A research examination of agronomic techniques

Introduction

Agriculture is crucial to India's economy, providing as its backbone. Agriculture provides a direct source of income for around 65% of the Indian population. Thus, agricultural education is an important instrument for increasing production while also maintaining sustainability, ecological balance, technological viability, job stability, and equitable resource allocation. Punjab's contribution to making India self-sufficient in food production is highly recognized. In crop production, every farmer aims to maximize yield per unit of land. High yields rely greatly on effective crop management techniques, often known as cultural practices [1, 2]. Cultural practices include all operations carried out on the farm, from the start of the growing season until its conclusion [3] . Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) are defined as "those Ensure the environmental, economic, and social sustainability of on-farm processes, resulting in safe, highquality agricultural and non-agricultural products (FAO CAOG 2003 GAP Paper). Farmers' agronomic approaches reflect their expertise and practical experience in farming.

Objectives

 To investigate the farming practices used by the surveyed farmers.  To determine the respondents' comprehension of the recommended amounts of pesticides, fertilizers, and seeds.

Methodology

The research was conducted in three villages: Dhianpura, Kakrali, Dhangrali, Dhanouri and Khairpur. To gather information, an extensive survey was conducted. This entailed visiting houses to collect data and addressing their concerns through conversational inquiry. A standardized questionnaire was created to collect data, and it served as the framework for the interviews. The study entailed analyzing each field's inputs and comparing them to scientific concepts and conventional procedures. Every item in the questionnaire was answered as completely as feasible on a daily basis. A total of 120 people were questioned and data was collected. A total of 120 people were surveyed, including 30 in Dhianpura village, 35 in Kakrali, 25 in Dhangrali, 20 in Khairpur and 10 in Dhanouri. Throughout the study, land use and cropping patterns were predominantly centered on two crops: wheat and rice. Other crops, such as sugarcane, vegetables, and fodder, took up substantially less space.

Results and Discussions

A research examined the agronomic techniques of 120 farmers in three Indian villages, Dhianpura, Kakrali, Dhangrali, Dhanouri and Khairpur, to optimize agricultural production. Agriculture is critical for maintaining livelihoods, since it supports 58% of the population. Crops planted were wheat, Rice, Maize, mustard, sugarcane, maize, berseem, Farmers' information included seed application rates, fertilizer dosages, seed treatment methods, irrigation frequency, organic manure application, pest and disease control chemicals, and crop yield range. The data demonstrated a wide range of agronomic approaches for achieving optimal crop growth and output. Farmers attempted to mix modern agricultural inputs with traditional knowledge while responding to environmental circumstances and market demands in order to improve sustainability and profitability. The study emphasizes the necessity of deliberate agronomic interventions in generating improved yields, which contribute to economic stability and the overall agriculture industry in India. Barseem is grown by 20% of farmers in Dhangrali alone, while mustard is cultivated in lesser quantities, averaging 11.6%

The table shows the proportion of farmers adhering to recommended and non-recommended agricultural input dosages in five villages: Dhianpura, Kakrali, Dhangrali, Khairpur, and Dhanuri. On average, 69% of farmers adhere to the required dose, with the highest adherence in Dhangrali (80%) and the lowest in Khairpur (60%). In Dhianpura, 67% of farmers use the prescribed dose, followed by 71% in Kakrali and 70% in Dhanuri.

In contrast, 31% of farmers do not take the prescribed dosages. Khairpur has the largest proportion of non-recommended dosage consumption (40%), while Dhangrali has the lowest (20%). Dhianpura has 33% of farmers that use non-recommended dosages, followed by Kakrali (29%), and Dhanuri (30%). In Dhianpura, 56% of farmers used the required quantity of urea, 26% used less, and 18% used more. Similarly, in Kakrali, 57% of farmers used the appropriate dose, 29% used less, and 14% used more than the recommended amount. Dhangrali has the largest percentage of farmers applying the recommended dose (68%), with 20% applying less and 12% exceeding it.

In Khairpur, 60% of farmers used the required quantity of urea, 25% used less, and 15% applied more. Dhanuri also 60% of farmers used the suggested dose, with 30% using less and 10% applying more. www.extensionjournal.com

Table 5 shows the doses of Muriate of Potash (MOP) administered by farmers in various villages. It divides farmers into two groups according on how much MOP they used: those who applied the recommended amount and those who applied less. This data gives a critical overview of adherence to approved fertilizer methods, assisting in identifying any variations in MOP usage that may influence crop output and soil health. By examining this data, we may identify areas where fertilizer management might be improved.

Fig 3:

Farmers were divided into three groups based on how much urea they used: those who applied the recommended dose, those who applied less, and those who applied more. The survey discovered that 38% of farmers in Dhianpura, Kakrali, and Dhanuri used the appropriate amount of DAP, with 26% using less and 36% exceeding the permissible dose. This suggests that many farmers, particularly in some communities, use too much or too little DAP, potentially affecting crop output and soil fertility. According to the statistics, discrepancies in DAP application techniques may be generating these concerns. Farmers in Dhianpura, Kakrali, and Dhanuri were polled about their urea use, and 56% used the required dose, 26% used less, and 18% used more. The majority of farmers in these locations followed the prescribed dose (68%), with Dhangrali having the greatest proportion. Table 5 depicts the dosages of Muriate of Potash (MOP) administered by farmers in various villages. The poll also discovered that 38% of farmers used the recommended quantity of DAP, while 26% used less and 36% exceeded the allowable level.

The table displays information on Muriate of Potash (MOP)

applications in five villages: Dhianpura, Kakrali, Dhangrali, Khairpur, and Dhanuri. The majority of farmers, 82%, applied less than the prescribed dose in Dhianpura, 35% in Kakrali, 68% in Dhangrali, 44% in Khairpur, and 60% in Dhanuri. Overall, 34% of farmers used the prescribed dose, while 66% sprayed less. This shows a general tendency of under-application, which might have an influence on soil fertility and crop yields.

The table displays information on Muriate of Potash (MOP) applications in five villages:

Dhianpura, Kakrali, Dhangrali, Khairpur, and Dhanuri. The majority of farmers, 82%, applied less than the prescribed dose in Dhianpura, 35% in Kakrali, 68% in Dhangrali, 44% in Khairpur, and 60% in Dhanuri. Overall, 34% of farmers used the prescribed dose, while 66% sprayed less. This shows a general tendency of under-application, which might have an influence on soil fertility and crop yields. 3.9 Shows that the no of irrigation provided by the farmer. The table shows data on irrigation usage by farmers in five villages: Dhianpura, Kakrali, Dhangrali, Khairpur, and Dhanuri. The majority (78%) applied 3 to 6 irrigations, while 22% applied 1 to 3 irrigations. In Dhangrali, 90% applied 3 to 6 irrigations, while 10% applied 1 to 3 irrigations. In Khairpur, 12% used 1 to 3 irrigations, while 88% applied 3 to 6 irrigations. In Dhanuri, 15% used 1 to 3 irrigations, and 85% applied 3 to 6 irrigations. Overall, 89% of farmers used 1 to 3 irrigations. 3.10 shows that the seed trestment by the respondents. In Dhianpura, 68% of farmers utilized pre-treated seeds, while 32% treated them with fungicide. In Kakrali, 76% utilized pre-treated seeds, while 24% used fungicide.

Dhangrali had the largest percentage of farmers utilizing pre-treated seeds, whereas just 20% used fungicides. Khairpur has the largest percentage of farmers utilizing pretreated seeds (60%) and fungicides (40%). Table 3.11 data represtants the data of the major pest effected the crops. Significant differences in the presence of main pests were found when pest prevalence was analyzed across several villages. Green hoppers were particularly prevalent in Dhianpura, impacting 15% of crops, while Kakrali recorded an even greater infestation rate of 105%. In contrast, Dhangrali had a lower frequency of 7%, followed by Khairpur and Dhanuri, which reported infestations of 8% and 3%, respectively. Overall, the green hopper impacted around 8% of the crops examined. The leaf folder also posed a concern, with variable degrees of infestation across the settlements. Kakrali had a minor influence of 8%, whereas Dhangrali had 5%. In contrast, Khairpur saw a more severe infestation, with 15% of the crops impacted. Dhianpura and Dhanuri had infestations of 7% each, resulting in the total average is 9%. Table 3.14 Shows that the herbicide used by the respondents for the removal of the weed and on the other side the weeds are removal by the physical method also. The data on herbicide usage in agriculture shows varying levels of adoption. Nominee Gold has the highest usage rate at 87%, followed by Stomp 30EC at 80%. Arozin 18EC is used by 75% of farmers, while Novixid 3.25OD has a 70% usage rate. Topstar 80WP is the least popular herbicide at 60%, despite maintaining a significant share. These percentages show a diverse approach to herbicide application, with certain products leading in farmer preference and utilization. In the data table 3.16 shows the yield obtain in the paddy field by the farmers. In this the 28% farmers get the 10-15 qt and the rest farmers gets the 15-25 qt the paddy yield.

References

1. Adams DA, Nelson RA, Todd PA. Perceived usefulness, ease of use, and usage of information technology: A replication. MIS Quarterly. 1992;16(2):227-24.