Evaluation of Integrated Seed Treatment on Seed Yield and Quality in Blackgram (Vigna mungo L.)

Background: In India pulses production and productivity is low and inadequate to meet the demand of nation. The alternate option to increase the pulse production is through seed amelioration by combining the seed hardening, coating and pelleting techniques. The current study was aimed to evaluate integrated seed treatment on seed yield and quality in blackgram. Methods: The seeds were first preconditioned by keeping them in between two layers of moist gunny bag for one hour. Then, the preconditioned seeds were soaked for three hours in 100 ppm ZnSO4 solution at 1/3 volume of seeds and shade dried to their original moisture content (hardened seed). Then the hardened seeds were supplemented with Polymer 3ml/kg + Carbendazim 2g/kg + Imidacloprid 1ml/kg for integrated seed treatment and field experiments were carried out along with untreated seed. Result: Among the seed treatments, integrated seed treatment recorded higher pod set per cent (84.00), number of pods / plant (52.00 pod yield / plant (27.60 g), pod yield / ha (752 kg), number of seeds / pod (6.00), seed yield / plant (17.6 g) and seed yield /ha (590 kg) which were respectively 3.70, 8.33, 4.15, 3.01, 20.00, 4.14 and 1.89 per cent higher than mere hardened and untreated control seeds thus suggesting that integrated seed treatment can be recommended for improving the productivity of blackgram.

Constraints and Suggestions Perceived by the Pulse Farmers of Nayagarh District of Odisha

Aims: To study the constraints faced by pulse farmers in adopting improved pulse production practices and their suggestions to overcome the constraints. Study Design: Ex post facto survey research design with proportionate random sampling techniques. Place and Duration of the Study: Nayagarh district of Odisha during 2019-2020. Methodology: A total of 256 respondents covering 8 villages from 4 blocks of Nayagarh district were selected as sample respondents. The data were collected by personal interview using a well structured questionnaire. The data were tabulated and analyzed by using Garrett’s ranking technique for the study of constraints and suggestions. Results: The findings of the study indicate that major constraints for adopting pulse production technologies were improper knowledge about recommended doses of pesticides and fertilizers (59.57 percent), lack of knowledge about improved agricultural technologies time to time (59.2 percent), lack of technology and training to create local storage structures (66.55 percent) and inadequate training of farmers (55.49 percent). Major suggestions of pulse farmers to overcome these constraints were improved varieties should be provided (68.04 percent), more number of FLDs should be given in village to enable other farmers to take advantage (66.85 percent) and training be imparted to implement new technologies (66.85 percent). Conclusion: Research on modification of agronomic practices and their different components for excelling production under changing climatic scenario need to be strengthened with more training for the farmers to enrich their knowledge and skill about pulse production.

Impact of Climate Change on Pulse Production and it’s Mitigation Strategies

Climate change has emerged as one of the major environmental issue due to it’s subsequent effect on food production and food security. The changing climate over the years posing a major impact on rainfed crops including pulses. India, the largest producer of Pulses over the world with 25% share in global pulse production are largely dependent on pulses that grows in rainfed areas. As a result, climate change are predicted to be more pronounced in these crops. Increasing concentration of greenhouse gases like CO2 act as catalyst on enhancing global temperature which in term affecting heat-sensitive Pulse crops. Such a scenario emanating from the climate change presents a veritable challenge to the food and feed economy [1]. Pulses are one of the most important food crops which serve as main source of vegetable protein in human diet. In the recent scenario, we are observing a declining growth rate in pulse production. Inadequate and erratic rainfall, abrupt rise in temperature, untimely drought are posing threat to pulse production. Shift in monsoon causes delayed sowing of kharif crops as it’s consequence sowing of pulse crops in rabi season also get delayed. Delayed sown crops face terminal heat during it’s phenological growth which reduces it’s potential yield, on the other hand untimely rainfall in it’s reproductive growth period during the month of Feb-Mar reduces the yield drastically [2]. Other problems like salinity, waterlogging also act as menace in pulse cultivation. Last but not the least, changing climate often facilitates pest-disease infestation, weed emergence which can cause a huge reduction in crop yield. To meet these emerging challenges of climate change, there is an urgent need of developing proper mitigation strategies combining with Agronomic and breeding approaches. Intervention of Government policy and crop insurance scheme along with proper alleviation strategies will definitely contribute in stabilization of yield of pulse crops in near future.

Status and Strategies for Development of Pulses in Bundelkhand Region of India: A Review

Bundelkhand region of India is primarily agrarian, vulnerable to natural calamities with low levels of industrialization and urbanization. Poor crop productivity, declining and irregular rainfall pattern and poor income levels make livelihood uncertain in the region. Pulse crops assume a special significance to the farm economy in Bundelkhand region as well as daily diets of local habitants. Chickpea, lentil, field pea, urdbean, mungbean and pigeon pea are the major pulse crops cultivated in the region. Data from Department of economics and statistics, Department of Agriculture and Cooperation and Farmers Welfare, New Delhi and the studies on pulses development of Bundelkhand region of India were analyzed. Pulses account for 32% of total agriculture produce and occupy about 33.6% of gross cropped area in the region. However, decline in area coverage of pulses has been observed in the region, in contrast to overall increase in gross cropped area in the region. The paper discusses about the various challenges confronting pulses cultivation in the region along with the possible intervention points for bringing out an enhanced pulse production.

Millet and Pulses Based Intercropping: A Review

World’s population is growing exponentially and agriculture has to fulfil their food requirements. An important strategy for increasing productivity and labour utilization per unit area of available land is to intensify land use. Intercropping is advanced agro technique of cultivating two or more crops in the same space at the same time. It increases in productivity per unit of land via better utilisation of resources, minimises the risks, reduces weed competition and stabilizes the yield. Millets are ancient nutri-cereals which play an important role in food and nutritional security of the country. They are commonly grown as sole crop world-wide. Pulse production can be increased by growing pulses on favourable lands that are occupied by cereals and cash crops by way of intercropping. The combination of cereal and legume in intercropping is mostly preferred by the farmers in subsistence farming targeting livelihood security. In this study, the works carried out by various researches in millet and pulse based intercropping are discussed. This review would be useful to the researchers who are involved in this field.

Pulse Production, Consumption and Utilization in Nigeria within Regional and Global Context

Malnutrition, hunger, and poverty are still major challenges globally especially in Sub-Saharan Africa affecting most countries like Nigeria. Legumes play key roles in food and nutritional security, health, and income generation. This review highlights status of pulse production and consumption in Nigeria and need for improvement. The study involved in-depth desk review. Data sources include FAO Statistics and other publication sources. Cowpea is Nigeria’s major pulse accounting for 95.45% area and 97.55% of the pulse production in 2016-18. Nigeria is the leading global cowpea producer with 39% production in 2016-18. However, the cowpea area has been declining, with 30% loss at 1.71% yearly between 2006-08 and 2016-18. The production appreciated by 40% viewed from 1996-98 due to increase in yield; but, overall, Nigeria’s cowpea production is marked with fluctuations/stagnation. It, thus, imports to meet domestic demand. In contrast, cowpea area, yield and production received steady and remarkable positive growth in places like Niger (73% at 2.8%, 213% at 5.9%, and 428% at 8.7% annually, respectively). Per capita availability of pulses in Nigeria is over 10 times less than cereals’ and roots/tubers’; hence, pulses contribute poorly to daily calorie and protein intakes. They are mainly utilized as cooked bean and steamed/fried pastes. Low pulse consumption is seriously contributing to nutritional problems in developing countries like Nigeria. Diverse utilization, optimizing nutritional quality of the traditional dishes, and improving safety and acceptability of especially those sold as street food can enhance their consumption, production and contribution to nutritional security.

Dynamics of Pulse Scenario in Bundelkhand Region of Uttar Pradesh: A Temporal Analysis

The paper examines the temporal changes in the area, production and productivity of major pulse crops in Bundelkhand region of UP during last two decades (2000-2020). Published data on area, production and productivity was utilized for the purpose. Study period was divided into period-I (2000-10) and period II (2010-20) and overall period III (2000-2020). Consistent decline in overall pulse area (-0.64%) and production (-0.36%) was observed, however, the overall pulse productivity registered marginal upward trend (0.06%) during the analysis period (2000-20). Chickpea (-5.03% and -0.64 %) and lentil (-0.51% and – 4.37%) crops registered highest decline in overall area and production respectively. Urdbean registered highest decline (-6.52%) in productivity during the said period. In contrast, mungbean crop followed by urdbean recorded highest growth in area (3.48%, 3.02%), and production (3.61%, 2.71%), while field pea registered highest growth in productivity (1.96%). Instability of pulse production over the study period was high (30.31%), however the instability in pulse area was low (11.7%). Analysis of inter district variation in pulse performance reflected decline in area and production of pulses in all districts except in Lalitpur. Inter district variations helped in identifying the potential districts in the Bundelkhand region of UP state.