Agricultural Research Management Information System

Home
Research Summary
Search
About Us
- ARMIS
- Brochure
Contact Us
Report
User Request
Data Input
Help
- Operation Manual
  - PDF
  - Video
- Program Area & Commodity
We have reached 37600 number of research entries at this moment.

- Logout

Research Detail

Home
Research
Detail

Prospects of Increasing Pulses Production Through Improved Cropping Systems

M.Z. Abedin
Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Joydebpur, Bangladesh

Md. Akram Hossain
Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Joydebpur, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Pulses occupy a position of pride in Bangladesh agriculture for various reasons. However, due to continued emphasis on cereals, these are being replaced by rice or wheat crops, especially in irrigated areas. Increasing yield per hectare is the main way to augment pulses production, though opportunities to grow pulses in current fallows exist. Experiments conducted both on-station and on-farm suggest that these crops could be fitted into existing cropping patterns in nontraditional areas and in times of the year when they are not usually grown. Further, proper seed rates in the existing intercropping practices can boost yields. Pulses could be grown successfully as mixed crops with wheat. This paper discusses the research results of trials on intercropping with pulses and on pulse-based cropping systems conducted during 1981-88 in Bangladesh. Suggestions for future areas of concern have been made.

Keywords: Prospects, Increasing Pulses Production, Improved Cropping Systems

Location: In Bangladesh

Start Date: 00-00-1981

End Date: 00-00-1988

Program Area: Crop-Soil-Water Management

Commodity: Pulses, Cropping pattern

Objectives:

At a minimum per capita consumption rate of 15 g day-1, the total requirement of pulses in 1989/90 was estimated to be around 600 000 t for a population of 110 million. In other words, the production needs to be trebled in the coming years if we want to provide a cheap source of protein to our people.

Methodology:

Opportunities for Increasing Production: Though improved cultivars of the pulses are not as high A critical analysis of the problem identifies the following yielding as those of cereals and potatoes, they can give relatively good yields if proper production technology is followed. Similarly the crop-production technologies for these crops are not as advanced as those for other crops. However, their adoption does lead to increased production. The strategies described here may be utilized to increase the production of pulses. The present-day national productivity of pulses is around 600 kg ha-1. It can easily be increased, possibly doubled, provided proper management practices are followed by the farmers. Some of the available technologies are described below.

Cultivars play a key role in increasing yield as responses to management practices are mainly decided by genetic potential. Recent advances are: Mung bean (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek): cultivar Mubarik released in 1982. Yields about 0.8 - 1.0 t ha-1 . Cultivar Kami released in 1987. Adapted to September sowing. Matures within 60-65 days. Synchronous in podding. Mean yield is about 1.0-1.2 t ha-1. Chickpea cultivar Nabin: released in 1987. Flowers and matures about 15 days earlier than the local check, seed size about 25% larger than the local check (cultivar Sabur 4) and yield is 30-35% more than local varieties under farmers' management conditions. Black gram (Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper) line MAK1 awaiting release (Rahman 1990). Maintains more or less stable yield across locations. Produces 20-30% higher yield than local check varieties. Mean yield is around 1.0 t ha-1. Suitable for rainy-season sowing. Besides these, the Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture ( BINA) has developed a black gram mutant 'M 25' and a mung bean strain 'MB 55'. M 25 outyielded (1.25 t ha-1) the local variety at the Boda Multilocation Trials ( MLT) site in the postrainy season, 1987/88. The mutant also proved to be more tolerant to the yellow mosaic virus (YMV). Mung bean strain MB 55 produced about 1 t ha-1 but infestation at the later vegetative stage was more than the check cultivars.

Fertilization Though the fertilizer requirements of pulses are not as high as that of cereals, they certainly respond to small doses of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Islam (1990) recommended fertilizer doses for pulse crops after a series of experiments conducted by the Soil Science Division of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) in different parts of the country.

Inoculation with Rhizobium sp Culture Khanam and Hossain (1988) reported that different strains of the Rhizobium sp culture significantly increased the yield of chickpea. The grain yield of chickpea may be increased by as much as 58% if seeds are inoculated (Table 1). Khanam and Hossain (1988) also reported that the yield of lentils was higher when plants were fertilized with proper doses of nitrogen, phosphate and potash along with the application of inoculum (Table 2). Though efficient strains of Rhizobium sp have been identified, the production of culture has not been undertaken on a large scale.

Dates of Sowing Studies by the Agronomy Division, BARI (BARI 1982a) revealed that among the five mung bean stains tested, BM 7706 produced the highest grain yield (1.61 t ha-1) followed by BM 7704 (1.57 t ha-1), when sown on 15 April at the BARI Farm, Joydebpur. Studies at Jessore, Ishurdi, and Joydebpur by the Agronomy Division of BARI (BARI 1985) showed that the optimal time of sowing chickpea would be the middle of Nov but it can be sown till the middle of Dec with higher seed rates. Seeding of lentil till 25 Nov had a similar effect on yield and other characters. But 5 Dec sowing showed some decline in yield and yield contributing characters. Karim et al. (1988) reported that yield and yield components of the mung bean line 'MK 72' were influenced by the time of sowing. Higher grain yield was obtained from the crop sown on 15 March.

Source of Information: Advances in Pulses Research in Bangladesh Proceedings of the Second National Workshop on Pulses 6-8 Jun 1989 Joydebpur, Bangladesh

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

In spite of the possibility of an increase in the area under Boro rice after the introduction of irrigation, there remains enough scope to increase the production of pulses in Bangladesh. Keeping this in view, and considering the various limitations, future research should include the following issues: • Search for better cultivars to suit varying agroclimatic situations and different cropping systems. Yields could be increased from the existing area if high-yielding cultivars are introduced. • Short-duration cultivars to fit into systems involving boro rice. This will need varieties maturing in about 80/90 days. Such varieties will to a great extent regain the pulse area lost to boro rice. • Improved management practices for sole and mixed cropping. Increased production through higher yields of existing pulses could be obtained through better seed rate, weeding, and better land preparation. • Development of new cropping systems involving pulses. This will allow the introduction of pulses in new areas and in different seasons. • Adjustment of existing cropping patterns. Existing cropping patterns often delay seeding thereby reducing yield, due to poor soil moisture conditions. Seeding during optimum moisture conditions and time can greatly increase yield. Short-duration rice varieties can help to achieve this. • Fodder crop production. Traditionally green pulses crop and hay are used as fodder. Reduction of the area of the pulse has reduced fodder availability, thereby affecting animal health. Cultivars producing higher biomass may compensate for lower fodder production due to the reduced area. • Improved pest-management practices. Disease and insects are important factors for reduced yield. Economically sound practices should be developed so that farmers are motivated to use pest-management practices. • Better seed storage conditions. Better seeds would mean good plant stands and higher yields. Insects cause a lot of damage to pulse seeds in storage, therefore improved storage methods are a matter of urgent necessity. • Emphasis on khesari, lentil, and chickpea. Because of their share in national pulses production, the emphasis of research should be on khesari, lentils, and chickpea. • Regional emphasis. The area on which mung bean and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. are cultivated is comparatively less than the other pulses, yet in some areas, their importance is not negligible. Therefore, research on these two crops should be intensified, especially mung beans for the southern area (Barisal and Patuakhali), and cowpea for the Chittagong area.

Knowledge Management: Report/Proceedings