Thakar Singh

Production potential and economic returns of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L.) based intercropping system as influenced by planting pattern and nutrients levels

A field experiment was carried out during the kharif season of 2015 and 2016 to find out the best pigeonpea based intercropping system and planting pattern along with optimum dose of nutrients to intercrops. Present study revealed that yield attributes and yield of pigeonpea were not adversely affected by different planting patterns and nutrient levels applied to intercrop during both the years. Pigeonpea planted at 50 × 25 cm with maize fodder as intercrop recorded highest pigeonpea equivalent yield of 1840 and 1895 kg/ha during 2015 and 2016, respectively. Application of 100% recommended dose of nutrient to intercrop also significantly increased the pigeonpea equivalent yield (1629 and 1732 kg/ha) over 50% of recommended dose and control during both years. Pigeonpea (50 × 25 cm) + maize fodder fetched significantly higher net returns (Rs. 61191 and 68764/ha), B: C (1.7 and 2.0) and per day income (Rs. 453 and 509/ha/day) than other intercropping systems during both the years. Higher net returns (Rs. 50694 and 59568/ha) were recorded with 100% recommended dose of nutrient applied to intercrops as compared to net return with 50% of recommended dose (Rs. 43752 and 53344/ha) and control (Rs. 39163 and 46535/ha) during both the years. B: C and per day income were also recorded maximum with 100% of nutrients applied to intercrops during both the years.

Effect of Preceding Intercrops in BT Cotton on The Productivity of Succeeding Wheat Crop and Total System Productivity

A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of different intercrops and row ratio on the growth, yield and quality of hybrid Bt cotton and effect of preceding intercrops in Bt cotton on the productivity of succeeding wheat crop and total system productivity. The results showed that different yield attributes, grain and straw yield of wheat were not significantly affected by different intercrops, though numerically higher wheat yield was obtained, where it was sown after legume intercrops viz. Bt cotton + cowpea fodder or Bt cotton + summer moong intercropping systems, as compared to that after sole Bt cotton and Bt cotton intercropped with other non legume intercrops viz. maize fodder, Bajra fodder and long melon etc. During 2010–11 crop season, all the intercropping systems except Bt cotton+ Bajra fodder-wheat and Bt cotton + long melon-wheat system recorded significantly higher total system productivity as compared to sole Bt cotton-wheat system. However, during 2011–12 crop season, intercropping systems like Bt cotton + maize fodder-wheat and Bt cotton + cowpea fodder-wheat system recorded significantly higher total system productivity as compared to sole Bt cotton-wheat system, Bt cotton + summer moong-wheat, Bt cotton + Bajra fodder-wheat and Bt cotton+ long melon-wheat systems. The land use efficiency in Bt cotton-wheat and Bt cotton based intercropping system-wheat varied from 93 to 96 percent as compared to 59–63 percent in sole crop-wheat based systems. With the introduction of legumes as sole or intercrop component, soil N status either improved or it remained same as initial status of the soil.

Competitive indices of bed planted wheat based intercropping systems as influenced by row orientations and different intercrops

The field experiments were conducted on bed planted wheat in a split-plot design with four replications at the Research Farm, Department of Agronomy, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana during rabi seasons of 2012–13 and 2013–14. The main plot treatments involved two orientations of sowing viz., north-south and east-west direction. Each main plot was divided into five sub-plots to allocate the intercropping system with wheat i. e. wheat+spinach, wheat+fenugreek, wheat+oats fodder, wheat+canola and wheat+linseed along with sole crops. The treatment differences were studied intensively in light of the various intercropping competitive indices. Raising the crop in east-west row orientation resulted in maximum productivity, monetary as well as intercropping advantage as compared to north-south row orientation. Among the intercropping systems, wheat+oats fodder was found to be the most effective to achieve the best land utilization, maximum productivity, monetary as well as intercropping advantage under the irrigated conditions of north India.

Nutrient uptake, nutrient availability and quality parameters of mechanically transplanted rice (Oryza sativa L.) under split doses of nitrogen

The field investigation was carried out during kharif 2011 and 2012 at Punjab Agricultural University Ludhiana to see the performance of mechanically transplanted rice (Oryza sativa L.) under split dose of nitrogen. The treatments included 100 kg N ha−1), 125 kg N ha−1) and 150 kg N ha−1) in 2 splits before last puddling (BLP) and 15 days after (N100 (N125(N150 transplanting (DAT), 3 splits (BLP, 15 and 30 DAT) and 4 splits (BLP, 15, 30 and 45 DAT) along with recommended N (125 kg ha−1) in 3 equal splits (BLP, 21 and 42 DAT) and control treatment of 0 kg N ha−1. The grain yield, nutrients (N, P, K) uptake and quality parameters of rice were observed higher with N150 in 4 splits i.e. before last puddling, 15, 30 and 45 DAT as compared to other treatments in both the years.This treatment also resulted in maximum availability of nutrients N and K in soil, which were significantly higher than other treatments during both the years. But available P was observed maximum with N150 in 4 splits, which was at par with N150 in 3 splits during 2011 but in 2012, it was at parwith N150 in 3 splits, N125 and in 4 splits. N150 in 4 splits gave significantly higher brown rice recovery, milled rice recovery and head rice recovery than N100 other treatments. These parameters increased with increase in levels of nitrogen and its split application from zero to 150 kg ha−1. However, there was non-significant effect of different levels of nitrogen and split applications on minimum cooking time, elongation ratio and cooking coefficient of grains. Water absorption ratio by grains from N150 in 4 splits was similar to in 2–3 splits and N125 in 3 splits, but was higher than other treatments. The maximum protein content (5.72–5.75%) was N150 also recorded in N150 in 4 splits. The protein content in grains increased with the split application of different nitrogen levels from 100 to 150 kg N ha−1.