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.
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