ICRISAT Archival Report 2006 - The seedlings of success in the ...

The first step in the collaboration was to collect soil samples (410 in total) from ten nucleus watersheds. Subsequent
analysis of soil samples indicated that more than 50% of farmers’ fields were deficient in available sulfur, zinc and
boron, in addition to low phosphorus and low organic carbon, thus reducing the potential of the production systems.
In the 2005 crop season, farmers in each watershed selected ICRISAT, UAS and proprietary hybrids/improved
cultivars of major crops and embarked on a participatory evaluation using both traditional and improved
management (improved agronomy, balanced nutrition and IPM) practices. Crops evaluated were finger millet (ragi)
and groundnut in Kolar and Tumkur districts, sunflower in Chitradurga, maize in Haveri, sorghum in Dharwad, and
soybean in Chitradurga, Haveri and Dharwad districts and pigeonpea in all the five districts.
Each farmer demonstration was laid out on one-acre of land. Approximately one half acre was allocated to local
varieties grown under the farmers traditional management practices (T1). In another half acre improved cultivar was
sown, which, was further divided into two parts, one having traditional management practices (T2) and the other
having improved management (T3). The best-bet treatment (T3) included application of 70 kg Di-ammonium
Phosphate, 100 kg urea, 5 kg borax, 50 kg zinc sulphate and 200 kg gypsum per ha -1 for cereals. For legumes urea
application was reduced from 100 kg to 40 kg ha -1 and the other nutrient applications remained the same.
Evaluation of ragi (finger millet) in Kolar and Tumkur districts: Thirty-six farmers in Kolar district and eight
farmers in Tumkur district evaluated improved cultivars of ragi. The varieties and their yield responses to the three
management practices are summarized in Table 9B. Due to good rainfall the ragi yields were generally good, with
inherent soil fertility responsible for yield differences observed under T1 between the different watersheds . In
Hampasandra (Kolar) and Honnudeke (Tumkur) watersheds the farmers yield in T1 treatment were very low (1.34
to 1.48 t ha -1 ) indicating low soil fertility as compared to Huthur (Kolar) and Basethihalli (Kolar) watersheds, where
the farmers yield were 2.38 and 2.67 t ha -1 , respectively (Table 9B4 ). The yield enhancement of ragi due to
improved variety plus improved management ranged from 1.27 to 2.53 t ha -1 , which is more than doubling the yields
in some watersheds. Where the yield enhancement over the baseline yields was higher, most of it was due to
improved soil fertility management (66 to 97%). In the Huthur watershed yield improvement due to variety was
greater (69%) than the improved management (31%); whereas in Honnudeke watershed the relative contribution of
improved variety and management was equal.
Table 9B4. Yield of ragi
(t ha -1 ) in Kolar and
Tumkur watersheds.
Watershed in
Watershed in Kolar district
Tumkur district
Hampasandra Huthur Basethihalli Honnudeke
Variety
Treatment 1
Local 1.48 2.38 2.67 1.34
Treatment 2
GPU 28 1.55 2.93 4.28 1.78
MR 1 -- 2.31 3.90 2.28
HR 911 -- 4.47 2.51 1.75
L 5 -- 3.29 3.82 2.45
Mean 1.55 3.25 3.63 2.07
Treatment 3
GPU 28 3.10 3.00 6.37 2.27
MR 1 4.07 3.51 5.73 2.43
HR 911 3.56 4.27 4.02 2.81
L 5 5.31 3.81 5.81 3.67
Mean 4.01 3.65 5.48 2.79
% yield increase due to
3 69 34 50
cultivar
% yield increase due to 97 31 66 50
management
* Mean of 12 farmers in each watershed in Kolar and four farmers in Tumkur districts.
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