Effect of Row Spacing and Nitrogen Sources on Growth, Yield and Economics of Babycorn (Zea mays L.)

The greater challenges of the 21st century is affordably meeting nutritious food demand for a world population which were expected to surpass 9.6 billion people at middle of the century and at the same time sustaining a quality and quantity of a natural resources and biodiversity. Coming to the reality a need of urgent attention for technological innovations in a sector of food production ultimately leading for “greater protein and energy production per unit of resource input”. Therefore, a field experimented was conducted at Chamelti Agriculture Farm, MS Swaminathan School of Agriculture, Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences, Solan during kharif season of 2022 to study the effect of row spacing and nitrogen sources on growth, yield and economics of babycorn. The results reveals that significantly higher growth and yield attributing characters were observed with wider spacing of (R3) 60 cm and (N4) nano urea. However, higher yield and economic returns were significantly higher with row spacing of (R2) 45 cm along with (N4) nano urea. On the basis of B: C ratio, row spacing of (R2) 45 cm along with (N4) nano urea was found to be remunerative for baby corn under Mid hills of Himachal Pradesh.

Conservation Agriculture: A Long-term Approach towards Sustainability

With the application of intensive agricultural techniques, conventional agriculture has been successful in meeting production goals but has also led to the depletion of natural resources. Sustainability in the management of the natural resource base is necessary for ongoing and expanded agricultural output to provide food security for future generations. Over a long period, the traditional tillage practice has led to the destruction of the natural resource base of the land. As a result of its inherent connection to the physical, chemical, and biological aspects of soil, it has led to a significant loss of soil and SOM, which is a crucial component of soil quality. Therefore, a suitable cropping system and land use must be implemented and adopted to ensure food security on a sustainable basis. These measures should be based on principles to prevent land degradation, protect the natural resource base, and improve food and nutritional security through crop diversification and optimal rotation. The one sustainable cropping method that may reverse soil erosion, increase crop output, and improve the socioeconomic status of small landholder farmers is conservation agriculture (CA). Conservation agriculture (CA) is the integrated management of the available natural resources such as soil, water, flora, and fauna, with certain outside inputs to maximize the effectiveness of natural resource utilization. To fulfill the objective of sustainable crop production, an alternative approach known as conservation agriculture has emerged. It represents a significant advance in the direction of sustainable agriculture. This article reviews the emerging concerns due to the continuous adoption of conventional agriculture systems, contrasting features between conventional and conservation agriculture systems, and various principles and practices in conservation agriculture. It also highlights the benefits and limitations of CA and various challenges in the adoption of CA.

Effect of Different Sources of Phosphorus on Protein Content, Soil Fertility and Yield of Greengram

To study the effect of different sources of phosphorus on quality, fertility status and yield of greengram, an experiment was conducted during the kharif season of 2014 at Crop Research Farm, Department of Agronomy, SHIATS, Allahabad, UP. The experiment was conducted in randomized block design with 9 treatments viz. Control (No Phosphorus, 100% P through SSP, 100% P through URP, 50% P through SSP + 50% P through URP, 75% P through SSP + 25% P through URP, 100% P through SSP + PSB inoculation, 100% P through URP + PSB inoculation, 50% P through SSP + 50% P through URP + PSB inoculation, 75% P through SSP + 25% P through URP + PSB inoculation. Greengram variety Samrat was sown at a spacing of 30cm x 10 cm and it was fertilized with Phosphorus, SSP, URP, PSB as per the requirement of the treatments. The experimental results revealed that application of 100% P through SSP + PSB seed inoculation produced significantly higher grain yield (1496.77 kg ha-1), Stover yield (2920 kg ha-1) and protein (24.06%). There was a steady increase in the soil fertility status after harvesting of greengram. However, maximum available P2O5 (36.07 kg ha-1), available N (329.03 kg ha-1), available K2O (220.80 kg ha-1) was obtained with the application of 100% P through SSP + PSB seed inoculation. It also recorded higher net returns (Rs 47002.17 ha-1) and Benefit Cost (1.89). Thus, application of 100% P through SSP + PSB seed inoculation) helps in improving the quality and enhancing the yield in Greengram for resource poor farmers of India.