Coordinated ICAR Schemes

	AICRP on Dryland Agriculture
	AICRP on ORP Dryland
	AIRP on Agro-forestry
	AIRP on Agro-Meteorology
	AIRP on Tuber crops
	AIRP on Weed control
	AIRP on cropping system research including ECF schemes
	AIRP on F.I.M.
	AIRP on Microbiological Decomposition of Organic Matter
	AIRP on Rice Improvement
	AIRP on Wheat Improvement
	AIRP on Pulses Improvement
	AIRP on Forage crops
	AIRP on Small Millets
	AIRP on UU & UEP
	AIRP on Soybean
	AIRP on Linseed
	AIRP on Sesame & Niger
	AIRP on Rapeseed – Mustard
	AIRP on L.T.F.

1.Adhoc Projects

	Bilogical control of Web blight of Urd & Mung been through fungal antagonists in plateau region.
	Pharmacokinetic studies of Fluoriquinolones in afebrile goats.
	Utilization of indigenous phosphate rocks by partial acidulation and other amendments.
	Isolation of efficient acid tolerant Rhizobial strains for cultivated grain Legumens in Alfisols of Chotanagpur region.
	Exploitation of Minor vegetables of plateau region of Chotanagpur.
	Studies on reproductive performance in prepubertal gilts.
	Central sector scheme for development of Medicinal and Aromatic plant.
	Central sector scheme for training programme under the scheme of Human Resources Development.

2.Other collaborative Projects

	KRIBHCO-BAU collaborative Research project on Rice & Maize.
	KRIBHCO-BAU collaborative project on micro-irrigation.
	KRIBHCO-BAU collaborative Research Project on Micro Watershed RNR sustainability through integrated plant nutrient management practices in rainfed farming system.
	P.P.I.C. Project
	Agro-Advisory Service (NCMRWF).
	B.P.D.P. units Goat, Pig, Breeder Seed, Non-seed, Tissue culture, Mushroom, Floriculture, Vegetable & fruit plants and micronutrient analysis.
	Sulphur Fertilization in Vegetable crops through sulpher’95.

3.  Non – Plan Scheme

4. Plan Scheme

5. N.A.T.P.

A.  FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE 

Plant Breeding and Genetics

Crop varieties released/recommended           

Sl.No.	Crop	Released	Recommended
i.	Rice	Birsa Dhan 101	IR-36
		Birsa Gora 102	Rasi (IET-1444)
		Birsa Dhan 103	Rajendra Dhan-202
		Birsa Dhan 104
		Birsa Dhan 105
		Birsa Dhan 106
		Birsa Dhan 107
		Birsa Dhan 201
		Birsa Dhan 202
ii.	Maize	Suwan Composite-1	Decan Hyb.
		Birsa Makai-1(Barsha)	Pusa Hybrid-1
iii.	Urd	Birsa Urd-1	T-9, PU-19
iv.	Moong	Sunaina	Pant Moong-2
v.	Arhar	Birsa Arhar-1	BR-65
vi.	Kulthi	Birsa Kulthi-1
vii.	Niger	Birsa Niger-1	N-5
viii.	Littl millet	Birsa Gundli-1	V-15, V-17
ix	Finge millet	Birsa Marua-2	N-5
ix	Finger millet	Birsa Marua-2	N-5
x	Groundnut	Birsa Bold (BAU-13)BG-1 BG-2 BG-3 GG-2	TG-22 AK 12-24 JL-24 (Phule Pragati)
xi	Soybean	Birsa Soybean-1	Bragg, JS 80-21
xii	Toria	BR-23	T-9
xiii	Mustard		Varuna (Rai) Pusa Bold BR-40
xiv	Gram		Pant-G-114 BG-254
xiv	Wheat		C-306, K-9107 HP-1744, HP-176, HB-2643, HP-1731 HP-1633
xvi	Lenseed		T-397, Subhra, Sweta
xvii	Lentil		BR-25, Pant L-406

Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry

Technology generated for Soil Management and Nutrient use

Delineation of soils deficient in plant nutrients

Amelioration of soil acidity.

It is estimated that about 16 lakh hectares of land mostly upland and medium lands of Bihar Plateau which have problems of soil acidity. Liming to neutralize soil acidity is recommended for higher  crop yields especially of pulses and oilseeds. Technique of lime application developed is as follows:

When the land is ready for line sowing, the furrows are opened at the recommended distance from row to row for a particular crop. Powdered lime calculated @ 3 or 4 quintals/ha (4 q/ha for high lime responsive crops and 3q for medium responsive crops) for the desired area of land is applied in the opened furrow. It is mixed with soil by feet of the farmer and then recommended dose of fertilizers is applied and mixed with soil. Seeds are then sown and covered with soil.

Rock phosphate as source of phosphorus in acid soils

Acid soils of Bihar plateau are deficient in available phosphorus. Fixation of added phosphorus ranges from 46 to 80 per cent. Use of rock phosphates in acid soils is recommended. Techniques of rock phosphate application in acidic soils as source of phosphorus for crops are:

Apply rock phosphate by broadcast method at the time of final preparation of land for sowing. The dose should be 2.5 times of the recommended dose for phosphate.

or

Apply mixture of rock phosphate and single super phosphate in furrows at the time of sowing so that 2/3rd of the recommended dose or phosphate is supplied by rock phosphate and 1/3rd by super phosphate.

or

Apply broadcast the recommended dose of phosphate as rock phosphate at 20-25 days before sowing provided that sufficient moisture is available  in the soil or where compost/FYM has been applied.

 

 

Critical level of plant nutrients

Critical level of secondary and micronutrients for soils of Bihar plateau have been established for several crops.

  Nutrient                       Extract                                           Critical limit
                                                                     Soil (mg kg)                        (Plant (%)

  Sulphur                      0.15% CaCl2          7.3 to 9

                                      Ca(H2 PO2) 2         15.5 to 18.6                 0.21 to 0.24

  Boron                         Hot water                  0.46                                         -

  Molybdenum              Ammon.oxalate      0.25                                         -

 

Integrated plant nutrient management

Long term fertilizer experiments in soils of Bihar plateau with soybean, maize and wheat have shown that lime + recommended NPK use and FYM + recommended NPK use can sustain 60 per cent of potential yield in these crops as compared to 40 per cent in only NPK treated soils. Imbalanced use of N(-PK) and NP(-K) resulted in drastic reduction in crop yields with adverse effect on physical, chemical and biological fertility of acid soil.

Technique of phosphocompost/enriched compost preparation

Compost with higher nutrient content can be prepared by the use of some microbial inoculants such as Trichurus spiralis, paecilomyces fusisporus, Aspergillus awamori and Azotobacter chroococcum and rock phosphate (1 to 5%) in the compost pits. A technique of compost preparation from rice straw, water hyacinth, weeds etc. have been developed using the above inoculants. These inoculants are available for large scale adoption by the farmers.

Rhizobium culture in pulses

The Department has excellent facility for production of one lakh packets (100 g) of lignite based Rhizobium culture per annum for inoculation in legumes. Rhizobium culture is being produced for different kharif and rabi pulses and supplied to State Governments, voluntary agencies and farmers. Inoculation of Rhizobium culture @ 0.5 kg/ha saves about 25 to 30 kg fertilizer N per hectare.

Blue green algae culture for rice

The Department is producing BGA cultures for inoculation in waterlogged rice soils. Use of 10 kg BGA per hectare in transplanted rice saves 30 kg fertilizer nitrogen per hectare. BGA culture produced by the Department is being supplied to State Government, Voluntary agencies and Farmers. Training of Agricultural Extension Officers and Farmers are organized to popularize the use of such cheap and alternate sources of plant nutrients.

Method of micronutrient and secondary nutrient application in crops

Source, level and method of application of boron, molybdenum and sulphur in crops have been perfected and recommended for large scale adoption. In sulphur deficient soils, application of 24 kg S ha-1 as phosphogypsum (16% S) or pyrites (20% S) for Mustard and Groundnut is recommended. In cauliflower, grown in Mo deficient soils, soil application of 1 to 1.5 kg Mo ha-1 (Ammonium or Sodium Molybdate) is useful. Foliar application of 0.1 per cent solution of Ammonium molybdate is effective. Boron deficient soils should be treated with 1.5 kg boron/ha (15 kg borax) especially in intensively vegetable growing areas.

Use of industrial wastes in agriculture

Research work on basic slag and flyash generated by steel industry reveals that basic slag is rich in (4 to 8% P2O5) and Ca (30-45% CaO). It is as efficient as CaCo3 in neutralizing soil acidity. Basic slag has high residuals value. During recent years, extensive field and laboratory studies have been undertaken with flyash in soybean, rice, wheat vegetable crops and tree species. Results show use of 8 to 16% (w/w) flyash in acid soils of Bihar is useful in increasing yield of field crops. Good growth of tree species was recorded with 20 to 50 per cent (w/w) flyash amended soil. However, adverse effect of flyash in vegetable crops like colocassia, okra, potato and tomato in terms of high heavy metal load was recorded.

AGRONOMY

Dryland Agronomy

	Contingency crop planning for kharif rainfed condition : On the basis of seven years experimentation, it was found that seeding on the 20th June is optimum for kharif crops and date of seeding may be extended upto the 30th June with slight reduction in yield. If there is forecast of drought or late arrival of monsoon, groundnut, pigeonpea and blackgram should be shown in place of rice (upland) and finger millet).
	Pigeonpea + Okra cropping system : An yield advantage of 34 per cent was obtained in pigeonpea + okra cropping system (1:1 or 1:2 row ratio was at par).
	Agronomic management of finger millet : Maximum finger millet yield (18.00 q/ha) was obtained by transplanting 25 days of old seedling.

Operational Research Project

	Pigeonpea based cropping system : Among different pigeonpea based intercropping systems tested at farmers’ field, pigeonpea + groundnut (1:2 row ratio) was found to be the best intercropping system with 16.96 q/ha pigeonpea yield equivalent.
	Nitrogen management in linseed : In rice-linseed cropping sequence (upland condition), the yield of linseed increased about two folds (5.83 q/ha) due to application of 20 kg N/ha to linseed as compared to control plot (3.13 q/ha).

Cropping Systems Research

	Production potential : Sequential cropping of groundnut/soybean-wheat and maize-potato have attracted the attention of farming community because of higher productivity and profitability. Similarly rice-wheat sequence with recommended dose of fertilizer and package of practices is being adopted on large scale by the farming community of Jharkhand State.
	Integrated nutrient management system : In maize-wheat sequence integration of 75 per cent N through chemical fertilizer and 25 per cent N through FYM to maize followed by 75 per cent recommended chemical fertilizer (NPK) to wheat produced higher grain yield without any shift in stability compared with 100 per cent chemical fertilizer NPK to the system or other integrated management system indicating a saving of 25 per cent chemical fertilizer NPK of wheat crop in the system.
	Long range effect of fertilization on soil fertility and yield stability of maize-wheat sequence : Balanced fertilization of NPK is essential to achieve higher productivity in maize-wheat system as 17 year of continuous application of nitrogen only made the land completely un-productive (Zero yield). Similarly phosphate application in absence of nitrogen is also not productive.
	Intercropping : Intercropping of maize + soybean with 100 per cent plant density 918 and 75 kg seed/ha respectively) and recommended dose of fertilizer to both the component crop (100, 50, 25 and 20, 40, 20 kg/ha NPK respectively) with normal planting pattern of maize (75 cm x 25 cm) with 2 row of soybean 30 cm apart in between maize rows was more productive and remunerative. Where in maize + blackgram intercropping system, 100 per cent plant density of both the crops (18 kg and 20 kg/ha) and 50 per cent fertilizer of black gram (10 and 20 kg/ha NP) applied separately to their respective rows produced as high maize yield as that of sole maize along with higher bonus yield of intercropped black gram indicating that 50 per cent fertilizer of black gram can be save without any significant reduction in production potential of the system.

Experiment on Cultivars Field

Sequence cropping systems under irrigated condition : Out of four cropping systems under upland irrigated condition (Rice-wheat, groundnut-wheat, soybean-wheat and maize-wheat), the system groundnut-wheat recorded the highest rice equivalent yield of 91.55 q/ha (50.56 q/ha from groundnut and 26.89 q/ha from wheat) and out yielded the rest three cropping sequences with 60 per cent increase in yield over rice-wheat, the most prominent sequence of the region.

Performance of crop varieties and their nutrient requirement under rainfed condition : In rice-chickpea cropping systems, the highest rice equivalent yield of 49.58 q/ha was recorded from complete package of practices in rice (IR-36 at N80P40K20 in 15 x 15cm transplanting under complete IPM) and chickpea (Plant G. 114 at N20P40 at 30cm spacing under complete IPM) and was superior to the rest of four treatments with 65 per cent in yield over local rice at N20P25 and chickpea without fertility.

Rice Agronomy

	Hybrid rice varieties HRI-129 and VRH-704 produced nearly the same grain yield (6.8 t/ha) and out yielded the local check IR-36 (5.08 t/ha) by 35 per cent yield increase. Average over varieties and seeding rates 20 g/m2 seed density out yielded other two seed densities (10 and 30 g/m2) with a margin of 0.6 t/ha. Similarly 2 seedling per hill found edge over single seedling per hill.
	Hybrid rice HRI-129 out yielded other test entries with a mean grain yield of 6.79 t/ha. The per cent yield increase over local check was 62, the variety HRI-129 recorded the maximum grain yield of 7.95 t/ha under N150+P80+K50 nutrient level.

Wheat Agronomy

	Zero tilled wheat production technique after transplanted rice : Under late sown conditions, zero tilled wheat cultivation technique was found more productive and remunerative (10.12%) than conventionally tilled wheat. This technique establishes wheat crop just after harvest of rice without loosing any valuable growing days using zero-till seed cum fertilizer drill in one operation. It also saves energy, time (at least 7 days) and cost for land preparation and rice-stubble management (Rs. 1800/ha).
	Surface seeded wheat production technique for wet lands after transplanted rice : The low land rice soil having excessive soil wetness and stickiness which does not permit tillage operation and seeding of winter crops, surface seeding can be employed successfully which does not require any farm machinery and power sources. In this technique, wheat is surface seeded on wet soil just after the rice harvest which favours plant establishment without loosing any valuable growing days. Success of this technique depends on the appropriate soil moisture management to utilize residual soil moisture efficiently.
	Wheat based intercropping : Intercropping of wheat + mustard (8:1 row ratio) gave bonus yield of 2.4 quintal of mustard/ha without any significant reduction in wheat yield as compared to wheat alone under adequate irrigation. However under limited irrigation (2) and fertilizer (60 kg N + 30 kg P2O5/ha), intercropping of wheat + mustard in 8:2 row ratio was more productive and remunerative. Similarly intercropping of wheat + lentil in 4:2 row ratio gave a bonus yield of 4.6 quintal lentil/ha without any significant reduction in wheat yield as compared to wheat alone.

Pulses Agronomy

	Sulphur management of urdbean : In the experiment ‘Effect of levels of sulphur and methods of its application on productivity of urdbean’ among levels of sulphur, maximum grain yield of urdbean (1095 kg/ha) was obtained at 40 kg/ha. Whereas, among methods of application, maximum grain yield (1182 kg/ha) was obtained at full basal application.
	Non-monetary input management of urdbean : Non-monetary inputs like improved genotypes, planting method, planting time (onset of monsoon) and timely weed control (3 weeks after sowing), substantially improved the productivity of urdbean. The mean increase in yield due to the inputs over traditional system was 66.1, 60.7, 106.2 and 67.6 per cent respectively.
	Agronomic management of kabuli chickpea : Kabuli chickpea was significantly influenced by sowing dates, phosphate levels and spacing. Maximum kabuli chickpea yield was obtained when sowing was done in the end of October with 60 kg P2O5/ha at 30cm x 10cm spacing.

Oilseed Agronomy

	Under yield maximization trial on linseed in rainfed condition, seed yield was significantly influenced by varieties, methods of sowing and also by the interaction. Variety T 397 produced the maximum seed yield (5.56 q/ha) being significantly higher than the rest of the varieties under test.
	To determine the production potential of niger with improved package of practices : Maximum seed yield of niger (36.0 kg/ha) was recorded under improved package of practices. Low seed yield was due to delayed sowing (4th October, 1998) and moisture stress during reproductive phase of the crop.

Forage Agronomy

	In acid soils of Jharkhand, lucerne forage production has achieved a new height. The application of 2-3 tonnes lime/ha and 5 tonnes compost/ha along with 4 kg. Boron and 0.5 kg Molybdenum/ha has been found to increase the forage yield of Lucerne from 7.0 tonnes/ha to 77.5 tonnes/ha i.e. 11 times more yield due to application of lime, boron and molybdenum.
	This technology has further produced about 300 kg of seed/ha which was even higher than Lucerne seed producing state of Gujrat.
	In watershed and eroded lands, sowing of Deenanath grass, signal grass and Guinea grass with Stylo was found to be sustainable to conserve soil and water on one hand and give substantial amount of fodder on the other.

Weed management

	Weed control in maize based intercropping system : Intercropping of maize with urd, groundnut, cowpea or ricebean did not decreased the grain yield of maize compared to sole cropping. Application of fluchloralin (1.0 kg/ha PPI) and oxyfluorfen (0.2 kg/ha PE) were found as good as two hand weeding (15 and 30 DAS) in controlling weeds in maize based intercropping system.
	Weed control in maize : Application of atrazin or pendimethalin @ 0.5 kg/ha followed by hand weeding 20 DAS increased the grain yield of maize by 25 per cent compared to thrice hand weeding  (29.2 q/ha).
	Weed control in low land rice : Application of azyfluorfen (0.15 kg) followed by hand weeding (40 DAS) in low land rice controlled dominant weeds like Schaemum rugosum (54/m2) and Hygrophila auriculata (46/m2) and gave maximum grain yield (39.8 q/ha).