N K Bisen's scientific contributions

The present study was conducted under rice-wheat cropping system in Chhattisgarh Plain of Madhya Pradesh to find out the extension and technological gap in technological interventions under farmers FIRST project at College of Agriculture, Balaghat. The 60 demonstrations on farmers’ fields with a total of 24.0 ha area were selected under the farmer FIRST project. Prevailing farmer’s practices were treated as control for comparison with recommended practices. Results of two years’ data revealed that the rice crop average yield of demonstrated intervention was 41.35 q/ha over control (34.40 q/ha) with an increase of 20.19%, while in case wheat average yield was recorded 30.22 over the control 24.35 q/ha with an increase of 21.11%. The extension gap was observed 6.95 and 6.15 q/ha, while, the technology gap were 8.65 and 13.35 q/ha in rice and wheat, respectively. The technology index was 17.30% and 32.83% in rice and wheat, respectively.

The field demonstrations were laid out at 30 farmers (12.0 ha area) during 2018, 2019 and 2020 to examine the impact of various technological interventions on summer moong. In this intervention, PDM 139 variety of moong bean was sown by using seed drill during 10th-20th April of each year with 25 kg/ha seed rate and treated with Thiram @ 3 g/kg of seed and Rhizobium culture 10g/kg seed. Pendimethylene @ 1.5 kg/ha was applied for weed management, where as urea 27.5kg/ha and SSP of 250 kg/ha was applied as fertilizer doses. Farmers practice kept as check for comparing the impact of intervention on moong bean yield and economic returns. Results of the study revealed that, the crop yield was increased by 50.0, 43.9 and 44.0% under intervention over farmers practice during 2018, 2019 and 2020, respectively. Mean of the technology gap was 3.13 q/ha and mean extension gap was 2.16 q/ha. Whereas, technology index was observed 0.31 during the demonstrations. Economic returns showed significantly improved under intervention during all the years as compared to the farmers practice. B:C ratio was 1.88 under intervention during 2019, which was higher compared farmers practice in all the years.

Chickpea (Cicer aeritinum) is one of most important pulse crop which is grown in rabi season. The availability of nutrients in the soil for plant utilization is known to be affected not only by the inherent soil characteristics but also by the use of fertilizers and management practices followed for crop production. Therefore, a study on the effect of integrated application of inorganic fertilizers and organic manure (vermicompost) on rice productivity at farmer field was carried out at Balaghat 251 district of Madhya Pradesh. In between the technology intervention, human resource development components were also included to improve the farmers understanding and skills about the demonstrated technology on nutrient management aspects. The demonstrations were conducted at different farmers' field at villages viz. Koppe, Chillod and Lendejhari on chickpea (variety JG 63) during rabi season 2018-19 and 2019-20 under Indian Council of Agricultural Research funded Project on Farmer FIRST, College of Agriculture, Balaghat (M.P.). Based on the basic soil properties of farmer's field, the present experiment included four treatments viz., T 1 = Farmer Practice (as Control), T 2 = 100% NPK, T 3 = 100% NPK + Zn, T 4 = 75% NPK+ 5t/ha FYM ha and T 5 = 75% NPK + 5t FYM ha-1 + Biofertilizers (BGA/Rhizobium& PSB). Results indicated that the highest average yield of chickpea was achieved in 75% NPK + 5t FYM ha-1 + Biofertilizers treatment, whereas, lowest yield was recorded in farmer's practice. The highest increase in yield (50.7%) was observed with 75% NPK + 5t FYM ha-1 + Biofertilizers, followed by 75% NPK + 5t FYM ha-1 treatments (47.5%) over farmer's practice.

The study was conducted during 2016-2019 at farmer’s field under the Farmer FIRST Project (FFP), JNKVV-College of Agriculture, Balaghat, Madhya Pradesh, to assess the impact of integrated nutrient management on crop productivity, soil nutrient balance, and the economics of the rice-wheat cropping systems. Application of 75% NPK + 2.5 t vermicompost/ha + biofertilizers (BGA & PSB) produced significantly higher grain yields of rice and wheat (4495 kg/ha and 3455 kg/ha, respectively) over the farmer practice (3855 kg/ha and 2655 kg/ha, respectively). Maximum nutrient uptake (N, P, and K) by rice and wheat crops was recorded in the treatment receiving 75% NPK + 5 t/ha vermicompost + biofertilizers. The conjunctive use of inorganic fertilizers along with organic manure and biofertilizers gave the highest availability of soil N, P, K and Zn at the post-harvest of the wheat crop as compared to other treatment combinations. Further, results showed that the highest cost of cultivation (₹ 72400/ha) and net returns (₹ 84380/ha) were obtained in 75% NPK + 2.5 t/ha vermicompost + biofertilizer treatments. The benefit-cost ratio computed for the rice-wheat cropping system suggested that a higher B:C ratio is associated with higher production and better quality of the produce.

A study was conducted during 2016-17 to 2018-19 at farmer's field under Farmer FIRST Project (FFP), at College of Agriculture, Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Waraseoni, Balaghat, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, to assess the impact of integrated nutrient management on crop productivity, soil-nutrient balance and economics of rice (Oryza sativa L.)-chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) cropping system. Application of 75% NPK + 5 t/ha farmyard manure (FYM) + biofertilizers [blue green algae (BGA)/Rhizobium and phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB)] resulted in significantly higher grain yield of rice and chickpea (4,429 kg/ha and 1,538 kg/ha, respectively) over the Farmer Practice (3,644 kg/ha and 1,036 kg/ha respectively). The maximum nutrients uptake (N, P and K) by rice and chickpea crops were recorded in the treatment receiving 75% NPK + 5 t/ha FYM + biofertilizers. The conjunc-tive use of inorganic fertilizers along with organic manure and biofertilizers exhibited the highest availability of soil N, P, K and Zn at post-harvest of chickpea crop as compared to the other treatment combinations. Further, results showed that the highest cost of cultivation (`58,200/ha) and net returns (`96,832/ha) were obtained in 75% NPK + 5 t/ha FYM + biofertilizers treatment. The benefit: cost (B: C) ratio computed for rice-chickpea cropping system indicated that, the higher B: C ratio was found to be associated with higher production and better quality of the produce .

A study on growers of underutilized pulse crop Chani (Cicer arietinum L.) of Balaghat district, M.P., India ABSTRACT Chani or Chanoli (Cicer arietinum) is a unique small seeded underutilized gram traditionally grown in the Balaghat and some parts of Seoni district of Madhya Pradesh. It is mainly grown for its unique taste and the medicinal properties. The present study was conducted to explore the importance of Chani/ Chanoli along with the constraints faced by farmers and their experiences. Ex-post facto research design and purposive random sampling method were used in the present study. Personal interview method was used for data collection. Results show more than half of the chani growing farmers were more than 50 years old, 61.67 % of the farmers had 5-10 members in their family, 55.83 % of the farmers are engaged in farming and animal husbandry as their occupation, having small land holding. About 40.83 % and 47.50 % of the farmers had primary level of education and their annual income from farming ranged between Rs. 2,00,000-4,00,000. Farmers also reported that chani is not only part of important traditional food but it also has lots of medicinal benefits. It helps to cure arthritis, piles, constipation etc. The low yield of crop, low market price and unavailability of pure healthy seeds were top ranked constraints; while proper market facility, availability of pure healthy seeds and promotional activities to popularize the medicinal and nutritional values of chani/chanoli were found to be top ranked suggestions.

Background: Balaghat district of Madhya Pradesh is one of the largest tribal dominated district in Central India. Baiga and Gond are the main two tribes of the Baihar, Birsa, Paraswada, Langi, Kirnapur, Katangi, Balaghat, Waraseoni and Lalbarra tehsils of Balaghat district. These tribes have enormous knowledge about medicinal properties of the plant species available in natural ecosystems (forests and grasslands). Therefore, the study aimed to investigate the plants used by these tribes for seminal debility and other diseases. Methods: Survey was carried out during 2019-20 in Biahar, Birsa, Paraswada, Langi, Kirnapur, Katangi, Lalburra and Waraseoni tehsils of the district Balaghat. Judgmental/purposive sampling method used to collect the required information from the tribes of the locality. Result: Total 35 most important plants were used for curing various diseases and injuries. Along with their botanical description, we explained the method of intake of the plant medicines to cure the diseases. Around 39% of the plants used to cure seminal debility comes under herb category whereas shrub (28%), climber (11%), grass (6%), twiner (6%), small tree (5%) and big tree (5%). Whereas, 76% herbs utilized for curing other diseases, followed by shrub (18%) and twiner (6%).

Rice (Oriza sativa) is one of most important kharif cereal crop. The availability of nutrients in the soil for plant utilization is known to be affected not only by the inherent soil characteristics but also by the use of fertilizers and management practices followed for crop production. Therefore, a study on the response of integrated application of inorganic fertilizers and organic manure (vermicompost) on rice productivity at farmer field was carried out at Balaghat district of Madhya Pradesh. In between the technology intervention, human recourse development components were also included to excel the farmers understanding and skills about the demonstrated technology on nutrient management aspects. The demonstrations were conducted at different farmers' field at villages viz. Koppe, Chillod and Lendejhari on rice (variety JRB-1) during kharif season 2018-19 and 2019-20 under Indian Council of Agricultural Research funded Project on Farmer FIRST, College of Agriculture, Balaghat (M.P.). Based on the basic soil properties of farmer's field, the present experiment included four treatments viz., T 1-100% NPK + 2 t Vermicompost ha-1 , T 2-100% NPK, T 3-100% NPK (-S) and T 4-Farmer's practice. Results indicated that the highest Original Research Article Thakur et al.; IJPSS, 33(4): 25-31, 2021; Article no.IJPSS.67312 26 average yield of rice was achieved in the treatment T 1-100% NPK + Vermicompost. Whereas, lowest yield was recorded in T 4-farmer's practice. Highest rice yield was observed with 100% NPK + vermicompost (47%),followed by 100% NPK (44%) over farmer's practice. Hence, the integrated use of inorganic fertilizers with vermicompost enhance rice productivity at farmer's field. Integrated nutrient applications are also more beneficial when the rate of nutrient application is below the normal rate.

The experiment was conducted during rabi season of 2017-18 at experimental block of Murjhad farm, College of Agriculture, Balaghat, Madhya Pradesh, India to evaluate yield and quality parameters of rabi season forage crops. The treatments consisted of four crops i.e. sole oat, sole makkhan grass, sole local rye and sole berseem in a randomized block design with seven replications. The analysis of data indicated that dry matter content, green fodder yield, dry fodder yield and digestible dry matter yield were highest in case of makkhan grass over other crops. At 3rd cutting, makkhan grass yielded significantly more green fodder yield compared to berseem and oat. The total dry fodder yield of makkhan grass was significantly increased by 33.35, 7.38 and 7.77 per cent, respectively over berssem, oat and local rye grass. Whereas, crude protein content, dry matter digestibility and crude protein yield was highest in berseem than other crops. Crude protein yield was increased 19.53, 52.23 and 28.71 per cent at 3rd cutting and 15.32, 50.54 and 24.19 per cent at 4th cutting in berseem crop over makkhan grass, oat and local rye grass, respectively. At 2nd, 3rd and 4th cuttings, digestible dry matter yield from makkhan grass was significantly higher than other crops.