DEPARTMENT OF AGRONOMY Rajasthan College of Agriculture

Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, Udaipur (Raj.)

Synopsis for Proposed Research Work in M.Sc. (Agronomy)

1. 2. 3. Name of Scholar Registration No. Registration Date Title of Thesis : GHOLAM ALI YAGHOBI : 06-01-02-04-55 : 30-8-2006 : Effect of irrigation levels and weed management on productivity of wheat (Triticum aestivum) under zero tillage.

4. 5.

Name of Department : Department of Agronomy, and College Rajasthan College of Agriculture, Udaipur Expected Duration of : 1 year (November 2007 to June 2008) Work

6. OBJECTIVES (i) (ii) (iii)

To study the effect of irrigation levels and different weed control practices on weeds and yield of wheat. To work out suitable irrigation and weed control practice for the crop. To assess economics of the treatments.

7. IMPORTANCE OF THE PROPOSED INVESTIGATION Wheat (Tritium spp.) is an important cereal crop of India, providing ample food, calories and proteins to Indian population .It is an important winter cereal contributing about 32 percent of total food grain production in India. India will need 109 m.t of wheat by 2020 (Nagrajan, 1997). To achieve this, productivity of 4.29 t/ha would be needed with the use of resource conservation technologies. Lately, there has been great emphasis on the use of resource conservation technologies in raising field crops for saving natural resources for posterity. Adoption of zero-tillage in wheat crop has gained popularity in the recent past. Cultivation of wheat under zero tillage system has certain advantages like improved soil conditions due to decompositions of crop residues in situ, increase in infiltration rate, less soil compaction

and reduced cost of seed bed preparation. The productivity of wheat depends on the prevailing environmental conditions during the crop growth which can not be modified to a great extent under field conditions. With the adoption of modern agronomic management, favorable soil moisture regime can be created by timely scheduling of irrigation. Irrigation increases the availability of water and nutrients through the establishment of relatively favorable moisture conditions around root zone of crop. However, the research work done on irrigation scheduling of wheat crop raised under zero-tillage system is very negligible, hence there is need to work out irrigation requirement of wheat crop raised under zerotillage. Weed competition throughout the crop period causes yield reduction to the tune of 15-50% or sometimes more depending on weed densities (Malik et al 1989). Weeds are major problem in adoption of zero tillage.( Brandt,1993).Due to high fertility and irrigation requirements , wheat is infested with heavy population of P.minor, Avena ludovieina, Chenopodium album, Vicia sativa, Melilotus indica and cirsium arvense. Effective weed control measures increase the uptake of nutrients by the crop and decrease their removal by weeds resulting in a significant improvement in fertilizer use efficiency. Pendimethalin, 2, 4-D and isoproturon have been found most effective in controlling weeds in wheat crop. Isoproturon is being used since 1980 for P.minor in wheat. The acute problem of both of grassy weeds along with some broad leaf weeds is not uncommon in many parts of the India. Tank mixture of isoproturon with 2, 4-D was found successful against complex weed flora and has been recommended to growers (Malik, 1992).Pre-emergence application of pendimethalin has also been found successful in controlling complex weed flora of wheat crop. Therefore, it is imperative to test efficacy of these herbicides in controlling weeds in wheat crop raised under zerotillage situation. 8. REVIEV OF LITERATURE 8.1 Effect of irrigation levels: In a field experiment on loamy sand, Hundal and Rajwant (1993) obtained grain yield of 3.45, 3.80 and 4.10 t ha-1 with irrigations at IW: CPE ratio of 0.5, IW:CPE ratio of 1.0 up to booting followed by IW:CPE ratio of 0.5 up to maturity and IW:CPE ratio of 1.0 up to maturity, respectively, compared with grain yield of 2.63 t ha-1 from the rain-fed crop. Sharma and Jalota(1993) raised wheat cv. WL-1652 with irrigation at IW: CPE ratios of 1.2, 0.9 or 0.6 and application of varying levels of nitrogen upto 180 kg N/ha. Grain yield was greatest at IW: CPE ratio of 1.2 and was increased by all N rates. Kumar and Sharma(1995)in a field experiment at Karnal, Haryana, obtained the highest grain yield of wheat cv. HD 2285 (4.09 t/ha )with irrigation at an IW: CPE ratio of 1.2 + 180 kg N ha-1. Dubey and Sharma (1996) in a field experiment on a sandy loam soil (Entisol) at Dhaulakuan, Himachal Pradesh obtained grain yield of 2.40 and 2.63 t ha-1 with irrigation at IW:CPE of 0.6 and 0.9, respectively. Bandyopadhya (1997) recorded the highest mean grain yield of 3.11 t ha-1 with irrigation of 50 mm water depth at IW: CPE ratio of 1.2 compared to grain yield of 2.45 and 2.71 t with irrigation at IW: CPE ratios of 0.6 and 0.9, respectively.

Mishra et al. (1998) observed that leaf area index (LAI) was significantly influenced by irrigation schedules from 40 days after sowing. LAI was highest with irrigation at 5 growth stages or at an IW: CPE ratio of 1.0, although yield was not significantly greater than that obtained with irrigation at 0.75 IW: CPE. Kumar et al. (1994) conducted a field trial on highly sodic soil amended with gypsum at Karnal, Haryana in winter seasons of 1990-92, using wheat cv. HD 2285 as a test crop. They reported the highest Water use efficiency at 0.6 IW: CPE. 8.2 Effect of weed control: A study was conducted at Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, to investigate the effect of herbicide application on weed control in wheat cv. HD 2329, sown up to third week of November. There were 6 treatments consisting of a weedy control, diclofop (700 g a.i. ha-1), isoproturon (IPU; 1000 g a.i. ha-1), 2,4-D+IPU (500+750 g a.i./ha), 2,4-D+IPU (500+1000 g a.i./ha) and weed free (hand weeding at 30, 45 and 60 days after sowing). The density and dry matter content of weeds was highest in the weedy uncontrolled treatment. The growth parameters, yield contributing characters and yield (41.49 and 70.64 q ha-1 grain and straw yields, respectively) of wheat was significantly highest with 2,4-D+IPU (500+1000 g a.i. ha-1) treatment combination, but it was at par with 2,4D+IPU (500+750 g a.i. ha-1) treatment. A field experiment was conducted in Udaipur, Rajasthan, India, during rabi 19992000 to study the effects of pendimethalin (750 or 1000 g ha-1), isoproturon (750 g ha-1), 2,4-D (400 g ha-1) + isoproturon (750 g ha-1), clodinafop (50 or 60 g ha-1), fenoxaprop (60 or 80 g ha-1), metribuzin (250 or 300 g ha-1) and sulfosulfuron (25 or 30 g ha-1) on wheat (cv. Raj 3077) and associated weeds. Pendimethalin was applied at pre-emergence, whereas the other herbicides were applied at 32 days after sowing (DAS). Application of all the herbicides significantly reduced the density and dry weight of Phalaris minor and broadleaved weeds. P. minor was completely controlled with sulfosulfuron and clodinafop at all concentrations, and fenoxaprop at 80 g ha- 1. Application of 2,4-D + isoproturon resulted in the greatest reduction in total weed density and dry matter at 40 and 80 DAS. Wheat growth and yield were significantly enhanced with herbicide application. The highest dry matter contents at 40 and 80 DAS were obtained with 2, 4-D + isoproturon (12.28 and 85.97 quintal ha-1) and 30 g sulfosulfuron ha-1 (12.07 and 84.11 quintal ha-1). The tallest plants were obtained with 750 g isoproturon (89.90 cm), 2,4-D + isoproturon (94.40 cm), 25 g sulfosulfuron (91.30 cm) and 30 g sulfosulfuron ha-1 (92.60 cm). The application of 2, 4-D + isoproturon resulted in the greatest number of effective tillers (81.7m-1), ear length (8.9 cm), test weight (46.05 g), and grain (55.71 quintal ha- 1) and biological (125.05 quintal ha-1) yields. The highest number of grains per ear (39.5 and 38.2) and straw yields (69.34 and 63.83 quintal ha-1) were recorded for 2, 4-D + isoproturon and 30 g sulfosulfuron ha-1. Efficacy of 2,4-D + MCPA (2 litre ha- 1), RoundUp [glyphosate] (1, 2, 3 or 4 litre/ha) and RoundUp Ultra [glyphosate] (1, 2, 3 or 4 litre ha- 1) against camel thorn (Alhagi camelorum) and canada thistle (Cirsium arvense) on wheat was evaluated in Khorasan, Iran, during 2001 and 2002. The herbicides were sprayed in the crop during

the flowering stage. Treatment with 2, 4-D + MCPA resulted in the greatest reduction (by approximately 30%) in the weight and density of camel thorn. Roundup Ultra at 4 liter/ha significantly reduced the weight and density of camel thorn (18.5% control). Roundup was not effective against camel thorn. The greatest reduction in the weight and density of field thistle was obtained with 2, 4-D + MCPA (33.4% control). This treatment also gave the lowest number of shoots in both weeds. Roundup Ultra at 1 liter/ha was the least effective against field thistle. Roundup Ultra and Roundup did not significantly affect the weight and density of field thistle. The critical duration for herbicide application (approximately 15 days before wheat harvesting) coincided with seed hardening in wheat and flowering in field thistle. A field experiment was conducted in Haryana, India, during the rabi seasons of 2000-01 and 2001-02 to evaluate the effect of mesosulfuron and iodosulfuron alone and their ready-made mixture for control of weeds in wheat cv. PBW 343. Ready-mixture of mesosulfuron+iodosulfuron at 15+3 g ha-1 provided effective control of weeds and produced effective tillers and grain yield of wheat similar to sulfosulfuron at 25 g ha- 1 and the plots kept weed-free for the whole season. Mesosulfuron alone at 18.75 g ha- 1 was at par with sulfosulfuron at 25 g ha-1 in reducing the density and dry weight of weeds. On an average, it reduced the dry weight of weeds by 90% over the weedy control. The highest wheat yield (5220-5446 kg ha-1) was recorded in weed-free plots, which was statistically similar to that obtained with application of sulfosulfuron (51955411 kg ha-1) at 25 g ha-1 and ready-mix of mesosulfuron + iodosulfuron (5152-5323 kg ha-1) at 15 + 3 g ha-1. Application of chlorsulfuron at 30 g ha-1, metsulfuron methyl at 8 g ha-1, metribuzin at 200, 400 g ha-1 alone and the tank mixture of metribuzin (100 and 200 g) along with chlorsulfuron (15 g) and metsulfuron methyl (2 g) was effective in controlling complex weed flora. Metsulfuron methyl at 4 g ha-1 and chlorsulfuron at 15 g ha-1 were effective only against broad leaf weeds. While isoproturon at 1000 g ha-1 was effective against P. minor. The efficacy of tank mixture of metsulfuron methyl at 2 g ha- 1 and isoproturon at 500 g ha-1 was very poor against both types of weeds. The highest grain yield of wheat (4400 and 5000 kg ha-1) was obtained in repeated weeded plot during both the years. Grain yields obtained with application of chlorsulfuron at 30 g ha-1, metsulfuron methyl at 8 g ha-1 alone and combined application of chlorsulfuron at 15 g ha-1 and metribuzin at 100 and 200 g ha-1 were statistically similar to weed-free during both the seasons. Metribuzin either alone at 200 and 400 g ha- 1 or in combinations with metsulfuron methyl showed phytotoxic effect on wheat crop. A field experiment was conducted at Baraut, Uttar Pradesh, India, in 1996-97 to the study the effects of pendimethalin (0.5 and 1.0 kg a.i. ha-1), isoproturon (0.5 and 0.75 kg.a.i.ha1), metsulfuronmethyl [metsulfuron] (0.004 and 0.008kga.i./ha), isoproturon + pendimethalin (0.5 kg a.i. ha-1each), and isoproturon + metsulfuron-methyl (0.5 + 0.004 kg a.i. ha-1) on wheat cv. HD 2329 and associated weeds (mainly Phalaris minor, Melilotus indica, Fumaria parviflora, Chenopodium album, Anagallis arvensis, Cirsium arvense, and Rumex dentatus). Application of all the herbicides significantly reduced weed population and dry weight. Pendimethalin (1.0 kg a.i. ha-1) was most effective in controlling Chenopodium album. Isoproturon (0.75 kg a.i. ha-1) showed the highest control efficiency against P. minor. Metsulfuron-methyl (0.008kg a.i. ha-1) was most effective against M. indica, F. parviflon, Cirsium arvense, andR. dentatus. Anagallis

arvensis was most efficiently controlled by metsulfuron-methyl (0.008 kg a.i. ha-1) and isoproturon (0.5 kg a.i. ha-1) + metsulfuron-methyl (0.004 kg a.i. ha-1). Unchecked weeds reduced yield by almost 37.8% in 1996-97 and 37.5% in 1997-98. The highest seed yield (mainly due to lower weed density) was obtained with 0.75 kg isoproturon a.i. ha-1 and all herbicide combinations. The lowest competition due to weeds (6.01 in 1996-97 and 5.76% in 1997-98) was observed in plots with 0.75 kg isoproturon a.i. ha-1. Field experiments conducted during winter seasons of 1995-96 and 1996-97 revealed that application of metsulfuron-methyl at 2 and 4 g ha-1was effective in controlling Chenopodium album, Anagallis arvensis, Melilotus alba, Trifolium flagiferum, Medicago hispida, Vicia sativa and Cichorium intybus, but not Phalaris minor. The efficacy was improved with the addition of 2,4-D at 250 or 500 g ha- 1 and isoproturon at 500 g ha-1. The efficacy of 2,4-D at different rates was slightly of lower order. On the basis of two years' mean, higher grain yield of wheat was obtained with application of metsulfuron-methyl at 4 g ha-1 + 2,4-D at 500 g ha-1 (5038 kg/ha) or metsulfuron-methyl at 4 g ha-1 + 2,4-D at 250 g ha-1 (4825 kg/ha) and hand weeding (4812 kg/ha) as against 3881 kg/ha under weedy control. A study was conducted at Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, to investigate the effect of herbicide application on weed control in wheat cv. HD 2329, sown up to third week of November. There were 6 treatments consisting of a weedy control, diclofop (700 g a.i. ha-1), isoproturon (IPU; 1000 g a.i. ha-1), 2,4-D + IPU (500+750 g a.i. ha-1), 2,4-D + IPU (500+1000 g a.i. ha-1) and weed free (hand weeding at 30, 45 and 60 days after sowing). The density and dry matter content of weeds was highest in the weedy uncontrolled treatment. The growth parameters, yield contributing characters and yield (41.49 and 70.64 q ha-1 grain and straw yields, respectively) of wheat were significantly highest with 2, 4-D + IPU (500 + 1000 g a.i. ha- 1) treatment combination, but it was at par with 2,4-D + IPU (500 + 750 g a.i. ha-1) treatment.. 9. PROPOSED PLAN OF WORK 9.1 Test crop: Wheat ((Triticum aestivum) 9.2 Treatment Details: (A) Irrigation levels: 0.50, 0.75, 1.00 and 1.25 Irrigation water: Cumulative Pan Evaporation ((IW: CPE). (B) Weedy check, pendimethalin at 0.75 kg /ha (pre-emergence), 2, 4-D Na salt at 0.4 kg /ha + isoproturon at 0.6 kg /ha (post emergence) and manual weed control at 35 DAS 9.3 (i) Total treatment combinations : 16 (ii) Number of replications :3 (iii) Total number of plots : 48 (iv) Experimental design : Split plot Main plots : Irrigation levels Sub plots : Weed control practices (v) Plot size 9.4 Variety Gross : 7m X 2.025 m (14.175m2) Net : 6 m X 1.80 m (10.8 m2) : Raj-4037

9.5 9.6 9.7

Irrigation : As per the treatments Fertilization : N at 80 kg ha-1 through urea and phosphorus at 40 kg ha-1 through SSP Plant protection: As per the requirements

9.8 OBSERVATIONS 9.8.1 Crop Studies: (A) Germination count and plant growth parameters (i) Germination count at 20 DAS. (ii) Plant height at maximum tillering, anthesis and at harvest (iii) Total tillers m-2 at maximum tillering (iv) Dry matter accumulation at maximum tillering, anthesis and at harvest (B) Yield components (i) Effective tillers (ii) Ear length (iii) Grains per ear (iv) Grain weight per ear (v) 1000-grain weight (C) Yield and harvest index (i) Biological yield (above ground) (ii) Grain yield (iii) Straw yield (iv) Harvest index (D) Biochemical studies (i) N content (%) and uptake (kg/ha) by the crop (ii) Protein content (%) in grains (E) Relative economics:(i) Net return (ii) B: C ratio (F) Consumptive use and WUE 9.8.2 Weed studies i)Weed density (ii) Weed dry matter iii)Weed control efficacy (iv) N- uptake by weeds 10. FACILITIES AVAILABLE: All the facilities, both in term of field experimentation and laboratory analysis existing in the college , will be made available by the Professor and Head, Department of Agronomy , Rajasthan Collge of Agriculture ,Udaipur.

11. LOCATION OF AREA: Field No. E5, Instructional Farm, Department of Agronomy, Rajasthan College of Agriculture, Udaipur 12. LITERATURE CITED: Zhelev, R .1975. Characteristics of the root system of wheat as influenced by soil moisture. Rasteniev"dni-Nauki., 12: 2, 27-39 Sharma, B.D., Kar, S. and Jalota, S.K.1993. Effect of irrigation and nitrogen on root growth and prediction of soil-water profiles in wheat (Triticum aestivum). Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences 63: 1, 8-13 Hundal, S.S., Singh, Rajwant and Singh, R. 1996. Bowen ratio, evapotranspiration, microclimate and crop growth in irrigated and rainfed wheat (Triticum aestivum). IndianJournal of Agricultural Sciences. 63: 7, 443-446 Sharma, B.D., Kar, S., Buay-Singh; Singh-B.1991 . Nitrate flux into root and uptake of nitrogen by wheat (Triticum aestivum) grown under different levels of nitrogen and irrigation. Indian-Journal-of-Agricultural-Sciences. 61: 7, 465-470; 15 ref Sharma-BD; Jalota-SK; Kar-S; Singh-CB.1992 . Effect of nitrogen and water uptake on yield of wheat. Fertilizer-Research. 31: 1, 5-8; 16 ref. Bandyopadhyay-PK.1997. Effect of irrigation schedule on evapo-transpiration and wateruse efficiency of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum). : Indian-Journal-ofAgronomy. 42: 1, 90-93; 4 ref. Dubey-YP; Sharma-SK.1996. Effect of irrigation and fertilizers on growth, yield and nutrient uptake by wheat (Triticum aestivum). Indian-Journal-of-Agronomy. 41: 1, 48-51; 1 ref. Ashok-Kumar; Sharma-DK; Sharma-HC; Kumar-A.1995 . Water and nitrogen needs of wheat (Triticum aestivum) in sodic soil. : Indian-Journal-of-AgriculturalSciences. 65: 5, 323-327; 7 ref. Ashok-Kumar; Sharma-DK; Sharma-HC; Kumar-A.1995 . Nitrogen uptake, recovery and N-use efficiency in wheat (Triticum aestivum) as influenced by nitrogen and irrigation levels in semi-reclaimed sodic soils. : Indian-Journal-of-Agronomy. 40: 2, 198-203; 10 ref. Kumar-A; Sharma-DK; Sharma-HC.1994. Growth, yield and water-use efficiency of wheat (Triticum aestivum) as influenced by irrigation and nitrogen in sodic soils. Indian-Journal-of-Agronomy. 39: 2, 220-224; 10 ref.

Mishra-RK; Paliwal-AK; Chaudhary-SK.1998. Effect of nitrogen and irrigation on LAI, LAI (R.L.) and yield of wheat. Bhartiya-Krishi-Anusandhan-Patrika. 13: 3-4, 127-131; 5 ref. Parihar,-S-S.2004 . Effect of crop-establishment method, tillage, irrigation and nitrogen on production potential of rice (Oryza sativa)-wheat (Triticum aestivum) cropping system. Indian-Journal-of-Agronomy. 49(1): 1-5 Abdellaoui,-Z; Fettih,-S; Zaghouane,-O.2006 . Comparative study of the effect of zero and conventional tillage on durum wheat. Options-Mediterraneennes-Serie-A,Seminaires-Mediterraneens. (69): 115-120 Sinha,-A-K; Singh,-R-P.2005 . Studies on the effect of herbicides under different tillage practices in wheat. Indian-Journal-of-Weed-Science. 37(3/4): 159-162 Jaibir-Tomar; Om-Prakash; Rathi,-A-S; Vipin-Mishra; Rana,-N-S. 2004. : Effects of herbicides application on weed control in wheat crops. Progressive-Agriculture. 4(1): 57-59 Kanojia,-Y; Nepalia,-V.2004 . Influence of herbicidal weed control on wheat (Triticum aestivum) productivity. Research-on-Crops. 5(1): 138-142 Faravani,-M; Khalghani,-J.2004 . Synchronized weed chemical control and wheat harvesting. Journal-of-Food,-Agriculture-and-Environment. 2(1): 202-204 Samar-Singh; Malik,-R-K; Harpal-Singh; Sandeep-Narwal .2003 : Evaluation of readymix of mesosulfuron+iodosulfuron for weed control in wheat. Indian-Journalof-Weed-Science. 35(3/4): 190-193 Rajvir-Sharma; Pahuja,-S-S.2001 . Bio-efficacy of chlorsulfuron, metsulfuron methyl and metribuzin alone and in combinations for weed control in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Indian-Journal-of-Weed-Science. 33(3/4): 112-115 Nisha-Chopra; Harpal-Singh; Tripathi,-H-P; Chopra,-N-K.2001. Performance of metsulfuron methyl and pendimethalin alone and their mixtures with isoproturon on weed control in wheat (Triticum aestivum) seed crop. : Indian-Journal-ofAgronomy. 46(2): 239-245 Kurchania,-S-P; Bhalla,-C-S; Paradkar,-N-R.2000 : Bio-efficacy of metsulfuron-methyl and 2,4-D combinations for broadleaf weed control in wheat. : Indian-Journalof-Weed-Science. 32(1/2): 67-69 Jaibir-Tomar; Om-Prakash; Rathi,-A-S; Vipin-Mishra; Rana,-N-S.2004. Effects of herbicides application on weed control in wheat crops. Progressive-Agriculture. 4(1): 57-59 (Signature of Scholar)

* Original not seen 12. LITERATURE CITED : Annual Report. 2004-05. Annual Report, All India Cooredinated Sorghum Improvement Project, Rajasthan College of Agriculture, Udaipur,pp. 14-23. Bhilara, R.L., Aher, V.B., Hiray, A.G. and Gethe, R.M. 2002. Response of multicut sorghum to nitrogen application. Journal of Maharashtra Agricultural Universities 27 : 339-340. Dadheech, R.C., Kumar, D. and Sumeriya, H.K. 2000. Effect of graded levels of N and forage sorghum. Annals of Biology Ludhiana 16 : 71-74. Dixit, A.K., Singh, O.P., Kachroo, Dileep and S. Bali, Amarjit. 2005. Response of promising rainy season sorghum ( S. bicolor) genotypes to nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization. Indian Journal of Agronomy 50 : 206-209. EI-Hoda, N., Taha, M. and EI-Koleky, M.M. 1999. Response of sweet sorghum to irrigation intevales and nitrogen fertilization. A suit Journal of Agriculture Science 30 : 65-68. Gadhethariya, H.U., Sukhadia, N.M. and Ramani, B.B. 2000. Response of multicut forage sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.)] to biofertilizers and levels of nitrogen 26 : 55-58. Gampawar, A.S., Zinjarde, R.M. and Ingole, A.S. 2002. Evaluation of sorghum cultivars for forage production under rainfed condition. Journal of Soils and Crops 12 : 145146. Gill, A.S. and Naranjan, K.P. 1979. Effect of rates and method of nitrogen application on the fodder yield of sorghum. Curr. Agric 3 : 151-153. Jain, A. 1998. Effect of nitrogen, poultry manure and cowpea on yield and quality of forage sorghum. M.Sc. Thesis, Department of Agronomy, RCA, Udaipur, RAU, Bikaner. Kumar, D. 1992. Response of forage sorghum cultivars to varying levels of nitrogen. M.Sc. Thesis, Department of Agronomy, RCA, Udaipur, RAU, Bikaner. Kushwaha, H.S. and Chandel, A.S. 1997. Effect of nitrogen on yield, yield attributes and

quality of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) intercropped with soybean (Glycine max). Indian Journal of Agronomy 42 : 205-209. Mal, B., Pathak, P.S., Upadhyaya, V.S., Gupta, J.N. and Suresh, G. 2006. Forage Crops and Grasses. Handbook of Agriculture. pp 1128-1130. Malik, H.P.S., Singh, H. and Singh, O.P. 1992. Response of multicut fodder sorghum Sorghum bicolor L. cultivars to nitrogen and cutting management. Indian Journal of Agronomy 37 : 470-473. Patil, B.B. and Shinde, S.H. 1979. Response of varieties and hybrids to nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers. J. Res. Haryana Agric. Univ. 4 : 270-273. Ram, S.N. and Singh, Bhagwan. 2003. Physiological growth parameters, forage yield and nitrogen uptake of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) as influenced with legume intercropping harvesting time and nitrogen level. Indian Journal of Agronomy 48 : 38-41. Saheb, S.D., Singh, H.K. and Singh, L.B. 1997. Effect of plant population and nitrogen on biomass and juice yield of sweet sorghum. Indian Journal of Agronomy 42 :634636. Shiva, Dhar, Gupta, S.D., Tripathi, S.N. and Rai, S.K. 2005. Production potential of fodder sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) varieties under different nitrogen levels and sowing dates. Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences 75 : 572-575. *Singh, P. and Sumeria, H.K. 2003. Performance of forage sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench.] varieties at different levels of nitrogen. . In : National Symposium on Sustainability, Advancement and Future Thrust Areas of Research on Forages held at the Indian Society of Forage Research, CCS, Haryana Agricultural University, Hissar 125004 Haryana, India, March 5-6, 2003, pp. 63. Vashishatha, R.P. and Dwivedi, D.K. 1997. Effect of nitrogen and phosphorus on MP chari sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]. Indian Journal of Agronomy 42 : 112-115. Wanjari, S.S., Mahakulkar, B.V., Dhope, A.M., Shekar, V.B. and Potdukhe, N.R. 1996. Response of multicut forage sorghum to nitrogen levels. Agricultural Science Digest Karnal 16 : 25-27.

(Signature of Scholar) * Original not seen

9.3 Effective of zero tillage: The first results of a comparative study of zero, conventional and minimum tillage showed that durum wheat [Triticum durum] crop responded best to conventional tillage. A considerable evolution of parasitism in terms of high weed infestation and disease (take-all [Gaeumannomyces graminis f.sp. tritici]) development had been observed with the zero tillage. However, the zero tillage increased the water conservation capacity in the soil.. Field experiments were conducted during the winter seasons of 1999-2000 and 2000-01, at Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, to evaluate the efficacy of different weed management strategies (isoproturon at 1.0 kg ha-1; sulfosulfuron at 25 g/ha; isoproturon + 2,4-D at 1.0 + 0.5 kg/ha; glyphosate + isoproturon at 0.5 litre + 1.0 kg/ha; hand weeding twice at 30 and 60 days after sowing; and weedy control) against weeds infesting wheat under different tillage practices (zero, reduced and conventional tillage). The dominant weed flora in the experimental field were Cyperus rotundus, Phalaris minor, Rumex denticulata, Chenopodium album, Melilotus spp. and Anagallis arvensis. Plots under zero tillage were dominated by sedges, while those under reduced and conventional tillage were dominated by broadleaves, especially R. denticulata which suppressed all other weeds at later stages of crop growth. Isoproturon + 2,4-D was the most effective treatment in minimizing weed density and their dry weight. This treatment also recorded the highest wheat grain yield, i.e. 42.3, 38.0 and 39.1% yield increase over the weedy control under zero, reduced and conventional tillage, respectively.. Frontline demonstrations on zero tillage, where the crop is sown just after a harvest without any field preparation, were conducted on 101, 145 and 92 farmer's wheat fields in India during 1998-99, 1999-2000 and 2000-2001, respectively. Results showed that majority of the farmers were satisfied with the performance of the zero tillage technology compared to conventional tillage which resulted in three-year (1999-2001) yield gain averages of 8.11% in the North-western Plain Zone; 35.48% in the Northeastern Plain Zone; and 11.84% in the Central Zone of the country. In addition to the increase in the yield, it could also advance the sowing of wheat, reduce Phalaris minor problems, conserve moisture and soil nutrients, save land preparation cost, and time consumed during operations. Zero tillage technology could prove to be a wise choice as it was found to be economical as well as ecologically viable compared to conventional sowing. This study assesses the status and quantifies the impacts of zero tillage technology in the rice-wheat zone of Pakistan Punjab. The study is based on a primary data set collected from 94 farmers (74 wheat growers who adopted zero-tillage technology (fully or partially) and 20 neighboring farmers using conventional wheat sowing methods). The results suggest that the curve of the production function for zero-tillage sown wheat would start at a lower intercept. The resulting higher yield is due to the enhanced water and fertilizer use efficiency and the yield losses saved due to improvement in sowing time because of the use of zero-tillage technology. In addition, considerable amount of costs will be saved due to the minimal tillage requirement of the technology and certain

other beneficial externalities associated with its use. Field experiments on sowing of wheat with zero tillage seed-cum-fertilizer drill were conducted in Kurukshetra, Haryana, India, under both timely and late-sown conditions. Trials on timely-sown conditions were 5, 7 and 15 during 1998/99, 1999/2000 and 2000/01, respectively, whereas trials on late sowing were conducted at 5 locations during 1999/2000 only. Infestation of Phalaris minor in the crop sown with zero tillage seed-cum-fertilizer drill was 21.0 to 33.5% less compared to the traditional method of sowing. However, this reduction in weed population was lower under late-sown conditions, which was only 21.0%. Grain yield increased from 5.9 to 11.9% in the fields sown with zero tillage seed-cum-fertilizer drill compared to the traditional method of sowing under timely-sown conditions. Under late-sown conditions, the increase in grain yield was marginal (only 2.2%). The expenditure involved in field preparation and sowing was much lower in fields sown with zero tillage seed-cum-fertilizer drill reducing the cost of tillage operations by 72% compared to traditional method of sowing.