AGRON - 222 Crop Production Technology - II (Rabi Crops) Solved Practical Manual
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Exercise - 1 Object: - Identification of rabi season crops with their common name,
botanical name and family. |
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Exercise
– 2
Object: - Identification of rabi season weeds
|
S. No. |
Common Name |
English name |
Botanical name |
Family |
|
1 |
गेहूंसा |
Little
seed, Canarygrass |
Phalaris
minor |
Poaceae |
|
2 |
कासनी |
Blue
daisy |
Cichorium
intybus |
Asteraceae |
|
3 |
जंगली पालक |
Sour
Dock |
Rumex
dentatus |
Polygonaceae |
|
4 |
प्याजी |
Wild
onion |
Asphodelus
tenuifolius |
Liliaceae |
|
5 |
बथुआ |
Common lambsquarter |
Chenopodium
album |
Chenopodiaceae |
|
6 |
खरबथुआ |
Nettle
leaf |
Chenopodium
murale |
Chenopodiaceae |
|
7 |
सफ़ेद सेंजी |
White
sweet clover |
Melilotus
alba |
Fabaceae |
|
8 |
पीली सेंजी |
Yellow
sweet clover |
Melilotus
indica |
Fabaceae |
|
9 |
सत्यानासी |
Mexican
poppy |
Argemone
mexicana |
Papaveraceae |
|
10 |
कृषननील |
Blue
pimpernel |
Anagallis
arvensis |
Primulaceae |
|
11 |
चिकवीड |
Common Chickweed |
Stellaria
media |
Caryophyllaceae |
|
12 |
गजरी |
Fumatory |
Fumaria
parviflora |
Fumariaceae |
|
13 |
भांग |
Indian
hemp |
Cannabis
sativa |
Cannabaceae |
|
14 |
हिरणखुरी |
Field bindweed |
Convolvulus arvensis |
Convolvulaceae |
|
15 |
जंगली जई |
Wild oat |
Avena fatua |
Gramineae |
|
16 |
मुनमुना |
Tiny vetch |
Vicia hirsuta |
Fabaceae |
|
17 |
सतगठिया |
Corn spurry |
Spergula arvensis |
Caryophyllaceae |
|
18 |
कंटीली चौलाई |
Spiny Amaranthus |
Amaranthus spinosus L. |
Amaranthaceae |
Exercise - 3
Object: - Sowing Methods of Sugarcane
Ø
Aim To know about the sowing methods of sugarcane
Ø
Materials required Tractor, Ladder/plank, Spade, hand hoe, rake, measuring tape,
seed, fertilizers and water etc.
Ø
Methods
v
Planting in flat beds
ü It is very popular
method on Northern India and in parts of Maharashtra.
ü Shallow furrows of
8-10 cm deep are made.
ü Distance between
two rows should be kept 75-90 cm.
ü Generally, 3 budded
setts are used to plant in the end to end planting system.
ü The furrow is
covered by 5-7 cm of soil and field is leveled by planking.
Ø
Ridge and Furrow Method:
ü The method is
adopted in areas with moderate rainfall but have drainage problem.
ü Deep furrows are
opened in 'V' shape, 10-15 cm deep in N. India,20 cm in S.I.
ü It is also
practiced in Eastern UP, & in Peninsular India particular in heavy soils.
Ø
Trench Method or Java method
ü In some coastal
areas as well as in other areas where the crop grows very tall and the strong.
ü winds during rainy
season cause lodging of cane, trench method is adopted to save the crop from
lodging.
ü Trenches at a
distance of 75-90 centimeters are dug with the help of ridger or by manual
labour.
ü Trenches should be
about 20-25 centimeters deep.
ü After this already
prepared mixture of fertilizers (NPK) should be spread uniformly in the
Trenches and mixed thoroughly in the soil.
ü The setts are
planted end to end in trenches.
ü The tractor-drawn
sugarcane planter is suitable device for planting cane in trenches.
Ø
Rayungan method
ü It is Indonesian
term meaning-a developed cane shoot with single sprouted bud. A portion of
field is selected for Rayungan production is left at harvesting time.
ü
The top of the cane is cut off which results auxiliary buds
begin to sprout. For quick and
effective sprouting, fertilizer especially nitrogen in heavy dose is applied
and field is irrigated. After 3-4 weeks sprouted buds are separated in single
bud setts and transplanted on ridges.
ü
It is costly hence is not commonly adopted in India however is
usually used for filling gap.
v
Distant Planting Method
ü
It was developed at Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research
(IISR) Lucknow.
ü
Single budded setts are planted in nursery @ 20 q/ha or 18000
setts/ha.
ü
After 45-60 days single budded setts are planted in main field
at 90cm×50cm.
v
Pit Planting
ü Method is very
popular in Tillah soil in Assam and also in Kerala hilly tracts.
ü Pits are made at
interspacing of 20-30cm in rows along the contours with row to row spacing of
75 cm,
ü Organic manure is
placed at bottom of pits.
ü Cane setts are
placed in the triangle in pits and covered with soil.
ü System can be used
in rain fed agriculture
v
Skip Furrow Planting
ü It is common in
Orissa.
ü It is hybrid of
flat and trench method.
ü Trenches are dug 45
cm apart & gap of 90 cm is left after each two rows
v
Sabling or Sprouting Method
ü Plants are sown in
fertile soil with wide spacing, shallow planting, frequent irrigations and
adequate fertilization.
ü Tillers soon after
they develop their own roots are separated from the mother plant and planted
separately.
ü It is very
successful in Java and Cuba.
v
Bud transplanting
ü Sugarcane buds with
half of its stalk can be planted in small polythene bags filled with organic
manure and soil.
ü After sprouting
they can be transplanted in the main field.
ü The polythene is
tore at the bottom for the easy rooting. There is less mortality about 5 %
only.
Exercise – 4
Object: - Calculate the fertilizers
dose for field crops.
Q. 1 Calculate the quantity of
fertilizers for 1 hac maize crop. Required nitrogen 100kg, Phosphorus 80 kg and
Potash is 60 kg. Nitrogen quantity is given by DAP, and Urea. P quantity is
given by DAP and K quantity is given by MOP.
Solution: -
Amount of DAP –
46
kg P is available in – 100 Kg DAP
1
kg P is available in – 100/46
80
kg P is available in –
N quantity by DAP -
In
100 kg DAP, N is available – 18 Kg
1
kg DAP, N is available – 18/100 Kg
174
kg DAP, N is available -
Remaining quantity of nitrogen
100-31
= 69 kg
Amount of urea –
46 kg N is available in – 100 Kg Urea
1
kg N is available in – 100/46
69
kg N is available in –
Amount of MOP –
60 kg K is available in – 100 Kg MOP
1
kg K is available in – 100/60
60
kg K is available in –
Total fertilizer for 1 hac maize crop –
DAP
– 174 kg/hac
Urea
– 150 kg/hac
MOP
– 100 kg/hac
420
Kg
Q. 2 Calculate the quantity of fertilizers
for 1 hac maize crop. Required nitrogen 120 kg, Phosphorus 100 kg and Potash is
80 kg. Nitrogen quantity is given by DAP, and Urea. P quantity is given by DAP
and K quantity is given by MOP.
Solution: -
Amount of DAP –
46 kg P
is available in – 100 Kg DAP
1 kg P
is available in – 100/46
100 kg P is available in –
N
quantity by DAP -
In 100 kg DAP, N is available – 18
Kg
1 kg DAP, N is available – 18/100
Kg
217 kg DAP, N is available -
Remaining
quantity of nitrogen
120-39 = 81 kg
Amount
of urea –
46 kg N is available in – 100 Kg Urea
1 kg N
is available in – 100/46
81 kg N is available in –
Amount
of MOP –
60 kg K is available in – 100 Kg MOP
1 kg K
is available in – 100/60
80 kg K is available in –
Total
fertilizer for 1 hac maize crop –
DAP – 217 kg/hac
Urea – 176 kg/hac
MOP – 133 kg/hac
526 Kg
Q. 3 Calculate the quantity of fertilizers and manure for 1 hac
maize crop. Required nitrogen 100 kg, Phosphorus 90 kg and Potash is 70 kg.
Nitrogen quantity is given by FYM, DAP, and Urea. P quantity is given by DAP
and K quantity is given by MOP. 1/4 part of nitrogen is also supplied by FYM.
Solution: -
Quantity
of N – 100 kg
¼
part of nitrogen by FYM – 100/4 = 25 kg N
Ø Quantity of FYM –
0.5 kg N is available in – 100 Kg FYM
1
kg N is available in – 100/0.5
25
kg N is available in –
Ø Quantity of P by FYM –
In 100
kg FYM, P is available – 0.25 Kg
1 kg FYM, P is available – 0.25/100 Kg
5000 kg FYM, P is available – -
Ø Quantity of K by FYM –
In 100
kg FYM, K is available – 0.5 Kg
1kg FYM,
K is available – 0.5/100 Kg
5000 kg FYM, K is available – -
Remaining quantity of NPK –
N
= 100 – 25 = 75 kg
P
- 90 – 12.5 = 77.5 kg
K
- 70 – 25 = 45 kg
Ø Amount of DAP –
46
kg P is available in – 100 Kg DAP
1
kg P is available in – 100/46
77.5
kg P is available in –
Ø N quantity by DAP -
In
100 kg DAP, N is available – 18 Kg
1
kg DAP, N is available – 18/100 Kg
168
kg DAP, N is available -
Ø Remaining quantity of nitrogen
75
- 30 = 45 kg
Ø Amount of urea –
46 kg N is available in – 100 Kg Urea
1
kg N is available in – 100/46
45
kg N is available in –
Ø Amount of MOP –
60 kg K is available in – 100 Kg MOP
1
kg K is available in – 100/60
45
kg K is available in –
Ø Total fertilizer for 1 hac maize crop –
FYM –
5000 kg/hac
DAP
– 168 kg/hac
Urea
– 98 kg/hac
MOP
– 75 kg/hac
Q. 4 Calculate the quantity of fertilizers and manure for 1 hac
maize crop. Required nitrogen 120 kg, Phosphorus 100 kg and Potash is 90 kg.
Nitrogen quantity is given by FYM, DAP, and Urea. P quantity is given by DAP
and K quantity is given by MOP. 1/4 part of nitrogen is also supplied by FYM.
Solution:
-
Quantity of N – 120 kg
¼ part of nitrogen by FYM – 120/4 = 30 kg N
Ø Quantity of FYM –
0.5 kg N is available in – 100 Kg FYM
1 kg N
is available in – 100/0.5
30 kg N is available in –
Ø Quantity of P by FYM –
In 100 kg FYM, P is available –
0.25 Kg
2 kg FYM, P is available – 0.25/100 Kg
6000 kg
FYM, P is available – -
Ø Quantity of K by FYM –
In 100 kg FYM, K is available –
0.5 Kg
1kg FYM, K is available –
0.5/100 Kg
6000 kg
FYM, K is available – -
Remaining
quantity of NPK –
N = 120 – 30 = 90 kg
P - 100 – 15 = 85 kg
K - 90 – 30 = 60 kg
Ø Amount of DAP –
46 kg P
is available in – 100 Kg DAP
1 kg P
is available in – 100/46
85 kg P is available in –
Ø N quantity by DAP -
In 100 kg DAP, N is available – 18
Kg
1 kg DAP, N is available – 18/100
Kg
185 kg DAP, N is available -
Ø Remaining quantity of nitrogen
90 - 33 = 57 kg
Ø Amount of urea –
46 kg N is available in – 100 Kg Urea
1 kg N
is available in – 100/46
57 kg N is available in –
Ø Amount of MOP –
60 kg K is available in – 100 Kg MOP
1 kg K
is available in – 100/60
60 kg K is available in –
Ø Total fertilizer for 1 hac maize crop –
FYM – 6000 kg/hac
DAP – 185 kg/hac
Urea – 124 kg/hac
MOP – 100 kg/hac
Exercise –
5
Object: Calculate the seed requirement
Q. 1 Find out the seed rate of
gram (in kg/hac.) from the following details:
A.
Spacing – 40 X 10 cm
B.
Test weight – 140 gm
C.
Germination percentage- 90%
D.
Purity percentage- 95%
A.
Spacing - 45X10 cm
B.
Test weight – 150 gm
C.
Germination percentage- 80%
D.
Purity percentage- 90%
Exercise: 6
Object: -
Calculate
the herbicide requirement.
Introduction:
-
On
the container or packet of the commercially available herbicide, concentration
of the active ingredient is mentioned. For example, Hiltachlor 50EC contain
50%, butachlor and Stomp 30EC contains 30%, Pendimethalin as emulsifying
concentrate. As such requirement of the commercial product has to be calculated
to apply precise amount of herbicide.
Q. 1 A
student conducted as experiment on weed control with 4 treatments of butachlor
at the rates of 0.75, 1.0, 1.25, and 1.5 kg a.i /ha with 5 replications. He used
machete 50 EC. If the plot size of the experiment is 6X5 m, calculate the
amount of herbicides he used in the experiment.
Solution:
-
Plot Size = 6X5 m
= 30 m2
= 0.0030 hac.
Requirement of machete 50 EC/Plot:
a)
For 0.75 a.i./ha =
=
0.0045 lit.
= 4.5 ml
b)
For 1.0 a.i./ha
=
=
0.0060 lit.
= 6.0 ml
C) For 1.25 a.i./ha =
=
0.0075 lit.
= 7.5 ml
D) For 1.50
a.i./ha =
=
0.0090 lit.
= 9.0 ml
Thus, Total requirement of machete 50
EC/replication:
(4.5+6.0+7.5+9.0)
ml
=27.0
ml
Total
requirement of machete 50 EC for the experiment = 27.0 X 5
= 135.0 ml
Q. 1 A
student conducted as experiment on weed control with 4 treatments of butachlor
at the rates of 1.25, 1.50, 1.75, and 2.0 kg a.i /ha with 5 replications. He
used machete 50 EC. If the plot size of the experiment is 6X5 m, calculate the
amount of herbicides he used in the experiment.
Solution:
-
Plot Size = 6X5 m
= 30 m2
= 0.0030 hac.
Requirement of machete 50
EC/Plot:
a) For
1.25 a.i./ha =
= 0.0075
lit.
= 7.5 ml
b) For
1.50 a.i./ha =
= 0.009
lit.
= 9.0 ml
C) For 1.75 a.i./ha =
= 0.0105
lit.
= 10.5
ml
D) For 2 a.i./ha =
= 0.012
lit.
= 12.0
ml
Thus, Total
requirement of machete 50 EC/replication:
(7.5+9.0+10.5+12.0) ml
=39.0 ml
Total requirement of machete 50 EC for the
experiment = 39.0 X 5
=
195.0 ml
Exercise - 7
Object: - Study of Yield Contributing Characters of Rabi Season
Crops
v
Aim To know the yield contributing characters and yield calculation
of rabi season crops.
v
Materials Required (i) Polythene bags (ii) Harvesting equipment like sickle, knife,
etc. (iii) Balance (iv) Gunny bags or baskets, pans, etc.
v
Importance of optimum time of harvesting
ü Delayed harvesting
causes yield loss in quantitative manner.
ü Early harvesting
causes yield loss in quantitative manner
ü Common visual
symptoms are yellowing and drying.
There are 2 stages of maturity
v
Physiological maturity No further addition of dry matter.
v
Maturity indices
ü Attains 7-10 days
after physiological maturity water moisture gets reduced. Harvesting is mostly
done at harvesting maturity.
ü In rice, it can be
harvested when all the colour changes from green to yellow. moisture contents
for harvesting is 20-25 %.
ü In wheat moisture
content for harvesting is <22 %. In maize it is about <30 % husk and silk
become yellow and black respectively. But for sweet corn it is about 35 %.
ü Popcorn ears should
be harvested at 30 – 35 %. For sorghum it is less than 25 %. For millets it is
18-25 %. Yield potentials of crops/varieties can be accessed on the basis of
yield attributes.
ü Different crops
have different yield attributing characters. After collecting information on
these attributes, theoretical yield. These observations help farmers to choose
a suitable crop or variety for cultivation. Some of the examples are:
1. Wheat
þ
No. of plants /m2
þ
No. of productive tillers/plant
þ
Total no of grains /ear head
þ
Percent of fertile grains/ ear head
þ
Test weight (1000 seed weight)
2. Barley
þ
No. of plants / m2
þ
No. of ear heads/ plant
þ
No. of seeds/ ear head
þ
Test weight (1000 seed weight)
3. Chickpea
þ
No. of plants /m2
þ
No. of pods/ plant
þ
No. of seeds /pod
þ
Test weight (1000 seeds weight)
4. Rapeseed and mustard
þ
No. of plants /m2
þ
No. of pods/ plant
þ
No. of seeds /pod
þ
Test weight (1000 seeds weight)
5. Sunflower
þ
No. of plants /m2
þ
No. of capitulum / plant
þ
No. of seeds/ capitulum
þ
Test weight (1000 seeds weight)
6. Sugarcane
þ
Average weight of cane
þ
No. of canes /m2
7. Potato
þ
No. of plants /m2
þ
No. of tubers/ plant
þ
Average weight of tuber
þ
Yield per hectare through the single plant yield method and
yield per unit area method can be calculated by using the following formula
Yield per ha = Wt.
of seeds per plant x No. of plants per ha.
Or
Yield per ha =
Yield per plot of 1.0 sq. m x 10,000
Exercise - 8
Object: - Yield and Juice Quality Analysis of Sugarcane
v
Aim To determine the yield and quality parameters of sugarcane
v
Material required
ü
Refractometer (brix), tissue paper and syrup
v
Procedure
ü Take refractomer
ü Ensure the
refractomer prisim surface is cleaned and dry
ü Place a two to
three drops of freash cane juice
ü Look through the
eyepiece while the prisim in light direction
ü Focus on scale and
take the reading
ü Clean the
refractometer immidity
v
Analysis Procedure
ü
A minimum of two whole clumps or ten canes of all are randomly
selected, should be taken as a sample.
ü
The sample is cut into pieces of 45 – 50 cm weighed and juice
extracted by crushing in laboratory crusher twice which is collected in weighed
bucket containing 0.5 g mercuric chloride (preservative).
ü
Extracted juice is weighed and percentage of extracted
calculated.
v
Juice Brix
ü
Suspended particles in juice are removed by passing the juice
through 150 mesh sieves.
ü
Fill up 1000 ml cylinder with the cane juice and allow it to
settle for 15 minutes.
ü
Gradually lower the standard brix.
ü
Spindle and allow it to float.
ü
When the brix spindle becomes stationary.
ü
Take the brix reading at the line with the plain surface of
juice and note the temperature of the juice and correct the brix at 20oC from
the chart.
v
Assessment of Ripening
ü
As the crop advances in maturity, its water content decreases
(77.88 %) sucrose content increases (8.02 %) and reducing sugar decreases (0.3-
3%).
ü
Both organic (0.5 -10 %) and inorganic (0.3- 0.8 %) non sugars
also decrease.
ü
At peak maturity sugar content will be at its maximum, reducing
sugars and non-sugars at their optimum level.
ü
When the cane stalk is cut across with a sharp knife, a little
higher than its middle and the cut end exposed to reflect sunshine, if the end
looks watery.
ü
The cane is unripe if it sparkles slightly, it can be taken to
be getting ripe.
ü
Trial boiling of juice to judge the maturity is common among
farmers.
ü
If the gur set well in the boiling, gur making would be taken
up. If not the cane will be tested again after few days,
ü
The top –bottom ratio is also used to judge ripening, when cane
starts ripening, its top portion accumulates sugar rapidly than bottom portion.
ü
If the ratio of the sugar content of the top one third cane to
bottom one third is much less than one then the cane is unripe.
ü
When the ratio is one, nearly one or more than one, the cane can
be considered as ripe. The content of invert sugar in juice could also be
considered for assessing cane ripeness when invert sugar reaches a level of 0.1
percent or less in juice. The cane is said to be ripe and its juice fit for
boiling.
ü
The test can be made more precise by taking only the top
portion. Allow invert sugar content at 0.3 percent or less in this portion is
an indication of peak maturity.
ü
Specific gravity of juice gives fair idea of cane maturity
because concentration juice in cane is mostly because of sugar accumulation as
part from a cane crusher.
ü
Only a brix sugar hydrometer and a jar are required for this
method. Cane juice having 17 brix or more can be considered ripe.
ü
In all above assessments actual determination requires less than
a liter of juice. However, for a representative sample, at least 20-25 cm canes
have to be harvested and crushed for each sample.
ü
The best way to sampling is to choose 4-5 places in the field at
random and from each place cut and collect all the canes growing in a 60 cm
length.
ü
The juice extracted has to be thoroughly mixed for analysis.
Where maturity of a standing crop is desired a hand refractometer can be used.
Its principal advantages are that it takes very little time and needs neither
heavy equipment nor elaborate process.
ü
There is no need for harvesting the stalks. Each determination
requires only 3-4 drops of juice, which can be extracted from standing canes by
a cane punching needle designed for the purpose. The drops are placed on the
glass stage of hand refractometer and concentration of juice recorded scale
seen through eye piece.
ü
An estimation of sucrose content can also be made using the
refractometer brix reading the equation
RB - 306 Sucrose %
= ----------------------------- X 100 0.97
Where, RB =
Refractometer brix value Problem
Experiment
No.9
Object:
- Study
of Oil Extraction
Ø Aim In
this experiment you will extract essential oils of Cloves, Cinnamon and Nigella
Sativa by steam distillation.
Ø Material Petroleum
benzene, Distillation apparatus, trimble oilseed sample, heating
mentle Soxhlet glass ware and balance
Ø Principle
of essential oil extraction: -
ü The
specific extraction method employed is dependent upon the seed material to be
distilled and the desired end-product.
ü The
essential oils which impart the distinctive aromas are complex mixtures of
organic constituents, some of which being less stable, may undergo chemical
alterations when subjected to high temperatures.
ü In
this case, organic solvent extraction is required to ensure no decomposition or
changes have occurred which would alter the aroma and fragrance of the
end-product.
Ø Procedure:
1. The
grind sample which already prepared by lab assistant is weight on analytical
balance.
2. The
sample is mix with petroleum benzine using a ratio 4:1.
3. Soxhlet
apparatus is set for the extraction.
4. After
about three hours of extraction, the round-bottomed flask is heated in the
water bath of the concentrator apparatus.
5. The
solvent is removed and the excess water outside the flask is dried.
6. The
extracted fat is weight and the fat content of the sample is calculated
Soxhlet
apparatus
Ø Calculation
|
Item |
Weight (g) |
|
Round
bottom flask before extraction |
|
|
Round
bottom flask after extraction |
|
|
Thimble |
|
|
Thimble
+ mixture |
|
Exercise - 10
Object: - To Study about the various methods of Fertilizer Application
Fertilizer
recovery is greatly influenced by method of its application. Method of
application varies according to the spacing of crop, type of fertilizer material,
time of application, etc. A brief account of these points could be explained as
under:
A. Method of application of solid fertilizer materials
Solid materials may be applied in
following ways:
1. Broadcasting
Even and uniform spreading of dry solid fertilizers
by hand or spreader over the entire field before or after sowing of the crop is
termed as broadcasting. Well decomposed FYM, compost, oil cake, bone meal,
urea, superphosphate and lime are applied by this method.
Advantages
This method is easy, less time taking,
cheap and more convenient to the farmers. This method proves effective-
A. When the crops have a dense stand
B. When the plant roots absorb nutrient from
whole volume of soil
C. When soil is rich in fertility
D. When large amount of material is to be
used
E. When potassic fertilizers are to be used
on light soils, etc.
Disadvantages
1.
It is not
advantageous because it encourages weed growth all over the field.
2. Most of the material remains on the soil
surface and does not reach to the root zone for uptake by plants.
3.
There is
greater loss of fertilizer nutrients due to washing, run-off, volatilization,
etc. Hence the recovery (extent of fertilizer used by plants) ranges between 25
to 45 per cent or even less.
Broadcasting may be done in following ways:
a. Basal application
Spreading of fertilizers before sowing or
planting of the crops and mixing them by cultivating the soil during seed bed
preparation is termed as basal application through broadcasting.
Advantages
1.
Controlled/slow-release
fertilizers are applied in this inctliod
2.
Bulky manures
are applied in this method.
Disadvantage
Encourages early weed growth.
b. Top dressing and side dressing
Spreading
of fertilizer in standing crops without considering the crop rows is termed as
top dressing. But when the crop rows are taken into account and the material is
dropped on the ground surface near the crop rows then it is called as side
dressing.
Advantages
1.
Highly mobile
fertilizers are top dressed by split application.
2.
Side dressing reduces
misuse of fertilizers in row crops.
Disadvantage
Top dressing is not suitable for bulky
manures.
2. Placement
This refers to applying fertilizers into
the soil from where the crop roots can take them easily.
Advantages
1.
Maximum
portion of the material can be used by plants.
2.
Losses through
uptake by weeds, washing, run-off, volatilization etc. could be eliminated to
the greatest extent.
Disadvantage
1.
Is not
suitable for bulky manures.
Placement could be done in following
ways:
a. Plough sole placement
When
the fertilizers are applied in open furrows at plough sole level while
ploughing then it is termed as plough sole placement. Such furrows are covered
immediately during the next run of the plough.
Advantages
This method is suitable when-
1.
In dry soil
where there is a moisture only in the plough sole layer.
2. In problem soils where there is the
problem of fixation Disadvantage Is not suitable for bulky manures.
b. Deep placement
The method is adopted in dry land
condition where the fertilizers are placed deeper than plough sole level then
it is called as deep placement.
Advantages
1.
Suitable for
dry soil where there is a moisture deficit.
2. Helps in root elongation.
3. Eliminates various losses of nutrients
from the soil.
4.
In wet land
rice a reduced form of N fertilizer (ammonium sulphate) is placed deep in the
reduced layer to avoid denitrification.
Disadvantage
Laborious and time consuming.
c. Sub-soil placement
When
fertilizers are placed still deeper than the seeding or planting depth and also
deeper than the previous two methods the method is termed as sub-soil
placement.
Advantages
1.
Suitable for
dry soil where there is a moisture deficit.
2. Helps in maximum root elongation.
3.
In strongly
acidic soils P and K fertilizers are placed in deeper layers by heavy machinery
to avoid fixation.
Disadvantage
Laborious and time consuming.
3. Localized placement
There
is distinction between placement and localized placement. The former refers to
applying fertilizer into the soil without special reference to the location of
seed or plant while the latter implies the application of fertilizer into the
soil close to the seed or plant.
Advantages
Localized placement of fertilizers has
many advantages over broadcasting method of application such as-
1.
Relatively
lesser quantity is required for production of an ideal crop
2. Weed growth is suppressed
3. Fertilizer losses are reduced
4. Fertilizers are placed in moist zone
where they remain available to plants for longer period of time
5. Fertilizers come in easy reach of crop
roots
6.
Fertilizer
recovery and response of crops to applied doses is increased.
Disadvantages
1.
The method is
very technical and needs special precaution. Besides, it is very expensive.
The method could be adopted in following
ways:
a. Contact placement/combine drilling
When
fertilizer is placed along with seed then it is called as contact placement.
This is done by using seed-cum-fertilizer drill. Sometimes fertilizer is
drilled by implement and seed is sown in the same furrow.
Advantage
1.
Well
decomposed manures, ashes and P and K fertilizers in small quantities are used
along with seeds during sowing.
Disadvantage
1.
Care must be
taken so that seeds are not burnt by contact of fertilizers.
b. Band placement
This
is a localized placement of fertilizers by the side of plants or seeds (about 5
cm apart). This may be of two types as the bands may be continuous or
discontinuous:
(i). Hill placement (discontinuous band)
In
the hill for widely spaced plants like cotton, castor and cucurbits fertilizers
are placed on either of both sides of plants along or across the row but not
along the entire row. This method is also termed as discontinuous band
application.
(ii). Row placement (continuous band)
Along
the entire rows of closely spaced crops like cereals, minor millets, potato and
tobacco fertilizers are applied continuously at 2-2.5 cm depth. This method has
a definite relationship of fertilizers with seedlings or seed as the fertilizer
is placed to the side of seedlings or seeds some distance away from them or at
the level of the seed, above or below or by the side of the seed level. When
the soil surface is dry, this method gives very promising results.
(iii). Ring placement (continuous band)
Fertilizer
is applied in a circle around individual plant or hill base at a depth of about
2.5-5 cm.
c. Pocket/spot placement
When
fertilizers are placed at a fixed spot by the help of a bamboo peg having a
hole at the bottom in case of very widely spaced crops then the method is
termed as pocket/spot placement method. Fertilizers are placed deeper into the
pocket (dibble) and seeds are sown in the same pocket about 5 cm above the
fertilizers.
Advantages
1.
Suitable for
dry soil where there is a moisture deficit.
2.
Suitable for
wide spaced crops like cotton, castor, cassava, cucurbits and chilly.
Disadvantage
1.
Care must be
taken so that seeds are not burnt by contact of fertilizers.
2. Laborious and time consuming.
d. Pellet placement
This method is adopted specially in
case of deep-water rice cultivation where it is difficult to apply fertilizers
in normal methods as the fertilizer granules get dissolved in water before
reaching to the ground level. In this method fertilizers (especially
nitrogenous ones) are mixed with clay soil in the ratio of one part of
fertilizer into 10-15 parts of soil. The fertilizer is well mixed with soil
after slight moistening then filled in gunny bags and stored for two-three
days. Now small mud bolls are prepared and these boll or pellets are dropped
near the crop rows in rice Jr jute under deep water conditions.
B. Method of application of liquid fertilizers
Use
of liquid fertilizers is not very common practice but in advanced countries
this is the most common method. It is the most suitable method under dry land
agriculture and in the areas, which are prone to erosion problems. Liquid
fertilizers may be applied in following ways:
1. Use of starter solution
Starter
solutions usually contain N, P, K in 1: 2: 1 or 1: 1: 2. This method is used
for transplanted crops were in place of irrigation water this solution is
applied just wet the field so that the seedlings may establish quickly.
Advantages
1.
Thus, it serves
as irrigation water as well as nutrient solution for the crops.
2.
This is also
used for dipping the seedling roots and soaking of seeds or spraying to
encourage early rooting and crop establishment.
Disadvantage
1.
Requires
careful attention to maintain proper concentration of solution.
2.
Application through irrigation water
The
required quantity of fertilizer material is dissolved in irrigation water and
can be used in surface, sprinkler or drip irrigation systems.
Advantage
1.
The
concentrated fertilizer solution may be dripped in the channel of irrigation
water while irrigating the crop.
Disadvantage
1.
If the crop is
to be given surface irrigation as flooding, then excess water may lead to
physiological problems in crops.
3. Nutrient injection method/direct application to soil
In
USA and some other countries anhydrous ammonia is injected into the soil at a
depth of about 20-25 cm and at a pressure of about 200 pound per square inch.
Advantages
1. The anhydrous ammonia is the cheapest
source of nitrogen because of its lower
unit value.
2. Injecting hormonal solution and some
micro nutrient solutions in the phloem region of the fruit trees is also
becoming a distinct possibility in correcting the nutrient deficiency.
Disadvantage
For
this method the soil should have fine tilth, enough moisture etc. so that loss
of nitrogen in the form of ammonia does null take place.
4. Foliar spraying of nutrient solutions
In
this method of fertilizer application urea, micro nutrients and other required
materials are dissolved in water, filtered and sprayed over the crop foliage by
the help of a suitable sprayer.
Advantages
1. This method is preferred over other
methods because it needs very little quantity of materials.
2. The crop plants respond within 24 hours
of application.
3. Soil reaction, topography and soil
textures have no adverse effect on the nutrient availability and fertility
status of the soil.
4. Almost all nutrients can be applied by
this method.
Disadvantage
1. Non-uniform spraying and improper
concentration of the solution may lead to hazardous effect over the crop and
entire plant population may get devastated.
2. High concentration of solution may
cause burning of foliage.
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