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I am working as a postdoctoral researcher at Feed the Future Sustainable Intensification Innovation Lab, Kansas State University. My research interest focuses on investigating the influence of agronomic management on crop growth and development. I seek to understand complexities in agricultural systems, integrating crop simulation models, remote sensing and Climate forecast to formulate decision support system for better management strategies of inputs in crop production system.
The quantity and quality of forage and fodder crops is the major drawback of the livestock sector in the country. There is a need to bridge the gap between the supply and demand of fodder through the adoption of specific sustainable fodder production strategies. The field experiments were conducted during kharif (rainy, June–October), rabi (post-rainy, October–February), and summer (March–May) seasons of 2018–19 and 2019–20 to identify a sustainable fodder cropping system module in randomized complete block design with fifteen fodder cropping systems in three replications. The main objective of this research was to identify the most productive cereal–legume cropping system, both in terms of quantity and quality of biomass, to reduce the gap between supply and demand of quality livestock feed around the year. Among cropping systems, Bajra–Napier hybrid intercropped with lucerne, cowpea, and sesbania recorded significantly higher green fodder (163.6, 155.2, and 144.0 t/ha/year, respectively) and dry matter yields (32.1, 30.8, and 31.3 t/ha/year, respectively). Similarly, the same perennial systems also recorded higher quality yield and ash content. However, higher crude protein content was noticed in monocrop legumes, with the highest in sesbania (22.32%), while higher ether extractable fat was found in monocrop sesbania (3.78%). The monocrop oats recorded higher non-fiber carbohydrates (36.90%) while a monocrop of pearl millet recorded higher total carbohydrates (80.75%), however they were on par with other monocrop cereal cropping systems. Cultivation of legumes as a monocrop, and their inclusion as an intercrop with cereals resulted in lower fiber fractions and improved crude protein in intercropping systems. Furthermore, this improved the dry matter intake and digestibility of fodder. With higher sustainable yield index values and land-use efficiency, perennial intercropping systems were also found to be sustainable. Thus, cultivation of the Bajra–Napier hybrid with either lucerne, cowpea, or sesbania as an intercrop will help livestock farmers to achieve higher productivity in terms of quantity and quality, and forms a viable option for overcoming livestock feed scarcity.
Konapura Nagaraja Manoj; Bommalapura Gundanaik Shekara; Shankarappa Sridhara; Prakash Kumar Jha; P. V. Vara Prasad. Biomass Quantity and Quality from Different Year-Round Cereal–Legume Cropping Systems as Forage or Fodder for Livestock. Sustainability 2021, 13, 9414 .
AMA StyleKonapura Nagaraja Manoj, Bommalapura Gundanaik Shekara, Shankarappa Sridhara, Prakash Kumar Jha, P. V. Vara Prasad. Biomass Quantity and Quality from Different Year-Round Cereal–Legume Cropping Systems as Forage or Fodder for Livestock. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (16):9414.
Chicago/Turabian StyleKonapura Nagaraja Manoj; Bommalapura Gundanaik Shekara; Shankarappa Sridhara; Prakash Kumar Jha; P. V. Vara Prasad. 2021. "Biomass Quantity and Quality from Different Year-Round Cereal–Legume Cropping Systems as Forage or Fodder for Livestock." Sustainability 13, no. 16: 9414.
Timing of micronutrient demand and acquisition by maize (Zea mays L.) is nutrient specific and associated with key vegetative and reproductive growth stages. The objective of this study was to determine the fate of foliar-applied B, Fe, Mn, Zn, and Fe/Zn together, evaluate the effect of foliar micronutrients applied at multiple rates and growth stages on maize grain yield, and determine their apparent nutrient recovery efficiency (ANR). Five Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) experiments were conducted in 2014 and 2015 at five locations across Nebraska. Total dry matter was collected at 5–6 stages, and separated into leaves, stalk, and reproductive tissue as appropriate to determine micronutrient uptake, partitioning, and translocation. Foliar B, Mn, Zn, and Fe/Zn had no effect on grain yield for most application time by rate levels, though, at the foliar Mn site, there was a 19% yield increase due to a V18 application of 0.73 kg Mn ha−1 which corresponded with reduced Mn uptake in maize grown in control plots. At the foliar Zn site, there was 4.5% decrease in yield due to a split foliar application of 0.84 kg Zn ha−1 total, applied at V11 and V15 stage, which increased leaf Zn concentrations greater than the established toxic level. Only the Fe site had consistent grain yield response and was the only experiment that had visual signs of micronutrient deficiency. Regardless of application time from V6 to R2, there was a 13.5–14.6% increase in grain yield due to 0.22 kg Fe ha−1 foliar application. Most micronutrients had limited or no translocation, however, early season applications of B, prior to V10, had significant mobilization to reproductive tissues at or after VT. Foliar Mn, Zn, and B application had ANR LSmeans of 9.5, 16.9, and 2.5%, respectively, whereas the Fe/Zn mix had negative ANR LSmeans of −9.1% Fe and −1.3% Zn which indicate suppression. These data highlight the importance of confirming a micronutrient deficiency prior to foliar application, guide specific growth stages to target with specific micronutrients, track the fate of foliar-applied micronutrients, and describe the variable effect of foliar-applied micronutrients on grain yield.
Zachary Stewart; Ellen Paparozzi; Charles Wortmann; Prakash Jha; Charles Shapiro. Effect of Foliar Micronutrients (B, Mn, Fe, Zn) on Maize Grain Yield, Micronutrient Recovery, Uptake, and Partitioning. Plants 2021, 10, 528 .
AMA StyleZachary Stewart, Ellen Paparozzi, Charles Wortmann, Prakash Jha, Charles Shapiro. Effect of Foliar Micronutrients (B, Mn, Fe, Zn) on Maize Grain Yield, Micronutrient Recovery, Uptake, and Partitioning. Plants. 2021; 10 (3):528.
Chicago/Turabian StyleZachary Stewart; Ellen Paparozzi; Charles Wortmann; Prakash Jha; Charles Shapiro. 2021. "Effect of Foliar Micronutrients (B, Mn, Fe, Zn) on Maize Grain Yield, Micronutrient Recovery, Uptake, and Partitioning." Plants 10, no. 3: 528.
Nebraska soils are generally micronutrient sufficient. However, critical levels for current yields have not been validated. From 2013 to 2015, 26 on-farm paired comparison strip-trials were conducted across Nebraska to test the effect of foliar-applied micronutrients on maize (Zea mays L.) yield and foliar nutrient concentrations. Treatments were applied from V6 to V14 at sites with 10.9 to 16.4 Mg ha−1 yield. Soils ranged from silty clays to fine sands. Soil micronutrient availability and tissue concentrations were all above critical levels for deficiency. Significant grain yield increases were few. Micronutrient concentrations for leaf growth that occurred after foliar applications were increased 4 to 9 mg Zn kg−1 at 5 of 17 sites with application of 87 to 119 g Zn ha−1, 12 to 16 mg kg−1 Mn at 2 of 17 sites with application of 87 to 89 g Mn ha−1, and an average of 8.1 mg kg−1 Fe across 10 sites showing signs of Fe deficiency with application of 123 g foliar Fe ha−1. Foliar B concentration was not affected by B application. Increases in nutrient concentrations were not related to grain yield responses except for Mn (r = 0.54). The mean, significant grain yield response to 123 g foliar Fe ha−1 was 0.4 Mg ha−1 for the 10 sites with Fe deficiency symptoms. On average, maize yield response to foliar Fe application can be profitable if Fe deficiency symptoms are observed. Response to other foliar micronutrient applications is not likely to be profitable without solid evidence of a nutrient deficiency.
Zachary P. Stewart; Ellen T. Paparozzi; Charles S. Wortmann; Prakash Kumar Jha; Charles A. Shapiro. Foliar Micronutrient Application for High-Yield Maize. Agronomy 2020, 10, 1946 .
AMA StyleZachary P. Stewart, Ellen T. Paparozzi, Charles S. Wortmann, Prakash Kumar Jha, Charles A. Shapiro. Foliar Micronutrient Application for High-Yield Maize. Agronomy. 2020; 10 (12):1946.
Chicago/Turabian StyleZachary P. Stewart; Ellen T. Paparozzi; Charles S. Wortmann; Prakash Kumar Jha; Charles A. Shapiro. 2020. "Foliar Micronutrient Application for High-Yield Maize." Agronomy 10, no. 12: 1946.
Understanding better the impacts of extreme dry spell regimes is essential for optimizing water management under a changing and variable climate. Using field experiments and modeling studies, we examined the impacts of dry spells in soybean and identified better management of water resources under varying water-scarce conditions. Field experimental data from soybean (PUSA-2614) experiments (July–Oct 2014; IARI, New Delhi, India) were used to calibrate and validate InfoCrop-Soybean model. This model was used to simulate optimal timing of irrigation under different dry spell scenarios. Results showed that plants subjected to water stress during flowering and vegetative growth stages had significantly lower yields and total dry matter (TDM). Supplemental irrigation significantly increased TDM and yields. InfoCrop-Soybean could simulate plant responses to water stress, at various stages of crop growth, and to supplemental irrigation, with acceptable accuracy. The crop model was further used to simulate impacts of dry spells at different intensities and durations on soybean growth and yields by creating drought scenarios for the New Delhi region using 36 years of weather data (1978–2014). Simulations showed that a 20% reduction in rainfall during any fortnight (every 15th day) of the cropping season does not affect crop yield significantly. However, dry spells (50% reduction in rainfall or more) in August and early September led to reduced yields, while supplemental irrigation during those dry spells could reduce yield losses. We envisage that the results of this study can help better manage water in soybean cultivation under dryland condition.
Prakash Kumar Jha; Soora Naresh Kumar; Amor V.M. Ines. Responses of soybean to water stress and supplemental irrigation in upper Indo-Gangetic plain: Field experiment and modeling approach. Field Crops Research 2018, 219, 76 -86.
AMA StylePrakash Kumar Jha, Soora Naresh Kumar, Amor V.M. Ines. Responses of soybean to water stress and supplemental irrigation in upper Indo-Gangetic plain: Field experiment and modeling approach. Field Crops Research. 2018; 219 ():76-86.
Chicago/Turabian StylePrakash Kumar Jha; Soora Naresh Kumar; Amor V.M. Ines. 2018. "Responses of soybean to water stress and supplemental irrigation in upper Indo-Gangetic plain: Field experiment and modeling approach." Field Crops Research 219, no. : 76-86.