Himachal Journal of Agricultural Research

S. K. Sharma ¹, S. S. Rana ¹, S. K. Subehia ¹, S. C. Negi ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Agronomy, Forages and Grassland Management, CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur-176 062, IN

Abstract

Five rice-based cropping sequences viz. rice-wheat, rice - radish - potato, rice - garlic, rice-potato-onion and rice-berseem + oats were evaluated on cultivators' fields for their production potential and economic feasibility in the low hills of Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh. Results revealed that rice-potato-onion, rice - garlic and rice-radish-potato cropping sequences were more remunerative resulting in significantly higher rice equivalent yield (16342, 10997 and 12394 kg/ha/annum, respectively), net returns (INR 153257, 102767 and 106414/ha/annum), productivity and profitability. Rice-potato-onion, rice-radish-potato and rice-garlic cropping sequences resulted in 203.3, 130.1 and 104.1% higher rice equivalent yield over the traditional rice-wheat cropping sequence, respectively. Rice - berseem + oats was also superior to conventional rice - wheat cropping sequence in influencing rice equivalent yield, net returns, B:C and productivity and profitability. In terms of total calories, only rice - potato - onion and rice-radish-potato cropping sequences could excel over the rice-wheat sequence. Conventional rice - wheat cropping system was superior to all the new cropping systems in terms of energy intensity both in physical as well as economic terms. Land use efficiency ranged between 65.7 (rice-radish -potato) and 78.1% (rice-potato-onion) under different cropping systems.

Keywords

Production Efficiency, Economics, Yield, Rice Based Cropping Sequences.

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S. S. Rana ¹, S. K. Sharma ¹, S. C. Negi ¹, Rajju Priya Soni ¹, Mitu Katoch ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Agronomy, Forages and Grassland Management, CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur-176 062, IN

Abstract

The study was conducted in five districts viz. Una and Bilaspur representing zone I, Kangra and Mandi representing zone II and Kullu representing the Zones III and IV of Himachal Pradesh. There was a total sample of 360 respondents (72 in each district). Enterprise-wise gross income as realized by the farmers during 2012-13 formed the basis of present investigation. In all 103 sub-farming systems were identified. The maximum number of sub-farming systems was under Livestock based system (46) followed by cereals based (28), fruit based (15), vegetable based (10), other enterprises based (2) and oilseed based (1). Based on the adoption of sub-farming systems by larger number of households, the most preferred farming systems were (first two from the first four categories): Livestock+cereals (26 households), Livestock+cereals+fodder+vegetables (22 households), Cereals+livestock (28 households), Cereals+livestock+fodder+vegetables (14 households), Fruits (15 households), Fruits+livestock (14 households), Vegetables+livestock (6 households), and Vegetables+livestock+cereals (2 households). Livestock based farming systems followed by cereals based farming systems were the dominating farming systems in Zone I and II of Himachal Pradesh. In these zones 63.9 and 59.7% of the farmers were dependent on Livestock based farming systems and 33.3 and 36.8% farmers, respectively, were dependent on cereals based farming systems. In Zone III fruit growing was main activity and 72.2% of the households were dependent on fruit based farming systems. This was followed by vegetable based farming systems from which 23.6% of the households earn their livelihood. Overall fruits (36.4%) had highest share in the gross income which was followed by livestock production (28.77%), cereals (23.28%) and vegetables (8.11%).

Keywords

Farming System, Cereal Based, Livestock Based, Fruit Based, Vegetable Based.

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S. K. Sharma ¹, S. S. Rana ¹, S. K. Subehia ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Agronomy, Forages and Grassland Management, CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur-176 062, IN

Abstract

An on-farm experiment was conducted in sub-tropical low hills zone of Himachal Pradesh to study the response of major plant nutrients in maize-wheat cropping sequence. Five treatments viz. control, N, NP, NK and NPK at recommended rates to the component crops were evaluated at seventeen locations for the two consecutive cropping seasons of 2007-08 and 2008-09. Results of the study revealed that application of recommended dose of NPK resulted in significantly higher grain yield of maize and wheat, maize equivalent yield, gross return and net return over rest of the treatments. Recommended NPK resulted in 85% and 53% higher maize grain equivalent yield and INR 30150 and INR 24626 more net return over control and recommended N, respectively. The response in terms of kg grain per kg of nutrient applied was higher for applied phosphorus (20.85 kg maize grain equivalent) followed by potash (19.19) and nitrogen (5.69).

Keywords

Maize-Wheat, Cropping Sequence, Nutrients.

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S. K. Sharma ¹, S. C. Negi ¹, Pawan Pathania ¹, Rajju Priya Soni ¹, Mittu Katoch ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Agronomy, Forages and Grassland Management, CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur - 176 062, IN

Abstract

The characterization survey of 306 farm families were conducted in Amb and Bangana blocks of Una district using multistage random sampling method. Crops + Livestock farming system adopted by 74.5% of the total households was found as the major Farming System prevalent in the area. Percent income contribution to the total farm income varied from 58.7% to 85.8% among large and marginal farms respectively. Among different enterprises, contribution of income from crop production to the total farm income in the sample farms varied from 49.7% to 73.9% among large and marginal sample farms. Overall contribution of crop production enterprise averaged over all the categories in the sample households was 62.50%. Study revealed that majority of the farmers in Amb and Bangana blocks face non-availability of quality seed as a major constraint for crop production. Lack of proper feed for animals and lack of access to veterinary service centre were surveyed to major constraint in respect of livestock component. Menace of wild and stray animals was recorded to the major socio-economic constraint limiting the crop production in the district.

Keywords

Farming System, Income, Constraints, Characterization.

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Shiwali Dhiman ¹, Anila Badiyal ¹, Shabnam Katoch ¹, Anju Pathania ¹, S. K. Sharma ¹, P. N. Sharma ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Plant Pathology, CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur-176 062, IN

Abstract

Bean anthracnose is one of the major diseases leading to a significant yield losses in susceptible cultivars. Hence, development of widely adaptable anthracnose-resistant cultivars using land races is of immense importance to maintain the production and productivity of the crop in disease prone areas. Keeping this in view, the present investigation was planned to introgress resistance gene from a well known Himalayan land race KRC-8 (Baspa) in the background of high yielding susceptible variety Jawala, both belonging to Andean gene pool. The hybridization, advancement with single seed decent approach and phenotypic screening of F_2:8 recombinant inbred lines (RIL) against anthracnose resulted in identification of fifteen potential lines showing resistance to anthracnose. Evaluation of agronomic traits of these lines revealed JB-3 to be significantly better than the parental genotype Jawala for number of pods per plant (18.67), number of seeds per pod (6.67), pod length (13.9 cm) and leaflet length (15.50 cm). Similarly, weight for 100 seeds, which directly contributes towards seed yield of beans, ranged from 48.6g in JB-5-2-2 to a maximum of 52.1g in JB-16-2 which is almost at par with that of Jawala (52.3g). Hence these RILs can be used as resistant donor germplasm for future breeding endeavours.

Keywords

Bean Anthracnose, Jawala, KRC-8, Baspa, Agronomic Traits.

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