Integrated Crop Management Practices for Maximizing the Productivity of Horse Gram

Abstract

A Frontline demonstration was conducted to demonstrate the integrated crop management practices at ten locations of Dharmapuri district during Rabi season of 2020. The crop was cultivated by following the integrated crop management practices and compared with the farmers’ practices. The integrated crop management practices comprising of horse gram variety CRIDA 18R, seed treatment with Trichoderma viride followed by rhizobium and phosphobacteria, soil application of TNAU pulses micronutrient mixture @ 7.5 kg ha‑1, foliar spraying of TNAU pulse wonder @ 5 kg ha-1 during peak flowering stage and integrated plant protection measures.  The results of the demonstration revealed that the demonstration of horse gram variety CRIDA 18R with integrated crop management practices yielded the higher number of pods per plant (40.6) and grain yield of 7.15 q ha-1. Farmers’ practice resulted in a lower number of pods per plant (34.3) and grain yield of 5.55 q ha-1. The per cent increase in yield under the demonstration compared to the farmers’ practice was 28.8. The demonstration of integrated crop management practices achieved a higher net income (Rs. 12450/ha) and benefit cost ratio of 1.77. Conversely, the farmers’ practice recorded a lower net income of Rs. 9450/ha and benefit cost ratio of 1.74.