EXTENSION ACTIVITIES PROVIDED TO RICE FARMERS IN RAISING THE AWARENESS FOR COMPOST MANUFACTURE IN AL-DIWANIYAH PROVINCE

This study was aimed to determine extension activities provided to rice farmers in raising the awareness for compost manufacture in Al-Diwaniyah province and investigate the level of awareness of rice farmers in the field of compost manufacturing, as well as the problems facing farmers when manufacturing compost, mythology a questionnaire design to collect data from rice farmers during 2018 . The research society consisted of the agricultural departments of the directorate of Agriculture in Al Diwaniyah province. A random sample was taken from rice farmers related to the agricultural departments in the Directorate of Agriculture with their (632) farmers, The results of this study inculcated that the level of awareness for the farmers in the manufacture of compost, The average tends to weak in their awareness, The role of the agricultural extension has also just through extension seminars, which is considered one of the most extension activities were used to rice farmers of compost manufacturing, In addition, there is an absence of workers in the field of composting of rice residues, It could be to pay adequate attention to the rice crop as a strategic crop through the utilization of its waste and the elimination of environmental pollution that occurs as a result of burning those waste.

MINIMUM TILLAGE NON-PUDDLED TRANSPLANTED RICE (ORYZA SATIVA L.): WEED CONTROL AND ECONOMICS UNDER CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE PRACTICE IN BANGLADESH

Crisis of agricultural laborers in South Asia’s rural zones is pushing to pursue a labor-saving conservation agriculture strategy for crop production and weed control. Non-puddled transplanting and mulching residues of the previous crop are being developed for rice-based cropping systems in Bangladesh to address this issue. Hence, the present study was undertaken to determine the effectiveness of strip tillage vs. conventional tillage combined with previous rice residues relative to herbicides and hand weeding on weed control and grain yield of winter rice during January-May in 2015 and 2016. Rice cv. BRRI dhan28 was transplanted with a combination of six treatments: puddled conventional tillage (CT)+3 hand weeding (HW) (Control); Preplant (PRE) herbicide (glyphosate)+non-puddled strip tillage (ST)+1HW; PRE+ST+pre-emergence (PE) herbicide (pendimethalin); PRE+ST+post-emergence (PO) herbicide (ethoxysulfuron-ethyl); PRE+ST+PE+PO; PRE+ST+weed-free (WF); and two levels of rice residues: no-residue (R0) vs. 50% standing residue (R50). The CT had done using a two-wheel tractor (2WT) by four ploughings and cross ploughings followed by levelling. A Versatile Multi-Crop Planter (VMP) was used for ST in a single pass operation. Over the two years, PRE+ST+PE+PO reduced weed density by 40% in the first year and 50% in the second year and weed biomass by 70% than CT+3HW in both years. Retention of 50% residue reduced weed density by 20% and biomass by 34%. The highest grain yield (12% higher than CT+3HW without residue) was obtained from PRE+ST+WF with 50% residue, while the highest BCR (47% higher over CT+3HW without residue) was obtained from PRE+ST+PE+PO with 50% residue.

Exploring rice residue management practices focusing environmental pollution and soil health in six major rice growing upazilas of Mymensingh district in Bangladesh

The study was conducted in the six major rice growing upazilas under the district of Mymensingh of Bangladesh during the period from January to December 2018. The purpose of the study was to find out the present status of rice residue management practices focusing on the environmental pollution and soil health. The data were collected from randomly selected 300 respondents with the help of pre-designed respective questionnaire to serve the objectives of the study. The results indicated that most of the respondents were illiterate and they have lack of knowledge on environmental pollution and soil health. About 54.33% of the respondents (163) managed their rice residues by incorporation, about 2.3% of respondent (7) open burning and 43.33% of the respondents (130) collected for other use as cattle feeding, cooking fuel, animal bedding, roofs of house making etc. There was a good sign for the environment as a few number of respondents used their rice residues as burning. About 33.66% of the respondents (95) reported that burning is harmful for environment, create breathing problems, 48.33% of the respondents (145) have no idea about this and 9.33% of the respondents (28) said burning produce toxic gas. About 47.66% of the respondents (143) had given opinion to increase soil fertility, 15% of the respondents (45) said increases soil productivity, 13.3% of the respondents (41) said reduce chemical fertilizer using and 9% of the respondents (27) said decrease soil erosion. Some of the respondents said that, rice residue incorporation in soil saves money (5.66%), easy to apply (18.66%), eco-friendly (3.66) and have no idea about it (72%). About 55% respondents were satisfied in existing residues management system whereas 45% have given negative responses. Management of rice residues have faced the problem as lack of available labors (48%), costly (9%), lack of storing place (25.66%), lack of modern technology (12.66%). Most (70.66%) of the respondents (212) were collected information of residue management and environment pollution by the television and radio programmes. Finally, it can be said that, with the highest production of rice in our country, a huge number of residues are also produced. Rice residues may cause environmental pollutions and soil health degradation. Proper management is needed to overcome this environmental pollution as well as soil health degradation through enhancing suitable and environment friendly residue management practices. Progressive Agriculture 31 (3): 178-189, 2020

Agricultural Innovation and Sustainable Development: A Case Study of Rice–Wheat Cropping Systems in South Asia

The rice–wheat cropping system is the main food bowl in Asia, feeding billions across the globe. However, the productivity and long-term sustainability of this system are threatened by stagnant crop yields and greenhouse gas emissions from flooded rice production. The negative environmental consequences of excessive nitrogen fertilizer use are further exacerbating the situation, along with the high labor and water requirements of transplanted rice. Residue burning in rice has also severe environmental concerns. Under these circumstances, many farmers in South Asia have shifted from transplanted rice to direct-seeded rice and reported water and labor savings and reduced methane emissions. There is a need for opting the precision agriculture techniques for the sustainable management of nutrients. Allelopathic crops could be useful in the rotation for weed management, the major yield-reducing factor in direct-seeded rice. Legume incorporation might be a viable option for improving soil health. As governments in South Asia have imposed a strict ban on the burning of rice residues, the use of rice-specific harvesters might be a pragmatic option to manage rice residues with yield and premium advantage. However, the soil/climatic conditions and farmer socio-economic conditions must be considered while promoting these technologies in rice-wheat system in South Asia.

Soil Quality Dynamic and Rice Production of Three Different Rice Farming Systems in Sragen District, Central Java Province

<p class="teksabst"><strong>Abstract.</strong><em> </em>The farmers realize that green revolution technology with high inputs is no longer sustainable, expensive and the yield decrease. Some farmers move to organic rice farming, semi organic, and the rest remain doing conventional rice farming. The research aim was to monitor soil quality dynamic and rice productions under three rice farming systems. This study was conducted in Vertisols at Sambung Macan Sub District, Sragen Regency. The treatments were arranged in randomized complete block design with three replications. The treatments was organic, semi organic and conventional rice farming systems. The results indicated that in organic field, the soil quality in 2019 was more superior than in semi organic and conventional in 2018 and 2017 and soil qualities of semi organic system was better than conventional in terms of soil chemical, physical and biological including soil pH, organic C and total N, P and K total, soil bulk density, particle density, soil porosity and permeability. Similar finding was observed for rice biomass productions in 2019. In 2019 the rice grains yields were 12.68<strong>,</strong> 7.43 and 7.0, rice straw were 7.25, 6.55 and 6.25 and forrice residues were 4.15, 3.20 and 3.15 tons ha^-1season^{-1 in organic, semi organic and conventional systems, respectively. Compared to the conventional system, the organic increased about}81%, 16% and 32% for rice grains, rice straw and rice residues, respectively. Compared to conventional, semi organic improved about 6%, 5% and 2% for rice grains, rice straw and rice residues, respectively.<strong></strong></p><strong>Abstrak. </strong>Petani menyadari bahwa green revolution technology tidak lumintu, biaya produksi mahal dan hasil panen menurun. Sebagian petani beralih ke budidaya padi organik, semi organik dan sebagian bertahan pada sistem konvensional dengan perbaikan. Penelitian bertujuan untuk mengetahui perkembangan kualitas tanah dan hasil brangkasan padi pada sistem padi organik, semi organik dan konvensional. Penelitian dilaksanakan pada tahun 2017, 2018 dan 2019 pada tiga sistem budidaya padi di Kecamatan Sambung Macan, Sragen. Penelitian menggunakan rancangan acak kelompok, dengan tiga ulangan dan sebagai perlakuan tiga budidaya padi. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa kualitas tanah pada budidaya organik pada tahun 2019 lebih unggul dibandingkan semi organik dan konvensional pada tahun 2018 dan 2017. Begitu juga kualitas tanah pada semi organik pada 2019 lebih baik dibandingkan budidaya konvensional. Hasil brangkasan padi pada budidaya organik tahun 2019 lebih tinggi dibandingkan dengan tahun 2018 dan 2017 baik pada budidaya padi semi organik maupun konvensional. Hasil gabah, jerami dan sisa panen dari ketiga sistem budidaya padi pada tahun 2019 masing masing sebesar 12,68; 7,43 dan 7,0; jerami 7,25; 6,55 dan 6,25 dan sisa panen 4,15; 3,20 dan 3,15 ton ha^-1 musim^-1 untuk budidaya padi organik, semi organik dan konvensional. Dibandingkan dengan konvensional sistem, budidaya organik meningkat sekitar 81%, 16% and 32% untuk gabah, jerami dan sisa panen. Dibandingkan dengan konvensional, budidaya semi organik meningkat 6%, 5% and 2% untuk gabah, jerami dan sisa panen.

EXTENSION ACTIVITIES PROVIDED TO RICE FARMERS IN RAISING THE AWARENESS FOR COMPOST MANUFACTURE IN AL-DIWANIYAH PROVINCE

This study was aimed to determine extension activities provided to rice farmers in raising the awareness for compost manufacture in Al-Diwaniyah province and investigate the level of awareness of rice farmers in the field of compost manufacturing , as well as the problems facing farmers when manufacturing compost, mythology a questionnaire design to collect data from rice farmers during the 2018 . The research society consisted of the agricultural departments of the directorate of Agriculture in Al Diwaniyah province. A random sample was taken from rice farmers related to the agricultural departments in the Directorate of Agriculture with their (632) farmers, The results of this study inculcated that the level of awareness for the farmers in the manufacture of compost, The average tends to weak in their awareness, The role of the agricultural extension has also just through extension seminars, which is considered one of the most extension activities were used to rice farmers of compost manufacturing, In addition, there is an absence of workers in the field of composting of rice residues,It could be to pay adequate attention to the rice crop as a strategic crop through the utilization of its waste and the elimination of environmental pollution that occurs as a result of burning those waste.