ZONE III b: FLOOD PRONE EASTERN PLAIN (ARS, Navgaon (Alwar), ARSS, Kumher )

The geographical area of the zone is 2.70 m ha comprising Alwar, Bharatpur, Karoli, Dholpur and parts of Swai Madhopur. Soils are mainly alluvial and prone to recurring floods and water logging. Calcareous nature of recently deposited alluvium had been observed in most soils in this region. The rainfall ranges from 500 mm in the northwest to about 700 mm in the southeast of the zone. Major crops of the zone are pearl millet during kharif and rapeseed & mustard, wheat, and chickpea during rabi. There is also some area under pigeon pea and cotton in the zone.

Research Achievements & Crop varieties developed

During 2001-2008 following varieties were developed:

Crop	Variety	Specific Characteristics
Mustard	RRN 505	This variety suitable for late sown conditions is resistant to sclerotinia stem rot and moderately tolerant to frost. It has high oil content (40.2%) .
	YRN-6	YRN-6 a yellow seeded mustard variety suitable for late sowing. This variety gave mean seed yield of 1803 kg/ha which was 17.6, 10.5 and 23.0 per cent higher over checks Varuna, Kranti and RH -9801, respectively.
	RN 393	Suitable for rainfed and conserved moisture conditions.  Possesses appreciable degree of multiple resistance against aphid, sawfly and webworm.

PRODUCTION &PROTECTION RECOMMENDATIONS

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

• In zinc deficient soils, application of 20 kg zinc sulphate/ha as basal dose has been recommended in barley.
• Application of 90 kg N and 120 kg K2O/ha was recommended for rabi onion.
• Three irrigations for fennel at 50, 100 and 150 days after sowing corresponding to branching, flower initiation and grain filling stages have been recommended.
• Application of pendimethalin @ 1kg a.i./ha as pre-emergence followed by one hand weeding at 50 DAS recommended for control of weeds in cotton.
• For control of sucking insects (Jassids) in cotton seed treatment with imidacloprid (Gaucho 70 WS) @ 5g/kg seed was found effective.
• Pre-emergence application of oxyfluorfen @ 0.25 kg a.i./ha followed by one hand weeding at 25 DAS has been recommended for weed control in pearlmillet.
• To prepare seed bulblets for kharif onion, sowing of onion seeds in nursery should be done in first fortnight of January.
• Foliar sprays of thiourea @ 500 ppm in guar at vegetative and flowering stages recommended for higher yield.
• For control of leaf curl disease in tomato nursery bed be covered with agronet of 40 mess and   based on the requirement, spray of methyldemeton @ 1kg/ha be done at 15 days interval.
• Prophylactic spray of aqueous extract (2% W/V) of Azadirachta leaf of Eucalyptus leaf or Mancozeb @ 0.2% at 50 and 70 days after sowing against Alternaria blight, white rust and powdery mildew diseases of mustard was recommended.
• In methi one cutting at 45 DAS and applying 10 kg N as top dressing at the time of cutting recommended for getting high yield and net return/ha