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Honey bee publish details |
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Local Knowledge |
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Validating People's Knowledge: The Role of Formal Sciences: Arun Kumar, R Raj Bansali and B L Gajja, Central Arid Zone Research Institute (CAZRI), Jodhpur1 |
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Sustainable agriculture strives to integrate modern sciences like biotechnology with traditional farming wisdom. In recent years, there has been a tremendous focus on the use of green pesticides, but the relevance of indigenous knowledge in sustainable agriculture is not unequivocal. A logical strategy would be the integration of recognized bio-agents with indigenous knowledge. Bio-agents like plant growth promoting rhizobacteria, animal product like milk, plant extracts such as leaf proteins and Trichoderma spp. reduce diseases in many plant species through the manipulation of the host plant’s physical and biochemical properties.
Gupta (1992) has strongly emphasized the use of milk as Local Traditional Knowledge (LTK) for managing disease in crops. Milk has been described as natural inhibitor for managing plant viruses with better sticking and spreading qualities (Cook, 1957; Agrios, 1988; Singh and Yadav, 1999; Vyas and Kumar, 2002; Arun Kumar et al., 2002 and Nene, 2003). Milk has been effectively used for controlling powdery mildews (Bettiol, 1999). Fungitoxicity of goat milk against M. phaseolina was studied by Raja and Kurucheve (1997). They found that goat milk significantly inhibited growth of M. phaseolina. Application of skim milk powder and warm water is recommended for managing common bunt (Tilletia caries) in winter wheat (Winter et.al. 1997). Milk and its components have been reported as possible inhibitors of virus multiplication in Tobacco Mosaic Virus in tomato, pepper and tobacco; Urdbean Mosaic Virus, Potato virus Y in potato and sugarcane mosaic virus in sugarcane. (Hare and Lucas,1959, Shands, Webb, and Schultz, 1962, Denby and Wilk, 1965, Singh, Srivastava and Singh, 1985)
Experiments undertaken in Central Arid Zone Research Institute (CAZRI), Jodhpur, to validate the practice have shown positive results. The following paper describes two such experiments: 'Antagonistic effect of raw cow milk and Gliocladium virens against downy mildew of Pearl millet' and 'Effect of Raw Cow Milk and Trichoderma viride in the management of leaf curl disease of chilli'.
Use of Raw Cow Milk (RCM) and Gliocladium virens against downy mildew of pearl millet
Downy mildew (DM) or green-ear disease of pearl millet, caused by biotrophic fungus Sclerospora graminicola is a major constraint in improving productivity of millet. The infected plants develop severe disease syndrome and succumb even before reaching maturity. Instead of normal inflorescence, malformed ears are produced , which bear hypertrophied and distorted flowers. Disease resistant cultivars, chemical seed treatment and cultural practices are often used for its management.
A field experiment was conducted during the rainy season in a DM affected plot at CAZRI. ‘Nokha-local’, a DM-susceptible cultivar was used. The experiment was conducted with five treatments: seed treatment with RCM for 18 hrs in 1:1 ratio at the room temperature; seed treatment of Gliocladium virens (6g/kg seed); soil treatment with G. virens (10 g/m2); seed treatment of RCM + G. virens and G. virens in soil; and control (no soil and seed treatment) in a randomized block design with three replications. Each plot measured 3m X 2m, with 4 rows and each row had 20 plants. The crop was fertilized with Di Ammonium Phosphate (@40 kg/ha) as basal dose. No insecticide or weedicide was applied. DM incidence records were taken twice, 30 days after sowing (DAS) and at soft dough stage (60 DAS) during rainy season. Fresh weight/dry weight ratio was analyzed for all the treatments along with 1000 seed weight.
DM management requires reducing primary inoculum from seed and soil and secondary infections between plants during the crop growth. G. virens appeared to have an edge over the RCM in reducing the DM incidence. Gliocladium spp. applied as soil or seed treatments, grow readily along with the developing root system of the treated plant and protects the roots from initial infection (Howell,2003). In terms of disease incidence and protection over control, RCM seed treatment (12.6%) seems to be on par with soil treatment by G. virens (57.4 % protection). However, a combination of all three treatments did not show significant difference from G virens seed treatment for disease incidence and control. Results indicated some additive effect of RCM probably through induced resistance (Arun Kumar et al.2002). The amino acid proline and potassium phosphate in the milk are known to boost immune system in plants (Bettiol, 1999; Nene, 2003).
Effect of Raw Cow Milk and Trichoderma viride induced management of leaf curl disease in chilli
Chilli crop occupies a cultivated area of 0.915 million ha. It forms 16 % of the total export of spices from India. It is widely cultivated in Rajasthan, particularly in the arid region of Jodhpur. However, the average yield of chilli in India is very low (0.8t/ha) compared to other chilli producing countries like Korea and Indonesia, where it ranges from 2 to 3 t /ha. The popular cultivars of chilli are susceptible to leaf curl disease, which is responsible for the low yield of chilli in the area. In about a decade, the yield of chilli in Jodhpur region has reduced by 28 per cent.
Leaf curl disease is caused by Tobacco Leaf Curl Gemini Virus (TLCuV). The affected leaves show curling, puckering and distortion with blistering of inter-veinal areas and shortening of internodes. In severity, axillary buds of affected plants are stimulated to produce clusters of leaves of reduced size with fewer flowers and fruits. The disease is transmitted by insect vectors like white fly (Bemisia tabaci) and thrips (Scirtothrips dorsalis and Polyphagotarsonemus latus). Pesticides have not been effective in controlling this disease. Moreover, the disease resistant cultivars perform poorly on yield and other growth parameters.
An alternative disease management technology (ADMT) was developed which combines local technical knowledge with modern bio-control agents. The technology involved seed treatment with raw cow milk for 24 hours in 1:1 ratio (RCM diluted to 50% by adding water) at the room temperature, and treatment of soil with Trichoderma viride (6 g/kg of seed) followed by dipping of nursery-raised saplings in raw cow milk for 20 minutes before transplantation. The ADMT was introduced in the farmers’ fields in some villages in Jodhpur district. It resulted in 46 to 60% protection of LCD over farmer’s practice with improvement in yield and quality of fruits.
An impact evaluation of this practice was carried out in Jodhpur region. Two categories of farmers, the participant group, which hosted demonstration of the technology on their farms and the control group, randomly selected from the area were studied. It was found that the application of new technology successfully managed LCD in chilli. The cost of pesticides used under FP was around 5 %, which was reduced to 1.14 per cent under ADMT. The yield increased by 25.4 %. The increase in employment generation due to ADMT was 12.5 per cent
Farmers innovations do matter. Simple solutions need not be ignored, just because of their simplicity. Honey Bee published an editorial about the farmer's practice of dipping hands in milk before sowing tobacco seeds in 1992 (HB 3(2)). The practice was first brought to our attention by Dr. Chari. In HB 3 (3&4) (1992) Dr. Chari and Dr. Nagarajan have written more on this practice and Dr. Joshi has also commented on this practice of the farmers in HB 4(4) (1993). Dr. Arun Kumar has also written about the results of a field trial on the efficacy of milk for controlling leaf curl disease in chilli in HB 9 (3) (1998).
Has any Government of India ever communicated this solution to farmers through the vast extension machinery or public broadcasting system which they have at their disposal? How many more farmers must commit suicide due to ineffective chemical pesticide and increasing cost of cultivation ? Ed.
References
1. Arun Kumar and Vyas, N. L. 2003, In Narain, P. Kathju, S., Kar, A., Singh, M.P. and P.Kumar.(eds) Human Impact on Desert Environment, CAZRI and Scientific Publishers, Jodhpur. pp. 348-352.
2. Arun Kumar and Vyas, N. L. 1998, Honey Bee, 9: 14.
3. Arun Kumar, Raj Bhansali, R, and Mali, P.C. 2002, Proc. Asian Congress of Mycology and Plant Pathology, 1-4 October 2002, Mysore. pp.167.
4. Agrios, G.N. 1988, Plant Pathology, Academic Press, Inc., California. p p.662
5. Bettiol, W. 1999, Crop Protection. 18: 489-492.
6. Bhansali, R. R. and Arun Kumar. 2002, In Trivedi, P.C. (ed.). Plant Pest Management, Aavishkar Publishers, Jaipur. pp. 221-228.
7. Cook, J. G. 1957, Virus in the cell. Dial Press, New York.
8. Denby, L. G. and Wilk, J. M. 1965, Res. and Farm. 10: 1.
9. Gupta, A.K. 1992, Honey Bee, 3: 2-3.
10. Hare, W. W. and Lucas, G. B. 1959, Plant Disease Reporter 43: 152-154.
11. Howell, C.R. 2003, Plant Disease, 8: 4-10.
12. Katan, T. and Bashi, E. 1981, Plant Disease. 65: 798-800.
13. Mali, P.C., Arun Kumar and Verma, S.K. 2005, Screening of chilli cultivars against leaf curl disease and their biochemical component. Annals of Arid Zone (In Press).
14. Mukhopadhyay, S. and Chowdhury, A.K. 1986, In Raychowdhury, S.P. and Verma, J.P (eds) Review of Tropical Plant Pathology, Vol. III, Today and Tomorrow Printers, New Delhi. pp. 481-520.
15. Mitchell, A. 2003., California Agriculture. 57: 36.
16. Nene, Y.L. 2003, Asian Agri-History. 7: 185-201.
17. Raja,J and Kurucheve,V.1997, Plant Disease Research, 12: 11-14.
18. Samadia, D.K., Vashishtha, B. B. and Raturi, G.B. 2004, In Kumar, S., Joshi, P.K. and Suresh Pal (eds), Impact of Vegetable Research in India, NCAP, ICAR, New Delhi. pp. 101-114.
19. Shands, W. A., Webb, R. E. and Schultz, E. S. 1962, American Potato Journal. 39:36-39.
20. Singh, A. K., Srivastava, S. K. and Singh, A. K. 1985, Indian Journal of Mycology and Plant Pathology, 15: 311-314.
21. Statistical Absract-Rajasthan. 2002. Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Rajasthan, Jaipur, India, pp. 385.
22. Vyas, N.L. and Arun Kumar 2002., In Pastakia, A., Kothari, B. and Chand, V.S. (eds) Farmer-led Participatory Research-Cases from Western India,. Books for change, Bangalore. pp.24-35.
Full references are available on the website and can also be provided to readers on request.
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| Volume No. |
Honey Bee, 16(4):4-5, 2005 |
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