Effect of soil amelioration on high value vegetables grown under protected conditions

Abstract

High-value vegetable production under open field in northeast India's hilly ecosystem often suffers from abiotic and biotic stresses (low temperature, soil acidity and moisture deficit during winter, and infestation of pests-diseases during humid summer). Protected cultivation with soil ameliorative measures may help in overcoming these limitations while sustaining year-round production. An experiment was conducted at the Horticulture Experimental Farm, ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Meghalaya for three consecutive years (2016–18) to study the yield performance of 4 high-value vegetables (tomato, capsicum, king-chilli and cucumber) grown under naturally ventilated polyhouse in the strong acid soils (pH<4.80) of mid-altitude (960 m amsl) sub-tropical hilly ecosystem of northeast India. Crops were grown with three ameliorative measures (liming @2.5 q/ha, black polythene mulching, and both) and yields were compared with control (without liming and mulching). Liming increased soil pH by 0.39–0.5 units, available phosphorus by 3.8–4.6 kg/ha and bases (calcium and magnesium) by 1.0–1.2 meq/100 g soil. On black polythene mulching, temperature (air and soil) increased by 5.5–8.7°C and 3.9–5.8°C, respectively, during extremely cold periods (December–February). Soil moisture retention was 3.8–5.2% higher over control plots. Ameliorative measures (liming or mulching) increased tomato yields by 15.0–28.5%, capsicum by 21.1–59.9% and king-chilli by 5.76–24.5% while cucumber yield in mulched plot increased 2-fold over respective control plots. The yields of all the vegetables further increased on the combined application of lime and mulch together. Findings suggest ameliorative measures promises better productivity of vegetables under controlled environment.

Effect of Zinc and Thiourea Fertilizer at Different Stages for Growth and Yield of Green Gram

“…The Significant and higher Number of Seeds/Pod (10.06) was observed in treatment -9 (Zinc 5.5 kg/ha+ Thiourea (500 ppm) -45 DAS) it might be due to with the application of thiourea resulted in significantly higher net photosynthetic rate and concentration of chlorophyll, starch, soluble protein and total free amino acids as well as nitrate reductase activity in leaves compared to control plants and both vegetative and flowering stages and similar reported by Verma et al [12]. Further increase in number of seeds per pod might be due to Zinc plays a major role in photosynthesis, enzymes activation, fertilization and translocation of assimilates which are responsible for the increase in stover yield Tiwari et al [13].…”

Awareness and Adoption of Climate Resilient Horticulture Technologies by Farmers in Ri Bhoi District of Meghalaya

“…Weather based agro-advisory, creation of seed bank, popularization of crop insurance and use of indigenous technical knowledge can help to mitigate climate change. The contingent crop planning with major emphasis on horticultural crops, protected cultivation of high value horticultural crops is another viable option for climate resilient agriculture to increase farm profitability (Harikrishna and Naberia, 2021, Verma et al, 2020, Verma et al, 2022.…”