Annual Report 2018-19

Abstract

The 23 Centers of All India Coordinated Research Project for Dryland Agriculture (AICRPDA) are conducting on-station and on-farm demonstrations/trials under National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) with the focus on real time contingency plan (RTCP) implementation and preparedness to cope with weather aberrations. The RTCPs implementation has been in a two-pronged approach i.e. (i) Real-time contingency measures and (ii) Preparedness. During 2018-19, the interventions to cope with delayed onset of monsoon and seasonal drought (early, mid season and terminal) were demonstrated in more than 1000 farmers’ fi elds in 23 village clusters (55 villages) in 24 districts across 15 states. The onset of monsoon during 2018 was delayed by 15, 18 and 20 days, respectively in NICRA villages of Garhwa (Jharkhand), Faizabad (Uttar Pradesh) and Rewa (Madhya Pradesh) districts. Further, there were 2-4 dry spells at different stages of crops in NICRA villages of Akola (Maharashtra), Anantapuramu (Andhra Pradesh), Bhilwara (Rajasthan), Bengaluru Rural (Karnataka), Vijayapura (Karnataka), Bhiwani (Haryana), Indore (Madhya Pradesh), Parbhani (Maharashtra), Jamnagar (Gujarat), Solapur (Maharashtra) and Mirzapur (Uttar Pradesh) districts. The salient achievements are summarized below. A. On-station Delayed onset of monsoon At Chianki, the onset of monsoon was delayed by 15 days (24th June). Improved variety of rainfed medium land rice, Arize-Tej recorded 47% higher grain yield (4624 kg/ha) with higher net returns (Rs.55284/ha) and B:C ratio (2.96) followed by PAC-801 (4151 kg/ha) compared to local variety (3146 kg/ha). Sesame variety Shekar gave higher seed yield (634 kg/ha), net returns (Rs.18798/ha) and B:C ratio (1.71) followed by JLT-408 (627kg/ ha) compared to local variety (389 kg/ha). Mid season drought At Arjia, in Semiarid Vertisols, foliar application of macro- and micronutrients during dry spell (14 days) recorded signifi cantly higher maize grain yield (2887 kg/ha) compared to foliar application at suffi cient moisture just after dry spell (2579 kg/ha). Further, foliar application of water soluble NPK (18:18:18) @ 0.5% + ZnSO4 @ 0.5% increased grain yield (3217 kg/ha) by 38.3% as compared to control (2326 kg/ha), with higher net returns (Rs. 44671/ha) and B:C ratio (3.43). At Biswanath Chariali, in Humid Inceptisols, foliar spray in toria during dry spell (35 days) recorded signifi cantly higher seed yield (948 kg/ha) and net returns (Rs. 21519/ha) compared to foliar spray after relieving of stress (885 kg/ha). Among sources of nutrients, foliar spray of water soluble complex fertilizer (19:19:19) @ 0.5% + ZnSO4 @ 0.5% + borax @ 0.5% resulted in signifi cantly higher seed yield (1027 kg/ha) whereas foliar spray of urea @ 2% recorded higher net returns (Rs. 27558/ha) compared to other treatments. B. On-farm I. Real-time contingency measures Delayed onset of monsoon At Kumbhi and Bankheta villages (Garhwa district, Jharkhand), the onset of monsoon was delayed by 15 days. High yielding drought tolerant medium duration hybrid rice (PAC-801) gave higher grain yield (3718 kg/ha) and net returns (Rs.40788/ ha) compared to local variety (2857 kg/ha). Mazie var. Kanchan gave higher grain yield (2354 kg/ha) compared to local variety (1774 kg/ha). Similarly, Annual Report 2018-19 8 improved varieties of fi ngermillet (A-404), sorghum (CSV-20) and sesame (Shekhar) gave 33.2 to 55.4% higher yields compared to local varieties. At Hardoya village (Faizabad district, Uttar Pradesh), the onset of monsoon was delayed by 18 days. Rice var. NDR-97 gave higher grain yield (1906 kg/ha) and net returns (Rs. 10216/ha) compared to local variety (1315 kg/ha). Similarly, pigeonpea var. NDA-1 gave higher seed yield (1846 kg/ha), net returns (Rs. 73250/ha) and B:C ratio (3.85) compared to local variety (1250 kg/ha). At Raura and Patuna villages (Rewa district, Madhya Pradesh), the onset of monsoon was delayed by 20 days. Pigeonpea var. Asha recorded higher seed yield (920 kg/ha), net returns (Rs.38600/ ha) and B:C ratio (4.21) compared to local variety (720 kg/ha). Similarly, blackgram var. LBG-20 gave higher seed yield (350 kg/ha) and net returns (Rs. 9250/ha) compared to local variety (220 kg/ha). Early season drought At Vannedoddi village (Ananthapuramu district, Andhra Pradesh), in rainfed Alfi sols, insitu moisture conservation through opening of conservation furrows adjacent to every row of castor with country plough gave 21% higher castor yield (666 kg/ha) compared to without conservation furrow (550 kg/ha), with higher net returns (Rs. 16884/ha) and B:C ratio (2.07). At Warkhed village (Akola district, Maharashtra), in medium black soils, in-situ moisture conservation through opening of furrows in each row after 30-35 DAS of soybean recorded higher seed yield (1875 kg/ha), net returns (Rs.33120/ha), B:C ratio (2.4) and RWUE (1.86 kg/ ha-mm) as compared to farmers’ practice of without furrow opening (1536 kg/ha). Mid season drought At Chamua village (Lakhimpur district, Assam), one supplemental irrigation of 2 cm depth with the water lifting pump from farm pond increased the yield of rice (4520 kg/ha) by 33.3% with higher net returns (Rs. 27700/ha) and B:C ratio (1.58) compared to no supplemental irrigation (3015 kg/ha). At Warkhed village (Akola district, Maharashtra), application of one protective irrigation (25 mm) from harvested rainwater in farm pond recorded higher seed yield of soybean (1952 kg/ha), net returns (Rs. 41905/ha) and B:C ratio (2.70) compared to no protective irrigation (1726 kg/ha). At Babhulgaon village (Parbhani district, Maharashtra), in light to medium black soils, one supplemental irrigation of 5 cm with sprinkler system from harvested rainwater in farm pond at pod formation stage of soybean increased the seed yield by 67.5% (1410 kg/ha), with higher net returns (Rs.27869/ha) and B:C ratio (2.39) compared to no supplemental irrigation (842 kg/ha). Terminal drought At Tahkapal village (Bastar district, Chhattisgarh), under rainfed midlands, one life saving irrigation of 2 cm from harvested rainwater gave higher grain yield of rice (2097 kg/ha), net returns (Rs.7493/ha) and B:C ratio (2.05) compared to no supplemental irrigation (1883 kg/ha). At Budhadani village (Kandhamal district, Odisha), supplemental irrigation from nearby water stream in rice varieties, Naveen and Sahabhagi gave 27.4 and 25.7% higher grain yield (2510 and 2400 kg/ha) with higher net returns (Rs.15925 and 14000/ ha) compared to without supplemental irrigation (1970 and 1910 kg/ha), respectively. At Kalimati village (Banaskantha district, Gujarat), in deep loamy soils, two supplemental irrigations (30 mm each) from harvested rainwater in farm pond through micro-irrigation during fl owering to capsule development in castor recorded 39% higher seed yield (1943 kg/ha) with higher net returns (Rs. 65414/ha), B:C ratio (4.53) and RWUE (2.27 kg/ha-mm) compared to no supplemental irrigation (1395 kg/ha). AICRPDA – NICRA 9 At Ujalamba village (Parbhani district, Maharashtra), in light to medium black soils, supplemental irrigation of 5 cm depth, from harvested rainwater in farm pond, in soybean (var. MAUS-158) gave higher seed yield (1430 kg/ha), net returns (Rs.28620/ha) and B:C ratio (2.43) compared to no supplemental irrigation (900 kg/ha). At Kadesara Kalan village (Lalitpur district, Uttar Pradesh), supplemental irrigation (40 mm) from harvested rainwater increased the pod yield of groundnut by 49% (1078 kg/ha) with higher net returns (Rs.38448/ha) and B:C ratio (2.35) compared to no supplemental irrigation (708 kg/ha). At Kalimati village (Banaskantha district, Gujarat), supplemental irrigation (30 mm) twice through micro-irrigation after fl owering to capsule development in castor, from harvested rainwater in farm pond, gave 27.1% higher seed yield (1134 kg/ ha) with higher net returns (Rs. 41528/ha) and B:C ratio (2.52) compared to no supplemental irrigation (892 kg/ha) II. Preparedness Rainwater management At Kavalagi and Honnutagi villages (Vijayapura district, Karnataka), in medium black soils, in-situ moisture conservation through deep ploughing in chickpea recorded 21.2 and 21.6% higher seed yield (394 and 415 kg/ha) compared to farmers’ practice (325-341 kg/ha). At Nagla Dulhe Khan village (Agra district, Uttar Pradesh), in rainfed Inceptisols, sowing of pearlmillet with ridger seeder gave higher grain yield (2363 kg/ha), net returns (Rs.39230/ha), B:C ratio (3.50) and RWUE (5.42 kg/ha-mm) compared to farmers’ practice of broadcasting (1999 kg/ha). At Ghanghu village (Banaskanta District, Gujarat), in-situ moisture conservation in pearlmillet with compartmental bunding recorded higher grain and stover yield (958 and 2595 kg/ ha), net returns (Rs. 18593/ha), B:C ratio (1.91) and RWUE (2.50 kg/ha-mm) compared to local practice of no compartmental bunding (888 kg/ha). At Budhadani village (Kandhamal district, Odisha), in-situ moisture conservation through deep summer ploughing and increase in bund height in maize + cowpea intercropping system (2:2) gave higher maize equivalent yield (4420 kg/ha), net returns (Rs.30565/ha), B:C ratio (3.49) and RWUE (3.49 kg/ha-mm) as compared to sole maize without in-situ moisture conservation (2140 kg/ha). Cropping systems At Patameghpar village (Jamnagar district, Gujarat), in medium black soils, cotton + sesame intercropping system (1:1) gave higher seed cotton equivalent yield (2850 kg/ha), land equivalent ratio (1.29), net returns (Rs 80670/ha), B:C ratio (2.47) and RWUE (4.52 kg/ha-mm) compared to sole cotton (2213 kg/ha). At Madana village (Samba district, Jammu and Kashmir), intercropping of maize + blackgram (1:1) gave 19.1% higher maize equivalent yield (2609 kg/ ha) with higher net returns (Rs.31993/ha), B:C ratio (2.42) and RWUE (4.73 kg/ha-mm) compared to sole maize (1850 kg/ha). At Muthukrishnapuram village (Thoothukkudi district, Tamil Nadu), in deep black soils, cotton + blackgram (2:1) intercropping system recorded higher cotton equivalent yield (1036 kg/ha), net returns (Rs.15729/ha) and RWUE (4.5 kg/ha-mm) compared to sole cotton (625 kg/ha). Nutrient management At Lapsiya village (Rajsamand district, Rajasthan), application of ZnSO4 @ 25 kg/ha in maize gave 17.8% higher grain yield (2693 kg/ ha) with higher net returns (Rs. 29012/ha) and B:C ratio (2.89) compared to farmers’ practice of no Zn application (2287 kg/ ha). At Nagla Dulhe Khan village (Agra district, Uttar Pradesh), application of 50 kg K2 O/ha with RDF (60:40 kg NP/ha) increased mustard yield by 32.3% (2540 kg/ha) with higher net returns (Rs. 95473/ha) and B:C ratio (6.6) compared to farmers’ practice of no K application (1920 kg/ha). Annual Report 2018-19 10 At Chikkamaranahalli village (Bengaluru Rural district, Karnataka), application of 100% RDF (50:40:37.5 kg NPK/ha) + 12.5 kg/ha of ZnSO4 in fi ngermillet (MR-1) + pigeonpea (BRG-5) (8:2) intercropping system recorded higher fi ngermillet equivalent yield (2677 kg/ha), net returns (Rs 59173/ ha) and B:C ratio (3.22) compared to application of 100% RDF alone (2502 kg/ha). Energy management At Narotewadi village (Solapur district, Maharashtra), in medium black soils, sowing of rabi sorghum with two-bowl ferti-seed drill gave 18% higher grain yield (720 kg/ha) with higher net returns (Rs. 6940/ha), B:C ratio (1.27) and energy use effi ciency (1.89) compared to sowing with local seed drill (610 kg/ha). At Vannedoddi village (Ananthapuramu district, Andhra Pradesh), in rainfed Alfi sols, groundnut sowing with bullock drawn Ananta planter saved the cost of operation and labour by 14 and 55%, respectively compared to bullock drawn local seed drill. Further, sowing of groundnut with bullock drawn Ananta planter gave 10.5% higher pod yield (210 kg/ha) over farmers’ practice (190 kg/ha). At Khaner village (Samba district, Jammu and Kashmir), sowing of maize with maize planter gave 17.5% higher grain yield over farmers’ practice of broadcasting (2082 kg/ha) with higher net returns (Rs. 35198/ha) and B:C ratio (2.72). The energy input and output with maize planter was 6905 MJ/ ha and 115298 MJ/ha, respectively with energy use effi ciency of 16.70. Alternate land use At Narotewadi village (Solarpur district, Maharashtra), in medium black soils, anola + pearlmillet system recorded higher anola equivalent yield (2511 kg/ha), net returns (Rs. 27229/ha) and B:C ratio (1.87) compared to sole anola (1500 kg/ ha). NICRA-Strategic research Evaluation of the performance of different crops under organic, inorganic and integrated production systems showed that the seed yield of sunfl ower was 17.8 and 18.9% higher in the plots under integrated management (1138 kg/ha) than that under inorganic and organic management, respectively. However, different production systems had no signifi cant effect on seed yields of greengram (744-791 kg/ ha) and pigeonpea (400-443 kg/ha). Plots under organic management recorded signifi cantly higher soil organic C (0.66%) compared to inorganic and integrated production systems. Plots under organic management being on par with integrated production system also recorded signifi cantly higher available K (242.3 kg/ha), Cu (2.01 ppm), Fe (13.4 ppm) and Zn (0.69 ppm) compared to inorganic production system. Village Climate Risk Management Committee (VCRMC) VCRMCs established in each NICRA village proved to be an effective village level institution in identifi cation of benefi ciaries and implementation of various climate risk resilient interventions such as contingency crop planning, soil and crop based interventions and effi cient functioning of custom hiring centers. Custom Hiring Centre (CHC) CHCs helped in hiring the need based implements/machinery by resource poor farmers at affordable cost and carrying out land preparation, timely and precision sowing covering large area in short time and other agricultural operations with high energy effi ciency. During 2018-19, more than 900 ha area was covered for various agricultural operations in 55 villages through CHCs and signifi cantly contributed to alleviate labour shortage during peak demand period. AICRPDA – NICRA 11 Village seed bank Participatory village level seed production of short duration, drought and fl ood tolerant varieties of different fi eld crops was taken up in NICRA villages. Efforts were made to provide the seed of alternative crops and varieties of the rainfed crops to address the problem of seed unavailability. During the year, about 21.7 tons seed of different rainfed crops was produced/maintained in different NICRA villages. Fodder bank At Tahakpal village, Bastar district (Chhattisgarh), farmers produced seed of Stylosanthes (56.0 kg), hybrid Napier bajra (9.0 kg), berseem (38.0 kg) and fodder sorghum (45.0 kg). In Kadesara kala village, Lalitpur district (Uttar Pradesh), about 10 tons of hybrid napier slips were sold to farmers of different villages. Further, about 1.0 ton each of silage and urea treated straw was produced during the year. At Chikkamaranahalli village, Bengaluru Rural district (Karnataka), fodder maize (South African Tall) was grown in an area of 4 ha in 20 farmers’ fi elds for realizing better fodder supply to milch animals. Agro-advisories/Agromet advisories Real time contingency measures were advised for implementation in all the villages through display of weather information and agro-advisories on black boards, SMS service through mobiles and All India Radio. During 2018-19, timely agromet advisories were given in collaboration with AICRPAM centres in adopted villages of Akola, Anantapuramu, Bengaluru Rural, Kovilpatti, Parbhani, Solapur and Vijayapura districts. Soil health cards During the year, 728 soil health cards were provided in the adopted villages of Akola, Ananthapuramu, Arjia, Bengaluru, Biswanath Chalriali, Jagdalpur, Kovilpatti, Parbhani, Phulbani, Rajkot, Rakh Dhiansar, Rewa and SK Nagar. Trainings/Field visits/Field days During the year, 70 trainings and 21 fi eld days/ exposure visits were organized by the centres which benefi tted 5344 stakeholders including farmers. Collaboration with AICRPAM and KVKs Agromet advisories from common centres of AICRPDA-AICRPAM were issued by AICRPAM centres in AICRPDA NICRA villages. Similarly, NICRA-KVKs in the domain districts of AICRPDA centres (Akola, Anantapuramu, Bengaluru, Biswanath Chariali, Chianki, Hisar, Indore, Jagdalpur, Jhansi, Kovilpatti, Parbhani, Rajkot, Rakh Dhiansar, SK Nagar, Solapur, Varanasi and Vijayapura) were given technical inputs on real time contingency planning and doable technologies. Linkages for operationalizing district agriculture contingency plans During 2018-19, the scientists of the centres were actively involved in updating the district level crop contingency plans, involving scientists and offi cials from KVKs and line departments in respective states. Further, the scientists from centres also participated in state level meetings organized in 2 states (Karnataka and Tamil Nadu) for operationalization of district agriculture contingency plans and contributed in developing action plans.