Geolife Bactogang 24: Boost Soil Fertility and Crop Growth with Microbial Power

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June 17, 2024

Tabsil: Effervescent Silicon Tablets for Stronger, Healthier Crop Growth

Are you having trouble strengthening your crops or facing problems with plant development?

Tabsil is the solution for you! Tabsil is an effervescent fizzy tablet loaded with ortho-silicic acid (OSA), which is needed for plant and their immune system development. As the fifth vital ingredient for the production of cell walls, Tabsil is necessary for strengthening crops. The tablet’s effervescing fizzy nature makes application easier, especially in fields with a high-water content. Because of this, Tabsil is a practical and efficient way to promote plant health and strong crop growth.

Mode of Action:

The way silicon functions in Tabsil is amazing! It strengthens the plant’s defenses against diseases, pests, and other environmental stresses by producing a strong barrier of protective layer between the leaf and stem. This strengthens the cell walls of the plant, preventing it from folding and increases endurance to environmental challenges and physical harm. In addition to being an essential component, silicon controls the uptake and delivery of nutrients, keeps the water level in check, and promotes photosynthesis. Each of these activities helps the plant grow and become stronger overall.

Benefits of Tabsil:

Plant Defense System: Tabsil creates a strong physical barrier that supports plant health and successfully battles off pests and diseases.
Stress Resistance: Improves a plant’s capacity to tolerate a range of stressful circumstances, promoting its ability to survive in harsh environmental circumstances.
Promotes upright growth and lowers the chance of lodging by strengthening the structure of the plant.
Regulation of Nutrient Uptake: Tabsil controls nutrient uptake to guarantee a steady and effective supply for the best possible nourishment for plants.
Water management: Enhances the plant’s internal water balance, which helps with efficient water management.
Application Simplified: Tabsil in tablet form offers farmers a handy and user-friendly solution by simplifying the application process.
Plant productivity is directly impacted by photosynthetic efficiency, which increases growth and photosynthesis.

Crops:

Suitable to all types of crops, including fruits, vegetables, and field crops.

Dosage:

Foliar: 1 gm per Ltrs.
Drip/ Drench: 1 Kg per acre
Paddy Field: 1 Kg per acre broadcasting in 1 acre of submerged paddy field.

Application:

Twice during the growing phase and flowering fruiting stages, separated by 15 days.

Compatibility:

This product is suitable with all types of fertilizers and other agrochemicals.

Direction for use:

The rate of application will vary based on the severity of the shortfall, climate, soil type, and method used. To choose the treatments from this label that will work best for your particular set of conditions, speak with the Extension Specialists or your State Agricultural Experiment Station. Use caution when using this product on plants that are under moisture stress.

Storage and Disposal:

Avoid storing or disposing of anything that could contaminate food, water, or feed.

Keep out of direct sunlight and keep cold. It might be kept in an unheated space. Broken container spills can be cleaned up by soaking them on clay or another appropriate absorbent material.

Note: KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN

Geolife Vigore: Promote Plant Health, Faster Growth, and Disease Resistance

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June 17, 2024

Vigore: Promote Plant Health, Faster Growth, and Disease Resistance

Are you having problems with poor root development, insufficient nutrient absorption, too low immunity in plants ,or slow growth in your plants?

Relax! Introducing Vigore. Vigore is a World’s best biostimulant that contains essential vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and antioxidants. This scientifically derived mixture, which functions well during the entire plant growth cycle, contains Neurospora crassa extract. It is intended to promote faster root system development, increase nutrient absorption efficiency, boost enzymatic activity, and support higher growth of both roots and shoots.

Mode of action

It’s amazing how it operates! Because of the special fungal strains from Neurospora crassa found in this extract, plants grow more quickly because their roots form faster, their ability to absorb nutrients is enhanced, and their enzymatic activity is increased. It not only speeds up the growth of shoots and roots—particularly the white ones but it also initiates fruit set and flowering. Higher yields and more successful reproduction are facilitated by this technique. In summary, it has many advantages, such as boosting your plants’ vitality and output.

Benefits

Boost Enzymatic Activity: Vigore increases plant enzyme activity, which helps make biochemical processes run more smoothly.
Robust Root Development: It encourages strong and healthy root systems, which support the plant’s general stability and vitality.
Holistic Growth: By enhancing nutrient absorption, enzyme activity, and general plant development, Vigore promotes complete development.
Disease Resistance: By strengthening a plant’s resistance to illnesses, this growth enhancer promotes the health and longevity of the plant.
Sustainable Agriculture: By lowering the need for chemical inputs, promoting environmental health, and encouraging long-term management of natural resources, Vigore supports sustainable agriculture practices.

Applicable for all crops i.e. field crops, fruits, and vegetables.

Dosage

1 gm / litre of water – Foliar Application & Drip Application ( or )
250 gm/acre – Soil, Drip & Drench Application

Application

Foliar
Drip-irrigation
Soil application
Drenching near the root zone.

Compatibility

It is compatible with most agricultural chemicals and fertilizers.

Direction of use

Vigore application rates will vary depending on deficiency severity, climate, soil type, and mode of application. It is advised to speak with Extension Specialists or your State Agricultural Experiment Station for advice catered to your unique circumstances. They may offer guidance on the right dosages and application techniques for the best results in your farming situation.

Storage

In order to avoid contaminating food, water, or feed while it’s being stored or disposed of, keep the item out of direct sunlight and in a cool area.

Cleaning Up Spills: To clean up and contain spills from broken containers, use clay or another suitable absorbent. This guarantees safe disposal and helps in the prevention of additional contamination.

KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN.

Geolife Vigore Raja: Enhance Soil Health, Crop Productivity and Plant Growth

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June 17, 2024

Are you having trouble with low crop productivity, poor soil aggregation, and plant growth?

Worry no more! Introducing Vigore Raja. A natural superior yield booster containing vital vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and antioxidants along with Mycorrhiza and Neurospora crassa extract. It enhances soil aggregation, helps plants develop and establish themselves, increases water-holding capacity, and boosts productivity.

Wondering about how Vigore Raja works?

This potent blend of mycorrhiza, antioxidants, vitamins, and Neurospora crassa extract strengthens roots, encourages plant growth, and enhances general plant health. Strong white roots are encouraged to grow, nutrient absorption is enhanced, and enzyme activity is raised by Vigore Raja. Better yields and higher-quality crops are produced as a result of increased plant vitality and productivity. Vigore Raja’s special qualities enable balanced enzymatic activity as well, resulting in a healthy and well-structured plant.

Benefits

Improved Nutrient Absorption: Vigore Raja helps plants better absorb nutrients, making sure they receive the vital components that are essential for growth.
Stress Tolerance: It makes plants immune to stress, enabling them to adapt more effectively to harsh environmental circumstances.
Root Formation: Vigore Raja strengthens the base of the plant for general health and vigor by encouraging strong root development.
Soil Structure: By enhancing the soil’s structure, the product helps to improve the conditions for plant growth and nutrient availability.
Output and Efficiency: When mycorrhiza and Neurospora crassa extract combine in a beneficial way, Vigore Raja boosts agricultural output, enhances water usage efficiency, and promotes a healthier soil ecology.

Vigore Raja is applicable for all crops i.e. field crops, fruits, and vegetables.

Application Dosage

Foliar Application: 1 gm /litre of water.
Drip/ Drenching Application: 250 gm/acre.
Application with Fertilizers or manures: 250gm/acre

Ingredients – Enterprise Specification

Total viable propagules/gram – 10 spores per gram
Infectivity potential – Inoculum Potential 1200 IP/g (determined by MPN method with 10 fold dilution)

Compatibility

Vigore Raja should not be used alongside chemical fungicides or bactericides. Soil application of fungicides should be avoided for minimum 7-8 days before or after application of Vigore Raja.

Direction for use

Consult the Extension Specialists or your state’s Agricultural Experiment Station for specific guidance. Select the therapies from this label that are most appropriate for your area. When plants are stressed by wetness, don’t apply. To apply, combine Herbal Triangle with dirt, stir it in, and apply it to the roots of trees, bushes, and plants. The application rates for Herbal Triangle will be determined by deficiency severity, climate, soil type, and application method.

Storage and disposal

Avoid storing or disposing of anything that could contaminate food, water, or feed.

STORAGE: Keep out of direct sunlight in a cool place. Broken container spills can be cleaned up by soaking them on clay or another appropriate absorbent material.

Keep it away from children.

Geolife No-Virus: Organic Viricide for Effective Crop Virus Protection and Health

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June 17, 2024

No-Virus: Organic Viricide for Effective Crop Virus Protection and Health

Do you ever find it difficult to keep your crops safe from viruses? Many farmers experience it. Your harvest drops as a result and you suffer significant financial loss. Numerous illnesses that could ruin your crops are constantly a threat to your fields. Additionally, some traditional approaches use toxic substances that might damage the ecosystem by remaining on your crops.

But worry no more! Introducing No-Virus, an innovative organic viricide. It uses the strength of naturally occurring substances such as terpenoids, alkaloids, tannins, polyphenols, and peptides, No-Virus offers a strong defence against a wide range of viruses that affect crops.

How does it work?

No-Virus acts as a protective barrier for plants against dangerous viruses. It functions in 5 key ways:

No-Virus prevents virus admission by erecting an obstacle that prevents the viruses from attaching.
After the virus is stopped, No-Virus messes with the virus’s outer layer and the plant cell surface. It’s like disrupting the virus’s plans.
No-Virus stops viruses from multiplying inside of cells, which is how viruses generally spread. No Virus obstructs the production of proteins in the cell, which is necessary for the virus to multiply.
Antioxidants are incorporated by No-Virus to help plants in fighting off the danger. Similar to giving your crops an extra layer of security.
No-Virus keeps viruses from adhering to cells, even at the earliest phases of an infection. It’s like containing the virus before it spreads and causes more issues.

So how does it benefit you?

Not only does it provide you an efficient management and prevention of viruses, it

Increases a plant’s resistance to infection and its immunity.
Is harmless to the environment and leaves no chemical residues in the soil or on crops.
Is efficient against viruses that cause mottle, leaf curl, and mosaic.

Dosage and Application

Use 3 ml of No-Virus per liter of water. It’s like providing the plants with an early defence against possible diseases.
Use the same amount of No-Virus every fifteen days. Consider it as further strengthening the shield to ensure its continued strength.
Apply this preventive measure three times minimum.
In case your crop is already affected, Mix 3 to 5ml of No-Virus in 1 liter of water.
Apply on the leaves along with an insecticide to control the bugs that spread the disease.
Also, add nutrients to help the plant grow better.

Second Application (4-5 Days Later)

Repeat the No-Virus application, but this time, use it with a bio stimulant like Vigore from Geolife.

Repeat Applications

Keep applying No-Virus every 10-15 days along with insecticide or bio stimulant, based on the plant’s needs.
No-Virus is compatible with all Agrochemicals.

Direction for Use

Use the product amount based on the severity of the problem, the condition of the soil, the climate, and the application method. Always consult with locals who are knowledgeable. Remember NOT to use the product on plants in dry conditions.

Storage Information and Caution

keep the product away from water, food, and animal feed.
It should be kept cool and out of the sun. Store it somewhere dry and cool.
To protect the environment if the container breaks, wipe up spills using clay or another appropriate absorbent.
And most importantly, ensure that it is out of reach of children.

Ginger: Planting & Package of Practices

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March 15, 2024

Whiteflies in Chilli: Early Signs and Control Tips

Unveiling the Secrets of Indoor Plant Care

Ginger (Zingiber officinalis) one of the oldest known spices, is esteemed for its aroma and pungency. It originated in South – East Asia, but was under cultivation in India as well as in China from ancient times. Ginger is perhaps the most widely used spice both for flavoring and for medicinal purposes in the world. It is used in food preparations, confectionery, beverages, making ginger candy/ preserves. In medicine it is considered as a carminative and stimulant. Ginger oil is also used as a flavoring in pharmaceuticals and also in perfumery.

The complete ginger POP has been discussed in this article. It is the most important factor to follow the package of practices of ginger to grow a healthy ginger crop.

Ginger Crop at a Glance

Botanical Name: Zingiber officinalis
Popularly known as: Ginger (English), Adrak (Hindi), Shunti (Kannada)
Crop season: Rabi (March – April)
Crop type: spice crop
Production: 6-10 tons/acre
Varieties: Maran, Karakkal, Rio de Janeiro, Mahim are the high yielding varieties. Emad Chemed, China, Karuppamadi, Rio de Jeneiro are varieties containing high oleoresin.

Soil requirement

The best soil for ginger cultivation is deep, well-drained, friable, loamy, and rich in humus. Alkaline soil is not good for the growth of crops. Ginger planting in the same field year after year is not recommended.

Before ginger planting, soil preparation of ginger crop starts during summer (March–April), and the land is ploughed twice (crosswise) at a depth of 15–22 cm. Later Norwegian harrows are used to crush exposed clods. To make the soil loose and friable, 3–4 crosswise harrowings are given. In order to stop soil erosion on sloping land, temporary ridges are opened. Before the final harrowing, 15 tons of FYM/ha are applied.

Climate requirement

The climate must be warm and humid for tropical crops. It grows well in regions with 125 to 250 cm of annual precipitation and at 1500 meters above sea level. In ginger cultivation, the rhizome development is best in a cool, dry climate. Plants that thrive in shade need plenty of moisture for good rhizome growth.

Land & Sowing Preparations for Ginger Crop

How to grow ginger crop

Ginger cultivation under rainfed land is split into raised beds that are 1 m wide, 3–6 m long, and 15 cm tall, with a 30 cm gap between each bed for a drainage channel. Beds develop along the contours of hill slopes. Ginger is cultivated in small pits that are spaced 25 cm away from one another and 15-20 cm apart within each row. During irrigation, ridges spaced 40–45 cm apart are opened. Planting is done at a distance of 22–30 cm in small trenches on ridges.

Propagation

Ginger is propagated by using setts, or parts of mother rhizomes. Select healthy ginger setts (ginger seeds) a weight of 20-25 g and 2.5- 5 cm length with two – three eye buds. Before ginger planting, selected sets are treated with Dithane M-45 at 3gm/lit of water for 30 min.

Seed Rate & Spacing

The recommended seed rate for ginger is 1500 kg/ha mother rhizomes. Choose healthy rhizomes free of pests and diseases including rhizome rot and leaf spots. Rhizomes that have sprouted are cut into pieces with two to three eye buds. Each sett should weigh 20–25 g and be 2.5 – 5 cm in length. Spacing for ginger planting is 40 x 20 cm in ridges and furrows.

Time of sowing

When to grow ginger crop

Ginger planting can be started from the first week of May to the middle of June. The second fourth night of May is considered to be the ideal period for ginger planting. The recommended seed rate is 1500 kg/ha mother rhizomes.

Preparation of Seed Material

One and a half months before ginger planting, for a 1 ha area 1500 kg of pest and disease free rhizomes are chosen as a good ginger farm. Rhizomes were treated with 25% agallol and Monocrotophos for 30 minutes to suppress rhizome flies. Rhizomes are stored in trenches that are made under shade. Dry leaves or straw are used as a bottom lining for the trenches. Rhizomes spread on this dry terrain and are once more covered with straw or dried leaves. This increases the germination rate and reduces moisture loss. The weight of the rhizomes is lost by 30–35% during this time.

Method of Sowing

For an irrigated crop, 75 cm distance is recommended in between the ridges and furrow and 30 x 30 cm spacing is maintained in raised beds techniques.
Broad ridge method : it is a new technique used for better yield. ridges are made in a dimension of 75 cm wide, 20–30 cm high, and 30 cm between two ridges.

Planting is carried out under “Wapsa” conditions after pre-sowing irrigation. Eye buds should be planted in a ginger farm with the tip facing upward. The rhizomes are inserted 5 cm deep.

Irrigation Schedule

Immediately after ginger planting a light irrigation, later a subsequent irrigation is given every 10 days. Total 16-18 irrigation is required in a crop duration. Crop requires a total 90-100 cm of water for a hector.

Usage of Manures & Fertilizers

Sl.. No.	Time of application	FYM	N (Kg/ha)	P2O5 (Kg.ha)	K2O (Kg/ha)
1	Preparatory tillage	15	–	–	–
2	At planting	15	60	50	50
3	45 days after planting	–	50	–	–
4	120 days after planting	–	40	–	–
	Total	30	150	50	50

Inter Cultivation Practices

Weeding

The plot is kept clean by hand weeding during the first 4 – 6 weeks. Depending upon the intensity of weeds, 3-4 weedings are given to have better yield.

Mulching

It is practiced in rain-fed ginger farms to prevent evaporation, weed growth and from heavy rains. It protects rhizomes from sun scorching and also maintains soil temperature

Shading

On the outer edges of raised beds f or shade, seeds of cluster bean, pigeon pea, or castor are sown in irrigation channels.

Earthing up

The soil around the plants is worked with the help of khurpi to break the fibrous roots and thereby supports new growth. The soil near the rhizomes becomes loose and friable and helps in proper development of rhizomes. At Least two earthing up is required for better growth and development of rhizomes.

Plant protection

Diseases

Bacterial wilt: Ralstonia solanacearum

Symptoms

It is the most devastating disease, and symptoms usually appear between July and August. The damaged plant’s leaf margins turn brown and curl backward. The plants wilt and die as a whole. A foul odor comes from the rhizome and the base of the infected pseudostem. Milky exudates will seep out of the suspected pseudostem cut end when it is submerged in a glass of clean water. The typical sign is withering of young seedlings in the afternoon.

Management

The main source of disease is seed contamination. Buy only healthy rhizomes from disease-free ginger farms. Before ginger planting treat the seeds with 20g of streptomycin. Remove all affected clumps, then drench the soil with 0.2% copper oxychloride.

Dry rot: Fusarium and Pratylenchus complex

Symptoms

It is a complex disease caused by fungus and nematodes. Dry rot appears in fields in patches and spreads gradually, in contrast to rhizome rot. The affected plants appear yellowing of leaves and stunted. Initially older leaves wilt, followed by younger ones. When the rhizome is in an advanced stage, when cut open it shows a brownish ring, which is restricted to the cortical region. In contrast to soft rot, the pseudostem of plants with dry rot does not come off easily. The damaged rhizomes are dry and withered.

Management

The nematode problem can be controlled by applying mustard oil cake to the soil at a rate of 40 kg/ha at the ginger farm in furrows. Before ginger planting, treat the rhizomes with hot water at 510 C for 10 min, which is followed by Bordeaux mixture at 1% to control the disease effectively.

Pests

Shoot borer: Conogethes punctiferalis

Symptoms

The larvae penetrate the fragile pseudostem, then it reaches the center portion and feeds on the internal tissues, causing the shoots to turn yellow and dry. There may be an infestation from June through October.

Management

Spray nimbecidine at 2–5 ml/l or Beauveria bassiana at 2–5 ml/l. The shoot borer can be managed by spraying malathion (0.1%) at 21 days intervals during July to October. The spraying is to be initiated when the first symptom of pest attack is seen on the top most leaves on the pseudostem. An integrated strategy involving pruning and destroying freshly infested pseudostems during July- August (at fortnightly intervals) and spraying malathion (0.1%) during September-October (at monthly intervals) is also effective against the pest.

Shoot boring weevil: Prodioctes haematicus

The dead hearts are caused by the grubs’ bore into the pseudostem.

Management

Remove alternative hosts like cardamom and wild turmeric. Adult beetles that are gathered together can be collected and destroyed. Immediately after mother rhizome harvest, spraying nimbecidine at 2 to 5 ml/l or carbofuran 3G granules at 30 kg/ha is recommended.

White Grub or Khumlay : Holotrichia spp

It is a sporadic pest that can occasionally cause significant harm. The grub consumes newly developed rhizomes as well as the roots. Infestation levels are often higher in August and September.

Management

After emerging from their pupal stage, the adult beetles congregate on Ficus or other trees, where they can be collected and destroyed. For the suppression of the grubs, fine cow dung can be combined with the entomophagous fungus Metarrhizium anisophilae and then placed into the field. Prior to sowing, apply 40 kg/ha of neem cake to the soil in endemic areas.

Harvesting and Yield

Harvest ginger when the leaves turn yellow and wither. This is about 8-10 months after planting, depending on the variety used. Care should be practiced during harvesting to minimize injury that results in faster weight loss and susceptibility to decay. A properly managed crop gives an average yield of 20 t/ha.

Post Harvest

For dry ginger purpose, only the outer skin is to be peeled and then dried in the sun for a week. Yield of dry ginger is about 16-25% of green ginger.

Storage: Fresh, disease free rhizomes are selected then treated with solution of Carbendazim + Mancozeb @40 gm/10 ltr of water for 30 min. It will prevent rotting of rhizomes in storage. Then dry the rhizomes in shade. Store dried rhizome in a pit of convenient size, covered with plank having 2-3 holes for aeration. Before storing rhizomes in a pit, spread 1 inch thick sand layers.

Soybean: Planting & Package of Practices

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March 7, 2024

Soybean: Planting & Package of Practices

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Unveiling the Secrets of Indoor Plant Care

Soybean also known as Golden Bean or Miracle Crop due to their high protein and oil content. Soybean is a type of legume that originated in China. It was brought to India many years ago across the Himalayan Mountains. Soybean planting has been grown in a variety of agro climatic conditions and is mostly grown in Indian states such as Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan. The complete soybean POP has been discussed in this article.

It is the most important factor to follow the soybean package of practices to grow a healthy soybean crop. Soybean cultivation is done primarily for its seeds and is India’s second largest oil seed after groundnut. Soybean crops have a great nutritional value and contain 40% to 50% high quality protein and 20% to 22% oil. Soybeans also provide 5% of the essential amino acids, carbs, vitamins (thiamine and riboflavin), and minerals.

Soybean crop at a glance

Biological name: Glycin max
Popularly known as: Golden Beans or Miracle Crops
Crop season: Rabi and Kharif
Crop type: oilseed crop
Production (2021): 128.92 lakh tonnes
Estimated production: 129.95 lakh tonnes
Quantity exported in 2021:3.78 t

Varieties

Commonly grown soybean varieties are VL Soya 21, Ahilya 2 (NRC 12), MACS 124, JS 75-46, Ahilya 1 (NRC 2), Ahilya 3 (NRC 7). Other Indian varieties include Ankur, Alankar, Gorav, T-49, and Punjab-1.

Soil requirement

For soybean planting, it requires well-drained, fertile loamy soils with a pH range of 6.0 to 7.5 are ideal for soybean cultivation. Soybean seed germination is inhibited by saline and sodic soils. Water logging harms crops, therefore effective soil drainage in soybean farms is essential throughout the rainy season.

Climatic Requirements

When to grow soybean crop

Soybean crops require temperatures ranging from 150– 320 C for germination, although 250-300 C is ideal for growth. The soybean cultivation requires 60-65 cm of annual rainfall. Drought during flowering or just before flowering leads to flower and pod drops, whereas showers during maturity reduce grain quality.

Land & Sowing Preparations for Soybean Seeds

Land Preparations

How to grow soybean crop

Cultivation of soybean crops starts with deep summer plough, followed by leveling of the field. Make ridges and furrows with proper spacing as mentioned above. Sow the seeds with seed-drill with proper spacing. Apply basal fertilizers and give a light irrigation.

Seed Rate & Spacing

The optimum seed rate of 55-65 kg/ha with a spacing of 30-45 cm, which can be reduced with the use of broad-bed-furrow/ridge-furrow.

Time of Sowing

Optimum time of sowing is from mid of June to the end of June subject to availability of soil moisture/rainfall.

Method of Sowing

Treat the seeds with Carbendezim or Thiram @ 2g/kg of seed 24hrs before sowing to reduce the seed borne fungal infection. Line sowing by seed drill followed as it needs less seeds/ha, weeding and hoeing may be done conveniently.

Irrigation Schedule

Irrigation is not required for Kharif crops. However, throughout the summer, the soybean planting has been done with guaranteed irrigation, it requires 5-6 irrigations. To save water, the soybean crop should be irrigated at the following critical growth stages for soybean planting are as follows.

The germination stage
The flowering pod initiation and bean filling stages are critical for yield.

Usage of Manures & Fertilizers for soybean cultivation

FYM: – 10-15t / ha,

N: -20-30 kg / ha,

P: -60-80 kg / ha

K:- 40-60 kg/ha.

Inter Cultivation Practice

Weeding

The crop should be kept weed free up to 60 days after sowing (DAS). One or two hoeing with two hand weeding (20DAS and 40DAS) are sufficient for higher yield. Among weed control, pre emergence application of pendimethalin @ 0.75a.i/ha and one hand weeding at 40 DAS registered higher seed yield

Crop Protection

Pests

Bihar hairy caterpillar: Spilosoma obliqua

Symptoms

Young larvae feed voraciously on chlorophyll, primarily on the lower part of the soybean plants, causing the leaves to appear brownish-yellow in color. The larvae devour the leaves from the border in later stages. The soybean plant leaves resemblance to a net or web. Complete soybean farms appear sick.

Management

Avoid soybean planting during pre-monsoon
Use the healthy seeds for soybean planting.
Gather and discard the infected plant parts, egg masses, and immature larvae.
Install one light trap per hectare to catch adults of nocturnal pests such hairy caterpillars.
Spray Chlorpyriphos 20 EC @ 1.5 lit/ha, triazophos 40 EC @ 0.8 lit/ha, or quinalphos 25 EC @ 1.5 lit/ha.

Gram pod borer: Helicoverpa armigera

Symptoms

The juvenile larvae feed on the green pigment chlorophyll and skeletonize young leaves. Initially, they feed voraciously on the foliage, which may defoliate the plant, and later on, they graze on flowers and pods.

Management

Avoid soybean planting during pre-monsoon
Install pheromone traps at a distance of 50 m at a rate of 5 traps/ha
After 100 days of soybean planting, clip terminal shoots.
Setting up light traps (1 light trap per acre) to control the moth population.
Dust with chlorpyriphos 1.5% DP, fenvalerate 0.4%, or quinalphos 1.5% at the rate of 25 to 30 kg/ha.
Spray with 1.5% DP chlorpyriphos at 1200 ml/ha or Quinalphos 25 EC at 1.0 lit/ha.

Diseases of soybean

Anthracnose/pod blight: Colletotrichum truncatum

Symptoms

Infected seeds shrivel, can see growth of mold, later turn to brown. On cotyledons, symptoms manifest as dark brown with sunken cankers. Initially, irregular brown lesions form on the leaves, stems, and pods. In advanced stages, the afflicted tissues are covered in black fungus fruiting structures. Veinal necrosis, leaf rolling, cankers on petioles, and premature defoliation are indications of high humidity on leaves.

Management

Clean plough the field soon after the harvest to eliminate all plant residue.
Remove the diseased stubble from the previous year.
Seed treatment with Thiram, Captan, or Carbendazim at 3 g/kg, and spray with Mancozeb at 2.5 g/l or Carbendazim at 1 g/l.

Charcoal rot, ashy or stem blight or dry root rot: Macrophomina phaseolina

Symptoms

This disease occurs when plants become vulnerable to moisture stress, nematode infestation, soil compaction, or nutrient deficits. It is the most common basal stem and root disease of soybean. Lower leaves turn into chlorotic, and wilting and drying are evident. Grayish discoloration of infected tissues, Because the sclerotia resemble a black powdery mass, the disease is known as charcoal rot. The most common sign is root blackening and cracking. In dry conditions, the fungus lives in soil and crop detritus. The disease thrives in dry conditions with inadequate moisture and nutrients and temperatures ranging from 25o C to 35o C.

Management

Remove previous year infected stubble.
Before sowing, treat the seeds with Trichoderma viride at 4g/kg, Pseudomonas fluorescens at 10g/kg, or carbendazim or thiram at 2g/kg.
Drenching the infected spot with Carbendazim 1g/lit or P. fluorescens / T. viride 2.5 kg/ha with 50 kg FYM.

Collar rot / Sclerotial blight: Sclerotium rolfsii.

Symptoms

Usually, an infection starts at or just below the soil’s surface. The initial sign is sudden yellowing or withering of plants. Light brown lesions grow larger and quickly turn darker till they encircle the hypocotyl or stem. Brown and dried leaves frequently adhere to dead stems. On infected plant material, several round, tan to brown sclerotia are formed.

Management

Treatment of seeds with Trichoderma viride at 4g/kg, Pseudomonas fluorescens at 10 g/kg, carbendazim, or thiram at 2 g/kg.
Carbendazim 1g/lit or Pseudomonas fluorescens/Trichoderma viride 2.5 kg/ha with 50 kg FYM should be applied as a spot drenching.

Frogeye leaf spot: Cercospora sojina

Symptoms

Frogeye leaf spot is caused by the fungus Cercospora sojina. Frogeye leaf spot can cause significant yield loss when widespread within a field. Leaf lesions are small, irregular to circular in shape, and gray with reddish-brown borders. Most commonly occurring on the upper leaf surface, lesions start as dark, water-soaked spots that vary in size. As lesions age, the central area becomes gray to light brown with dark, red-brown margins. In severe cases, disease can cause premature leaf drop and will spread to stems and pods.

Management

Completely remove plant residue by cleanly ploughing the field soon after harvest.
Seed treatment with Thiram + Carbendazim (1:1) @ 2g/kg seed.
Spray Mancozeb @ 2g/L or Carbenzadium (500 mg/L).

Harvesting & Threshing

Soybean will be harvested at the proper stage using the standard procedure as per Package of practices for Soybean. The beans contain 45-55% moisture when mature (filled) and start dropping their leaves. When the plants reach maturity, the leaves turn yellow and drop and soybean pods dry out quickly. There is a rapid loss of moisture from the seed. At harvest the moisture content of the seeds should be 15 per cent. Harvesting can be done by hand, breaking the stalks on the ground level or with sickle. Threshing can be done either with the mechanical soybean thresher or some conventional methods used in other legumes. Threshing should be done carefully and any kind of severe beating or trampling may damage the seed coat and thus reduce the seed quality and viability. A moisture content of 13 to 14 percent is ideal for threshing with thresher

Yield

After following a proper package of practice of soybean we can get the yield upto 25-30 qt/ha under irrigation condition and 15-20 qt/ha under rainfed condition.

Empowering Farmers, Ensuring Food Security: FCI’s Storage Triumph

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February 28, 2024

Empowering Farmers, Ensuring Food Security: FCI's Storage Triumph

Ensuring food security for our nation is a top priority, and it all starts with proper storage of food grains. As of July 1, 2023, the Food Corporation of India (FCI) has taken substantial measures to enhance its storage capacity, with a network of 1,923 warehouses across the country. These warehouses, both owned and hired, boast an impressive capacity of 371.93 LMT for the storage of central pool food grains. We understand the significance of this information for farmers like you, and that’s why we bring you a comprehensive overview of the FCI’s storage capacity and how it impacts food procurement, buffer norms, and the Public Distribution System (PDS) operations for rice and wheat.

Overview

The Food Corporation of India’s storage capacity is a critical aspect of ensuring food security and smooth distribution of food grains across the nation. This capacity is assessed based on the level of procurement, buffer norms, and the requirements of the National Food Security Act (NFSA) and Other Welfare Schemes (OWS) in different states. To bridge any storage gaps, the FCI undertakes various schemes, including the Private Entrepreneurs Guarantee (PEG) Scheme, Central Sector Scheme (CSS), construction of SILOs under PPP mode, and hiring of godowns from different agencies. These efforts aim to create sufficient storage facilities and facilitate the efficient distribution of food grains.

Key Points

Storage Gap Assessment: The requirement of storage capacity in FCI is closely linked to the level of food grain procurement, buffer norms, and PDS operations for rice and wheat. To determine storage gaps, FCI analyzes the highest stock levels in the past three years in procuring states and the four-month (six months for specific regions) requirements under NFSA and OWS in consuming states.
Creating Storage Capacities: To address the storage gap, FCI implements several schemes, such as the Private Entrepreneurs Guarantee (PEG) Scheme, where investors are granted a one-year timeframe, starting from the issuance of the letter of memorandum (LoM), to complete the construction of the godown. Additionally, the Central Sector Scheme (CSS) aims to complete ongoing projects by March 2025.
SILO Development: The FCI is actively involved in constructing SILOs under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode. The development timeline for these SILOs includes 270 days for fulfilling condition precedents (CPs) and 18 months for construction.
Hiring from Central and State Agencies: FCI also hires godowns from Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC), State Warehousing Corporation (SWCs), and other state agencies to augment storage capacity promptly.
Private Warehousing Scheme (PWS): Under this scheme, FCI hires additional godowns from private warehousing service providers to efficiently manage the storage of foodgrains.

State-wise Storage Capacity

Let’s take a look at the state-wise covered storage capacity as of July 1, 2023:

East Zone: Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal, and Sikkim have a total storage capacity of 30.139 LMT, with Bihar leading the pack with 10.621 LMT.
North East Zone: This zone, comprising states like Assam, Tripura, and Manipur, has a storage capacity of 8.259 LMT, with Assam having 5.483 LMT.
North Zone: States like Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan account for a substantial storage capacity of 237.853 LMT out of the total 371.937 LMT.
South Zone: With a combined storage capacity of 50.333 LMT, states like Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana play a crucial role in ensuring food security.
West Zone: Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Chhattisgarh contribute significantly to the overall storage capacity of 45.352 LMT.

Conclusion

The Food Corporation of India’s extensive efforts to expand its storage capacity through various schemes and partnerships are instrumental in safeguarding our nation’s food security. With 1,923 warehouses boasting a total capacity of 371.93 LMT, the FCI is better equipped to manage food grain storage and distribution efficiently. As farmers, your collaboration in this endeavor is crucial, and together, we can ensure a resilient and well-fed nation. Let’s continue working towards a brighter and more secure future for all.

Cultivating Equality: Empowering Women in Agri-Food Systems

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February 21, 2024

Cultivating Equality: Empowering Women in Agri-Food Systems

Strengthening women’s empowerment and leadership in agri-food systems is now recognized as a vital imperative to enhance agricultural productivity, bolster food security, improve nutrition, and fortify resilience against the impacts of climate change. The findings of the international gender conference, “From research to impact: Towards just and resilient agri-food systems”, held in New Delhi from 9th to 12th October 2023, underscored the significance of women’s active participation. Hosted by the CGIAR GENDER Impact Platform and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), this conference brought together global experts and researchers to champion gender equity in agriculture. This mission gains even more momentum following the G20 Summit’s commitment to advancing women-led development in the domains of food security, nutrition, and climate action.

Overview

The conference was a dynamic forum for the exchange of ideas, research-based evidence, and innovative strategies aimed at promoting women’s roles and influence in agri-food systems. The key takeaways from the conference revolve around the intentional design of agricultural programs, projects, and policies to empower women, with the understanding that this approach yields multifaceted benefits. Increased agricultural productivity, improved nutrition, diversified diets, enhanced food security, and superior climate resilience are some of the positive outcomes. The conference highlighted Farmer Producer Organisations and collective efforts as promising avenues to amplify women’s access to markets, resources, agency, and empowerment. Additionally, it emphasized the pivotal role of women’s leadership at all levels of innovation, decision-making, and policy formulation in fostering just and resilient agri-food systems.

Key Points

Women’s Empowerment Yields Better Outcomes: Research presented at the conference affirmed that empowering women through intentional agricultural programs and policies results in a win-win situation. It leads to higher agricultural productivity, improved child nutrition, diversified diets, enhanced food security, and increased resilience against climate change.
Role of Farmer Producer Organisations: The conference highlighted Farmer Producer Organisations and collective initiatives as a promising approach to empower women by enhancing their access to markets, resources, and decision-making capabilities. These entities play a critical role in boosting the agri-food ecosystem.
Women’s Leadership is Paramount: To achieve truly just and resilient agri-food systems, it is imperative to promote women’s leadership across the board. This includes encouraging women to take active roles in innovation, decision-making, and policy formulation. Gender inclusivity is the key to success.
G20 Prioritizes Women-Led Development: Following the G20 Summit, leaders have identified four priority areas: investments in food security and nutrition, climate-smart approaches, inclusive agricultural value chains, and digitalization for agricultural transformation. These priorities highlight the central role of women in shaping the future of agri-food systems.
Research-User Partnerships: A significant call to action arising from the conference is the need to strengthen partnerships between researchers and those who implement research findings. These partnerships are crucial for informing policy decisions and ensuring that research translates into real-world impact.
Multi-Stakeholder Engagement: The conference emphasized the importance of building strong partnerships between researchers, policymakers, and the private sector. Collaborative efforts are essential to harnessing the full potential of women’s involvement in agriculture.
International Collaboration: The four-day conference, featuring 4 plenary sessions, 54 parallel sessions, and 6 poster sessions, convened delegates from over 60 countries. This international collaboration allowed for diverse perspectives and insights on how gender-focused agricultural research can contribute to more resilient and just agri-food systems.
Future projections: Key development partners shared their perspectives on the path from research to impact. They highlighted the need for renewed focus on designing agricultural solutions that consider the specific needs and constraints of women smallholders. This collective effort to empower women in agriculture promises not only to enhance productivity and food security but also to build more equitable and resilient agri-food systems for the future. The international gender conference has set the stage for a more inclusive and sustainable agricultural future, where women’s empowerment and leadership take center stage.

Conclusion

The international gender conference held in New Delhi in October 2023 was a pivotal event that underscored the critical importance of strengthening women’s empowerment and leadership in agri-food systems. Moreover, the commitment of G20 leaders to advance women-led development in food security, nutrition, and climate action further underscores the global momentum in this direction. Key priorities identified, such as investments in food security, climate-smart approaches, inclusive agricultural value chains, and digitalization, reflect the central role of women in shaping the future of agri-food systems.

As we look to the future, it is evident that strengthening partnerships between researchers, policymakers, and the private sector, as well as international collaboration, will be paramount in realizing the full potential of women’s involvement in agriculture. This conference has set the stage for a more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agricultural landscape, where women’s empowerment and leadership are central to achieving just and prosperous agri-food systems for all. The seeds sown here will yield a harvest of progress in the years to come.

PDMC Scheme: Per Drop More Crop for Water Efficiency

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February 19, 2024