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Farmer-friendly Technologies to Improve Chickpea Production in the High BARInd Tract

D. Harris
CAZS Natural Resources, University of Wales, Bangor, UK

C. Johansen
15 Westgate Court, Leeming, WA 6149, Australia

A. M. Musa
People’s Resource-Oriented Voluntary Association (PROVA), 204/A Uposhahar, Rajshahi, 6203, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Research in the High Barind Tract (HBT) of Bangladesh to alleviate the effects of drought, pests, and micronutrient deficiencies on the production of chickpea is described. On-farm seed priming, whereby seeds are soaked in water for 8 hours before being sown, was tested by farmers during four consecutive years from 1998-99 to 2001-02 and this increased grain yield consistently in all four years, with a mean increase of 37%. A lack of molybdenum (Mo) was shown to limit the nodulation, and hence the nitrogen nutrition and yield, of chickpea. Adding Mo and Rhizobium to soils increased nodulation and yield but was expensive and somewhat impractical. Adding Mo and Rhizobium to seeds during the priming operation was shown to be a less costly and more viable alternative that increased mean nodulation score in farmers’ trials by more than 70% and mean grain yield by 20%. The components of a simple integrated pest management package were tested, separately and together, in farmers’ fields. Bird perches, to facilitate access of insectivorous birds to the infested crop, reduced significantly the incidence of larvae of pod borer (Helicoverpa armigera) and the number of pods damaged by the pest. Use of Helicoverpa nuclear polyhedrosis virus was similarly effective, as was growing chickpea as an intercrop with linseed or barley. However, reduced pest incidence was not consistently associated with increased yield because of other constraints such as Botrytis gray mold and terminal drought. Nevertheless, the simple farmer-friendly interventions tested proved to be effective and would contribute to increasing the productivity and profitability of chickpea production in the HBT

Keywords: On-farm research, Implemented to alleviate, Major constraints, Increase the productivity, Profitability, Chickpea, HBT

Location: In Bangladesh

Start Date: 00-00-1989

End Date: 00-00-2005

Program Area: Farm Mechanization

Commodity: Chickpea

Objectives:

To describe some of the on-farm research that was implemented to alleviate these three major constraints and to increase the productivity and profitability of chickpea in the HBT.

Methodology:

Johansen et al (this volume) showed that early sowing, preferably in November rather than in December, is a major determinant of chickpea yield and they discuss ways to manipulate other components of the cropping system (e.g., direct seeding of rice, the use of short-duration rice varieties, minimum tillage) to achieve this. The introduction of short-duration chickpea varieties to the HBT using participatory varietal selection (PVS) also addresses the problem of end-of-season drought (Johansen et al, this volume). Johansen et al also note that seed priming (soaking chickpea seeds in water for 6–8 hours before sowing) mitigates somewhat the negative effects of late planting. There was no significant interaction between priming and year—priming increased yield consistently in all four years: by 46% in 1998-99, by 19% in 1999-2000, by 48% in 2000-01, and by 34% in 2001-02. Additional measurements made in the trials in 1998-99 and 1999-2000 showed that this positive response to priming was associated with faster emergence, more rapid seedling establishment and higher plant stands, more vigorous growth, earlier maturity, and thus escape from end-of-season drought (Musa et al 2001). Priming also reduced plant losses due to stem diseases (38% averaged over the two years) and increased the degree of nodulation by 48% (measured only in 1999-2000). Seed priming has been extensively tested by farmers in the HBT and is a low-cost, low-risk technology that has been adopted widely as a recommended practice (Saha 2002) on its own merits but also as a means to address other constraints (see below). In the 2002-03 season, three separate sub experiments were conducted on the effects of (A) bird perches, (B) HNPV spraying, and (C) mixed cropping. Five replications each of the following treatments were superimposed on existing chickpea crops and mixed crops in the first week of February 2003: A. Bird perches Sixteen T-shaped perches were placed at 5-m intervals (i.e., 4 x 4 = 16) within a 25 x 25-m area of existing chickpea. A similar uniform area of 25 x 25 m without bird perches was identified within 10–20 m of the first plot. B. HNPV spraying Chickpea in selected areas of 25 x 25 m was sprayed with either HNPV (250 larval equivalents ha^–1) or with a chemical insecticide (Ripcord, using 1 mL active ingredient L^–1 water) when small larvae (<1.5 cm long) were first detected, followed by a second spray 2–3 weeks later, depending on larval buildup, and a third spray if infestation continued. A third 25 x 25-m area, with no HNPV or chemical spray applied, was designated nearby. C. Mixed cropping In existing farmers’ fields, adjacent areas of 25 x 25 m containing sole chickpea or chickpea grown mixed with either barley or linseed were chosen. In each of the plots, numbers of Helicoverpa armigera larvae on chickpea were counted in 5 x 1-m² quadrats per plot at three times. Counts were made at 3–4 days after spraying of HNPV and Ripcord. Spraying times were 4 and 22 February and 22 March 2003. Plant numbers of all crop species per 5 x 1-m² quadrat were also measured on 22 March. Chickpea suffered severe damage by BGM in this season so counting of damaged pods and estimation of grain yield were not done. In the 2004-05 season, combined IPM treatments were tested against nonprotected control treatments in both sole crop and mixed crop (with linseed only) situations. The control for the mixed crop was a sole chickpea crop without HNPV spraying or placement of bird perches. Ten paired comparisons were placed in adjacent 25 x 25 m plots in farmers’ fields in Godagari and Nawabganj Sadar Upazila's.

Source of Information: International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), 2008. ISBN 978-971-22-0229-2

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Although chickpea is a popular and potentially profitable crop with farmers in the HBT (Socioconsult 2006, Yusuf Ali et al 2007), there are numerous constraints to its production (see various articles, this volume). In this paper, we have summarized recent research that has examined some of these constraints. The solutions pursued have one thing in common—they are all low-cost interventions that should be readily adopted by the resource-poor farmers growing rainfed chickpea in the HBT. Priming seeds with water before sowing has already been widely adopted (Saha 2002) on the basis of its demonstrated potential to increase yield under the marginal conditions of the HBT and its ability to reduce risk of crop failure (Musa et al 2001). Good crop establishment is an absolute prerequisite for obtaining good yields. HNPV is technically very effective and has many attractions relative to the use of more broadly toxic chemicals, yet both share problems related to availability, quality control, and cost (Johansen et al 2005b). Our efforts, not presented here, to sustain village-level production of HNPV as advocated by Ranga Rao and Shanower (1999) were not successful and currently, HNPV is being produced under more controlled conditions at Rajshahi University. It remains to be seen whether this is a commercially viable approach, but a high demand from eager chickpea growers will be essential. The research findings presented in this and other papers in this volume suggest that a range of options is available to meet the demand for appropriate technologies to support the rice-fallow crop system in the HBT.

Knowledge Management: Report/Proceedings