About ARS

Agriculture Research Station (ARS), Navgaon, Alwar is constituent research station of Sri Karan Narendra Agriculture University,Jobner.This station is located 32 km from the Alwar Junction on the Sohna-Alwar Highway. It is 128 km away from Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi and 175 km from Jaipur international airport. The station is situated at 27º38'54" N latitude and 76º51'58" Elongitude and 251 m above from mean sea level (MSL). This station has frontier in agriculture research since its inception and is an important research station of the university.

Unit Head Brief Profile with Picture

Details of former In charges

Staff Information in Table having Photo, Name, Designation, Area of Specialization, email and Phone No.

Projects – Completed with significant Output

AICRP on Rapeseed-Mustard

In 1984, All India Coordinated Research Project on Oilseeds Improvement (R&M) was transferred from ARS, Durgapura, Jaipur to ARS, Navgaon, Alwar with the main responsibility of improvement of Rapeseed-Mustard group of crops in the state with the following objectives:

1.      Development of high yielding varieties of mustard.

2.      Development of Thermo-insensitive varieties suitable for early sowing.

3.      Effective integrated diseases and pest management

This project carried out research and verification functions and was finally wind up on 31.03.2018. the achievements and recommendations are given below:

Varieties developed/released  

Development of new species

Package of practices developed and recommended (included in PoP of state government) and are being used on a larger scale by farmers:

1.  AGRO-TECHNIQUES

Ø  For irrigated conditions, seed rate of Indian mustard @ 2.5 kg/ha was found better than the already recommended seed rate of 5 kg/ha as it avoids unwanted crop competition and also reduces the cost of cultivation.

Ø  Spacing of 30 x15 cm was found better for efficient use of sunlight.

Ø  Application of Gypsum @ 250 kg/ha for improving yield and quality was found better especially in saline/alkaline soils of the zone III b.

Ø  When mustard is grown after kharif pulses like moong, urd and cowpea, it gave as much yield with 30 kg N/ha as with 60 kg N/ha when grown after pearlmillet.

Ø  Maximum economic returns were obtained by sowing gram and mustard rows in the ratio of 3:1

Ø  Sulphur application in mustard @ 40 kg/ha (through elemental sulphur or gypsum) to be scheduled once in two seasons.

Ø  The highest seed yield of mustard (20.50 q/ha) was realized when the crop was sown on 25^th October. Delay in sowing up to 9^th November did not reduce the yield significantly. However, any further delay in sowing led to drastic reduction in yield.

Ø  Significantly higher seed yield of mustard was obtained when it was grown after preceding green manure crop of dhaincha. Growing mustard after kharif fallow, though yielded significantly lower than that in green manure-mustard sequence, it certainly gave significant higher yield over that when it was grown after either green gram or cowpea (for fodder). Yield of mustard decreased significantly to the lowest when it was grown after pearlmillet. Nitrogen application in general, was recommended to be 80 kg/ha but in case of pearlmillet-mustard sequence it was recommended up to 100 kg/ha.

Ø  Significant difference in seed yield of mustard was observed with foliar application of various agro-chemicals. Lowest yield of mustard was recorded with no application of any foliar spray. It did not increase significantly with water spray but a significant increase was observed with spray of chemicals like Thiourea, H₂SO₄ and Urea. Spray of Thiourea (0.1%) resulted in highest seed yield (1824 kg/ha as mean of Navgaon and Kumher and 1428 kg/ha at ATC), followed by H₂SO₄ and Urea which in turn were found to be at par.

Ø  Seed yield of mustard was significantly affected by different cropping sequences. Fallow-mustard sequence resulted in highest mean seed yield of mustard (9.55 q/ha) which was at par with that obtained under guar-mustard sequence (9.13 q/ha) but significantly higher over that of bajra-mustard sequence (7.67 q/ha). Seed yield of mustard realised after guar crop was also significantly higher over that realised after bajra crop. Results were consistent during all the three years.

Ø  Variety RRN-505 performed significantly superior at closer row spacing of 22.5 cm (951 kg/ha). No significant difference in yield was observed when sown in rows 30 and 37.5 cm apart.

Ø  Four treatments were compared in large size demonstration plots of 100 sq. m. On the basis of three years study maximum seed yield of mustard (1688 kg/ha) was obtained with 40 kg sulphur/ha + thiourea (0.1%) spray at the flowering initiation. This treatment showed 29.6% higher seed yield over control.           

Ø  Variety Navgold (YRN-6) yielded significantly higher (580 kg/ha) as compared to check Basanti (282 kg/ha) and it gave maximum yield difference to check in 100% of recommended fertility level at Navgaon and 75% of RDF across the locations.

Ø  Foliar spray of agro-chemicals at 50% flowering + 50% pod filling stage effectively mitigates the terminal drought stress and significantly increased the seed yield of Indian mustard over control. Over three years the average increase in seed yield was 16.7 % with the foliar spray of 1% urea, 21.5% with 0.05% thiourea and 24.8% with 1% KNO₃ at zone II.

Ø  Clusterbean-mustard crop sequence found to be most remunerative and sulphur requirement of mustard (40 kg/ha) did not vary due to sequential cropping.

Ø  30 kg zinc sulphate applied to either in mustard or pearlmillet in zinc deficient soils (available Zn0.6 ppm) significantly increased the yield of both the crops. The residual effect of zinc applied to mustard crop persisted up to 3 successive seasons. It means that direct application of Zn may be repeated after 2 years.

Ø  Application of 2 tonnes of vermicompost at the time of final field preparation and 75% of recommended chemical fertilizers be done in mustard for realizing higher yield. In case of vermicompost application there is no need to apply FYM.

Ø  Under bajra-mustard sequence, N in mustard be applied at 100 kg/ha.

Ø  Seed treatment of mustard with PSB and Azotobacter culture (600 g/ha) along with RDF enhances mustard yield.

Ø  The lowest mean population of Orobanche was observed in the plots that were treated with two drops of soybean oil per young shoot of this weed. Directed spray of 0.25% or 0.50% glyphosate after emergence of Orobanche and pre-emergence pendimethalin at 1.5 kg/ha. The maximum seed yield was obtained with pendimethalin at 1.5 kg/ha, followed by directed spray of glyphosate at 0.5% and soybean oil treatments.

Ø  Progressive increase in level of FYM up to 6 tonnes/ha resulted significantly higher seed yield and net returns of Indian mustard. Application of vermicompost at 2 tonnes/ha also provided significantly higher seed yield.

Ø  Seed inoculation with Azotobacter and PSB. The maximum seed yield of Indian mustard was obtained under the treatment Azotobacter & PSB seed treatment + 100% N & P fertility level.

Ø  Application of pendimethalin @ 1.0 kg/ha at pre-emergence were found at par with weed free treatment in term of yield (15.85 q/ha) and gross return of Indian mustard.

Ø  Application of 75% RDF (60:30:30 kg NPK) + Foliar Spray of NPK 19:19:19 @2% at 50 days after sowing significantly increase the mustard yield.

Ø  Basal Application of RDF (80:40:40 kg NPK + 25 Kg ZnSO₄) + 1 kg Borax significantly increased the mustard yield in Boron deficit soil.

2.  PLANT PROTECTION

I. Plant Pathology

Ø  2 to 3 sprays of Mencozeb (0.2%) at 15 days interval during 45 to 75 days of the crop growth was found to reduce both white rust and Alternaria blight giving high B:C ratio.

Ø  Spray of Ipodion @ (0.2%) was found effective and specific against Alternaria blight of mustard.

Ø  Spray of Ridomil MZ @ 0.25% reduces foliar and staghead infection of white rust.

Ø  In an effort to manage to sclerotinia stem rot of mustard antagonistic fungi viz., Gliocladium virens and Trichoderma viride and T. harzianum (10⁸ conidia/ml) @ 10 g per kg seed successfully prevented pre germination mortality of seed and resulted in better plant stand, height and dry weight of plants and also test weight of seed. Antagonists combined with seed dressing fungicides (Mancozeb and Carbendazim @ 0.2%) showed enhancement in parameters under observation.

Ø  Three sprays of either Antracol (0.2%) or Mancozeb (0.2%) at 60, 80 and 100 DAS are recommended in the zone for the control of Alternaria blight disease of mustard.

Ø  Application of Potash @ 40 kg/ha reduced the incidence of white rust and Alternaria blight and improved the seed yield, test weight and oil content of mustard significantly.

Ø  In area, where white rust is the only problem, the spray of Ridomil MZ-72 WP (0.25%) is recommended at the time of initiation of flowering to control leaf and stag head phase of infection.

Ø  The new formulation of Metalaxyl (Apron XL 35 ES) @ 3 g/kg is best seed dressing chemical for the control of white rust and also in increasing the seed yield and test weight.

Ø  The newly tested fungicide Ridomil Gold MZ 68 WP @ 0.25% controlled white rust and yielded maximum yield of Indian musratd.

Ø  Sowing of mustard in the first fortnight of October followed by prophylactic spray of Eucalyptus globosus leaf aqueous extracts in water (2%) or Mancozeb (0.2%) observed better for managing major foliar diseases (alternaria blight, white rust & downey mildew).

Ø  Prophylactic spray of Eucalyptus globosus or Azatirachta indica leaf aqueous extracts in water (2%) or Mancozeb @ (0.2%) at 50 & 70 DAS against alternaria blight & white rust reduce the disease incidence and increase yield of Indian mustard. 

Ø  Seed treatment with garlic extract (2%) + spray of garlic extract (2%) was found effective treatment in controlling the diseases of mustard and increasing seed yield.

Ø  Seed treatment with Trichoderma @ 10 g/kg not only increased the growth parameters viz., plant height, no. of pods, no. of primary branches etc. seed yield, but also reduced the diseases in mustard. The use of Trichoderma as seed treatment in mustard was found highly cost effective.

Ø  An IPM-Module on mustard is prepared for all pest & diseases through joint efforts of entomologists & pathologists.

Ø  Soil application of ZnSO₄ @ 15 kg/ha + 40 kg/ha S followed by two foliar sprays of Carbendazim + Mencozeb @ 0.2% at 45 and 60 DAS was most economical and effectively reduce all foliar diseases.

Ø  Foliar spray of Mencozeb 0.25% at 45 DAS followed by Metalaxyl 8% + Mencozeb 0.2% at 60 DAS proved effective in controlling the white rust of mustard.

Ø  Basal soil application of zinc @ 15 kg/ha + sulphur @ 40 kg/ha is recommended for disease management and yield enhancement in mustard.

Ø  Seed treatment with T. Viride + P. Fluorescence @ 3 g each/kg of Seed + Soil application of these bioagents @ 2.5 kg each/ha with FYM has found most economical and effective against root rot management in gram.

Ø  Spray of Azoxystrobin 23% SC @ 1.0 ml/l of water was found most effective against alternaria blight in mustard.

Ø  Spray of Tebuconazole 25.9 % EC @ 1.0 ml/l of was found effective against alternaria blight in mustard.

Ø  Seed treatment with carboxin 37.5 % + Thiram 37.5 % @ 2 g/kg of seed + soil application of T. harzianum @ 5 kg/ha with FYM was found effective against root rot management in gram.

II. Entomology

Ø  Yield losses due to aphid alone, varied between 15.44 % (T-59) to 62.05% (Pusa Kalyani). Losses due to minor pests like sawfly and painted bug varied between 4.65% (T-59) to 17.74% (Pusa Kalyani). The combined losses ranged from 24.22% (T-59) to 63.24% (Pusa Kalyani).

Ø  RN 393 (Aravali) was found to have multiple tolerance against saw fly and aphid infestions.

Ø  Crop sown up to 3^rd week of October, which is the optimum time of sowing was found to escape the aphid infestation.

Ø  The neem seed Kernel extract (5%) was found highly effective against the aphid achieving 87.37% mortality which was statistically at par with conventional insecticide (95.12%). It also recorded higher seed yield (895 kg/ha) and B:C ratio 6.98 being at par with methyldematon (972 kg/ha and B:C ratio of 7.0).

Ø  Economic threshold level of 25 aphid /plant was established for Indian mustard (B. juncea).

Ø  Under late sown conditions RRN-505 proved fairly tolerant to aphids.

Ø  Removal of aphid infested twig twice in early stage of crop can save one insecticidal spray, without any reduction in yield and also check further spread of infestation.

Ø  Neem seed oil (petroleum  ether extract 0.2%) caused 97 per cent mortality in aphid population and gave 92 and 26 per cent higher yield over control and methyldematon 25 EC @ 1 l/ha, respectively.

Ø  The maximum control of mustard aphid as well as the highest yield was recorded in the treatment i.e. oxy-demeton methyl 25 EC @ 1 ml/litre of water followed by NSKE 5% and neem oil 2% spray.

Ø  Imidacloprid 70 WS @ 7 g/kg seed was found significantly superior in reducing the painted bug population and provided the highest yield followed by thiomethoxam 25 WG @ 7 g/kg seed.

Ø  Eco-friendly approaches for the management of mustard aphid treatment of NSKE 5% was most effective in reducing the population only up to 7 days of spray followed by neem oil 2% and Azadirachtin 1500 ppm. Verticillium lecanii seemed to be least effective against the aphids.

Ø  Spray of Dimethoate @ 1ml/litre followed by release of Coccinella septempunctata @ 5000 beetles/ha is recommended for the eco-friendly pest management of mustard aphid.

Ø  Dimethoate 30 EC @ 300 g a.i./ha or imidacloprid 17.8 SL @ 20 g a.i./ha was found effective against mustard aphid and recommended for its management.

Projects – Ongoing

1.      RKVY Project:- Developing Agri- Entrepreneurship for Rural Youth Self-Reliant through Mushroom Production Technology

2.      ICAR-NCIPM-SKNAU Collaborative Project:- Refinement, Revalidation and Large Scale Implementation of IPM Tactics in Indian Mustard (Brassica juncea L.)

Facilities or Infrastructure

General facilities/infrastructure

Total area                            : 40.0 ha

Cultivated area                   : 38.0 ha

Area under buildings          : 2.0 ha

Office building                   : 1

Godown                              : 4

Grading unit                        : 1

Tube well                            : 4

Implement shed                  : 1

Tractor                                : 1 along with all implements

Training Hall                      : 1

Other infrastructure and facilities

Ø  A community radio station is running in the campus of the station by Sehgal Foundation

Ø  Wi-Fi facility in the administrative building

Important Pictures with Captions highlighting major achievements or events

Visit of Hon'ble Vice Chancellor Prof. Balraj Singh

Zonal Research and Extension Advisory Committee meeting

Seed production of Indian Mustard

Seed production of wheat