Following urdbean variety have been developed, released and notified for cultivation by this station.

(A) FLDS ON CHICKPEA:

For the popularization of newly released chickpea variety among farmers along with improved package of practices, 10 FLDs were conducted in different villages of Saurashtra region in each year. Results clearly indicated the superiority of improved package of practices over farmers’ practices. Farmers got yield advantage ranging from 11.60 to 21.62 per cent. Another advantage of FLD was observed in the awareness of  superiority of new variety GJG 3 and GG 5. Some low cost technology like seed treatment and 2% spray of urea as well as application of bio agents like Trichoderma also became familiar among farmers. FLD farmers sold seed of GJG 3 and GG 5 to neighbour farmers in the next year. This way FLDs are useful in spread of new variety.

(B) FLDS ON GROUNDNUT-PIGEONPEA RELAY CROPPING SYSTEM:

Impact of FLDs:

          The rainfall in Saurashtra is erratic and scanty. The major groundnut crop is always under high risk. Farmers have adopted pigeonpea as a relay crop in groundnut because of the following reasons.

1. It does not reduce the area of groundnut as pigeonpea is being sown between two rows of groundnut in the month of August.

2. It does not decrease the yield of groundnut; hence the income from pigeonpea is treated as an additional income.

3. It covers the risk of major crop of groundnut in irregular monsoon and scarcity condition.

4. It provides valuable nutritive fodder for cattle, which is an essential requirement for the farmers of Saurashtra.

5. It can be grown with limited irrigation facilities in which any other winter crop can not be grown.

           Since last two decades more than 300 FLDs were conducted on groundnut-pigeonpea relay cropping system in six districts of Gujarat. The tested pigeonpea varieties were BDN 2, BSMR 853, BSMR 736 and GT 101. Pigeonpea varieties BDN 2 and GT 101 were highly popular among the farmers as these varieties require only 2-3 irrigations after end of the monsoon. FLD farmers harvested on an average 1299 kg/ha seed yield. Pigeonpea as a relay crop in groundnut was found highly remunerative without any adverse effect on sole groundnut yield. The market price of pigeonpea is highly attractive hence farmers adopting this system quickly. Pigeonpea variety GJP 1 has been demonstrated in FLDs during kharif 2017-18 to 2019-20. In kharif 2019-20 variety GJP 1 produced on an average 1689 kg/ha seed yield in varietal demonstrations which was 17.00% higher over farmers’ practices. Over all farmers got 13.43 to 26.09% increase in seed yield. The performance was appreciated by the farmers of FLDs. This variety is become popular among farmer.

CROP PRODUCTION

CHICKPEA

Effect of biofertilizer along with molybdenum application on yield of chickpea

     The farmers of South Saurashtra Agro-climatic Zone growing irrigated chickpea are advised to treat seeds with Rhizobium culture @ 25 g/kg seed + phosphate solubilizing bacterial culture (Bacillus subtilis) 30 g/kg seed along with recommended dose of fertilizers (20:40 N:P₂O₅ kg/ha) for securing higher yield and net return. Application of molybdenumin chickpea was not found advantageous.

Evaluation of chickpea varieties under different dates of sowing under irrigated condition

     The farmers of South Saurashtra Agro-climatic Zone growing irrigated chickpea are advised to sow the crop during first fortnight of November (mean minimum temperature 19.9 °C and mean maximum temperature 34.7 °C) for securing higher yield and net return.

Effect of different irrigation scheduling and irrigation interval through drip on chickpea

     The farmers of South Saurashtra Agro-climatic Zone growing chickpea under drip irrigation system are recommended to irrigate the crop with drip system at 0.8 ETc at 5 days interval through drip after two flood irrigations for getting higher yield, net return and 27 % saving of irrigation water. The system details are as under:

Irrigation management through critical stages of chickpea

     The farmers of South Saurashtra Agro-climatic Zone interested to grow chickpea under water crisis condition are recommended to irrigate the chickpea crop at four critical stages like branching, flowering, pod initiation and grain filling apart from two common irrigations, first immediately after sowing and second at 6-7 days after sowing for getting higher yield and for saving 17 per cent of irrigation water.

PIGEON PEA

Effect of multi-micronutrient formulations on pigeonpea

     The farmers of South Saurashtra Agro-climatic Zone -VII growing pigeonpea are advised to apply micronutrients on soil test basis or multi-micronutrient mixture Grade-V @ 40 kg/ha besides recommended dose of fertilizer (25:50:0 N:P₂O₅:K₂O kg/ha) to get higher yield and net returns.

Effect of different organic, inorganic and bio-fertilizers on groundnut-pigeonpea relay cropping system

     The farmers of South Saurashtra Agro-climatic Zone following groundnut ´ pigeonpea (2:1) relay cropping system are advised to apply recommended dose of fertilizers to both the crops to obtain higher yield and net returns or 50% RDF + FYM 5 t /ha along with seed treatment of Rhizobium and phosphate solubilizing bacteria (each 25-30 g/kg seed) to groundnut only to reduce the dose of chemical fertilizers.

Optimizing spacing for medium duration pigeonpea varieties under pigeonpea + urdbean inter cropping system

     The farmers of South Saurashtra Agro-climatic Zone adopting pigeonpea + urdbean (without fertilizer) inter cropping system are advised to sow pigeonpea at 120 cm x 30 cm spacing and two rows of urdbean in between two rows of pigeonpea for getting higher yield and net return.

Nutrient and pest management in pigeonpea

     The farmers of South Saurashtra Agro-climatic Zone, growing kharif pigeonpea are recommended to apply recommended dose of fertilizer (25-50-50 N-P₂O₅-K₂O kg/ha) and spray of indoxacarb 14.5 SC 0.010% (7 ml/10 lit of water) at 50% flowering and spray of chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC 0.006% (3 ml/10 lit of water) 15 days after 1st spray.

     Alternatively, apply recommended dose of fertilizer (25-50-50 N-P₂O₅-K₂O kg/ha) and spray of multi micronutrient formulation Grade IV 20 ml/10 lit and spray of indoxacarb 14.5 SC 0.010% (7 ml/10 lit of water) at 50% flowering and spray of chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC 0.006% (3 ml/10 lit of water) 15 days after 1st spray for obtaining higher seed yield and net realization.

URDBEAN

Weed management in kharif urdbean

    The farmers of South Saurashtra Agro-climatic Zone growing kharif urdbean are recommended to apply quizalofop-ethyl 40 g/ha (5 EC 16 ml/10 lit water) at 20 days after sowing (DAS) and hand weeding at 40 DAS for obtaining higher yield and net realization as well as effective weed management.

PLANT PROTECTION

CHICKPEA

Efficacy of new molecules against Helicoverpa armigera in chickpea

     For effective and economic control of pod borer (Helicoverpa armigera) in chickpea crop, farmers of South Saurashtra Agro-climatic Zone are advised to apply two sprays of chlorantraniliprole 20 SC 0.003% (1.5 ml/ 10 lit. water) or emamectin benzoate 5 SG 0.001% (2 g/ 10 lit. water). First spray should be applied at 50% flowering and second at 15 days after first spray. The PHI for these insecticides is 27 days.

Evaluation of botanicals, bio-pesticides and insecticides against gram pod borer

     The farmers of South Saurashtra Agro-Climatic Zone growing chickpea are advised to apply alternate spray of HaNPV 2 x 10⁹ POBs/ml (5 ml/10 lit. water) and chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC 0.004% (2 ml/10 lit. water) for effective and economic control of pod borer (Helicoverpa armigera) in chickpea crop. First spray to be started at 50% flowering and second at 15 days after first spray. The PHI for chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC is 11 days.

PIGEONPEA

Testing bio-efficacy of certain insecticides against pod borer complex on pigeonpea

     The farmers of South Saurashtra Agro-climatic Zone are advised to apply two sprays of spinosad 45 SC 0.009% (2 ml/ 10 lit. water) or thiodicarb 75 WP 0.075% (10 g/ 10 lit. water) or flubendiamide 48 SC 0.0096% (2 ml/ 10 lit. water) or chlorantraniliprole 20 SC 0.003% (1.5 ml/ 10 lit. water) starting from 50 per cent flowering and second spray at 15 days after first spray for the control of pod borer complex in pigeonpea. The PHI for these insecticides is 30 days.

URDBEAN

Testing bio-efficacy of certain insecticides against pod borer complex on urdbean

     Farmers of South Saurashtra Agro-climatic zone are advised to apply two sprays of chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC, 0.006 % (3 ml/ 10 lit. water) or flubendiamide 48 SC, 0.0096 % (2 ml/ 10 lit. water), first spray at 50 per cent flowering and second at 15 days interval for the control of pod borer complex in urdbean.

             The PHI for chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC is 20 days, whereas 11 days for flubendiamide 48 SC.

Note:- All above papers having < 6.0 NAAS rating

Quantity of Breeder seed of chickpea produced during 2004-05 to 2017-18