Book of Extended summaries ISDA

International Conference on Reimagining Rainfed Agro-ecosystems: Challenges &
Opportunities during 22-24, December 2022 at ICAR-CRIDA, Hyderabad
T5-17P-1117
Effect of Mechanization Practices on Economics of Soyabean-Safflower
Cropping System
S. A. Shinde*, P. O. Bhutada and S. B. Ghuge
All India Coordinate Research Project on Safflower, Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth
Parbhani, Maharashtra, India.
* santoshashinde338@gmail.com
Oilseed crops are the second most important determinant of an agricultural economy, next only
to cereals within the segment of field crops. Among oilseeds Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius
L.) is an important oilseed crop with 35-40 % oil. It has been used as a source of edible oil and
dying since ancient times. Effective use of agriculture machinery helps to increase productivity
and production of output and undertake timely farm operations. This judicious use of time,
labour, and resources facilitate sustainable intensification and is timely. Planting of crops,
leading to an increase in productivity. Hence Mechanical power has become more economical
and indispensable to meet targets of timeliness and efficient utilization of natural resources and
inputs (Srinivasarao et al., 2013) Mechanization in safflower crop will help to timely field
operations and easy harvesting and save huge cost of cultivation and sort the labour problem
of the farmer. This study is therefore carried out to determine suitable mechanization practices
in safflower.
Methodology
A field experiment was conducted during the period of 2020-21 at All India co-ordinated
Research Project on Safflower, V.N.M.K.V., Parbhani. The soil was clayey in texture, low in
available nitrogen (231 kg ha -1 ), low in available phosphorus (12.64 kg ha -1 ), rich in available
potash (474 kg ha -1 ), sulphur (15.25 kg ha -1 ), and slightly alkaline in reaction. The soil was
moderately alkaline in reaction (8.13 pH). In general, weather conditions were favourable for
plant growth, and no severe pests and diseases were noticed during experimentation. The study
involved two treatment combinations of two factors viz., Selective mechanization plot (SMP)
and Farmer practice (FP) with two treatments. Each experimental unit was non-replicated
having a Plot size of 1000 m 2 for each of the mechanical and normal plots. Sowing was
completed as per treatments. Safflower variety PBNS -86 was sown at a spacing of 45 cm
(between rows) X 20 cm (between Plants) The fertilizer dose of 60:40:00 NPK kg ha -1 was
applied at the time of sowing. The package of recommended practices was adopted. The data
on growth and yield parameters were analyzed with paired ‘t’ test and cost of cultivation, net
returns, and B: C ratio was worked out. Data on the time period for each operation, and energy
used were converted into suitable energy units and expressed in MJ/ha. Energy equivalents of
inputs and outputs were computed based on values suggested by Gopalan et al. (1978) The
Emerging approaches (RS, AI, ML, Drones etc) for crop management &assessment
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