1 | p a g e

A PROJECT REPORT ON
RURAL AGRICULTURUL WORK EXPERIENCE

Submitted to
HEMWATI NANDAN BAHUGUNA GARHWAL UNIVERSITY,
SRINAGAR (GARHWAL) UTTARAKHAND
In partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of degree of
BACHALORE OF SCIENCE IN AGRICULTURE

Submitted by:
SUDHIR DEBBARMA
B.Sc. Agriculture VIII
th
Semester
Under the guidance of
DR. Rajan K. TRIPATHI
Lecturer of DCAST (Agriculture)

DOON (PG) COLLAGE OF AGRICULTURE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
CAMP ROAD, SELAQUI, DEHRADUN, UTTARAKHAND

(2010-2014)

2 | p a g e

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to express my heart felt gratitude and special thanks to my
guide Dr. Rajan Kumar Tripathi for his constant support, encouragement and
direction, also for his valuable suggestion are acknowledged without whose help it
would not have been accomplished.
I wish to express my deep sense of gratitude to all the members in SARS
especially Senior Agronomist Dr. Baharul Majumder, who has given the opportunity
to do our project in SARS and for his inspiration. I like to thank our RAWE
programme Incharge Dr.Roop Kishore Sharma. I also like to thanks Mrs. Soma Deb
who guided us constantly to different units without whose help it would not have
been a successful one.
I cordially like to thank our chairman Mr. D.S.Choudhary and our
principal Dr.R R Dwivedi and my entire agriculture faculty for their support and
help during the RAWE programme.
I wish to express my heartfelt thanks to all the Unit incharge who support
me on my training programme as well as motivating us and helping us to do our
work smoothly all through the programme. I would like to mention the venerable
time given by the incharge of Mushroom Lab Mr. Mousami Sharma , who
imparted me the training for Mushroom cultivation and guided us at every step of
the work.
At last not the least, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my
parents and other family members for their support, motivation and financial help
all through the project work .I am deeply thankful to them for everything that they
have done for me and nurturing me to be a good human being.
SUDHIR DEBBARMA
B.Sc. AGRICULTURE,


3 | p a g e





INTRODUCTION:

In this RAWE programme I have worked in the State Agriculture Research
Station (SARS), Arundhuti Nagar. We have seen how the trials are being done in
the field before release as a variety or a method in the Agronomy Unit.
And in Seed Processing Unit at Tripura seed processing plant, the seeds of
different cereal grains are brought from different places and different states, and
tested, certified and is distributed to farmers or send to the market.
In the Soil testing laboratory, we have done soil testing ourselves. The Lab
usually do the soil analysis send by the farmers from different places of Tripura
before taking up any crop, so that they can use the fertilizers according to the
requirement.
In Horticulture Research Centre, Tripura, under Agriculture Department
of Tripura, we studied Mushroom Cultivation. Here we studied about the
cultivation method of Oyster mushroom in Tripura, preparation of media,
production of spawn and maintenance of hygiene during the cultivation period.
In processing and preservation industries were mainly on squash, ketchup,
jam and jelly production.
After that in T-SAMETI (Tripura State Agricultural Management &
Extension Training Institute) we got information about the agriculture department
of Tripura & we get the chance to interact with some farmer cultivating
watermelon & maize.


4 | p a g e

Contents available :


UNIT I

ATTACHMENT WITH AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agartala, West Tripura


1. S.A.R.S. (State Agriculture Research Station, Tripura), Arundhuti
Nagar 15 Days w.e.f. 5 March to 19 March 2014

2. H.R.C. (Horticulture Research Complex), Nagichhera 15 days
w.e.f. 20 March to 3 April 2014

3. T-SAMETI (Tripura State Agriculture Management & Extension
Training Institute), Lembuchhera 15 days w.e.f. 4 April to
18 April 2014







UNIT - II

5 | p a g e

ATTACHMENT WITH STATE AGRICULTURE RESEARCH STATION
(SARS)


1. Introduction:
2. Functions in SARS
A. In Agronomy Unit
Methods of SRI:
a) Introduction
b) Objective
c) Four novel practices
d) Nursery management
e) Seed rate & choice of varieties
f) Field preparation
g) Transplanting of seedlings
h) Wide spacing
i) Water management
j) Weeding
k) Nutrient schedule
l) Organic inputs
m) Harvesting
n) Why does SRI works
o) Is SRI sustainable
p) Table containing agronomic comparison of SRI data
q) Conclusion
B. Soil testing laboratory:
i. Estimation of KO :
Method of Lab Reagent Preparation for quick estimation.
6 | p a g e

Procedure methods for estimation.
Observation.
ii. Estimation of PO :
Method of Lab Reagent Preparation for quick estimation.
Procedure methods for estimation.
Observation.
iii. Estimation of Organic Carbon:
Method of Lab Reagent Preparation for quick estimation.
Procedure methods for estimation.
Observation.
iv. Estimation of Organic nitrogen:
Method of Lab Reagent Preparation for quick estimation.
Procedure methods for estimation.
Observation.
v. Estimation of pH:
Method of Lab Reagent Preparation for quick estimation.
Procedure methods for estimation.
Observation
C. BIOFERTILIZER:
a) Introduction
b) Definition
c) Merits of Bio fertilizer
d) Types of bio fertilizer
e) Methods of bio-fertilizer application
f) Safety measures for application bio-fertilizers

Unit III

OYESTER MUSHROOM CULTIVATION IN TRIPURA
7 | p a g e

(Horticulture Research Centre, Nagichhera, Agartala)


1. Introduction
2. Food value of Mushroom
3. Types of Mushroom
4. Objective
5. Spawn
6. Media preparation
7. Steps of spawn production
8. Hygiene Maintenance
9. Life cycle of Mushroom
10. Mushroom cultivation
11. Chemical sterilization
12. Nutritive value of Pleurotus sp.
13. Composition of cultivated Mushroom and common vegetables
14. Disease & Pest
15. Recipes.






UNIT IV

AGRO-BASED INDUSTRY

1. Seed processing plants & Industries:
8 | p a g e

Introduction
Advantages of seed processing
Objective of project
Seed processing unit
2. Fruit preservation & processing industries:
Introduction
Method of preservation
Importance of post harvest management




















UNIT I

ATTACHMENT WITH AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT
(DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE)
(Agartala, West Tripura-799001)

9 | p a g e

(GOVERNMENT OF TRIPURA)

I wish to express my deep sense of gratitude to the Department of
Agriculture, Tripura for allowing us for a RAWE program in this Department.
The department has organised a 45 days program for us under this
Department of agriculture, Tripura. The Department of Agriculture, Tripura
has prepared a schedule of Rural Agriculture Work Experience under Three
Centres. These centres are-
4. S.A.R.S. (State Agriculture Research Station, Tripura), Arundhuti
Nagar 15 Days w.e.f. 5 March to 19 March 2014

5. H.R.C. (Horticulture Research Complex), Nagichhera 15 days
w.e.f. 20 March to 3 April 2014

6. T-SAMETI (Tripura State Agriculture Management & Extension
Training Institute), Lembuchhera 15 days w.e.f. 4 April to
18 April 2014





S.A.R.S. (State Agriculture Research Station, Tripura),
Arundhuti Nagar:

SARS was established in the year 1969 with the initiation of the Agriculture
Director. At the start of the research station only few units were functioning. The
agronomy unit, soil testing lab, plant breeding unit etc. It is the only research station in
Tripura. Here various trials are performed based on plant breeding, pest management,
agronomic practices etc. Generally at present there are 11 units. They are:
10 | p a g e

1. Plant breeding unit
2. Soil testing laboratory
3. Agronomy unit
4. Pest management unit
5. State seed testing laboratory
6. Chief seed certification unit
7. Regional bio-fertilizer production centre
8. Bio-control unit
9. Pesticide testing laboratory/unit
10. Processing plant unit
11. Agro poly clinic/information unit















H.R.C. (Horticulture Research Complex), Nagichhera:

Horticulture Research Complex (HRC) was established in March, 1981 at
Nagichhera, about 10 km. away from Agartala with major objectives like-

Introduction, acclimatization and evaluation of major plantation crops
Establishment of germplasm bank for indigenous and exogenous horticultural
crops for future research and
11 | p a g e

Production of elite planting materials.

Major activities at present in HRC:
Production of hybrid TPS seeds highest in the world for catering the
requirements, within and outside the state for production of table
potato.
Trials on performance of hybrid varieties of major vegetables and
standardization of agro-techniques for cultivation of off-season and
exotic vegetables for rendering necessary advice to the farmers in the
state.
Collection, conservation and improvisation of Jhum vegetables and
chillies.
Production of vegetable seeds through registered growers under
certification arrangements.
Standardization of techniques for canopy management, rejuvenation,
meadow orcharding and high density plantation of different fruit crops of
the state for increasing profitability.
Production and supply of vegetatively propagated grafts/buds etc. of
plantation crops to the growers.
Stanardization of techniques for profitable cultivation of spices in
Tripura.
Standardization of techniques for profitable cultivation of exotic flowers
in Tripura.
Training and capacity building of growers and extension agencies.





T-SAMETI (Tripura State Agriculture Management & Extension
Training Institute), Lembuchhera


INTRODUCTION:

T-SAMETI is a State level nodal training institute of Tripura, established under
the scheme Support to State Extension Programme for Extension Reform in the year-
12 | p a g e

2005 at UGTC (Up graded training centre) , Lembucherra, West district of Tripura which
is 12 Km. away from the capital city-Agartala.


T-SAMETI is provided with two autonomous state body Viz.
a. The General Council of SAMETI &
b. The Executive Council of SAMETI

For effective coordination and the development activities of agriculture and
others line departments at the State level , there is a State level committee-Inter
Departmental Working Group(IDWG) headed by the Commissioner & Secretary of
Agriculture.
This SAMETI functions under the technical guidance of National Institute of
Agricultural Extension Management.


In T-SAMETI, we got an experience on extension work. Here a schedule of 15
days program on-
o A discussion on extension work.
o A field day on18th April.













1. Discussion on Extension Education:

Definition:
Extension Education is an Applied Behavioural Science to bring about
desirable chance usually through various strategies & programmes of change & by
applying the latest scientific & technological innovations.

13 | p a g e

Objectives of Extension Education:
It has two dimensions-
i. Fundamentals of objective: Development of the People.
ii. In India there are three main objectives of Agricultural Extension-
a) Dissemination of useful & practical information.
b) Practical application of useful knowledge (The word Learn by doing
was coined by John Dewey in 1966).
c) To improve all aspects of the life of rural people.

Learning & Teaching in Extension:
Learning is the process of bringing about more or less permanent changes in ones
behaviour as a result of experience through own activities. It is an active process on the
part of learner.
Learning takes place only when learner reacts to what is seen, heard & felt.
Essential elements of effective learning:
a) Teaching materials and Plan.
b) Subject matter.
c) Physical facilities & environment.
d) Teacher or instructor.
e) Learner.











Teaching Steps:
1. Attention 2.Interest 3.Desire 4.Conviction 5. Action
6. Satisfaction.


EXTENSION TOOLS:

Teaching Materials &
Plans
Subject matter
Teacher or Instructor Physical facilities &
environment
Learner
14 | p a g e

O Training: training is imparted for transfer of technical knowhow from
subject matter specialist (SMS) to farmers through extension worker.
O Demonstration: Demonstration means showing by doing. The basic
principle of demonstration is learning by doing & seeing.
O Exposure Visit: extension worker has to visit to the farmers for transfer of
knowledge obtained at the training.
O Reward: it is the method to motivate the farmers by setting a reward value
on application of new technologies & technical knowledge on the field.


1. A FIELD DAY ON 18 APRIL:

Field Day is a method of group contact in which extension workers meet with
farmers, who share their experience of growing a new crop & discuss their problems of
growing and the SMS suggests and discusses the salvation in front of media.
We got an opportunity to attend such a field day at Mandai, Agri-sub
division,Tripura ; organised by T-SAMETI on 18 April 2014 in the topic- Maize &
Watermelon.

Here few farmers grew watermelon first time in their area and they were very
successful. Every year they earned 40 to 50 thousand rupees per kani.
They also grown maize crop on 2ha. land, which is economically very successful.
They were very happy with the income found by growing maize.
Realising the profit on growing watermelon and maize, the other farmers got on
cultivating maize and watermelon.

15 | p a g e


























UNIT - II
ATTACHMENT WITH AGRICULTURE RESEARCH INSTITUTE
(S.A.R.S.)

16 | p a g e




1. INTRODUCTION:
S.A.R.S. (STATE AGRICULTURE RESEARCH STATION), ARUNDHUTI NAGAR,
AGARTALA, TRIPURA
Arundhati Nagar, Agartala, Tripura. SARS was established in the year 1969 with
the initiation of the Agriculture Director. At the start of the research station only few
units were functioning. The agronomy unit, soil testing lab, plant breeding unit etc. It is
the only research station in Tripura. Here various trials are performed based on plant
breeding, pest management, agronomic practices etc. Generally at present there are 11
units. They are:
1. Plant breeding unit
2. Soil testing laboratory
3. Agronomy unit
4. Pest management unit
5. State seed testing laboratory
6. Chief seed certification unit
7. Regional bio-fertilizer production centre
8. Bio-control unit
9. Pesticide testing laboratory/unit
17 | p a g e

10. Processing plant unit
11. Agro poly clinic/information unit

2. FUNCTIONS OF SARS :
A. IN AGRONOMY UNIT:

METHOD OF SRI:
SRI, A method of raising rice that produces substantially higher yields with the
planting of fewer seedlings and the use of fewer inputs than either traditional method
or more modern method with more water, chemical fertilizer or agro chemicals. It
involves using different practices for plant, soil, water and nutrient management.
SRI involves the use of certain management practices which together provide
better growing conditions for rice plants, particularly in the root zone, than those for
plants grown under traditional practices. SRI was developed in Madagascar in the early
1980.Father of SRI, Henri De Laulanie, a Jesuit priest, who spent over 30 years in that
country and working with farmers. In 1990 Association Tefy Saina (ATS) was formed as a
Malagasy NGO to promote SRI. Four years later, the Cornell International Institute for
Food, Agriculture and Development (CIIFAD), began cooperating with Tefy Saina to
introduce SRI around the Ranomafana National Park in eastern Madagascar, supported
by the U.S. Agency for International Development. It has since been tested in China,
India, Indonesia, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh with positive results.
The results with SRI methods are remarkable. In Madagascar, on some of the
poorest soil to be found and where yields of 2 tons/ha were the norm, farmers using SRI
are now averaging over 8 tons/ha, with some getting 10 to 15 tons/ha. A farmers have
even got over 20 tons/ha. In other parts of the country, over a five year period, hundreds
of farmers averaged 8 to 9 tons/ha.

SRI methods have at least doubled the yield of any variety of rice that has been
tried no external inputs are necessary for a farmer to benefit from SRI. The methods
should work with any seeds that are now being used. However, we do need to have an
open mind about new methods and a willingness to experiment. With SRI, plants are
treated as the living organisms that they are, rather than as machines to be manipulated.
The potential within plants is drawn out by giving them the best possible conditions for
their growth.
18 | p a g e

At first, the practices that constitute SRI seem somewhat counterintuitive. SRI
challenges assumption and practices that have been in place for hundreds, even
thousands of years. Most rice farmers plant fairly mature seedlings (20-30 days old) in
clumps, fairly close together, with standing water maintained on the field for as much of
the season as possible. These practices seem to reduce the risk of crop failure. It seems
logical that more mature plants should survive. Better, that planting in clumps. Will
ensure that some plants will survive transplanting that planting more seedlings should
result in more yield and that planting in standing water means the plants will never lack
water and weeds will have little opportunity to grow.


Fig 1: System of Rice Intensification (SRI)



1. OBJECTIVE :
Tripura has been striving hard to attain self sufficiency in food grains and food
security adoption of modern seed - fertilizer irrigation technology. Popularly known as
HYV technology has more than doubled the production of food grains during the last
three decades. However, the yield growth of rice has levelled out. Yield response to
modern inputs like chemical fertilizers and to water has declined soil and environmental,
degradation is accelerating. Profitability of rice growing for farmers has declined due to
increasing prices of inputs and relatively stable produces price for rice. As an alternative
technology to attain a breakthrough and increase rice yields, hybrid seeds are being
tried. But this technology is heavily dependent on high cost modern inputs and has the
associated problems of soil and environmental degradation. Another alternative may be
19 | p a g e

to explore the potential of biotechnology for evolving new higher yielding rice variety by
overcoming the complex problem of disease and pest incidence increasing tolerance to
biotic and abiotic stresses, and also improving rice quality. But this technology will also
be heavily dependent upon costly modern inputs while at the same time it is a debatable
technology with apprehensions about possible health and environmental hazards.
The objectives / aims of the initiatives are as below.
Substantial and sustainable increase in rice yield and the release of surplus
land for production of higher value crops.
Reduction in costs of production and rise in profitability of rice production.
Reduced need for high cost modern inputs like fertilizer, irrigation water and
insecticides.
Promotion of environment friendly sustainable agriculture.

2. FOUR 'NOVEL' PRACTICES IN PARTICULAR ARE KEY IN SRI THEY ARE:
i. Seedlings are transplanted early
ii. Less seed rate.
iii. Seedlings are planted singly
iv. Wide spacing (25m x 25m)

SRI method can be followed both in Kharif & Rabi season.

3. NURSERY MANAGEMENT:
Rice seed is sparsely sown in beds prepared by mixing soil, cow dung, rice hull/burned
husk mixture forming 1.5 to 2 cm thick layer at the top of the nursery bed. The rate of
seedling should not exceed 20gm/m
2.
Immediately after sowing of the sprouted seeds
the seed beds should be covered by the thin layer of the soil mixture prepared by
mixing soil, cow dung, rice hull/burned husk. Nursery beds should be covered by
paddy straw at least for 2days to keep the moist condition of the beds which needs
removal from the bed after emergence of the seedling usually the seedlings get ready
for transplanting within 8-10 days after sowing.


20 | p a g e


FIG 2: NURSERY BED FIG 3:SOIL MIXTURE
5. SEED RATE AND CHOICE OF VARIETIES:
The rate of seed is 5kg per hectare. In case of the finer grains the rate is lowered
down depending upon the grain type. All the paddy varieties i.e. traditional, HYV, hybrid
can be adopted with SRI. At least 50% yield advantage over tradition method is observed
in all the varieties in the farmers field.

6. FIELD PREPARATION:
The field should be ploughed 3-4 times before transplantation. At first ploughing
bio-fertilizers / cow dung may be used. At 2nd ploughing the soil should be incorporated
with chemical fertilizers in the recommended dose (N: P: K: 20: 10: 10kg/ha). Again
during 3rd plough bio-fertilizer may be applied. Then the field should be well levelled
With punker. For easy transplanting the field should be carefully prepared with proper
planting space. We can place sticks at appropriate intervals along the edge of the field,
then stretch strings between them. The strings should be marked at the same intervals
so that we can plant in a square pattern.
Water channels 25 cm wide should be made after 10-13 rows of seedlings. This is to
drain out excess water when not needed and to bring the water to the field when
needed.



7. TRANSPLANTING SEEDLINGS:
21 | p a g e


Fig 4: Transplanting of seedlings
Rice seedlings are transplanted early-when only the first two leaves have emerged
from the initial tiller or stalk, usually when they are between 8 to 15 days old. The
seedlings are carefully removed from the nursery bed with a trowel and keep them
moist. Do not let them dry out. The seed sac should be kept attached to the infant root,
because it is an important energy source for the young seedling. Seedlings should be
transplanted as soon as possible after being removed from the nursery within half an
hour and preferably within 15 minutes. When placing seedlings in the field carefully lay
the roots sideways in the soil with a horizontal motion, so that the root tip is not in
advertently left pointing upward. Careful transplanting of seedlings when they are young
reduces shock and increases the plant's ability to produce numerous tillers and roots
during their vegetative growth stage.

SEEDLINGS ARE TRANSPLANTED SINGLY RATHER:
Then in clumps of two or three or more. This means that individual plants have
room to spread and to send down roots. They do not compete as much with other rice
plants for space, for light, or for nutrients in the soil. Root systems become altogether
different when plants are set out singly
8. WIDE SPACING:
Rather than in tight rows, in SRI seedlings are planted in a square pattern with
plenty of space between them in all directions usually at a spacing of 25cm x 25cm.
The general rule is that plants should have plenty of room to grow. Leaving wide. Spaces
between each plant ensure that roots have adequate room to grow and the plant will be
exposed to more sunlight, air and nutrients. The result is more root growth and more
tillering. The square pattern also facilitates weeding.
22 | p a g e


fig: spacing.

9. WATER MENAGEMENT:
With SRI, farmers use less than half of the water they would use if they kept their
paddies constantly flooded. Soil is kept moist but not saturated during the vegetative
growth period ensuring that more oxygen is available in the soil for the roots.
Occasionally the soil should be allowed to dry to the point of cracking. This will allow
oxygen to enter the soil and will also induce the roots to grow and "SEARCH" for water.
After all when the soil is flooded roots have no need to grow and spread and they lack
enough oxygen to grow vigorously. Unflooded conditions, combined with mechanical
weeding result in more air in the soil, and greater root growth means that the rest of the
plant will have access to more nutrients. When the soil is saturated air pockets
(parenchyma) form in the roots of submerged plants in order to transport oxygen. These
air pockets take up to 30 - 40% of the root's cortex and probably impede the transport of
nutrients from the roots to the rest of the plant. More water may be applied before
weeding to make the process of weeding easier. Otherwise, water is best applied in the
evening, and any water remaining on the surface is drained in the morning. This leaves
the field open to both air and warmth during the day, flooded fields will reflect a good
part of the solar radiation reaching them and absorb less of the warmth which helps
plants grow. With SRI, un flooded conditions are only maintained during the period of
vegetative growth. Later, after flowering 1-3 centimeters of water can be kept standing
on the field considering possibility of acute moisture stress at grain filling stage as is done
with traditional practices. The field is drained completely 25 days before harvesting.


10. WEEDING :
23 | p a g e

Weeding is done by hand or with a simple mechanical tool. Farmers have been
supplied with thousands of Japanese paddy weeder and they find it advantageous both
in terms of reducing labour and of increase yield to use a mechanical hand weeder It has
vertical rotating toothed wheels that churn up the soil as the weeder is pushed down
and across the alleys formed by the square formation of planting. Weeding is labours
intensive, it may take upto 25 days of labour to weed one hectare but the increase in
yield and ultimately greater income to the farmer.








Fig 5: weeding
The first weeding should be done 10-12 days after transplanting and the second
weeding within of 14 days. At least 2-3 weeding are recommended, but another 1or 2
weeding can significantly increase the yield, adding 1-2 tons/ha. Probably more important
than removing weeds, this practice of churning the soil seems to improve soil structure
and increase aeration of the soil.
24 | p a g e

11. NUTRIENT SCHEDULE: In SRI, 70% of chemical fertilizer is replaced by organic
fertilizer. Rice can be cultivated with or without chemical fertilizer. But the field trials and
demonstrative experiments in the farmers field shows that SRI performs under organic
source of fertilizer. FYM, bio-fertilizer, green manure, bay manure etc. are the organic
fertilizers used in SRI practice. But the availability or organic fertilizer is a problem for
farmers of Tripura. Considering this problem we have recommended the nutrient
management schedule blending chemical and organic fertilizer nutrient schedule for
Tripura condition:
N: P: K: 20: 10: 10 kg / ha as basal dose during kharif.
N: P: K: 20: 10: 10 kg / ha as basal dose during rabi
Biofertilizer:
Azospirilum @ 4 kg / ha
Azotobacter @ 4 kg / ha
Phosphate solubilizing bacteria @ 4 kg / ha
Fym : cow dung / FYM / Neem oil / compost etc @ 10-15 mt/ha.
Biofertilizers are applied either before or after chemical fertilizer as it does not
. works together(12-15) days of interval during field preparation or after ransplanting.

12. ORGANIC INPUTS:

Initially SRI was developed with chemical fertilizer to increase field on the every poor
soils of Madagascar. But subcidies were removed in the later 1980s and
recommendations switched to use of compost and even better results were observed.
The compost made from any biomass (e.g.-rice straw, plant trimmings and other plant
materials) with some animal manure added is used. Banana leaves also add potassium,
cuttings from leguminous shrubs add nitrogen and other plants such as Tithonia and
afromomum angustifolium increase the phosphorus content. Compost adds nutrients to
the soil slowly and can also contribute to a better soil structure. It seems fairly intuitive
that some form of nutrient input is necessary on poor soils if chemical fertilizer is not
added.
Applying organic manure during initial land preparation along with
th
of the
recommended dose of chemical fertilizer increases the yield of following SRI)

TABLE 1: Showing response to organic manure
25 | p a g e

Variety organic manure No. of panicle yield of paddy
ton ha-1 per hill (ton ha-1)
NDR-359 5 42 6.75
Do Nil 38 6.25


13. HARVEST:
In SRI method, rice is harvested normally as in the case of conventional method. When
the grains become golden yellow, they are harvested by sickles or by harvesting
machine. 1-2 weeks before harvest the water should be removed from the field. The
moisture content of the rice grains should be 20-25% during harvesting.

14. WHY DOES SRI WORK?
The concept of synergy appears to help explain why SRI works so well. Here
synergy means that practices used in SRI interact in positive, reinforcing ways so that the
whole is more than the total of its parts. Each of the management practices used in SRI
makes a positive difference in the field, but the real potential of SRI is seen only when
the practices are used together.
Rice plants under SRI have many more tillers, greater root development and more
grains per panicle. In order to tiller, plants need to have enough root growth to support
new growth above ground. But roots require certain conditions of soil, water, nutrient,
temperature and space for growth. Roots also need energy from the photosynthesis that
occurs in tillers and leaves above the ground. Thus, the roots and shoots depend on each
other.
SRI fields look terrible for a month or more after transplanting because the plants
are so thin and small and widely spaced. In the first month, the plant is preparing to
tiller. During the second month, serious tillering begins. In the third month, the field
seems to explode with rapid tiller growth. To understand why, we need to understand
the concept of PHYLLOCHRONS, a concept that applies to members of the grass family
including cereals like rice, wheat and barley.
It is the period of time between the emergence of one phytoner (a set of tiller, leaf
and root which emerges from the base of the plant) and the emergence of the next. The
length of phyllochrons is determined particularly by temperature but it is also affected
by things like day length, humidity, soil quality, exposure to light and air and nutrient
availability.
26 | p a g e

If conditions are good, phyllochrons in rice are five to seven days long, though they
may be shorter at higher temperatures. Under very good conditions, the vegetative
growth phase of a rice plant may last as long s 12 phyllochrons before the plant begins
initiating panicles and starts its reproductive phase. This is possible and when the rate of
biological growth is speeded up, so that many growth intervals are completed before
panicle initiations.
This is why it is best to transplant seedlings during the second and third phyllochrons, so
as not to disrupt the rapid growth which begins in the fourth phyllochrons.


15. IS SRI SUSTAINABLE ? HOW CAN WE GET SUCH HIGH YIELDS ?
Little systematic evaluation has yet been done by plant or soil scientists.
However, here are few proposed explanations:
I. BIOLOGICAL NITROGEN FIXATION (BNF)
Free living bacteria and others microbes around the roots of rice may fix nitrogen
for the plants. The presence of such bacteria has been documented for sugar cane, which
is in the grass family along with rice where nitrogen fertilizer had not been applied,
microbial action fix 150 - 200 kg of nitrogen / ha for the cane. However, less nitrogen
fixing occurs where chemical fertilizers have previously been applied. It is known that
about 80% of the bacteria in and around rice roots have nitrogen fixing capability, but
this potential will not be realized where inorganic 'N' has been applied or possibly in
anaerobic, water logged soils.
ii. OTHER RESEARCH:
Suggest that plants can grow very well with extremely low concentrations of
nutrients, as long as those nutrients are supplied evenly & consistently over time.
We know that compost furnishes a low, steady supply of nutrients.
iii. PLANTS WITH EXTENSIVE:
Root growths have better access to whatever nutrients exist in the soil. Extensive
root growth can result when the roots of young seedlings have lots of space and
oxygen, and when the water and nutrient are scarce enough that roots need to "go
looking" for them. Such extensive roots may be able to extract more balanced
nutrients from the soil, including some scarce but necessary micro nutrients.

27 | p a g e


FIG 6: YOUNG SEEDLINGS
TABLE 2: COMPARISON OF SRI TRIAL AND FARMERS PRACTICE
16. AGRONOMIC COMPARISONS: SRI TRIALS VS FARMERS PRATICE (RABI
SEASON) 2001-05
2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 Average
SRI Practice
Tillers per hill 43 58 52 58 52.75
Effective tillers 28 39 32 37 34.00
Length of panicle (cm) 21 22 20 22 21.25
Weight of 1000 grains (g) 22 23 24 23 23.00
1cm filled grains 12 11 13 10 11.50
Yield (tons the) 6.12 6.95 7.89 8.10 -
Farmers practice
Tillers per hill 17 21 16 18 18.00
Effective tillers 09 12 08 07 9.00
Length of panicle (cm) 21 18 16 20 18.00
Weight of 1000 grain (g) 21 21 26 20 22.00
% unfilled grains 20 15 19 25 20.50
Yield (tons/ha) 4.07 4.31 4.82 4.49 -





28 | p a g e


17. CONCLUSION :
The system of rice intensification SRI offers an interesting alternative to improve
rice productivity. It is a system of practices that can bring about improvements in total
factors of productivity of land, capital, and water and labour simultaneously.
At first SRI can take 50-100% more labour but over time it may even require less
labour. Once techniques are mastered and confident is gained. Since yields can be two,
three and even four times more than with current practices. The returns from both labour
and land are much higher, justifying the greater investment of labour. Farmers are
skeptical of SRI's benefit. It seems almost like magic at first, though there are good
scientific reasons to explain each part of the process.


B. SOI TESTING LABORATORY :
Soil sample are brought by the farmers of different district for soil testing before
cultivation of their crop. These soils are analysed for the content of the fertilizers and pH
present in it. It is estimated for KO, PO, pH and organic carbon etc.

FOR KO ESTIMATION:

LAB REAGENT PREARATION FOR QUICK ESTIMATION:
1. Morgans solution (5 litre):
500 gm sodium acetate + 150 cc glacial acetic acid(water 5 litre)
29 | p a g e

2. Alcohol mixture:
isopropyl alcohol + methyl alcohol in 1:1 ratio
3. Sodium cobalt nitrate solution:
cobalt nitrate (50kg) + 300g sodium nitrate (first mix with little water in
1litre flask) + 25ml glacial acetic acid. Add 500ml of distilled water, shake it
until fumes comes out & keep it for 24 hours. Next day add more water to
make it upto 1litre.

PROCEDURE FOR ESTIMATION:
1. Take 5gm of soil
2. Add 25ml of Morgans solution
3. Shake & filter
4. Take 2ml alcohol mixture in a test tube
5. Add 5 drops of cobalt nitrate solution
6. Add the filtrate up to 10 ml mark
7. Shake and allow to stand for few minutes
8. Compare the colour with colour chart.

COLOUR CHART OF KO:
o Transparent low
o Non-transparent high
OBSEVATION:
The sample of analysis is transparent in colour. It is therefore low in
potassium content.




FOR PO ESTIMATION:

LAB REAGENT PREARATION FOR QUICK ESTIMATION:

30 | p a g e

1. Bray No 1 solution (20litre capacity):
ammonium fluorite 20.2g + 40.4ml of concentrated HCl volume it upto
20litre by adding distilled water.
2. Stainers chloride 5g + 12.5ml concentrated HCl, Fumes come out
after mixing and heating.
3. Ammonium molybdate solution:
ammonium molybdate 15g + 3.0 + 304ml concentrated HCL. Ammonium
molybdate mix with distilled water first and volume it upto 1 litre in a
measuring flask. Then pour 304 HCl in the flask, steer constanly.
Dilution of stainers chloride solution
1ml stainers chloride + 65ml of distilled water.


PROCEDURE FOR ESTIMATION:
1. Take 5gm of soil
2. Add 40ml of brays solution
3. Shake and filter
4. Take 2ml filtrate in 25ml volumetric flask.
5. Add 2ml ammonium molybdate solution to it.
6. Add 1ml diluted stainers chloride solution to it.
7. Compare the colour with colour chart
COLOUR CHART:
o Dark blue high
o Medium dark blue medium
o Light blue very low

OBSEVATION:
The soil sample in lab is colourless which indicates very low content
of phosphorusin soil sample.

FOR CARBON ESTIMATION:

METHOD LAB REAGENT PREARATION FOR QUICK ESTIMATION:

31 | p a g e

1. Potassium Dichromet Solution: KCrO 49gm mix with distilled
HO and volumeit up to 1litre.
2. Pherus ammonium sulphate: 196.1gm pherus ammonium
sulphate FeSO(NH) , 6HO will dissolve in 800ml of water. Add20ml
concentrated HSO. Then we have to cooling down.
3. Diphenyle amide indicator: 0.5gm diphenyle amide in 20ml of
water & 100ml of HSO
4. Sulphuric Acid (HSO)
5. Ortho phosphoric acid

PROCEDURE FOR ESTIMATION:
Organic Carbon :
a) Take 0.5gm of soil sample in 500ml of flask
b) Add 10ml of potassium dichromate and shake the flask.
c) Then carefully add 20 ml of concentrated HSO
d) Mix it vigorously for 1 minute.
e) Then we have to keep the flask in dark 30 minute for cool down
f) After cooling we have to add 200ml of water. Again allow it to cool
g) Allow ortho phosphoric acid and 1ml of diphenyle amide indicator,then
shake it
h) Titrate it again pherus ammonium sulphate
i) Similarly make a blank determination in the same manner, but without
soil.
CALCULATION:
Organic Carbon(%) ={10(B-T)/B} X {(0.003 X 100)/weight of soil in gram}
Where,
B= Volume of FAS required for the titration of blank
T= Volume of FAS required for titration of sample
Organic Carbon (%)= {10(21.0-13.4)/21.0} X {(0.003 X 100)/0.5}
=2.1714

32 | p a g e

CHART:

OBSERVATION:
So, here the organic carbon percentage is high..

FOR NITROGEN ESTIMATION (THROUGH KZELDAHL DISTILATION PLANT):
REAGENTS:
1. Potassium per menganate(KMnO4): 50 ml.
2. Sodium hydro oxide (NAOH) : 50ml.
3. Boric Acid:25ml.
INDICATORS:
1. 200 ml Methyl Red Indicator + 100 g Bromo Cresol Green Indicator + 100
ml Ethanol.(Mix Indicator)
2. 0.02 N H
2
SO
4
for Titration.

PROCEDURE:
1. Attach the inlet pipe of the Kzeldahl Dislilation Plant with the
water-filter.
2. Wash the machine properly with water flow.
3. Add 5g-10g of Soil Sample in the big size test-tube of Kzeldahl
Dislilation Plant .
4. Then add the Reagents (KMNO4,NAOH,Boric Acid) in the big size
test-tube.
5. Take Boric Acid (25 ml) + add Mix Indicator in an another conical
flask drop by drop till straw colour appears.
6. The Machine will automatically take required amount of NAOH
from the the flask of NAOH.
7. Then put the Boric Acid flask in the machine and insert the inlet
pipe in the flask.
33 | p a g e

8. The machine will add Nitrogen in the Boric Acid flask by itself.
9. Then titrate the Boric acid flask in 0.02 N H2SO4.

Fig: Kzeldahl Distilation Plant.

CALCULATION:
Formula: Available
Nitrogen Kg/Ha =x x
125.4

(Where, x is the
volume of Titrant)
x= 1.7 (From
Titration)

So, Available Nitrogen (N) kg/ha=1.7 x 125.44=213.24

OBSEVATION:









Low Medium High
Available
Nitrogen by
alkaline
permanganate
method in
kg/ha
Below 280 280-560 Above 560
34 | p a g e

From the above chart it can be said that the soil sample has Low amount of
Nitrogen.

pH ESTIMATION:
LAB REAGENT PREARATION FOR QUICK ESTIMATION:

Chlorophenyl red indicator preparation for 250ml. : Chlorophenol
0.1gm + 2.4ml sodium hydroxide, then mix the volume it up to 250 ml.
Preparation NaOH: mix 40gm NaOH in 1litre of distilled water. NaOH stock
solution 1ml+9ml distilled water.
PROCEDURE FOR pH ESTIMATION:

1. Take 1gm soil in a test tube
2. Add a pinch of barium sulphate
3. Add water up to the mark of the tube
4. Add 5 drops of chlorophenol red indicator
5. Shake and allow to stand for few minutes
6. Take reading in PH meter (levi bon comparator)
pH COLOUR RANGE:
1. Light colour - 6
2. Deep violet - 6.5


OBSERVATION:
The soil sample for analysis is light colour. This indicates that the pH is
6. It is acidic in nature.


C. BIOFERTILIZER :

35 | p a g e

I. Introduction :
One of the major concerns in today's world is the pollution and
contamination of soil. The use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides has caused
tremendous harm to the environment. An answer to this is the bio-fertilizer, an
environmentally friendly fertilizer now used in most countries. Bio-fertilizers are
organisms that enrich the nutrient quality of soil. The main sources of bio-fertilizers
are bacteria, fungi, and cynobacteria (blue-green algae). The most striking
relationship that these have with plants is symbiosis, in which the partners derive
benefits from each other.

Bio-fertilizers will help solve such problems as increased salinity of the soil
and chemical run-offs from the agricultural fields. Thus, bio-fertilizers are important
if we are to ensure a healthy future for the generations to come.

II. Definition :

Bio-fertilizers, more commonly known as microbial inoculants, are artificially
multiplied cultures of certain soil organisms that can improve soil fertility and crop
productivity. Although the beneficial effects of legumes in improving soil fertility
was known since ancient times and their role in biological nitrogen fixation was
discovered more than a century ago, commercial exploitation of such biological
processes is of recent interest and practice.

III. Merits of Bio-fertilizer use:

o By using bio-fertilizer 15 to 20% use of chemical fertilizer can be reduced.
o By improving physical structure of the soil, it can improve the fertility of
the soil particle. By increasing the porosity of the soil & for the presence
of microbes the plant and animal materials are decomposed.
o By the increasing the root depth, the problems which arises due to lack of
soil water are solved.
o The enzymes and vitamins secreted by the microbes increase the nutrient
uptake ability of the soil.
o Bio-fertilizer are eco friendly.

IV. Types of bio fertilizer:
36 | p a g e


On the basis of nutrient fixing bio-fertilizers are divided into 3 types:
a) Nitrogen fixing bio-fertilizer: these microbes fixes the aerobic nitrogen
in to the soil, in that form, which plants easily can uptake.
Examples of nitrogen fixing microbes are:
o s: These inoculants are known for their ability to fix atmospheric
nitrogen in symbiotic association with plants forming nodules in
roots (stem nodules in sesabaniamrostrata).RHZ are however
limited by their specificity and only certain legumes are benefited
from this symbiosis.
o Azatobactore: This has been found beneficial to a wide array of
crops covering cereals, millets, vegetables, cotton and sugarcane.
It is free living and non-symbiotic nitrogen fixing organism that
also produces certain substances good for the growth of plants
and antibodies that suppress many root pathogens.
o Azospirilum: This is also a nitrogen-fixing micro organism
beneficial for non-leguminous plants. Like AZT, the benefits
transcend nitrogen enrichment through production of growth
promoting substances.
o blue green algae: BGA are photosynthetic nitrogen fixers and are
free living. They are found in abundance in India i. They too add
growth-promoting substances including vitamin B12, improve the
soils aeration and water holding capacity and add to bio mass
when decomposed after life cycle. Azolla is an aquatic fern found
in small and shallow water bodies and in rice fields. It has
symbiotic relation with BGA and can help rice or other crops
through dual cropping or green manuring of soil.
b) Phosphate solubilising bio-fertilizer: these microbes converts the un
soluble form of phosphate in to soluble form. These microbes can also
convert the potassium and other nutrients in the soluble form to the
plants.
c) Decomposer: these microbes decomposes the dead animal and plant
materials and forms a good amount of humus in the soil. Some of these
microbes are known as celulitic example trichoderma, and some are
known as lignulitic, such as arthrobacteria.



37 | p a g e









V. Methods of Bio-fertilizer application:

The Bio-fertilizers are used in 3 ways. These are:
o As seed treatment: prepare a solution of 500gm of bio-fertilizer in 1lit
of water, and in that solution mix 10 to 12kg seeds by hand. when the
seeds are covered with black coat of bio-fertilizer, then make the seed
air dry & sow the seeds as early as possible.

o As root treatment: just before transplantation of the seedlings, the
roots of the seedlings are treated with bio-fertilizer.gm of Azatobactor
& 500gm biophos are mixed with 5litre of water. The roots of the
seedlings for 1kani are dipped on that solution for 8 to 12hours.



o As soil treatment: before sowing, on well ploughed soil, bio-fertilizers
are used.500gm of Azatobactor & 500gm biophos are well mixed with
50 kg soil. Then the mixing of soil is covered with a moist cloth. After 48
38 | p a g e

hours the mixed soil is broadcasted on 1kani of land. then a light
plough is applied.


o In case of fruit gardening: 4 kg (2kg of azatobactore & 2kg of
biophos) bio-fertilizers are mixed with 100 kg compost and keep it for
48hours.then apply it in 1kani land with soil.






VI. Safety measures of application of Bio-fertilizers:

o Keep the bio-fertilizers in a cool & dry place.
o Dont use the fertilizers after expiry date.
o Dont mix any type of chemical fertilizers with the bio-fertilizers.
o Before applying the bio-fertilizers, fungal treatment of the seeds are
necessary. After using the fungicide, double amount of bio-fertilizers should
be used.
o In case of rhysobium, use it only for the selective crops, which are3 written
on the packet.
39 | p a g e

o In case of seed treatment of bio-fertilizers, keep a distance from the direct
sunlight










Unit III

MUSHROOM CULTIVATION (OYESTER) IN TRIPURA


40 | p a g e


(Horticulture Research Centre, Nagichhera. Agartala)
(Govt. Of Tripura.)

1. INTRODUCTION :
Mushrooms are a group of fleshy, macroscopic fungi or edible fungus. They are very
unlike green plants because they lack chlorophyll and therefore depend on the
performed food for their nutrition. Toadstool is poisonous mushroom that cannot be
eaten.
From the earliest times mushroom have been used for food and have always been
considered a delicacy. Among the many novel sources of protein to bridge the protein
gap, mushrooms offer themselves as potential sources. In the modern world today
mushroom consumption is gaining popularity rapidly because of the growing
consciousness of the food value of this unique item of food. Today the mushroom is no
longer wrapped in the mystery and superstition of the days gone by and through long
and fruitful work of scientists. Down the ages we are now in a position to cultivate
mushroom artificially.
As stated, mushroom is a good source of protein and amino acid. Its protein
content varies between 19 to 40% on dry weight basis. Mushroom protein contains most
of the essential amino acids. Mushrooms are an excellent source of folic acid which is
given when treating various forms of anaemia.

41 | p a g e

Mushroom is reported to be excellent source of riboflavin (B
2
) and nicotinic acid (niacin)
and a good source of pantothenic acid (vit-B complex). It also contains appreciable
amount of thiamine and ascorbic acid.
The presence of different mineral elements like calcium, iron, copper,
phosphorus, increases the food value. The carbohydrate, content and fat content of
edible mushroom is quite low. The absence of starch in mushroom makes it an ideal food
for diabetic patients and for persons not wishing to put weight.
In addition to its food value there is nothing to waste since the entire
mushroom can be consumed.

2. FOOD VALUE OF MUSHROOM:
Mushroom provides a rich addition to the diet in the form of protein,
carbohydrates, valuable salts and vitamins. As compare to food the nutritional value of
mushroom lies between meat and vegetable. Investigation indicates that 100-200 gm of
mushrooms (dry wt basis) are required to maintain nutritional balance in a normal
human being weighing 70 kg.
Experiments prove that mushrooms are well suited to supplement diets which lack
protein and rightly been called "VEGETABLE MEAT".

3. TYPES OF MUSHROOM :
There are several types of Mushroom, they are :
1. Button Mushroom (Agaricus sp)
2. Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus sp)
3. Paddy straw Mushroom (Volvariella sp)
4. Dhingri Mushroom (Pleurotus sp)
5. Milky Mushroom (Calocybe sp)
6. Wood ear Mushroom (Auricularia sp)
7. Sitakii Mushroom (Lentinulla sp)
With the success in artificial cultivation of various types of
mushroom especially oyster (Pleurotus sp) and white milky mushroom (calocybe) indica
demand for fresh mushroom more among general message of Tripura, many growers are
growing mushroom in scattered way all over Tripura, collecting their spawn from State
Govt. lab. So it becomes difficult for individual growers to collect spawn from far distance
from their place of cultivation. Moreover, as fresh mushroom is highly perishable in
nature, so its quick marketing and continuous supply in their locality or nearby market
will be possible if cultivation is done in cluster (15-20) growers.
42 | p a g e

Keeping these in view an integrated scheme has been prepared to establish a
low cost spawn production unit in place of cultivation itself ensuring continuous
availability of the spawn to the growers.
4. OBJECTIVE:
As there is fairly good demand for fresh mushroom in various parts of the
state, jobs hard to come by the unemployed youths and cultivators of the state may be
encouraged to venture into entrepreneurship by way of mushroom cultivation as well as
spawn production which may emerge as one of the best method of self employment in
the state. To develop entrepreneurship on production of spawn and cultivation of
mushroom in an integrated way, the schemes are as follows :-
a. Low cost small spawn production unit (10,000 spawn / annum
b. Annual profit from cultivation of mushroom


5. SPAWN : The Propagating materials used by the mushroom growers for planting
beds is called spawn. The spawn is equivalent to the vegetative seed of higher plant.
Quality of spawn is basic for the successful mushroom cultivation.



6. MEDIA PREPARATION:
PDA media preparation with sterilization
INGREDIENTS:
Peel potato 200gm
Dextrose - 20 gm
Agar Agar - 20 gm
Distilled water 1lt

PREPARATION :
At first reel the potato and cut it into small pieces, then boil it for 20-25
minutes in water and filter the potato boil water by a piece of cloth. Add dextrose and
agar-agar in it. Stir it continuously and boil it for another 10-15 minutes. Then take the
media in a beaker and then pour 10ml of PDA media in 20-25 cm long test tube. Steal it
with nonabsorbent cotton and sterilize it in autoclave at 15psi at a temperature of 121
0
c
for 15-20 minutes. In absence of autoclave, pressure cooker can also be used for
sterilization. In pressure cooker it is done for 2 days. First day for 1hour and
Second day again for 2 hours.
43 | p a g e

After completion of sterilization bring it out and keep at a slanting position, so
that the media inside gets condensed. These condensed media is used for the
inoculation of the mushroom mycelia. The inoculation is done from the culture with the
help of lode. It is kept in BOD with required temperature From media, the culture is again
inoculated to spawn for making mother spawn
7. STEPS OF SPAWN PRODUCTION:



Preparation of spawn:
i. Take healthy and clean cereal grains (rice grain)
ii. Boil grains in water for 30 minutes
iii. Remove excess water on sieve
iv. Dry grains in shade under the fan (12-16 hours)
v. Mix CaCO
3
and CaSO
4
at a ratio of 3:1
vi. Fill 200 gm treated grains in polypropylene bag (heat resistant)
vii. Plug the bags with the help of PP Neck or aluminium rings with non-
absorbent cotton.
viii. Sterilize the bags in autoclave at 15 psi/sq inch at a temperature of 121
0
c
for 1.30 to 2 hours.
ix. On next day shake the bags
x. Keep the bags on laminar flow under uv tube for 20 minutes.
. xi. Inoculate the bags by pouring 20 gm mother spawn to each bag.
xii. Incubate the bags in incubation room
44 | p a g e

xiii. Spawn is ready in 10-20 days.



Fig1:Packeting of spawn

8. HYGEING MAINTAINING OF SPAWN PRODUCTION:
i. During spawn production hygiene is maintained in the incubation room by
potassium permanganate or by fumigation Formalin + potassium
permanganate.
ii. 2% Formalin is used for sterilization of materials used for mushroom
cultivation.
iii. Washing of feet with potassium permanganate before entering the
cultivation room at door.
iv. If any infection is observed in the incubation room or cultivation, a gap
should be maintained in the following year.
v. Clean the room with savlon or phenol




9. LIFE CYCLE OF MUSHROOM :
Mature Mushroom Cap Gills


45 | p a g e

Hyminium
Immature mushroom
button stage immature basidium
(n+n) (karyogamy meiosis)

Mycellium with
button stage
Germination of basidiospore
(n)


Secondary Germ tube
mycellium
Primary mycellium

Clamydosphore

10. MUSHROOM CULTIVATION:

Generally in Tripura, Pleurotus spp is cultivated as it can be grown at 35
0
c.
Mushroom can be cultivated in two ways
CULTIVATION TECHNIQUE OF OYSTER MUSHROOM IN TRANSPARENT
POLYPROPYLENE BAG :
Materials Required :
o Spawn = 1 no
o Polypropylene bag = 1no
(size = 18 x 22cm)
o Straw = 1kg
o Jute sutli = 6"
The fresh well dried golden yellow coloured chopped (5cm) paddy straw soaked
in cool water for 24 hours and subsequently 2 hours in hot water (80
0
c). After soaking in
hot water allow excess water to run off. Place 15cm layer of presoaked straw
inside bottom of the poly propylene bag and spread one part of spawn uniformly. Place
46 | p a g e

another 10cm layer of presoaked straw above the spawn layer and spread another part
of spawn, like this way place rest 3 layers straw and 2 part of spawn. Press the straw
from upper side. Tie the month of P.P. bag by jute sutli or thread and make 3-4 holes into
the P.P. bag. Keep the bag in the dark and shady room and sprinkle water (250ml/bag) on
every alternative day if necessary. In about 15-20 days, the straw will be covered with
white mycellial growth, then open the P.P bag completely. The first flush of pin heads
appears in about 20-25 days of spawning. At this stage sprinkle water twice daily and
harvest when the tiny pin heads grow into full sized mushroom 3 to 4 days later.
A third harvest is also possible from the same bag if proper care and management
practice are as followed.
An average yield totals to around 600-900gm from each bag.









FIG 2: OYSTER MUSHROOM
CULTIVATION TECHNIQUE OF OYSTER MUSHROOM IN WOODEN CUDE

METHOD :
Materials Required :
1. Wooden would (size 45 x 22cm x 15cm)
2. Polythene sheet (1sq. meter)
3. Nylon rope
4. Fresh golden yellow coloured paddy straw
5. Press wooden board (42 x 20 cm)
Procedure:
Select a protected shady place, chop straw into 1" long and dip in cold water for
12-24 hours.
Drain out excess water and dip in hot water (80
0
c) for 2 hours and drain out excess
water and let it cool.
Place the wooden mould on smooth, clean surface, put nylon rope criss cross
inside the wood.
47 | p a g e

Place the nylon sheet over the nylon rope.
Divide one bottle / Packet of spawn into 5 parts and six kg. wet straw into 6
parts. Now place one part of straw and broadcast one part of spawn over the straw layer
and then place another layer of straw. Over the spawn layer inside the wooden mould
and press with the press board to make it compact. Continue the placement of alternate
layer of spawn and straw and press with the board. The final layer will be of straw.
Wrap the material with polythene sheet previously placed and tie with the nylon
rope tightly.
Now take out the straw cube from the wooden mould thus prepared and place on
a rake.
After 10-15 days when the straw is completely covered with white mycelial
growth, remove nylon rope and the polythene sheet carefully and place the straw
cude in a shady place but never under direct sun and water regularly so as to keep
the straw cube always moist (avoid excess watering)
Depending upon the species of mushroom and ambient temperature, the first
flush of pin head will appear from all sides of the cube in about 3-5 days after
removing the polythene sheet
Sprinkle water 2-3 times a day (but care should be taken so that pin heads are not
damaged.
With 2-3 days of appearance of pin heads the mushroom will be ready for harvest.
After first harvest sprinkle water regularly to keep the straw cube just moist.
Second flush of rope appears in all out 10-12 days after 1st harvest. A third harvest
is also possible if proper care and management practices are followed.
11. CHEMICAL STERILIZATION OF PADDY STRAW :
Ingredients:
i. 10 kg paddy straw
ii. 100 lt. water
iii. 12 ml formalin
iv. 5-7-5 mg Bavistine
i. 200 lit capacity water tank or any container (except iron)


METHOD :
First take 10kg chopped (5cm) straw in the container. Pour 90 litre water in this
container. Rest 10 lit water has to be divided into two parts, in one part 5 litre water
mixed with 125ml formalin & another part 5 litre water mixed with 5-7.5 gm Bavistine
thoroughly. Pour both the water along with chemicals slowly above the presoaked
48 | p a g e

straw. Cover the straw with clean polythene sheet for 12-16 hours. After 16 hours allow
excess water to run off and dry the straw for half an hour in sunlight. Divide this soaked
straw in 10 parts, every past will contain 1kg straw. Then cultivate mushroom by using
each past, either in poly propylene bag or wooden cube.


12. NUTRITIVE VALUE OF PLEUROTUS SAJOR CAJU IS GIVEN ON DRY
WEIGHT BASIS :
Ascorbic acid - 0.06%
Fat - 2.26%
Protein - 47.93%
Reducing sugar - 0.285%
Starch - 0.120%






Fig 3:Pleurotus sajor kaju
Table 4:COMPOSITION OF CULTIVATION MUSHROOM AND SOME COMMON
VEGETABLES / 100G.
Name calories moisture fat carbohydrate protein%
dry wt basis
Beet root 42 87.6 0.1 96 (129)
cabbage 24 92.4 0.2 5.3 18.4
cauliflower 25 91.7 0.2 4.9 28.8
Green peas 98 74.3 0.4 17.7 26.1
Mushroom 16 91.1 0.3 4.4 26.9
Potato 83 73.8 0.1 19.1 7.6



14.DISEASE AND PEST OF MUSHROOM:
i) Aspergillus sp.
Symptoms : Powdery mass like charcoal
ii) Penicillicum sp :
49 | p a g e

Symptoms : Green colour dustry
iii) Rhizopus sp -
Symptoms: Spider net like structure
iv) Coprinus sp -
symptom : The stalk becomes longer than usual and the cap becomes
Black.


MANAGEMENT:
Discard the infected mushroom. It is because mushroom is a highly
perishable, it has to be consumed very soon, therefore it is not wise to
use the pesticides for controlling the diseases.
Pest :
1. Sciarids
2. Phorids
3. Cecides

REMEDY : 1ml Endosulfan 35EC or Malathion 50EC 2 ml/It water should be
sprayed. For Rodents zinc phosphate can be used.

15. RECIPIES :
Mushroom is a nutriteous, delicious and tasty dish. A number of tasty dishes can
be prepared out of mushroom. We can use mushroom by preparing mushroom snacks,
also by preparing different types of curry.
Some of the mushroom snacks are --
1. Mushroom omllete
2. Mushroom pakora
3. Mushroom chop
4. Sauted Mushroom

Some other mushroom recipies like curry, soup are given below :
1. Mushroom gravy
2. Mushroom and paneer
3. Mushroom matar masala
4. Palak Mushroom
5. Mushroom polao
6. Mushroom dry fish
50 | p a g e

7. Mushroom porridge
8. Mushroom soup.











Fig 4: Mature stage of oyster mushroom
UNIT IV

AGRO-BASED INDUSTRY
(Under H.R.C. Nagichhera, Agartala.Tripura.)
(Govt. Of Tripura)

51 | p a g e






AGRO-BASED INDUSTRY:
As is known, Tripura's economy is predominantly agricultural. A large section of
our tribal people still practice-shifting cultivation. Because of the influx in population
and tremendous pressure on the plain land, there is massive unemployment in the
agricultural sector. To overcome this, modern horticultural practices-under the
Rehabilitation programme for providing productive employment to the marginal farmers
and shifting cultivators-will be continued vigorously. Tripura grows one of the finest
varieties of pineapple, jackfruit, orange, guava etc. Recently, the tribal population has
taken up vegetable cultivation also. The food and fruit products have a very wide
market, provided these are scientifically preserved and processed. With adequate
training programme, with the active assistance of nutrition experts from the
52 | p a g e

Government of India, food and fruit processing and ventures will be given all
encouragement. The existing training centres will be strengthened and training facilities
at new places will be created. In consultation with the Agriculture, Horticulture,
Fisheries and Forest Departments, Special projects will be formulated for production of
more foodstuff for canning purposes. Preservation of fruits, fish, bamboo shoots and
other fruit products will be taken up under this programme.

1. Seed processing industry:
(a) Introduction: Seed has been an important agricultural commodity since the first
crop plant was domesticated by pre-historic man. For thousand of years, man cleaned
seed of his food crops by winnowing. This is still an important process, but it is no longer
adequate to supply the kind of seed needed by farmer.
Seed processing is a vital part of the seed production needed to move the
improved genetic materials of the plant breeder into commercial channels for feeding
the rapidly expanding world population. The farmer must get the quality seed that is
free from all undesired materials because farmers entire crop depends on it.
Seed can seldom be planted in the condition in which it comes from the
growers. In fact, many seed lots contain weed or crop seed or inert material that make
them unfit for sale without processing. Crop seed also frequently have stems, awns,
clusters or other structures, which prevent from flowing through the drill freely.
Seed processing is that segment of the seed industry responsible for upgrading
seed improving planting condition of seed, and applying chemical protect to the seed.


53 | p a g e


UNDESIREABLE MATERIAL REMOVED DURING PROCESSING OF SEED:
1) Inert material
2) Noxious weed seed
3) Deteriorated seed
4) Damage seed
5) common weed seed
6) other crop seed
7) other variety seed
8) off size seed

An important factor to consider is the moisture content of the seed prior to processing.
Seed with moisture content above 15% are subject to excessive damage in the
processing line. In this case natural or artificial drying may be necessary. Physical
characteristics used to separate seed include size, length, weight, shape, surface texture,
colour, affinity for liquids and electrical conductivity.
Seed processing can broadly be divided into various steps As the seed is
received into the processing plant, it goes either directly into the cleaning process or into
storage to await processing. Drying may be necessary. As processing begins, the first
phase (conditioning and pre-cleaning) consists of scalping, debearding, shelling or any
other operation necessary to make the seed flow easily. The second phase (cleaning and
grading) includes the removal of inert materials, weed seed, other crop seed, and broken
seed that are larger or smaller than the crop seed and obtain the seed mass in the
uniform size range of perforations of top and bottom screen.
After the desired purity is obtained, seed enters the final processing phase
of separation based on specific characteristics like length, weight etc and treating and
packaging. Processed seed is stored for later sale

(b) Advantages of seed processing:
Make possible more uniform planting rates by proper sizing
Improve seed marketing by improving seed quality
54 | p a g e

Prevent spread of weed seed
Prevent crops from disease by applying chemical protectants
Reduces seed losses by drying
Facilitate uniform marketing by providing storage from harvest time until the
seed is needed for planting.

(c) Objectives:
The State Government has accorded high priority to the upliftment of rural
economy through the development of agricultural sector. Seed being vital input to
agriculture, continuous efforts are being made to ensure availability of quality seeds to
farmers in order to sustain the agricultural development.
In the present situation the demand of quality seeds is so high that any
government agency alone cannot meet the demand of quality seeds, which would be
required to fill by the private seed projects.
In view of above, the project has been formulated with the objective to produce
quality seed of paddy through scientific methods and adopting appropriate processing
through establishment of seed processing plant.
(d) Seed processing unit:
o Cleaning unit
o Grading unit
o Air separator unit
o Bagging unit
o Electronic balance/weighing/ stitching unit
2. Fruit processing & preservation industries:
(a) Introduction: Tripura fruit processing industry is one of the principal small scale
industries. The climatic conditions and topographical factors are conducive to the
growth of myriads of horticulturalcrops.
Several sweet and succulent fruits grow aplenty in the trees and bushes of
the orchards in Tripura. The state is famed for the production of pineapples, particularly
the "Queen" and "Kew" varieties. Oranges, cashew nuts and litchis are also found in
plenitude in the state. The fruits are fresh and juice and devoid of any toxic chemicals.
55 | p a g e

In order to increase the state's revenue, fruit processing units are being set up. These
units, quite naturally will augment the net production of fruits. Although the industry is
not a very old one, it is rapidly burgeoning into one of the state's major small scale units.
The Government of India's NERAMAC has set up a pineapple juice concentration plant at
Nalkata in North Tripura District. The plant is said to have an estimated capacity of 5760
TPA. The Tripura State Government's venture, TSIC is also venturing into the fruit
processing industry. In fact, TSIC has opened up a fruit canning plant that produces fresh
pineapple juice and other pineapple plants with a net capacity of 400 TPA. The state has
also embarked into the dry fruit industry and set up units to process cashew nuts and
other dry fruit. In short, fruit processing is one of the major imminent industries in
Tripura that has tremendous potential for growth and development.

Table1: Present estimated annual production level of major horticultural crops






Food processing :
Food processing is the set of methods and techniques used to transform raw
ingredients into food or to transform food into other forms for consumption by humans
or animals either in the home or by the food processing industry. Food processing
typically takes clean, harvested crops or butchered animal products and uses these to
produce attractive, marketable and often long shelf-life food products. Similar processes
are used to produce animal feed

Food preservation:
Crop Production (MT)
Pineapple 82,000 MT
Litchi 3000 MT
Orange 16,000 MT
Cashew 1,800 MT
Jackfruit 2,20,000 MT
Coconut 1,250 MT
56 | p a g e

Food preservation is the process of treating and handling food to stop or slow
down spoilage (loss of quality, edibility or nutritional value) and thus allow for longer
storage.
Preservation usually involves preventing the growth of bacteria, yeasts, fungi,
and other micro-organisms (although some methods work by introducing benign
bacteria, or fungi to the food), as well as retarding the oxidation of fats which cause
rancidity. Food preservation can also include processes which inhibit visual deterioration
that can occur during food preparation; such as the enzymatic browning reaction in
apples after they are cut.
Many processes designed to preserve food will involve a number of food
preservation methods. Preserving fruit, by turning it into jam, for example, involves
boiling (to reduce the fruits moisture content and to kill bacteria, yeasts, etc), sugaring
(to prevent their re-growth) and sealing within an airtight jar (to prevent
recontamination). There are many traditional methods of preserving food that limit the
energy inputs and reduce carbon footprint.
Maintaining or creating nutritional value, texture and flavor is an important aspect
of food preservation, although, historically, some methods drastically altered the
character of the food being preserved. In many cases these changes have now come to
be seen as desirable qualities cheese, yoghurt and pickled onions being common
examples.

(b) Method of preservation:
Heating to kill or denature micro-organisms (e.g., boiling)
Oxidation (e.g., use of sulfur dioxide)
Ozonation(e.g., use of ozone [O3] or ozonated water to kill undesired
microbes)
Toxic inhibition (e.g., smoking, use of carbon dioxide, vinegar, alcohol etc.)
Dehydration (drying)
Osmotic inhibition (e.g., use of syrups)
Low temperature inactivation (e.g., freezing)
57 | p a g e

Ultra high water pressure (e.g., Fresherized a type of cold pasteurization;
intense water pressure kills microbes which cause food deterioration and
affect food safety)


(c) Importance of post harvest management:
The importance of post harvest management are as follows:-
To protect the crops from spoilage after harvest.
To add the values to the product for better economic return.
To make the produce available during off season.
Even distributions of food among the mankind.







CONCLUSION:
RAWE programme has been a very good experience for me. I have personally learned many new indigenous techniques from
the farmers which they adopt from their own experience. In the Research Station we have seen how the trials are been done in
different patterns. Trials are usually made after the order from RRD Hyderabad. At present the trials are done on SRI method.
It was a very exciting thing to know about SRI (System of Rice Intensification) where only a single seedling is planted and
about 64 to 72 tillers develop from it. It was hard to believe for everyone although there were many reasons to explain it. The ultimate
result was extremely very BIG.
58 | p a g e

Agro-based industry was another very interesting topic. Here the seeds are tested, certified. Different fruits and vegetable are
processed and send to the market for commercial purpose.
Mushroom itself is a very cute thing, so it was very pleasant & interesting work. We had done the entire process /steps
involved in mushroom cultivation right from media preparation, spawn production to ultimate cultivation of mushroom.
More over we got a chance to attend and experience a field day program organised BY T.SAMETI. there we got the chance to
meet farmers and interact with them. Which was a very interesting thing.
So, this RAWE Programme was very much helpful. It improves our confidence, sharpens our skills and makes us aware of the
problems in the agricultural field before we serve the people.






REFERRENCE :
SRI method : From the manual on Principles and Practices
of SRI, provided by- State Agriculture Research Station, Tripura.
Soil testing : written information provided by- Specialist of
soil analysing unit, State Agriculture Research Station, Tripura.
Bio-fertilizer : From the manual on bio-fertilizer, provided
by- State Agriculture Research Station, Tripura.
more over, some information was taken from the website
www.orbitbiotech.com
Mushroom : A text book on mushroom cultivation. By-
J.N.Kapoor. & a website www.agricultureinfo.com & www.wikihow.com &
some available notes of seniors.
59 | p a g e

Seed processing : from the book Seed Technology. By-
R.L.Aggarwal. & some Written information, provided by- State Agriculture
Research Station, Tripura.
Fruit processing & preservation : written information
provided by Dr. Subrata Ganguli, in fruit processing & preservation Unit.
Depertment of Agriculture.