Directorate of Weed Research

The experiment on assessing the incidence of sucking insect pests on muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.) was conducted at the research field of the Integrated Farming System (IFS) unit, Faculty of Agriculture (FoA), Wadura, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K) during kharif 2021. Three major sucking pests—Aphis gossypii, Amrasca biguttula, and Scirtothrips dorsalis- were observed infesting muskmelon. Of these, A. gossypii recorded peak infestation during the 23rd standard meteorological week (SMW), while A. biguttula, and S. dorsalis peaked during the 26th SMW. Among the major meteorological factors, only maximum temperature showed a significant positive correlation with incidence of these sucking pests.

Rice-fallow areas, widespread in rainfed rice-growing regions of South Asia, remain uncultivated during the post-rainy (winter) season due to multiple challenges, including inadequate irrigation infrastructure, cultivation of long-duration rice varieties, and soil moisture imbalances. South Asia has approximately 22.3 million hectares of rice-fallow land, with India contributing the largest share (88.3%). Eastern Indian states, which account for 82% of India’s rice-fallow area, presents significant opportunities for cropping intensification. However, several constraints—such as biotic (pest and disease), abiotic stresses (temperature extremes, drought, etc.), rapid soil moisture depletion, and disturbances from free-grazing livestock-hinder efforts to cultivate a second crop, perpetuating poverty among the small and marginal farmers. Introducing stress-tolerant rabi crops, particularly pulses (chickpea, lentil, lathyrus, field pea) and oilseeds (mustard, toria, safflower, linseed), offers a promising solution to enhance system productivity and improve the farmers’ livelihoods. Policymakers have recently increased the public investment in rice-fallows intensification, yet fragmented and ad-hoc initiatives often fail to deliver sustainable outcomes due to complex and multidimensional challenges involved. This study critically examines the key issues affecting rice-fallow lands and provides strategic recommendations to convert these underutilized areas into the productive cropping systems during winter and spring. Additionally, it reviews Central and State Government programs related to rice-fallow management, emphasizing the need for research to align with ongoing policy initiatives for maximum impact. The findings of this study offers a valuable insights for the policymakers, planners, and stakeholders, highlighting the potential of pulses and oilseeds to enhance the food security, reduce poverty, and promote sustainable, climate-resilient agricultural production systems in the region.

Pea ( L.) is one of the most important legume crop after chickpea in Pisum sativum India. In the present investigation, keeping in view these facts, roving survey was conducted during 2018-19 and 2019-20 to obtain information on the natural disease incidence and distribution of Pea diseases in the farmers’ fields in four different districts of Madhya Pradesh. Apooled mean of seed and seedling disease ranging from 10.19 to 41.22%, wilt incidence ranging from 23.46 to 42.53 %, Powdery mildew incidence ranging from 41.29 to 59.62% and Downy mildew incidence ranging from 1.97 to 18.33% was observed during 2018-19 and 2019-20. Diseases transmitted through seeds are becoming a significant threat to the production of peas.(Katni, Mandla, Narsinghpur and Jabalpur).