Himachal Journal of Agricultural Research

Anjali Thakur ¹, R. P. Sharma ¹, N. K. Sankhyan ¹, Swapana Sepehya ¹, Rameshwar Kumar ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Soil Science, CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur - 176062, IN

Abstract

This study was undertaken in an on-going long-term fertilizer experiment, initiated during 1972-73 at Experimental Farm of Department of Soil Science, CSK HPKV Palampur to work out the relationship of soil health parameters with quality of maize in an acid Alfisol. The soil of the experimental site was silt loam and classified taxonomically as Typic Hapludalf. The experiment consisted of eleven treatments with varying levels of NPK fertilizers, and FYM & lime as amendments. Continuous application of fertilizers and amendments for forty-six years significantly influenced the yield of maize. The highest grain (46.5 q ha^-1) and stover yield of maize (77.0 q ha^-1) was recorded in the 100 per cent NPK + FYM treatment and was at par with 100 per cent NPK + lime. Continuous omission of S and K decreased the grain yield by 55 and 53 per cent, respectively, whereas regular application of N alone resulted in zero yield. Soil health parameters and grain quality traits were assessed and the relationship between soil health parameters and quality traits of maize grains was worked out. Correlation studies revealed that soil organic carbon exhibited a positive and significant relationship with non- reducing sugar (r = 0.737**). Similar positive relationship was found between porosity and non-reducing sugars (r =0.940**). There was a positive and significant relationship between dehydrogenase activity and reducing sugars (r = 0.866**). Invariably, bulk density exhibited negative and significant relationship with different quality traits of maize grains.

Keywords

Correlation, Fertilizers, FYM, Grains Quality Traits, Maize, Soil Health Parameters, Yield.

Full Text

   

Navjot Rana ¹, Rameshwar Kumar ¹, Punam ², G. D. Sharma ¹, R. P. Sharma ³, Bheem Pareek ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Agronomy CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur-176 062, IN
2 Department of Horticulture and Agroforestry, CSK HPKV, Palampur, IN
3 Department of Soil Science, CSK HPKV, Palampur, IN

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted at Organic Farm Holta of Department of Organic Agriculture and Natural Farming, CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur during kharif and rabi seasons of 2018-19 and 2019-20 on silty clay loam soil to study the performance of different quality traits under different farming practices in legume-based cropping systems. The experiment was laid out under Split Plot Design with three replications comprising of three sequences in legume – vegetable based cropping system i.e., “soybean – onion”, “okra – peas” and “mash – garlic” under different farming practices i.e., Organic farming, Natural farming, Inorganic and Integrated farming practices.Comparing different farming practices, highest protein content (39.1%) was observed in crops under organic farming practices followed by zero budget natural farming practices (38.3%). Significantly higher protein yield of these crops was also recorded under organic farming practices (449 kg/ha) followed by integrated farming practices (405 kg/ha).Carbohydrate yield (1127 kg/ha) and fat yield (120 kg/ha) of crops were significantly highest in integrated farming practices and inorganic farming practices respectively. “Soybean-onion” cropping system produced significantly highest protein yield (644 kg/ha) and fat yield (300.7 kg/ha) as compared to other cropping systems. However, higher protein content and low carbohydrate and fat were recorded in this system when grown under organic farming practices and was found to be the best amongst all cropping systems and farming practices combinations.

Keywords

Cropping System, Farming Practices, Quality, Protein.

Full Text

   

Nasratullah ¹, Rameshwar Kumar ¹, Sandeep Manuja ¹, Raj Paul Sharma ¹, G. D. Sharma ¹, Subhash Verma ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Organic Agriculture and Natural Farming, CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur-176 062, IN
2 Department of Veterinary Microbiology, DGCN COVAS, CSK HPKV, Palampur, IN

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted during kharif 2019 and 2020 at Holta Zero Budget Natural Farm (ZBNF), Department of Organic Agriculture and Natural Farming, CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur to evaluate the comparative efficacy of different components of natural farming on crop production and economics of black gram. The results revealed that yield attributes and yield (seed and straw) of black gram increased significantly with application of natural farming components in totality. Application of ghanjeevamrit + jeevamrit + mulching (T₇) significantly increased the seed yield of black gram over T₈ (absolute control) by 61.4 and 233.1 per cent during 2019 and 2020, respectively and application of ghanjeevamrit + jeevamrit (T₄) recorded significantly higher net returns of Rs. 49265 ha^-1 statistically at par with ghanjeevamrit + jeevamrit + mulching (T₄) in 2019. However, in 2020, application of ghanjeevamrit + jeevamrit + mulching (T₇) recorded higher net returns of Rs. 64206 ha over other treatments.

Keywords

Black Gram, Jeevamrit, Ghanjeevamrit, Mulching and Natural Farming.

Full Text