The Advanced Centre for Integrated Farming Systems Research (ACIFSR), previously known as AICRP on Integrated Farming System, is based at Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, and has been operational since 1985 with financial support from ICAR-Indian Institute of Farming Systems Research (ICAR-IIFSR), Modipuram, U.P. and under the administrative control of Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat. Before 1985, the Model Agronomic Experiment and Head Quarter component were operating from Titabor and Jorhat respectively. The Experiment on Cultivators Field (ECF) component has been active since then, operating in districts such as Kamrup (rural), Goalpara, and presently in Golaghat district since 2022-23.
The experimental area in Jorhat district lies in the Upper Brahmaputra Valley Zone, characterized by a warm to humid climate with deep loamy alluvial soil, medium Available Water Content (AWC), and Long Growing Period (LGP) of 300 days. Situated at a latitude of 26ᴼ 47 N, a longitude of 94ᴼ 12 E, and an elevation of 86.6 m above Mean Sea Level (MSL), the experimental farm serves as a pivotal location for agricultural research.
ACIFSR is actively engaged in research activities conducted through All India Coordinated Research Projects (AICRP), ICAR-IIFSR, under the Directorate of Research (Agriculture), Assam Agricultural University. These activities encompass both on-station and on-farm research conducted in collaboration with cultivators. The center aims to develop various agro-technologies and disseminate them among farmers through demonstrations and training programs.
With a team of five expert scientists specializing in disciplines such as Agronomy, Soil Science, and Agricultural Economics, ACIFSR boasts well-equipped laboratory facilities for various technologies. Additionally, it has published many high-impact papers in reputable journals. The center is actively involved in training individuals, farm families, and communities on topics including crop diversification, integrated farming, organic farming, and integrated nutrient management.
Research activities at the main center currently include:
1. Identification of cropping systems modules for different farming systems (Experiment 1a).
2. Permanent plot experiments on integrated nutrient management in cereal-based cropping systems (Experiment 2a).
3. Sustainable resource management for climate-smart Integrated Farming Systems.
MANDATE
Ø Research in integrated farming systems on production technologies for improving productivity and resource use efficiencies.
Ø Develop efficient, economically viable and environmentally sustainable integrated farming system models for different farming situations
Ø On-farm testing and refinement of system-based farm production technologies
VISION
Management of natural sources for holistic improvement of small and marginal farmers through Integrated Farming systems
MISSION
Improve food, nutrition and livelihood of small and marginal households through climate smart Integrated farming system
1. SALIENT RESEARCH ACHIEVEMENTS
a) Development of organic farming packages in system based high value crops:
Organic package for different cropping sequence were developed for Assam situation.
(i) Rice-Potato-Lady’s finger system (under Rainfed situation):
Organic culture with 100% RDF (organic) supplied through 1/3 FYM/compost + 1/3 vermicompost + 1/3 MOC + Pumello fruit (Bio-pesticide) gives highest REY (122.90 q/ha) and highest net return (Rs. 37818/-) with a B:C ratio of 2.02 in case of Rice – Potato – Lady’s finger+ Green gram cropping sequence. However, B:C ratio was highest when 50% N as compost + mix culture of Azotobacter & Azospirillum +RDF level of P as Rock Phosphate +PSB were supplied to the same cropping system.
(ii) Rice- Toria- Black gram system (under Rainfed situation):
For organic cultivation, application of full recommended doses of fertilizers through organic sources (i.e. 1/3 FYM + 1/3 vermicompost + 1/3 mustard oil cake) and plant protection with biopesticides (Pumello fruit applied to Winter rice) in case of Winter rice–Toria–Black gram +Lady’s finger sequence gives 87.36 q/ha REY with normal price and 108.56 q/ha with 25% extra premium price with the B:C ratio of 2.09. The lowest 57.07 q/ha REY with a B:C ratio of 1.26 was recorded when recommended nutrients were applied only through chemical fertilizers.
b) Sustainable resource management for climate smart IFS / Development of region- specific Integrated Farming System models:
· An one hectare Integrated Farming System (IFS) model with the integration of Crops (Field + Horticultural + Fodder crops) + Cattle (3 cross-bred milch cow along with a Heifer) + Goatery (1 male Beetle, Indigenous breed: 1 male, 11 female and 6 kids), Poultry (5 batch with 25 nos. broiler chicken) Duckery (34 layer ducks of breed Chara Chambeli) + Fishery/ water harvesting structure (920 m2 area) + Apiary (5 nos. of bee hives) along with vermicompost, liquid manure & biogas production generated a gross return of Rs. 7,04,451.00, return over variable cost Rs. 3,85,539.00 and B:C ratio of 2.21 with employment opportunities of 453 mandays/year under rainfed condition of Assam.
· The model generated marketable surplus of Rs. 476371.00 and family saving was Rs. 157459.00 after deducting the cost involved. A total of Rs. 94327.00 was generated and recycled within the model which was about 30% of the total cost incurred in the model.
· Among the components of the IFS model, Dairy recorded highest REY (14.67 t), Gross return (Rs. 230342.00) and Net return (Rs. 95934.00) with 32.70% and 24.88 % contribution to Gross and Net return of the model respectively. However, in terms of B:C ratio Duckery was the best module with the value of 6.45 owing to negligible cost involvement.
· Net GHG emission from the IFS model was found to be 7.3 kg CO2 equivalent in the year 2021-22 (which was 274.6, 865.0, 1211.6 and 22.5 kg CO2 equivalent during 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21, respectively). Among all the components, dairy unit emitted the highest GHG (2770 kg CO2 equivalent) contributing 48% of the total emission followed by field crops (18%).
c) Permanent plot experiment on integrated nutrient supply system in Winter rice – Autumn rice sequence:
· Soil pH increased by 10.8– 12.6% with INM treatments, whereas it decreased by 2.8 and 1.6% in case of control and conventional farmers practice, respectively over initial after 35 cropping cycling of rice-rice sequence.
· Due to INM treatments, SOC increased by 28.3 – 38.3% over initial in this study. However, 25% decrease in SOC was recorded in Control plot over initial.
· Labile forms of C were found to be the highest in case of Azolla treated plots whereas the Non-labile C content was the highest in case of crop stubbles treated plots.
· A positive NPK balance in soil with INM treatments after 35 years of rice-rice cropping. Data also revealed a negative NPK balance in case of reduced doses of RDF treatments as well as in control and farmers practice treatment.
· Results revealed that the water soluble C and SMBC are the most sensitive fraction and Non-labile and inorganic C fraction are the less sensitive fraction to nutrient management practices.
· The maximum SOC stock and sequestration was recorded in T6 followed by T8 and T10 (i.e. FYM>Rice Stubbles>Azolla); whereas the lowest and negative C sequestration was found in T1.
· The C sequestration potential ranged bet. (-)0.13 under T1 to 0.78 Mg ha-1 yr-1 under T3.
· Application of 50% R-NPK (fertilizers)+ 50%N (crop stubble) in winter rice following 100% R-NPK (fertilizers) in autumn rice (T8) was found to be the best in terms of total grain yield (7.27 Mg ha-1) of the system and B:C ratio (2.3) followed by T6 treatment.
· Application of 50% RDF (through chemical fertilizers)+ 50%N (through rice stubble @ 3.0 ton/ha) in winter rice following 100% RDF (through chemical fertilizers) in autumn rice resulted in 170.0, 103.6 and 12.5% increase in yields of the system over the Control (no fertilizers, no manures), Farmers’ practice and RDF, respectively
d) Identification of cropping systems module for different farming systems:
· Cropping systems involving vegetables and other high value crops for income enhancement were found to be better in terms of REY, Net Return and B:C Ratio. The Ridge gourd–Broccoli–Lady’s finger system gave highest REY (437 q/ha), Net Return (Rs. 5,26,900.00) and B:C ratio (4.33) followed by Bitter gourd–Tomato–French bean system (356 q/ha REY, Rs. 4,08,071 Net Return & 3.70 B:C ratio) among all the systems.
· Among the cropping systems tested, Teosinte-Oat-Cowpea (fodder) system was found to left highest available NPK nutrients in the post harvest soils, whereas lowest was recorded in case of Winter Rice- Autumn rice sequence which is the most predominant cropping system of Assam.
e) Raised and Sunken bed Module:
A raised and sunken bed module with around 0.12 ha wetland area produced a net return of Rs.5,534.00 along with a B:C ratio of 2.15 and an employment generation of 17 mandays/ year, which may be recommend for the rainfed, wet land situation of Assam.
f) Nutriennt management in rice-rice system in flood affected areas:
Under rainfed condition in the flood affected area of Assam, application of ZnSO4.7H2O @ 25 kg/ha along with the recommended dose of NPK fertilizers in case of pre-flood rice (cv. Joymoti) followed by post-flood rice (cv. Luit) cropping sequence gives 81.56 q/ha system equivalent yield of Rice with the net return of Rs. 41,146.9 and the B:C ratio of 1.78.
g) Organic weed management practices for Rice– Toria –Rice sequence:
Stale seedbed + reduced spacing (up to 25%) + mulching with previous crop residues + one hand weeding under Rice–Toria–Rice sequence resulted in 17.89% productivity enhancement over existing practice of one mechanical weeding and one hand weeding in rice and one hand weeding in toria.