Browsing by Author "Roul, Pravat K."

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  • A comparative study of conservation agriculture production systems (CAPS) for tribal people of Odisha, India
    Pradhan, Aliza; Halbrendt, Jacqueline; Lai, Cynthia; Idol, Travis; Chan-Halbrendt, Catherine; Evensen, Carl; Ray, Chittaranjan; Roul, Pravat K.; Mishra, K. N. (Honolulu, HI: University of Hawaii, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management, 2012)
    Tribal farming in Kendujhar district of Odisha, India is primarily based on traditional shifting cultivation which is becoming unsustainable - resulting in natural resources degradation, reduced production efficiency, and threatened food security. As maize (Zea mays L.) was the primary field crop grown by the tribal farmers, maize-based Conservation Agriculture Production Systems (CAPS) were taken as an innovative approach for conserving resources, enhancing productivity and sustaining livelihood through minimum soil disturbance, permanent organic soil cover, and adoption of diversified crop rotation. An on-station experiment was conducted in Kendujhar during June 2011 to March 2012 to estimate the effect of CAPS on yield and soil properties. The experiment was laid in a split plot design with four treatments and three replications. The treatment combinations comprised of two factors each at two levels: tillage (minimum and conventional), and cropping system (maize and maize+cowpea (Vigna unguiculata)). The maize seed yield both in conventional and minimum tillage were comparable, though it was highest in maize+cowpea under minimum tillage (5610 kg/ha). Maize+cowpea intercropping produced comparable seed yield (4955 kg/ha) to that of sole maize cropping (4825 kg/ha). As cowpea was an additional output without any reduction in maize seed yield and had high market value, maize+cowpea intercropping under minimum tillage recorded a highest net profit of $655/ha. Though there was no significant effect of CAPS on soil properties in the experimental year, it can be assessed over multiple years.
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    Conservation Agriculture Practices in Rainfed Uplands of India Improve Maize-Based System Productivity and Profitability
    Pradhan, Aliza; Idol, Travis; Roul, Pravat K. (2016-07-15)
    Traditional agriculture in rainfed uplands of India has been experiencing low agricultural productivity as the lands suffer from poor soil fertility, susceptibility to water erosion and other external pressures of development and climate change. A shift towards more sustainable cropping systems such as conservation agriculture production systems (CAPS) may help in maintaining soil quality as well as improving crop production and farmers net economic benefit. This research assessed the effects over three years (2011-2014) of reduced tillage, intercropping, and cover cropping practices customized for maize-based production systems in upland areas of Odisha, India. The study focused on crop yield, system productivity and profitability through maize equivalent yield and dominance analysis. Results showed that maize grain yield did not differ significantly over time or among CAPS treatments while cowpea yield was considered as an additional yield in intercropping systems. Mustard and horsegram grown in plots after maize cowpea intercropping recorded higher grain yields of 25 and 37%, respectively, as compared to those without intercropping. Overall, the full CAPS implementation i.e. minimum tillage, maize-cowpea intercropping and mustard residue retention had significantly higher system productivity and net benefits than traditional farmer practices, i.e. conventional tillage, sole maize cropping, and no mustard residue retention. The dominance analysis demonstrated increasing benefits of combining conservation practices that exceeded thresholds for farmer adoption. Given the use of familiar crops and technologies and the magnitude of yield and income improvements, these types of CAPS should be acceptable and attractive for smallholder farmers in the area. This in turn should support a move toward sustainable intensification of crop production to meet future household income and nutritional needs.
  • Conservation agriculture production systems (CAPS) in tribal societies of India
    Roul, Pravat K.; Ray, P.; Mohanty, T. R.; Mishra, K. N.; Chan-Halbrendt, Catherine; Idol, T. W.; Pradhan, Aliza; Ray, Chittaranjan (Bhubaneswar, India: Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT), 2012)
    Tribal farming systems in India and Nepal, which rely on traditional shifting cultivation, are unsustainable, resulting in the degeneration of natural resources and lowered production efficiency. Conservation agriculture production systems (CAPS), which stresses minimal soil movement, retention of adequate levels of crop residues on the soil surface, and crop rotation, offers a long-term solution to boost yields and conserve the environment. This presentation introduces the first year results of on-station CAPS trials and experimental farm plots in Odisha, India and announces the trials in progress in Nepal. The objective of the studies in India was to evaluate the feasibility of introducing CAPS to farmers in Kendujhar, a district of Odisha. The researchers conducted participatory studies and analytical hierarchy process before conducting on-farm research. This research involved the application of maize+cowpea intercropping, mustard cover cropping, and minimum tillage. In Nepal, they experimented with a rotation of maize with black gram, millet, or black gram + Millet under strip or conventional tillage. The Economic, gender, networking, and capacity building analyses conducted at each location are also described.
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    Development of an integrated approach for introducing conservation agricultural practices to the tribal communities of Odisha, India
    Halbrendt, Jacqueline; Shariq, L.; Lai, Cynthia; Idol, Travis; Ray, Chittaranjan; Roul, Pravat K.; Mishra, K. N. (Bangkok, Thailand: Funny Publishing, 2013)
    The smallholder farmers in the tribal areas of Odisha State, India have struggled to produce adequate crop yields under their current low input, continuous mono-crop farming system. The introduction of a Conservation Agriculture Production System (CAPS) has been proposed as a method to mitigate degradation of soils occurring under current farming practices and to improve crop yields while minimizing the use of additional inputs. The objective of this project was to develop an alternative cropping system to provide sustainable income and crop yields for the tribal farm families in the district of Kendujhar, Odisha State, India. Three approaches for maize production were introduced, incorporating the primary principles of CAPS: minimum tillage, crop rotation, and continuous soil cover. The CAPS treatments included combinations of no-till, maize-cowpea intercrop, and relay-cropping with a cover crop. The methodology followed an integrative, sequential approach to evaluate the agronomic, environmental and economic effects of different CAPS treatments on farm households. A complete randomized block design experiment with eight treatments and three replications was conducted from June to December 2010 to evaluate changes in yield, labor, and input costs for different CAPS approaches. A socioeconomic survey was conducted in the village to assess the farmer practices, inputs, labor demands, and crop yields. The results were then incorporated into a representative farm household model to evaluate the impact of these treatments on potential farm income. Results of the experimental plots showed that no-till maize intercropping with cowpea had the best outcome as the highest yielding CAPS scenario with the greatest prospect for income generation and sustained household food security. This approach, with its emphasis on the integration of site-specific crop production outputs, labor demands, and market analysis, will help to introduce the concept of CAPS to farmers, while developing sustainable farming systems and securing livelihoods for rural India.
  • Effect of maize based Conservation Agriculture Production Systems (CAPS) under tribal farming situations of Odisha in India
    Idol, Travis; Pradhan, Aliza; Roul, Pravat K.; Mishra, K. N.; Halbrendt, Jacqueline; Evensen, Carl; Ray, Chittaranjan; Chan-Halbrendt, Catherine (Madison, WI: American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, Soil Science Society of America, 2012)
    A summary of 2011-2012 trial plot results in terms of yield and profitability. Tillage and intercropping had no significant effect on maize yield (4890 kg ha 1) in the first year. The highest maize yield was recorded in maize+cowpea under minimum tillage (5610 kg ha 1). Economic return in case of intercropping was 38% higher than that of sole cropping, across both the tillage types. Though there was no significant effect of CAPS on soil properties in the first experimental year, trends were positive for soil pH, bulk density, and soil carbon.
  • Effect of tillage and intercropping on crop productivity, profitability and soil fertility under tribal farming situations of India
    Pradhan, Aliza; Idol, Travis; Roul, Pravat K.; Mishra, K. N.; Chan-Halbrendt, Catherine; Halbrendt, Jacqueline; Ray, Chittaranjan (Bhubaneswar, India: Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT), 2013)
    Low crop yields due to continuous monocropping and deteriorating soil health in smallholder farm fields of tribal villages in India have led to a quest for conservation agriculture production systems (CAPS). This objective of the study was to assess the combined effect of reduced tillage, intercropping and residue management on 1) crop yield, 2) farmer’s profitability, and 3) soil physico-chemical properties. Selected treatments included an introduction of intercropping of maize with cowpea (Vigna unguiculata). Mustard (Brassica juncea L.) was grown as a post-rainy season cover crop in all the trial plots but there was no residue retention in control plots. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with four treatments viz., T1: Conventional tillage with sole maize (CT-M) as control, T2: Conventional tillage with maize + cowpea (CT-M+C), T3: Minimum tillage with sole maize (MT-M), T4: Minimum tillage with maize + cowpea (MT-M+C). In the 2011/2012 cropping season, there was a significant interaction effect of tillage and intercropping on maize yield (P = Abstract published in the proceedings of the International Conference on Frontiers in Conservation Agriculture in South Asia and Beyond (F-CASA), Kathmandu, Nepal, 26, March 2013.
  • Impact of Maize-based conservation agriculture system on soil properties in North Central Plateau Zone of Odisha
    Nabanita, B.; Nayak, R. K.; Mishra, K. N.; Roul, Pravat K.; Dash, S. N.; Behera, M. M.; Chan-Halbrendt, Catherine; Idol, T. W. (Bhubaneswar, India: Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT), 2012)
    The North Central Plateau zone of Odisha has an undulating topography and under high rainfall zone of the state. The soils of this area are subjected to various kinds of soil degradation. The farmers of this zone are traditionally growing maize as the only rainfed crop. Conservation agriculture practice involving minimum tillage, legume based intercropping and a follow up cover crop has been thought of as the best possible long term solution for this region to maintain the natural resources and environmental quality. To study the impact of maize based cropping system with cover crops under conventional and minimum tillage practices, a field experiment was conducted on the loamy soils of Regional Research and Technology Transfer Station, OUAT at Kendujhar district during 2011-12. Conventional (CT) and minimum (MT) tillage with maize (M) and maize + cowpea (M+C) were taken in main plots during kharif and horsegram (H), mustard (M) and fallow (F) in sub-plots during rabi. Soil samples were collected before and after kharif and rabi to study the impact of the treatments on soil BD, pH, OC and available N, P, K, Ca and Mg. The yield and nutrient uptake by crops were correlated with the soil properties. The practice of MT reduced the BD in the tune of 0.007 Mgm-3 and increased the pH (0.2 units), OC (0.29 g kg-1), available indices viz. N (4.5 kg ha-1), P (0.06 kg ha-1), K (4.8 kg ha-1), ca{0.46 c mol (p+) kg-1} and Mg {0.32 c mol (p+) kg-1} over CT after harvest of kharif crops. Growing horsegran (H) as cover crop during rabi, reduced the BD (0.001 Mgm-3) and increased pH (0.01 units), OC (0.03 g kg-1) and available nutrient viz. N (0.5 kg ha-1), P (0.02 kg ha-1), K (0.2 kg ha-1), Ca { 0.02 c mol (p+) kg-1} and Mg {0.03 c mol (p+) kg -1} over mustard (M) as cover crop. Maximum uptake of N (150 kg ha-1) and P (17.2 kg ha-1) was observed in CT-M+C-H where as the highest uptake of K (123.8 kg ha-1) was obtained in CT-M+C-M treatment. Though maximum maize equivalent yield of 85.8 q ha-1 was obtained from CT-M+C-M treatment in the first year, a slow and gradual improvement in soil properties were observed by practice of minimum tillage with maize + cowpea intercrop followed by horsegram as cover crop.
  • Influence of maize-based conservation agricultural practices (CAPs) on productivity, profitability and soil fertility in rain-fed uplands of Odisha
    Roul, Pravat K.; Ray, P.; Mishra, K. N.; Dash, S. N.; Barik, E.; Chan-Halbrendt, Catherine; Idol, T. W.; Pradhan, Aliza; Ray, Chittaranjan (Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, OUAT, 2012)
    A field experiment on “Influence of Maize-based conservation agricultural practices (CAPs) on productivity, profitability and soil fertility” conducted during the rainy and post rainy season of 2011-12 in rainfed uplands of Odisha, India revealed that growing Maize with cowpea under minimum tillage could produce 50.1 qha-1 of grain yield being comparable to sole maize under conventional tillage (52.1qha-1). But the yield of green pods from cowpea grown in association with maize under conventional tillage invariably remained superior to its yield under minimum tillage producing 32.3% higher yield than minimum tillage (12.4 q ha-1). The system productivity expressed as maize equivalent yield (MEY) revealed that growing maize+cowpea under minimum tillage followed by toria as cover crop (99.08 qha-1 MEY) was similar to maize+cowpea under conventional tillage followed by toria (101.33 qha-1 MEY). Minimum tillage-Maize+cowpea followed by horse gram (83.04 qha-1 MEY) and Conventional tillage-Maize+cowpea followed by horse gram (83.80 qha-1 MEY), though had productivity next to the former two treatments, were also similar. But all these treatments were significantly superior to growing sole maize under conventional tillage without any cover crop (52.10 q ha-1 MEY). The gross return, net return and return per rupee invested from maize+cowpea intercropping either under conventional tillage or under minimum tillage were similar but superior to growing sole maize under these two contrasting tillage situations. Moreover, toria as a cover crop in post rainy season was adjudged as the best in comparison to horse gram and no cover crop for all these economic parameters. The soil fertility parameters viz. pH, BD and Organic Carbon revealed that the practice of Minimum tillage reduced the BD to the tune of 1.4% over the initial status (1.22 Mgm-3) and increased the Organic Carbon by 4.9% (initial contents: 6.9 g kg-1). Thus growing maize+cowpea under minimum tillage followed by toria is superior in terms of productivity, profitability and soil fertility.
  • Influence of maize-based conservation agriculture production system (CAPS) on some basic soil indices in the hilly terrains of Odisha
    Mishra, K. N.; Roul, Pravat K.; Dash, S. N.; Mohanty, A.; Chan-Halbrendt, Catherine; Idol, Travis; Pradhan, Aliza; Ray, Chittaranjan (Bhubaneswar, India: Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT), 2013)
    The soils in the hilly terrains of North Central Plateau agro-climatic zones of Odisha are subjected to various kinds of soil degradation due loss of forest cover, accelerated soil erosion, shifting cultivation and intense mining activities, thus rendering them unproductive. The farmers of this zone are traditionally growing maize as the only rainfed crop under high tillage without any scientific agro-techniques. Conservation agriculture production system (CAPS) involving minimum tillage, legume based intercropping and a follow up cover crop has been thought of as the best possible long term solution for this region that not only maintains the quality of environment but also conserves the natural resources keeping it buffered against risks. To study the impact of maize based cropping system with cover crops under conventional and minimum tillage practices, a field experiment has been initiated on the sandy clay loam soils of Regional Research and Technology Transfer Station, OUAT at Kendujhar district during 2011-12. Conventional (CT) and minimum (MT) tillage with maize (M) and maize + cowpea (M+C) were taken in main plots during wet season and horse gram (H), mustard (M) and no cover crop (NCC) in sub-plots during dry season. Soil samples were collected before and at the end of the cropping cycle to study the impact of treatments on soil BD, pH, OC and available N, P and K. The practice of MT reduced the BD in the tune of 1.4% over the initial status of 1.22 Mgm-3 and increased the OC, available N and P by 4.9%, 2.7% and 2.0%, respectively (initial contents: 6.9 g kg-1, 271 kg ha-1 and 15.6 kg ha-1) stabilizing the pH and available K of the soils. Growing maize with cowpea as intercrop (M+C) enhanced the OC and available N contents of the soils by 2.6% and 1.4%, respectively over the initial values of 6.6 g kg-1 and 267 kg ha-1 and favourably maintained the other soil properties. Inclusion of cover crops either maintained or marginally enhanced these basic soil indices. Practice of minimum tillage with maize cowpea intercrop and follow up horse gram as cover crop (MT-M+C-H) seems to have a positive influence on soil properties as indicated by the initial trends viz. decrease in BD (-2.5%), build up of OC (+8%), available N (+5%) and P (+3.6%), stabilizing effect on pH and available K, at the end of first cropping cycle. The positive impact of the same CAPS practiced by twenty participating farmers in the tribal village Tentuli during 2011-12, was also observed on the soil attributes viz. BD (-2.7%), OC (+10.8%), available N (+6.5%), P (+7.8%) and K (+3.1%).
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    An integrative approach for introducing conservation agricultural practices to tribal societies in India
    Halbrendt, Jacqueline; Lai, Cynthia; Chan-Halbrendt, Catherine; Idol, Travis; Ray, Chittaranjan; Evensen, Carl; Roul, Pravat K. (Honolulu Hawaii: University of Hawaii, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management, 2011)
    Small-holder farms in rural India struggle with reduced maize yields due to traditional farming methods. The introduction of modern conservation agriculture practices can provide higher yields and household income while boosting soil productivity. This poster abstract presents the results of CAPS implementation on experimental plots in tribal villages located in the Indian state of Odessa.
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    An integrative approach for introducing conservation agriculture practices to tribal societies in India
    Halbrendt, Jacqueline; Lai, Cynthia; Chan-Halbrendt, Catherine; Idol, Travis; Ray, Chittaranjan; Evensen, Carl; Roul, Pravat K. (Honolulu, Hawaii: University of Hawaii at Manoa, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management, 2011)
    This poster presents the results from implimenting CAPS methods in tribal villages located in Odessa State, India. It gives socio-economic data for households in the study villages as well as project objectives and methods. It presents the results of the experimental plots and socio-economic survey data. Finally, it gives conclusions and implications for future research.
  • An integrative approach for introducing conservation agriculture to tribal societies in India
    Halbrendt, Jacqueline; Lai, Cynthia; Chan-Halbrendt, Catherine; Idol, Travis; Ray, Chittaranjan; Evensen, Carl; Roul, Pravat K. (2011)
    This poster introduces the Long Term Research Activity (LTRA) 11, a research activity within the SANREM CRSP program during Phase IV. The objectives of this LTRA are to introduce and promote Conservation Agriculture practices at the tribal and household level in Odisha, India, and monitor the economic, environmental, and social impacts.
  • Sustainable Management of Agroecological Resources for Tribal Societies (SMARTS): University of Hawaii and Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology
    Pradhan, Aliza; Chan-Halbrendt, Catherine; Roul, Pravat K. (United States-India Educational Foundation: New Delhi, India., 2012)
    A webpage was developed by University of Hawaii to outline the SMARTS project in Odissa, India. The webpage describes conservation agriculture, project goals, and current project status. It is to be hosted by United States-India Educational Foundation on their website at http://www.usief.org.in/. This webpage will serve as a reference tool for parties interested in cooperating with or finding out more information about SMARTS in Odissa.
  • Sustainable tribal farming through conservation agriculture: SMARTS experience in Kendujhar
    Roul, Pravat K.; Mesha, K. N.; Dash, S. N. (Bhubaneswar, India: Orissa University ofAgriclture and Technology, 2011)
    This presentation gave a synopsis of the SMARTS program in Kendujhar and highlighted the particpatory nature of the research to determine the benefits of conservation agriculture production system introduction to tribal peoples in the region.
  • Using multiple objective linear programming and economic surplus analysis to predict the economic impact of CA adoption: A case study in Odisha, India
    Reed, Brinton F.; Chan-Halbrendt, Catherine; Halbrendt, Jacqueline; Roul, Pravat K. (Honolulu HI: College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management, 2013)
    Conservation agriculture (CA) has proven to be effective at reducing the negative environmental impacts of farming and increasing sustainable agriculture production. For this reason, it is currently being practiced on over 100 million ha of farmland worldwide. However, due in part to uncertainty regarding its full economic, social and environmental benefits, adoption among smallholders in many less developed regions is low. Thus there exists demand for methods that can identify the most appropriate CA practices given farmer needs and climatic constraints, and estimate the economic impact adoption of such practices could have at a city, state or province level. A case study focused on CA adoption in the Indian state of Odisha is presented. Using farmer preference data, trial plot results and a multi-objective linear programming model, this study determines which combination of locally-available CA practices will provide farmers with the optimal balance of profitability, soil quality and labor cost savings. An economic surplus analysis is used to predict the impact adoption would have at the state level. Model results indicate that a production system utilizing reduced tillage with maize and cowpea intercropping in the first growing season and a combination of mustard cover crop and fallow treatments (on 60% and 40% of cultivated area, respectively) in the second growing season will maximize objectives. Adoption of this CA production system would increase profit by 140%, improve soil quality by 34% and reduce labor costs by over 30%. Adoption rates of 1%, 3% and 5% would produce an estimated $19.8 million, $59.8 million and $100.2 million in total economic surplus for the state of Odisha. Results provide incentive for farmers to adopt CA and decision-makers to institute pro-adoption policies.