The Hindu Business Line : Wheat research body develops system to improve soil health

Chennai, May 28 As part of its efforts to tackle deterioration of soil health and improve crop yield, the Directorate of Wheat Research in Karnal, Haryana, has come up with diversification of the rice-wheat system by introducing short duration crops such as vegetables and peas between early rice and late sown wheat.

According to Dr B. Mishra, Project Director of the directorate, the continuous practice of the rice-wheat system has led to deterioration of carbon in the soil declining to 0.2 per cent from 0.4 per cent and it was affecting production of foodgrains.

“Deterioration of soil health led to fall in microbial population, lack of potash, iron and zince while also leading to toxicity in the soils,” he said, adding that the directorate had launched a vision to blend all good elements for improving soil health and it was beginning to yield results.

“What has happened is that we have developed an alternative pattern where early rice can be followed by vegetables such as potatoes or peas followed by a leguminous crop before wheat is sown,” Dr Mishra said. Planting of leguminous crop would help improve the nitrogen content of the crop, while the directorate was also popularising zero tillage to ensure higher wheat yield compared with conventional tilling.

“We would like farmers to sow vegetable crop after short duration rice before going in for wheat. We would like sowing of wheat to be delayed a bit. Again after wheat is harvested, it would be wise to plant crops such as moong,” he said.

The trial had led to satisfactory results and the directorate had got a mandate to popularise the system in the next five years. “An advantage of this system is that farmers also get an increased income of Rs 30,000-40,000 a hectare. This is because of 20-60 per cent increase in yield, besides the two extra crops,” he said.

On the other hand, zero tillage, which has gained popularity in Punjab and Haryana, would be extended to eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

Product-based wheat

Meanwhile, the directorate has begun to develop wheat varieties that are product-based. It has so far developed 334 varieties including 292 for making bread that can be grown in different agro-climatic conditions.

“We have also developed wheat varieties that can help produce better quality biscuits. Its breeding is being popularised in five States. The variety’s dough is a spreading one and has different protein and beta carotene parameters,” Dr Mishra said.

Global rust initiative

A research programme “Network project in gene pyramiding for resistance to multiple biotic stresses in crops” is in full swing and it would also help overcome rusts in crops. All functioning of the crop would be controlled by gene development, he said, adding that the directorate had also begun a global rust initiative, wherein wheat varieties with genes that could resist genes would be identified.

The directorate has also developed barley varieties with better malting quality. Besides, barley that can be used as feed and fodder had also been developed, Dr Mishra said.

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