EVOKE Farm Problems

Good day!

I was vigorously scratching my head for the ACT2 assignment. I was about to give up. Just at that time my inner self gave me a clarion call –what about starting a blog to EVOKE farm problems! Yes, sharing is caring--whatever knowledge I have I will share. And I opened a blog at wordpress.com (http://evokefarmproblems.wordpress.com/) and posted some stuff there. It took quite a long time. But then I thought it is worthy to pursue for the farmers. Any my first step for act2 is ready. I invite all of you to visit it and suggest for betterment.

As a starter dose, I have added about resource conservation technology. Considerable amount of fuel is spent to prepare field for growing of wheat after rice harvesting. Experiences of CSSRI showed that by adopting zero tillage the sowing of wheat can be advanced by 10-15 days. It also reduces the cost involved in field preparation for sowing wheat. The tillage cost for growing wheat crop by zero tillage is hardly 10 per cent of the cost involved in normal field preparation being employed by the farmers. The grain yield obtained in zero tillage was reported significantly higher as compared to tilled field. The major contributing factors was reported in better performance of zero tillage with regard to grain yield have been hastening of germination by few days, notable gains in yield attributing characters particularly number of panicles m². Other resource conservation technologies experimented in reclaimed sodic lands included: direct seeding of rice, planting rice-wheat in ridge-furrow geometry, laser land leveling and broad casting Sesbania for weed control in direct seeded rice. Most of these options proved beneficial in saving water and increasing productivity of rice.

Importance of soil aeration and its management is another one. The proportion of air-filled pore spaces and the ease with which exchange of gases can take place between atmospheric air and soil air influence the aeration status. The practices encouraging the air-filled pore spaces and the gaseous exchange may improve the aeration status. The variation in tendency of plant species to tolerate water stagnation/poor aeration can also be utilized to harness better crop yields from such soils. The soil aeration under field conditions can thus be optimized by the following methods: Improving Soil Structure An increase in the volume of air-filled pores can be attained by improving soil structure. The practices that help in the maintenance of stable soil aggregates such as use of animal manure, green manure, plant residue manure and growing of legume crops, will, in turn, encourage better soil aeration. Drainage An aerobic soil environment can be maintained by providing surface and or sub-surface drainage. The soil pores get filled with water due to continuous seepage from canals, presence of perched or high water tables, and after heavy rains or irrigation. The drainage of such fields is essential for the supply of sufficient oxygen. Cultivation A light cultivation of soil or inter-culture operation does not only control weeds but helps in the exchange of gases, specially in heavy textured poorly drained soils. After rains, an impermeable layer/ crust is formed at the soil surface that hinders the gaseous exchange. A light cultivation will break it and help in improving soil aeration.