Reproductive failures mar dairy profits
Soshil Rattan
Regular breeding, less inter-calving interval is the cherished goal of a cattle breeder. When he fails to achieve these targets, he finds himself in an awkward situation and loses patience. In India conception of cow requires three services while in foreign countries 1.5 to 1.8 services are normally required per conception. 

Asia’s useful trees and plants
K.L. Noatay
Hararh is a medium-sized, deciduous beautiful tree. an important member of the combertaceae family of the genera dicotyledons among the angiosperms order, its scientific name is terminalia chebula. It is found growing in the outer Himalayas and the Shivaliks of northern Indian and other contiguous hilly terrain with an altitude ranging from 500 to 1000 m.

Micronutrients for sustainable output
Sanjeev Sandal and Ashok Thakur
IN Himachal Pradesh and its adjoining areas, sub-optimum soil depth has resulted in severe micronutrient deficiency in a majority of field crops. The deficiency of zinc has already been established through soil-testing reports. 

• Farm operations for February
  
  

Who is responsible for ailment of farm sector
G. S. Dhillon

Recently CRRID organised a brain-storming session-cum workshop in Chandigarh on the theme "what ails our farm sector and who is responsible for the current dismal scenario ?" The findings of the event have been well reported in newspapers.

As per the report filed, "The Paddy crop sown by farmers has been found by experts and participants to be responsible for all the ailments of Punjab’s farm sector. Paddy cultivation has been found to be the bane of the ecology and farm economy. This also has acted as a drain on two of our key resources of water and soil.

The detailed charge sheet states that paddy cultivation is not only responsible for a severe decline of the water table which is experienced by the two-thirds region of Punjab, covering Majha, Malwa and Cis-Sutlej tract, but also for the waterlogging and salinity problems being experienced by the south-western districts of Punjab covering Muktsar and Malout areas.

The report did not pass any judgement on the populistic concessions given by the Badal government in the form of free electricity for working of tube wells and free canal water.

No blame has been fixed on the grant of priority tubewell connections to the farmers of the area prone to waterlogging, to enable the farmers to switch over from cotton cultivation to paddy cultivation.

On the other hand, experts blamed the farmers for going in for early plantation of paddy in May (30 to 40 days in advance of the recommended date) for causing water table depletion. This preponing of the plantation by 40 days compared to 120 days of the total cropping period, meant a 50 per cent increase in the total depletion caused in a season.

Holding paddy solely responsible and not blaming the politicians, bring to our mind the popular story told to our children entitled "Andher Nagri Chaupat Raja"

As the story goes, there was death of a person sitting close to a wall when it collapsed due to faulty construction by a mason. But the trials held led to fixing the entire responsibility on the washerman as he gave more importance to sprinkling water on the road to settle the dust so that the rulers while travelling over the road did not suffer any discomfort. Consequently, he did not supply water to the mason. As there was not enough water available, the mason did not use mortar while building the wall. The judgement held the washerman responsible for the death of the innocent citizen and the mason got away scot-free.

Is the case of paddy not similar to that of the washerman? Is the political set-up not responsible for making an extravagant free gift of scarce resource of water. If water was properly priced would not the situation be better. If the farmers are to be helped, than subsidy in the form of bonus could have been given per quintal of the crop produced i.e. a direct subsidy which would have been available to all the farmers even those operating tubewells using diesel pumps.

Plus points of paddy:

Ask a person suffering from wheat allergy whether paddy constitutes a bane or boon, his answer would be that rice derived from paddy is definitely a boon for the people suffering from the above allergy. As they cannot consume wheat and wheat products, rice provides a wholesome meal.

The Paddy crop has got a highly efficient photosynthesis system and can give us a fully matured crop in less than 100 days and the farmers can hence obtain two paddy crops in a season.

The paddy plant is more tolerant to the presence of salts in the soil, and this species is used for reclamation of saline affected soils and for depressing salt levels which rise in the high water table areas when the land is fallow or no crop is present.

So should all the blame be attributed to paddy for the ills faced by our farmers or should the politicians be held responsible.

Reproductive failures mar dairy profits
Soshil Rattan

Regular breeding, less inter-calving interval is the cherished goal of a cattle breeder. When he fails to achieve these targets, he finds himself in an awkward situation and loses patience. In India conception of cow requires three services while in foreign countries 1.5 to 1.8 services are normally required per conception. Milk production can never be increased nor dairying become a paying profession unless we pay devoted attention to regular calf and milk reproduction in cows and buffaloes. The solution lies in the adoption of improved managerial practices and forming a united front comprising semen bank, inseminator and dairy farmer. Frantic and earnest efforts are needed to make all three proficient and result-oriented.

Management: Improvement in conception rate can be obtained through better management. Some of managerial practices necessary for achieving better conception rate are as follows:

Keeping of records: Keep records of dates of heat, insemination dates, calving dates and all events of reproductive cycle. These records can be helpful to determine any change in reproductive pattern.

Detection of heat: Many cows do not show all the prominent signs of heat. The cows should be let loose in the morning and evening and observed keenly on the expected dates of heat. Usually the animals in heat stand still when they are mounted and in almost all the cases there is a clear discharge from the vulva which may be seen sticking on the tail and hind quarters. A cow should be offered for insemination 12 hours after the first detection of heat.

Breeding cows 60 to 90 days after freshening: Cows inseminated before 60 days after parturition result in a low conception rate as the uterus during this period is not in normal condition. Complete involution of uterus is necessary before it is again impregnated. One or two free heat periods during the first 60 days after parturition are beneficial for the reproductive organs and ensure better conception.

Specialist opinion: If the herd owner observes anoestrous, abnormal discharge, too long or two short heat cycles and when estrous cycle approaches multiple of 20 days, he should seek treatment by a competent veterinarian. Any laxity in reporting the case of the veterinarian may put heavy burden in settling the animal.

Feeding and health coverage: Poor nutrition and lack of minerals are sometimes blamed for the low conception rate. When the cows are fed on wheat bhusa or imbalanced diet over long periods more services are required to settle. Nutritious green fodder and balanced diet is the prime need of the reproductive animal. Simultaneously, complete health coverage i.e. vaccinations and deworming are obligatory to guard the animals from falling prey to deadly contagious and verminious diseases.

United front: A united front comprising of semen bank, herd owner and inseminator, can successfully achieve the desired conception rate. Proficiency of one and failure of any other can lead to low conception rate and render futile the cherished goal of white revolution in the country. All efforts are required to make proficient all of the 3 parties.

Semen bank: Healthy, fertile and pedigree bulls should be located at semen bank. The collection, processing and preservation of semen should be undertaken on scientific lines. Only conscientious, dedicated and experienced officials should be engaged in semen banks to ensure high quality semen to the field insemination units.

Cow owner: The cow owner should be well-versed in the knowledge of heat detection, and correct timing of insemination. He should be able to present the animals for insemination in the suitable stage of heat and cooperate with the inseminator in case extra care is required in settling the cow.

Inseminator: When quality of semen is doubtless and the owner has presented the healthy animals at the right stage of heat, the proficiency of the inseminator matters a lot. If the inseminator is inexperienced and irresponsible, the efforts on the part of semen bank may go waste. The ability, experience and technique of the Inseminator play a major unquestioned role in achieving the cherished conception rate. The inseminator should be able to identify the proper stage of heat, differentiate normal and abnormal discharge from uterine organ and adopt the necessary insemination technique.

Asia’s useful trees and plants
K.L. Noatay

Hararh is a medium-sized, deciduous beautiful tree. an important member of the combertaceae family of the genera dicotyledons among the angiosperms order, its scientific name is terminalia chebula. It is found growing in the outer Himalayas and the Shivaliks of northern Indian and other contiguous hilly terrain with an altitude ranging from 500 to 1000 m. It is a constant companion of sal, sain, bahera, etc, broad-leaved trees growing in the Terai region or submountainous areas from Afghanistan to Nepal.

The bark of hararh is dark brownish in colour. The oblong-shaped leaves are 3 to 6 inches long and 2 to 3 inches wide. The tree bears beautiful dull white compound flowers in 4 to 6 inch long clusters during the spring season, when light greenish young foliage also sprouts simultaneously. It bears ovoid shaped fruit, 1.5 to 2.5 inches long and 1 to 1.5 inches thick drupes, consisting of oily nut enclosed in a fleshy green exterior.

The fruit of hararh, when dried, is called myrobalan in commerce. It is an important ingredient of medicines in ayurvedic, unani as well as allopathic medical systems. Even the raw green fruit is used locally for problems of constipation and digestive disorder. It is used for similar problems in veterinary practice as well. Large quantities of the myrobalans are exported to foreign countries every year, earning substantial foreign exchange for the national exchequer.

The heartwood of hararh is pale to dark brownish in colour, weighing about 20 to 25 kg per cubic foot. It is hard, closed grained, fairly durable and is used for house building, agricultural implements and cheap furniture. Its bark and fruit also find use in tanning and dying. The tree further gives very soothing shade during summer, though its leaves also serve as fodder for the cattle in the event of dearth of grass.

Indeed hararh is a very useful tree.

Young hararh plants can be raised from the dried fruit. Commercial nurseries sell two-year old plant at Rs 15 to Rs 20 each. However, with a view to helping the interested people in planting hararh trees in their vacant grassland, fields, compounds, including on the premises of government buildings, etc, the state forest departments sell the nursery plants at a highly subsidised rate, viz Re 1 per plant to encourage people’s participation in afforestation, arboriculture and soil conservation vis-a-vis beautification of the environment.

Keeping in view the several benefits that a hararh tree provides, it is highly desirable that the country folks take to cultivating it on a large scale — whenever and wherever possible.

Micronutrients for sustainable output
Sanjeev Sandal and Ashok Thakur

IN Himachal Pradesh and its adjoining areas, sub-optimum soil depth has resulted in severe micronutrient deficiency in a majority of field crops. The deficiency of zinc has already been established through soil-testing reports. Sandy and organic soils and soils with extreme acidity or alkalinity are more prone to changes in micronutrient levels in any soil system.

With the increasing emphasis on horticulture in the 10th five-year Plan for meeting WTO requirements, the role of micronutrients is gaining due importance. Several reports around the world have already established the need for iron requirement in fruits like peaches, grapes and nut trees, zinc and manganese in beans, soyabean, onion, potato, citrus and corn, boron and molybdenum in cauliflower and apple.

Fruit cracking in tomato due to deficiency of calcium and boron, buttoning in cauliflower due to molybdenum deficiency, appearance of pink and reddish-brown colouration on the curd of cauliflower and occurrence of whip tail in cauliflower due to deficiency of molybdenum have been observed in most of the vegetable belts of the state.

In every acidic soil, iron and manganese are toxic, whereas phosphorus and molybdenum are deficient. Soils rich in calcium may have deficiencies of iron, manganese, zinc and copper. Heavy NPK fertilisation does cause deficiency of micronutrients. Loamy soils with soil reaction slightly acidic to neutral is considered optimum for micronutrient availability and uptake.

For mitigating the deficiency problem, zinc is applied to soil through zinc sulphate at the rate of 20 to 25 kg/ha 10 to 15 days before planting. Molybdenum may be supplied to soil through sodium molybdate or ammonium molybdate at the rate of 20 to 40 gram/ha. Borax supplies boron to soil. Application of organic manure prepared through biocomposting not only supplies micronutrients but also increases its availability in soil-plant system.

The micronutrient fertilisers should be made available to farmers at all nearest cooperative fertiliser societies in each village. Soil testing, especially micronutrient analysis, must be encouraged. The information on micronutrient status of soil needs to be made available at the grass-roots level. For strengthening this work in all districts, krishi vigyan kendras should be well equipped with micronutrient testing laboratory facilities.

Second half of this month is the best time for sowing the seeds of summer season annuals like orange cosmos cailaridia gomphrana, kochia, vinea, zinnia, portulaca, etc. Sow the seeds to these annuals on the raised beds, enriched with well-rotten FYM.

— The deciduous ornamental plants such as lagerstroemia Indica (sauni) weeping willow, camposis-grandiflora, etc. can be transplanted without earth ball just before their buds start sprouting. Prunning and training of established deciduous plants can also be done in this month.

— Weeding of winter season flowers (if required should be done. Off-type and diseased plants should be removed if seed of that particular annual is to be collected. Water at proper time is also very important.

— The bulbous plants like amaryllia, football lily (naemanthus), tube rose, zepyranthes, etc. can also be planted in this month. The bulbous plants prefer sandy loam soil enrich with well decomposed farmyard manure.

— If some new area is to be landscaped, then soil should be preferred well for the ornamental plantation in the end of February or in March. Whenever trees, shrubs or creepers are to be planted, tree pits should be dug of proper size. Additions of 2-3 baskets of well-rotten farmyard manure is also recommended. For shrubs and creeper smaller pits can be prepared.

— The deciduous fruit plants like pear, grapes and phalsa should be planted before they start new growth. Citrus, mango, guava, loquat and ber being evergreen fruit plants should either be planted in late February if the weather warms up to next month. However, August-September is preferable season of planting.

— The recommended dose of nitrogen and muriate of potash to the mango, grapes, pear, litchi, loquat, papaya and plum may be applied now to maintain the growth and fertility.

— In citrus, utmost care needs to be given to irrigation before sprouting in February. Loquat trees, which have already set their fruits, will need 1-2 watering. Ber trees should also be watered so that fruits can develop in good size. To grapes one irrigation should be given after pruning.

— Grape pruning should be completed. If the late pruned vines show bleeding there is nothing to worry about as the liquid does not contain any nutrient matter.

— Remove dead wood in citrus and mango trees before the new growth starts. Apply 2:2:250 Bordeaux mixture immediately and apply Bordeaux paste to the cut surface and the trunk of the trees. Apply Bordeaux paint to the trunk after a week.

— The frost covers, which were erected to protect the plants against possible frost injury should preferably be kept intact during this season.

— To check citrus psylla, citrus leaf miner and whitefly spray 625 ml Nuvacron 40 EC or 670 ml of Roger 30 EC in 500 litres of water on spring flush before flowers open. Give third spray of 100 ppm Streptocycline for the control of citrus canker. Bordeaux mixture (2:2:250) or copper oxychloride can also be sprayed.

— Mango hopper is usually very active during February-March. To check this pest, spray first at the end of February and second at the end of March with 500g Sevin or Hexavin 50 WP or 400 ml of Malathion 50 EC or 350 ml of Thiodan 35 EC in 250 litres of water, give one spray with 0.1% Karathane or 0.75% wettable sulphur before flowering.

— To control pear scab, pre-blossom and post-blossom sprays of 0.2% Captan beginning from the dormant stage and continuing till petal-fall at 10 days intervals should be given.

— In ber, to check the fruit fly spray 350 ml Rogor 30 EC 250 litres of water at fortnightly interval. Spraying of Rogor should be stopped at least two weeks before picking of ber.

— Progressive Farming,PAU