Contingency Plan and Crop Strategies for Andhra Pradesh 2005-2006 Year

In view of the adverse seasonal conditions prevailing in the State for the last three years the ground water is depleting and falling down drastically. Raising paddy under scarce water sources is risky and hence it is proposed to motivate farmers to go for raising I.D. crops like sunflower, maize, groundnut, jowar and pulses in place of paddy under wells and bore wells, for optimum utilization of available water

It is planned to divert 2.50 lakh ha. of paddy area to I.D. crops during Rabi 2005-06.To encourage the farmers to raise I.D. crops, it is proposed to distribute 59200 qtls. of crop seeds on 50% subsidy involving Rs. 930.00 lakhs during the year 2005-06.

CROP CONTINGENCY PLAN AND RECOMMENDED MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

The Acharya N.G.Ranga Agricultural University has proposed possible measures that can be resorted to in case of recurrence of such natural calamities and are briefed hereunder to help mitigate their after-effects.

DELAYED MONSOON

RICE

In tankfed area due to late receipt of rains, transplantations get delayed. August 31st will generally be taken as cut-off date and the following management practices are suggested for the rice crop under such situations.

  • Nitrogen application in nurseries may be avoided when the seedlings are overaged as this will have adverse effect on yields.
  • Tillering ability of aged seedlings is less. Hence to maintain optimum tillers/unit area 50 to 60 hills/sq.m may be maintained,. Number of seedlings may also be increased to 4-6/hill.
  • Phosphorus, potash and zinc should be applied as basal doses for good establishment and growth.
  • Two-thirds of nitrogen(40 to 60 kg/ha) may be applied as basal application and 1/3rd at panicle initiation.
  • For weed control at 4 to 5 days after transplanting, apply 2, 4 DEE @ 0.8 kg/a.i/ha and or Butachlor 5 G @ 1.0 kg a.i/ha (8 kg/ac).
  • Availability of sufficient soil moisture from panicle initiation (PI) to flowering is very essential to realize satisfactory yields. Damage done to the crop due to lack of soil moisture at this stage is irreversible. Hence, irrigation water may be sparingly and judiciously applied during vegetative phase and maximum stored for giving the required critical irrigation from PI and heading onwards.
  • As soon as the lesions of sheath blight and blast are observed on rice plants, Hexaconazole (2 ml/lit) or Propiconazole (1 ml/lit) and Tricyclozole (0.6 g/lit) respectively may be sprayed.
    Leaf folder, green leaf hopper, stem borer,gall midge may infect the rice crop from last week of August. Monocrotophos @ 300 ml/acre (1.5 ml/l) or Chlorpyriphos @ 400 ml/acre (2.0 ml/1) may be sprayed as soon as incidence beyond ETL is noticed.

COTTON

  • Grow Narasimha variety or LAHH-4, NHH-44 and H-8 in case of hybrids.
  • Basal application of 1/3rd N and 1/3rd K may be given along with P so that there will be good initial vigour.
  • Frequent intercultivation to conserve soil moisture and to keep the crop weed free.

PULSES

  • Light Soils }
    • Greengram varieties - LGG-407, 450, 460, ML-267,PDM 54
  • Rainfed & heavy Soils }
    • Red gram varieties - LRG-30, ICPL 332, ICPL-85063, ICPL –8863, PRG-100
    • Black gram varieties - LBG-20, 623

  • Rice fallows }
    • Black gram varieties - LBG-402, 611, 623, 645, 648, 685
    • Greengram varieties - LGG-407, 410, 450, 460

OIL SEED CROPS

  • Sunflower : Use varieties/hybrids APSH-11, MSFH-8, MSFH-17 and Mordan
  • Soybean : Use varieties JS 335, Hardee, MACS-58, PK –472, 1029, LSB-1,
  • Bajra : WCC 75, composites –ICMU-432 & 451

1. Rainfed light soils

I. Delayed groundnut sowings beyond second fortnight of July increases pest and disease problems, reduce yield with difficulty in harvesting due to soil hardening

2. Rainfed heavy soils

I. Do not disturb the soil if drought sets in after 45 days.

II. Instead of groundnut, sunflower, bajra,foxtail millet can be grown under delayed situation.

LATE RELEASE OF CANAL WATER

RICE

Due to late release of canal water the sowing of nurseries and planting of rice are likely to be delayed beyond the cut off date (15 th July) and the rice yield of popular long duration varieties may get reduced by 15 to 30%. The pest and disease incidence may increase. To get normal yields the following practices are recommended.

  • If direct sowings are to be undertaken, the varieties like MTU 2400, MTU 1001, Swarna and Chaitanya may be preferred.
  • Shallow planting of 25 days old seedlings @ 4 to 6 per hill and increasing the plant density from 33 to 44 hill/sq.m.
  • Increase N level by 50% and its application in three equal splits (Basal, 20 DAT and PI) in case of long duration cultivars, 2/3rd basal and 1/3rd at 25 DAT in case of late planting of aged seedlings of long duration varieties. Prophylactic plant protection measures to control sheath blight with Propiconazole / Hexaconazole are to be taken up.
  • Application of phosphorus, potassium and zinc in sufficient quantities at planting is necessary.
    Weed control can be achieved with herbicides like 2,4 – DEE , Butachlor or Anilophos.
  • Timely control of pests like gall midge and stem borer, leaf folder and BPH is necessary.

EARLY WITHDRAWAL OF MONSOON

COTTON

1. Foliar application of urea may be given thrice, to supplement the nutrient availability.

2. Intercultivate frequently to keep the crop weed free and to conserve soil moisture.

3. Whiteflies, mites and aphids may flare up during drought situation. Hence protect the crop from the damage of these pests with the use of recommended insecticides.


ACTION PLAN – MID-JULY

SITUATION - I

Uplands: Rainfed heavy soil areas where sowings could not be taken up till the end of August due to failure of South-West monsoon. Cultivate short duration crops like gram/greengram/ soybean to facilitate sequence crop with Bengal gram or coriander or sun hemp or fodder Jowar sown during December.

Crop and Varieties:

  • Greengram: ML267, LGG 407, LGG 410, LGG 460, WGG 37

  • Blackgram: T-9, LBG 17, LBG 20, LBG 623, LBG 645, LBG 402, LBG 685,
    LBG 611, LBG 22, WBG 26

(All high yielding black gram varieties recommended for rabi can be sown as early as during first week of September)

  • Soybean: JS 335, PK 472, MACS 58 and MACS 201

  • Coriander: CS 2, CS 4, CS 6

  • Mustard: Vardhani, Pusa Bold, Kranthi, Varuna, GM-1.

  • Sunflower: Mordan , MSFH 8,

Follow management practices suggested for rabi season for these crops.

  • Cultivation of sole rabi redgram or rabi redgram + greengram, blackgram/ soybean /coriander intercropping system in Guntur, Prakasam, Krishna under rainfed situation as well as under I.D. in other parts of the zone.
  • Cultivation of sole rabi redgram under rainfed situation as well as under I.D. from September 15th onwards in Northern Telangana Zone.

Crops and Varieties

  • Redgram: LRG 30, ICPL 85063, ICPL 332, PRG 100, MRG 66, C11 and any
  • other six months duration local variety
  • Spacing: 45-60x10 cm
  • 40x10 cm (Rainfed)
  • 45x20 cm (I.D)
  • Fertilizer: 40 kg N+ 50 kg P2O5/ha
  • Follow IPM for Heliothis -Monitor and manage Maruca pest

SITUATION – II

Delta regions NSP area, tankfed areas where large areas remain unplanted

Crops and Varieties:

  • Maize : DHM 1, DHM 103, DHM 107,, DHM 109, Trishulatha and other popular private Hybrids
  • Redgram : LRG 30, ICPL 85063, ICPL 332, MRG 66
  • Soybean : JS 335, PK 472,MACS 58, MACS 201
  • Blackgram : All recommended varieties for rabi
  • Mustard : Kranthi, Pusa bold, Vardhani, Varun
  • Castor : Kranthi, Jyothi.
  • Jowar : Local

- Provide good drainage facilities by sowing in ridge and furrow method.

ACTION PLAN – MID-AUGUST

If rains are delayed further i.e., till the end of September – normal rabi sowings with the crops and varieties recommended can be taken up. Do not sow bengalgram in September as it may suffer from Sclerotium collar rot.

COTTON

  • It is not advisable to sow cotton after August as whitefly may become a serious menace
  • If necessary go for short duration varieties/hybrids viz., Narasimha, L 604, NHH-44, H 8, LAHH-4
  • Monitor whitefly incidence
  • Discourage spraying of synthetic pyrethroids
  • Apply 1/3rd of recommended N and K as basal for quick growth along with full dose of phosphorus for September sown crop.
  • Spray 2% urea, 2 to 3 times at 7-10 days interval to the already sown crop in view of the prevailing drought situation.
  • Take up frequent inter cultivation in order to conserve soil moisture.
  • Follow integrated pest management.

CHILLIES

  • Discourage direct sown chillies beyond 1st fortnight of September
  • Cultivate Sindhur, G 4, LCA 235, LCA 206, LCA 305 under late sown conditions under I.D. only.
  • To boost up the already sown direct crop, spray 1% urea 3 to 4 times at fortnightly interval
  • Go in for frequent intercultivation to conserve available soil moisture.

CASTOR

  • Sow castor varieties like Kranthi, Jyothi, and Jowar from September to November 15th.