IIIa: SEMI -ARID EASTERN PLAIN
(ARS, Durgapura-Jaipur , ARSS, Diggi ARSS, Tabiji, Ajmer and ARSS, Kotputli)

The zone covers a geographical are of 2.96 m ha spread over Jaipur, Ajmer, Tonk and Dausa districts. The soils are sierozem in the eastern part of Jaipur district. The alluvial soils of western and north-western parts of Jaipur and Ajmer are modified due to increase of Aeolian materials flown through the Aravalli range. Old alluvial in south-eastern parts of lithosols near the foothills in Ajmer are slao dound. Brown soils ar3e foune in parts of Tonk district. The rainfall ranges from 500 mm in the west to 700 mm in southe east of the zone. Principal crops of the zone are pearlmillet, sorghum, clusterbean, groundnut in kharif and wheat, rapeseed & mustard, chickpea and barley during rabi season. Farm Area : - ARS Durgapura - 74.10 Ha ARS Tabiji- Ajmer - 18.60 Ha ARSS Kotputli - 74.05 Ha ARSS Diggi(Tonk) - 54.40 Ha Seed Farm Khairawali - 11.80 Ha

Research Achievements & Crop varieties developed

During 2001-2008 following varieties were developed:

Crop	Variety	Specific Characteristics
Wheat	Raj. 6560	A durum wheat variety having wider stability under normal sown condition, has been released for cultivation in North-western Plain Zone of the country including Rajasthan State. Its leaves are medium narrow, pointed and erect with light pigmentation on auricle while ear heads are medium long.  Grains are medium bold with medium test weight (4.3g) and β-carotene content (6.5 ppm) is more. The variety has high degree of resistance to all the three rusts under artificial and natural conditions.   The variety maturing in 130-135 days, gives 48 q/ha av. yield under adequate conditions.
	Raj 4083	Released for peninsular zone for late sown irrigated condition has wider adaptability and is early maturing (98 days). Performs well under heat stress, has high degree of resistance to all the three rusts and suitable for industrial use owing to high gluten score. Av. yield range is 40 - 47 q/ha.
	Raj 3777	Has performed well under normal, late and very late sown conditions.  Suitable for warmer areas under normal sown conditions.
	Raj 4037	Has inbuilt mechanism of heat tolerance, so thrives well under heat stress environments.
Barley	RD 2660	Medium maturity (115-120 days) and suitable for timely sown rainfed conditions. Average yield under normal condition ranges 24 - 25 q/ha. It is highly resistant to yellow and brown rusts. Grain is medium bold with 39 - 42 g 1000 grains.
	RD 2668	First two rowed malt barley variety  from Rajasthan for commercial cultivation in irrigated, timely sown production condition of North Western Plains Zone of the country (Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Western UP). The variety possesses good test weight (42 - 49 g) and maturity ranges between 120 - 130 days. Yield potential ranges from 40 - 46 q/ha. The variety has shown high degree of resistance to yellow and brown rusts and fairly tolerant to leaf blight disease. It has better malt quality parameters suitable for malting industries.
	RD 2592	Good yield potential, adaptability and suitability and stability for grain yield under normal sown irrigated conditions.  Resistant to rusts and CCN.
	RD 2624	Moderately resistant to CCN and has inbuilt mechanism of   tolerance to water stress, so thrives well under rainfed conditions.
Rajmash	RSJ 178	Early maturing and seed is dark reddish brown, uniform and medium bold with cylindrical shape.
Greengram	RMG 492	Medium maturity (65 – 70 days), non-shattering in nature and suitable for rainfed areas.  Least susceptible to white flies and jassids.
	RMG 344	Suitable for normal sown conditions under low rainfall regions.  Synchronous maturity with mean maturity period of 70 days.  Tolerant to web blight.
Cowpea	RC 101	High yielding, white seeded and early maturing variety (64 days) suitable for normal sowing.  Tolerant to lodging and pods are non-shattering.
	Durga Kranti (RCV 7)	High green pod yielding variety recommended for cultivation in both summer and rainy seasons.
Onion	RO 1	Has good quality characteristics, disease resistant, low bolting ability and excellent storage life.  Higher degree of resistance to purple blotch and stem phyllium blight disease.
	RO 59	Higher bulb yield, resistant to purple blotch, bulbs are medium sized, dark red and mild pungent preferred for salad as well as for flavouring and seasoning the food. Has better keeping quality.
Groundnut	RG 382	Virginia runner (spreading) type ,pods medium bold, higher oil content (55%) and medium maturing (129 days).
Clusterbean	RGC 1066	Un-branched extra early (97 days) than RGC 197 with synchronized maturity and high yield ranging 10.3 - 14.5 q/ha. Suitable for kharif as well as zaid sowing .
	RGC 1055	Medium maturity period (96 - 106 days), synchronized maturity and high seed yield potential (11.0 - 28.8 q/ha)
	M 83	This guar variety gives significantly higher green pod yield and is recommended for cultivation in both summer and rainy seasons.
	RGC 1017	Suitable in low rainfall areas with double cropping systems.  Matures in 92-96 days and gives grain yield of 10-14 q/ha.
	RGC-1031	Late maturing variety (101-114 days) with synchronized maturity.  Suitable for rainfed as well as under irrigated conditions.
Chickpea	RSG 807	Bold seeded, medium maturity and moderately resistant against root knot nematode.
	RSG 973	Suitable for rainfed conditions
	RSG 991	Moderately resistant to dry root rot, collar rot, stunt, wilt and pod borer. It is green seeded.
	RSG 896	Medium bold, medium maturity and moderately resistant against dry root rot and wilt and pod borer. Has salt tolerance.
	RSG 902	Medium bold, medium maturity and moderate resistance to dry root rot, wilt, pod borer, root knot. Seeds are green.
	CSJD 884	Medium maturing and medium bold size variety showing drought tolerance.  Moderately resistant against dry root rot and pod borer.
	RSG 888	Double podded variety.  Resistant to pests and diseases and suitable for rainfed conditions.
	RSG 945	Late sown variety and resistant to root rot,  wilt and pod borer
	RSG 895	High yielding, white flowered and double pod bearing variety.
	RSG 963	Medium maturity variety (125-130 days) and suitable for late sown irrigated conditions.  Average yield under normal conditions is 1600-1700 kg/ha.
Pearlmillet	RHB 121	High yield potential hybrid of 22-25 q/ha and matures in 75-78 days.  Highly resistant to downy mildew disease and tolerant to drought.
Watermelon	RW –177-3	High yielding variety maturing in 105–110 days.  Fruits have deep red colour flesh with 10-11%T.S.S. Less number of seeds/fruit.
Muskmelon	MHY 5	It is suitable for irrigated conditions. Vines are long and strong. Fruits are round and flesh is light green in colour. Weight of a fruit varies 700 – 800 gram. Soluble sugar content is 13 – 16% and insect attack is negligible. It matures in 95 – 100 days giving 150 – 200 q/ha fruit yield.
	RM 50	High yielding variety with 14-16 % T.S.S.  Having hard rind.  Picking starts from 80-85 days after sowing and matures in 100-105 days.

S.K.N.College of Agriculture, Jobner

Crop	Variety	Specific Characteristics
Coriander	RCr 435	Suitable for irrigated condition and seeds are large with high oil content.
	RCr 436	High yielding and early maturity type most suitable for heavy soils as rainfed crop.  Moderately resistant to root knot nematode.
Fennel	RF 125	Long, attractive and bold seeds with high volatile oil content (1.9%)
	RF 101	Variety with long attractive and bold seeds with high volatile oil content of 1.90 per cent. Has wide adaptability.
Taramira	RTM 2002	Suitable for timely and late sowing under rainfed condition and also has high oil content (14.2 - 14.6) and good seed yield (12 - 14 q/ha) .
	RTM 314	First variety of Taramira in the state which is mostly grown on conserved moisture but also response to irrigation.  Moderately resistant to downy and powdery mildew diseases.

PRODUCTION & PROTECTION RECOMMENDATIONS:

During the years 2006 & 2007 following technologies have been developed and recommended for adoption:

• The recommended dose of chemical fertilizers can be reduced by 25% with the use of vermi-compost @ 2.5 t/ha alongwith Azotobacter and PSB for taking at par yields in pearlmillet.
• Poultry manure @ 10 t/ha alongwith biofertilizers (Rhizobium + PGPR+PSB) or biopesticides (Trichoderma, neem oil, neem cake) recommended for confectionery groundnut.
• Incidence of clump virus of groundnut can be effectively reduced by growing pearlmillet @ 100 kg/ha seed rate as the bait crop.  The pearlmillet crop be ploughed down at 15 DAS followed by sowing of groundnut.
• Gall formation due to root knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) in mungbean can be effectively reduced by seed treatment with neem oil @ 10 ml/kg seed.
• Seed soaking for 8-10 hr in 500-ppm thiourea solution followed by its spray @ 0.1% at knee high and tasseling stages recommended for maize.
• Foliar spray of 500 ppm thiourea solution at branching or flowering stage in cotton found effective.
• Wheat seeds treated with Thiomethoxam 70 WS @ 1.4 mg or Deltamethrin 2.5 WP @ 40 mg/kg seed can safely be stored for one year in jute canvas bags maintaining the seed germination as per Minimum Seed Certification Standard.
• Soaking of jute canvas baglets for half an hour in 125 ppm (0.0125%). Deltamethrin solution followed by drying and then storing infestation free wheat seeds (9-10% moisture) in it, effectively protects the seeds from insect infestation without hampering the seed germination upto storage period of 12 months
• For sustainable production of barley crop, 5 t vermi-compost/ha as basal application (prepared from mustard straw) along with 75% recommended dose of NPK should be applied every year.
• Soaking of chickpea seed for 8 hours and foliar application of 2% urea at flower initiation stage and 10 days later increased grain yield of chickpea under rainfed conditions.
• Application of 5t FYM and 30 kg P2O5/ha increased grain yield of kabuli gram
• Two foliar sprays with 500 ppm thiourea or 100 ppm thioglycollic acid in mustard crop, first at 50% flowering stage (40 DAS) and second 20 days after first spray have been recommended for higher productivity under irrigated as well as under water stress situations (limited irrigations).
• To protect the mustard crop from stem rot disease, seeds should be treated with bavistin @ 1 g/kg seed and followed by the spray of the same fungicide @ 0.1 per cent on the appearance of the disease in the standing crop (usually appear 65-70 days after sowing.
• Crop geometry of 30x30 cm and 120 kg N/ha recommended for seed production of onion.
• In Zn, Fe and Cu deficient soils, zinc sulphate, iron sulphate and copper sulphate @ 25, 50 and 10 kg/ha, respectively should be applied before planting of onion bulbs in field for better onion seed productivity.
• In sulphur and zinc deficient soils, Zn and S @ 5 kg and 50 kg/ha through  zinc sulphate and gypsum, respectively should be applied before onion bulb transplanting for better seed productivity.
• For better onion seed productivity, soil health enhancement and sustainable production, vermi-compost @ 15 t/ha along with bio-fertilizers (PSB+ Azotobacter) and 75% recommended dose of nitrogen has been recommended.
• Composted or vermi-composted HGPR in the ratio of 15:1 along with PSB (PROM) can be used as an alternative natural source of phosphatic fertilizer for better onion seed as well as bulb productivity.
• If 50 kg phosphatic fertilizer is applied through PROM then in sulphur deficient soils apply 40 kg sulphur through gypsum for better onion seed productivity.

• For higher onion bulb productivity, vermi-compost @ 15 t/ha and 75% recommended dose of nitrogen should be applied.

• To control dieback and fruit rot disease of chilli, three sprays of Antracol @ 0.25 per cent at 15 days interval, beginning with the appearance of the disease hasd been recommended.
• Acephate 75% SP in tomato fruits dissipated to below tolerance level (0.5 mg/kg) in 3 days when the insecticide was sprayed @ 1.25 kg/ha at 50% fruit setting and 15 days later.
• Profenophos 50% EC in tomato fruits dissipated to below tolerance level (0.5 mg/kg) in 4 days when the insecticide was sprayed @ 1.25 l/ha at 50% fruit setting and 15 days later.
• Drip irrigation for 2 hours at 2 days interval at 1.2 kg/cm2 pressure and 1.5 l/hr discharge per dripper enhanced rabi tomato fruit productivity with about 53% water saving as compared to check basin irrigation, recommended for irrigating rabi tomato.
• The crop geometry of 1.20 m x 0.80 m has been recommended for deshi rose (Pushkar Valley) for higher productivity and profitability.
• Application of 75% recommended dose of fertilizer along with 10 t FYM or 5 t vermi-compost and Azotobacter seed inoculation has been recommended for higher productivity of oat.

• Soaking of seeds followed by seedling dip for half an hour in neem leaf extract (100%, 100 g neem leaf crushed in 100 ml water and strained in muslin cloth) effectively controlled of pink root rot disease of onion induced by Fusarium solani.

• Three sprays of Mancozeb @ 0.2% or blitox-50 @ 0.3% at fortnight interval beginning with the appearance of disease gave significant reduction in Stemphylium blight disease of onion and increased the seed yield.
• Clusterbean – rabi onion – groundnut – wheat cropping system   recommended for the farmers of the Zone, as it is proved to be most remunerative and found to improve soil health in terms of fertility status.
• In clusterbean, if 2.5 t/ha vermicomposted HGPR is used then apply only 50% recommended dose of nitrogen and phosphorous.
• Seventy five per cent plant density of groundnut with 100% plant density of clusterbean in groundnut – clusterbean intercropping (3:1) system and application of 100% RDF in groundnut and 50% RDF in clusterbean found remunerative.
• Combined seed inoculation with PSB and PGPR along with Rhizobium, each @ 600 g/ha recommended for obtaining high grain yield in moongbean.
• Seed treatment with thiomethoxam 70 WS @ 2.8 mg/kg provides safe storage up to 9 months for moongbean seed.  It can be used as an alternate to deltamethrin which is already recommended.
• In cowpea, vermicomposted HGPR in 15:1 ratio with PSB @ 1.5 t/ha was recommended as an alternative source of phosphatic fertilizers.
• Application of 75% RDF + 10 t FYM or 5 t VC along with seed inoculation of Azotobactor recommended for higher green fodder yield of sorghum grown during summer season.
• A tractor drawn seed cum fertilizer drill for intercropping has been developed.  The machine has eight furrow openers for separate delivery of seed and fertilizer.  It has provision for sowing of two types of seeds (pearlmillet/moongbean/ clusterbean/urdbean/maize) at desired seed rate in different rows at variable spacing. 
• Foliar spray of thiourea @ 500 ppm or TGA @100 ppm at tillering and earhead formation stages resulted in higher yield of wheat crop under limited irrigation (4 irrigations at CRI, late tillering, boot and milking stages) conditions under irrigated coarse textured agro-ecological situations.
• In chickpea-bajra cropping sequence, soil application of S (as gypsum @ 230 kg/ha) and FeSO4 (for 6 kg Fe/ha), each @ 30 kg/ha along with VC @ 5t/ha in rabi season and seed treatment with sod. Molybdate @ 3,5 g/kg seed in S, Fe, Mo and organic matter deficient soils under irrigated coarse textured agro-ecological situations, gave higher net returns.
• In mustard-guar cropping sequence, application of Zn @ 5kg/ha (as 25 kg/ha ZnSO4) and S@30kg/ha (gypsum @ 230 kg/ha) along with Azotobacter in rabi season, in Zn and S deficient soils, gave higher net returns under irrigated coarse textured agro-ecological situations.
• Crop geometry of 10x10 cm was found most suitable for onion crop under irrigated coarse textured agro-ecological situations.
• Last irrigation at 10 days before harvest without curing was found better for higher onion bulb production under irrigated coarse textured agro-ecological situations.
• Application of FYM @ 20t/ha or VC @ 7.5 t/ha with recommended dose of NPK (100:50:100 kg/ha) gave higher onion bulb production under irrigated coarse textured agro-ecological situations.
• Seedling root dip in GA3 solution of 100 ppm for 6.0 hours before transplanting and foliar spray of N @ 1.0% (Urea @ 22g/L) at 30 (200 l solution/ha) and 45 (300 l solution/ha) days after transplanting  gave higher onion bulb yield under irrigated coarse textured agro-ecological situations.
• Soil application of 75% of the recommended dose of N and recommended dose of phosphorus and potash, and transplanting seedlings after dipping roots in Azospirillum /Azotobacter (500 g in 20 l water/ha) gave higher marketable fruit yield of tomato under irrigated coarse textured agro-ecological situations.
• Sowing of summer squash and watermelon during 10-20 December and muskmelon during 15-20 December in low polythene tunnels resulted in early and higher fruit yield in these crops.
• Fusarium wilt of tomato was effectively managed by application of green manure (Sumhemp sown on 15th May @ 80 kg/ha and ploughed down on 30th June) followed by neem cake @ 10q/ha and seedling dip in Trichoderma viride solution (4g/l water) before transplanting and soil application of the same bio-agent @ 2.5 kg (mixed in 50 kg FYM/ha) 10 days before planting.
• Operation of drip irrigation system in cabbage crop with discharge of 1.5 l/hr/dripper for 3 hours duration and 3 days irrigation frequency saves water, fertilizer and labour besides enhancing yield under irrigated coarse textured agro-ecological situations. For application of drip irrigation system, transplanting of cabbage seedlings should be done on raised-bed in three rows per bed and dripper lines, having 30 cm spacing, should be placed between two rows of cabbage.
• Operation of drip irrigation system in cauliflower crop with discharge of1.5 1/hr/dripper for 3 hours duration and 3 days irrigation frequency saves water, fertilizer and labour besides enhancing yield under irrigated coarse textured agro-ecological situations.  For application of drip irrigation system, transplanting of cauliflower seedlings should be done on raised-bed in three rows per bed and dripper lines, having 30 cm spacing, should be placed between two rows of cauliflower.
• Spray with NAA @ 50 ppm or Triacontanol @ 1 ppm at 40 and 60 DAS gave higher seed yield in Isabgol under irrigated coarse textured agro-ecological situations.
• Composted (@ 10 t/ha) or vermin-composted (@ 5 t/ha) with high grade rock phosphate (@3%, for phosphorous) and gypsum (@1%, for sulphur) fertilizer can be used in place of phosphatic and sulphur fertilizers in coriander under irrigated coarse textured agro-ecological situations.
• In Zn deficient soils, application of Zn @ 5kg/ha (25 kg/ha ZnSO4) gave higher seed yield in Isabgol under irrigated coarse textured agro-ecological situations.
• Groundnut – onion cropping sequence has given higher net return over pearlmillet – wheat in Dausa region, where sufficient irrigation facilities are available, under irrigated coarse textured agro-ecological situations.
• After use of imidacloprid 17.8 SL @ 250 ml/ha or endosulfan (35 EC) @ 1.25 l/ha, sprayed before fruiting and 15 days later, a waiting period of 3 days is recommended for safe consumption of cabbage.  In tomato, when the same dose of imidacloprid 17.8 SL was sprayed at 50% fruit setting and 15 days later, 2 days waiting period is recommended.
• Soil application of powdered neem cake @ 10 q/ha effectively managed the problem of Cereal Cyst Nematode in wheat crop in Jamwa Ramgarh area (Jaipur) under irrigated coarse textured agro-ecological situations.