Rashtriya Krishi (English)

D. Dinesh ¹, K. Rajan ¹, V. Kasthuri Thilagam ¹, O. P. S. Khola ¹

Affiliations
1 ICAR-Indian Institute of soil and Water conservation, Research Centre, Udhagamandalam (T.N.), IN

Abstract

Tea (Camellia sinensis) is an important plantation crop. India has 5,63,980 ha land under tea of which 1,05,685 ha is in Southern India. In India states like Assam (53%), West Bengal (23.9%), Tamil Nadu (11.3%) and Kerala (8.44%) are contributing for major tea production. It is also grown in a small scale in Tripura, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Sikkim, Bihar, Manipur, Orissa, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh. Tea industry in India is more than 150 years old generating the revenue of more than Rs 6,000 crore per annum. The production of tea in India has increased from 250 million kg in 1947 to 1208 million kg in 2013 with 40 per cent increase in area. Optimum application of nutrients in right time ensures optimum tea yield.

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D. Dinesh ¹, K. Rajan ², M. Shankar ³, K. Manikandan ⁴, V. Kasthuri Thilagam ², P. Kannan ⁵

Affiliations
1 ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Research Centre, Vasad (Gujarat), IN
2 ICAR- Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Research Centre, Udhagamandalam (T.N.), IN
3 ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Dehradun (Uttarakhand), IN
4 Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Agriculture College and Research Institute, TNAU, Madurai (T.N.), IN
5 Dryland Agriculture Research Station, TNAU, Chettinad (T.N.), IN

Abstract

Meeting the food grain demand of ever growing global population is the big challenge to agriculture sector. Plant disease significantly reduces the production of food crops besides affecting the quality adversely. Losses associated with plant diseases in yield reduction ranging from slight to catastrophic depending upon varying factors. Literature review highlighted that an average yield loss of 42% from the six most important food crops. It is vital to manage plant diseases to avoid the yield loss, which helps to meet the food grain demand in simple means. In other way, disease management is helping us to meet the food grain demand of increasing population under shrinkage of cultivable area.

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D. Dinesh ¹, K. Kannan ², K. Rajan ²

Affiliations
1 ICAR- Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Research Centre, Vasad, Anand (Gujarat), IN
2 ICAR - Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Research Centre, Udhagamandalam (T.N.), IN

Abstract

Buckwheat is a fast growing short-duration cover crop. It establishes, blooms and ready for incorporation within 35 to 40 days after sowing and its residue decomposes quickly. As a grain, it reaches maturity in just 70 to 90 days. Buckwheat suppresses weeds and attracts beneficial insects and pollinators with its abundant blossoms. It is easy to kill and reportedly mobilizes soil phosphorus from soil better than other cover crops. Buckwheat thrives well in cool and moist conditions but it is not frost tolerant. Buckwheat is not a drought tolerant crop and readily wilts under hot and dry conditions.

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