Track 2‐6‐1: Developing Intensive and Extensive Forage Production with Environment Friendly Technologies and Adoption of Mechanization
Description
The per capita availability of land is consistently decreasing, while food and fodder demand is increasing. Indiscriminate and injudicious use of farm inputs for achieving potential yield of crops has not only enhanced the cost of cultivation but also threatened the environment and sustainability of the system. Combination of these factors and their interface are serious threats to agriculture and mankind. In rainfed condition of central India, fodder sorghum+cowpea –wheat is potential cropping system among farmers maintaining 2-4 livestock’s. The conventional tillage system which inverts and mixes the soil, introduces large amounts of oxygen into the soil and thus stimulates aerobic micro-organisms. Use of no till system in agriculture also reduces the rate of soil organic matter loss (Doran and Smith, 1987). There is lower labor, energy, and machinery costs associated with no-till farming relative to conventional tillage systems (Uri, 2000). In view of escalating energy cost and associated ill effects of conventional tillage practices, it is become imperative to optimize tillage requirement of fodder – food cropping system.
Citation
Dixit, A, K.; Agrawal, Rajiv K.; Das, S. K.; Sahai, C. S.; and Rai, A. K., "Tillage Management Strategy in Fodder-Food Cropping System for Sustainable Production" (2020). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 21.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/23/2-6-1/21
Included in
Tillage Management Strategy in Fodder-Food Cropping System for Sustainable Production
The per capita availability of land is consistently decreasing, while food and fodder demand is increasing. Indiscriminate and injudicious use of farm inputs for achieving potential yield of crops has not only enhanced the cost of cultivation but also threatened the environment and sustainability of the system. Combination of these factors and their interface are serious threats to agriculture and mankind. In rainfed condition of central India, fodder sorghum+cowpea –wheat is potential cropping system among farmers maintaining 2-4 livestock’s. The conventional tillage system which inverts and mixes the soil, introduces large amounts of oxygen into the soil and thus stimulates aerobic micro-organisms. Use of no till system in agriculture also reduces the rate of soil organic matter loss (Doran and Smith, 1987). There is lower labor, energy, and machinery costs associated with no-till farming relative to conventional tillage systems (Uri, 2000). In view of escalating energy cost and associated ill effects of conventional tillage practices, it is become imperative to optimize tillage requirement of fodder – food cropping system.
