Current Science

V. S. Santhosh Mithra ¹, Raji Pushpalatha ¹, S. Sunitha ¹, James George ¹, P. P. Singh ², R. S. Singh ², J. Tarafdar ³, Surajit Mitra ³, Chandra Deo ⁴, Sunil Pareek ⁵, B. K. M. Lakshmi ⁶, R. Shiny ¹, G. Byju ¹

Affiliations
1 ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research Institute, Thiruvananthapuram 695 017, IN
2 Rajendra Agricultural University, Pusa, Samasthipur 848 125, IN
3 Bidhan Chandra Krishi Vishwavidyalaya (BCKV), Kalyani 741 252, IN
4 Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology, Faizabad 224 229, IN
5 Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, Udaipur 313 001, IN
6 Shri Konda Laxman Telangana State Horticultural University, Rajendra Nagar 500 030, IN

Abstract

A study was conducted to evaluate the wider applicability of sweet potato growth model, ‘SPOTCOMS’ for simulating the phenology and yield over a set of agroclimatic conditions in India. The model simulated the phenology of the crop as a function of growing degree days. The genetic coefficients required for the model were estimated from the field experiments conducted with sweet potato variety, Sree Bhadra and other local varieties at the study locations. The model simulated the yield of the sweet potato well and the statistical indices calculated between the simulated and observed yields stated the reliability of the model simulations. The agreement index (D-index) for Sree Bhadra ranged from 0.55 to 0.99, and the D-index for local varieties ranged from 0.51 to 1.00. The calculated values of normalized objective function ranged from 0.01 to 0.10 for Sree Bhadra and 0.00 to 0.22 for other local varieties, and indicated better agreement of simulated and observed yields. The normalized ischolar_main mean square error ranged from 0.80% to 10.40% for Sree Bhadra and 0.00% to 22.44% for other varieties, and these results suggested the wider applicability of the model with excellent to good simulations. The model also simulated dry matter distribution in tubers pertaining to different stresses such as water, nitrogen and potassium. The study revealed that the simulation model ‘SPOTCOMS’ can be used for simulating the yield as well as to manage the stresses during the crop growth period and to optimize best management practices for the crop cultivation irrespective of the agroclimatic conditions.

Keywords

Crop Phenology, Calibration, Growing Degree Days, SPOTCOMS, Simulation.

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D. K. Pandey ¹, P. Adhiguru ², Uma Sah ³, N. Devachandra ¹, S. K. Dubey ⁴, Chandra Deo ¹

Affiliations
1 College of Horticulture and Forestry, Central Agricultural University, Pasighat 791 102, IN
2 Division of Agricultural Extension, Krishi Anusandhan Bhavan-I, ICAR, New Delhi 110 012, IN
3 ICAR-Indian Institute of Pulses Research, Kanpur 278 002, IN
4 ICAR-Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute, Kanpur 278 002, IN

Abstract

Natural environmental settings, in general, are considered by humans as the ideal ambience which makes them happy and reinvigorated especially within their mental realm. If this is the case, can we assume that all green spaces are synonymous to augmenting happiness? Biodiversity is expressed in terms of a system having number and abundance of different species. For resilience of various ecosystem services like food production, climate regulation, and pest management to take place, prevalence of such biodiversity is essential which can substantially contribute to sustained human well-being. In this study, we assessed the status of agrobiodiversity and subjective well-being of an indigenous community amidst the transition from shifting cultivation (SC) to monoculture of natural rubber (NR). Sampling the respondents from 18 villages of Dhalai, Tripura, a remotely located district in northeast India and bordered by Bangladesh, we used mixed methods research for in depth investigation. Findings revealed that in the SC landscape of study area, the cultivated crop species and livestock breeds were being largely replaced by encroachment from rubber plantation. We documented only 19 crop species on such a landscape which is otherwise known for its vast agrobiodiversity in the tropics. This kind of transition from SC to NR which is usually supported by the government development interventions, has severely affected the ecosystem services of such landscapes and banishing happiness from the indigenous communities, as perceived by them. Hence stabilization of rich agrobiodiversity and simultaneously ensuring the peoples’ well-being is the only potential alternative for development in the region.

Keywords

Agrobiodiversity, Indigenous Community, Northeast India, Rubber Plantation, Shifting Cultivation Landscape.

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