Seed Treatment Campaign

Seed treatment campaign was conducted in many places in Karaikal. I conducted at two villages - Subrayaburam and Thennangudy. It was an awareness creation programme. As the agriculture season is picking up, it was a low cost technology which helps the crop to gain resistance to root borne diseases and facilitates Organic farming.

Seed treatment is similar to immunization programme for children. Like we have an injection within 5 days of child birth is this seed treatment. Giving the immunization at the earliest stage of life. If the farmer has missed the seed treatment, he can broadcast the bio-control agent in nursery field. It is like an injection at 45th day. If the farmer plans his transplanting he can go for seedling root dipping. Its like an injection at 65th day. If the farmer has already transplanted he can very well broadcast in the field twice or thrice, its like polio vaccination for children under 5 years old every year. We know the importance of immunization to children and now it is time to treat our agricultural crops also as children and give maximum care that too in organic way. This will help us to have a better future and make the Earth a better place to live through ORGANIC AGRICULTURE.

Seed treatment is a process of application of chemicals or protectants (with fungicidal, insecticidal, bactericidal or nematocidal properties) to seeds that prevent the carriage of insect or pathogens in or on the seeds. In the campaign various benefits and importance of seed treatment with Pseudomonas fluorescens was detailed. It helps in effective control Blast, Bacterial leaf blight, sheath blight of paddy. It paves way for organic rice production.

Pseudomonas fluorescens is a common Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium. It belongs to the Pseudomonas genus; 16S rRNA analysis has placed P. fluorescens in the P. fluorescens group within the genus, to which it lends its name.

The method demonstration conducted was “Seed Treatment of Paddy seeds with Pseudomonas fluorescens using seed treating drum”. Five kilo paddy seed was placed in the seed treating drum. As the rate of Pseudomonas to be used for treatment are 10 gms per kilo of Paddy seeds. 50 gms of Pseudomonas was added to the seeds in the drum. The drum was closed and rotated 5 times in clockwise and anticlockwise directions each. The treated seeds were collected in a vessel. Such treated seeds can be used for soaking the seeds for enhancing germination. When the Pseudomonas treated seeds are soaked, while germination the rupture created when plumule and radicle emerges acts as an entry point for the bacteria to enter the seed and the full system gets the inoculum.

The other methods taught in the seed treatment campaign were

1. Using rice gruel: Pseudomonas was added (at the rate of 10 gms / kg of paddy seeds) to the cooled rice gruel. It was mixed uniformly and then it was mixed with the seeds. The treated seeds should be shade dried and can be used for soaking to facilitate germination.

2. Using Water: Pseudomonas was added (at the rate of 10 gms / kg of paddy seeds) in 1 litre of water. It was mixed uniformly and then it was mixed with the seeds. The treated seeds should be shade dried and can be used for soaking to facilitate germination.

3. In soaking pit / pond / tank: Pseudomonas was added (at the rate of 10 gms / kg of paddy seeds) in the water available in soaking pit / pond / tank. The gunny bags containing seeds should be soaked in Pseudomonas treated water for more than 12 hours. Then remove the seed bags and cover them with dark tarpaulin sheet to facilitate germination. The Pseudomonas would enter the entire system of the plant from the initial stage itself. Then the remaining treated water used for the soaking should be added to the nursery itself. 

For those farmers who have taken up sowing either in nursery of direct sowing, the other ways of using Pseudomonas were detailed.

Seedling root dipping: Apply 2.5kg of Pseudomonas to the water stagnated in an area of 25 sq.m. The seedlings after pulling out from the nursery should be placed in stagnated water containing the bacteria. A minimum period of 30 minutes is necessary for soaking the roots and prolonged soaking will enhance the efficiency.

Soil application: Apply the product @ 2.5kg/ha mixed with 50 Kgs of well decomposed farmyard manure (FYM) or sand at 30 days after transplanting.

Foliar application: Spray the product @ 0.2% concentration (1Kg/ha) commencing from 45 days after transplanting at 10 days interval for 3 times depending on the disease intensity. If there is no disease incidence, a single spray is sufficient.

ATMA gives increased income

It is an update of the earlier blog - Poor farmers getting benefitted through Govt. schemes

That was soon after the programme initiated and this blog is actually an update (after an year)

Introduction:

Sinnappa Pillai, son of Thambusamy Pillai is 65 years old. He is a father of three daughters and a son. Two daughters are married and settled. The third daughter, Hemalatha, is deaf and dumb, a widow. His son is a LIC agent. Sinnappa Pillai and his daughter Hemalatha work together to raise the cattle.

He and Komatha ATMA group:

He is a member of Komatha ATMA group, Surakudy pertaining to Uzhavar Udhaviyagam, Surakudy since June 2010. The group was formed by bringing like-minded farmers who are having milch animals and interested in doing cattle-based income generating activities. All members of this group are economically poor farmers; depend on milk production to meet their needs.

ATMA group asked to pay a premium of Rs. 25 per month but the members decided to pay Rs. 100. The members of this group meet regularly in cattle grazing place daily since all take their cattle to graze in a common place. Meeting happens naturally and informally. Monthly payment and discussions are done at the grazing ground itself. Issues are discussed then and there and come out with collective decision.

Failed first group venture:

After six months of group formation the members felt their major expense is to buy concentrate feed for their cattle. They discussed the issue with Agricultural Officer cum ATMA Block Technical Team (BTT) convener and Veterinary doctor, Thirunallar, BTT member. A trail was made to purchase concentrate feed as a group at bulk and distribute among members. It was profitable. The success was short lived. Due to price hike and increased loading and unloading charges the business was not economically viable. Hence the group discontinued feed business.

Training on fodder grass feeding to increase milk production:

The group members discussed about the failed venture with Agricultural Officer. As an alternative option, Agricultural Officer arranged a training programme on “Fodder feeding for increased milk production” on 27.12.2011 at PAJANCOA&RI. The resource persons were Dr. George Paradis and Dr. Prasanna. The lecture by Dr. George was an eye opening one. Dr. George took the farmers to the college cattle farm and showed how the cattle are maintained and fed. He gave a detailed note on various green manures and its uses and how to feed the cattle and showed the fodder field. As a part of the training programme, hundred rooted slips and needed fertilizers for fodder cultivation were distributed as inputs at free of cost to each group member.

Experience of Sinnappa Pillai:

Though hundred rooted slips and needed fertilizers were distributed free of cost to fifteen farmers, after one year, Sinnappa Pillai have maintained the slips well and increased the area of fodder cultivation. Sinnappa Pillai says, “I planted the rooted slip on the next day of the training itself in my backyard. I adopted a spacing of 45 cm between ridges and 45 cm between plants. In fifteen days there was green flush to a height of 6 feet. The maiden harvest was done after a month from planting. Being the first harvest, the leaves and tender shoots were just enough to feed my five cows for a day. The animals had initial reluctance and then they started relishing it and finishes in few minutes.”

He continues to narrate his excitement, “From the next day I could realize gradual increase in milk yield and the consistency improved. In a week time, there was an increase of one litre in the morning and one litre in the evening and the milk is thicker than before. The animals are healthier. So I decided to reduce the amount of concentrate feed and replace it with fresh fodder grass. This considerably reduces the expense on cattle rearing. During second harvest, I could see many tillers. From then onwards, I fed the cattle with leaves and tender shoots. I used the sturdier shoots as rooting material. As the tillers per plant ranged from five to seven during initial months and now there are a minimum of ten tillers per plant. I extended the fodder cropped area gradually. As per the guidance of Agricultural Officer I harvest 10 - 15 plants per day then harvest adjacent rows accordingly every day. It takes 15 days to complete harvesting all plants in routine. On 16^th day I could harvest from the plants I harvested on the first day. These days, I am giving rooted slips whoever asks from me and I am sharing my experience. I gave two of my cows to my married daughters as I could not manage four cows and a calf along with fodder cultivation and field works.”

Benefits realized from fodder grass:

1. The cattle are healthier than before. Inter-calving period is reduced.
2. Fodder had replaced concentrate feed so expense is reduced.
3. Milk is increased to an extent of 2 litres per day so there is an increased income.
4. Consistency of milk has improved.
5. Saves time to get good quality grass as he is getting in the backyard itself which paves way for him to spend more time to work in private fields to get additional income for his family.
6. The time spent for harvesting grass from outside area and head loading the same to his house is completely avoided as grass is available in the backyard itself.
7. His daughter takes care the feeding as she could not work outside.

Managing Drought through Direct Sowing

The main systems of rice culture are Irrigated Lowland, Rainfed Lowland, Rainfed Upland and Irrigated Upland. Irrigated rice, rainfed lowland rice, rainfed upland rice and rice from flood prone areas account for 75%, 17%, 4% and 4% respectively of global rice production.

Traditional Way of Paddy cultivation:

Seeds soaked in water for 24 to 36 hours are incubated for about 48 hours in a warm environment to facilitate  germination and the pre-germinated seeds are broadcast on the drained seedbeds of the nursery, which is kept wet for 5 days and gradually flooded thereafter. The seedlings after a nursery time, roughly equivalent to 3 and 2 weeks respectively in case of varieties of 4 to 4 ½ months and 3 months duration, are transplanted in the main field.  Prior to transplanting, the soil in the main field is puddled i.e. ploughed and harrowed and finally leveled with standing water in the field. Water from the main field is drained only towards harvest of the crop. 

Disadvantages: 

• Irrigated lowland rice requires enormous amount of water for field preparation. This process requires more water through out the crop period except pre-harvest period.
• It is a labor intensive farming method as it needs manpower to prepare nursery maintenance, pluck the seedlings from the nursery, transportation to main field, transplantation in main field.
• In main field, the seedlings experience transplantation shock. Transplantation shock delays phenological development of the crop, especially tillering. Recovery from transplantation shock and  potential yield, increase and decrease respectively with increase in age of seedlings.
• Rice production contributes to global climate change through emissions of methane and nitrous oxide and in turn suffers from the consequences. Methane is formed in soil through the metabolic activities of a small but highly specific bacterial group called methanogens. Their activity increases in submerged, anaerobic condition developed in wetland rice fields, which limit the transport of oxygen into the soil, and the microbial activities render the water-saturated soil practically devoid of oxygen. The upland, aerobic soil does not produce methane.  

 Water management:

Water management plays a major role in methane emission. Altering water management practices, particularly mid-season aeration by short-term drainage as well as alternate wetting and drying can greatly reduce methane emission in rice cultivation. Improving organic matter management by promoting aerobic degradation through composting or incorporating into soil during off-season drain period is another promising technique. 

Availability of water to raise requisite area of nurseries ahead of the normal dates of  availability of surface irrigation is a major constraint in many areas. To overcome the weather-related constraint, direct  seeding of rice is being increasingly resorted to.Due to failure of monsoon and ground water level going down makes agriculture a big question mark. Farmers are left to take decision of summer ploughing followed by repeated ploughing to make the soil to fine texture and wait till monsoon rain come and go for direct sowing. 

 Direct seeding methodology:

In this method, seeds are sown directly in the fields. It has shown a substantial reduction in water consumption and also in the production cost. This helps the crop to mature 10 to 15 days earlier than traditional method due to skipping of transplantation shock. The direct seeding also has the additional environmental benefit of reducing emission of greenhouse gases like methane apart from improving soil porosity which can increase productivity of the succeeding crop.

The methodology including paddy direct seeder can save about 30 per cent of water in the direct seeded fields and also can reduce farmers cultivation cost by '2,500 per acre, as no manual labour is needed to transplant paddy.

 

Direct seeding rice, a common practice before green revolution in India, is becoming popular once again because of its potential to save water and labour. Currently, direct seeded rice in Asia occupies about 29 Mha which is approximately 21% of the total rice area in the region. Direct seeding of rice are with profitable results as it avoids all the penalties entailed in transplanting. Direct seeded rice under no/reduced tillage is an efficient resource conserving technology (RCT) holding good promise in coming days because of the following advantages over

transplanting of rice. 

• Labour required for nursery raising, uprooting and transplanting of seedlings are saved to the extent of about 40%. 
• Saving of water (up to 60%) as nursery raising, puddling, seepage and percolation are eliminated. 
• Fertilizer use efficiency is increased because of placement/application of fertilizers in the root zone. 
• Early maturity (7-10 days) helps in timely sowing of succeeding crops. 
• Energy saving (up to 60% of diesel) because of elimination of field preparation for nursery raising, puddling and reduced water application for irrigation. 
• Reduction in methane emission and global warming potential. 
• Soil structure is not disturbed in direct seeded rice as occurs in puddled transplanted system. 
• Less drudgery to farm women labours because of elimination of transplanting. 
• System productivity is enhanced. 
• Cost of cultivation is reduced by about ‘ 5000-6000 ha-1

PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY FOR DSR

Under the DSR technology sowing of rice seeds is done directly in the soil where they are to grow, rather than

transplanting seedlings. Direct seeding methods could be divided into wet (pre-germinated seeds) seeding and dry seeding. In wet seeding pre-germinated seeds are broadcasted into puddled and leveled field which are free from standing water. At the time of puddling basal fertilizer mixture should be added. After germination of seed, seedling desiccation due to water stress should be avoided by intermittent wetting of the field. When seedlings are of about 5 cm tall (about a week after sowing) water is impounded to prevent germination of weeds and desiccation of seedlings. The stand establishment by this method varies with the quality of land preparation, weed competition, water management and rainfall during the initial period after sowing. Following factors contribute significantly in achieving the optimum productivity of DSR under irrigated condition.

Land preparation

This is a pre-requisite for good crop husbandry. Plowing the fields during summer season helps controlling weeds. In DSR technology precision land leveling has been proved advantageous for better germination, controlling weeds emergence, uniform irrigation saving considerable amount of water and increasing water use efficiency with ultimate increase in grain yield.

 

Time of sowing

This is a critical point to achieve the success in DSR crop in the main rice growing season (kharif). The sowing of crops should be accomplished before 10-15 days of onset of monsoon. The crop should attain 2-3 leaves before rain starts. This would facilitate the early root establishment so that crop could compete with emerging weeds easily.

Seed priming

In order to enhance the seed germination, seed priming i.e., seeds soaking over night in water and then dried in shades before sowing. Seed treatment should be done with bavistin at 2.5 g kg-1 to prevent the seed-borne diseases. 

Seed rates, row spacing and seeding depth 

With zero till ferti-drill sowing, the optimum seed rates for fine grains, basmati cultivars is 15-20 kg ha-1, coarse grains 20-25 kg ha-1 and for hybrids 8-10 kg ha-1. Use of planters having inclined plate devices or a cupped metering system is very useful for proper spacing (20 cm) and reducing seed rate. For broadcasting a higher seed rate (25-30 kg ha-1) is required.Seeding depth plays key role for good germination. Depth should not be kept more than 3 cm for desired level of crop stand. Placement of seeds below 3 cm adversely affects
dynamics of seed emergence because of rapid drying of the upper layer soil moisture.

Water management

Usually a pre monsoon rain occurs during mid May to mid June in almost all the regions of the IGP. If the adequate rains are received this can be  utilized for killing the first flush of weeds through non-selective herbicides (glyphosate and paraquat) under stale seed bed technique and for sowing direct seeding rice crop through zero till  machine. In case, no rain is received during mid May to mid June, a pre-sowing surface irrigation is required. In fact, after seedling to crop emergence, no irrigation is required and soil should be moist but not saturated from sowing till emergence. During transit period of crop emergence and commencement of monsoon, one or two
irrigations are required. After commencement of rains, no further irrigation is needed unless dry spell occurs. During dry spell, irrigations may be given as life saving irrigations, particularly during the critical growth stages i.e., tillering, panicle initiation, flowering, milking and grain filling. Irrigation at alternate wetting and drying has been considered as most effective and economical in DSR as it improves rooting systems and reduces
lodging.

Nutrient management

Nutritional requirement should be met on the basis of soil analysis of the crop field. In absence of soil analysis,
following fertilizer schedule should be adopted.

• Blanket application of 120-150 kg N ha-1, 60 kg P2O5 ha-1 and 40 kg K2O ha-1 may be applied along with 25 kg  ZnSO4ha-1.
• In light textured soil, ¼ N and full amount of P2O5 and K2O should be applied basally. The remaining amount of N should be applied as top dressing into two splits at maximum tillering and panicle initiation stage.
• In clay loam soil, half N and full amount of P2O5 and K2O along with Zn and S should be given as basal dose and remaining half of N may be given into two installments i.e. at maximum tillering and at panicle initiation stages.
• In DSR, iron deficiency usually occurs especially in light textured sandy loam soils. It leads to iron chlorosis in leaves. This deficiency could be mitigated through the application of iron sulphate (FeSO4). 
• Diammonium phosphate (18 N : 46 P2O5) and NPK (12 N :32 P2O5 : 16 K2O) are applied basally through zero till fertidrill machine. Due to hygroscopic nature of urea, the drilling of fertilizer is not properly done. In this case, the remaining amount of N through urea could be applied as top dressing. 
• Leaf Colour Chart (LCC) has been proved very advantageous in economizing the nitrogen application. For hybrids and high yielding inbred rice, N application should be based on a critical LCC value of 4.  However, a critical LCC value of 3 is used for scented basmati type rice cultivars. Values of the LCC should be recorded 3 weeks after sowing and should continue till heading.

Weed management

Weeds are great menace in DSR during rainy season and inadequate weed management led to severe loss in grain yield. In puddled transplanted rice, standing water does not allow weeds to emerge. In DSR, conditions are more favorable for the germination of weeds, which competes with rice for nutrients, moisture and sun light causing large yield losses. The important weeds associated with irrigated direct seeding rice crop are
listed below -

Weed group            Weed species                                 

Grassy                     Echinochloa colona,  E. Crusgalli, Digitaria sanguinalis, Dactyloctenium aegyptium,  

                                Leptochloa chinensis, Eleusine indica, Cynodon dactylon, Paspalum distinchum, 
                                Ischaemum rugosum                  

Broad-leaved          Trianthema monogyna, Commelina benghalensis,Caesulia axillaris, Sphenoclea 

                               zeylaica, Marsila minuta, Ludwigia spp., Monochoria vaginalis

Sedges                   Cyperus rotundus, Cyperus iria, Fimbristylis littoralis, Cyperus difformis, Scirpus  

                               juncoides                             


It is very difficult rather uneconomical to keep DSR crop weed free throughout crop period. Pre-germinated weeds can be knocked down with glyphosate/grammoxone (at 0.5% two days before seeding) or by 1-2 very shallow ploughing (stale seed bed method). Second flush of weeds can be removed manually It has been proved that weed free conditions provided during 2-6 weeks after sowing gave optimum grain yield of DSR. Based on several trials conducted under different SAUs and IRRI collaborated projects, following herbicides have been
found effective against annual and perennial weed species in DSR.



Herbicide                          Dose (kg a.i. ha-1)     Time of application        Target weed
Paraquat                             0.5                             1-2 DBS                          All types of weeds
Glyphosate                        1.2 -1.6                        7-15 DBS                        All types of weeds
Pendimethalin                    1.0                               1-2 DAS                         Grasses, broad leaved
Pretilachlor + safener z       1.5                               1-2 DAS                         All types of weeds
Ethoxysulfuron                   15                                10-15 DAS                     Sedges, broadleaved
2,4-D                                 0.5                               20 -25 DAS                    Sedges, broadleaved

Use of herbicides

Paraquat: It is a contact and non-selective foliar herbicide, which can be applied on emerged weeds before
sowing. Weed mortality takes place within 6-8 hours of application. The DSR crop may be sown after 1-2 days following the application of the herbicide.
Glyphosate: It is non-selective highly translocated herbicide, very effective against perennial grasses reproducing
through underground rhizomes, tubers and stolons. This herbicide may be applied on the foliage of emerged weeds prior to sowing of DSR. It is inhibitor of acetolactate synthesis. A rain free period of 6-8 hours is necessary following the application of herbicide. The DSR crop may be sown 15-20 days after application of this herbicide as it takes 2-3 weeks time for complete mortality especially perennial grasses.
Pretilachlor with safener: It is selective herbicide absorbed by hypocotyls and coleoptiles and roots of
germinating weeds. It is applied as pre-emergence for controlling annual grasses, broadleaved and sedges. Pretilachlor causes phyto-toxicity in rice and hence is always used with safener.
Pendimethalin: It is soil applied herbicide and usually applied as pre-emergence to control seasonal grasses and broadleaved weeds. It is absorbed by roots and coleoptiles and acts by inhibiting cell division and cell elongation. 
2,4-D: It may be applied  at 30-35 days after sowing in DSR crop to knock down the broadleaved weeds. It is available in sodium, amine and ester forms. The amine and ester forms are comparatively more effective than sodium salts. 
Chlorimuron ethyl + metsulfuron methyl ready mix: It is applied as post-emergence to control broadleaved weeds and sedges.
Ethoxysulfuron: It is used as early post emergence and mainly taken by roots and leaves and translocated within the plants. This could be used successfully in DSR for controlling broadleaved weeds and sedges.
Azimsulfuron: This is a post-emergence herbicide and could be used 15-20 days after sowing or 2-3 leaf stage to
check the grasses, broadleaved weeds and sedges. This herbicide is absorbed by roots and leaves and inhibits
acetolactate synthase in susceptible weed plants. 

Integrated weed management

There is hardly any herbicide which could control the menace of all types of weeds in a single application. Integration of preventive, physical, mechanical, cropping and cultural measures along with low doses of herbicides is imperative to make weed management effective, economical and eco-friendly.