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Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi

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2013 - 201939
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Subject: Agronomy × End date: 2019 × Start date: 2013 × Type: Thesis ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    WEED MANAGEMENT IN WET DIRECT SEEDED RICE
    (Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi, 2018) PRINCE KUMAR GUPTA; Sheela Barla
    Direct seeded rice coupled with early maturing variety has received much attention because of its low-input demand, encouraged many farmers in India to switch from transplanted rice to direct seeded rice culture. Weeds are considered to be limiting factor in harnessing full yield potentiality of rice. Hence present investigation was undertaken during kharif season of 2017 to evaluate the competing ability of different high yielding rice cultivar and methods of weed control to increase rice production. The present experiment was conducted in the Agronomical Research Farm of Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi, Jharkhand during kharif season of 2017.The experimental soil was clay loam in texture with low organic carbon (3.6 g/kg), moderately acidic (pH 5.7), having low available nitrogen (190.76 kg/ha), high phosphorus (31.33 kg/ha) and medium potassium (182.27 kg/ha). The experiment was laid out in a split plot design with 4 weed management viz, weed free up to 15 days, weed free up to 30 days, weed free up to 45 days and weedy check. and 5 rice cultivar in sub plot i.e. DRR Dhan 44, DRR Dhan 45, DRR Dhan 46, RP Bio 226 and Swarna Shreya, altogether comprising 20 treatment combinations replicated three times. The crop was sown on 17 July 2017 with RDF 80:40:20 kg N:P2O5:K2O/ha and seed rate `60kg/ha. Weed free up to 45 days was found most effective in reducing weed density and weed dry weight, as it recorded 86.44% and 80.58 % lower than weedy check (210.44) resulting maximum weed control efficiency i.e. 80.53 per cent at maturity. Weed free up to 45 days recorded higher crop dry weight, grains/panicle, grain yield and harvest index to the tune of 58.32, 35.89, 60.70 and 8.65 percent higher as compared to their respective values under weedy check. Consequently recorded maximum net return (`61746/ha) and B: C ratio(1.63) and was 73.07% and 73.00% higher as compare to values under weedy check and also 15.64% and 15.33% higher as compared weed free upto 30 days. Rice cultivar DRR Dhan 46 recorded 38.28 and 20.40% reduced weed density and weed dry weight compared to cultivar Swarna Shreya resulting in maximum weed control efficiency i.e. 53.04 per cent at maturity. DRR Dhan 46 recorded higher crop dry weight ,grains/panicle, grain yield and harvest index to the extent of 29.84%, 16.37% , 30.26% and 3.25% as compare to Swarna Shreya i.e. 874.49 g/m2, 93.23, 3.41 t/ha, and 36.56% respectively consequently recorded higher net return (`59332 /ha) and B:C ratio(1.57). The combination of DRR Dhan 46 with weed free up 45 days recorded reduced weed dry weight to the extent of 88.96% as compared to lowest recorded with Swarna Shreya under weedy check, consequently maximum grains/panicle (138.17), 1000 grain weight (28.83g), yield (6.30t/ha), net return (`78082/ha) as well as B:C ratio (2.06). From the above findings it may be concluded that keeping Weed free up to 45 days in rice cultivar DRR Dhan 46 was found most suitable for obtaining maximum yield as well as profit in DSR method of cultivation.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    INTEGRATED NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT IN FODDER OAT + LATHYRUS INTERCROPPING SYSTEM
    (Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi, 2019) Tirkey, Niketa; Kumar, Birendra
    Huge livestock population of Indian subcontinent is not only a source of livelihood for poor, but also a source for human and crop nutrition. India supports nearly 20 % of the world livestock and 16.8 % human population on a land area of only 2.3 %. It is leader in cattle (16%) and buffalo (55%) population and has world’s second largest goat (20%) and fourth largest sheep (5%) population (ICAR, 2009). The livestock sector adds almost 32% of Agriculture output in India. But, the area under fodder cultivation is only 4 % of total cropped area. The area under fodder cultivation is only 8.3 m ha (4 % of total cropped area). At present, the country faces a net deficit of 61.1% green fodder and also recent population trends of India is not matching with the required trend of livestock growth rate (Datta, 2013). Cattles and other lactating animal needed balance quality diet (Tripathy et al., 2009). As feed and fodder contains about 60% of total cost of milk production (Singh, 2008), thus good quality of green fodder having sufficient nutritive value are the demand of the day. The present investigation entitled “Integrated Nutrient Management in fodder oat + lathyrus intercropping system” was carried out during Rabi season of 2017-2018 at forage research field situated at College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry of Birsa Agricultural University, Kanke, Ranchi with the objective to find out the effect of fodder oat+ lathyrus intercropping system and INM on growth, yield, quality and economics of green herbage. The experimental plot was well drained with a fairly uniform topography. The climate of the region is sub-humid. The experiment was laid out in Split Plot Design with four cropping stems in main plot. sole oat, sole lathyrus, oat + lathyrus (3:2) and oat + lathyrus (3:3) and three integrated nutrient management as 100 per cent RDF (inorganic), 50 % N of RDF (inorganic) + 50 % N through FYM and 50 % N of RDF (inorganic) + 50 % N through vermicompost under Sub-plot. Inoculation of Rhizobium @ 500 g/ha in lathyrus and Azotobactor @ 500 g/ha in oat were carried through seed treatment. Bio- fertilizer (Azotobactor) having more than 108 CFUg-1 was used and seed treatment was carried with bavistin (fungicide) @ 2 g kg-1 of seed. Oat variety JHO-99-2 with a seed rate of 80 kg/ha and lathyrus variety ‘Mahateora’ with a seed rate of 50 kg/ha were sown at 25 cm R-R distance. RDF of oat and lathyrus were 60:40:20 and 30:40:20 kg N: P2O5: K2O/ha respectively. Result showed that oat + lathyrus (3:2), grown at 100 % RDF as inorganic recorded higher plant height (149.70 cm) of oat while longer vine length of lathyrus (103.67 cm) grown under 50 % N of RDF (inorganic) + 50 % N of RDF (vermicompost). Fodder oat equivalent yield (FOEY) 374.87 q/ha and productivity per day (green 5.20 & dry 1.52 q/ha/day) were recorded significantly more under oat + lathyrus (3:2) at 50 % N of RDF + 50 % N of RDF (vermicompost). It was 143 % more than at 100 % RDF as inorganic. Crude protein content in fodder lathyrus (14.82%) was nearly 47.0 % more than fodder oat (10.06 %). Total crude protein yield (CPY) 12.09 qha-1 was obtained when lathyrus was sown with oat in 3:2 ratio at 50 % N of RDF (inorganic) + 50 % N of RDF (vermicompost). Organic carbon and soil pH were not influenced by intercropping system and nutrient management, while more available N, P and K were recorded under oat + lathyrus intercropping system when the crops were fertilized with 50 % N of RDF (inorganic) + 50 % N of RDF (vermicompost) Biological properties in terms of microbial population density (Azotobactor and Actinimycetes) was improved under sole lathyrus and 50 % N of RDF (inorganic) + 50 % N of RDF (vermicompost). oat + lathyrus (3:2) converted maximum gross return ( 74,975 ha-1) grown at 50 % N of RDF (inorganic) + 50 % N of RDF (vermicompost) while, B:C ratio (1.59) and profitability 653/ha/day were recorded under oat + lathyrus (3:2) at 100 % RDF as inorganic. On the basis of the findings of the experiment it may be concluded that, the fodder oat + lathyrus (3:2) grown at 50 % N of RDF as inorganic (60:40:20 kgha-1) + 50 % N through vermicompost under rice fallow will be beneficial to take maximum fodder production and monetary out come.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT IN SOYBEAN THROUGH NUTRIENT EXPERT BASED SSNM
    (Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi, 2019) Kumari, Puja; Kumar Singh, Arvind
    Soybean (Glycine max L.) is the one of the important pulse cum oil seed crop among all the oilseed crops. It is the world’s first ranking crop as a source of vegetable oil. It helps in atmospheric nitrogen fixation in the soil and maintain the soil fertility and consequently beneficial effects on successive crops, so the crop is also called “Golden bean” or “Gold of soil”. It has been termed as miracle bean because of higher protein (40%) and oil (20%) content. It is called “Wonder crop” because it is the richest, cheapest and easiest source of best quality protein and fats and having a multiplicity of uses as food and industrial products but availability of protein for ever increasing population remained too less. In India the area under soybean cultivation was 10.6 million ha (2017-2018) and the production was 8.5 million t. But the productivity still remains low (about 802 kg/ha) though the crop has potential to harvest 2.5 – 3.0 t/ha. To meet out this increasing demand farmer use fertiliser according to recommended dose or follow their own practice. This can lead to degradation of soil physico-chemical properties lead to non-availability of nutrients to the plant at right time to the plants. Keeping these points in view, an experiment entitled “ Nutrient management in soybean through Nutrient Expert based SSNM” was conducted at BAU experimental farm Kanke, Ranchi, Jharkhand during Kharif season 2018 on sandy loam with low organic carbon (0.39 %) and available nitrogen (171.45 kg/ha), moderately acidic (pH 5.7) in nature, medium potassium (148.02 kg/ha) and phosphorus (18.12 kg/ha). The experiment was laid out in a RBD with 7 treatments - T1: SSNM (25:58:57 kg NPK/ha), T2: T1-N omission (00:58:57 kg NPK/ha), T3: T1-P omission (25:00:57 kg NPK/ha), T4: T1-K omission (25:58:00 kg NPK/ha) , T5: RDF (20:80:40 kg NPK/ha), T6: Farmers practice (23:58:00 kg NPK/ha) and T7: Absolute control, replicated thrice. The variety used was JS-97-52. All the parameters such as plant height, dry matter accumulation, number of branches, number and dry weight of nodules were recorded at 30, 60, 90 DAS and at harvest. The growth and yield attributing character viz. Plant height, no. of branches, dry matter accumulation (1.51g/plant at 30 DAS, 10.78g/plant at 60 DAS, 27.07g/plant at 90 DAS and 32.76g/plant at harvest) number of nodules and nodule dry weight, no of seeds/pods (3.07), pods/plant (68.17), grain yield (2643.48 kg/ha) and straw yield (4102.75 kg/ha) were found to be significantly higher in the treatment SSNM (25:58:57 kg NPK/ha) in comparison to other treatments except recommended dose of fertiliser (20:80:40 kg NPK/ha) which was at par with SSNM. In terms of economics SSNM have lower cost of cultivation (Rs 24,360/ha), higher gross return (Rs.89878.23/ha), net return (Rs. 65518.23/ha) and highest B:C ratio than RDF. Hence, based on one year of experimentation it may be concluded that application of nutrient based on SSNM (25:58:57 kg NPK/ha) is equally effective but economically better than RDF (20:80:40 kg NPK/ha) and maintains fertility. So it can be applied for higher productivity of soybean in agro-ecological condition of Jharkhand.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    WEED MANAGEMENT IN BLACKGRAM BY IMAZETHAPYR AND ITS EFFECT ON SUCCEEDING MUSTARD
    (Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi, 2019) Hassan, Deeba; Thakur, R.
    Blackgram is one of the important pulse crops grown in India as it contributes 24 percent of total kharif pulse production. In India, it is grown in about 3.62 million ha with an average productivity of 537 kg/ha against world average productivity 744 kg/ha. In Jharkhand, it is grown in about 0.19 million ha with an average productivity of 625 kg/ha. The yield loss due to weeds in blackgram is 27 to 90%. Chemical methods of weed control are better option as manual weeding is not only tedious but also costly and many times laborers are not available at peak time of requirement. Blackgram being a short duration crop leaves ample option for taking many suitable succeeding winter crops. Judicious use of new herbicides with its proper dose, method and time of application has to be taken care of with view that not only weeds in blackgram are controlled effectively but also should not leave residual toxic effect on succeeding crops. Hence keeping this in view an experiment was conducted at Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi, Jharkhand during rainy and winter seasons of 2014-2015 and 2015-2016. The experimental soil was sandy-loam in texture with low organic carbon (3.4 g/kg), moderately acidic (pH 5.6) in nature, low available nitrogen (189.00 kg/ha), medium phosphorus (21 kg/ha) and medium potassium (155 kg/ha) content. The experiment was laid out in a RBD with 16 treatments i.e. Imazthapyr 50g/haPRE (T1), Imazthapyr 70g/haPRE (T2), Imazthapyr 80g/haPRE (T3), Imazthapyr 50g/ha POE (T4), Imazthapyr 70g/haPOE (T5), Imazethapyr 80g/haPOE (T6), Imazethapyr.+Imazemox (RM)50g/haPRE(T7), Imazethapyr.+Imazemox(RM) 70g/haPRE (T8), Imazethapyr.+Imazemox(RM) 80g/haPRE (T9), Imazethapyr.+Imazemox(RM) 50g/haPOE (T10), Imazethapyr.+Imazemox(RM) 70g/haPOE (T11), Imazethapyr.+Imazemox(RM) 80g/haPOE (T12), Pendimethalin1000g/ha PRE (T13), Imazethapyr + Pendimethalin (RM)1000g/ha PRE (T14), Hoeing twice (T15) each performed at 20 and 40 DAS and weedycheck (T16) replicated thrice. Blackgram var. T9 and mustard var. Shivani was sown at 30 cm using 30 and 8 kg seed/ha, with RDF 20:40:20 and 80:40:20 kg/ha, respectively. Imazethapyr.+Imazemox (RM)80g/ha POE (T12) was found most effective in reducing weed density and weed dry weight followed by Imazethapyr.+Imazemox (RM)70g/haPOE (T11) and Imazthapyr 80g/ha PRE (T3) in order of their weed control efficiency 97.26, 95.78 and 93.55 percent respectively at 60 days after sowing. Imazethapyr.+Imazemox(RM) 80g/ha POE (T12) recorded 64.97 percent higher crop dry weight, 80.25 percent LAI, 98.28 percent number of pod/plant, 70.91 percent higher seed yield higher as compared to weedy plot i.e. 104.05g/m2, 0.21,10,523 kg/ha respectively. Application of Imazethapyr.+Imazemox(RM) 80g/ha POE (T12) also recorded higher net return (`31664) and B:C ratio (1.5) compared to rest of weed treatments. Residues of herbicides were below detectable limit (< 0.02mg/kg) in plant and soil at harvest. In succeeding crop, no phyto-toxic effect was observed in blackgram and succeeding mustard crop. It can be concluded from above findings that Imazethapyr.+Imazemox(RM) 80g/ha POE can be applied in blackgram for increased yield, net return and benefit : cost ratio without causing phyto-toxic effect on blackgram as well as on succeeding mustard crop.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT IN RICE ESTABLISHMENT METHODS
    (Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi, 2019) Bharti, Jaya; Kumar Singh, Ashok
    Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is the world’s most important crop and primary source of food for more than half of the world’s population. At the current population growth rate (1.5 percent), the requirement of rice by the year 2025 would be around 125 million tons. The possibility of expanding the area under rice is limited in near future. Therefore, there is a need of productivity gain with good management practices. Rice is grown mostly through transplanting in India, in spite of the fact that transplanting is cumbersome practice and requires more labour. In such circumstances, dry direct seeding or wet direct seeding through drum seeder may be an alternative to transplanting in boosting the rice production. Nutrient management is also a major component of soil and crop management system which increases the productivity of rice. Knowing the required nutrients for all stages of growth and understanding the soil's ability to supply them is critical for profitable crop production. Keeping these points in view an experiment on “Nutrient management in rice establishment methods” was conducted at Rice Research Farm of Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi, Jharkhand, during Kharif -2018 with the objectives to find out the effect of rice establishment methods and nutrient management practices on growth, yield attributes, yield, nutrient uptake and economics of rice. The experiment was laid out in Split Plot Design replicated thrice with variety Naveen. The treatments comprised of three different rice establishment methods viz., normal transplanting (M1) , wet direct seeding using drum seeder ( M2) and aerobic rice (M3) assigned to main plots and five nutrient management practices viz., RDF( 80:40:20 Kg NPK/ha - F1), 75% RDF + 25% N through FYM (60:30:15 kg NPK/ha + 20 kg N through FYM - F2) , RDF + 25% N through FYM (80:40:20 kg NPK/ha + 20 kg N through FYM - F3) , LCC based Nitrogen application (F4) and Control (No fertilizer) (F5) assigned to sub plots . The soil was clay loam in texture and slightly acidic (6.2) in reaction, medium in organic carbon (4.3 g) and available nitrogen (230.00 kg/ha), phosphorous (36.8 kg/ha) and potassium (161.20 kg/ha). Results revealed that growth parameters i.e. total tillers/m2 at maturity and dry matter accumulation at maturity was maximum in wet direct seeding using drum seeder (267 and 1292.20 g/m2 respectively). Among the different nutrient management practices RDF + 25% N through FYM produced maximum total tillers/m2 (284) and dry matter accumulation (1406.67 g/m2) at maturity. The leaf area index (3.58) and crop growth rate (8.53 g/m2/day) was also maximum in wet direct seeding using drum seeder at 90 DAS/T and 90 DAS/T- maturity respectively. RDF + 25% N through FYM (3.77) and LCC based N application being at par among themselves produced maximum leaf area index (3.75) at maturity. Yield attributing characters ie. Panicles/m2 (251), Panicle weight (3.38 g) and number of fertile grains/panicle (109) was also recorded maximum in wet direct seeded rice using drum seeder which were at par with normal transplanting but significantly superior to aerobic rice. Among the different nutrient management practices RDF + 25% N through FYM produced maximum Panicle/m2 (277), Panicle weight (3.60 g) and fertile grains/panicle (118) and was comparable with LCC based N application. Grain yield and straw yield also followed the similar trend as yield attributing characters. Wet direct seeding of rice using drum seeder recorded maximum grain yield (42.19 q/ha) and straw yield (65.22 q/ha) which were comparable with transplanting method but were significantly superior to aerobic rice. Among the nutrient management practices , RDF + 25% N through FYM produced maximum grain yield (46.33 q/ha) and straw yield (71.53 q/ha ) which was significantly better than rest of the treatments except LCC based N application. The nutrient uptake of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium was recorded maximum in wet direct seeded rice using drum seeder and in the plot treated with RDF +25% N through FYM. Among the different establishment methods wet direct seeding of rice using drum seeder recorded maximum net return (58337 `/ha) which is significantly better than rest of the treatments. The B : C ratio was also maximum with wet direct seeding using drum seeder (2.00) which is significantly at par with aerobic rice (1.93). Among the various nutrient management practices the higher net return (64030 `/ha) and B:C ratio (2.28) was recorded with LCC based N application.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    WEED MANAGEMENT IN CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE OF MAIZE-WHEAT CROPPING SYSTEM
    (Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi, Jharkhand-6, 2018) Kumari, Sima; Upasani, R.R.
    Maize and wheat are grown generally by tilling the field thoroughly till proper tilth is attained. Tillage practices contribute greatly to the labour cost resulting to lower economic returns. In addition to it, intensive tillage system results to a decrease in soil organic matter content and soil biodiversity. A resource conservation technology has proved to produce more at low cost, to improve soil health and promotes timely planting of winter crops. Weed management is an important aspect in maize and wheat crop as weeds cause yield loss to the extent of 28-100% in maize and 20-40% in wheat. Hence, keeping this in view an experiment was conducted at Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi, Jharkhand during 2015-16 and 2016-17 with objectives to study the effect of tillage sequences and weed control methods on weed dynamics, productivity and economics, soil health of maize, wheat and system as whole. The experiment was laid out in strip plot design with five tillage sequences in vertical plots , viz. conventionalconventional( CT – CT), conventional – zero (CT – ZT ), zero – zero (ZT –ZT), zero – zero with crop residue (ZT – ZT+R) and zero tillage along with crop residues in both the seasons (ZT+R – ZT+R) while three weed control methods in horizontal plots viz, recommended herbicides in maize (atrazine @ 1 kg/ha pre-emergence) and wheat (isoproturon @ 0.75 kg/ha +2,4-D @ 0.5 kg/ha post emergence), IWM in maize (pendimethalin @1 kg/ha + intercrop black gram) and in wheat (isoproturon @ 0.75 kg/ha +2,4-D @ 0.5 kg/ha post emergence + mechanical weeding at 40 DAS) and weedy check Experimental soil was sandy-loam in texture having pH 5.5, organic carbon 4.2 g/kg soil, available N 240 kg/ha, available P 19.00 kg/ha and available K 187 kg/ha. Result revealed that during kharif maize grown under CT – CT tillage similar to ZT+R – ZT+R was most effective in reducing weed dry weight in maize at 30 and 60 DAS compared to maximum observed under ZT –ZT, thereby recorded maximum weed control efficiency, increased growth parameters and yield attributes thereby resulted in higher grain yield (38.08 q/ha), net return (30,816 `/ha) and B:C ratio(1.43) compared to minimum under ZT-ZT tillage sequence. In rabi season CT – CT similar to ZT+R – ZT+R sequence recorded reduced total weed dry weight consequently it recorded maximum wheat plant growth parameters, yield attributes resulting maximum grain (34.61 q/ha) and straw(46.29 q/ha) yield , net return (30252 `/ha) and B:C ratio(1.22) and minimum was observed under ZT-ZT tillage sequence. Application of IWM in maize (pendimethalin @1 kg/ha + intercrop black gram) similar to recommended herbicide (atrazine @ 1 kg/ha pre-emergence) was found to be most effective in reducing weed dry weight there by recorded maximum weed control efficiency. Also, it recorded maximum growth parameters, yield attributes resulting higher grain yield (40.35 q/ha), net return (28,687 `/ha) and B:C ratio(1.07). IWM (isoproturon @ 0.75 @ kg/ha +2,4-D @ 0.5 kg/ha post emergence + mechanical weeding at 40 DAS) similar to recommended herbicide (isoproturon @ 0.75 kg/ha +2,4-D @ 0.5 kg/ha post emergence) was found to be most effective in reducing weed dry weight in wheat at 30 and 60 DAS compared to maximum observed under weedy plot. Maximum weed control efficiency, increased growth parameters, yield attributes higher grain (35.71 q/ha) and straw (47.19 q/ha) yield, net return (30981 `/ha) and B:C ratio(1.20) were recorded in IWM. In maize-wheat cropping system CT – CT along with integrated weed management recorded maximum maize equivalent yield (103.81 q/ha) and net return (89445 `/ha) followed by zero tillage with residue and integrated weed management i.e. 96.44 q/ha and 63637 `/ha respectively.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Performance of Rice and Wheat Varieties for Higher Productivity in Rice-wheat System Under Organic Farming
    (Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi, Jharkhand-6, 2018) Kumar, Manoj; Singh, C.S.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    PLANT GEOMETRY AND PHOSPHORUS MANAGEMENT IN LEGUME BASED INTERCROPPING UNDER UPLAND ECOSYSTEM
    (Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi, Jharkhand-6, 2018) Choudhary, Deban Kumar; Karmakar, S.
    Poor fertility and productivity of rainfed upland soil and vagaries of monsoon in Jharkhand compel to adopt diversified cropping system with low inputs requiring crops. The acreage under pigeon pea, maize and black gram is increasing constantly by replacing the area of rice under upland condition. It is well understood that phosphorus plays a major role in realizing optimum productivity of crops, especially legumes. In the acid lateritic soil, P-fixation is a major problem. Moreover, the costs of phosphatic fertilizers are increasing day by day. Alternatively, use of Nano-P in crop production has been newly recognized as an innovative phosphate supply system. Therefore, it is imperative to explore the possibility of cost-effective P-management practices for maximizing crop yield as well as to find out a suitable intercropping system with a short duration legume like black gram grown as a component crop. Keeping this in view, an experiment was conducted at BAU, Ranchi, during kharif seasons of two consecutive years, 2016 and 2017. The soil was sandy-loam in texture with low organic carbon (4.2 g kg-1), moderately acidic (5.4) in nature, low in available nitrogen (171.7 kg ha-1),medium in phosphorus (23.21 kg ha-1) and potassium (157.8 kg ha-1) as well as high in sulphur (12.9 kg ha-1). The experiment was laid out in split-plot design with three replications. The treatments consisted of seven crop geometry viz. C1-sole black gram, C2-sole pigeon pea, C3-sole maize, C4-pigeon pea + black gram (1:1), C5-maize + black gram (1:1), C6-pigeon pea + black gram (1:2) and C7–maize + black gram (1:2) in main plots and four phosphorus management practices viz. P1- Control, P2-40 ppm Nano-P, P3- 50% recommended dose of phosphorus (RDP) +40 ppm Nano- P and P4-100% RDP in subplots. Pigeon pea var. UPAS-120, black gram var. Uttara and maize var. Suwan composite-1 were grown with 20:40:20:20, 20:40:20:20 and 120:60:40 kg/ ha N, P2O5, K2O and S, respectively. Results revealed that intercropping of maize or pigeon pea with black gram crop improved the growth parameters, yield attributes and yield of pigeon pea, maize and black gram during both the years. Pigeon pea and black gram both under pigeon pea + black gram (1:1) and maize under maize + black gram (1:1) intercropping system recorded improved growth, yield and yield attributes compared to cultivation as sole crop. Pigeon pea + black gram (1:1) recorded maximum BEY (1763 kg ha-1), LER (1.64), net return (₹ 61209 ha-1), B:C ratio (1.63) and protein yield (405.4 kg ha-1) in the system improving the different characters of pigeon pea (main crop) like maximum plant height (199.6cm), dry matter (878 g m-2), LAI (1.62), no. of pod plant-1 (85.3), seeds pod- 1 (3.6), 1000-grain weight (93.72), grain yield (1162 kg ha-1), harvest index (18.00 %) and protein content (22.88 %) in addition to no. of pod plant-1 (28.6), seeds pod-1 (6.8), 1000-grain weight (40.47), harvest index (23.46 %) and protein content (23.65 %) as well as proportionate dry matter and grain yield (on the basis of population) in black gram grown as intercrop. However, maximum carbohydrate yield (2655 kg ha-1) was recorded under maize + black gram (1:1). Lower weed density and weed dry weight at 20 DAS and 40 DAS were registered under all the intercropping system compared to sole pigeon pea or maize. Reduction of weed dry weight in pigeon pea based intercropping system ranged from 10.11 to 10.73 % while 6.94 to 8.71% in maize based intercropping system compared to their respective sole stand. With regards to phosphorus management practices, application of 50% RDP + 40 ppm Nano-P recorded higher value of growth parameters, yield attributes and yield of pigeon pea, maize and black gram along with the status of available P in soil throughout the crop growth period compared to the application of Nano-P alone or no P and remained at par with 100% RDP. Spraying of Nano-P @ 40 ppm only was not sufficient to meet out the phosphorus requirement of the crops. Interaction between intercropping system and phosphorus management was significant and it was found that maximum BEY (1763 kg ha-1), protein yield (405.4 kg ha-1), total P uptake (2.7 g m-2), net return (61209 ` ha-1) and B:C ratio (1.63) were recorded under the application of 50% RDP+40 ppm Nano-P in pigeon pea +black gram (1:1) system along with an added advantage of improvement in most of the soil parameters like pH, organic carbon, available-N and K. It may be concluded that for a viable intercropping system under rainfed upland condition in achieving higher system productivity, profitability and sustainability, farmer may prefer pigeon pea + black gram with (1:1) row ratio with 50% recommended dose of phosphorus (20 kg/ha for each crop) + Nano phosphorus 40 ppm in addition to their recommended N, K and S at 20 kg/ha in both the crops.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    PRECISION NITROGEN MANAGEMENT IN IRRIGATED WHEAT (Triticum aestivum L.)
    (Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi, Jharkhand-6, 2018) ., Sulochna; Alam, P.
    Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is known as king of cereals. It is an important cereal crop for the majority of habitants on the earth. Wheat is the most important staple food for 36% of the world population. It is cultivated in all the continents of the world. Wheat crop is fertilizer responsive and exhibit full yield potential when supplied with adequate quantities of nitrogenous fertilizer. The farmers of Jharkhand are compelled to use either insufficient dose of N-fertilizer due to poor economic status or excessive dose of N-fertilizer because of poor knowhow. Therefore, nitrogenous fertilizers should be applied in right quantities and at right time. Keeping these points in view the present investigation was carried out. A field experiment entitled “Precision Nitrogen Management in Irrigated Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)” was carried out on sandy loam soil, slightly acidic in reaction(pH 5.5), having low organic carbon (0.32%) and available nitrogen (175.6 kg/ha) with medium available phosphorus (15.38 kg/ha) and exchangeable potassium (183.46 kg/ha) during Rabi 2017-18 at Birsa Agricultural University Farm, Ranchi. The experiment was laid out in RBD with 12 treatments replicated thrice. The wheat variety was HD2967, seed rate was 125 kg/ha and date of sowing was 25-11-2017. The treatments comprising of: T1- absolute control, T2 to T4 - application of 120 kg N in two and three split doses, T5 to T7 - application of 150 kg N in two and three split doses, T8 to T10 - application of 180 kg N in two and three split doses and T11 andT12 (guided by Greenseeker by NDVI technique taken at 45DAS and 65DAS) were applied with 136 kg N and 140 kg N in three spilt doses respectively. The two splits consisted of at sowing + at CRI and three splits consisted of at sowing + at CRI + at tillering stage. Results revealed that N-Management as 180 kg N in three split dose produced significantly taller plant (110.67 cm) whereas higher total number of tillers(424.5), dry matter (1307.5 g/m2) and crop growth rate (8.14 g/m2/day) were found by the application of 140 kg N in three split dose. Precision N-Management guided by Greenseeker in 140 kg N in three split dose recorded significantly higher yield attributing characters namely effective tillers/m2 (410.56), spike length (12.96 cm), spikelets/spike (21.66), filled grains/spike (53.10), unfilled grains/spike (2.56) and 1000 grain weight (42.80 g). Grain yield (48.39 q/ha), straw yield (71.22 q/ha), cost of cultivation (` 31848/ha), gross return (` 87543/ha), net return (` 55694/ha) and B:C ratio 1.75 were found to be maximum in 140 kg N in three split dose. Application of 140 kg N in three split dose increased the nitrogen content in grain (1.959 %) and in straw (0.565 %), phosphorus content in grain (0.362 %) and in straw (0.077 %), potassium content in grain (0.495 %) and in straw (1.605 %), nitrogen uptake in grain (94.63 kg/ha) and in straw (40.53 kg/ha), phosphorus uptake in grain (17.50 kg/ha) and in straw (5.50 kg/ha) and potassium uptake in grain (23.95 kg/ha) and in straw (115.09 kg/ha). Improved nitrogen use efficiency was obtained due to application of N-Management based on Greenseeker optical sensor which was determined in terms of agronomic efficiency, recovery efficiency and physiological efficiency. Agronomic efficiency (19.68%) and recovery efficiency (53.46%) were significantly maximum in 140 kg N in three split dose however physiological efficiency was highest (48.14%) in 120 kg N in two split dose. Hence, on the basis of one year data it can be concluded that application of 140 kg N in three split doses i.e. 30 kg N as basal, 60 kg N at CRI and Greenseeker guided nitrogen application of 40 kg at 45 DAS (second irrigation) and 10 kg at 65 DAS (third irrigation) recorded the highest grain yield (48.39 q/ha), straw yield (71.72 q/ha), net return (` 55694/ha) and B:C ratio (1.75). Also application of Greenseeker (NDVI technique) under precision nitrogen management increased the agronomic efficiency from 13.06% to 19.68% and recovery efficiency from 33.73% to 53.46% with a saving of 10 kg N in comparison to 150 kg N.