ISDA

Volume-32 Number-I 2017

Impact of Improved Dryland Technologies on Sustainable Crop Productivity and Efficient Utilization of Resources in Submontane Punjab (1-10) Abstract
Vivek Sharma, Amit Salaria, M.J. Singh, Vijay Kumar, Sukhvinder Singh, Anil Khokhar, S.C. Sharma, G. Ravindra Chary and P.S. Sandhu

Subsistence rainfed agriculture is widely practiced in submontane Punjab due to high dependency on rainfall. The onset, intensity and distribution of rainfall is highly unpredictable in the region and hence, the productivity of the dryland crops is very low. In order to evaluate and disseminate the improved rainfed agro technologies, on farm trials and demonstrations under different themes viz., rainwater management, cropping systems, energy management, integrated nutrient management and alternate land use systems were conducted at village Naude Majra district Rupnagar (Punjab) during 2010-2015 under All India Coordinated Operational Research Project. Higher seed/grain yields were obtained by adopting all the improved practices for different crops in comparison to farmers’ practices. Improved agro technologies resulted in overall increase in crop production from 33 to 79% over the farmers’ practices. Higher net return and B:C ratios were also obtained with improved practices. Among different agrotechnologies demonstrated across the themes, the per cent increase in yield was highest with high yielding varieties recommended for the domain area (34-80%), followed by energy management i.e. drill sowing of wheat and oil seed crops (18-73%) and rainwater management viz., ridge sowing of maize and supplementary irrigation in wheat (25-51%). The increase in yield with integrated nutrient management in maize and with rhizobium inoculation in legume crops was 16 and 17%, respectively. Hence, on farm trials and demonstrations carried out on farmer’s field to show the worth of improved rainfed varieties and management practices for horizontal spread of improved agro-technologies were successful.

Key words: Drill sowing, intercropping, ridge sowing, rainfed agriculture, supplementary irrigation.
Development of Water Application Attachment on Seed Drill for Dry Land Farming (11-14) Abstract
Yuvraj G. Kasal, Vijaya Rani, R.K Johrar, M.S. Sidhpuria, Anil Kumar and S. Mukesh

Dry lands contribute 42% of the total food grain production of India. These areas produce 75% of pulses and more than 90% of sorghum, millet and groundnut from arid and semi-arid regions. Thus, dry lands/rainfed farming plays a dominant role in agricultural production. This target cannot be realized from irrigated areas alone as the irrigation potential is only for 178 million hectares. Therefore, an appropriate technology has to be developed for dry land farming. Due to dependency on rains the sowing is often delayed in dry land area which substantially reduces the yield of crop. A water application mechanism thus designed and developed wherein water will be given to the seed at the time of sowing. This will help farmer to sow crop on time, which will help to increase the production by attaining proper germination of crop at the time of sowing. The effective field capacity of water application attachment on seed drill was observed 0.420 ha/h at average operating speed of 2.5 km/h. The field efficiency calculated was 70%. Seed germination per cent in water application attachment on seed drill was 5.60% higher than normal seed drill with no attachment.Yield in water application attachment on seed drill was 16.74% higher than seed drill with no attachment.

Key words: Dry land, water application attachment, seed drill, sowing.
Enabling a more Equitable and Efficient Groundwater Irrigation in Rainfed Regions of South India (15-20) Abstract
C.A. Rama Rao, Sreenath Dixit, G. Surendranath, K.V. Rao, B. Sanjeeva Reddy, Josily Samuel, B.M.K. Raju and B. Venkateswarlu

In rainfed agriculture supplemental irrigation boosts and stabilises crop productivity when rainfall fails. In these areas groundwater is one of the important sources of irrigation, leading to its exploitation. Key issues in the use of groundwater are equitable access and sustainable use through a combination of technological and social processes. Considering this, an attempt was made to achieve a more efficient and equitable use of groundwater by appropriate social and technical interventions in a multi-institutional initiative. This consisted of networking of bore wells into a single system and providing access to irrigation water to those who did not possess any irrigation source. The results indicated that when the existing bore wells were networked and connected to a more efficient irrigation system like sprinkler, there were significant gains in cultivated area, cropping intensity and crop yields. Though both the owners of bore wells and water receivers gained absolutely, the latter gained more in relative terms. This initiative led to a more efficient and equitable water use by facilitating a cropping pattern that uses less water and by providing access to groundwater irrigation by those who could not invest.

Key words:Borewells, equity, groundwater, multi-institutional, rainfed.
Production Potential, Economics and Nutrient Uptake of Sesame (Sesamum indicum) Under Different Organic Nutrient Management Practices in Rainfed Region of Rajasthan (21-25) Abstract
S.K. Sharma, R.K. Sharma and J.K. Balyan

A field experiment was conducted during the kharif season 2010 to 2012 at Dryland Farming Research Station,Bhilwara (Rajasthan) to evaluate the effect of organic nutrient management practices on production, economics and nutrient uptake of sesame (Sesamum indicum). Application of enriched compost @ 4 t/ha along with biodynamic manure (BD) 500 @ 62.5 g/ha in 40 L water and BD 501 @ 2.5 g/ha in 40 L water with PSB and Azotobacter produced higher growth and yield attributes, yield (788 kg/ha) and economics (3.84) of sesame. On average, significant increase in seed yield due application of enriched compost @ 4 t/ha + BD 500 + BD 501 + Azotobacter + PSB was 18.5, 28.8 and 14.2% over the application of FYM @ 8 t/ha + Azotobacter + PSB, vermicompost @ 4 t/ha + Azotobacter + PSB and enriched compost @ 2 t/ha + Azotobacter + PSB, respectively. Biodynamic manure 500 and 501 in combination with enriched compost @ 4 t/ha gave an additional yield of 98 to 259 kg/ha as compared to sole application of enriched compost, FYM or vermicompost to sesame. Application of enriched compost @ 4 t/ha + BD 500 + BD 501 + Azotobacter + PSB also resulted in maximum net return ($ 52704/ha), B:C ratio (3.84) and also had significant effect on uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus and potash by sesame.

Key words: Biodynamic manure, FYM, PSB, Sesamum indicum, vermicompost and yield.
Performance of Linseed Based Intercropping Systems in Different Row Ratio under Semi Arid Region of Karnataka (26-31) Abstract
S.B. Kalaghatagi, A.K. Guggari, D.N. Kambrekar and Kadasiddappa Malamsuri

A field experiment was conducted at Regional Agricultural Research Station, Vijayapura (Karnataka) during three consecutive rabi season of 2009, 2010 and 2011 with an objective to find out the suitable intercrop for Linseed to obtain higher productivity and profitability per unit area per unit time by efficient utilization of natural resources on medium deep vertisols under rainfed conditions. There were thirteen treatments consisting of eight intercropping systems viz., linseed with sorghum, bengal gram, safflower and lentil in 2:1 and 4:2 row ratio in additive series and five sole crops of the component crops involved in intercropping systems. The experiment was laid out in RBD with a plot size of 3.60 x 4.50 m replicated thrice. The performance of various intercrops tested with linseed crop excelled either in 2:1 or 4:2 row ratios compared to their sole cropping except sole bengal gram. The pooled results of three years revealed that, sole bengal gram noticed significantly higher equivalent yield (774 kg/ha) followed by linseed + bengal gram in 2:1 and 4:2 row ratios (715 and 706 kg/ha, respectively) while ,sorghum also showed better performance at 2:1 and 4:2 ratios (678 and 674 kg/ha, respectively) compared with rest of the intercropping systems. Similarly, among intercropping systems linseed + bengal gram in 4:2 and 2:1 row ratio was more remunerative with a net returns of $ 16023 and $ 15776/ha,respectively followed by linseed + sorghum at 2:1 and 4:2 row ratio ($ 15497 and $ 15352/ha, respectively). The benefit cost ratio was significantly higher with linseed + sorghum in 2:1 and 4:2 row ratio (3.68 and 3.52) followed by linseed + bengal gram in 4:2 and 2:1 row ratio (3.50 and 3.47, respectively) over other intercropping systems. Further, intercropping of linseed + sorghum in 4:2 and 2:1 row ratio recorded significantly higher Land Equivalent Ratio (LER) of 1.30 and 1.29, respectively followed by linseed + bengal gram in 4:2 and 2:1 row ratio (1.21 and 1.20, respectively).

Key words: Economics, equivalent yield, intercropping, LER, linseed, rainfed, and yield.
Technological and Extension Yield Gaps in Oilseed and Cereal Crops under Rainfed Ecology in Jammu and Kashmir, India (32-40) Abstract
Sanjeev Kumar, Suraj Parkash and Vishal Mahajan

Rapeseed-mustard and cereal productivity in North -Western (NW) Himalayas of Jammu and Kashmir is far less than national averages except maize (Zea mays L.) in cereals because of low yielding varieties, poor crop management, non-plant protection measures and dependency on rains. Frontline demonstration (FLD) is an effective technology transfer tool for better technology adoption that bridges the yield gaps. The technological and extension yield gaps in oilseed (rapeseed-mustard) crops were studied for four years (rabi 2009-10 to rabi 2013-2014) and in cereals for six years (2009-10 to 2014-15) under FLD program in the district Poonch of Jammu and Kashmir, India. Result revealed that there was a wide yield gap between potential and demonstration yields due to technology and extension yield gaps. Extension yield gaps in oilseed varied to the extent of 1.99-5.58 q/ha in gobhi sarson (Brassica napus var. napus), 1.75-4.07 q/ha in mustard (Brassica juncea), 1.65 q/ha in toria (Brassica compestris var. toria) and in cereals varied to the extent of 2.9-10.91 q/ha in maize hybrids (Zea mays L), 5.41-11.91 q/ha in paddy (Oryza sativa L.) and 1.65-12.2 q/ha in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) during the study period. Improved package of practices has also enhanced the profitability of oilseeds and cereals in terms of gross and net-returns enhancing benefit-cost ratio (2.5-7.83) and (1.8-4.20), respectively. Technology index in gobhi sarson (23.68-55.35%), mustard (30.72-54.68%), toria (38.75%), maize (28.97-72.05%), paddy (16.00-30.67%) and wheat (6.66-63.92%) has implied that demonstrated farm technology in oilseeds and cereals is quite feasible under prevailing farming situations in district Poonch, but it needs to be popularized in an intensive manner to educate hill farmers to adopt the viable methods to enhance oilseed and cereal productivity and farm profitability. Overall, it is concluded that demonstrated farm technology has great potential to improve oilseed and cereal productivity and profitability thus enabling resourcepoor hill farmers to earn better livelihoods.

Key words: Cereals, economics, extension gap, frontline demonstration, oilseeds, productivity, technological gap, technology index
Relative Economics of Irrigation through Percolation Tank and Irrigation Tank (41-45) Abstract
D.H. Ranade, Santosh Mujalde and Indu Swarup

An investigation was undertaken to study the economics of irrigation from percolation tank in relation to irrigation tank in Kolar district of Karnataka during 2011. The proportion of well failure was less in percolation tank situation (11.6%) compared to irrigation tank situation (22%). The average yield of bore wells in percolation tank situation was also high i.e. 1481 GPH as compared to irrigation tank situation 1060 GPH. Cost of one acre inch of water is $ 272 and $ 429 as in case of percolation tank situation and irrigation tank situation respectively. Higher water availability in bore wells due to percolation tank situation resulted in high yields of irrigated crops and net returns from the crops were also high in percolation tank situation as compared to irrigation tank situation. The study indicated that percolation tanks were more useful in recharging the groundwater and has proved that conversion of irrigation tank to percolation tank is economically worthwhile.

Key words: Borewells, cost, economics, water availability, yield
Effect of Amendments and Micronutrients on Nutrient Availability, Yield and Economics of Pigeonpea Grown on Calcareous Soil (46-50) Abstract
R.M. Sarap , A.G. Durgude, A.L. Pharande and I.R. Bagwan

A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of amendments and micronutrients on nutrient availability and yield of pigeonpea grown on calcareous soil. which was conducted during the kharif 2014-15 on shallow calcareous soil (Typic Ustorthent). The results revealed that the hydraulic conductivity was significantly higher (1.81 cm/h) in general recommended dose of nutrient (GRDN) + FeSO4 @ 25 kg/ha + ZnSO4 @ 20 kg/ha + Borax @ 5 kg/ha + fermented cow dung slurry (cds) (1:4) @ 500 L/ha treatment. The soil pH and CaCO3 content at harvest stage was significantly reduced 8.2 and 13.1%, respectively by the application of general recommended dose of nutrient along with post biomethanated spent wash (PBSW) @ 80 m3/ha. The EC was decreased (0.24 dS/m) by the application of general recommended dose of nutrient. The availability of N and K in soil was increased by the application of general recommended dose of nutrient + Micro (Grade-I) + fermented cow dung slurry (cds) (1:4) and general recommended dose of nutrient + PBSW and P availability was higher in treatment receiving only general recommended dose of fertilizer .The availability of micronutrients (Fe, Zn, Cu and B) were significantly increased in treatment of general recommended dose of nutrient (GRDN) + FeSO4 @ 25 kg/ha + ZnSO4 @ 20 kg/ha + Borax @ 5 kg/ha + fermented cow dung slurry (cds) (1:4) @ 500 L/ha treatment. The chlorophyll content in leaves of pigeonpea was significantly increased in treatment of general recommended dose of nutrient (GRDN) + FeSO4 @ 25 kg/ha + ZnSO4 @ 20 kg/ha + Borax @ 5 kg/ha + fermented cow dung slurry (cds) (1:4) @ 500 L/ha treatment. The mean value of total uptake of N, P, K, Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu and B were significantly higher in treatment T8. The highest response in terms of grain (25.18 q/ha) and straw (92.42 q/ha) yield of pigeonpea was noticed in treatment of general recommended dose of nutrient (GRDN) + FeSO4 @ 25 kg/ha + ZnSO4 @ 20 kg/ha + Borax @ 5 kg/ha + fermented cow dung slurry (cds) (1:4) @ 500 L/ha treatment. As regard to use of amendments and micronutrients in pigeonpea, treatment T8 (general recommended dose of nutrient + fermented cow dung slurry (1:4) + micronutrients) resulted in higher B:C ratio (8.60). It is concluded that the, application of one week fermented cow dung slurry (1:4) with micronutrient FeSO4 @ 25 kg/ha + ZnSO4 @ 20 kg/ha + Borax @ 5 kg/ha or micro grade-I @ 10 kg/ha at 30 days after sowing of pigeon pea through irrigation water with general recommended dose of nutrient (25:50 kg/ha N:P2O5 kg/ha + 5 t/ha FYM) was found beneficial to pigeonpea for increase in grain, straw yield, N, P, K and micronutrient uptake, improvement in soil properties and micronutrient status of calcareous soil .

Key words: Amendments, calcareous soil, micronutrients, nutrient uptake, yield
Productivity and Economics of Fodder Crops-Onion (Allium cepa L.) Double Cropping System as Influenced by Varieties and Fertilizer Levels in Onion (51-55) Abstract
B.K. Ramachandrappa, M.N. Thimmegowda, H.S. Ravi Kumar, G.N. Dhanpal, M. Anitha, M.S. Savitha, P.N. Srikanth Babu and K.A. Gopinath

Field experiments were carried out for 2 years at AICRP for Dryland Agriculture, Bengaluru centre to study the performance of different fodder crops followed by its residual effect on succeeding onion crop (Allium cepa L.) with varieties and fertilizer levels under double cropping system during 2010 and 2011. Among fodder crops, pearl millet recorded significantly higher green fodder yield (63086 and 32068 kg/ha, respectively) and significantly higher onion bulb yield was recorded under preceding crop of sweet sorghum (4594 and 8685 kg/ha, respectively). Main crop (fodder) equivalent yield of different cropping systems did not differ significantly during both the years. The system gross return, net return and B:C ratio was recorded under sweet sorghum followed by onion crop. Among onion varieties, significantly higher bulb (4318 and 9816 kg/ha, respectively) and main crop equivalent yield (141137 and 95579 kg/ha, respectively) was recorded with Bellary Red compared to Bengaluru Rose. Application of 100% recommended dose of fertilizers recorded significantly higher bulb (4480 and 7890 kg/ha, respectively) and main crop equivalent yield (146102 and 82100 kg/ha, respectively) and higher system gross return, net return and B:C ratio compared to 75% recommended dose of fertilizers during both the years. Among fodder crops, higher water use efficiency was recorded in fodder pearl millet and Bellary Red onion variety with 100% recommended dose of fertilizers when it was preceded by sweet sorghum during both the years.

Key words: B:C ratio, double cropping, forage crops, onion, water use efficiency and yield
Evaluation of Evapo-Retardants and their Interrelationship with respect to Temperature and Wind Velocity (56-62) Abstract
M.S. Pendke, B.V. Asewar, A.S. Kadale, B.W. Bhuibhar and Boini Narsimlu

Farm ponds are constructed on massive scale in the state of Maharashtra for rain water harvesting at individual farm level. However it has been observed that most of the storage water is lost through evaporation from the ponds. Hence, there is an urgent need to focus on reduction of evaporation losses from the farm pond. About 20% area of the country falls under rain scarcity and drought area wherein there is an urgent need to control evaporation losses from water bodies like farm pond, village ponds, and lakes. A study was conducted with different evaporation retardants for reducing the loss of water through evaporation from small water bodies and their inter-relationship with temperature and wind velocity. Among all the treatments, the treatment T6 i.e. application of cetyl alcohol @ 15 mg/sq. m. at an interval of 5 days is found to be significantly superior over all other treatments and at par with treatment T5 i.e. application of cetyl alcohol @ 10 mg/sq. m. after every 5 days. In application of neem and vegetable oils, the evaporation rate was reduced up to the tune of 20-27%. However application of cetyl alcohol with various rate and duration were found to be effective in reducing evaporation rate in the tune of 54 to 66%. Considering the water availability for entire four months period after monsoon in the farm pond, the cost of application of cetyl alcohol is very less as compared to neem and vegetable oils. The co-relation of average weekly maximum temperature and average weekly wind velocity Vs. average weekly evaporation rate showed linear relationship.During monsoon and winter season there was no significant effect of increase in maximum temperature (up to 350C) and wind velocity (up to 5 km/hr) with increase in evaporation rate. However during the period of summer, there was a significant impact of increase in maximum temperature (above 350C) or wind velocity (above 6 km/hr) on increase in evaporation rate.

Key words: Cetyl alcohol, evapo-retardants, farm pond, neem and vegetable oils, temperature and wind velocity
Evaluation of Soil and Climatic Characteristics for Identifying Constraints and Potentials for Forest Development in Andhra Pradesh, India (63-70) Abstract
L.G.K. Naidu, M. Lalitha, S. Dharumarajan, R. Vasundhara, S. Srinivas, G. Ravindra Chary, V. Ramamurthy and S.K. Singh

Soil, length of dry period and forest cover data were used as baseline information for indentifying constraints and potentials for forest development. Forest occupies 5.7 M.ha in the state. Deciduous forest are spread in large area (3.2 Mha) followed by degraded/scrub forest (2.4 Mha) and semi evergreen forests occur in very limited extent. Area distribution pattern of both deciduous and degraded forest types are high in Telengana region followed by coastal and low spread in Rayalseema region. Soils varied from shallow (<50 cm) to very deep (>150 cm) depth and dry period from 4 to >9 months across the state. Soil depth and length of dry period are identified as major constraints for forest development. About 2.01 lakh ha forest area which is currently identified as degraded scrub forests have potential to develop into good deciduous forest due to favourable soil and climatic conditions.

Key words: Afforestation, forest types, length of dry period, potential forest areas and soil and climatic parameters
Performance of Rabi Castor (Ricinus communis L.) under Zero-Tilled Conditions after Different Preceding Crops (71-74) Abstract
M. Madhu, M. Venkata Ramana and S. Sridevi

A field experiment was conducted during kharif and rabi 2010-11 and 2011-12 at College Farm, College of Agriculture, Rajendranagar, ANGRAU. The experiment was laid out in split plot design, replicated thrice, with four preceding crops in main plots (green gram, groundnut, bajra and maize) and five nitrogen levels to rabi castor in sub plots (0, 40, 80, 120 & 160 kg N/ha). The results showed that among different preceding crops evaluated, green gram markedly increased growth parameters, yield attributes viz., length of primary spike, number of spikes/plant, number of capsules/primary spike and total number of capsules/ plant of castor were also higher when castor followed green gram. The green gram-castor system recorded higher castor seed yield over bajra-castor, groundnut-castor and maize-castor systems. However, the seed yield of former two systems was found at a par during both the years. Stalk yield, harvest index followed the same trend. Among nitrogen levels, application of 160 kg N/ha and 120 kg N/ha, being at par,recorded better yield components like number of spikes/plant and more number of capsules/primary spike of castor over lower N levels. Similarly, the seed yield and stalk yield of castor at 160 kg N/ha was comparable to that of 120 kg N/ha and both were found superior to lower N levels during two years of study.

Key words: Nitrogen, preceding crop, rabi castor, yield attributes, yield, zero-tillage
Crop Intensification through Relay cropping in Rice Fallows of Assam (71-77) Abstract
D. Sarma, P. Saikia, P.K. Sarma, M.K. Sarma, P. Neog, P. Borah, P. Chhetri, M. Hazarika, M. Bhattacharjee and N. Kakati

The present investigation was undertaken during 2010-11 and 2011-12 at the Kumolia village in Sonitpur district of Assam under the All India Coordinated Research Project for Dryland Agriculture, Assam Agricultural University, Biswanath Chariali to evaluate suitable crop as relay for kharif rice and to find out optimum sowing time for relay crops under rainfed condition. The experiment consisted of 8 treatments namely, T1: Relay cropping of lathyrus at 15 days after flowering of kharif rice ,T2: Relay cropping of pea at 15 days after flowering of kharif rice:,T3 : Relay cropping of Lentil at 15 days after flowering of kharif rice: T4:Relay cropping of coriander at 15 days after flowering of kharif rice, T5: Relay cropping of lathyrus at 25 days after flowering of kharif rice, T6: Relay cropping of pea at 25 days after flowering of kharif rice, T7: Relay cropping of lentil at 25 days after flowering of kharif rice and T8: Relay cropping of coriander at 25 days after flowering of kharif rice. The experiment was conducted on four different farmers’ fields considering as 4 (four) replications in a randomised block design. The pooled data of two years recorded the highest rice equivalent yield of 1335 kg/ha, and net returns of $ 9639/- with relay cropping of pea at 15 days after flowering of kharif rice (T2) which was statistically superior over rest of the treatments.

Key words: Coriander, lentil, pea, rice-fallows, lathyrus, rice equivalent yield, relay cropping, rain water use efficiency
Performance of Prominent Inter cropping Systems under various Tillage Practices in Vertisols of Marathwada Region (78-82) Abstract
B.V. Asewar, M.S. Pendke, A.K. Gore, M.S. Samindre, G. Ravindra Chary and Ch. Srinivasa Rao

A field study was conducted at the experimental cum research farm, AICRP on Dryland Agriculture, Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani (Maharashtra) during 2011 to 2016 on a deep Vertisols. The experiment was laid out in factorial randomized block design with three replication and three prominent intercropping systems i.e. Sorghum + pigeon pea (4:2), Soybean + pigeon pea (4:2) and Bt cotton + soybean (1:1) and five tillage practices i.e. shallow tillage with bullock drawn implements, convectional tillage with bullock drawn implements, shallow tillage with tractor drawn implements, convectional tillage with tractor drawn implements and tillage with rotary tillers. Bt cotton + soybean intercropping system recorded significantly superior seed Bt cotton equivalent yield than other cropping systems. Soybean + pigeon pea and sorghum + pigeon pea recorded at par seed cotton equivalent yield. Among tillage practices, shallow tillage with tractor drawn implements recorded significantly higher seed cotton equivalent yield than Conventional tillage with bullock drawn implement, conventional tillage with tractor drawn implements and tillage with rotary tillers and found to be at par with shallow tillage with bullock drawn and Bt cotton + soybean in combination with shallow tillage with tractor drawn implement recorded significantly higher seed cotton equivalent yield than other cropping system. Gross monetary, net monetary returns and B: C ratio in Bt cotton + soybean in combination with shallow tillage with tractor drawn implement was found significant.

Key words: Economics, intercropping systems, rain water use efficiency and tillage practices
Micronutrients Foliar Diagnostic Norm for Pomegranate Using DRIS (83-86) Abstract
Vrushali Deshmukh, A.G. Durgude, I.R. Bagwan, B.D. Tamboli and A.N. Deshpande

Diagnosis and Recommendation Integrated System (DRIS) was used as an alternative approach for foliar diagnosis of micronutrients. DRIS norms are generally better than the diagnosis made by sufficiency range method, with the advantage, that DRIS reflects nutrient balance, and identifies the order in which the nutrients are likely to become limiting. DRIS based analysis predicted the optimum values of micronutrient concentrations in leaf as: Fe (161.5 - 198.5, 164.4-201.3, 160.2-197.2 mg/kg), Mn (40-60.4,41.4-64.3, 40.3-61.2 mg/kg), Zn (15.37-31.28, 19.77-35.92, 12.86-29.44 mg/kg), Cu (21.35-49.77, 25.47-54.22, 17.25-41.94 mg/ kg), B (23-35, 20-29, 13-25 mg/kg), and Mo (0.24-0.48, 0.24-0.50 and 0.24-0.49 mg/kg) at 50% flowering , fruit development and harvesting stages respectively. All micronutrients in the order of decreasing influence on fruit yield were rated as: Fe < B < Zn
Key words:DRIS, leaf analysis, micronutrients, optimum yield and pomegranate

Year

2017
- Vol-32 Num-I

Year