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  • ThesisItemOpen Access
    Concurrent growing of green manure crops in dry and wet seeded rice
    (Department of Agronomy, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2008) Anitha, S; KAU; Jose, Mathew
    An investigation entitled ‘Concurrent growing of green manure crops in dry and wet seeded rice’ was conducted at Agricultural Research Station, Mannuthy to develop a comprehensive technology package for the system of concurrent growing of green manure crops in direct seeded rice. The investigation consisted of four experiments viz., Experiment Ia - Concurrent growing of green manure crops in dry seeded rice, Experiment Ib - Residual effect of concurrent growing of green manure crops in dry seeded rice, Experiment IIa - Concurrent growing of daincha in wet seeded rice and Experiment IIb - Residual effect of concurrent growing of daincha in wet seeded rice. The experiment on concurrent growing of green manure crops in dry seeded rice consisted of two green manure crops (horse gram and cowpea), three methods of incorporation (Incorporation by cono weeder, desiccation by 2,4 - D spray @1.0 kg ha-1 and allowing for self decomposition) and two levels of nitrogen (100 and 75% of recommended N) and a control without green manure crops . Among the two green manure crops, cowpea was the best in supplying the required quantity of green matter with 25 per cent savings of N fertilizer and a substantial reduction in weed incidence. All the three methods of incorporation were found to be equally effective. Hence in places where there is a difficulty in self decomposition, cowpea can be effectively incorporated by conoweeder or by spraying 2, 4-D. The cowpea variety used in this study was a short duration bush type variety facilitating additional pod yield from cowpea before it was incorporated. Concurrent growing of cowpea along with dry seeded rice is a viable system as it resulted in increased productivity, profitability and sustainability dry seeded rice. In the experiment to study the residual effect of concurrent growing of green manure crops in dry seeded rice, the main plots of dry seeded rice crop during the 1st crop season were divided into two sub plots and applied 100 and 75 per cent N to the subplots. The results revealed that concurrent growing of green manure crops were effective in increasing the yield and sustaining soil fertility status compared to pure crop of rice receiving 5 t ha-1 of FYM and 100 per cent of the recommended nitrogen. But there was no savings of N fertilizer to the succeeding transplanted rice crop as the highest yield of succeeding rice was achieved only when it received 100 per cent of the recommended N. The profitability of the rice- rice cropping system was the highest with concurrent growing of cowpea in dry seeded rice. The experiment on concurrent growing of daincha in wet seeded rice consisted of two stages of incorporation of daincha (20 DAS and 30DAS), three methods of incorporation (Incorporation by cono weeder, desiccation by 2, 4 - D spray @1.0kg ha-1 and Desiccation by Chlorimuron ethyl+ met sulfuron methyl spray @ 4.0 g ha-1 met sulfuron methyl spray @ 5 g ha-1) and two levels of nitrogen (100 and 75% of recommended N) and a control without daincha. Results indicated that concurrent growing of daincha can be successfully practiced in wet seeded rice with improved productivity. Incorporation of 30 days old daincha employing any of the three methods of incorporation was equally effective in increasing the productivity and profitability of wet seeded rice. Incorporation of daincha at 30 DAS could add about 14 t ha-1 of green matter with minimum investment and resulted in 70 per cent weed suppression. Concurrent growing of daincha receiving both 100 and 75 per cent of recommended N produced significantly higher yield than pure crop of rice receiving 5 t ha-1 of FYM and 100 per cent of the recommended nitrogen. Hence there was a saving of 25 per cent N without affecting the yield. The highest yield was obtained when 100 per cent of recommended N was applied to the system. The treatments for the experiment to study the residual effect of concurrent growing of daincha in wet seeded rice were similar to that of dry seeded rice. The results showed that concurrent growing of daincha and its incorporation at 30 DAS was effective in increasing the yield of succeeding rice and sustaining soil fertility status compared to pure crop of rice receiving 5 t ha-1 of FYM and 100 per cent of the recommended nitrogen. The highest yield of succeeding rice was achieved only when it received 100 per cent of the recommended N hence there was no savings of N fertilizer to the succeeding transplanted rice crop. Concurrent growing of daincha in wet seeded rice increased the profitability of the rice- rice cropping system. Concurrent growing of green manure crops in dry and wet seeded rice is a management alternative to reduce the production cost and to increase the yield of rice and is a practical model for sustainable rice production.
  • ThesisItemOpen Access
    Resource use & plant interaction in chilli Intercropping system in summer rice fallow
    (Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1995) Anitha, S; KAU; Geetha Kumari, V L
    An investigation entitled “Resource use and plant interaction in chilli intercropping system in summer rice fallow” was conducted at Rice Research Station, Kayakulam to assess the bio and economic suitability of chilli intercropping system. The experiment consisted of two intercrops (French bean and amaranthus), three nutrient levels (NL 100, NL 75 and NL 50) and two planting methods (normal row planting and paired row planting). Among the three cropping system viz. Chilli – French bean, chilli – amaranthus and pure crop system, performance of chilli in chilli – French bean system was the best. All the growth and yield attributes, nutrient uptake and yield of chilli in chilli – French bean system was superior to chilli – amaranthus system and pure crop system. Better growth and yield performance of chilli was observed at 100 per cent of the nutrient dose for both the crops. The maximum benefit from chilli intercropping system was also realized at this level of nutrient. Intercrop yield of chilli was not influenced by planting geometry. Intercrop yield of amaranthus significantly increased with nutrient levels. Intercrop yield of amaranthus at 100 and 75 per cent nutrient does was significantly higher than intercrop yield of amaranthus at 50 per cent nutrient dose and pure crop yield. Performance of both pure and intercropped French bean was very poor hence this crop could not be recommended for summer rice fallow. Higher LER, LEC, ATER, CEY, monetary return based on LER, gross return, net return, return per rupee invested and per day return revealed the bio and economic suitability of chilli amaranthus system. Bio and economic suitability of chilli intercropping system was maximum when both crops were given 100 per cent of the nutrient dose. Nutrient status of the soil was not affected by intercrops, nutrient levels and planting geometry. A positive build up of all the nutrients in the soil revealed the sustainable nature of these systems. The results indicated that, French bean was not ideal for summer rice fallows. To reap the maximum biological and economic advantage, both the crops should be supplied with 100 per cent of the recommended dose. Chilli – amaranthus intercropping system can be recommended as an economically viable, biologically suitable and a sustainable cropping system for summer rice fallows of Kerala.