Performance of TBG-104 variety of blackgram under CFLD pulses programme

Introduction

Blackgram (Vigna mungo) commonly called as Urad in India contain 22-24% protein, which is almost twice the protein in wheat and thrice that of rice. Blackgram area accounts for about 19 per cent of India's total pulse acreage which contributes 23 per cent of total pulse production. India being the largest producer as well as consumer of Blackgram in the world, produces 23.4 lakh tonnes of Blackgram annually from 46.7 lakh hectares of land, with an average productivity of 501 Kg/ha. Andhra Pradesh produced 3.65 lakh tonnes of Blackgram in 3.93 lakh hectares with productivity of 929 kg/ha. However, the productivity of Blackgram in Tirupati and SPSR Nellore districts is far below than the state average due to lack of awareness in farming community regarding high yielding varieties and improved package and practices in Blackgram. Keeping this in view, Cluster Frontline Demonstrations (CFLDs) which are aimed to increasing the productivity of pulses and to minimize the adoption gap (Malathi et al, 2019) [7] were conducted in Blackgram with variety TBG-104 due to its resistance to yellow mosaic virus, adaptability to all seasons and a yield potential of 20-22.5 q/ha with a crop duration of 70-75 days. The main objective of the study was to analyse the performance of TBG-104 variety of Blackgram in terms of yield and returns compared to farmer's practice.

Materials and Methods

A total of 100 demonstrations on Blackgram variety TBG-104 were conducted during the year 2022-23 and 2023-24 under Cluster frontline demonstrations in pulses programme by the Dr. YSRHU -Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Periyavaram, Tirupati district of Andhra Pradesh in rabi season in the farmer's fields. Each demonstration was conducted on an area of 0.4 ha.

The ICM practice included sowing of improved varieties (TBG 104), application of fertilizers based on soil test values, seed treatment + neem oil application at 25-30 DAS+ arrangement of sticky traps to monitor sucking pest vectors + spraying of monocrotophos @ 1.6 ml per litre of water at flowering to pod formation stage for insect management + spraying of carbendazim for control of leaf spot. Conducted Training Programme on Production technologies and recommended package of practices in Blackgram. Critical inputs like TBG-104 variety of Blackgram seed, biofertilizers for seed treatment, neem oil for prophylactic application in management of pests, yellow and blue sticky traps were facilitated to the beneficiaries under CFLD Pulses programme in the year 2022-23 and 2023-24. The demonstrations were conducted in Arimenupadu, Obulaipalle, Pallipadu and Vendodu villages of Ojili, Rapur, Balayapalle and Gudur mandals of Tirupati District of Andhra Pradesh. Method demonstrations were conducted on seed treatment in Blackgram with the use of bio-fertilizers. Suggested suitable management practices to farmers through field visits and finally field days were conducted involving demonstration holding farmers, other farmers in the village, Scientists from University, officials from Department of Agriculture and local extension functionaries to demonstrate the superiority of the technology. Yield data for the improved practice and farmers' practice were recorded at the time of threshing. The Benefit: Cost ratio was calculated by dividing gross returns by cost of cultivation (Deva et al, 2019) [4] .

Results and Discussion

Yield

It was evident from Table 1 that the yields of black gram in demonstration plots were higher when compared to farmer's plots during 2022-23 and 2023-24. The percent increase in yield of demonstration plots over farmers plots was 21.74 and 17.89 during 2022-23 and 2023-24 respectively. The increase in seed yield of demonstration plots was mainly due to the adoption of improved package of practices. Use of TBG 104 seed not only improved the yield of the crop but also decreased the incidence of YMV disease. Adoption of seed treatment, applying fertilizers based on soil testing and plant protection measures for vector management of YMV followed under CFLDs really improved the yield of black gram compared to farmer's` practices. These findings were in corroboration with the findings of Dwivedi et al (2018) [5] , Rao et al (2020) [9] and Anuratha et al (2018) [1] .

Economic analysis

The economic analysis revealed that during both the years of demonstration, gross returns, net returns and benefit cost ratio was higher in demonstrated plots compared to farmer's practice indicating higher profitability. The benefit cost ratio of demonstration plots was 1.32:1 and 1.19:1 during the years 2022-23 and 2023-24 respectively (Table 2). Hence, by adopting improved production practices in Blackgram, yield potential and economic returns of the farming community of Nellore district can be raised. These results were in line with the earlier findings by Singh et al (2020) [10] , Nagarajuna et al. and Kumar et al (2020) [6] .

Conclusion

Acknowledgement

International Journal of Advanced Biochemistry Research https://www.biochemjournal.com

References

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