Journal of Horticultural Sciences

R. Srinivasan ¹, K. Jeevan Rao ², V. Sailaja ², D. Kalaivanan ³

Affiliations
1 National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, Regional Centre, Kolkata-700091, IN
2 Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University, College of Agriculture, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad – 500 030, IN
3 Directorate of Cashew Research, Puttur, D.K., Karnataka-574202, IN

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted at Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India, during rabi and kharif seasons of 2010 and 2011 to study direct, cumulative, or residual effect of organic manures (Farmyard Manure, Vermicompost, Poultry Manure, Neem Cake, and combinations thereof) along with the recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) and absolute Control, on nutrient uptake, yield and quality in cabbage-baby corn cropping sequence system. Results showed that application of recommended dose of fertilizers [N, P and K (100:50:50 kg ha^-1)] recorded highest yield in cabbage (38.91t ha^-1), which was comparable to combined application (2.89t ha^-1) of poultry manure and neem cake (37.9t ha^-1). In baby corn, maximum yield (6.12t ha^-1) was recorded with recommended dose of fertilizers, followed by the combined use of poultry manure and neem cake (5.80t ha^-1). Among various treatments, residual effect and combined application of poultry manure and neem cake to a preceding cabbage crop, recorded maximum yield in baby corn (4.71t ha^-1) over other treatments. Similar trend was seen in nutrient uptake by cabbage and baby corn (cumulative and residual). Highest protein and ascorbic acid content in cabbage, residual and cumulative baby corn was recorded with application of poultry manure + neem cake (2.89t ha^-1), and poultry manure + FYM (6.11t ha^-1) respectively.

Keywords

Manures, Cabbage, Baby Corn, Cumulative, Residual, Nutrient Uptake, Quality.

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A. N. Ganeshamurthy ¹, D. Kalaivanan ¹, T. R. Rupa ¹, H. B. Raghupathi ¹

Affiliations
1 Division of Natural Resource Management, ICAR - Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bengaluru - 560 089, IN

Abstract

Perennial horticulture in India has undergone a change from rainfed system to drip fertigation systems and from isolated hedge and bund trees to high intensity orchard systems with enhanced number of trees per unit area. In several parts, particularly in the Deccan plateau, the system has now become completely dependent on water pumped from tube wells. Severe competition for water from tube wells makes farmers to devote more water for cash rich annual crops and even sell water for city dwellers nearby. As a consequence, the groundwater level in the past three decades has fallen from few feet to above thousand feet. At several places it has crossed the “peak water”. Frequent and prolonged exposure of fruit trees and nuts to drought coupled with ground water depletion has led to soil profile drying leading to reduced vigour and enhanced vulnerability to diseases and pests. This has led to withering of fruit and nut trees. Perennial crops are likely to become increasingly maladapted to their environment, particularly in the earlier period of climate change they are more likely to be attacked by diseases and insects. Coconuts, areca nuts and mango trees have died in several places and the government constituted committees have recommended compensation to the farmers. As a country, we have dramatically increased our reliance on groundwater. 175 million Indians are now fed with food produced with the unsustainable use of groundwater. This increase has dried up rivers and lakes, because there is a hydrologic connection between groundwater and surface water. Yet the legal rules governing water use usually ignore the link between law and science. The issue needs thorough examination and needs policy interventions to come out of this vicious circle.

Keywords

Drought, Fruit Trees, Groundwater Depletion, Peak Water, Perennial Crops, Policy Issue.

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A. N. Ganeshamurthy ¹, S. Rajendiran ¹, D. Kalaivanan ¹, T. R. Rupa ¹

Affiliations
1 Division of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, IN

Abstract

Zinc is considered as the fourth important yield limiting nutrient in India, after N, P, and K. From the regular soil analysis data, Indian soils (50%) are found to be deficient in Zn and the zinc deficiency is likely to increase in future. Areas with low soil available Zn are often regions with widespread zinc deficiency in humans. Zinc malnutrition and deficiency in human is alarming and is gaining attention in recent years. Application of zinc to soil and crops is one of the simple and easiest ways to mitigate or alleviate Zn deficiency in human. Moreover Zn uptake, its translocation and yield response of various crops to applied Zn are need to be focused for finding sustainable solutions to the problem of zinc deficiency in crops and humans. In this manuscript, importance of Zn to plants and human, Zn malnutrition problems in India and global level, soil Zn status of Karnataka, various factors that responsible for Zn deficiency in the soils of Karnataka and the response of various horticultural crops to Zn application in the region is discussed. Soil maps are believed to be an important tool to delineate and manage nutrient deficient areas. It also elaborates the effective Zn management strategies to improve crop productivity and farm income.

Keywords

Crop Production, Crop Quality, Karnataka, Horticultural Crops, Zinc Deficiency, Zn Management.

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