Person: Kamboj, B.R.
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Kamboj
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Kamboj, B.R.
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- Can productivity and profitability be enhanced in intensively managed cereal systems while reducing the environmental footprint of production? Assessing sustainable intensification options in the breadbasket of India(Elsevier, 2018) Kumar, V.; Jat, H.S.; Sharma, P.C.; Singh, B.; Gathala, M.K.; Malik, R.; Kamboj, B.R.; Yadav, A.K.; Ladha, J.; Raman, A.K.; Sharma, D.K.; Mcdonald, A.In the most productive area of the Indo-Gangetic Plains in Northwest India where high yields of rice and wheat are commonplace, a medium-term cropping system trial was conducted in Haryana State. The goal of the study was to identify integrated management options for further improving productivity and profitability while rationalizing resource use and reducing environmental externalities (i.e., “sustainable intensification”, SI) by drawing on the principles of diversification, precision management, and conservation agriculture. Four scenarios were evaluated: Scenario 1 – “business-as-usual” [conventional puddled transplanted rice (PTR) followed by (fb) conventional-till wheat]; Scenario 2 – reduced tillage with opportunistic diversification and precision resource management [PTR fb zero-till (ZT) wheat fb ZT mungbean]; Scenario 3 – ZT for all crops with opportunistic diversification and precision resource management [ZT direct-seeded rice (ZT-DSR) fb ZT wheat fb ZT mungbean]; and Scenario 4 – ZT for all crops with strategic diversification and precision resource management [ZT maize fb ZT wheat fb ZT mungbean]. Results of this five-year study strongly suggest that, compared with business-as-usual practices, SI strategies that incorporate multi-objective yield, economic, and environmental criteria can be more productive when used in these production environments. For Scenarios 2, 3, and 4, system-level increases in productivity (10–17%) and profitability (24–50%) were observed while using less irrigation water (15–71% reduction) and energy (17–47% reduction), leading to 15–30% lower global warming potential (GWP), with the ranges reflecting the implications of specific innovations. Scenario 3, where early wheat sowing was combined with ZT along with no puddling during the rice phase, resulted in a 13% gain in wheat yield compared with Scenario 2. A similar gain in wheat yield was observed in Scenario 4 vis-à-vis Scenario 2. Compared to Scenario 1, wheat yields in Scenarios 3 and 4 were 15–17% higher, whereas, in Scenario 2, yield was either similar in normal years or higher in warmer years. During the rainy (kharif) season, ZT-DSR provided yields similar to or higher than those of PTR in the first three years and lower (11–30%) in Years 4 and 5, a result that provides a note of caution for interpreting technology performance through short-term trials or simply averaging results over several years. The resource use and economic and environmental advantages of DSR were more stable through time, including reductions in irrigation water (22–40%), production cost (11–17%), energy inputs (13–34%), and total GWP (14–32%). The integration of “best practices” in PTR in Scenario 2 resulted in reductions of 24% in irrigation water and 21% in GWP, with a positive impact on yield (0.9 t/ha) and profitability compared to conventional PTR, demonstrating the power of simple management changes to generate improved SI outcomes. When ZT maize was used as a diversification option instead of rice in Scenario 4, reductions in resource use jumped to 82–89% for irrigation water and 49–66% for energy inputs, with 13–40% lower GWP, similar or higher rice equivalent yield, and higher profitability (27–73%) in comparison to the rice-based scenarios. Despite these advantages, maize value chains are not robust in this part of India and public procurement is absent. Results do demonstrate that transformative opportunities exist to break the cycle of stagnating yields and inefficient resource use in the most productive cereal-based cropping systems of South Asia. However, these SI entry points need to be placed in the context of the major drivers of change in the region, including market conditions, risks, and declining labor availability, and matching with the needs and interests of different types of farmers.
Publication - Operational manual for multi-crop zero till planter(CIMMYT, 2012) Kapil; Kamboj, B.R.; Jat, M.L.; Kumar, Anil; Kumar, D.; Sidhu, H.S.; Gathala, M.K.; Saharawat, Y.S.; Kumar, A; Kumar, V.Multiple challenges associated with plough based conventional production practices that include deteriorating natural resources, declining factor productivity, shortages of water & labor and escalating costs of production inputs coupled with challenges of climate change both in irrigated intensive systems as well as low intensity rainfed ecologies are the major threat to food security of South Asia (Jat et al., 2009; Ladha et al., 2009; Chauhan et al., 2012). Water and labor scarcity and timeliness of farming operations specially planting under the emerging uncertainties are becoming major concerns of farming all across farmer typology, production systems and ecologies in the region (Chauhan et al., 2012). In many parts of Asia, over-exploitation and poor management of groundwater has led to declining table and negative environmental impacts. Conventional flooded rice receiving the largest amount of fresh water compared to any other crop is the major contributor to the problems of declining groundwater table ranging from 0.1–1.0 m year–1 and increasing energy use. The problem has further been intensified with the unavailability of labor in time, and multi-fold increase in labor costs. Fragmented land holdings and nucleus farm families further exacerbates the problem of availability of farm labour. Potential solutions to address these issues include a shift from intensive tillage based practices to conservation agriculture (reduced or no tillage) based crop establishment techniques (Saharawat et al., 2010; Jat et al., 2012; Gathala et al., 2011). Direct drilling (seeding/planting with zero tillage technology) is one such practice that potentialy addresses the issues of labor, energy, water, soil health etc (Malik et al., 2005; Gupta and Sayre, 2007; Jat et al., 2009; Ladha et al., 2009; Gathala et al., 2011). However, due to fragmented and small land holdings it is not affordable to purchase many machines for the sowing of different crops. Therefore, multi-crop planter have been invented and are being used by many farmers across South Asia. The same multi-crop planter available in the region can be used for direct drilling of several crops including wheat, rice, maize, moongbean, mustard, barley etc without any preparatory tillage and also under reduced tillage situations. One of the major constraints in large scale adoption of this technology as well as sub-optimal use of planters is the lack of skills/knowledge on operation and calibration of the machinery for multiple uses. There are different field/crop/situation specific adjustments needed before the use of the machine in the field. These adjustments include proper seeding depth, fertilizer rate and the seed rate etc as per the crop and field conditions to realize the potential benefits of the technology. There are several machinery manufacturers who supply these planters but the operational manuals are not available for making adjustments, calibrations for multiple purposes, multiple crops under local conditions. In absence of the manual guidelines/protocols for efficient use of these planters by the farmers, service providers, extension agents for different purposes and variable field conditions, many a times the desirable results are not achieved and even contradictory results are observed. This results in slowing down the adoption rates of the technology. Also, in absence of simple guidelines for maintenance of these planters, the farmers/service providers need to make huge investments on repairing at the start of the season. In this manual, we attempted to provide simple guidelines for calibration, operation, maintenance and troubleshooting for efficient use of multi-crop zero till planters by the range of stakeholders including farmers, service providers, extension agents and researchers.
Publication - Direct seeded rice technology in Western indo-gangetic plains of India: CSISA experiences(CSISA, 2012) Kamboj, B.R.; Kumar, A.; Bishnoi, D.K.; Singla, K.; Kumar, V.; Jat, M.L.; Chaudhary, N.; Jat, H.S.; Gosain, D.K.; Khippal, A.; Garg, R.; Lathwal, O.P.; Goyal, S.P.; Goyal, N.K.; Yadav, A.K.; Malik, D.S.; Mishra, A.; Bhatia, R.This bulletin summarizes the experiences of direct seeded rice (DSR) during CSISA, phase-I (2009-2011) as well as outcomes of a multi stakeholder travelling seminar on dry direct seeded rice (DSR) organized by Cereal Systems Initiative for South Asia (CSISA) Haryana Hub on 20th September 2011. About 70 stakeholders of CSISA Haryana hub including scientists from Central Soil Salinity Research Institute (CSSRI) and Krishi Vigyan Kendra’s (KVKs), officers from State Department of Agriculture, agriculture extension officers from private sector, members of Technical Working Group (TWG) of Haryana hub, local machine manufacturers, and participating farmers gathered together to share their experiences on DSR. The underlying objectives were to (i) visit on-farm and on-station trials on DSR in Karnal district of Haryana for participatory assessment and learning of performance and potentially of DSR, (ii) create awareness about DSR technology, (iii) facilitate interaction among different stakeholders who are engaged in developing, refining and out-scaling of DSR technology and share experiences, (iv) summarize and update technological package of DSR for Haryana, (v) identify constraints associated with DSR, and (vi) identify the future research needs. The travelling seminar was strategically structured into two parts; (i) visit farmer participatory DSR fields as well as on-station strategic research trials on DSR and (ii) a round table discussion by all stakeholders. During field visit, a total of three sites were covered, including one on-station site (CSISA Research Platform at CSSRI, Karnal) and two farmer’s participatory conservation agriculture (CA) modules established with innovative farmer cooperatives at village clusters of Taraori and Modipur of Karnal district. At CSISA Research Platform, performance of zero-till (ZT) DSR under double ZT systems was elucidated to the participants. In addition, trials on weed management and varietal screening for DSR conditions were briefed. At farmer participatory CA modules at Modipur & Taraori, participants were exposed to large scale demonstrations on DSR and adaptive research trials on different component technologies of DSR (varietal evaluation, weed management, water management and nutrient management) conducted through farmer cooperatives in collaboration with CSISA hub and partners. Based on large number of demonstrations on DSR using superfine varieties and hybrids of rice conducted in 8 hub districts across 3 years (2009-2011), it was verified that grain yield of DSR in comparison to puddled transplanted rice was either similar or higher with US$ 128-137/ha higher net profitability. Demonstration on DSR under double ZT system at village Taraori was also highly appreciated as the population of earthworms and vermicast was visible on the plot. All the participants were impressed with the performance of DSR and potential benefits it can endow on farmers like savings in labour, water (20-25%), and cost of cultivation. During round table discussion on DSR at CSSRI Karnal, Dr. D. K. Sharma (Director, CSSRI & TWG Chair, CSISA Haryana) highlighted the importance of DSR while elaborating the issues of declining water table due to over exploitation of groundwater, labour scarcity, escalating cost of cultivation and deteriorating soil health under current management practices of rice-wheat cropping system. CSISA Hub coordinator, Haryana) while sharing the joint experience of CSISA and partners on DSR in Haryana, presented the summary of the technological package of DSR for Northwestern IGP including Haryana for discussion and finalization of the recommendations of DSR package for large scale delivery. This was based on the outcomes of farmers’ participatory adaptation and demonstrations of DSR and its component technologies in Haryana in CSISA phase-I during past 3 years (2009-2011). Approaching the consensus, everyone confirmed that precise land levelling with laser land leveller, effective weed management, precise sowing depth and time of sowing are critical for the success of DSR. The DSR technology may also play vital role in recharge of groundwater and reduction in water runoff during heavy rainfall. Partners from public (KVK’s, ICAR, CCSHAU) and private sector (DevGen seeds, Bayer, HKB) shared their experiences on DSR and advocated its large scale promotion. Participating farmers also shared their experiences and found weed control being the most challenging task in DSR and thus achieving optimal weed control a route to its success. They experienced that pre and post-emergence herbicide application is important to manage weeds effectively in DSR. The issue of poor crop establishment due to sudden rainfall soon after sowing was also put up by some of the farmers. All participants very much convinced about DSR, pledged to make it a revolution in Haryana, and hence emphasized the access to literature on technology package for DSR. Finally, the participants suggested that to attain potential benefits of the DSR technology, further refinements of some of the component technologies for example varietal development for DSR, water management, nutrient management etc needs immediate efforts of the researchers.
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