IIHR Technologies

Technologies developed

I .GRAPE ROOTSTOCK - `DOGRIDGE’, ITS SIGNIFICANCE IN GRAPE CULTIVATION

Grape cultivation is approximately 300 years old in India.  It has passed through a series of developments in terms of selection of agro-climatic regions, variety and cultural practices, with particular reference to training and pruning.  However, major breakthrough in grape cultivation could be achieved only during the last three decades. Of late, India has emerged as one of the leading producers of world’s finest quality of grapes with highest yield/unit area. One such tool, which is poised to make a significant contribution and play a vital role, is rootstocks.

Vines in India were mostly grown on their own roots as most areas were considered free from soil borne problems. However, interest in grape rootstocks has recently intensified, owing to the problems of salinity, drought and low vine vigour.  Due to the severe restriction on the availability of good quality water for irrigation and uncertainty of rains, rootstocks provide an attractive and environmentally sound alternative to manage these twin problems. Rootstock is also an important factor to control scion vigour and to bring an equilibrium between growth and yield.

It is an established fact that rootstocks provide a different root system to the scion. The selective absorption of nutrients by the scions due to changed root system can be profitably employed in eliminating the absorption of toxic elements. Similarly, roots being the sites for the synthesis of cytokinins, which have been demonstrated to be pivotal in fruit bud differentiation, there is scope for manipulating the productivity of vines through rootstocks.

The choice of rootstocks is more difficult than generally believed. This is due to interaction between the rootstock, environment and the scion. Fortunately, for the growers of our country the twin problems of Phylloxera and nematodes and so also the problem of viruses affecting the vine industry elsewhere in the world, does not pose any threat. This situation has helped to a large extent in narrowing down the difficult task of selection.

Among the many rootstocks introduced and tested in India only two have shown their potential.  They are Dogridge (Vitis champinii) and Salt Creek (Vitis champinii).

The problem of soil salinity is fast spreading posing a threat to viticulture industry in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Northern districts of Karnataka. Heavy application of fertilizers, intensive cultivation, faulty management and poor quality of water accentuate the salt problem in grapes. Accumulation of chlorides is two to three times higher in cultivars. Rootstocks exclude the salts even under saline conditions. Proportion of potassium in rootstocks is many folds higher than in popular cultivars on their own roots. Under saline conditions, the symptoms of salt injury appear in the leaves based on the stage of the crop growth, types of soil, variety and environmental factors in relation to the accumulation of chloride and sodium.

Rootstocks Dogridge and Salt Creek have been noticed as best chloride +excluders. These rootstocks today have been used most successfully on soils of low fertility.  Their vigorous growth nature is found to be more useful under saline conditions. Performance of Dogridge rootstock especially under black soils and medium black soils has shown lot of promise both in Maharashtra and Bijapur district of Karnataka.  Thompson Seedless grafted to this rootstock has shown excellent vigour, resulting in ideal canopy when trained to Y trellis or expanded Y trellis.  The leaves of Thompson Seedless or Tas-A-Ganesh have not exhibited the salt injury symptoms even when saline water was being used, when they were grafted on Dogridge or Salt Creek. The tendency of these rootstocks to take up more nitrogen did not affect the productivity of scion cultivar.

Balancing soil fertility and scion vigour with rootstock vigour has thus become very important as a new approach in canopy management of grape vines. Eventhough, many horticultural practices like use of growth retardants, inducing sub canes, modified training systems etc., are very useful and proven tools to check the vine vigour, but imparting vigour to a cultivar to improve the leaf to fruit ratio is possible probably by use of vigorous rootstocks generally bean only recently, so there are few immature vineyards to use as guides in rootstock selection. However, some of the vineyards on Dogridge rootstock which are well managed are showing the promise of giving higher yield, with some of the problems like time of planting, training the rootstocks, grafting procedure, grafting time, etc., being standardized, growers now face fewer problems on these lines. With the standardizing of ideal training system (Y trellis) and spacing to be adopted, when needs to be worked out is the water requirement and nutrient management strategies as these rootstocks are known to possess drought tolerant mechanism in addition to greater nutrient uptake qualities. A balance of these two feature needs to be worked out to evolve a suitable water nutrient input strategy so that with lesser inputs the wide and deep rooting habits of these rootstocks are exploited to the maximum.

II- HIGH DENSITY PLANTING IN BANANA

Banana is the fourth important food crop in terms of gross value exceeded only by paddy, wheat and milk products. In India, banana contributes to nearly 32% of the total fruit production.

The normal spacing provided for `Robusta’ and `Dwarf Cavendish’ is either 2.1 m x 2.1 m (2267 plants/ha) or 1.8 m x 1.8 m (3086 plants/ha) with yield levels of 60-65 tons per ha. In recent years, the emphasis has been on increasing the productivity per unit area by following closer spacing. A closer spacing can be adopted under good management conditions using micro-irrigation and fertigation techniques. However, a major limiting factor in banana high density planting will be the sunlight which affects flowering, crop duration and maturity and also on the performance of ratoon crop.

Economic Analysis of High Density Banana Production (per hectare)

Net profit of Rs.3,19,714/ha. could be realised from the main and ratoon crops of banana.

III-High Density Planting in Pineapple

Pineapple (Ananas comosus) is one of the important commercial fruits of the world with great demand in the international market. A few decades ago, the planting density followed for pineapple in India were only fifteen to twenty thousand plants per hectare, with a productivity of less than twenty thousand tones fruit per hectare, resulting in high cost of production. Under such low density planting, 20 to 25 % fruits become unmarketable due to sunburn in the tropical region. Therefore, extensive studies were undertaken at the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bangalore, during the 1970’s and 80’s to develop high density planting of pineapple for increasing the productivity and fruit quality and reducing the cost of production. These studies proved the benefits of increased planting density in the range of 53,000 to 63,500 plants per hectare.

Two-row trench system of planting has been found to be the best for high density planting in the plains, whether the crop is grown with or without irrigation. The field is laid out into 22.5 to 30.0 cm deep trenches alternating with mounds. In each trench, two shallow furrows about 10 to 15 cm deep and 15 cm inside from the edge of the trench are opened and suckers or slips are planted in these furrows, so arranged that two plants will not be exactly opposite to each other. Spacing of pineapple plants depend on the growth of the plant. Soil moisture and fertility influences plant growth and indirectly determine spacing required per plant and eventually planting density. In overall analysis, plant-to-plant spacing of 22.5 to 25.0 cm and row-to-row spacing of 45 to 60 cm are ideal.  Where pineapple plants grow luxuriantly with long leaves, a wider spacing of 90 cm between the trenches is required, but in places where growth of the leaf is moderate, a trench-to-trench spacing of 75 cm is adequate. A plant density of 63,000 plants/ha (22.5 cm x 60 cm x 75 cm) has been found ideal in semiarid mild tropical areas.  In hot and humid tropical areas, plant density of 53,000 plants/ha (25 cm x 60 cm x 90 cm) performs well. However, decrease in fruit weight was quite evident when plant-to-plant spacing was reduced to 20 cm and row-to-row to 40 cm irrespective of the spacing between beds.

Initial establishment of planting material in the field is important to avoid gaps and the subsequent poor growth of replants under the competitive situation of high planting density. Suckers weighing 500-600g and slips weighing 350-400g are the best for initial field establishment under high density planting. July-August is found to be the best season of planting for establishment and growth of plants. To avoid any reduction in fruit size to unmarketable levels due to interplant competition for plant nutrients, nutrient management of high-density orchards need to be done more scientifically than under low-density planting, to meet the requirements of each and every plant. Nitrogen at 12g under irrigated and 16g under rainfed conditions along with potash at 12g per plant is recommended for the plant crop. For irrigated and rainfed ratoon crops, 10g nitrogen and 12g potash are recommended per plant. Ammonium sulphate is the best source of N

The yields recorded under high-density planting are in the range of 85 to105 tones/ha, which are 55 to 85 tones more than the conventional planting densities, without adversely affecting the fruit size, quality and canning recovery. It is associated with other advantages like less weed infestation, protection to fruits from sunburn and increased production of suckers and slips per unit area, and non-lodging of plants. Close planting also saves on the upright orientation of the apical leaves, and eventually results in uniformly coloured lustrous fruits, which are cylindrical with low taper ratio, giving more canning recovery. Another advantage of high-density planting is the overlapping of basal leaves forming a sort of natural covering over the soil, preventing evaporation losses and thereby resulting in moisture conservation.  Under dense planting a microclimate with high humidity will be created around the plant, which is congenial for growth and fruiting. Two successive ratoon crops harvested at twelve monthly intervals amounted to 50.7 and 53.8% of the plant crop yield at high-density planting under good management.  Highest cost : benefit ratio of 1: 4.2 was observed in planting densities of 53,000 and 59,200 plants/ha.

Table 1. The spacing required for different plant populations per hectare. 

Table 2.  Cost of cultivation and returns from one hectare of Kew pineapple with high density planting of 53,000 plants ha-1 (45 x 90 x 135 cm) compared to traditional planting density of 19,000 plants ha-1 (25 x 60 x 90 cm) for one crop and three crop cycles.

Figure 1. Layout of pineapple plot for population density of 43,500 plants/hectar

IV .  USE OF NEEM AND PONGAMIA SOAPS IN THE IPM OF CABBAGE AND OTHER VEGETABLES

Adverse effects of pesticides on the environment and food are well known. Therefore efforts are being made to develop eco-friendly and safe pesticides throughout the world. Neem seed kernel extract has been found to be highly effective on many insect pests. However, availability of neem seeds, the drudgery of preparing the extract and long lasting bad smell of the neem extract have been the main limitations in making it more popular. Scientists at the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bangalore, have developed a simple product of neem oil-  neem soap.  This is in the form of paste an is easily soluble in water and is very effective in controlling many insect pests like the notorious diamondback moth of cabbage and cauliflower, leaf miner in tomato, cucurbits and melon fruit fly in many cucurbits. In addition to neem soap, the soap made from another Indian plant, pongamia, was also very effective on many insect pests. The soaps are easily soluble in water and sprayed thoroughly to cover the plant surface. The droplet of the spray should fall on the insects for controlling them.

Both neem and pongamia (also known as karanj) are native to India and the oils are easily available in most parts of India. Hence, farmers with a little knowledge of chemistry can prepare the soaps and use them in insect pest management of vegetables like cabbage, cauliflower, tomato, cucurbits etc.

Principle: Soap is prepared by adding alkali to oil. The pH is neutralized by adding sulphuric acid.  Potassium hydroxide soap is safe to plants. Hence, potassium hydroxide is used in preparing neem and pongamia soaps for agriculture use.  This soap contains about 60% soap. Rest are glycerol and adjutants. The soap spray droplets fall on the insect and block the spiracles and if effective knocks down the insect with in 24 h. The residual toxicity of soap is very low. At high temperatures of more than 320C these may not be effective. Both neem and pongamia soaps are equally effective.

 Chemicals/Materials required for preparing soaps:

1. Neem oil  or pongamia oil

2. Sulphuric acid (commercial grade)

3. Potassium hydroxide pellets or flakes (Commercial grade)

4. Elemental Sulphur (Commercial grade)

5. Kaolin powder (Commercial Grade)

6. Gum Arabic or gum powder

7. Plastic buckets (according to the quantity of oil, soap required)

8. Measuring cylinders (100, 500 and 2 litre)

9. Litmus paper to test pH

10. Thermometer (calibrated upto 1200C)

11. Balance to weigh up to 5 kg (sensitivity to 5 gm)

12. Immersion coil heater (2 KW)

Preparation of Potassium Hydroxide (KOH) solution: Weigh 500 gm of potassium hudroxide (commercial grade) and put in to a bucket /beaker and add 500 ml water. Stir and dissolve. According to requirement prepare KOH solution.

Preparation of Sulphuric acid solution: add 25 ml sulphuric acid to 80 ml water carefully. This is a bit risky but with experience, it can be done easily.

Preparation of Gum powder solution: Dissolve  100 gm gum in 1 litre water

Preparation of sulphur and kaolin  paste: Take 100 ml water in a beaker  and add water little by little to 50 gm sulphur powder and 50 gm kaolin  and prepare a fine paste. Only when the paste is ready add remaining water. Other wise instead of paste pellets will be formed.

Procedure:  Measure 10 litre oil and keep in a plastic bucket. Hang the immersion coil fully immersed in oil and heat. Take care to see that coil does not touch the sides of the bucket. When the temperature reaches 1100C, stop heating. Wait until the temperature comes down to 900 C. At  900C add slowly 2 litres of KOH solution. Stir now and then and wait until the temperature comes down to 600C. At this point add sulphuric acid solution little by little. Never pour continuously. Add small quantity and stir. Like this continue to do until the soap becomes thick. Test pH using a litmus paper now and then and adjust the pH to 7.  Keep overnight and add 100 ml gum solution and 100 gm paste  (sulpur+ kaolin) to 1 kg soap and mix thoroughly.

Testing the toxicity: Dissolve 5 gm soap in 1 litre water and spray to a cabbage plant inefested with diamondback moth larvae. Observe mortality the next day. If mortality of more than 60% is observed, then the soap is of good quality.

Shelf life: Upto 3 months at temperatures below 30⁰C.

Use of Soaps in IPM:

Cabbage: The most notorious pest of cabbage is diamondback moth. For managing this pest spray 1% soap at 10 and 20 DAP and repeat at 10-15 days interval 2-3 more times according to pest incidence. If the droplet does not fall on the insect mortality will not be observed. Hence, thorough coverage is important to get good control. However, when the temperature is more than 320 C, the effect of soap gets reduced drastically. Hence, under such weather conditions it may not be effective. If aphids are observed, mix the soap solution with dimethoate (2 ml/litre) and spray. Instead of mixing dimethoate, spot application of dimethoate alone can be done over the plants infested with aphids (generally here and there in a plot).

Tomato: In tomato, leaf miner, red spider mite and fruit borers are the major problems. The spray of soaps reduces all these pests, but not completely. Hence, follow the following package in tomato:

1. Spray soaps at 28, 35 and 42 days after planting.

2. If red spider mite is observed, spray after mixing with acaricide (recommended doses). Spray lower surface of leaves. Then only mite can be controlled.

3. Mechanically collect and destroy borer and bored fruits periodically.

Cucurbits:  Apply neem soap/pongamia soaps (1%)  at flowering and repeat sprays at 10 days interval to reduce leaf miner fruit fly. Destroy all fruit fly infested fruits completely at each harvest.

Other crops: Many farmers have tried the use of soaps in  different crops. It was found effective ein reducing leaf miner and hoppers in many other crops like citrus and mango.

Cost of soaps:

From 1 litre oil 1.4 kg soap can be produced. At the prevailing rate of neem oil (Rs. 40/kg) cost works out to be about Rs. 55/kg.  For pongamia soap ( pongamia oil cost @ Rs. 30/kg) it is slightly lower at Rs. 45 per kg. One hectare requires about 8-10 kg of soap for one spray. For successful cultivation of any crop one has to follow the Integrated pest and disease management and one should not rely only on one particular method. For 5 sprays of soaps for one cabbage crop it comes to 40-50 kg/ha for one crop. Hence, cost for one hectare comes to maximum of Rs. 2750/ha, (if farmer himself prepares the soap).

Yield: By spraying neem and pongamia soaps, the damage due to insect pests like diamondback moth in cabbage and cauliflower, fruit borer and leaf miner in tomato, fruit fly and leaf miners in cucurbits can be reduced. The potential yield in each crop according to variety will be realized when it is accompanied by integrated crop management. In cabbage and tomato yields of more than 70 t can be realized in hybrids.

Following points have to be kept in mind while using these soaps :

• Soaps act mostly by contact. The spray droplet  has to fall on the target insect. Hence, spray coverage is very important for effective control and mortality has be observed within 24 hours. Other wise, it has to be concluded that the spray is not effective.

• The effect may vary according to crops, coverage of spray and weather parameters. Under high temperature regimes it will not be effective.

• Too much and too frequent spraying is not advisable as these may be phytotoxic and also effect plant growth.

V- TRICHORICH - N FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF NEMATODES IN HORTICULTURAL CROPS

Trichorich – N is a  formulation biological control agent with an organic carrier. It contains nematode biocontrol agents namely Trichoderma harzianum and  Paecilomyces lilacinus.

IIHR has the facilities to mass produce this product. If any one wants huge quantities one has to pay 50% cost of the product required,  at the time of indenting,  to the Director, IIHR.

Nursery bed treatment

Treat the  nursery beds with this  formulation  at the rate of  50g/sq.m. (This treatment can be combined with the application of pongamia cake @ 200 g/sq.m or Carbofuran/phorate @ 20g/sq.m. or 50 g inoculum (containing 20 chlamydospores/g) of endomycorrhizae (G. mosseae)  per one sq.m)  before sowing. All these combinations did not affect the bio-efficacy of bio-agents, but  had additive effect on the management of nematodes.

Enrichment of farm yard manure for the  Main field treatment

The  formulation  can be used   for enriching farm yard manure  (FYM) by applying 2 kg of the any one of formulations  + forty kg of neem or pongamia cake to one ton of FYM. This should be left for 15 days under the shade. It is advisable to maintain optimum moisture for the better enrichment of FYM with the bio-agent. After 15 days the FYM can be used for applying to the main  field at the rate of  2 tonns/acre.

FYM enriched with the bio-agents can be  applied @ 2 kg/plant along with 500 grams of pongamia cake before planting and once in every 3 months after planting for the management of root-knot nematodes  on banana, acid lime, papaya,  pomegranate  and roses  under the  farmers field conditions. 

This was tested in the crops mentioned below. Economic analysis of the use of this product  resulted in the gereration of the  following data. (In Rupees)

HOT WATER TREATMENT (HWT) OF MANGOES

Post harvest losses in mangoes in majority of varieties / hybrids  has been to the tune of 30%. The major problems are pests like fruit fly and anthracnose fruit rot and Non-uniform ripening. These  are causing heavy revenue loss and heavy damage to mango exports. To overcome this problem, IIHR, Bangalore has standardized Hot Water Treatment technology for Mango. "Dipping of fruits in hot water of specific temperature for specified periods for the purpose of disease control, insect damage, disinfestation or uniform ripening is known as Hot Water Treatment ". This is also most important in quarantine treatment for exports of fruits. This also has additional benefits like removal of surface pesticide residues, helps to remove sap of fallen in fruit surface during harvest and facilitates washing also.

The hot water treatment plants requires the use of a specialized equipment, to control the temperature of the water bath essential for the process. A circulating pump or some other method should be utilized to mix the water to assure uniformity of temperature within the tank. Temperature monitors should be placed within the treatment tank.

The ratio of volume of water to fruiting stock should be large enough to prevent a significant drop in temperature when the stock is added. Sometimes fungicides are added to hot water to bring about efficient post harvest disease control. After treating with HW, the fruit should be allowed to cool and dry in preparation for grading and packing. 

HW treatment for Export purpose. 

• The mangoes must be treated in the country of origin at a certified facility.

•  Fruit temperature should not be less than 20oC before starting the treatment.

• Fruit must be sub-merged atleast 4 inches below the water's surface

• Water must circulate constantly throughout the treatment

• The duration of the hot water

• dip treatment is determined based on the origin, shape, and weight of the mangoes. 

The above technology has been perfected at this Institute and a pilot hot water treatment plant on a small scale has been fabricated. This technology has been recommended for - 

It was observed that 460C for 65min treatment could control both fruit fly and anthracnose and 520C for5min could control anthracnose only. The capacity of hot water treatment plant at 460C for 65min treatment is 0.25 ton/hour and at 520C for 5min is 1 ton/ha.

HW treatment was more effective in controlling the spoilage of mangoes during long term storage under normal LT conditions and reduces the spoilage by more than 50 per cent compared  to fungicide treatment.  At 130C, HW treated fruits of mangoes could be stored for 21-28 days (depending on the variety) without any spoilage.

HW treatment also helped to reduce the spoilage during ripening of Control Atmosphere (CA) stored mango fruits.

SOAP FROM NON-EDIBLE OIL AS A BOTANICAL FOR INCREASING MARKETABLE YIELD OF CABBAGE

The control of diamond black moth (DBM) in Cabbage has been a challenge to the scientists and farmers for last 3-4 decades. The IVLP team of scientists introduced IPM strategy involving spray of home made 4% Neem seed kernel at 20, 30, 40 and 50 days after transplanting cabbage, instead of market pesticides. Though this gave effective control, preparations of this extract is tedious and irritating to the eyes.    

Hence a refinement to the existing methodology by preparing a semi-solid soap from Neem and Pongamia was found safe and spray of  this soap at 1% at 20, 30, 40 and 50 days after transplanting resulted in significant control and bringing down cost on pesticides to around  Rs.4,000/- per hectare/year. This was also made available through the ATIC Centre of IIHR and is being used by the farmers of the entire Bangalore Rural District. The Pongamia soap is friendly to beneficial  insects, produces pesticides free cabbage and beneficial to the consumers. The soap is a salt of potassium and it has also added to the potassium status of the cabbage crop enhancing the resistance of the crop to the pest. This has increased yield and enhances the  resistance to DBM. Even if the market price of cabbage falls the farmers are able to make profit because of the saving of cost in pesticides by Rs.12,000/- per hectare.

USE OF INSECT PRO0F NYLON NETS FOR QUALITY VEGETABLE SEEDLING PRODUCTION 

Leaf curl is a serious viral disease in tomato especially during hot/summer months. The virus spreads through a vector- whitefly. To control whitefly feeding on growing seedlings in nursery area, a 40-mesh nylon net is used to cover the nursery area. Thus viral infection is avoided till transplanting of seedlings in the main field. Viral diseases in chili and capsicums like chilly mosaic and leaf curl can also be controlled during nursery stage by providing nylon net coverage. This technology can also be used, with 40 mesh nylon nets, to control Spotted Wilt Virus of watermelon transmitted by thrips. The technology involves:

Twelve raised beds of 1.2m x 7.5m dimensions are to be prepared for getting the seedlings for one hectare area of main field (for tomato). Later the seeds started to germinate in the beds, 50 mesh nylon nets have to be covered over the beds. Nylon nets have to be stitched in the dimension of 1.2m width, 8.0m in length and 1.5m in height resulting in a box shape. For support of the net, Casuarinas or bamboo pads have to be used. While stitching a net, provision for entry in to the net have to be made. This entry point should be closable either with straps or clips, so that entire structure becomes insect proof. The bottom edge of the net have to be buried the soil.  A non-walk in type net coverings can also be prepared with 1-2 feet height net covering. A movable support system can also be prepared with ¾” GI pipe or a-iron. 

Transmission of viral diseases in nursery stage by vectors is avoided. As net also modify the microclimate inside, in terms of humidity and reduced sunlight, healthy seedling can be raised with this technology. Based on land holding of the farmer, even a 1 or 2 m2 area can also be covered with net. The height of the net can be even 1-2 feet for non walk-in type of nylon net protection structure.

FOLIAR NUTRITION TO ESTABLISH BANANA AS AN ALTERNATE CROP IN RESOURCE POOR SITUATION

The IVLP of IIHR, Bangalore team interacted with the farmers and suggested Integrated Nutrient Management  involving  supplying  50% of  nutrients by spray on leaf and bunch (0.5% urea, 0.5% SOP, 0.2% ZnSO4 and 0.1% Boric Acid) four sprays on leaf from 5th month to 8th month and two sprays on bunches and leaves in 10th and 11th month and improving root  health by application of Trichoderma enriched FYM resulted in yield increased to 30 kg/bunch from 25kg in farmers practice in cultivar Robusta and decrease in cost of cultivation by Rs.6,000/-. 

Since use of costly surfactants limited the spread of technology, a refinement involving use of one Rupee shampoo sachets available in all the village shops as surfactants and use of juice of one lime fruit to adjust the pH to 5.5 to 6.0 resulted in significant increase in foliar spray efficiently and yield increased to 35-40kg. But the higher yield resulted in water stress and sandy soil texture was one reason. Hence, the technology was once more refined by filling the pit at planting with tank silt clayey in texture but with more than 55% water-holding capacity. This resulted in mean bunch yield increasing an average of 40-45 inspite of being under conventional irrigation. The crop was early by 32 days reducing the cropping duration and saving on precious inputs like water, nutrient and land. The reduced soil application of nutrients and saving of nutrients also made this an environment friendly technology.

The technology has been disseminated. The technology has spread geographically to two districts. Foliar formulations were prepared in the Division of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry and supplied through Agricultural Technology Information Centre (ATIC) of IIHR, Bangalore. 

Kestur called Tharkari Halli (vegetable village) has become Balegrama (Banana Village). Banana suckers from this village are sought after by farmers of neighbouring taluks and is sold at a premium rate and has added to the profitability. Foliar nutrition technology also has been disseminated. In drought year the banana leaves are being fed to milch animals as alternate green fodder which is an additional benefit because of popularity of banana as an alternate crop.

REINTRODUCTION OF BRINJAL IN VEGETABLE BASED CROPPING SYSTEM