Diagnostic field visit of organic rice field at Pynthor village, Ri-Bhoi district, Meghalaya
A team of scientists (Dr. Jayanta Layek and Dr. Sandip Patra) from ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam visited organic rice fields of Shri. R. A. Suting (around 2 acre area) and Miss Thisilon Rynghang’s field (3 acre area) on 4th October, 2018 and 24th October, 2018. Under the Network Project on Organic Farming (NPOF), cultivation of high yielding rice varieties (var. Shasharang-1) is being promoted in village under organic farming in cluster approach. During the visit, the team observed the rice seedlings are transplanted in random manner instead of lines of a fixed spacing. The growth of rice crop was also poor in some farm. The farmers generally use very little organic manure or sometimes no manure at all. The team advocated to use of 20-25 days old seedlings for transplanting in 20×20 cm spacing. It will facilitate the cono-weeder operation for weeding and cultivation of pea in rice fallow under no-till condition. Application of Farm Yard Manure (FYM) @ 5-10 t/ha is being advocated for getting better yield. The farmers were urged to cultivate N fixing pulse crop like lentil and pea for soil fertility enhancement. Timely sowing of rice for cultivation of second crop like pea and lentil is highlighted. Symptoms of brown spot, blast and also infestation of leaf folder, gundhi bug etc. were diagnosed by the team of scientists. The team advised the farmers to practice seed priming with a formulating mixture containing bio-control agents such as Trichoderma harzianum+ Pseudomonas fluorescens) @ 10-15 g/kg paddy seed or by immersing the seedlings (20-25 days old) @ 15-20 g/l of water for 15-30 minutes before transplanting to the main puddled field. The application of suspension (2 litre 10-12 days old cow urine, extraction of 2 kg fresh cow dung with 2 kg crushed Lantana camara leaf extract/neem oil or 2 litre vermiwash in 10 litre of water) three times at 30, 50 and 70 days after transplanting can also effectively reduce the insect pests and disease infestation.
Team member
1. Dr. Jayanta Layek, Scientists (Agronomy) and PI, NPOF Project
2. Dr. Sandip Patra, Scientist (Entomology)
3. Dr. Utpal Dey, SRF, NPOF Project (PhD in Plant Pathology)
