From field to yield: Insights into agronomic practices of farmers in Punjab division

Introduction

Agriculture forms the backbone of the Indian economy and remains one of its most critical sectors. It serves as the main source of livelihood for nearly 58% of the population, with about 70% of rural households relying exclusively on it [1] . Over the past two decades, it has undergone rapid transformation due to globalization and liberalization policies, which have created new opportunities for growth. It is one of the most established and vital financial sectors in India. Development strategies vary across districts, but agriculture and its allied activities remain the largest source of employment, particularly in rural areas, while also serving as a key contributor to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) [2] . It also contributes around $400 billion to India's economy, second only to China in scale [3] . Punjab in particular, has played a pivotal role in strengthening India's food security, supported by skilled human resources and rapid advancements in agricultural science and technology. The availability of competent labor and collective efforts have enabled remarkable agricultural progress [4] . Traditionally, agriculture was practiced for subsistence, but with advancements in agronomic practices and the adoption of new technologies, it has evolved into a major income-generating activity. This transformation, however, has also brought socio-economic challenges and environmental concerns [5,6] . Agricultural technology is a cornerstone of sustainable food systems [5] . The Green Revolution is a prominent example, of how scale-independent technologies revolutionized productivity by increasing yields, reducing poverty, improving infrastructure, enhancing food availability, and lowering food prices [7] . Agronomic practices-which include all activities from seed sowing to harvesting and storage-are directly linked to crop productivity. Such practices have been fundamental in enhancing agricultural productivity in India and addressing concerns of food shortages due to population growth [8] . To achieve good harvests, farmers must adopt practices suited to the season and agro-climatic zone, as these vary regionally. Despite accounting for only a small share of the world's agricultural land, India ranks second globally in agricultural production, underscoring its key role in ensuring food security worldwide [2] . Punjab is divided into six agro-climatic zones, with SAS Nagar situated in the Undulating Plain Zone. This region experiences cold winters, humid to sub-humid and semi-arid to humid conditions, with annual rainfall ranging from 165 mm to 1000 mm. Its soils are well-suited for wheat, maize, rice, sorghum, berseem and vegetables [9] . Farmers in this region typically follow basic agronomic practices for cultivation. Such practices have been crucial in sustaining agricultural productivity in India and addressing concerns of population growth outpacing food production.

Objectives

The objectives of the study are:

• To examine how agronomic practices influence crop production. • To identify the common practices adopted by farmers in the study area.

• To analyze the agronomic methods followed by the respondent farmers. • To evaluate farmers' knowledge regarding the appropriate use of pesticides, fertilizers, and seeds.

Materials and Methods

The study was undertaken in the Kharar block of SAS Nagar district, Punjab, where SEVEN villages-Barauli, Dumcheri, Nogawan, Fatehpur Jatta, Gandhuan, Thablan, and Dholan Majra were selected. A total of 60 farmers were interviewed. From these, 8 respondents were from Barauli, 5 from Dumcheri, 9 from Nogawan, 8 from Fatehpur jatta, 12 from Gandhuan, 5 from Thablan and 13 from Dholan majra. Comprehensive interactions were held with the farmers to collect information on their socio-economic status and the agronomic practices they followed throughout the year.

Interviews were conducted both at the farmers' homes and in their fields. A well-structured questionnaire was designed to systematically assess each parameter and ensuring the coverage of all aspects of their farming operations. The data collected from the farmers were compiled, categorized and analyzed using appropriate statistical methods. Percentages, bar graphs, pie charts, and other visual tools were employed to present the findings in a clear and comprehensive manner.

Results and Discussion

Agronomic practices form the foundation of farming systems, as they aim to improve soil quality, optimize water usage, manage crops effectively, and contribute to environmental sustainability [8] . Through discussions with farmers from the villages of Barauli, Dumcheri, Nogawan, Fatehpur Jatta, Gandhuan, Thablan, and Dholan Majra in Punjab, information was gathered regarding the crops grown and the practices followed. The findings revealed that rice was the predominant crop during the Kharif season, while wheat dominated in the Rabi season. Some farmers also cultivated sorghum (chari) and berseem for fodder purposes. Additionally, maize, sugarcane and potato were also cultivated by the farmers.

Major Crops Grown by Farmers

The data revealed that wheat is cultivated by 88.04% of the farmers, while nearly 89.13% of the farmers grow rice in their fields. In addition to these two major crops, other crops such as potato & sugarcane are grown on a smaller scale in this region. Sorghum and berseem emerged as the predominant fodder crops, with approximately 92.34% of farmers cultivating sorghum and 78.26% cultivating berseem.

Rice Varieties Grown

Table 3 presents the adoption of different rice varieties by farmers in the study villages. Among these, Basmati 1121 is least adopted variety and was grown by 9 farmers only, with an overall percentage of 14.78%. On the other hand, PR-126 is the leading and most dominant variety of rice adopted by farmers with overall percentage of 49.13%. Wheat Varieties Grown Table 4 presents the adoption of different wheat varieties by farmers in the study villages. Among these, HD-2967 is least adopted variety and was grown by 10 farmers only, with an overall percentage of 16.52%. On the other hand, PBW-725 is the leading and most dominant variety of wheat adopted by farmers with overall percentage of 43.48%.

Other Crops varieties

In maize, both Ganga-5 and PMH-1 varieties are cultivated; however, PMH-1 is the predominantly adopted variety in the surveyed region, as reported by local farmers. Punjab Chari-1 is widely grown as the major fodder variety of sorghum. For sugarcane, CoJ 64 is the dominant variety under cultivation, while Kufri Jyoti and Kufri Bahar are the most commonly adopted potato varieties, according to field observations and regional cultivation records.

Time of Sowing

Source of Seed

Farmers primarily procured seeds either from local dealers or from cooperative agencies to meet their crop cultivation needs.

In addition to these formal sources, a portion of the farmers also rely on saved seeds from previous harvests for sowing in subsequent seasons. This practice of using both purchased and retained seeds reflects a combination of market dependence and traditional seed-saving strategies, ensuring seed availability while maintaining varietal continuity across seasons.

Method of Sowing

Seed Rate Followed by the Respondents

A large majority of farmers (71.30%) follow the recommended seed rate, while a smaller proportion (19.13%) apply seeds above the recommended level. Only a minor fraction of farmers (9.57%) sow below the recommended seed rate.

Seed Treatment

Seed treatment was not common among farmers, as many believed their purchased seeds were pre-treated or were hybrids. Although, Seed treatment practices varied across crops and farmers in the study area. In rice, most farmers used treated seeds, primarily with chemical fungicides such as Carbendazim, Captan, Thiram, or Bavistin at doses ranging from 2 to 3 g/kg seed. For wheat, all farmers applied treated seeds, mainly using Vitavax or Carbendazim at 2.5 g/kg seed. In maize, treated seeds were commonly used with fungicides like Metalaxyl + Mancozeb, Captan, or Thiram at doses of 2-3 g/kg. Sorghum (Chari) seed treatment was less consistent, with some farmers using chemical fungicides such as Thiram/Captan, while others applied organic treatments like Rhizobium culture, with doses of 2.5-3 g/kg seed. Sugarcane seed setts were occasionally treated with chemical fungicides or hot water + Bavistin treatments, with doses of 0.10-0.20% while, Potato seed tubers were treated chemically with Mancozeb at 2.5 g/kg seed. No seed treatment was reported for Berseem in the surveyed fields. Overall, the data indicate a predominant use of chemical seed treatments, particularly for rice, wheat, maize, and potato, reflecting the adoption of disease management practices to improve crop establishment and yield.

Insect and Pest Incidence

As shown in Table 12, insect and pest infestations were widespread. In paddy, 60% of farmers reported grasshoppers with the highest incidence (75%) in Gandhuan. In wheat, aphids were observed by 60% of farmers and termites by 28.03% with 69.23% of respondents from Dholan majra specifically noting yield losses due to aphid infestation. In maize, 28.3% reported mites and 50% stem borer. For sugarcane, 41.7% reported top shoot borer and 20% termites. In Potato, tuber moth (28.3%)was common.

Problems faced by farmers

Conclusion

From the findings, it is evident that farmers in this region cultivated a diverse range of crops including wheat, paddy, sugarcane, maize, sorghum, berseem & potato,. Among these, wheat and paddy are the major cereal crops, and sorghum is the leading fodder crop.

Farmers applied seed at the recommended rate in only 71.30% of cases, while many tended to use higher seed rates. About 80% of farmers used fungicide-treated seeds, and crops typically received 3-4 irrigations per season. Irrigation mainly relies on tube wells & canals. Fertilizer application was also generally above the recommended levels, except for MOP, as the soils already contained a surplus of potash. Fertilizer management, however, shows a marked imbalance, with farmers giving higher importance to nitrogen-and phosphorus-based fertilizers while paying less attention to potassium. Weed management was a major issue, The most problematic weed is Phalaris minor (Gulli danda), which mainly results from the absence of crop rotation. Farmers attempt to manage this weed through both manual practices and herbicide use. Disease occurrence is also significant, with sheath blight in rice (78%) and yellow rust in wheat (83%) being the most common. Farmers rely largely on chemical treatments for disease management. To manage these, almost all farmers relied on Nativo, while some also used mancozeb and propiconazole.

Additionally, Pest infestation by grasshoppers and aphids were identified as the major pests damaging rice and wheat.

Harvesting practices vary, with cereals like wheat and rice mostly harvested using combine harvesters, whereas crops such as maize, sugarcane, potato, sorghum and berseem are harvested manually. Yields are relatively good, ranged from 30 to 65 q/ha for wheat and paddy. To enhance farm productivity, profitability, and sustainability in this region, farmers are encouraged to adopt the diverse cropping systems, efficient water management, and soil-health-based nutrient application. Moreover, Water-saving practices such as the direct-seeded rice (DSR) method is recommended as it requires less water compared to traditional transplanting. [12] Crops like maize can be promoted as alternatives, as they serve food, fodder, and value-addition purposes (e.g., pickles), offering better income opportunities.

Another concern is the low adoption of soil testing, leading to unbalanced fertilizer use. Awareness of soil testing is also limited. Regular soil testing can help maintain soil health, ensure balanced nutrient application, and improve long-term sustainability Regular soil testing would help farmers to assess macro-and micronutrient levels, to maintain soil health, ensure balanced nutrient application, and improve long-term sustainability. The adoption of such scientific agronomic practices can significantly enhance the crop productivity and

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