Book of Extended summaries ISDA

International Conference on Reimagining Rainfed Agro-ecosystems: Challenges &
Opportunities during 22-24, December 2022 at ICAR-CRIDA, Hyderabad
such as in-situ moisture conservation, nutrient management, pest and disease management
and weed management were also taken care of for these crops and cropping systems.
Results
In situ moisture conservation practices of summer ploughing and raising the bund height in
rice, maize crops recorded a yield advantage of 20% higher over farmers’ practice. The
improved varieties of rice i.e. Sahabhagi, Lalat and Naveen in Budhadani and Gunjidrga
villages recorded significantly higher grain yield of 2510, 2520 and 2420 kg/ha, respectively
compared to the traditional varieties (1850 kg/ha). Increases in yield of different rice variety
were found to be 35.67%, 36.21% and 30.81% than the local variety (Saria, Jhalka, Punia),
respectively. Hybrid maize such as P-3501 and NMH-51 produced 80.2 % and 76.5% higher
yield respectively as compared to local variety (KujiMakka). Variety P – 3501 was largely
preferred by the farmers because of its yield advantage, grain quality and large cob size that
fetches more monetary return and market price. Introduction of maize + cowpea (2:2) and
maize + pigeonpea (2:2) intercropping systems resulted in higher maize equivalent yield with
yield advantages of 80.3% and 50.5% respectively as compared to sole maize crops. The
introduction of pigeonpea + radish (2:2) intercropping system resulted in a higher pigeonpea
equivalent yield with yield advantages of 84.6% as compared to sole pigeonpea crops.
Intervention in integrated nutrient management (INM) such as the application of organic and
inorganic fertilizer along with micronutrients was applied in the demonstration of sole maize
and maize + cowpea (2:2) intercropping system. In weed management, pre-emergent
application of Pendimethalin @ 5 ml/l of water at 2-3 DAS along with one-hand weeding was
done during the crop growing period. These interventions of INM, weed, pest, and disease
management increase the yield by 15.4% than the farmers’ practices. Improved varieties of
vegetable crops such as Tomato (var. Hybrid Priya), Brinjal (var. Blue star), Bean (var.
Raikia bean), Okra (var. JKOH 7315),and Watermelon (var. Black pearl) resulted in higher
yields than the farmer’s practice and net return of Rs. 1.0 to 1.2 Lakhs per hectare.
Conclusions
This study clearly indicated the advantage of adopting all improved rainfed agro technologies
for different crops and systems in comparison to traditional practices. Assessment of
improved varieties of rice to climate vulnerability like the drought situation in Odisha
indicated that the rice variety “Sahabhagi” is drought tolerant whereas varieties like Naveen
and Lalat are also promising in the rainfed situation. Improved maize varieties such as NTL-
30 and P-3501 are also promising varieties in the rainfed situation of Odisha. The In situ
moisture conservation practices such as of both summer ploughing and increasing the bund
height as well as INM, weed, pest, and disease management also proved superior in
improving both soil and crop productivity and sustainability of dryland farmers.
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Ecosystem based approaches for climate change adaptation, ecosystem services, integrated farming system models,
Land degradation neutrality