Raj Pal Meena

Quantifying Water Productivity Using Seed Priming and Micro Irrigation in Wheat

Field studies were conducted during the four rabi seasons (2011-12 to 2014-15) to investigate the impact of seed priming and micro irrigation on crop establishment, growth, productivity, and water productivity in wheat under different moisture regimes. Results indicated that sprouted seed (5830 kg ha-1) and primed seed (5766 kg ha-1) produced significantly higher grain yield in comparison to un-primed seeds (5416 kg ha-1). The germination was quick in the primed and sprouted seeds relative to non-primed seeds resulting in a better crop establishment and higher yield under optimum, sub-optimum and dry soil conditions. Irrigation method treatments viz., check basin, drip, sprinkler and drip + rainport showed that the grain yield was highest in the drip + rainport. Water productivity was highest in drip method of irrigation (1.61 kg m-3) followed by drip + rainport method (1.60 kg m-3) with a maximum mean productivity of 5539 kg ha-1. Around 600 m3ha-1 has been saved using seed priming thus reducing the cultivation cost by Rs. 382/ha. Among the micro irrigation techniques, water saved was highest in drip followed by sprinkler and drip + rainport. The study suggests for adoption of drip and seed priming to take advantage of yield enhancement as well as cost reduction through reduced utilisation of water.

FIRB Intercropping of Vegetables and Seed Spices with Wheat for Higher Productivity and Profitability of Small and Marginal Farmers

A field experiment was conducted for two consecutive years commencing from 2014-2015 to 2015-2016 at ICAR-Indian Institute of Wheat and Barley Research, Karnal, Haryana, India to assess the productivity and profitability of vegetables and seed spices intercropping with wheat under bed planting. Pooled analysis showed that radish planted on bed recorded maximum wheat equivalent yield (113.55 q/ha), which was significantly higher than all other treatments. Among the intercrops, wheat on bed +radish in furrow produced maximum wheat equivalent yield (92.46 q/ha), which was 36.37 % higher than sole wheat crop. This was followed by wheat + turnip intercrop with 77.98 q/ha wheat equivalent yield. Growing of other four intercrops like wheat + cauliflower, wheat + cabbage, wheat + coriander, wheat + fenugreek was not feasible in furrows probably owing to shading effect of wheat crop. Maximum net return obtained in sole radish crop on bed followed by wheat on bed + radish in furrows intercrop, which was 96.5% and 27.4% higher than sole wheat crop, respectively. Therefore, selective vegetables can be easily grown in furrows under bed planted wheat, which will be boon to small and marginal farmers.