Growing crops by Ashutosh

Growing Crops with SRI Principles

SRI Secretariat Livolink Foundation Plot # 1826 - C - 1, Sidhi Vihar, Barabari, Khandagiri Bhubaneswar - 751 030, Odisha (India) www.sdtt-sri.org E-mail.: srisecretariat.in@gmail.com

Growing Crops with SRI Principles

Preface he System for Rice Intensification (SRI) methodology was synthesized by Fr. Henri de Laulanie in the early 1980s, in Madagascar. It is a set of farming practices that involves management of plant, soil, water and nutrient for enhancing crop productivity. SRI that was first introduced in India during 2002, is gradually evolving as more and more actors are showing interest and making earnest efforts for its promotion. However, the last three-four years has witnessed its rapid spread and adaption among small and marginal farmers. The noble initiative taken up by Sir Dorabji Tata Trust (SDTT), Mumbai for promoting System of Rice Intensification, has been noteworthy and successful in up-scaling this innovation across 12 states in India.

The consistent success of the methodology inspired some progressive farmers and partner organizations to experiment the SRI principles in other crops. After repeated trials it has been found that all the six principles or a part thereof are suitable in enhancing the productivity of crops like Wheat, Finger millet, Sugarcane, Rapeseed / Mustard and few vegetables too. It has been observed that farmers applying the SRI principles in other crops are following different set of agronomic practices. Thus, for dissemination and up-scaling of these innovations, there arises a need to consolidate and document farmers' practices. The SRI Secretariat, promoted by SDTT and hosted by "LIVOLINK FOUNDATION" at Bhubaneswar, Odisha has taken the initiative to document such practices for specific crops like, Wheat, Finger millets, Rapeseed / Mustard and some solanaceous vegetables. The package of practices suggested in this publication is an integration of farmers' practices, suggestions from implementing NGO partners and standard practices of the respective crops. Additionally, it covers the symptoms and integrated management of few important diseases and insect pests of the crops to bring in a complete package of practices. Hereby, we would like to thank all SDTT's SRI partners who have contributed in compiling this document. Our special thanks to PRADAN, Gaya, for providing us valuable time and necessary information. We are thankful to Dr. T. M.Thiyagarajan, former Director, TNAU, Coimbatore, Dr P.K. Raul, Professor (Agronomy), OUAT, Bhubaneswar and Dr H.P. Mishra, Professor, (Entomology), OUAT, Bhubaneswar for technical suggestions in up-gradation of this material. Above all we are grateful to Sir Dorabji Tata Trust (SDTT), Mumbai for encouraging us and providing necessary financial support for developing and publishing this document. Hope, this document will be helpful in guiding different stakeholders for successful extrapolation of the SRI principles to other crops, dissemination of innovations, enhancement of crop productivity and thereby ensuring household food security.

Tushar Kanta Dash Ashutosh Pal SRI Secretariat Livolink Foundation Bhubaneswar

Foreword Prof. Haribandhu Panda (Ph.D.) Chairperson Livolink Foundation

The Livolink Foundation has been actively coordinating the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) Program of Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and allied Trusts in various states of India. The experience so far has proved that the principles of SRI can be transferred to other crops with high effectiveness. To diffuse the SRI technology among farmers producing wheat, finger-millets, rapeseed and vegetables, the Foundation has brought out this booklet with kind financial assistance from Sir Dorabji Tata Trust (SDTT) and Allied Trusts, Mumbai. I am sure the SRI practices for such crops, illustrated in the booklet, will be useful for farmers, facilitators, students and instructors to improve and scale-up production of these prominent crops in the country. Livolink Foundation will accept the advices and suggestions from all concerned, with gratitude, to improve the quality of this booklet in its future revisions.

(Dr. Haribandhu Panda)

Growing Crops with SRI Principles

Foreword Mr. Biswanath Sinha Senior Program Officer Sir Dorabji Tata Trust(SDTT) and Allied Trusts, Mumbai

There has been lots of work done on System of Rice Intensification (SRI) since 1980s globally. Many of the work on SRI have been documented quite well also. In fact, there are at least six dedicated websites on SRI even in India now, which is a very healthy sign. We are pleased to also witness SRI being rapidly accepted by various State Governments in India. The point has been proved beyond that it is a noble system. This gives special pride as we in Sir Dorabji Tata Trust have initiated a dedicated Program on SRI since 2007-08 and many of the replications happening has been influenced by the good work carried out by our partners across 12 States. Many civil society organizations have in the meantime started applying SRI principles in other crops too, which in majority of the cases has shown good results. Thus, there was a necessity to bring documents on package of practice (PoP) on these crops. I am very happy that the Livolink Foundation, Bhubaneswar is bringing a manual on this with active support from our SRI partners. I wish this manual will be useful for all who intend to work on crop productivity enhancement.

(Mr. Biswanath Sinha)

iii

Contents SRI-Wheat

01-09

Package of Practices

Disease management

Nematode management

Insect pest management

SRI-Rapeseed / Mustard

10-18

Package of Practices

Disease management

Insect pest management

SRI-Finger Millet (Ragi)

19-23

Package of Practices

Insect pest management

Disease management

SRI Vegetables (Brijnal, Tomato, Chilli)

24-40

Package of Practices

Disease management in Brinjal

Insect pest management in Brinjal

Insect pest management in Tomato

Disease management in Tomato

Disease management in Chilli

Insect pest management in Chilli

Fertilizers calculation chart

Pesticide conversion charts

Growing Crops with SRI Principles

BASIC SRI PRINCIPLES

Package of Practices for SRI-Wheat Triticum sp. (Family : Poaceae) System of wheat intensification (SWI) or SRI-Wheat is a new approach of cultivating wheat adopting the principles of SRI. It involves a set of farming practices that favours a wheat plant to grow in its full potential, resulting in healthier growth and higher yield. This package of practices (POP) is based on farmersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; experience and is an integration with the standard agronomic practices for improved wheat cultivation.

Sowing time Sowing time is crucial for successful wheat cultivation. Sowing too early or late reduces the production considerably. Sowing between November- December is ideal.

Variety Wheat variety should be selected as per the local agro-climatic condition and availability. However, locally recommended certified seeds should be preferred.

seed rate Seed rate depends upon the spacing maintained and the number of seeds to be sown per hill.

Spacing (RxP)

No of seed/s per hill

Seed rate in kg/acre

20cm x 20cm

20cm one way

Usually, under normal condition 2 seeds/hill at a spacing of 20cm x 20cm is recommended.

Seed treatment Seed treatment is very important in SWI and involves the following steps. At first 20 litres of warm water is taken in an earthen pot and 10 kg of Seeds are slowly transferred into it. Lighter seeds which float on water surface is removed while rest are left in the water. Then 4 litres of desi cow urine, 3 kg of vermicompost and 2 kg of jaggery are added into it and thoroughly mixed with seeds. The mixture of seed, warm water, vermicompost, jaggery and cow urine is left as such for 6-8 hours. After that the mixture is transferred Seed treatment by Women farmer into a jute bag where water is drained out of it. Then seeds along with the solid materials are treated with Bavistin @ 2-3g/kg or Tricoderma @ 7.5gm/kg along with PSB @ 6g/kg and Azotobacter @ 6g/kg of wheat seeds. Thereafter, it is left in the jute bag for sprouting. After 10-12 hrs the seeds are ready for sowing. At this stage there is initiation of sprouting or sprouting might have already taken place.

Growing Crops with SRI Principles

Land preparation The land should be ploughed thoroughly three to four times to make the soil well pulverized and the field should be leveled properly. Care must be taken to divide the field into small plots for proper water management. Use of compost/vermicompost or any other organic matter is as per the availability. But, application of compost @ 20 q/acre or vermicompost @ 4 q/acre has witnessed higher yield. Additionally during land preparation, DAP @ 30 kg/acre and MOP @ 15 kg/acre is to be applied. In case of zinc deficient soils, Zinc sulphate may be applied at its normal rate of 10 kg/acre.

Seed sowing The seeds should be sown when there is enough moisture in the soil. If soil is dry a pre-sowing light Irrigation need to be given. Under normal condition, with the help of hand-hoe and marked rope two seeds are sown at a depth of 4-5 cm in the soil maintaining a spacing of 20cm x 20cm.

In case of moisture stress or late sowing the farmers reduce the spacing. Under poor soil fertility condition 3 seeds are sown instead of 2 per hill. After planting, seeds are covered with soil. Within 2-3 days emergence takes place. Gap filling need to be done with similarly treated seed.

Aftercare of the wheat field (Irrigation, Top dressing and Inter-cultivation) First irrigation is applied at 15-20 days after sowing (DAS). The next day urea @ 25 kg/acre is applied. Two to three days after first irrigation hoeing is done. Specially designed dry land weeders (as shown in the figure) are working well in the wheat field. Weeding by weeder can replace the labour intensive hoeing operation. Second irrigation is to be applied during 30-35 DAS. Similarly, 2-3 days after irrigation 2nd hoeing is done. Third hoeing at 40-45 DAS gives better results. Urea @ 13.5 kg/acre may be top dressed before this third hoeing. Dry land weeder s

SRI-Wheat

After that Irrigation should be provided as per the moisture content of the soil and the stage of the plant. However irrigation at the critical stage viz. tiller completion, late joint, flowering and milk stages has been proved beneficial. Application of Panchagavya, Amrutjalam and Matkakhad (PAM) at least three times preferably during tillering, ear head initiation stage is found effective as compared to chemical fertilizers.

Wheat field after 2nd weeding

Tillering and yield

Profuse tillering

IPM measures in SRI-wheat

Larger ear head

Tillering starts after 21 days of sowing of wheat. The number of tillers vary depending upon nutrient status and soil environment. However under ideal condition 30-50 tillers/hill may come out. The conversion rate of tillers into ear head varies between 60-90 percent. The plant height, tillering, leaf growth as well as the length and weight of the ear head are significantly higher as compared to wheat grown in conventional method. The average productivity in this method is 12-20 q/acre.

A comparative study

Source-Study conducted by ATMA and PRADAN, Gaya (Bihar)

Growing Crops with SRI Principles

Integrated Disease and Insect Pest Management Disease management Leaf Rust /Brown Rust : Puccinia recondita tritici Symptoms Brown necrotic irregular pustules are seen on leaves. Severe infection results up to 30% yield loss. Temperatures of 5-20oC with free moisture (rain or dew) causes epidemics.

Non chemical management Most of the certified seeds are rust resistant.

Chemical management

Infected leaf Spraying Zineb and Dithane M-45 @ 3 kg/ha or Propiconazole (Tilt) and Triadimefon (Bayleton) has been proved beneficial.

Stripe Rust /Yellow Rust : Puccinia striiformis tritici Symptoms Yellow coloured elongated stripes are seen on leaves due to disease attack. Temperature of 10-20oC favours the disease spread and the spread is checked above 25 oC. The pathogen survives in the cool temperatures of the hills and primary infection takes place in the middle of January.

Non chemical management Use of resistant variety

Chemical management

Plant showing strip rust

Seed treatment (2.6gm/kg) and spray Oxycarbon @ 3.2 kg/ha or spraying of Propiconazole (Tilt) 25 EC @ 0.1 % (1 ml / litre) is found effective.

Stem Rust /Black Rust : Puccinia gramini stritici Symptoms Reddish-brown to dark-brown, oblong, pustules appear on clums and leaf sheaths. Later, the postules turn black and grains become shriveled. Crop loss can reach upto 15-20%.

Non chemical management Old susceptible seed varieties should be replaced by resistant one.

Chemical management Seed treatment with Oxycarboxin is effective. Stem rust in wheat

SRI-Wheat

Karnal Bunt : Tilletia indica (Neovossia indica) Symptoms Diseased grains partly converted into black sooty powder which smells like rotten fish. Only a few ears and a few grains in each ear are affected.

Non chemical management Adopt crop rotation. Grow durum wheat variety PBW 502 resistant to the disease. Avoid using seeds collected from diseased crops. One spray of Trichoderma viridae @ 0.4% before ear head emergence and one at start of the ear head emergence controls the disease.

Infected wheat grains

Chemical management Adopt seed treatment with Vitavax power @ 3g/kg. At the time of anthesis spray with Propiconazole (Tilt) 25%EC @ 0.1%. Integration of one spray of Propiconazole 25%EC @ 0.1% with one spray of the bioagent fungus Trichoderma viridae 0.4% suspension gives almost cent percent control of the disease. The bioagent spray should be done before ear head emergence followed by the chemical at start of ear head emergence.

Loose Smut : Ustilago segatum (U. tritici) Symptoms At the time of heading black powdery mass is observed instead of flowers in the panicle. All the parts of the spikelet are converted into black smut. Infection is favored by cool, humid conditions during flowering. Heads of infected plants usually emerge from the boot slightly earlier than normal.

Non chemical management If the disease level is low to moderate, treat the seed with a combination of Trichoderma viride (@4 g/ kg seed) plus Carboxin (Vitavax 75WP @ 1.25g / kg seed).

Infected panicle

Chemical management Treat the seed with Carboxin (Vitavax 75WP @ 2.5g / kg seed), Carbendazim (Bavistin 50WP @ 2.5g / kg seed), Tebuconazole (Raxil 2DS @ 1.25g / kg seed) if the disease level in the seed is high.

Foliar Blights : (Bipolaris sorokiniana-(Spot blotch), Pyrenophora tritici repentis (leaf blotch or tan spot), Alternaria triticina (Alternaria leaf blight) Distribution Foliar blight is mainly seen in eastern India but also occurs in Peninsular and Central India. This disease complex is emerging as a problem in the north western India too.

Development The disease requires high temperature and high humidity to spread. It is more severe in late

Growing Crops with SRI Principles

sown crop and causes substantial yield losses through formation of shriveled grains. Most of the varieties are susceptible or moderately susceptible.

Non chemical management late sowing and application of excess nitrogenous fertilizers must be avoided.

Chemical management

Plant showing foliar blight symptoms

Treat the seeds with Captan/Thiram @ 2.5 g/kg of seed. Spray with Blitox 50 or Indofil M-45 @ 2 g/litre of water 2-3 times at fortnightly intervals from appearance of the disease. Spraying of Propiconazole (Tilt 25 EC @ 0.1%) on need base is effective.

Powdery Mildew : Erysiphe graminis tritici Symptoms White to dark powdery masses appears on all aerial parts of the plant.

Non chemical management Avoid excessively dense stands by using adequate seed rate. In SRI-wheat it is achieved by defult.

Chemical management

Infected plant parts

Dusting with Sulphur dust @ 20-25kg/ha or spraying with wettable Sulphur @ 3g or Carbendazim @ 1.5g or Calixin @ 1g or Propiconazole @ 1ml/litre of water effectively controls the disease.

Head Scab: Fusarium graminearum Symptoms Soon after flowering the diseased spikelets turn light-straw colored and have a bleached appearance due to premature death of tissues while healthy spikelets look normal green color. One or more spikelets may be infected or the entire head may be diseased. Stem infection immediately below the head may result in death of the entire head.

Non chemical management

Panicle showing head scab Cultivate bread wheat which is more resistant than durum wheat. Clean crop residues before planting. Crop rotation in every 3rd year if possible with soyabean.

Chemical management Seed treatment with Triazole fungicides are recommended for its suppression because they are locally systemic.

SRI-Wheat

Nematode management Cereal Cyst Nematode : Heterodera avenae Symptoms : The roots of infested seedlings develop frequent branches and swellings (cysts). The cysts are off-white in colour when young, turning dark brown as they age. Seedlings weakened by nematodes often are invaded by soil-borne pathogen, especially root and crown rots.

Non chemical management Grow CCNRV-1 variety available in disease prone areas of Rajasthan which resist cyst formation. Use neem cake @ 250 kg/ha. Rotate crop with non-cereals or follow grass-free rotations. Use organic amendments, such as manure, organic matter, and compost to compensate yield. Infected wheat root

Chemical management Use of Carbofuran @ 50 kg / ha controls the nematode.

Insect pest management Gujhia weevil : Tanymecus indicus Faust. (Curculionidae: Coleoptera) Damage The damage is caused by the adult weevils which are small, 5-6 mm long and 2-3 mm broad. They cut the plumule of the germinating wheat seedlings just below the soil surface.

Non chemical management Damaged plant part

Apply neem oilcake @ 250 kg/ha at final land preparation.

Chemical management During last ploughing apply Chlorpyriphos 1%D @ 25 kg/ha. Seed treatment with Chlorpyriphos 20 EC @ 5 ml /kg is very effective. In case of attack on standing crop, apply Chlorpyriphos 20 EC @ 2-3 l/ha with irrigation water.

Termite : Odontotermis obesus Ramb. (Termitidae : Isoptera) Damage These are white to dirty white coloured soft bodied polyphagous insects which cut and consume all types of plant materials like roots, seedlings and even older plants under moisture stress condition. Their attack during reproductive stage of the crop in patches causes cent percent damage.

Non chemical management : Frequently irrigating the crop reduces its damage.

Termite attacked field

Growing Crops with SRI Principles

ITKs Application of 250 kg horse droppings and mixing well in the soil well before planting results 70% reduction in termite incidence. Application of 2.5 kg lime with 5 kg salt to one acre soil reduces termite attack by 60-70 per cent. Similarly application of 5 kg Calotropis gigantea leaves per acre in irrigation channel reduces termite attack.

Chemical management During final land preparation apply Chlorpyriphos dust @ 25 kg/ha or Sevidol 4% granules @ 20-25 kg/ha. Treating the seeds with Chlorpyriphos 20 EC @ 5 ml/kg or Imidacloprid 17.8 SL@ 2.5 ml/kg seed is quite effective. Soil drenching or spot application of Chlorpyriphos 20 EC @ 4ml or Imidacloprid @ 2.5 ml/ lit of water is also effective.

Pink Borer : Sesamia inferens Walker (Noctuidae : Lepidoptera) Symptoms Larvae cause damage by boring into the stem making visible holes. The central shoot dies when attacked in tillering stage (5-6 week stage) causing dead heart. Attack during the heading stage causes white ear heads.

Non chemical management Stubbles of previous graminaceous crop should be destroyed by deep ploughing. Avoid excess application of nitrogenous fertilizers.

Larvae

Adult

Chemical management Spray chemical insecticides like Endosulfan 35 EC / Triazophos 40 EC / Profenophos 50 EC / Monocrotophos 36 SC /Phosphamidon 40SL @ 1 lit/ha.

Gram Pod Borer : Helicoverpa armigera Hub. (Noctuidae:Lepidoptera) Damage This is a polyphagous pest. Larvae are seen damaging wheat ear heads at grain development stage when major hosts are not available. However, the damage is usually below economic threshold level. It is found mostly in northern and central parts of India. Wheat can serve as a bridge host for carryover of this polyphagous pest.

Non chemical management Spray the crop with neem based pesticides like NSKE (Neem seed kernel extract) @ 5% or Neem oil @ 0.5%.

Chemical management As suggested in case of pink borer.

Larvae

Adult

SRI-Wheat

Army Worms: Mythmna separata (Noctuidae:Lepidoptera) Symptoms The larvae cause the damage by feeding on the foliage of wheat. It also feeds on the ear heads dropping pellets at the base of the plants. During day time the larvae hide under clods, in cracks and crevices or under grasses or weeds. Damage is done mostly during evening and night hours.

Non chemical management Avoid excess application of nitrogenous fertilizers. Spray the crop with neem based pesticides like NSKE @ 5% or neem oil @ 0.5%.

Chemical Management Spray the crop with Chlorpyriphos / Endosulfan @ 1 lit/ha or any of the chemicals suggested for control of pink borer to check spread of the pest to other fields.

Attacked panicle

Aphids : Sitobion avenae, Rhopalosiphum padi and various other species Symptoms The nymphs and adults suck the plant sap and make them stunted and weak. Grain filling is not proper. Aphids have been reported to be an efficient vector of the streak mosaic virus disease of wheat.

Non chemical management They are self-controlled by natural enemies. Lady bird beetles, syrphid flies and green lacewings are efficient predators. Therefore, keeping a watch on the aphid and its predator population is highly essential instead of opting for chemical pesticides blindly for its control.

Syrphid fly eggs laid on wheat

Adult of coccinellid on wheat ear head

Coccinellid larva searching for aphids

Aphids sucking sap

Healthy (top) & Parasitized (below)

ITK Thirty to forty leaves of Vitex negundo be boiled in 10 litres of water and condensed to one litre. About 10 g of Asafoetida is then mixed into it. These are now mixed in 5 litres of cow urine, filtered, added with 100 litres water and sprayed on crop. By doing so, aphids and army worms on wheat is reduced.

Chemical management If the natural enemies fail to control aphids and their number crosses 10 per plant in vegetative stage or 5/plant in reproductive stage then apply Imidacloprid 17.8 SL or Thiamethoxam 25 WG @ 25 g a.i./ha on need base.

Package of Practices for SRI-Rapeseed and Mustard Brassica sp. (Family : Brassicaceae) This package of practices is based on the farmers practice of Rapeseed which has been promoted in Gaya district of Bihar by PRADAN and that of Mustard promoted by PRASARI in Jalpaigudi, West-Bengal.

Planting time Rapeseed and Mustard are cultivated in winter season. The Nursery is sown during 15th - 30th October and the harvesting is done during March - April.

Land type It is planted in up and medium land having proper drainage.

Variety, spacing and seed rate This method has been successfully tried with a traditional variety of Rapeseed in Gaya, which has been named as RP-09 and also with the certified variety of mustard B-9 and Raijota in Jalpaigudi. But other certified variety can also be taken. Seed rate depends upon the duration of variety and the spacing maintained. Sl. No

Duration (days)

Spacing (cmxcm)

Seed rate (g/ac)

<120

45 x 45

200

120-130

60 x 60

125

130-140

75 x 75

>140

90 x 90

Seed treatment Materials required for treatment of 50 g seed is as follows. However the materials required for more or less quantity of seed can be calculated accordingly. 1.

Warm water (60oC) - 500 ml

Seed-50 g

Cow Urine-50ml

Vermicompost-100g/Vermi wash-25ml

Jaggery-25g

Tricoderma-0.5g

A non-metallic container

The seed treatment involves the following steps. 500ml of warm water (60oC) is taken in any non-metallic container and 50g of seeds are transferred into it.

SRI-Rapeseed / Mustard

The light weight seeds which floats on surface of water are removed, keeping the bold ones. Then 50ml of desi cow urine, 100g of vermicompost or 25 ml of vermi wash and 25g of Jaggery are properly mixed to it. The mixture of seeds, hot water, vermicompost, jaggery and cow urine is left as such for 4-6 hours. Then the mixture is filtered in a cotton cloth to drain out water so that the solid material along with the seeds are retained. After that 0.5 g Tricoderma is thoroughly mixed and the content is tied with the same cloth and kept in a shady place. After 10-12 hr, the seeds are ready for sowing in the nursery.

Nursery raising Raised seed bed (12-15 cm height) of required area is prepared by mixing well decomposed manure and soil. During the time of bed preparation 100 g of Furadon is thoroughly mixed with the soil. The area of the nursery bed is dependant upon the spacing to be maintained in the main field and is inversely propertional to it.

1 2 3

45 x 45 60 x 60 75 x 75

Nursery area (m2) for 1 acre of mainfield 50 30 20

90 x 90

Sl. No.

Spacing (cmxcm)

Sprouted seeds are sown in the nursery maintaining a spacing of 5cm x 5cm. Then 15 kg of vermicompost is gently spread in a thin layer over the bed without disturbing the seeds. Thus seeds are covered. The nursery is covered by straw and watering is done with rosecane once in a day preferably in the afternoon hours. The shoots come out in 2 days and the straw is removed on 3rd day. After 8-10 days of sowing the seedlings are ready for transplantation. At the time of uprooting, the nursery should be kept moist and uprooting must be done carefully with soil attached to the roots and without any root injury.

Land preparation The land should be ploughed thoroughly 3-4 times to make the soil well pulverized. Before ploughing, well decomposed Farm Yard Manure (FYM) is added (@ 80 q/acre) in main field. During the time of last ploughing 30 kg DAP and 15 kg MOP per acre is also added. Farmers who have applied the fertilizer directly in the pit also have got better result. So for effective use of nutrients, the manures and fertilizers may be directly applied in the pit where spacing of 75cm x 75cm. and more is followed.

Growing Crops with SRI Principles

For increasing the nutrient content and effectiveness, Tricoderma @ 2-3 kg/acre is mixed with FYM as per the quantity specified and kept for 2-3 days before application. Care must be taken to make the field properly leveled.

Pit digging and filling Pits of 6" x 6" x 8" (L x B x D) to 12" x 12" x 15" dimensions are dug out for spacing of 45cm x 45cm to 90cm x 90cm respectively. Pit size for spacing in between is calculated accordingly. However, larger pits witnessed healthier plant growth and higher yield. The pits are kept open for 3-4 days and then filled up with a mixture of FYM and soil in 1:1 ratio. In case fertilizers are to be applied in the pit, it must be added at the depth of 6 inch in order to avoid the direct contact of seedling root at the time of transplanting.

Transplanting Transplanting is done with 8-10 days old seedlings. After watering the filled up pits, 1 seedling is gently planted per pit at a depth of 1-1.5 inches. Seedlings are planted with root remaining in “L” or “I” shape. As per the general principles of SRI, care must be taken to transplant the seedlings with soil remaining attached to root, without any root injury and within 30 minutes of uprooting from the nursery. Gap filling should be done within 10 days after transplanting with the seedling of similar specification.

Aftercare of the Rapeseed and Mustard field

(Irrigation, Top dressing and Inter-cultivation) Up to 3-4 days after transplanting, the pits are watered once in a day preferably during afternoon hours for seedlings to establish. 15 days after transplanting the pits are irrigated so as to facilitate hoeing in the next 2-3 days, when the soil is in friable condition. Crop after Ist Irrigation Three to four days after hoeing the pits or at 20th days of transplanting the entire field is irrigated through flood irrigation. Urea @ 30 kg/ac is applied in the pit the next day after flood irrigation. Then vermicompost@ 4 q/ac is applied at the base of the plant.

Three to four days after the flood irrigation or when the soil is in workable condition, hoeing is done throughout the field. At this time care must be taken to thoroughly mix the vermicompost in the pit. The hoeing cum weeding operation can also be done by the dryland weeder which will serve the same purpose of manual hoeing with reduced labour. Crop after 2nd hoeing

SRI-Rapeseed / Mustard

Ten days after hoeing or at 35 DAT, flood irrigation is done. On the next day after irrigation a mixture of urea @ 15 kg/acre and MOP @ 13 kg/acre is applied. After 3-4 days of irrigation, hoeing cum earthing-up is done adding soil to the base of the plant and making a furrow in between rows. After that irrigation is done at 15-20 days interval or as per requirement. Care must be taken to keep the field moist during flowering and siliqua development stages.

Nutrient management schedule of Rapeseed and Mustard for 1 acre area : Time of Application

FYM

Vermicompost

Urea

DAP

MOP

Field preparation / Pit filling

80 q

35 kg

15 kg

20 DAT

30 kg

35 DAT

15 kg

13 kg

80 q.

4 q.

45 kg

35 kg

28 kg

Total

Nutrient management through non-chemical means is also possible in Rapeseed and Mustard without affecting the yield. In such case the chemical fertilizers can be replaced by the application of Pot manure, Amrutjalam, Panchagavya alternately at 15-20 days interval and increasing the dose of FYM and Vermicompost by 50 percent.

SRI - Rapeseed showing profuse branching

Harvesting Harvesting is done during late March or early April when the grains mature. The crop should be harvested early in the morning when 75-85 per cent siliqua have turned golden yellow in colour. The crop is harvested with hand-sickles

Post harvest operation After harvesting the bundles of convenient size are made with the plants and dried in sun for a week. Threshing is done by beating the siliqua with wooden sticks or by trampling the plants by bullocks. Seeds are separated by winnowing, with the help of natural air flow but the wind velocity should not be very high as the seeds, being very small, are blown away with the high speed of air.

Growing Crops with SRI Principles

Comparision between traditional and SRI method of rapeseed cultivation

Integrated Disease and insect pests management Disease management Club Root : Plasmodiophora brassicae Symptoms Affected plants look stunted. Pale green or yellow leaves develop and later the plants get killed. The plants die untimely.

Non chemical management Apply long term crop rotation (4 years ) with non-host crops. Destroy all cruciferous weeds. Avoid growing in fields with previous history of disease occurrence Avoid growing mustard in acidic soils Soil conservation to prevent spread to other fields.

Mustard root showing club root symptoms

SRI-Rapeseed / Mustard

Chemical management Apply 2.5 tonnes of lime/ha 6 weeks before planting .

Downy Mildew: Peronospora parasitica Symptoms Grayish white irregular necrotic patches develop on the lower surface of leaves. The affected inflorescence does not produce any siliqua or seed. The extent of damage is 17-32 % in mixed infection.

Non chemical management Destroy the diseased crop debris. Follow crop rotation at least in three years. Varieties of Brassica napus group are resistant to this disease.

Infected leaf

Timely sowing between 10 - 25th October. Use healthy certified seeds. Application of potash in recommended doses reduce disease index.

Chemical management Seed treatment with 6g Metalaxyl (Apron) per kg seed followed by single spray with Metalaxyl (Ridomil MZ) at 2.5 g/litres at 60 days after sowing. Spray the crop with Mancozeb 75 % W.P. @ 2 gm per litre of water at the onset of the disease.

Powdery Mildew: Erysiphe cruciferarum Symptoms Symptoms appear as dirty white, circular, floury patches on either sides of the leaves. Under favourable environmental conditions (cold & cloudy), entire leaves, stems and siliquae are affected.

Non chemical management Field sanitation is a must. Destroy crop residues. Application of potash in recommended doses reduces disease index.

Infection in stem and Siliquae

Chemical management Spray the crop with wettable sulphur @ 3 g/litre of water at the onset of the disease and repeat it after 15 days if necessary or sulphur dust @ 30kg/ha. Application of Dinocap or Tridemorph @ 1ml per litre of water.

Growing Crops with SRI Principles

White Rust: Albugo candida Symptoms White creamy yellow raised pustules appear on the leaves which later coalesce to form patches. Swelling and distortion of the stem and floral parts results into â&#x20AC;&#x153;stag headâ&#x20AC;?. In humid weather, mixed infection of white rust and downy mildew develop on stag head structure.

Non chemical management Use healthy certified seeds. Crop rotation. Collection of seeds from stag head free plants to avoid carry over of the disease.

White rust symptoms in leaf

Destruction of crop debris particularly stag heads of previous crop. Avoiding over irrigation.

Chemical management Seed treatment with Apron SD-35 @ 6g/kg seed or Thiram @2.5 g/kg seed. Spray the crop with Mancozeb 75 % W.P. @ 2 gm per litre of water at the onset of the disease. Repeat the spray after 15 days interval or spray with Metalaxyl (Ridomil MZ) @ 2.5 g/litre of water.

Insect pest management Cabbage Head Borer : Hellula undalis Damage Caterpillars initially mine the leaves and make it white and papery.Later they feed on leaves and bore into stems, entrance hole is covered with silk and excreta.

Non chemical management Collection and careful destruction of the larvae at gregarious stage on leaves twice a week. Spraying of NSKE 5% or other neem formulations containing 300 ppm Azadirachtin @ 2.5 litre /ha. Spraying of Bt formulation (Dipel, Delfin, Biodart, Halt, Bioasp, Biolep etc.) @ 1kg/ha during evening hours at 7-10 days intervals from appearance of the pest.

Caterpillar bore into the stem

Chemical management Spraying of Ethofenprox @ 500 ml/ha or Endosulfan or Triazophos @ 1 lit/ha.

SRI-Rapeseed / Mustard

Diamondback moth : Plutella xylostella Damage Caterpillars feed on the foliage and make it white and papery. The leaves look withered but in later stages they may be eaten up completely. Caterpillars also bores into pods and feeds developing seed.

Non chemical management Attacked pods

Installing pheromone trap @ 20-25/ha to control the adult males. Conserve its natural enemies like Cotesia plutellae and Diadegma insulare as they are an important parasitoid for diamond back moth.

Spraying of NSKE 5% or other neem formulations containing 300 ppm Azadirachtin @ 2.5litre /ha. Spraying of Bt formulation (Dipel, Delfin, Biodart, Halt, Bioasp, Biolep etc.)@ 1kg/ha during evening hours at 7-10 days intervals from appearance of the pest.

Chemical management Spray Fipronil 5 SC (Regent) or Chlorfenapyr (Rampage) 10 SC or Triazophos 40 EC (Hostathoin) @ 1 lit/ha or Flufenoxuron (Cascade 10 WDC) @ 300ml/ha.

Larger Moth : (Leaf webber) Crocidolomia binotalis Damage Newly hatched larvae feed gregariously initially on the cholorophyll of young leaves and later on older leaves, buds and pods, make webbings and live within. Severely attacked plants are defoliated. Seeds in the pods are also eaten away.

Non chemical management Collection and careful destruction of the larvae at gregarious stage while on surveillance.

Larvae feeding on leaf

Spraying of NSKE 5% or other neem formulations containing 300 ppm Azadirachtin @ 2.5 litre /ha. Spraying of Bt formulation (Dipel, Delfin, Biodart, Halt, Bioasp, Biolep etc.) @ 1kg/ha during evening hours at 7-10 days intervals from appearance of the pest.

Chemical management Spraying of Ethofenprox @ 500 ml/ha or Endosulfan or Triazophos or Monocrotophos @ 1 lit/ha or Carbaryl @ 2kg/ha are effective.

Mustard saw fly : Athalia lugens proxima Damage Initially the larva nibbles leaves, later it feeds from the margins towards the midrib. Feeding results in drying up of seedlings and failure to bear seeds in older plants. The yield loss is up to 5 -18 %.

Adult

Growing Crops with SRI Principles

Non chemical management Maintain clean cultivation. Apply irrigation in seedling stage because most of the larvae drown to death. Collection and destruction of grubs of saw fly in morning and evening Conserve Perilissus cingulator (parasite of the grub). Use of bitter gourd seed oil emulsion as on anti feedant.

Larvae feeding on leaf

Spraying of NSKE 5% or other neem formulations containing 300 ppm Azadirachtin @ 2.5 lit. /ha.

Chemical management Spray the crop with Endosulphan 35 EC or Quinolphos 25 EC or Triazophos 40 EC @1lit./ha

Mustard aphid : Lipaphis erysimi Symptom Both nymph and adults suck the sap from tender leaves, buds and pods. Curling may occur for infested leaves and at advanced stage plants may wither and die. Plants remain stunted and sooty molds grow on the honey dew excreted by the insects. The infected field looks sickly and blighted in appearance.

Non chemical management Early sowing before 20th October escape the damage. Grow aphid tolerant varieties like Pusa kalyani, Laha 101, C 294, RLM 84. Regular surveillance on pests and defenders especially for aphids (ETL â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 50-60 aphids / 10cms)

Adult

Conserve native natural enemies like coccinellids, syrphids and C.carnea Ladybird beetles viz., Cocciniella septem punctata , Menochilussex maculata, Hippodamia variegata and cheilomones vicina are most effcient pradators of the mustard aphid. Adult beetle may feed an average of 10 to 15 adults/day. Predatory bird Motacilla cospica is actively feeding over aphids in February-March. Therefore provide bird perches @ 20-25/ha. Spraying of NSKE 5% or other neem formulations at recommended doses.

Attacked plant

Chemical management Spraying should be done only insect population is more than ETL level. Spraying should be done in evening to avoid damage to pollinators. Spray the crop on need base with either Oxydemeton methyl (Metasystox) or Dimethoate (Rogor) @1 lit/ha or Imidacloprid (Confidor)17.8 SL @ 125-150 ml/ha or Thiamethoxam @ 125-150 g/ha.

Package of Practices for SRI-Finger Millet(Ragi) Eleusine coracana (Family : Poaceae) System of Finger millet intensification or SRI-finger millet cultivation is a method of cultivating finger millet by applying some of the cultivation principles adopted in SRI (System of Rice Intensification) in order to get higher productivity. This POP developed for SRI-Finger Millet is an integration of the farmersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; practice and standard practices of finger millet cultivation.

Variety and seed rate Region specific high yielding variety is a better option. Farmer can also use the local variety readily available. In Gajapati district of Orissa, Bhairabi, one high yielding variety performed consistently well with a yield of 10-12 q/acre. The seed rate under SRI-Finger millet is 0.25 kg per acre for a spacing of 25cm x 25cm as compared to 4.0 kg/acre in conventional method. Transplanting at a closer spacing of 20cm x 20cm is also maintained if soil is less fertile.

Seed sorting, priming and treatment Brine water treatment is done for separation of chaffy/ half-filled grains and to get bold and healthy seeds. After brine water treatment, the healthy seeds are again washed with normal water. Seed priming is done by soaking the seeds in cow urine water with 1:15 dilution for 8 hours. After filtration seeds are dried in shade and ready for sowing in the nursery. Seed priming and treatment can simultaneously be done Sprouted finger millet seeds by soaking the seeds with diluted Medicinal Madkakhad (1:20) instead of cow urine. Additionally, Seeds can also be treated with biofertilizers like Azospirillum (N-fixing) and PSM (P-solubilizing) @ 25 g/kg of seed before sowing in order to ensure better nutrient availability to the plant.

Nursery raising Raised nursery bed is prepared by mixing soil and compost in 2:1 ratio. For 1 acre of main field 250 g of treated seeds are sown in 40 m 2 nursery area. After sowing, 15 kg of vermicompost/powdered FYM is spread over the bed in a thin layer and covered with straw. Then the seed bed is watered once in a day by rose-cane. After 8-12 days in kharif and 16-18 days in rabi season the seedlings attain two leaf stage and become ready for transplantation.

Land preparation

Seedling ready to transplant

The land should be ploughed thoroughly three to four times to make the soil well pulverized. As per the availability, well decomposed compost and de-oiled cake are applied during land preparation. Compost @ 40 quintals/acre and neem/Karanj de-oiled cake @ 50 kg/acre has been proved beneficial.

Growing Crops with SRI Principles

During final land preparation, the field is leveled and water channels are formed at regular interval. Puddling is done one day prior to transplanting in order to facilitate marking by paddy marker.

Transplanting Transplanting is done with seedlings of two-leaf stage. As in SRI (paddy) transplanting in SRI finger millet is done with mass of soil attached to the root, without root injury and within half an hour of uprooting from the nursery. Single seedling is transplanted with a spacing of 25 cm x 25 cm.

Intercultivation (Weeding) First weeding is done within 20 days after transplanting with a rotary weeder. Second weeding is done manually by Transplanting of young seedling hoeing at 40 DAT. These two intercultural operations are sufficient to keep the field weed free and ensure root aeration.

Manuring Application of pot manure / Madkakhad / Jibamrut after weeding is beneficial for the crop. Vermicompost @2 q/ac may be added during the time of 1st weeding.

Water management Finger millet grown in Kharif does not require irrigation. Tillering, panicle initiation and grain development stages are sensitive to water stress. Finger millet cannot withstand water logging. The field should be drained out in Kharif to avoid standing water.

Tillering Tillering starts after the first weeding. On an average 8-10 tillers per hill emerge, out of which 6-8 become productive and bear the fingers.

Effective water management

Harvesting and Threshing Ragi matures in about 85-115 days depending upon the variety Harvesting is generally done in two stages Matured earheads are harvested in 2 or 3 pickings to avoid shattering and bird damage The earheads are cut by sickles and thereafter the straw is cut close to the ground Ear heads are heaped for three to four days to be cured and threshed with conventional beating with sticks or by bullock treading Standing crop of SRI- finger millet At certain places, under rainfed condition, the whole plant with the ear head is cut and threshed

Yield In this SRI method a yield of 8-10 q/acre is obtained against 4-6 q in traditional method.

SRI-Finger Millet

Integrated Disease and Insect pest management Insect pest management Pink Stem Borer: Sesamia inferens Symptoms Damage is caused by the young caterpillars that bore into the stem causing "dead heart" in the tillering and "white ear" in the reproductive stage.

Adult

Larva attacked stem

Pupa

Affected ear head

Non chemical management Removal and destruction of dead heart and white ear affected plants reduces further damage by pink borer larvae. Destruction of stubbles after harvest reduces carry over of the pink borer. Attracting the adult moths to light trap / flame trap for killing. Setting up of bird perches @ 8 per acre that help the birds to sit and pick insect larvae.

Chemical management If ETL crosses 1 Egg mass/m2, spray Phosphamidon 40 SC or Endosulfan 35 EC or Monocrotophus 36SL @ 1 lit./ha.

Earhead caterpillar : Helicoverpa armigera Damage It is a polyphagous pest attacking number of crops. Moth is stout, medium sized with brownish grey or olive green forewings and dark brown spot on the centre. Hind wings pale with a

Larva

Pupa

Adult

broad black outer margin. Larvae are of various colours starting from pink, cream to black, sparsely hairy with prominent white line along lower part of the sides.Damage is caused by the larvae which feed on the developing grains of finger millets ultimately reducing the yield.

Growing Crops with SRI Principles

Non chemical management Deep ploughing to expose the pupae of ear head caterpillars to be predated by birds and killed by hot sun rays. Set up light traps Set up sex pheromone traps at 20-25/ha. Setting up of bird perches @ 8 per acre that help the birds to sit and pick insect larvae. Mechanical collection of Helicoverpa larvae to kerosenized water reduces damage Two applications of HaNPV at 10 days interval at 1.5 X1012 POB along with (Crude sugar 2.5 kg + cotton seed kernel powder 250 g). Spraying of Bt formulation (Dipel, Delfin, Biodart, Halt, Bioasp, Biolep etc.)@ 1kg/ha during evening hours at 7-10 days intervals from appearance of the pest.

Chemical management Apply Endosulfan or Phosalone or Triazophos or Profenophos @ 1 lit/ha or Carbaryl 50 WP @ 2.0 kg/ha at milky stage.

Grasshopper: Colemanias phenariodes Damage The young nymphs and adults consume green leaves from margin leaving only mid ribs, sometimes defoliating the plants. They consume young ear heads too.

Non chemical management Deep ploughing to expose the egg pods of grasshoppers to be predated by birds and killed by hot sun rays. Setting up of bird perches @ 8 per acre that help the birds to sit and pick grasshoppers. Spraying of neem seed kernel extract (NSKE) @ 5% on need base.

Chemical management Dusting in the mornig dew with Chlorpyriphos dust or Endosulfan dust or Methyl parathion dust or Malathion dust @ 20-25kg/ha.

Disease management The main diseases of finger millet are as follows:

Blast: Pyricularia grisea Symptoms The fungal infection appears in the nursery from second week after germination and spread quickly to entire nursery as well as to main field. Many water soaked lesions appear on leaf lamina. On severe condition, the adjacent lesions coalesce forming boat shaped necrotic spots. Young leaves dry completely in the nursery itself.

Ear head blast

SRI-Finger Millet

Non chemical management Destruction of collateral hosts Destruction of infected plant debris Growing blast resistant varieties like Ratnagiri, Padmavathi, Gowtami and Godavari. Avoid excess application of nitrogenous fertilizer and apply in splits. Use disease-free seeds Burn diseased-straw and stubble. Broadcasting field with Trichoderma enriched FYM @ 1kg Sanjeebani/100kg FYM before final ploughing.

Chemical management Seed treatment with captan/ thiram @3gm /kg of seed. Spray with Tricyclozole 75WP@ 100-125 g/ha or Hinosan or Kitazine at nursery and boot leaf stage.

Seedling Blight: Drechslera nodulosum Symptoms It causes severe damage during years with high continuous rainfall. This disease occurs throughout the life cycle of finger millet plant and may infect all parts of the plant. Symptoms appear on seedlings as minute, oval, light brown lesions on the young leaves. These lesions enlarge and coalesce on severity. Affected leaves wither and seedlings may die.

Non chemical management Uproot and destroy the diseased plant soon after detecting in the field.

Seedlings showing blight symptoms

Maintain field sanitation.

Chemical management Seed treatment with Thiram or Captan @ 3g / kg. Spray the crop with 0.2% lime.

Downey Mildew : Sclerophthora macrospora. Symptoms It may cause severe damage in certain areas. Plants are stunted and leaves may arise close giving a bushy appearance.

Non chemical management Uproot and destroy the diseased plant soon after detecting in the field. Keep the field clean. Use resistant varieties.

Chemical management Seed treatment with Thiram or Captan @ 3g / kg.

Diseased plant

Package of Practices of SRI Vegetables Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), Brinjal (Solanum melongena) and Chilli (Capsicum annuum) [Family : Solanaceae] System of Rice Intensification (SRI) method of Vegetable cultivation is a method of cultivating vagetables by applying some of the principles adopted in SRI in order to get higher productivity with low inputs. This Package of Practices is an integration of the practice adpoted by the farmers of Gaya and the standard practices of improved vegetable cultivation. Seed Variety- Any seed variety can be taken. But farmers have experienced this method with the improved variety available locally.

Spacing and seed rate for different vegetables Name of the

Spacing

No of pits/acre

Seed count

Seed rate

per 10 g seed

in g / acre

vegetable

in ft.(R x P)

Brinjal

3.0’ x 3.0’

4900

1000-1100

60-70

Tomato

2.5’ x 2.5’

8700

1900-2000

50-60

Chilli

2.0’ x 1.5’

14500

2900-3000

60-70

Seed treatment The materials required for treatment of 10 gm seed are as follows. 1. Warm water (60oC)- 100 ml 2. Seed-10 g 3. Cow Urine-20ml 4. Vermicompost-25g 5. Jaggery-10g 6. Tricoderma-0.5g 7. A non-metallic container The material required for treatment of more or less quantity of seed can be calculated accordingly.

The seed treatment involves the following steps. 100ml of warm water (60oC) is taken in any non-metallic container and 10 g of Seeds are transfered into it. Then 20ml of desi cow urine, 25g of vermicompost and 10g of Jaggery are properly mixed. The mixture is left undisturbed for 4-6 hours. Then it is filtered in a cotton cloth so that the solid matter along with seeds get separated After that 0.5g of tricoderma power is thoroughly mixed and the content is kept tied in a shade place above ground. After 10-12 hrs, just before / after sprouting, the seeds become ready for sowing in the nursery.

SRI - Vegetables

Nursery Raising For 10g of seed, raised bed of 5"-6" height and 50 Sq Ft. size is prepared by mixing well decomposed manure and soil . During the time of bed preparation 50 gm of furadon is thoroughly mixed. Treated seeds are line sown on the bed with a spacing of 4-5cm from either side. Then 7-8 kg of vermicompost is gently spread in a thin layer over the bed without disturbing the seeds. Thus seeds are covered. The nursery is covered by straw and watering is done in rose cane. Watering is done once in a day in the afternoon hours.

Raised nursery bed

After the shoot comes out, the straw is removed. After 812 days of sowing the seedlings are ready for transplantation. For protection from direct sunlight and rain a poly roof may be prepared at 3ft height. At the time of uprooting, the nursery should be kept moist and Uprooting must be done carefully with soil attached to the roots and without root injury.

Poly roof in nursery

Land preparation The land should be ploughed thoroughly 4 times to make the soil well pulverized. Before ploughing well decomposed Farm Yard Manure(FYM) @ 80-100 qntls/acre is added in the main field. At the time of last plowing 50 kg DAP and 25 kg MOP per acre is added. The basal dose of FYM and Fertilizer added directly in the pit before planting of seedling has been proved beneficial. Tricoderma @ 2kg is mixed with Farm Yard Manure 2-3 days before application.

Pit digging and filling Pits of size 12" x 12" x 12" (L x B x D) is dug out at the recommended spacing for the vegetable to be grown. The pits are kept open for 3-4 days after which these are filled up with a mixture of FYM and soil in 1:1to 1:2 ratio depending upon the availability. In case fertilizers are to be applied in the pit, it must be added at the depth of 6 inch in order to avoid the direct contact of seedling root at the time of transplanting.

Transplanting

Pit preparation

Transplanting is done with 8-12 days of seedling. After watering the filled pit, 1 seedling/pit is gently planted in a depth of 3-4cm. As in SRI care must be taken to transplant the seedling with soil remaining attached to root, without root injury and within 30 minutes of uprooting from the nursery.

Single plant / pit

Growing Crops with SRI Principles

Aftercare of the Vegetable field (Irrigation, Top dressing and weeding) After transplanting, the pits are watered once in a day preferably during afternoon hours for 3-4 days in order to facilitate seedling establishment. Within 10 days after transplantation(DAT) gap filling is done with the seedling of similar specification. 15 days after transplanting the pits are irrigated. In next day hoeing is done in the pits. First flood irrigation is done at 20th DAT so as to facilitate hoeing cum weeding operation within 25th DAT. The next day after irrigation, Urea @ 30kg/acre is given in the pit followed by application of vermicompost @ 4-5 qntls/ acre. Hoeing is done throughout the field with special care to the pit area for thorough mixing up the vermicompost.

Hoeing in tomato

The hoeing cum weeding operation can also be done by the dry land weeder which will serve the same purpose of manual hoeing with reduced labor. Second flood irrigation is done 10 days after hoeing or 35 DAT so as to facilitate hoeing cum earthing up within 40th DAT. The next day after irrigation, Urea @ 15 Kg/acre and MOP @15Kg/acre is applied. Then as soon as the moisture condition permits, hoeing cum earthing up is done adding soil to the base of the plant and making furrow in between. After that irrigation is done at 15-20 days interval or as per requirement. Care must be taken to keep the field moist during flowering and fruiting stage. During 4 th irrigation another dose of Urea @ 15kg/acre is applied.

Profuse branching in SRI-brinjal

The nutrient management Schedule for SRI vegetables tabulated below.

SRI - Vegetables

Farmers interested for cultivation of organic vegetable can also use this method for maximizing yield. In such cases the chemical fertilizers are replaced by the application of Pot manure, Amrutjalam, Panchagavya alternately at 15-20 days interval and increasing the dose of FYM and Vermicompost by 50% .

Yield By adopting the above cultivation practice in Brinjal, Tomato and Chilli the yield obtained by the farmers are as follows. Brinjal : 40-50 q/acre Tomato : 50-70 q/acre Chilli : 135 - 145 q/acre (Green Chilly) Bumper production in SRI-tomato

Integrated Disease and Insect Pest Management in Brinjal Disease management Damping Off : Pythium spp., Phytophthora spp., Rhizoctonia spp. Symptoms The disease causes severe damage in the nursery. High soil moisture and moderate temperature along with high humidity especially in the rainy season leads to the development of the disease. Two types of symptoms are observedPre-emergence damping-off: Results in seed and seedling rot before these emerge out of the soil. Post-emergence damping-off: Characterized by infection of the young, juvenile tissues of the collar at the ground level. The collar portion rots and ultimately the seedlings collapse and die.

Non chemical management

Post emergence damping off

Soil solarization by spreading 250 gauge polyethylene sheet over the bed for 30 days before sowing and application of bio-control agent Trichoderma viride in soil @ 1.2kg/ ha and neem oil cake @ 250 kg/ha is also found effective to control damping-off to considerable extent. Alternately treat the seeds with T. viridae @ 5g/kg and spray the nursery soil with the same @ 5g/lit of water.

Chemical management Treat the seeds with Thiram or vitavax power @ 2g/kg of seed before sowing. Treat the top soil of nursery with Thiram @ 5g/m2 and drench the nursery with the same chemical @ 2g/litre of water at fortnightly interval.

Growing Crops with SRI Principles

Alternaria Leaf Spots : Altrenaria melongenae Symptoms The disease causes characteristic irregular leaf spots with concentric rings which later coalesce to cover large areas of the leaf blade. Severely affected leaves drop off. The symptoms on the affected fruits are in the form of large deep-seated spots. The infected fruits turn yellow and drop off prematurely.

Non chemical management Growing tolerant variety Pant Samrat Removal and destruction of affected plant parts.

Chemical management

Alternaria leaf spot

Spraying the affected plants with Bavistin (0.1%) is useful for disease control. Spraying 1 per cent Bordeaux mixture or 2 g Copper oxychloride or 2.5 g Zineb per litre of water effectively controls leaf spots.

Fruit Rot : Phytophthora nicotianae Symptoms High humidity favours the development of the disease. The symptoms first appear as small water-soaked lesions on the fruit, which later enlarges in size considerably. Skin of infected fruit turns brown and develops white cottony growth.

Non chemical management Summer ploughing Destruction of stubbles of the previous crop Removal and destruction of the affected fruits.

Chemical management Spraying the crop from seedling till fruiting with Blitox/ Captan/ Indofil M-45 @ 2.5g/litre of water.

Plant showing fruit rot symptoms

Spraying Sixer/ Saaf/ Companion @ 2g/litre of water. Spraying the crop with Difolatan (0.3%) thrice at an interval of 10 days effectively controls the disease.

Bacterial Wilt: Psedomonas solancearum Symptoms The characteristic symptoms of the disease are wilting of the foliage followed by collapse of the entire plant. The wilting is characterized by gradual, sometimes sudden, yellowing, withering and drying of the entire plant or some of its branches.

Plant showing wilt symptom

SRI - Vegetables

Non chemical management Removal and destruction of the affected plants Using disease resistant or tolerant varieties help to reduce the disease incidence. Crop rotation with cruciferous vegetables. Fields should be kept clean. The disease is more prevalent in the presence of root knot nematodes, so control of these nematodes will suppress the disease spread.

Chemical management Before sowing, the seeds should be soaked in a solution of Streptocycline (1 g/ 10 litres of water) for 30 minutes. Seedling root dip with Plantomycin @ 1g/lit or Streptocycline @ 1g/10lit of water for 30 minutes. Soil drenching with above chemicals.

Little Leaf Symptoms The viral disease is transmitted by leaf hopper (Hishimonus phycitis and Amrasca biguttula biguttula). The leaves show a reduction in size and are malformed. Disease affected plant are generally shorter in stature bearing a large number of branches, roots and leaves than healthy plants. The plants give bushy appearance. Infected plants do not bear any fruit.

Non chemical management

Young plant affected by little leaf

Eradication of susceptible volunteer crop plants from a previous planting can reduce the damage. Use of barriers of trap crops and early removal and destruction of infected plants. Growing tolerant variety â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Pusa Purple Round Collection and destruction of affected plants help check spread of the disease.

Chemical management

Little leaf symptoms

Spraying chemicals like Dimethoate @ 1 lit/ha or Imidacloprid17.8 SL @12 5-150 ml/ha or Thiamethoxam 25WG @ 125-150 g/ha at 12-15 days intervals controls the vector of the disease (leaf hopper).

Growing Crops with SRI Principles

Insect pest management Brinjal fruit and shoot borer : Leucinodes orbonalis Symptoms In young caterpillars bore into petioles and midribs of large Leaves and young tender shoots. Faecal pellets are seen at entrance hole.When the infestation is on shoots, they bend down and whither. Affected leaves and shoot wither and dry. At later stage of growth, caterpillars bore

Affected tender shoot

Larva inside the tender shoot

Infected fruits

into flower buds and fruits, sometimes from under the calyx, when no visible symptoms are apparent. Damaged flower buds drop down and fruits show circular holes.

Non chemical management Crop rotation is beneficial. Application of neem cake @ 250 kg/ha at final land preparation. Collection, destruction of dried shoot tips and bored fruits on campaign basis in an area. Mass Trapping of adult male moths using pheromone traps in fields is very efficient method to control the pest besides monitoring its population. Pheromones can be used in low-cost water-trough traps @ 40-60 traps per acre is very efficient in avoiding the pest in the first place. Water traps work best when a small amount of detergent is added to reduce the surface tension and the lure is positioned 1 cm above the water level to encourage contact.

Pheromone trap

Water trap

Spraying neem based pesticides @ 4-5 ml/lit at 7-10 days intervals. Spraying Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) formulations @ 1kg/ha in the evening hours at 7-10 days intervals. Spraying Spinosad 45 SC (Tracer, Conserve) @ 200 ml/ha at 12 days intervals from beginning of flowering.

SRI - Vegetables

Chemical management Application of Carbofuran 3G @ 10-12 kg/ac at first earthing up. Spraying bio-rationals like Diflubenzuron (Dimilin)/ Novaluron (Rimon, Caesar) @ 500 ml/ha. If shoot infestation is more than 4% and fruit infestation is more than14% then spray any of the following chemicals alternated with each other. Endosulfan / Triazophos / Cartap hydrochloride/ Profenophos / Fipronil/ Deltamethrin+ Buprofezin (Dadeci 5.9EC @ 1 lit/ ha or Carbaryl @ 1500g/ha ) @ 400ml /ac. Spray with new generation insecticides like Flubendiamide (Fame 480 SC) @ 200ml/ha or Chlorantraniliprole (Coragen 20SC) @ 150ml/ha at 12 days intervals from fruiting initiation 5-6 times. Before spraying all fruits should be harvested. Observe waiting period recommended for different insecticides.

Stem Borer: Euzophora perticella Symptoms : The infested plant withers up and presents a stunted growth due to the feeding activities of the caterpillar on the tissues of the stem at base of the plantsand fruiting capacity is adversely affected. Generally attack is at later stage of crop growth.

Non-chemical management Avoid ratooning to check stem borer attack. Withered plants should be uprooted and destroyed by burning.

Chemical management Same as suggested in case of shoot and fruit borer.

Stem-borer infected plant

Integrated Disease and Insect Pest Management in Tomato Insect pest management Fruit borer Symptoms Young larvae of fruit borer feed on the foliage and late larval instars bore inside the fruits. Such fruits are not preferred by consumers. The holes made on the fruits are circular and the larva feed on keeping the head portion only inside the hole. Infestation is more common on green fruits .

Non chemical management Deep ploughing to destroy pupae of fruit borers.

Growing Crops with SRI Principles

Transplanting 2 rows of 20 day-old marigold for every 16 rows of 10 day-old tomato as a trap crop for fruit borer Setting up light traps to attract and kill the adult moths. Setting up of pheromone traps at 12 /hectare. Collecting and destroying the damaged fruits. Spray 5% neem seed kernel extract to kill early stages larvae. Placement of 15-20 bird perches (T shaped) per ha helps in inviting insectivorous birds. Use of NPV @ 250 LE/ha along with jaggary @ 20 g/l when sprayed at 10 days intervals during evening hours also give protection against fruit borer. Spraying of Bt formulation @ 1 kg/ha at evening hours at 7-10 days intervals. Foliar spraying of Beauveria bassiana (Daman) or Metarhizium anisopliae (Kalichakra, Metaquino) @ 1 kg/ha like BT formulations.

Chemical management Foliar spraying of Novaluron (Rimon, Caesar @ 750ml/ha), or Diflubenzuron (Dimilin / Hilmilin) @ 500g/ha against fruit borer. In severe cases spraying of Endosulfan / Triazophos @ 1lit / ha effectively controls fruit borer. Spraying of 50% dose of Endosulfan + 50% dose of NPV is effective against fruit borer. Combination insecticides like Chlorpyriphos 50% + Cypermethrin 5% @ 1 lit/ha can also be effective. Maintain proper waiting period for chemicals.

Serpentine leaf miner: Liriomyza trifolii Damage Maggot mines into the leaf and feeds on the mesophyll of the leaves making serpentine mines. As the maggots grow the diameter of the mines increases. Pupation is in soil and the entire life cycle is completed in about 15 days.

Non chemical management Spraying of 5% NSKE to kill early stage larvae or Azadirachtin (300ppm) @4-5ml/lit. of water at 10-12 days intervals.

Leaf showing leaf minor attack

If infestations occur at the late stage of the crop, no chemical control may be needed.

Chemical management Foliar spraying of Novaluron (Rimon, Caesar @ 750ml/ha), or Diflubenzuron (Dimilin / Hilmilin) @ 500g/ha or Spinosad @ 200ml/ha. In severe cases spraying of Endosulfan / Triazophos @ 1lit / ha effectively controls leaf miner.

SRI - Vegetables

Root-Knot Nematode : Meloidogyne spp. Symptoms The most characteristic symptom on the root is production of root galls. Galls may occur singly or several galls may coalesce to form very massive galls. Above ground symptoms are reduced growth, chlorosis of foliage, susceptibility to wilting and reduced fruit production.

Non chemical management Fallowing, deep summer ploughing and drying up infested soils reduce incidence.

Tomato root showing root galls

Nurseries are the main source of infection and spread. Ploughing the nursery area uniformly spreading paddy husk 20 kg/m2 (about 15 cm thick), burning it and ploughing back facilitates production of nematode-free seedlings. Crop rotation with mustard is also useful. Application of chopped leaves of Pongamia or Crotalaria reduces disease severity. Tomato varieties Nematox, SL-120, NTR-I, Nemared, Ronita, Anahu, Pelican are resistant. Application of Neem oil cake @ 250 kg/ha during last ploughing.

Chemical management Nursery-bed treatment with Carbofuran 3 G at 65 g/m2 and in main field at 66 kg / ha are effective.

Disease management Anthracnose : Colletotrichum gloeosporioides Symptoms Symptoms first appear on ripe fruits as small, slightly depressed circular lesions. Lesions may enlarge and become more sunken, with concentric ring markings. Lesions may also occur on stems, leaves and roots. Small, circular, brown lesions surrounded by yellow halos characterize leaf infections.

Non chemical management Crop rotation with non-solanaceous crops, weed control, staking plants and mulching help in reducing losses.

Infected fruits

Chemical management Spraying Mancozeb 2.5 g/l or Carbendazim 1 g/l gives effective control.

Growing Crops with SRI Principles

Bacterial Wilt : Pseudomonas solanacearum Symptoms Wilting, stunting, yellowing of the foliage and finally collapse of the entire plant are the characteristic symptoms of the disease. The lower leaves may droop first before wilting occurs. The vascular system becomes brown. If a segment of the lower stem is cut and squeezed it yields bacterial ooze. Development of adventitious roots from the stem is considerably enhanced.

Non chemical management The pathogen is soil-borne, persistent for long periods and very difficult to control.

Plant showing B. wilt symptom

Crop rotation with Cruciferous vegetables is recommended. Growing tolerant/resistant varieties like Utkal Kumari, Utkal Urbashi etc.

Chemical management Soil drenching with 1.5g Streptocycline in 10litre of water.

Bacterial Canker : Corynebacterium michiganensis Symptoms Symptoms on the leaves may be unilateral, the leaflets on one side of the rachis being wilted

Plant showing Canker symptoms

Fruit showing Canker symptoms

while those on the opposite side appear healthy. On green fruits infection causes water soaked spots, which soon become surrounded with a white halo. Persistent white halo differentiates canker from bacterial spot. Split open stem lengthwise, show a creamy white, yellow brown line.

Non chemical management Extraction of seed through fermentation, of pulp at room temperature for 72 hours eradicates the bacterium from the seed. A 3-year rotation is recommended against the soil borne inoculum.

SRI - Vegetables

Chemical management Spraying with 1.5 g Streptocycline in 10 lit of water on need base.

Damping Off: Pythium aphanidermatum Symptoms The fungus attack usually starts on the germinating seed, spreading to the hypocotyl, basal stem, and developing taproot. Young seedlings are killed before they emerge through the soil surface. Seedlings when infected appear pale green with brownish waterSymptom in basal stem Damping up in nursery soaked lesions at the basal portion of the stem. The lesion girdles the stem, affected tissues rot and the seedlings collapse in patches.

Non Chemical management Soil solarization of the nursery beds. Partial sterilisation of the soil by burning trash on the surface, providing better drainage, forming raised beds and thin sowing are the cultural practices recommended.

Chemical management Seed treatment with 3 g Thiram or 4 g Trichoderma viride formulation plus 6 g Metalaxyl per kg seed. Drenching the soil with 1 per cent Bordeaux mixture or Captan 2 g/1 or Metalaxyl (Ridomil MZ) 2 g/1 at 8-10 days intervals until the seedlings are ready for transplanting, protects them from damping-off.

Early Blight: Alternaria solani Symptoms The fungus attacks the foliage causing characteristic leaf spots and blight. The disease first becomes visible as small, isolated, scattered pale brown spots on the leaf. Zonate lesions may also develop on stem and fruits. Fully developed spots are irregular, brown to dark brown in Ealry blight symptoms in leaf Fruit showing symptoms colour, and with concentric rings of E. Blight inside the spot. Often several spots coalesce to form large patches resulting in the leaf blight. In severe attacks the entire plant may be defoliated. The pathogen survives in soil on diseased plant debris.

Growing Crops with SRI Principles

Non chemical management Destruction of previous crop residues. Summer ploughing or soil solarization.

Chemical management Timely spraying of Captan or Zineb or Mancozeb 3 g per litre of water is effective.

Leaf Curl : Tomato leaf curl virus Symptoms The leaf curl is characterized by severe stunting of the plants with downward rolling and crinkling of the leaves. Partial or complete sterility of the plant is also common. Newly formed leaves show chlorosis. The older, curled leaves become leathery and brittle. Plants are stunted due to shortening of the internodes. Diseased plants look pale and produce more lateral branches resulting in bushy growth. The disease is transmitted by the whitefly ( Bemisia tabaci).

Non chemical management Destruction of affected plants to check spread of the disease.

Leaf curl in tomato

Chemical management Spraying of Dimethoate or Triazophos @ 1 lit/ha as spray or Acetamiprid (Pride 20SP) @ 125-150 g/ha or Spinosad 45 SC @ 150 ml/ha is effective. (N.B.: The Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus (TSWV) transmitted by the thrips can also be controlled by the above methods)

Tomato Mosiac: Tobacco mosaic virus, Cucumber mosaic virus Symptoms The common symptom of mosaic is mottling of the leaves. The normal green colour of the leaf is interspersed with light green to pale yellow islands of irregular patches. Circular, chloroticrings appear on the fruit. The virus is sap transmissible and in the field it is transmitted by rubbing between diseased and healthy leaves. Mechanical transmission by insects also occurs.

Non Chemical management Destruction of source of inoculum is important.

Plant showing mosaic symptom

Chemical management Application of systemic insecticides like Dimethoate @ 1 lit/ha or Imidacloprid 17.8 SL @ 125-150ml/ha or Thiamethoxam or Acetamiprid @ 125-150g/ha is effective.

SRI - Vegetables

Integrated Disease and Insect pests management of chilli Disease management Damping off : Pythium aphanidermatum , Phytophthora spp. and Pellicularia filamentosa Symptom Shrinking of the cortical tissue of the hypocotyls and the falling over of the affected seedlings. The most characteristics feature of this disease is the toppling over of the seedling due to wire-like stems at the basal portion of the plant.

Non chemical management a)

Crop belonging to solanaceae family (brinjal, potato etc.) should not be grown after chilli cultivation. Any other crop belonging to any other family may be cultivated on rotation.

Affected nursery

Uprooting and burning of the affected plants as soon as they are noticed in the field.

Soil solarization is an effective method to control soil borne pathogens.

Bio-control agents like Trichoderma viride, T. harzianum and Pseudomonas fluorescensare found to be effective in controlling the damping off in chilli.

Soil should be well drained.

Chemical management Follow methods as suggested in case of brinjal.

Wilt of chilli: Fusarium annuum Symptoms There is cortical decay of the collar and the roots of the plants. The plants droop down as it seems to be suffering from water scarcity, even there is no water scarcity in the field at that time. Leaves roll upward & inward, later turn yellow and plants die.

Non Chemical management a)

Crop belonging to Solanaceae family (brinjal, potato etc.) should not be grown after chilli cultivation. Any other crop belonging to any other family may be rotated.

Plant showing wilt symptoms

Proper drainage of water should bedone.

Use of Pseudomonas fluorescens 15 days after transplanting and three months after first application @ 2.5 kg/ha mixed with 50 kg FYM or compost is beneficial against the disease.

Growing Crops with SRI Principles

Chemical management Soil drenching with copper oxychloride @ 2.5 g/lit or Ridomil MZ 72 @ 2 g/lit of water to completely wet the rhizosphere.

Anthracnose (ripe rot or die-back): Colletotrichum capsici Symptom Circular, sunken spots on green or ripening fruits and branches is seen in moist weather, acervuli (spore of the fungus) are formed in concentric circles; branches die-back.

Non chemical management a)

Use resistant varieties like Chamatkar, CK 107, G-4, Utkal Rashmi etc.

Collect seeds from disease free crop.

Do not apply excess nitrogenous fertilizer in the crop.

Chemical management a)

Treat the seeds with Thiram @ 3g/kg or Topsin M 2g/kg.

In the main field, spray the crop with copper oxychloride or Ziram 2.5g/lit from 4-6 weeks after planting at 10-14 days intervals.

Ripe root in fruit

Bacterial Leaf Spot : Xanthomonas vesicatoria Symptom Small, dark, greasy spots on the leaves, petiole and tender parts of the stem are formed. Water-soaked spots appear on green fruits. In later stages, the centre of the spots become light brown and slightly sunken.

Non chemical management a)

Collect seeds from disease free crop.

Keep the field clean of weeds.

Follow crop rotation in endemic areas with non-host crops.

Chemical management a)

Treat the seeds with 2.5g Copper oxychloride/lit of water + 200ppm Streptocyclin.

The above chemicals can be foliar sprayed on need base.

Alternaria Blight : Alternaria solani Symptom Leaf spots are dark and leathery; older leaves die pre-maturely and drop.

Management Same as Leaf Spot

SRI - Vegetables

Leaf Curl : Chilli Leaf Curl Virus (Gemini-virus) Symptoms It is transmitted by thrips and yellow mites. The leaf size becomes very small accompanied with a downward curling.

Non Chemical management Control measures yet not known. The only possible way to control viral diseases is to minimize the insect vector (thrips & yellow mite) population as many viral diseases are transferred from one plant to another by the insect. Hence, mechanical and cultural methods are mostly recommended.

Leaf showing leaf curl symptoms

Grow resistant varieties e.g. ‘Puri Red’ and ‘Puri Orange’, HC-28, HC-44, Musalwadi, Pant C-1 & C-2, NP 46-A etc.

Rogue out the infected plants as soon as they are noticed in the field.

Spraying of neem based pesticides containing 1500 ppm azadirachtin @ 2.5 ml/lit at 7-10 days intervals on appearance of the pest.

Spraying of tobacco decoction @ 2% on need base.

Spraying of bio-pesticides like Abamectin1.9% (Vertimec, Abacin) @ 300-500 ml/ha or Spinosad 45 SC @ 200 ml/ha.

Removal of weed hosts around the chilli crop also helps to control the vector multiplication.

Chemical management a) Spraying of Dimethoate @ 1 lit/ha or Milbemectin 1% EC (Milbenock)@ 500 ml/ha or Spiromesifen 240 SC (Oberon) @ 300-400 ml/ha controls the mite.

Insect pest management Chilli thrips : Scirtothrips dorsalis Symptom Minute fragile insects with fringed wings. Nymphs and adults lacerate the tissues and suck sap from leaves which curl and dry at tips and margins. Older leaves die prematurely and drop.

Management As suggested in case of leaf curl disease.

Adult sucking sap

Plant showing thrips attack symptoms

Growing Crops with SRI Principles

White Flies: Bemisia tabaci Symptom: Transmit the viral disease

Control Measures Same as chili thrips

White fly

Tobacco bud worm: Spodoptera litura Symptoms Newly hatched larvae scrap the green matter in the leaf. Affected leaf looks like a papery white structure. Later instar larvae feed by making small holes. In severe infestations they feed voraciously on the entire lamina, petiole and sometimes even the tender twigs on the terminal shoots of plants. Entire plant may be defoliated. Also feed on the floral parts and bore into the fruits.

Non chemical management Deep plough the soil to expose and kill pupae. Use of Castor as a trap crop. Set up pheromone traps @ 20-25/ha. Collect and destroy the egg masses, gregarious larvae and grown up caterpillars.

Adult

Larvae

Fix bird perches @ 20-25/ha. Spray SINPV @ 1.5*10 12 POB/ha or Bt formulations @ 1kg/hain the evening hours at 7-10 days intervals on appearance of the pest.

Chemical management Spray Triazophos 40ECor Endosulfan 35EC or Fipronil5SC or Pyridalyl 10EC @ 1 lit/ha on need base preferably in the afternoon hours. Observe proper waiting period after each spray. Pick all the fruits before each spray. If chemical spraying is not effective then go for chemical poison baiting with bran ,gur and Carbaryl @ 5kg :0.5kg:0.25kg, respectively and making small pellets after mixing the three and spreading over 1 acre area.

Calculation of Total Quantities of Fertilizers Fertilizer Dose Calculation

Example: suppose the fertilizer dose for a crop is recommended as 80-50-30 NPK. We have to calculate exact quantity of different fertilizers required to meet the above requirement.We have with us, Urea (46-0-0), DAP (18-46-0) and MOP (0-0-60). As for K2O we have only MOP, for P2O5 we have only DAP but for N, we have 2 sources (Urea and DAP). Quantity of DAP required to meet 50kg P2O5 = 109 kg. Through 109 kg DAP, we got 19.62 kg â&#x2030;&#x2026; 20 kg N Quantity of Urea required for meeting rest 60 kg N = 130 kg Quantity of MOP required for 30 kg K2O = 50 kg Hence the total fertilizer requirement for the particular crop is calculated as 130 kg Urea, 109 Kg DAP and 50 kg MOP.

Growing Crops with SRI Principles

Pesticide conversion charts Table-1. Conversion of Dry Formulation

Table-2: Conversion of Liquid Formulations

Table-3: Emulsifiable Concentrate Percent ratings in Pounds Actual Per Gallon

* Volume : 1 gallon (gal) = 4.546 liter

Mass : 1 pound (lb) = 453.59 gram