Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidhyalaya Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Rajnandgaon Adarsh Krishi Upaj Mandi Parisar, Basantpur, Rajnandgaon-491441 (C.G.) Phone No.07744-291525, Email ID– [email protected] Success Story Broad bed and Furrow Method of Soybean Cultivation in heavy rain Fall Condition Water stagnation and scarcity both are major problem for Soybean growers of Rajnandgaon district which significantly affects germination as well as yield of Soybean crop. To overcome this problem On Farm Trial (OFT) at farmers’ field on broad bed and furrow method of Soybean cultivation had been taken up at Uraidabri village of Khairagarh block of Rajandgaon district during Kharif 2013-14 by KVK, Rajnandgaon. Seed drill modified by Faculty of Agricultural Engineering, IGKV, Raipur has been used for this purpose. This seed drill had furrow opener on both ends and four lines for sowing of Soybean seed at a distance of 30 cm except between second and third row which has a distance of 60 cm. Because of this arrangement modified seed drill can not only creates furrows for drainage of excess water during high rainfall and storage of water during scarcity or dry spell but also sows seeds in four rows (this has now been further modified and has five rows at a equal distance of 30 cm) simultaneously. Shri Dilendra Sahu, Shri Ubhayram and Shri Thakuram of Uraidabri village have used this modified seed drill at their fields whereas some of farmers have used simple seed drill. Soybean variety used in this OFT was JS-9752. Difference in yield and yield attributing characters were phenomenal. This is depicted in the following table Method Maximum Yield (Qtl/ha) and 20.40 Broad Bed Furrow Method Simple Seed drill 12.50 Average Yield (Qtl/ha) 15.10 Maximum pods (Per plant) 94 Maximum Nodules (Per plant) 80 8.80 23 30 Impact :- It is evident in this context that rainfall in the block where this trial was taken was as high as 1304.4 mm during the monsoon season 2013-14, whereas, the average rainfall for four consecutive years viz. 2009-2012 was recorded as 811.5 but due to proper drainage of excess water farmers got the production which was given above. Soybean during Kharif 2013-14 has been hugely affected by the excessive rainfall and farmers in some cases have got merely 2-3 qtl/acre or less. A Kisan mela and Soybean Diwas at Uraidabri village has been organized by Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Rajnandgaon in which nearly 700 farmers of nearby villages and other blocks have participated and seen the effect of broad bed and furrow method of Soybean cultivation. Agriculture consultant from Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of India Dr. J.P.Singh has also visited the field and seen the standing crop and appreciated the method and suggested for its expansion on other areas in such unusual weathers situation. This trial was taken up under the guidance of DES, Dr. J.S. Urkurkar and ZPD, Zone –VII, Dr. A. Mishra and esteemed leadership of Dr. K.R.Sahu, Programme Coordinator, KVK, Rajnandgaon (C.G.) and in coordination with Deputy Director of Agriculture, Rajnandgaon Shri R.K.Rathor. Modified seed drill was developed by Dr. Ajay Verma, Professor, FMP, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering, IGKV, Raipur and provided to KVK, Rajnandgaon by Dr. Rajendra Lakpale, P.I., AICRP, Soybean. Scientist concerned with this OFT was Er. R.K.Agrawal, SMS, KVK, Rajnandgaon. Shri H.S.Tomar, SMS and Shri I.K.Sahu, SMS, KVK, Rajnandgaon have also contributed in the success of this trial. Shri Ubhayram Dr. Ajay Verma, Prof.,FoAE, Shri B.D.Sahu, Board Member, IGKV, Dr. Rajendra Lakpale, P.I., AICRP, Soybean Shri Dilendra Sahu Dr. K.R.Sahu, PC and Er. R.K.Agrawal, SMS, KVK, Rajnandgaon with farmers Soybean Crop at Shri Dilendra Sahu’s field Kisan Mela at Uraidabri Soybean Crop at Shri Thakur ram’s field Soybean Diwas at Uraidabri Soybean Crop at Shri Ubhayram’s field Visit by Dr. J.P.Singh, Consultant, Govt. of India and Shri R.K.Rathor, DDA, Rajnandgaon