Sanjib Kumar Behera

Distribution of fractions of zinc and their contribution towards availability and plant uptake of zinc under long-term maize (Zea mays L.)–wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cropping on an Inceptisol

Intensive farming with high yielding cultivars, application of high analysis NPK fertilisers, and reduced use of organic manures caused a decrease in the availability of zinc (Zn) in Indian soils. We collected soil and plant samples from an ongoing long-term experiment at Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, to study the distribution of different fractions of Zn in an Inceptisol and their contribution towards the Zn availability in soil and Zn uptake in maize-wheat crop rotation. The treatments used for the study were NPK, NPK + FYM, NPK + Zn, and control (no fertiliser or manure). The DTPA-Zn concentration in soil was higher where Zn had been applied and declined with an increase in soil depth. The distribution of different fractions of Zn under various treatments and depths was inconsistent, and varied in a cropping year. The average concentration of total Zn (mg/kg) was 183, 183, 171, and 211 in 0-0.15, 0.15-0.30, 0.30-0.45, and 0.45-0.60 m depth, respectively. Residual Zn was the dominant portion of total Zn at all soil depths. Grain and stover yield of maize ranged from 1.10 to 2.43 t/ha and 1.22 to 2.46 t/ha, respectively, under different treatments, whereas, the yield of wheat grain varied from 2.25 to 4.69 t/ha and that of wheat straw from 2.56 to 5.20 t/ha. Highest uptake of Zn by both the crops occurred in Zn-treated plots. Zinc associated with easily reducible manganese, carbonate and iron and aluminum oxides contributed directly towards DTPA-extractable Zn. Sorbed Zn (SORB-Zn) and Zn associated with organic matter (OM-Zn) contributed significantly towards Zn uptake by the 2 crops.

Changes in Fractions of Iron, Manganese, Copper, and Zinc in Soil under Continuous Cropping for More Than Three Decades

The effect of continuous cropping with maize and wheat on soil characteristics and various forms of micronutrient cations in an Incetisol over the years was studied in an ongoing long‐term experiment in New Delhi, India. The soil samples collected in the years of 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, and 2004 were analyzed for different fractions of iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) by following a sequential extraction procedure. The pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and calcium carbonate (CaCO3) content of the soil varied from 8.28 to 8.53, 0.40 to 0.43 dSm−1, and 0.92 to 1.05%, respectively. Organic carbon content ranged from 0.38 in the control to 0.67% in 100% NPK + farmyard manure (FYM). Diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA)–extractable Fe and Mn (but not Zn and Cu) in soil declined from their respective initial (1971) values as a result of intensive cropping for more than three decades. It also resulted in a decrease in the concentrations of all the four metallic cations bound to organic matter, in addition to Fe and Zn, associated with carbonates in all the treatments in surface soil.

Fractions of Iron in Soil under a Long-Term Experiment and Their Contribution to Iron Availability and Uptake by Maize–Wheat Cropping Sequence

Soil and plant samples were collected from an ongoing long-term experiment (LTE) at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute farm, New Delhi, to study the distribution of various fractions of iron (Fe) and their contribution to availability and plant uptake in a maize–wheat sequence. The optimum dose-based treatments adopted for the study were nitrogen (N), nitrogen–phosphorus (NP), nitrogen–phosphorus–potassium (NPK), NPK + farmyard manure (FYM), NPK+ zinc (Zn), and control (no fertilizer or manure). Different fractions of Fe in the soil were sequentially extracted using different extractants. Diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA)–extractable Fe did not differ significantly among the treatments as a result of continuous cropping for more than three decades. The overall mean total iron (Fe) content varied from 2.36 to 2.61% under different treatments. Residual Fe constitutes a major portion of total Fe in all four layers of soil. The Fe associated with easily reducible Mn and organic matter contributed directly to DTPA-extractable Fe both in pre-maize and post-wheat soil. Residual Fe contributed directly to uptake Fe by maize and wheat crops.

Different Forms of Potassium and Their Contributions toward Potassium Uptake under Long-Term Maize (Zea mays L.)–Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)–Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) Rotation on an Inceptisol

In a long-term fertilizer experiment at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, with maize, wheat, and cowpea, various forms of potassium (K) and their contribution toward K uptake were found to be affected by fertilizer use and intensive cropping. The treatments included for the study were a control, 100% nitrogen (N), 100% N–phosphorus (P), 50% NPK, 100% NPK, 100% NPK + farmyard manure (FYM at 15 t ha−1 to maize only), and 150% NPK. The concentration of nonexchangeable K was greatest, followed by exchangeable K and water-soluble K. The study revealed no significant change in water-soluble K concentration in surface soil compared to N, NP, and control, indicating existence of an equilibrium between different K forms. Application of 100% NPK significantly increased water-soluble K concentration in surface soil compared to N, NP, and control treatments after maize, wheat, and cowpea. Application of NPK + FYM and 150% NPK resulted in greater quantities of all the K forms as compared to other treatments. Among the three forms, water-soluble K contributed predominantly to K uptake by maize and wheat; however, nonexchangeable K contributed significantly to K uptake by cowpea.

Fractions of Copper in Soil under a Long-Term Experiment and Their Contribution to Copper Availability and Uptake by Maize―Wheat Cropping Sequence

ABSTRACT Soil and plant samples were collected from on-going long-term experiment at Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi farm to study the distribution of various forms of copper (Cu) and their contribution to availability and plant uptake in maize (Zea mays L.)—wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) sequence. The optimum dose-based treatments selected for the study were nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium (NPK), NPK + Farmyard manure (FYM), NPK+ zinc (Zn) and control (no fertilizer or manure). Uptake of Cu by maize and wheat varied from 17.0 to 37.5 and 60.8 to 149.3 g ha−1, respectively, under different treatments. Copper uptake by wheat was significantly higher under 100% NPK + FYM than that with 100% NPK. There was no significant difference among the treatments with respect to diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA)-extractable Cu in 0–15, 15–30, 30–45, and 45–60 cm soil layers. However, with increasing depth of soil, it showed declining trend under all the treatments. Mean value of total Cu was 28, 32, 25, and 21 mg kg−1 in 0–15, 15–30, 30–45, and 45–60 cm depths, respectively. Major part of the total Cu was present as residual form. Sorbed copper (SORB–Cu) contributed directly towards its availability both in pre-sowing maize and post-harvest wheat soil samples. SORB–Cu and organic matter bound Cu (OM–Cu) contributed directly towards the uptake by the component crops. Copper associated with easily reducible manganese, carbonate, and iron and aluminum oxides were most recalcitrant forms present in soil and their effects on availability and crop uptake were adverse.

Evaluation of Nutritional Status and Yield Limiting Nutrients in Oil Palm Plantations of Cauvery Delta Zone of Tamil Nadu

Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) is grown in many countries, including India, to meet vegetable oil requirement. Assessment of soil properties and leaf nutrient concentration in oil palm plantations is required for effective nutrient management and higher crop yield. Therefore, the present study was carried out by analyzing 104 soil samples and 52 leaf samples collected from oil palm plantations of Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu, India. The soil properties like pH, electrical conductivity (EC), organic carbon (OC), available nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), exchangeable calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) and available sulphur (S) and boron (B) in 0–20 and 20–40 cm soil depth varied widely with CV values ranging from 7.44 to 89.4%. Leaf nutrient concentration varied from 1.11 to 3.17, 0.05 to 0.18, 0.21 to 0.98, 1.24 to 2.23, 0.17 to 0.86, 0.08 to 0.22% and 21.8 to 77.7 mg kg−1 for N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S and B, respectively. Diagnosis and recommendation integrated system (DRIS) norms and indices were derived from different nutrient expressions. The order of requirement of leaf nutrients was found to be K > P > N > Mg > B. Optimum leaf nutrient range for N, P, K, Mg and B were estimated as 1.61 to 2.11%, 0.10 to 0.12%, 0.33 to 0.81%, 0.23 to 0.73% and 30.6 to 54.8 mg kg−1, respectively, which could be used for guiding balanced application of fertilizers. On the whole, 15, 31, 2, 8 and 10% of leaf samples had below optimum concentrations of N, P, K, Mg and B, respectively.

Yield and zinc, copper, manganese and iron concentration in maize (Zea mays L.) grown on Vertisol as influenced by zinc application from various zinc fertilizers

September 14-15, 2012 Volume 1 Issue 2 63 Agrotechnol ISSN:2168-9881 AGT, an open access journal C oriented production systems have become important in the agribusiness sector. A change regarding the need for differentiation has occurred in the perception of companies, producers, distribution channels and other players involved in the production of agribusiness commodities. There is a discussion on how to achieve it. The use of branding which is understood as the process involved in creating and promoting strong brands is a way to obtain differentiation. The creation and promotion of strong brands for Indian agribusiness is an important aspect for the strategies of Indian agribusiness companies, farmers and agri entrepreneurs and exporters for entering as well as create a competitive advantage in the domestic and global market .Build strong brands could be a useful way to escape standard market prices for commodities, creating value, providing income for all links involved in the production chain. With the increasing trend towards the use of branded products and in this new environment of consumers seeking for quality, origin certification, confidence attributes, and for more organic and green production standards, there are huge possibilities for creation of brands that meet this kind of demand. India’s geographical location, its natural resources, and expertise in the production of certain agribusiness commodities, allows the country an opportunity for adding and creating competitive value to many domestic products.This paper quoting Indian and International examples intends to suggest propositions regarding the use of branding strategies in agribusiness commodities, concepts such as Co-branding, Branding Ecosystem and Ingredient Branding as well as problems associated with branding.Arecanut well known for consumption of its fruit (bettle nut) as a masticator in India and in the middle and Far East is being tried for utilizing its leaf sheath as an alternative fodder for animal. India has the highest producer area under cultivation of arecanut in the world and is mostly grown in southern part and in the north-eastern region of the country. Considering its higher economic profitability, many farmers have replaced it with paddy cultivation, resulting in shortage of paddy straw for its use as animal fodder. Recently the arecanut sheath has been investigated for use as a dry fodder for cattle, and an alternative to paddy straw. The arecanut tree sheds about 10 leaves (sheaths) per year hence total production of sheaths is around 4380 sheaths per year per hectare. The size of this areca sheath is about 20-35 cm feet wide and 30-120 cm length. The available machineries for chaff making have been tried to chop the arecanut sheath into suitable fodder size. However due to physical and biological characteristics of the sheath, none of them were found suitable to get desired size. A factorial experiment was therefore conducted using texture analyzer to study the cutting characteristics of the arecanut sheath for proper size reduction. Three different cutting con figurations were evaluated for cutting energy requirements, peak cutting forces required and the quality of cut obtained. A two dimensional shearing configuration was found to be suitable for size reduction of arecanut sheath with peak cutting force of 350 N. The inclination angle of cutter knife and speed of cut were not found to be significantly affecting the phenomenon of cutting.Agri-2012 September 14-15, 2012 Volume 1 Issue 2 29 Agrotechnol ISSN:2168-9881 AGT, an open access journal T ever increasing demand for large numbers of laboratory reared insects for bioassays has necessitated the development of efficient and economical methods for mass production of insect pests. Several methods have been developed for artificial rearing of cotton bollworm/legume pod borer, Helicoverpa armigera. However, it is difficult to maintain the culture of this insect in the laboratory for more than five generations because of onset of pathogen infection, and inbreeding depression resulting in reduce fecundity and egg hatching. Therefore, the present studies were planned to overcome the problems faced in maintaining the culture of H. armigera on a long-term basis under laboratory conditions. We evaluate plastic cups, glass vials, and cell well plates for maintaining the culture of this insect. The larval survival was significantly greater in insects reared individually in cellwells (95.33%), followed by glass vials (79.33 %), and poor in plastic cups and Petri plates where the insects were reared in groups. The weights of the larvae were also more in insects reared in cell wells, although the differences between different methods were not significant. The indigenously available cell well plates were quite suitable for rearing H. armigera, and these are amenable to surface sterilization, reusable, and hence, suitable for mass rearing of H. armigera.September 14-15, 2012 Volume 1 Issue 2 77 Agrotechnol ISSN:2168-9881 AGT, an open access journal B in agricultural systems is under pressure worldwide. The loss of genetic resources due to their declining use in modern agriculture has resulted in major concerns about the future vulnerability of agricultural production and related pest and disease risks and food security. Climate change and increasingly dramatic shifts in land use threaten to exacerbate the existing biodiversity crisis. Various international conventions have addressed this topic; this has moved the conservation and sustainable use of genetic resources issue to the top of the international development agenda. Over the past decade, a series of important steps have been taken to protect agro biodiversity in particular, which mainly includes the plant genetic resources on which agriculture depends. These and further efforts are vital for enabling countries and communities to meet their food needs, for improving rural livelihoods, and ultimately for protecting the well-being of all people now and in the future. A prerequisite for conserving biodiversity is proper identification and establishment of identity of a particular entity. Taxonomical characterization is a tedious and time consuming task, especially for plant species with long life cycle. DNA bar-coding is emerging as a preferred global standard in molecular taxonomy, which promises to bring a significant level of automation, standardization and high-throughput data analysis for identification of biological entity. The need for a rapid, accurate, identification of closely related genotypes can be achieved by DNA based identification system .Assessment of diversity by using molecular markers has recently been proposed and demonstrated on a large scale through the use of a short DNA sequence. DNA bar-coding has already proved useful for identification of animal species. In plants it is only beginning to attract the attention of the DNA bar-coding community.September 14-15, 2012 Volume 1 Issue 2 59 Agrotechnol ISSN:2168-9881 AGT, an open access journal I tropical and sub-tropical Island climate, coconut is the major plantation crop cultivated throughout the Islands as a source to sustain the small livelihood to the small and marginal family. Copra is produced after drying coconut either through sun drying or other traditional method “Machan”. Again, due to adverse effect of heavy rainfall (2800-3500mm), temperature (25-32oC) and relative humidity (75-95%) year round, high microbial infection to the product is observed, causing low quality of copra leading to lower income to the producers. Moreover, the traditional method of producing copra is quite tedious, fetching lower remuneration price in the domestic market. Keeping in view, a biomass fired copra dryer has been designed, developed and tested in the Island conditions at Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India which is located at 11° 40’ N and 92° 46’ E. The aim was to increase in employment generation to the rural households who are engaged with traditional method of copra production. The capacity of dryer is 1000 coconuts per batch using MS frame (2.4 m x 1.2 m x 1.6 m). The drying bed made of M.S bar grill kept at a height of 1 meter above the ground level. The results indicated that the biomass fired dryer took 20hrs including 3 hrs of preheating time to reduce the initial moisture content of 55 % (w.b) to the safe final moisture content of 6% (w.b) where as in comparision to solar dryer and open sun drying, it saves 37 % and 50% of total drying time respectively. The average temperature recorded in the drying chamber was 50-55 0C. The dryer About 80 kg of fuel is used and it requires three man powers to obtain better quality copra. The coconut shell may be used for fuel which saves manpower and energy, thereby enhancing net return to the farmers.