The crop establishment methods experiment conducted during 2017 and 2018 indicated that mechanical transplanting of paddy fertilized with Rice crop manager (RCM 95:30:35:25 kg N, P2O5, K2O, ZnSO4/ha) suggested dose followed by pea as paira crop produced the maximum rice equivalent yield (REY) of 5596 kg/ha, which was at par with direct sowing of rice by seed drill (DSR) with RCM. Mechanical transplanting of paddy with RCM recorded 51% higher REY than manual transplanting with recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF 80:40:40 kg N, P2O5, K2O). The DSR with Soil Test Based Fertilizer Recommendation (STBFR100:30:40:25 kg N, P2O5, K2O, ZnSO4/ha) registered higher net return of Rs. 54744/ha than other treatment combinations. The pea seed yield was 22% higher in DSR-STBFR treatment compared to DSR-SR. Considering the economics of production and net return, DSR using seed drill fertilized with STBFR followed by paira pea is suitable system for Western Undulating Zone.
The field experiment conducted at RRTTS, Bhawanipatna during 2019-20 and 2020-21 to evaluate the different crop establishment methods viz. mechanical transplanting in puddled soil, mechanical transplanting in non-puddled soil and manual transplanting in puddled soil with 14, 17, 20 and 23 old seedlings with soil test based fertilizer application (100:30:40 kg/ha N-P2O5-K2O) followed by paira pea revealed that the mean maximum paddy grain yield was recorded in mechanical transplanting in puddled soil with 14days old seedling(6017 kg/ha) which was at par with mechanical transplanting in non-puddled soil (5833 kg/ha) with same age seedling. The pea seed yield sown as paira crop was higher in mechanical transplanting in non-puddled soil (424 kg/ha). The mean rice equivalent yield (REY), net return and return/rupee invested were higher in mechanical transplanting of paddy in non-puddled soil using 14days old seedling (7143 kg/ha, Rs.80305/ha and 2.7, respectively) which was 2.2, 15.8, 8 % and 6, 44.6 and 35% more as compared to mechanical transplanting in puddled soil (6987 kg/ha, Rs.75758/ha and 2.5) and manual transplanting (6170 kg/ha, Rs.55532/ha and 2.0), respectively with same age seedling.
In RRTTS, Bhawanipatna, experiments conducted during kharif 2019 and 2020 on integrated nutrient management in medium duration rice followed by sowing of pea as paira crop revealed that cultivation of rice variety MTU 1010 during kharif season in medium land situation with green manuring (Sesbania) and application of 125% RDF (100:50:50 kg/ha N- P2O5- K2O) followed by sowing pea as paira crop produced mean maximum paddy grain yield (5679 kg/ha) which was at par with 150% RDF (5524 kg/ha) and 125% RDF+ Straw incorporation @ 2t/ha (5440 kg/ha) and significantly higher than application of RDF i.e. 80:40:40 kg/ha N- P2O5- K2O (4250 kg/ha). The pea seed yield in this 125% RDF + GM treatment was maximum (479 kg/ha) followed by 125% RDF + Straw incorporation @ 2t/ha (433 kg/ha) and 150% RDF (373 kg/ha). Higher rice equivalent yield (7020 kg/ha), net return (Rs.65303/ha) and return/ rupee invested (2.09) was realized with application of 125% RDF + green manuring to rice which were 38, 82 and 27% higher in this nutrient combination than application of RDF alone (5088 kg/ha, Rs.35797/ha and 1.65).
In an field experiment conducted during Kharif seasons of 2019 and 2020 at RRTTS, Bhawanipatna to assess the effect of different methods of sowing and fertilizer doses on seed yield of sunhemp, revealed that maximum sunhemp seed yield, profit and return/rupee invested were realized with sowing at spacing of 30cm x 10 cm along with application of 20:40:20 kg/ha N-P2O5- K2O (918 kg/ha, Rs.28025/ha and 2.15) in which the seed yield was 6 and 29 % and profit was 2 and 45 % more than sowing at 20cm x 10cm spacing (865 kg/ha and Rs.24092/ha) and broadcasting method of sowing (710 kg/ha and Rs.19365/ha) at same level of fertilizer application, respectively and 67 and 179 % higher than sowing without fertilizer (551 kg/ha and 10044/ha) at same spacing of 30cm x 10cm.
In transplanted scented rice variety Geetanjali fertilized with 80:40:40 N, P2O, K2O kg/ha followed by chickpea as paira crop produced maximum rice equivalent yield (REY) of 4.6 t/ha, which was 21.4% and 3.8% higher than var. Badshabhog and Gangabali at the same level of fertilizer. This was at par with application of 40:20:20 kg/ha N, P2O5, K2O + FYM 5 t/ha + Biofertiliser (Azospirilum+ PSB 5kg each). Geetanjali fertilised with 80:40:40 kg/ha N, P2O5, K2O or 40:20:20 kg/ha N, P2O5, K2O + FYM 5t/ha + Biofertiliser followed by paira chickpea produced 4.55 t REY/ha with NR of Rs 40,000/ha at Bhawanipatna during 2017 and 2018. However, local variety Gangabali produced 12.8% higher grain yield than Badsahabhog and 5.4 % more than Geetanjali.
Evaluation of local aromatic rice for yield, abiotic stress tolerance and aroma, which started in kharif 2015 and is continuing till date indicated that out of 110 aromatic rice genotypes, local aromatic rice cultivars, Gangabali (27.9q/ha), Kalikati (29.75q/ha), Kalajeera (23.1q/ha), Dhalajeera (34.2q/ha) and Parijat (28.5q/ha) with moderate to strong aroma were found to be suitable for cultivation in this region.
In a study conducted for three years (Kharif, 2013 to 2015) on integrated nutrient management in aromatic rice and its residual effect on butra (Lathyrus sp.) as paira crop, it was revealed that application of recommended dose of fertilizer (60:30:30 kg N, P2O5, K2O/ha) along with (2.5 t FYM+ 5 kg Zn + 20 kg S/ha) produced the maximum grain (39.25q/ha) and straw yield (46.43 q/ha) of aromatic rice. It also increased the butra seed (15.88 q/ha) and stover yield (13.47 q/ha) under residual fertility condition along with enhancement of net profit (Rs.67661/ha) in rice-butra paira cropping system.
Application of STBFR (75:30:20 kg N, P2O5, K2O/ha) + FYM 5t + Azospirillum 5 kg + PSM 5 kg + Zn 5 kg + S 20 kg/ha to medium land aromatic rice (var. Geetanjali) gave higher rice grain yield (4065 kg/ha) and pea seed yield (1044 kg/ha) from aromatic rice – paira pea cropping system.
Two years of experimentation (2011-12 and 2012-13) on integrated weed management in transplanted rice indicated that early post emergence application of Ethoxy sulfuron ethyl @15g/ha at 12 days after transplanting (DAT) with one hand weeding at 35 DAT recorded the highest mean grain yield of 47.76 q/ha and net return (Rs 31618/- per ha).
In maize based cropping sequence experiment conducted during 2017 and 2018, Maize-greengram sequence produced 56% higher maize equivalent yield (MEY) (7.58 t/ha), net return (Rs.61590/ha) and return per rupee invested (2.13) followed by maize-pea (6.7 t/ha, Rs.49157/-and 1.92) and maize-chickpea (6.6 t/ha, Rs.48693/-and 1.93) sequence cropping as compared to maize-fallow (4.8 t/ha, Rs.29059/-and 1.66).
In a conservation agriculture experiment conducted during 2017 and 2018, conventional tillage and hybrid maize + cowpea in 1:1 ratio with RDF (maize-120:60:60, cowpea 25:50:50 kg N, P2O5, K2O/ha) fetched 10% higher MEY (4.9 t/ha) and 12% more net return (Rs. 40350/-) as compared to zero tillage with sole maize.
In a weed control experiment conducted during 2017 and 2018, pre emergence application of Atrazine @1kg a.i./ha + 1 hand weeding of maize at 40 DAS produced 5.0 t /ha grain, net return of Rs.55410/- and gave higher return/rupee invested (2.84) as compared to the next best treatment i.e. two hand weedings at 20 DAS and 40DAS (2.74).
Among the eight nutrient management practices in SRI method (kharif, 2013 and 2014), integration of inorganic and organic fertilizers i.e., 120:60:60 kg N: P2O5: K2O/ha (RDF) + 5 t FYM with split application of N ¼ at transplanting + ½ at second weeding + ¼ at panicle initiation recorded the highest mean grain yield (7545kg/ha) with enhancement of net return of Rs.68987/- in rice hybrid Ajay.
Evaluation of local greengram varieties for three years during rabi 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19 for yield and disease tolerance indicated that out of 18 greengram varieties, collected from different parts of the state, Kalahandi local varieties, Jhain muga ( 652.5 Kg/ha), Kala muga (564.5kh/ha) and Khara muga ( 564.0 kg/ha) were found to be tolerant to both YMV and powdery mildew diseases, with zero incidence of powdery mildew and YMV in three years in Jhain muga variety. These three varieties performed better than the popular released varieties OBGG-52 (517kg/ha) and IPM-02-14 (422.2kg/ha) even under late sown conditions ( last week of December).
In an experiment on varietal evaluation of onion cultivars conducted over three years (Rabi, 2011-12, 2013-14 and 2014-15), Bhima Shakti recorded the highest bulb yield of 29.7 t/ha followed by Arka Kalyan (28.3 t/ha) and Agrifound Light Red (26.7 t/ha).
In a study on insect pest incidence in relation to meteorological parameters under rice agro-ecosystem in western undulating zone, it was found that yellow stem borer, gall midge, thrips, leaf folder, case worm, green leaf hopper and brown plant hopper were the major insect pests of rice. Rice crop transplanted on 30th July was found effective with less incidence of insect pests resulting in higher grain yield (56.5q/ha) in variety Swarna.