Diagnostic Survey in Farmers’ Fields of Bulandshahr District for Soil Physical Constraints Identifications

Abstract

A diagnostic survey was conducted in rice-wheat and maize-wheat blocks of Bulandshahr district for identification of tillage and other related soil physical constraints in farmers’ fields. Nearly 75 per cent of the surveyed farmers were small and marginal. Analysis of collected information revealed that, in general, for both cropping systems, even though big and medium farmer stilled their land intensely and used adequate inputs, yet their yields were not significantly higher than those of small and marginal farmers. Survey team suggested that use of modern methods of soil management, such as bed planting of wheat (planting of wheat on 37 cm wide and 20 cm high beds alternating with 30 cm wide furrows) would make the fields more accessible for removal of obnoxious Phalaris minor weed at advanced stage of wheat, which was major cause of wheat yield reduction. Besides, it would also improve the soil physical environment, input use and yields of maize and wheat. Further, it was observed that for both cropping systems, in most of the farmers’ fields, bulk density values of the soils were higher than the critical value of 1.6 Mg m^-3. Hence, chiseling once in 3-4 years was suggested to break hard sub-surface pan for further yield improvement.