Sustaining by diversifyingSustaining by diversifying

Legume-based technologies for Rice-Wheat Legume-based technologies for Rice-Wheat production systems in Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP)production systems in Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP)

Suresh PandeRegional Project Coordinator

Crop Diversification Project: ICRISAT

The Issue and RWCThe Issue and RWC

Continuous cereals cultivation apparently associated with:

Yield stagnation Nutrient and water imbalance Increased pest and disease incidence

Rationale of ICRISAT’s Involvement

Rationale of ICRISAT’s Involvement

Inclusion of legumes make the cereal-dominated system more sustainable

Legumes enhance soil fertility Can break insect-pest and disease cycles in cereals Can diversify farm income Add protein to complement cereals Quarter-century expertise relating to important

legumes: chickpea, pigeonpea and legumes.

Legume-based technologies for Rice and Wheat Production Systems

Legume-based technologies for Rice and Wheat Production Systems

ObjectivesQuantify the scope of legumes in RWCSDevelop technological options for overcoming

major biotic and abiotic constraints Evaluate improved technologies in farmers’ fieldsAssess adoption and quantify the impact

Successful TechnologiesSuccessful Technologies

System characterization Integrated soil, water and nutrient management

(ISWNM) Integrated pest, disease and nematode management

(IPM)Sustainable land-use systems

System CharacterizationSystem Characterization

GIS analysis of cropping systemsLegumes in rice and wheat cropping systems of

the IGP: constraints and opportunities.GIS application in cropping system analysis –

case studies in Asia.

Soil and Water ManagementSoil and Water Management

Using GIS with WATBAL:

Soil water availability and length of growing season for IGP of India, Nepal and Bangladesh were mapped

Nutrient ManagementNutrient Management

Following a nutrient model (NUTMOD), rationalize fertilizer use was established on cropping systems: Bangladesh – rice-chickpea India – mungbean-rice-wheat and pigeonpea-

wheat Nepal – mungbean-rice-wheat Pakistan – mungbean-wheat

Chickpea flower dropChickpea flower drop

Normal Deficient

Doubling yield with Boron Doubling yield with Boron

Boron deficiency a major yield constraint to chickpea and lentil in parts of IGP

One kg B per ha increased grain yield in chickpea by 42% to 92%

Technology is now ready for large scale application.

Integrated Pest ManagementHelicoverpa pod borer

Integrated Pest ManagementHelicoverpa pod borer

Sowing in May of the extra-short duration genotype, ICPL 88039 – developed by ICRISAT and its partners – which generally escapes Helicoverpa damage

Judicious insecticide application

Why pigeonpea for RWS Why pigeonpea for RWS sustainability?sustainability?

Known to improve soil fertility Grows largely rainfed. Fixes its own nitrogen Contributes organic matter in the form of senesced leaves,

root residue, and releases P from fixed forms. Its area is declining in the IGP because:

-Low yield vis-à-vis rice -Greater risks-Longer duration of cultivars available with farmers

ESD Pigeonpea - wheat rotationESD Pigeonpea - wheat rotation

Extra-short-duration (ESD) genotypes have been developed that allow:– pigeonpea-wheat rotation.– ESD pigeonpea yield 3 t ha-1

– Up to about 1 t ha-1 extra yield of wheat could be harvested when it followed ESD pigeonpea

ESD pigeonpea for cultivation in ESD pigeonpea for cultivation in rotation with wheatrotation with wheat

ICPL 88039 for cultivation in rotation with wheat

Wheat yield after rice, SD pigeonpea and ESD pigeonpea at Sonepat, Haryana (1997-99)

Cropping system Wheat yield (t ha-1)

Rice-wheat 3.64

SD pigeonpea-wheat 3.79

ESD pigeonpea-wheat 4.51

IPM of Legumes (Chickpea)IPM of Legumes (Chickpea)

The five Bs:

• Boron deficiency

• Botrytis gray mold (BGM)

• Bhilt (Wilt)

• Borer (Pod borer)

• Bruchids (storage pests)• Blue Bull

HPR : BGM tolerant variety (Avarodhi)

Agronomical: Improved cultural practices

Fungicides: Weather/Need-based application

Insecticides: Need-based application

Components of IPM of legumes (Chickpea)Components of IPM

of legumes (Chickpea)

IPM – A Success Story:IPM – A Success Story: Rehabilitation of chickpea in Nepal and Bangladesh

Farmers Participatory IPMFarmers Participatory IPM

Farmers Participatory IPMFarmers Participatory IPM

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

1997-98 1998-99 1999-00 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03

Year

No

. of

farm

ers

Adoption and Impact of chickpea in Adoption and Impact of chickpea in NepalNepal

Integrated Pest ManagementIntegrated Pest Management

Sustainable Land Use SystemThe Barind Success Story

Sustainable Land Use SystemThe Barind Success Story

Chickpea identified as a second crop on residual moisture

Low labour, low input technology Farmers are now getting second crop where there

was only oneTechnique extended to Nepal

Sustainable Land Use SystemSeed Priming

Sustainable Land Use SystemSeed Priming

In Barind, Bangladesh

– Plant stand improved by 22%– Grain yield by 47%– Stover yield by 31%

Sustainable Land Use SystemResidual Effect

Sustainable Land Use SystemResidual Effect

Long-term experiments conducted with PAU showed: High nitrogen fixing chickpea line out-yielded its

normal nodulating parent A book on residual effects of legumes in rice-wheat

cropping system of the IGP published.

Sustainable Land Use SystemRice Straw Compost

Sustainable Land Use SystemRice Straw Compost

Application of 2 t/ha compost prepared from rice-straw (normally burnt by farmers) along with the recommended levels of fertilizers produced 4-9% greater yield of rice + wheat

Technology is ready for up-scaling

New Emerging Researchable Issues if any?

New Emerging Researchable Issues if any?

Carry over of pests in system perspectiveDefine sustainability indicators of RWCScale-up of IPM in legumes in IGPScale-up of seed priming technologyModelling to identify new cropping systemsIn situ decomposition of crop residue

ConclusionsConclusions

Greater inclusion of legumes into RWCS of IGP, the crop diversification project efficiently links ICRISAT to RWC and partners

The project is pumping new life into the cereal-based systems and bring new hope to the people of IGP.

Seeds for Next CropSeeds for Next Crop

Seed PreparationSeed Preparation

HAPPy

HARVEST

Thank youThank you