The Hindu Business Line : Meet considers `organic mulching' as dry crop management tool

A meet on oilseeds research of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) farm scientists was called to explore developing `organic mulching' as an effective dry land crop management practice.

Evolving crop varieties having drought tolerance capacity alone would not be sufficient and a crop management system that would allow holding the moisture content in the soil should be thought of. And, the practice of `organic' mulching can emerge as an effective management practice to fight drought conditions, the TNAU Vice-Chancellor, Dr C. Ramasamy, told farm scientists at the meeting.

Develop mechanism

He wanted scientists to develop suitable mechanism for applying sub-surface organic mulches during the time of sowing with semi-decomposed coirpith and such other plant residues. This research should, however, take into account that the mulching material should be locally available, allow low volume usage and the application should be mechanised at cost-effective/user-friendly way in order to make the system viable.

Since farmers hardly followed nutrient recommendations as prescribed, fertiliser-mixtures would be farmer friendly, the Vice-Chancellor said, adding that his university had proposed to do trials in the development of specific fertiliser mixture schedules initially for groundnut, sesame, sunflower and castor.

According to Dr T.S. Raveendran, Director, Centre for Plant Breeding and Genetics, TNAU, the university has identified a groundnut culture, a bunch variety of 105 days duration with its oil content and shelling at 50:75 and drought tolerant to be released shortly. This variety would yield 1,916 kg per hectare (rainfed) and 2,403 kg (irrigated condition).

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