Impact of Integrated Crop Management on Production Potential of Green Gram Varieties IPM02-14 and MH-421 under Semi-arid Condition of (III-A Zone) Rajasthan

Green gram (Vigna radiata L.) is most important kharif pulse crop of India and also known by names viz., ‘Mung’, ‘Mungbean’ (Reddy, 2010). Rajasthan is green gram producing state along with Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka, Gujarat. Green gram was grown on 25.61 lakh hectares in Rajasthan in 2021-22 with a yield of 9.05 lakh tonnes and a productivity of 354 kg/ha (Commissionerate of Agriculture, Rajasthan-Jaipur, 2021-22). It is being cultivated during both the kharif and summer seasons. Green gram has ability to deposit atmospheric nitrogen and enrich soil with organic matters. It also helps in preventing soil erosion. Green gram yield potential is also relatively low due to the crop’s reliance on rainfed conditions and marginal areas, inadequate management approaches and inherent crop characteristics.
       
Front-line demonstrations (FLDs) serve as prominent tactics as farmers are often motivated by the concepts of “learning by doing” and “seeing is believing.” Frontline demonstrations presumably play an essential role in appropriate technology transmission and altering farmers’ scientific temperaments. The primary goal of FLD is to exhibit innovative crop cultivation techniques and plant health measures, as well as management approaches, to farmers from various agroclimatic zones.
       
In this context, KVK Chomu (Jaipur-1) under the technical guidance of ATARI-Jodhpur demonstrated a CFLDs on green gram along with improved crop management techniques that aim to show yield potential of variety and feasibility of farming technologies in that particular locality of selected villages as compare to existing local races of green gram and locally adopted cultivation practices.

The current investigation was laid out during Kharif 2021 and 2022 under rainfed conditions to increase green gram productivity by KVK Jaipur-1. In this study four villages namely Sundarpura, Bhaghawas, Gadoora and Chauru (Bloks Kishangardh Renwal and Phagi) selected for conducting green gram CFLD in Jaipur district of Rajasthan. Total number 125 demonstrations with and an area of 50 ha were conducted at farmers’ field during both the years. Each demonstration was 0.4 ha. Table 1 presents the current investigation on CFLDs and farmer practices (FP). The selected villages soils ranged from sandy loam to loamy sand texture. Rajasthan’s III A Zone package of practices was adopted by selected farmers for green gram production and necessary inputs were provided based on their needs. The varieties of green gram IPM02-14 were demonstrated under demonstration during Kharif 2021 and MH-421 in Kharif 2022.


       
Before accomplishing the CFLD, the gap and adaptability level were assessed. Farmers selection and skill development on green gram cultivation was imparted by organizing training at farmers’ fields.  KVK scientists made regular visits to demonstration sites and farmer fields. The farmer’s feedback was also recorded for future study improvements. Extension activities like as training, group meeting and field days were held in the selected villages.
       
The various variables given by Yadav et al., (2004) were employed for gap analysis and economic calculations. The parameters and formulas used for analysis are listed below.
 

Extension gap = Demonstration yield - Farmers’ practice yield

 

Technology gap = Potential yield - Demonstration yield

 
 

Seed yield
 
The results revealed (Table 2) that the productivity of Mungbean under CFLD ranged between 7.97 q/ha to 8.31 q/ha during Kharif 2021 and 2022 respectively as against a yield of 6.09 to 6.53 q/ha respectively, under farmers’ practice (FP). The yield increased 30.87% to 27.26 during both the years. The average yield of two years 8.14 q/ha recorded under demonstration and 6.31 q/ha in FP. The average yield increased 29.07 per cent over FP. Variances in yield observed throughout demonstration years were attributed to variances in weather conditions, differences in soil fertility status, occurrence of pest/diseases and inappropriate use of manures and fertilizers. High yielding cultivars, seed rate, line sowing, seed treatment with bio fertilizers, Integrated nutrient management (INM), Integrated weed management (IWM), and Integrated pest management (IPM) all contributed to the increase in yield with improved technology. The Similar results were also observed by Bamboriya et al., (2022); Meena et al., (2022); Yadav et al., (2023); Bharti et al., (2024).


 
Extension gap
 
The extension gap is a measure employed to find out yield discrepancies between shown technology and FP, as shown in Table 2. The extension gap exhibited a growing tendency since the variety and potential yield are different. The extension gap ranging from 1.88 to 1.78 q/ha during Kharif 2021 and 2022 respectively. The highest extension gap was reported 1.88 q/ha during 2021 and lowest extension gap was recorded 1.78 q/ha during 2022.  Average extension gap was 1.83 q/ha in present investigation. Adoption of better technology, particularly improved varieties with bumper yield, line sowing, INM, IWM, and adequate IPM tactics in experiments may account for this performance. Similar findings recorded by Meena and Singh (2017), Meena et al., (2022) and Hooda and Rani (2024).
 
Technology gap
 
The technology gap was ranged from 2.03 q/ha to 3.69 q/ha in 2021 and 2022. The maximum technology gap was 3.69 q/ha recorded in 2022. The minimum technology gap was 2.03 q/ha recorded in 2021. An average technology gap of 2.86 q/ha was recorded between the demonstration and potential yield. The reason of this divergence in technological gap may be due to weather parameters and soil fertility. These findings same with the findings of Meena and Singh (2017); Meena et al., (2022) and Yadav et al., (2023).
 
Technology index
 
The demonstrations’ technology index aligned with the technological gap. The technology’s viability in the farmer’s field is shown by the Technology Index. Inadequate transfer of established technology to growers and a lack of extension services for technology transfer were reflected in the higher technology index. Variation in the technology index was ranged from 20.30% to 30.75% during Kharif 2021 and 2022. The highest technology index percent was recorded (30.75%)  in 2022 and the lowest technology index percent was recorded (20.30%) in 2021. On an average technology index percent was 25.53% in the two years of demonstrations. These results were in conformity with findings of Meena and Singh (2017); Bamboriya et al., (2022) and Garg and Singh (2023).
 
Economics
 
Economics of experiment was calculated by employing cost of each particulars used in respective demonstration year (Table 3). Green gram production’s economic analysis showed that the average cultivation cost rose in demonstration practice (₹ 16,350/ha) compared to FP (₹ 14,700/ha). In comparison to farmer practices, it was shown that CFLD produced greater net returns (₹ 44,863/ha) and gross returns (₹ 61,213/ha). Additionally, the demonstration plot’s average B:C ratio (3.75) was higher than the farmers’ practice (3.23). The maximum gross return (₹ 57,982/ha  and 64,444/ha), net return (₹ 42.482/ha and 47,244/ha) and B:C ratio (3.74 and 3.75) under CFLD during Kharif 2021 and 2022. The minimum gross return (₹ 44,305/ha and 50,640/ha), net return (₹ 30,605/ha and 34,940/ha) and B:C ratio (3.23 and 3.22) under farmer practices during Kharif 2021 and 2022. It was clearly demonstrated that the demonstration of green gram with the entire package was superior to FP. Higher profits from demonstrations could be attributed to better technology such as improved variety with high yield potential, INM, IWM, plant health techniques, non-monetary variables, crop cultivation activities that are completed on schedule, and scientific monitoring. The result confirmed the similar findings of Bamboriya et al., (2022); Singh et al., (2022); Yadav et al., (2023); Garg and Singh (2023) and Bharti et al., (2024).

In accordance to the findings of the two-year CFLD on green gram crops, the use of ICM techniques in conjunction with enhanced yield-increasing varieties IPM 02-14 and MH-421 outperformed farmer approaches in every demonstration. The successful execution of front-line demonstration and other extension operations viz., training, field visits and field days in farmers’ fields, may help achieve the horizontal dissemination of improved technologies that is required.

The authors express their gratitude to the Director of ICAR-ATARI, Zone-II, Jodhpur, for providing funding to carry out this green gram crop cluster frontline demonstration.

All authors declared that there is no conflict of interest.