Born on 15th October 1932 in Kerala, Shri Sankaranarayanan’s initiation into politics started early when in 1946 he became a member of Students Organization. Thereafter from 1957 to 1964 and from 1964 to 1968 he was respectively the General Secretary and President of the District Congress Committee, Palghat. Between 1968 and 1972, he served as the General Secretary of the Undivided Congress. In 1972, he was appointed as President of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee, the post he held till 1977. Shri Sankaranarayanan also served as the Working Committee Member of the AICC and the All India Parliamentary Board Member of the Organization Congress.

Shri K. Sankaranarayanan was elected to the Kerala Legislative Assembly several times as a candidate of the Indian National Congress (INC). He was first elected to the 5th Kerala Legislative Assembly (KLA) from Thrithala, thereafter to the 6th KLA from Sreekrishnapuram, to the 8th KLA from Ottappalam and to the 11th KLA from Palghat Constituency.

Between 1974 and 1978, Shri K. Sankaranarayanan was a Cabinet Minister for Agriculture, Animal Husbandry & Dairy Development and Community Development in the Ministry headed by Shri K Karunakaran and later in the Ministry of Shri A. K. Antony. He was again the Cabinet Minister for Finance & Excise in the Ministry headed by Shri A. K. Antony during 2001 – 2004.

Shri K. Sankaranarayanan was the Chairman of the Committee on Government Assurances from 1980 to 1982, and from 1989 to 1991 served as the Chairman of the Committee on Public Accounts. From 1985 to 2001, for 16 (sixteen) years, he was the Convener of the United Democratic Front (UDF) in Kerala.

Shri K. Sankaranarayanan was appointed as the Governor of Nagaland on 3rd February 2007 and held the post till 25th July 2009. He guided the destiny of the State during the brief spell of President’s Rule in early 2008 and later oversaw the smooth conducting of the General Elections and elections to the Nagaland Legislative Assembly. He also held the additional charge of the post of Governor of Arunachal Pradesh and Governor of Assam for brief periods.

On 26th July 2009, he was appointed as Governor of the State of Jharkhand that was under President’s Rule. Here again, he oversaw the free and fair conduct of elections to the Legislative Assembly leading to the appointment of a popular government in the State.

Widely travelled, Shri Sankaranarayanan is keenly interested in welfare and developmental issues. He is married to Prof Smt. Radha Sankaranarayanan and has one daughter.

		About Project
		Mandate
		Research Activities and Achievements
		Research Highlights
		Transfer of Technologies
		Scientists
		Contact Information

About Project

The role of improved farm implements and machinery, for sustainable development of agriculture and enhancement of productivity, has been established beyond doubt. They help to achieve timeliness of farm operations and efficient use of other inputs such as HYV seeds, chemicals, fertilizer and water. Under dynamic situation of changing cropping pattern as influenced by local agro-socio-economic factors, identification of farm mechanization needs and development of need-based farm implements and machinery are of paramount importance.

For development, testing and popularization of need-based farm implements and machinery for different regions of the country, the ALL India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Farm Implements and Machinery (FIM) was started by Indian Council of Agricultural Research in 1975 during V Five Year Plan with six Centers. There are now 25 centers working on two or more of the five distinct activities under the project, namely, design and development, prototype manufacturing, prototype feasibility testing, front line demonstration and power tiller technology. The FIM center at Dr. P.D.K.V., Akola is started on February 01,1997.  Under this FIM center prototype feasibility testing, front line demonstration activities are undertaken.

Mandate

To identify the mechanization gaps and future needs of improved farm tools and equipment for different agro-climatic regions, crops and operations, and conduct research and development, prototype production, feasibility testing, frontline demonstration and promotion of manufacturing through industrial extension.

AICRP on FIM Dr. P.D.K.V., Akola centre is working on prototype feasibility testing and front line demonstration activitiesnt.

 Infrastructure

All India Co-ordinate Research Project on Farm implements and Machinery Dr. P.D.K.V., Akola Centre, is situated at Faculty of Agricultural Engg., Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola (M.S). Under this center the two tractors and different types of farm equipments and machineries are available which are kept in farm machinery yard of Department of Farm Power and Machinery, Dr. P.D.K.V., Akola.

Research Activities and Achievements

Under this FIM center prototype feasibility testing and front line demonstration activities are undertaken.

The activity on Prototype Feasibility Testing (PFT) includes:

1. Mechanization studies to identify crops and operations for which improved machines are required.
2. Identification of designs of farm implements and machinery which can be adopted to fill the identified mechanization gaps.
3. Procurement and feasibility testing of identified equipment on farmers field and their adaption under local agro-climatic conditions.
4. Popularization of adapted farm implements and machinery among farmers and promoting their manufacture by involving local manufacturers. Machinery is undertaken.

The activity on Front Line Demonstration (FLD) of improved farm equipment includes:

1. Adapt new designs of farm equipment to bridge identified mechanization gaps
2. Test the efficacy of the identified equipment
3. Popularize and commercialize the identified equipment and
4. Obtain feedback from farmers for design refinement of the selected farm equipment.

Research Highlights (Prototype Feasibility Testing)

A. Project Title: Prototype feasibility testing of tractor operated three row rotary weeder

The tractor operated rotary weeder was used in cotton and pigeon pea crop at different growth stages. The  weeder work satisfactorily during operation. The average field capacity of the weeder was found to be 0.42 ha/h.  The average weeding efficiency of the weeder, fuel consumption and cost of working was found to be 94.16 %, 4.9 lit./h. and 675.0 Rs./h. respectively. The saving in time is observed to be 87.61 percent when compared with farmer practice i.e use of animal drawn blade hoe.

 B. Project Title: Prototype feasibility testing of self propelled vertical conveyer reaper

The self propelled vertical conveyor reaper was tested for harvesting soybean crop in the field. The average effective field capacity and field efficiency of the self propelled vertical conveyor   reaper  was found to be 0.28 ha/h and 88.16 % respectively. Fuel consumption of self propelled vertical conveyor reaper was 0.72 lit/h. It was observed that at lower grain moisture content the percent harvest losses  were  higher.

C. Project Title: Prototype feasibility testing of self propelled  reaper binder

The testing of self propelled reaper binder was carried out for harvesting of wheat and paddy crop. The average effective field capacity and field efficiency of the self propelled reaper binder was found to be 0.36 ha/h and 91.76 % respectively. In case of wheat crop the saving in the cost of operation and time are 45.21 % and 98.0 % respectively. In case of paddy crop average effective field capacity and field efficiency was 0.20.  ha/h and 57.77 % respectively.

 D. Project Title: Prototype feasibility testing of  tractor operated horizontal air sleeve  sprayer

The self propelled vertical conveyor reaper was tested for harvesting soybean crop in the field. The average effective field capacity and field efficiency of the self propelled vertical conveyor   reaper  was found to be 0.28 ha/h and 88.16 % respectively. Fuel consumption of self propelled vertical conveyor reaper was 0.72 lit/h. It was observed that at lower grain moisture content the percent harvest losses  were  higher.

E. Project Title: Prototype feasibility testing of tractor operated roto till drill.

The average effective field capacity and field efficiency of the tractor operated roto till drill was found to be 0.35 ha/h. and 77.17 %. The average fuel consumption was 6.77 lit/h. In case of farmers practice the field preparation by blade harrow and sowing by seed drill is done separately. Whereas  in case of roto till drill both the operations are done simultaneously. Hence there is 35.08 percent saving in time of operation.

 F. Project Title: Prototype feasibility testing of self propelled fodder harvester for soybean

The self-propelled fodder harvester was tested for harvesting soybean crop in the field. The average effective field capacity and field efficiency was found to be 0.29 ha/h and 86.89 % respectively. The harvest loss was 4.79 percent  The effective field capacity of the self propelled fodder harvester is very high as compared  to  manual harvesting of soybean crop because which there is about saving in time of operation.

Transfer of Technologies

Front Line Demonstrations:- Under this activity the demonstrations of various farm equipments were given. The equipments such as Tractor drawn BBF planter, light weight power tiller, rotavator, seed drills, threshers etc. are demonstrated to the farmers.

FLD of Rotavator
FLD of Seed Drill
FLD of Multicrop Thresher

Contact Information

Er. Avinash V Gajakos

Senior Scientist
All India Coordinated Research Project on Farm Implements and Machinery,
Department of Farm Power and Machinery,
Dr. PDKV, Akola 444 104 MS India

Phone(Office) :0724-2258405

About Project

All India Co-ordinate Research Project on Renewable sources of Energy for Agriculture Agro-based Industries Dr. PDKV, Akola Centre Started in 1990 with Thermo chemical conversion technology and Operational Research Project was added during the year 2009.

Infrastructure

All India Co-ordinate Research Project on Renewable Sources of Energy for Agriculture & Agro-based Industries Dr. PDKV, Akola Centre, Department of Unconventional Energy Sources & Elect Engg, is situated at Faculty of Agricultural Engg., Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola (M.S). The renewable energy laboratory, improved chulha laboratory, biomass power plant, biogas power plant and other facilities are available with this research project.

Mandate

• The project is aimed at studying and pilot level field trials on integrated appropriate technology of renewable energy sources viz., solar energy and biomass based gaseous, liquid and solid fuels for their appropriate applications for production agriculture, post-harvest operations, animal raising and rural living, singly or in combination with conventional and other new and renewable energy sources.
• Operational Research Component of the project aims to demonstrate technical soundness and economic viability of the available renewable energy technologies, in general, and those developed in the project, in particular, for production agriculture, live-stock raising, post-harvest operations, agro industries and rural living in an integrated manner.

Objectives

• Adaptation / development of solar energy gadgets / technologies for applications in rural domestic & community activities, farming systems and processing & storage of farm produce.
• Development of technologies & systems for conversion of biomass into solid, liquid and gaseous bio-fuels using biological, thermo-chemical, chemical and mechanical pathways
• Adaptation of thermal and power systems and gadgets ranging from decentralized power generation units, IC engines and tractors to domestic stoves to work on bio-fuels.
• Assessment of technical soundness, economic viability and users feedback of new renewable technologies through onsite evaluation.
• Demonstration of renewable energy technologies successfully integrated into the selected users system and their transfer to industry for commercialization.

Status of Renewable Energy Systems

Among various renewable sources of energy, biomass, which is produced right in the villages, offers ample scope for its efficient use to carry out domestic, production agriculture, livestock raising and agro-processing activities through thermal and bio-conversion routes. During the last about two decades, fairly good number of renewable energy technologies have been developed and commercialized in the region for rural applications.

It has been estimated that about 65-75 % of the total energy consumed in rural sector is for domestic activities such as a cooking and related operations, illumination, water lifting, cleaning, etc. Among domestic activities, cooking consumes around 70-80 % of the total energy consumption. Important sources of energy used for cooking are bio-fuels such as wood and twigs collected from forest, road side plantations, etc, crop residues and cattle dung cakes. Most of the bio-fuels are still burnt in low efficiency Smokey stoves (chulahs).

Research Activities / Achievements/ Recommendations

A. Improved Biomass Cook stoves

Improved biomass cookstoves in a variety of designs, sizes and materials of construction are available to suit requirements of different regions. Important advantages of the improved biomass cookstoves over the traditional chulahas are as follows

1. 25-50 % lower wood consumption. This is because of almost double thermal efficiency of the improved stoves as compared to traditional chulahas.
2. Very low smoke in the kitchen / house mainly because of provision of a chimney.
3. Easier cleaning of cooking pots because of their significantly lower blackening during cooking.
4. Lower maintenance of the house because of significantly lower smoke level.
5. Better health of people particularly woman and children.

Double pot fixed chulahas designs and single pot portable chulahas designs suiting to cooking requirements of the region is available. Improved mud chulahas involve cost only for asbestos cement (AC) pipe used as chimney.

Double pot durable stove under regular use in Digras and Manki, Distt: Akola

 

The salient features of these stoves are as follows

1. Option to choose single pot and double pot designs in two different capacities as per requirements
2. Thermal efficiency for the single pot design is around 21% & for the double pot around 25%.
3. Around 40-50% savings in cooking time and biomass consumption.
4. Pollution levels (carbon monoxide, ammonia & methane) reduced by 30-80% compared to traditional stoves.
5. Bricks cement, sand and AC pipe are used for construction.
6. Cost of the single pot stove is around Rs 200 and that for the double pot stove is around Rs 270.

B. Biogas Plant

Biogas plant is a device in which 1:1 mixture of cattle dung and water is fed and clean burning fuel as a biogas and digested slurry as manure are obtained. All the designs of biogas plants being promoted by MNRE used cattle dung thoroughly mixed with equal quantity of water as feed slurry. The digested slurry discharge from plant is watery and is dried in open pits for a period of 45 days before it becomes suitable for transportation to fields for use as manure. Some of the working plants are rendered unserviceable every year mainly because feeding is suspended due to scarcity of water.

Fixed dome type solid-state biogas plant installed in village

For solving the problem of water scarce regions of the country and of easier management of the digested slurry, the conventional fixed dome type biogas plant designs have been successfully modified under AICRP on RES for digestion of cattle dung in solid state condition i.e. water for mixing with cattle dung before feeding is not required. The main modifications incorporated are as follows:

1. The inlet feed chamber of the plant was replaced with commercially available 30 cm internal diameter RCC or rigid PVC pipe.
2. The outlet slurry chamber of Janata type plant was enlarged to accommodate total volume of the slurry displaced from the digester. The step type construction of the outlet chamber was changed to an inclined smooth surface for streamlined flow of the digested slurry.
3. The outlet channel was widened from 15 cm to 30 cm to facilitate self discharge of the digested slurry on to the ground.
4. The interior side of the gas dome was provided with an additional layer of 1:1 cement-sand mortar plaster of about 8 mm thickness to withstand higher gas pressure and to reduce possibility of leakage of the gas.

C. Domestic Solar Dryers

A high efficiency multi-rack solar dryer developed under AICRP on RES is now commercially available for drying such products at domestic level. The dryer consists of a drying chamber, glazing, drying trays, shading plates, tray support & tray stopper and caster wheels for easy shifting of the dryer.
		Portable multi-rack farm solar dryer

D. Solar Tunnel Dryer

A number of farm products require drying either before marketing or during primary and secondary processing. Some popular examples are bulk drying of chilies, goose berry fruits and drying of socked paddy grains, chickpea etc. before milling. A walk-in type solar tunnel dryer is now available for bulk drying of farm and agro-industrial products.
		Natural convection solar tunnel dryer

E. Biomass Gasifiers for Thermal Applications and Power Generation

Biomass has traditionally been used for thermal applications in open combustion devices for domestic cooking and agro-processing activities such as jaggery preparation, roasting of grains, etc. Biomass can be converted into producer gas by burning in specially designed devices called gasifiers. The producer gas contains up to 40% of inflammable gases like carbon monoxide, hydrogen and methane.

Biomass based power generation system (11 kVA)

The producer gas which is very convenient to handle, can be used for various thermal applications such as air heating, baking, roasting, boiling, etc and also as a fuel in IC engines to produce mechanical & electrical power. Biomass gasifiers are now available both for thermal as well as power applications. The gasifier utilizes fuel wood and crop residues as a fuel. The gas produced in the gasifier has high temperature of around 400°C and contains tar and dust particles. For power applications in IC engines, the gas is required to be cooled down and clean of tar and dust particles to a prescribed level to ensure satisfactory operation of the engine.

F. Biogas Plants for Power supply

Cattle rearing and poultry keeping are being practiced on commercial scale in the country. As such large quantities of cattle dung and poultry litter are available from such units. Mature technology is now available for conversion of cattle dung and poultry litter into biogas and manure. Besides thermal applications, the biogas can be combusted in IC engines to produce electricity.

Modified Janta Biogas plant (20 m3) & genset for power generation at University campus

Transfer of Technologies

AICRP on RES is working with the objective to develop and demonstrate renewable energy technologies suiting to rural sector for production agriculture, agro-processing and rural living. A number of useful solar and biomass based technologies have been developed under the project and demonstrated successfully at user’s sites in crop production and processing, animal raising, agro-industries and rural domestic applications.

Training camp of modified solid-state biogas plant at Rawala, distt: Amravati for masons		Meeting with farmers at Ramanwadi, Tah: Radhanagari, Distt: Kolhapur (Mahrashtra) regarding propagation of modified solid-state biogas plant		Modified institutional solid-state Janta biogas plant of 10 m3 at Hare Krishna Gram village Aaravade, Tah- Tasgaon, Distt: Sangali (Maharashtra)

Contact Information

Research Engineer
All India Co-ordinated Research Project on Renewable Sources of Energy for Agriculture Agro-based Industries
Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth
Krishi Nagar, Akola – 444 104 (M.S.)
Phone & Fax No. (0724) 2259404

		About Project
		Agroclimatic Information
		Infrastructure Facilities
		Mandate
		Scientists
		Research Activities and Achievements
		Research and Extension Linkage
		Publications
		Contact Information

About Project

The intensive cultivation of high yielding modern crop varieties, in the past few decades’ increased the crop productivity. However, this has resulted into emergence of micro and secondary nutrients deficiency in most of the soils, causing reduction in yields. In order to delineate the micro and secondary nutrient deficient areas and to alleviate the nutrition stresses, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research initiated the All India Coordinated Scheme of Micronutrient in Soil and Plants in 1967.

There are sixteen cooperative and five voluntary centers of this project in the country. A centre for Maharashtra state was initiated at Dr. PDKV, Akola in 1996.

The deficiencies of secondary and micronutrients and toxicities of heavy metal elements were subsequently noticed in many parts of the country. In view of this, the project mandate was expanded. The name of the project was modified to All India Coordinated Project of Micro and Secondary Nutrients and Pollutant Elements in Soils and Plants.

The Coordinating unit is functioning at Indian Institute of Soil Science, Bhopal. The centre at Lucknow is involved mainly in physiological research on micronutrient nutrition of plants while the remaining 19 centres concentrate their researches on the micro and secondary nutrient and pollutant elements in soils and plants.

Jurisdiction of the project

Maharashtra State represents four major regions viz; Vidarbha, Marathawada, Western Maharashtra and Konkan and there are four agricultural universities in these regions. Indian Council of Agricultural Research, has given the centre of “All India Coordinated Research Project on Micro and Secondary Nutrients and Pollutant Elements in Soils and Plants” at Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola to carry out the research work  on micro, secondary and pollutant elements in soils and plants in the Maharashtra state.

Faculty Information:

Dr. R. N. Katkar, Professor and Incharge

Dr. S. S. Hadole, Junior Soil Scientist

Shri. P. R. Deshmukh, Agril. Assistant

Shri. P. K. Chavan, Lab Attendant

Shri. S. R. Lakhe, Research Associate

Agro Climatic Conditions

The state has humid to per humid type climate in Konkan and western ghats, semiarid type in central and western Maharashtra, while sub-humid type in eastern part of the state. The annual rainfall in the state varies from 450 mm in the rain shadow area to 6000 mm in western ghats of which 80 per cent is received from June to September. Konkan and western ghat region has a water surplus limited to June to October with growing period of more than 210 days. While rain shadow areas of western and central Maharashtra have very few months of water surplus with growing period of 90 to 150 days. In eastern part of the state, the growing period ranges from 150 to 180 days. The state is divided into six agro – eco regions which in turn are sub divided in to twelve agro – ecological sub regions.

Soils
The geological formations in the state include Deccan trap, Lameta beds, Gondwanas and Vindhyan system. Physiographically, the state is divided in to three broad regions viz, western Konkan coast, Western Ghats and North Deccan plateau. The soils occurring on each landform are characterized during the soil resource mapping of the state. Taxonomically the soils of Maharashtra are categorized into five soil orders namely Entisols (36.71 %), Inceptisols (30.9 %), Vertisols (26.3 %), Alfisols (5.6 %) and Mollisols (0.1 %) which are sub divided into 8 sub orders, 9 great groups, 19 subgroups and 356 family associations.

Problems in micro and secondary nutrients

Deficiencies of micronutrients drastically influence the growth, metabolism and reproduction phase in plants, animals and human beings. Widespread deficiencies of some micronutrients have been observed in the soil.

The high yielding varieties/hybrids of cereals, oilseed, pulses, cotton, sugarcane, vegetable and horticultural crops etc grown since 4-5 decades using chemical fertilizers without or less supplementation with organic manure led to deficiency of micro (Zn, Fe, B,) and secondary nutrients (S) in the soil. Besides this, higher crop yields which increase plant nutrient demands, use of high analysis NPK fertilizers, reduced use of organic manures on many agricultural soils and imbalance use of major nutrients are some of the reasons for micronutrient deficiencies. This has resulted into decreased nutrient use efficiency of major nutrients (N, P and K).

For sustaining the crop productivity, increasing nutrient use efficiency and maintaining soil quality in long run judicious use of micronutrients through organic manures is the urgent need of time.

Infrastructure Facilities

Laboratory of AICRP on Micro and Secondary Nutrients and Pollutant Elements in Soils and Plants

• Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer

Advanced Atomic Absorption Spectrometer with Graphite Furnace and Hydride Generator

Analysis work on Advanced Atomic Absorption Spectrometer on flame technique

Analysis work on Advanced Atomic Absorption Spectrometer on graphite furnace technique

Analysis work on Advanced Atomic Absorption Spectrometer on hydride generator technique

Visit of Accreditation team

Visit of Accreditation team

• PC based UV – VIS spectrophotometer
• KEL PLUS Automatic Nitrogen / Protein Estimation System and Scrubber System

• Orbital Shaking Incubator

• Muffle furnace
• Oven
• Analytical electronic balance
• pH meter

• EC and TDS meter

• Double Distillation Water Unit
• Quartz Double Distillation Water Unit for Boron
• Hot plate
• Hot Water bath

Mandate

• Reassessment of micro and secondary nutrients (MSN) deficient/toxic areas by soil and plant analysis as well as through biological responses of crop in different soils.
• Micro and secondary nutrient indexing for forecasting emerging micro and secondary nutrients disorders and developing decision support system under different soil- cropping- management systems.
• Standardize suitable soil test methods and establish critical levels for micro and secondary nutrients and heavy metal toxicities in different soils and crops.
• Developing suitable technique for increasing nutrient use efficiency including organic manures, sewage and sludge added for ameliorating the MSN deficiencies in crops and soils.
• Monitoring heavy metal pollution and trace element toxicities in soils, plant and animal health.
• Identification of deficiency/toxicity symptoms for diagnosing micro and secondary nutrient deficiencies in field crops.
• Effect of phasing of Zn and B application on fate of Zn and B pools in different soils and cropping systems.
• Identifying mechanism of micronutrient interactions in soils and their role in reproductive physiology of plants.
• Screening of crop species and genotypes tolerant to micronutrient stress and heavy metal toxicities.
• Delineation of micro and secondary nutrient deficient areas using GPS/GIS in acid soils of humid and subhumid regions and alkaline alluvium soils of arid and semi arid regions in the states so far remained uncovered.

Research Activities and Achievements

Achievements

Percent samples deficient (PSD) of soil in secondary and micro nutrients in Vidarbha, Marathwada and Konkan region.

Sulphur Deficiency

Zinc Deficiency

Boron Deficiency

 Recommendations 

(Source : Dr. PDKV, Akola, MPKV, Rahuri, VNMKV, Parbhani and Dr. BSKKV, Dapoli)

Research and Extension Linkage

a. Front line demonstrations

Several FLD’s were conducted on farmers field located in different districts of Maharashtra with the objectives

1. To disseminate the technologies on micronutrients among the farmers
2. To educate them about application of micro and secondary nutrients to crops on deficient soils .

The crops grown were paddy, cotton, maize, soybean, wheat, chickpea and millets.

The highest response of soil application of zinc was noticed in paddy and maize on Zn deficient soils. The response of Zn application on deficient soils was higher as compared to marginal soils.

Table: Crop response to S, Zn and Fe application  (Field studies on farmers’ fields)

Table : Year and location wise number of FLDs conducted on different crops

b. Field days organized

The field days were organized on the farmers field to disseminate the knowledge and importance of micro and secondary nutrients among the farming community. The demonstrations were also visited by the farmers.

c. Distributed Soil Health Cards to Farmers

Soil health cards distributed to tribal farmers in Chandpur, Teh:Chikhaldara, Dist: Amravati and to the FLD farmers.

d.Micronutrient fertilizers distributed (Zinc sulphate) to the tribal farmers in villages of tribal areas of Amravati and Yavatmal districts

e. Farmers training organized

The farmers training at university and farm level / village level were also conducted.

f. National Workshop organized

Organized 27^th National Workshop of All India Coordinated Research Project on Micro and Secondary Nutrients and Pollutant Elements in Soils and Plants during March 7-9, 2014. 

Publications

a) Research Bulletins

b) Folders/leaflets (In Marathi)

c) Booklets (In Marathi)

Contact Information

Dr. Rajendra N. Katkar
Scientist Incharge and Professor
AICRP on Micro and Secondary Nutrients and Pollutant Elements in Soils and Plants.
Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth,
Akola – 444 104 (Maharashtra).
Phone: (+91) – (0724) 800010
Fax : (+91) – (0724) 2258419
Email: micro_soil@pdkv.ac.in

About Project

Fertilizer is a key factor for increasing agricultural production and its consumption in agriculture is increasing rapidly. Need felt for studying the impact of fertilizers not only on the crop yields and quality but also on the soil and the environment under intensive cropping systems which are major users of fertilizers. This has created the need of long term studies at fixed sites for monitoring the changes in nutrient dynamics with the objectives of developing strategies for sustainable productivity by incorporating different fertilizer interventions.

The locations of various centres

In view of the emerging compulsions, the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) launched the “All India Coordinated Research Project on Long Term Fertilizer Experiment” in September 1970 at 11 centres.

The LTFE centre was started in the year 1995-96 at Dr. P.D.K.V. Akola on soybean – wheat cropping sequence. In the year 2004-05, the experiment on soybean –wheat cropping sequence was concluded. The the experiment initiated by the Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry on sorghum – wheat cropping sequence in the year 1988 (kharif) was continued as Long Term Fertilizer Experiment from the year 2005-06. The experiment on sorghum-wheat cropping sequence has completed 21st cropping cycle in the year 2008-09.

Agro Climatic Information

Climate and soil
The experimental site at Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola represents the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra state. It lies in between 17057’-21046’ N Latitude and 75057’- 80059’ E Longitude and covers an area of 97762.9 sq. km occupying about 31.92 per cent area of Maharashtra state. The region is bounded by Satpuda Hill Ranges in North, Ajanta Hill Ranges at the South-West and a series of high hill ranges along the Eastern border. It is divided into Godavari and Tapi river basins.

The climatic conditions of Vidarbha region can broadly described as semi-arid type. Region experiences sub- humid to humid conditions in monsoon, semi-arid in winter and arid in summer season.

Akola is situated at the latitude of 22042’ North and longitude of 77002’ East at an altitude of 307.42 m above Mean Sea Level (MSL). It represents Agro Ecological Region No. 6.3 and sub – region number – K5Dm4. Eastern Maharashtra Plateau, hot moist, semi-arid ESR with medium and deep clayey black soils (Shallow loamy to clay black soils) medium to high available water holding capacity (AWC) and LGP between 120-150 days.

Initial soil characteristics of experimental site
The soil of experimental field was classified as Vertisols, particularly montmorillonitic type, hyperthermic, a family of Typic Haplustert. It has smectite clay mineral with swell – shrink properties. The soil contained 31.2 % sand, 16.1 % silt and 51.2 % clay. The soil is slightly alkaline in reaction (pH 8.1), low in available nitrogen (120 kg N ha-1), medium in available phosphorus (8.4 kg P ha-1), very high in available potash (358 kg K ha-1) and have 11.8 mg kg-1 available sulphur and 0.62 mg kg-1 DTPA extractable zinc.

Crop sequence

Sorghum-wheat is an important sequence which is generally being followed in sorghum based crop production system. The Long Term Fertilizer Experiment is based mainly on sorghum-wheat sequence to study the changes in soil quality, crop productivity and sustainability. The sorghum crop is grown on an area of 5.02 million hectares with annual production of 4.38 million tonnes.

Infrastructure Facilities

Advanced Instruments

Micro Processor Based Automatic Digestion and Distillation Apparatus Flame Photometer Micro Processor Based pH and EC Meters Hot Air Oven Environmental Shaker Water Bath Hot Plate Plant Sample Grinder

Mandate

1. To study the effect of continuous application of plant nutrients, alone and in combination in organic and inorganic forms including secondary and micro nutrients (as per need) on crop productivity and uptake in multiple cropping systems.

2. To study the effect of application of secondary and micronutrients (as per need) on yield and also on the assessment of the need for these elements under an intensive cropping programme.

3. To work out the amount of nutrients removed by the crops.

4. To monitor the changes in soil properties as result of continuous manuring and cropping with respect to the physical, chemical, and microbiological characteristics of the soil in relation to soil quality and yield sustainability.

Research Activities and Achievements

Sorghum-Wheat sequence

1. Vertical distribution of sulphur fractions as influenced by long term manuring and fertilization under sorghum – wheat sequence on vertisols.
2. Effect of long term fertilization and manuring on porosity and C:N ratio under sorghum wheat cropping sequence on vertisols.
3. Long term effect of manures and fertilizers on soil biological properties and nutrient availability under sorghum wheat sequence.

50% NPK
100 % NPK
100 % NPK + FYM (10 t ha-1 to sorghum only)

Research Recommendations

On the basis of long term fertilizer experiment, following recommendations were made during last 21 years and passed through Joint Agresco.

1. On the basis of 15 years results of LTFE for sustainable higher production with improved fertilizer particularly in respect to organic carbon pools under sorghum-wheat sequence on vertisols, it is recommended that 10 t FYM ha-1 be supplemented with recommended dose of fertilizer (100:50:40) to sorghum and recommended dose of fertilizer (120:60:60 NPK kg ha-1) to wheat.
2. On the basis of 20 years results of long term fertilizer experiment, for sustaining soil quality and crop productivity application of recommended dose of fertilizer along with FYM @ 10 t ha-1 is recommended, however, continuous application of FYM 10 t ha-1 alone improves soil quality but declines crop productivity.
3. Under soybean wheat sequence grown on Vertisols it is recommended that either 150 % RD of NPK + S + Zn (45:50:0:20:2.5) or 50 % N through organics (Leucaena Loppings/FYM) should be applied for obtaining higher yield sustainability and improvement in soil fertility.

Extension Activities and Achievements

Research –Extension linkage
Evaluation of efficiency of most sustainable fertilizer use practices for enhancing productivity, sustainability and nutrient response ratio under different cropping systems and Agro-ecological situation (soybean-wheat).

In order to demonstrate and disseminate the technology evolved out of the Long Term Experiment on soybean- wheat sequence at Akola Centre a set of treatments was selected to conduct the satellite experiment on the farmer’s fields. Five locations were selected on the farmers’ fields.

Findings

Application of recommended dose of NPK along with FYM @ 10 t ha-1+ Zn @ 2.5 kg ha-1 to soybean and recommended dose of NPK only to wheat recorded higher grain yield of soybean and wheat in soybean – wheat cropping sequence, which confirms the need of integrated nutrient management approach in sustaining the crop productivity as well as soil quality in various crop sequence.

Publications

• Effect of Long Term Fertilizer application and cropping on the sustenance of soil fertility and crop productivity under sorghum – wheat sequence in vertisol. Research Bulletin, 2004.
• Dirgha Mudatiya Khat Prayogache Nishkarsh Folder No. 402, 2008.

Contact Information

Shri S.D. Jadhao
Associate Professor & Principal Investigator
AICRP on Long Term Fertilizer Experiment
Department of Soil Science and Agril. Chemistry
Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola – 444 104(M.S.)
Phone: (91) –(0724) 2258201-17 (Extn.1067)
Email ID: sdjadhao@rediffmail.com
shyam_jadhao@ymail.com