quality is required.

Combined Application of Compost, Zeolite and a Raised Bed Planting Method Alleviate Salinity Stress and Improve Cereal Crop Productivity in Arid Regions

Soil salinity and climate change have a negative impact on global food production and security, especially in arid regions with limited water resources. Despite the importance of planting methods, irrigation, and soil amendments in improving crop yield, their combined impact on saline soil properties and cereal crop yield is unknown. Therefore, the current study investigated the combined effect of soil amendments (i.e., compost, C and zeolite, Z) and planting methods such as raised bed (M1) and conventional (M2), and different fractions of leaching requirements from irrigation water, such as 5% (L1) and 10% (L2), on the soil physio-chemical properties and wheat and maize productivity in an arid region. The combined application of C + Z, L2, and M1 decreased soil salinity (EC) and sodicity (ESP) after wheat production by 37.4 and 28.0%, respectively, and significantly decreased by these factors by 41.0 and 43.0% after a maize growing season. Accordingly, wheat and maize yield increased by 16.0% and 35.0%, respectively under such a combination of treatments, when compared to crops grown on unamended soil, irrigated with lower leaching fraction and planted using conventional methods. This demonstrates the significance of using a combination of organic and inorganic amendments, appropriate leaching requirements and the raised bed planting method as an environmentally friendly approach to reclaiming saline soils and improving cereal crop production, which is required for global food security.

Conservation Agriculture Based Integrated Crop Management Sustains the Maize–Wheat Rotation of North-Western India: Five Years’ Impacts on Crops and Water Productivity, Economic Profitability, Sustainable Yield Index and Soil Properties

We have evaluated eight different integrated crop management (ICM) modules for five years in a maize-wheat rotation (MWR); wherein, ICM1&2- ˈbusiness-as-usualˈ (conventional flatbed maize and wheat, ICM3&4- conventional raised bed (CTRB) maize and wheat without residues, ICM5&6- conservation agriculture (CA)-based zero till (ZT) flatbed maize and wheat with the residues, and ICM7&8- CA-based ZT raised bed maize and wheat with the residues. Results indicated that the ICM7&8 produced significantly (p<0.05) the highest maize grain yield (5 years av.) which was 7.8-21.3% greater than the ICM1-6. However, across years, the ICM5-8 gave statistically similar wheat grain yield, and was 8.4-11.5% greater than the ICM1-4. Similarly, the CA-based residue retained ICM5-8 modules had given 9.5-14.3% (5 years av.) greater system yields in terms of maize grain equivalents (MGEY) over the residue removed CT-based ICM1&4. System water productivity (SWP) was the highest with ICM5-8, being 10.3-17.8% higher than the ICM1-4. Nevertheless, the highest water use (TWU) was recorded in the CT flatbed (ICM1&2), ~7% more than the raised bed and ZT planted crops with or without the residues (ICM4-8). Furthermore, the ICM1-4 had produced 9.54% greater variable production costs compared to the ICM5-8, whereas, the ICM5-8 gave 24.3-27.4% additional returns than the ICM1-4. Also, different ICM modules caused significant (p<0.05) impacts on the soil properties, such as, organic carbon (SOC), microbial biomass carbon (SMBC), dehydrogenase (SDH), alkaline phosphatase (SAP) and urease (URE) activities. In 0.0-0.15 m soil profile, residue retained CA-based (ICM5-8) modules registered a 7.1-14.3% greater SOC and 10.2-17.3% SMBC than the ICM1-4. The sustainable yield index (SYI) of MWR was 13.4-18.6% greater under the ICM7&8 compared to the ICM1-4. Hence, this study conclude that the adoption of the CA-based residue retained ICMs in the MWR could sustain the crop yields, enhance farm profits, save water and improve soil properties of the north-western plan zones of India.

Innovative Land Arrangement in Combination with Irrigation Methods Improves the Crop and Water Productivity of Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Grown with Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) under Raised and Sunken Bed Systems

The underground water and water storage reservoirs are rapidly depleting due to nominal recharging by the rainfalls making water a scarce resource for irrigation resulting in poor crop growth and production. Irrigation water application should focus on the proficient use of each drop of water. Water productivity (WP) in agriculture can be improved through crop diversification, proper land and water management techniques. Considering this, a field investigation was carried out during 2013–2014 and 2014–2015 to study the crop response of rice (Oryza sativa L.) + okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) system to land configurations and irrigation regimes. Three raised-sunken beds (RSB) having width (m) ratios of 1:3, 2:3, 3:3 and two irrigation schedules viz. continuous standing water (CSW) of 5 ± 2 cm depth and alternate wetting and drying (AWD) at 3 ± 1 days interval for rice in sunken bed were tested. Rice yield was more (4.36 and 4.89 Mg ha−1) under CSW irrigation than AWD irrespective of raised bed width. The highest okra yield was noted by 14.09 and 15.43 Mg ha−1 with AWD in 1:3 RSB systems, whereas the lowest yield was recorded in CSW 1:3 RSB systems. Rice equivalent yield (REY) was found as the maximum in AWD than CSW irrespective of raised and sunken bed configurations. The AWD in 3:3 RSB systems exhibited the highest WP of 1.02 and 1.01 kg m−3 during the first and second year of study, respectively. Wider RSB system of land configuration ratio of 3:3 saved about 40–45% of irrigation water. Such information will help in the planning of an innovative intercropping system of summer rice + okra in the field by changing the land configuration to the raised bed and sunken bed with the AWD irrigation system.

​Effect of Planting Methods, Plastic Mulches, Training Systems, Soil Temperature and Soil Moisture on Tomato Yield

Background: Tomato is an important vegetable crop of Himachal Pradesh grown during summer and rainy seasons. Although the produce of the tomato fetches lucrative rates in the plains of Northern India, yet, the production is threatened by plethora of factors viz., diseases, insect-pests and weeds which ultimately affects yield and quality of fruits. The planting methods, mulches and training systems played enormous role in maintaining the soil temperature and moisture. Methods: The present investigation was carried out to study the performance of tomato (var. Solan Lalima) crop under open field conditions with two different planting methods, three types of mulch treatments and two types of training systems. This experiment was conducted at Vegetable Research Farm of DR YSP, UHF, Nauni, Solan during the period from March to September, 2017-18 and similarly for the period from March to September, 2018-19. Result: The maximum soil temperature was recorded under blackmulch followed by silver/black polythene mulch and control during the standard meteorological week (March to September, 2017-18 and 2019). Soil moisture was found to be maximum those treatments where silver or black mulch was used as compared to black mulch plot under the open field conditions. The maximum fruit yield (140.71 kg/plot) was obtained under the raised bed planting system, black mulch and two stem training system and the corresponding value being 136.16 kg/plot for raised bed planting method, silver/black mulch and two stem training system.

Effect of raised bed, mulching and fertigation on productivity and quality of guava (Psidium guajava L.) under high density planting system

Aim: Increasing the input use efficiency by planting of guava on raised bed, mulched with black polythene sheet along with fertilizer application through drip and foliar spray of micro-nutrients (zinc and boron). Methodology: Experiment was carried out during 2015-2019 for mrig bahar crop in Lalit guava planted at 3 × 3 m spacing in ICAR-CISH, Lucknow with 5 different treatments (T1 = Raised bed +drip irrigation @ 80% PE + fertigation @ 75% RDF + mulching with 100µ black polythene + micro-nutrient spray in July and August @ 0.2% each of zinc sulphate and boric acid, T2 = Raised bed + drip irrigation + fertigation + mulching, T3 = Raised bed + drip irrigation + fertigation + micronutrient sprays, T4 = Raised bed + drip irrigation +micro-nutrient sprays + soil application of RDF @ 50:25:50 g N:P:K, T5 / control = Flat bed + soil application of RDF + basin irrigation). Results: Canopy volume, trunk-cross sectional area and yield were significantly increased in T1, which could be attributed to better microclimate in root zone, resulting in improved growth and yield. Interpretation: The findings of this research have generated the technique of improving space, water and nutrient use efficiency under high density planting system of guava cv. Lalit in subtropical climate which will help the guava growers for sustaining quality production.

Modified plant architecture integrated with liquid fertilizers improves fruit productivity and quality of tomato in North West Himalaya, India

India produces around 19.0 million tonnes of tomatoes annually, which is insufficient to meet the ever-increasing demand. A big gap of tomato productivity (72.14 t ha–1) between India (24.66 t ha–1) and the USA (96.8 t ha–1) exist, which can be bridged by integrating trellis system of shoot training, shoot pruning, liquid fertilizers, farmyard manure, and mulching technologies. Therefore, the present experiment was conducted on tomato (cv. Himsona) during 2019–2020 at farmers' fields to improve tomato productivity and quality. There were five treatments laid in a randomized block design (RBD) with three replications; T1 [Farmer practice on the flatbed with RDF @ N120:P60:K60 + FYM @6.0 t ha−1 without mulch], T2 [T1 + Polythene mulch (50 microns)], T3 [Tomato plants grown on the raised bed with polythene mulch + FYM @ 8.0 t ha−1 + Single shoot trellis system + Side shoot pruning + Liquid Fertilizer (LF1—N19:P19:K19) @ 2.0 g l–1 for vegetative growth + Liquid Fertilizer (LF2—N0: P52: K34) @ 1.5 g l–1 for improving fruit quality], T4 [Tomato plants grown on the raised bed with polythene mulch + FYM @ 8.0 t ha−1 + Single shoot trellis system + Side shoot pruning + LF1 @ 4.0 g l–1 + LF2 @ 3.0 g l–1], and T5 [Tomato plants grown on the raised bed with polythene mulch + FYM @ 10.0 t ha−1 + Single shoot trellis system + Side shoot pruning + LF1 @ 6.0 g l–1 + LF2 @ 4.5 g l–1]. The results revealed that tomato plant grown on the raised beds with polythene mulch, shoot pruning, trellising, liquid fertilizers, and farmyard manure (i.e., T5) recorded higher shoot length, dry matter content, and tomato productivity by 20.75–141.21, 18.79–169.4, and 18.89–160.87% as compared to T4–T1 treatments, respectively. The T5 treatment also recorded the highest water productivity (28.39 kg m–3), improved fruit qualities, net return (10,751 USD ha–1), benefit–cost ratio (3.08), microbial population, and enzymatic activities as compared to other treatments. The ranking and hierarchical clustering of treatments confirmed the superiority of the T5 treatment over all other treatments.