Narendra Kumar - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Narendra Kumar

Anusandhan Sansthan, Almora, India to evaluate horsegram based intercropping systems with other c... more Anusandhan Sansthan, Almora, India to evaluate horsegram based intercropping systems with other commonly grown rainy season crops. Four intercropping systems, viz., horsegram + maize (green cobs) (2:1), horsegram + finger millet (1:1), horsegram + pigeonpea (1:1), horsegram + barnyard millet (1:1) intercropping under replacement series were evaluated in comparison to sole horsegram. Improvement in plant height, pods/plant, grains/plant, grain weight/plant and horsegram equivalent yield (HEY) were recorded in intercropping over sole horsegram. Among intercropping systems, HEY was highest in horsegram + maize (1.62 t/ha) during 2005 and in horsegram + finger millet (1.99 t/ha) during 2006. However, lowest HEY was recorded in horsegram + barnyard millet. Light penetration was also improved under intercropping (1.3% in sole horsegram to 6.9% in horsegram + finger millet) which provided better growth and development of lower crop canopy and pods. Net return (Rs. 7 526/ha) and benefit: cost ratio (1.34) were highest under horsegram + finger millet followed by horsegram + maize. The values of land equivalent ratio (LER) was higher than unity (1.21-1.39) in all intercropping systems which showed yield advantage following intercropping. Similarly, competition indices like relative crowding coefficient (RCC), aggressivity, competition ratio and monetary advantage were higher under horsegram + finger millet followed by horsegram + maize. Soil available N and P also increased under intercropping over solitary system. Thus, horsegram + finger millet (1:1) was found suitable for cultivation over traditional sole system under hilly agro-ecosystem in India.

A field experiment was conducted during winter season of 2003-06 at Almora, Uttarakhand to evalua... more A field experiment was conducted during winter season of 2003-06 at Almora, Uttarakhand to evaluate the productivity, profitability and energetics under different weed management practices in wheat (Triticum aestivum L. emend Fiori & Paol). Two improved intercultural tools viz., wheel hoe and long handle khurpi along with tank mix isoproturon (0.77 kg/ha) + 2, 4 D (0.5 kg/ha) and farmers' practice (2 manual weedings with kutla at 30-35 & 55-60 DAS) were studied for their effectiveness as compared to a weedy check management practices. The maximum decrease in weed population (86.9%) and weed dry matter (78.8%) was recorded with isoproturon + 2, 4-D application. However, it failed to enchance wheat productivity markedly over farmers practice. Net return and B:C ratio were significantly more under weed management through isoproturon + 2, 4-D, however, energy use efficiency was highest value under long handle khurpi.

A field experiment was conducted during winter (rabi) season of 2003-04 and 2004-05 at Almora to ... more A field experiment was conducted during winter (rabi) season of 2003-04 and 2004-05 at Almora to evaluate the varietal performance of lentil (Lens culinaris Medikus) and toria (Brassica campestris L. var. black toria) with wheat (Triticum aestivum L. emend. Fiori & Paol.) intercropping system. Intercropping of wheat + lentil and wheat + toria showed an added advantage over sole and mixed cropping. In intercropping systems, lentil yield was higher with 'VL Masoor 4' (0.35 t/ha) than with 'VL Masoor 120'. Similarly, 'VL Toria 2' gave higher yield (0.35 t/ha) than 'VL Toria 1'. The highest wheat-equivalent yield (5.87 t/ha), net return (Rs 19,651/ha), benefit : cost ratio (2.1), monetary advantage (5,172) and land-equivalent ratio (1.26) were obtained under wheat + lentil ('VL Masoor 4') intercropping, followed by wheat + toria 'VL Toria 2'. Negative values of aggressivity under intercrop showed that wheat was dominant, and lentil and toria were the dominated crops in the systems. Competitive ratio and relative crowding coefficient of wheat was higher under intercropping of wheat with lentil 'VL Masoor 120' and toria 'VL Toria 1'. Relative crowding coefficient of the system was highest for wheat + lentil ('VL Masoor 4') (5.72), followed by wheat + toria ('VL Toria 2') (4.77). Thus lentil 'VL Masoor 4' and toria 'VL Toria 2' were found suitable under intercropping system with wheat in comparison with other varieties.

A field experiment was conducted during 2002-03 and 2003-04 at Almora to find out the most produc... more A field experiment was conducted during 2002-03 and 2003-04 at Almora to find out the most productive and remunerative relay intercropping of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. nom. cons.) or french bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in maize (Zea mays L.), garden pea (Pisum sativum L.var. arvense poir.) in tomato or french bean, and french bean in garden pea. Results showed that relay intercropping of maize (green cobs) + tomato + garden pea + french bean, and maize (green cobs) + french bean + garden pea + french bean proved significantly superior in terms of maize grain-equivalent yield (71.3 and 51.5 t/ha), and net returns (Rs 2,39,558 and Rs 1,52,624/ha) than maize (green cobs) -garden pea (18.8 t/ha and Rs 48,020/ha) and french bean -garden pea (30.7 t/ha, and Rs 94,021/ha) sequential cropping. Also, maize (green cobs) + tomato + garden pea + french bean recorded significantly highest production efficiency (195.4 kg/day/ha) and economic efficiency (Rs 656/ha/day), system energy output (10,83,760 MJ/ha), system net energy return (10,40,856 MJ/ha) and system energy-use efficiency (2,852 MJ/ha/day). The lowest maize grain equivalent yield (18.8 t/ha), net returns (Rs 48,020/ha), production efficiency (51.5 kg/day/ha) and economic efficiency (Rs 132/ha/day) were recorded under maize (green cobs) -garden pea sequential cropping. Physico-chemical properties of the soil improved significantly due to relay intercropping systems over maize (green cobs) -garden pea sequence. Relay intercropping of maize (green cobs) + tomato + garden pea + french bean proved the best in terms of total production and monetary returns.