List of the scientific/technical/supporting Staff

A. Maize+Cowpea Intercropping for Resource Conservation and Higher Productivity

Maize yield varied from 2500-3000 kg ha-1 in addition to cowpea green pod yield of 200-300 kg ha-1 under rainfed condition. Higher net returns of Rs. 9,370 ha-1 can be obtained by adopting maize + cowpea intercropping technology as compared to Rs. 8000 ha-1 with pure maize. Maize (55,000 plant ha-1) with cowpea as an intercrop maintains thick canopy cover (upto 81%) at 50 days after sowing as compared to 59% in 70 days in sole crop maize. Higher vegetative cover is effective in controlling and reducing runoff by 10 Per cent and soil loss by 28 per cent over pure maize.

B. In -Situ Sunnhemp Green Manure Mulching In Rainfed Maize Based Cropping System For Higher Productivity

Execution of in-situ green manuring with sunnhemp produces 2180 to 2310 kg ha-1 of maize grain and 1840 to 2310 kg ha-1 of wheat grain (maize-wheat rotation) resulting in higher net profit. Sunnhemp mulching improves soil organic C along with addition of 21.6 to 41.3 kg of N ha-1 in the soil. Green manuring protects the soil from direct beating action of raindrops and increases the time of concentration by reducing the velocity of runoff water.

C. Vegetative Barriers for Erosion Control in Western Himalayan Region

Vegetative barriers hinder the flow of runoff water to reduce its velocity. Silt carried along with runoff gets deposited behind this barrier. Sediment deposition results in the formation of bench terraces over a period of 3-4 years. In general, vegetative barriers can reduce runoff and soil loss by 18-21 per cent and 23-68 per cent respectively, on slopes varying from 2-8 per cent.

D. Conservation Tillage for Management of Natural Resources and Maximizing Productivity in Maize-Toria Cropping System

Minimum tillage + crop residue incorporation technology or mulching is more productive and beneficial which yields 2568 kg ha-1 of maize grain and 707 kg ha-1 toria seeds which is 8 per cent and 9 per cent higher, respectively as compared to conventional tillage.

Conservation tillage technology reduces loss of soil, water and nutrient by controlling soil erosion. It results in improved soil organic matter (SOM) which positively influences physical, chemical and biological properties of soil and sustained crop production. Conservation tillage technology assumes greater importance because of its ability to improve soil structure and fertility leading to sustained crop production.

E. Aromatic Grass Based Conservation Farming For Erosion Control And Maize-Wheat Productivity In Western Himalayan Region

An aromatic grass integrated with conservation farming technology, namely Palmarosa Based Conservation Farming was developed with palmarosa as vegetative barrier along with application of minimum tillage, weed live mulch and manures for maize followed by wheat cultivated on residual fertility: FYM (5 t ha-1) + vermi-compost (1.0 t ha-1) + poultry manure (2.5 t ha-1) + minimum tillage (MT) + 3 weed mulch (20, 40 and 60 days after sowing) + palmarosa (Cymbopogon martini) as vegetative barrier. Palmarosa based conservation technology for the maize-wheat cropping system which produced 16 per cent higher mean wheat equivalent yield in the system. Net return from maize-wheat system with technology is 7 per cent higher than conventional inorganic farming.

The technology is particularly beneficial in increasing water productivity, checking soil degradation in respect of nutrient mining and in build up of organic matter leading to enhance productivity. System produced 30 and 34 per cent lesser mean runoff and soil loss, respectively than the conventional system. The mean soil moisture storage was also higher at grain filling stage of maize (7%) and wheat (27%).

Infrastructure and Physical Facilities in the Division

The Central Soil Laboratory at ICAR-IISWC, Dehradun is equipped with various sophisticated instruments to carry out analytical work of samples of different range. The Central Laboratory caters to the analysis of samples related to different Research Projects running in the Institute. Besides this it is also committed to provide the analytical facility to different related stake holders at reasonable rates. The list of the instruments available is as follows:

It is equipped with Laminar Air flow, Autolave, BOD Incubator, Glass Dessicator along with suction pump has been set up to analyse several soil biological properties.

The field Laboratory at Research Farm Selaqui is equipped fecilities which are used for pre-processing of soil, plant and water samples and analysis of some physical properties.