Karnataka Journal of Agricultural Sciences 

About: Karnataka Journal of Agricultural Sciences is an academic journal. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Crop yield & Pest control. It has an ISSN identifier of 0972-1061. Over the lifetime, 1238 publications have been published receiving 8131 citations.

Interaction of micronutrients with major nutrients with special reference to potassium

Abstract: Potassium is an essential element for plant growth and is an extremely dynamic ion in plant and soil system. As an ion, potassium is highly mobile in the plant system but only moderately mobile in the soil system. Just like humans require a balanced diet with appropriate amounts of carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, minerals, fats and water, plants too require conditions of balanced nutrition. There is a pre-determined ratio of nutrients that is required by the plant system, depending on its life cycle, environment and its genotypic characteristics, to realize its maximum genetic potential. This ratio of elements is more critical than the actual concentration of the individual elements. Nutrient balancing in micronutrients is an important and yet more difficult than balancing between macronutrients. Synergistic and Antagonistic relationships between nutrients are responsible for efficient/inefficient uptake and utilization of potassium. This paper discusses the interrelationships between plant nutrients with a special reference to potassium and macronutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus, potassium and secondary nutrients like calcium, magnesium and sodium and finally potassium and micronutrients. The goal of this paper is to elucidate the complicated and still less understood relationships between essential nutrients so as to bridge the gap between potential yields and actual yields.

Influence of liquid organic manures on growth, nutrient content and yield of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) in the sterilized soil*

Abstract: An experiment was conducted at Main Agricultural Research Station, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad to study the influence of liquid organic manures viz., panchagavya, jeevamruth and beejamruth on the growth, nutrient content and yield of tomato in the sterilized soil during kharif 2009. The various types of organic solutions prepared from plant and animal origin are effective in the promotion of growth and fruiting in tomato. The Panchagavya is an efficient plant growth stimulant that enhances the biological efficiency of crops. It is used to activate biological reactions in the soil and to protect the plants from disease incidence. Jeevamruth promotes immense biological activity in soil and enhance nutrient availability to crop. Beejamruth protect the crop from soil borne and seed borne pathogens and also improves seed germination. In the present study, significantly highest plant growth and root length was recorded with the application of RDF + Beejamruth + Jeevamruth + Panchagavya and it was found to be significantly superior over other treatments. The application of Beejamruth + Jeevamruth + Panchagavya was next best treatment and resulted in significantly highest yield as compared to RDF alone. The N, P and K concentration of plants was significantly highest in the treatment given RDF + Beejamruth + Jeevamruth + Panchagavya.

Beejamrutha: a source for beneficial bacteria.

Abstract: Use of Beejamrutha, a mix of cow dung, cow urine, water, lime and a handful of soil has been given importance in sustainable agriculture since age old days. It is also one such organic product helpful for the plant growth. The beneficial microorganisms present in beejamrutha are known to protect the crop from harmful soil-borne and seed-borne pathogens. Bacteria were isolated from beejamrutha and tested for their beneficial traits. These isolates were capable of N2-fixation, Psolubilization and IAA, GA production in addition to suppression of Sclerotium. Among the free living N2-fixers, isolate AzB2 registered highest amount of N2 fixation (13.71 mg/g carbon source utilized) where as BPS3 released maximum amount of Pi (8.15 per cent) among phosphate solubilizing bacteria isolated from beejamrutha. The isolate BJ5 was found to produce highest amount of IAA (11.36 µg/25ml) and GA (3.13µg/25ml). Inoculation of the bacterial isolates from beejamrutha also resulted in improvement in seed germination, seedling length and seed vigour in soybean. Among the treatments, seeds inoculated with BJ5 has registered significantly higher seedling length and seedling vigour index while the seedling length and seedling vigour index was markedly lowest in control.

Conservation agriculture in cereal systems of south Asia: Nutrient management perspectives

Abstract: In past, green revolution has paid dividends through impressive agricultural growth, which helped to keep balance between demand and supply in the past four decades. But, the real challenges have surfaced in the recent years with everincreasing food demand due to burgeoning populations, degradation of natural resources and changing climatic conditions. The current food crisis witnessed a dramatic increase in world food prices, causing political and economical instability and social unrest in both poor and developed nations. Further, cereal crops (rice, wheat and maize) grown in different sequences, contribute bulk of the food in south Asia wherein production growth both in terms of grain and residue has slowed. Annual yield growth rates in rice and wheat were two to three times higher during 1966-94 than during 1995-2005. The challenges are further exacerbated with the sharp rise in the cost of food and energy, depleting water resources, vulnerability of soil to degradation and desertification & loss of biodiversity. In the last five decades in India nutrient use has increased by 1573%, total food grain production by 145% with an increase in area of just 3.5% and average yield increase of 125%. Therefore, the input use efficiency is decreasing at a fast pace, posing a threat of food insecurity and rapidly engulfing poor and underprivileged population. Conservation agriculture based management practices has proved to produce more at less costs, reduce environmental pollution, promote conjunctive use of organics (avoids residue burning), improve soil health and promotes timely planting of crops to address issues of terminal heat stresses in the region. Thus, for addressing the issues of resource fatigue and bridging ‘management yield gaps’, Conservation agriculture based management solutions are cornerstone. However, shift from conventional plow based farming practices to crop management practices based on key elements of conservation agriculture (minimal soil disturbance, surface retention of crop residues & efficient crop rotations) have varied nutrient dynamics and hence, the nutrient management perspectives. In this paper, we have made efforts to synthesize the information available in relation to nutrient management perspectives in conservation agriculture.