RESEARCH

The University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad covers 52% of the geographical, 63% of total cultivated and 32% of the irrigated area in the State, spreading across 12 districts of northern Karnataka.

A number of agricultural, horticultural and plantation crops represent the rich heritage of the area. There are five major irrigation projects, viz., Tungabhadra, Upper Krishna, Malaprabha, Ghataprabha and Karanja, which provide irrigation to about 15 lakh ha, accounting for 27 per cent of the total cultivated area.

The region is endowed with a variety of climate, soils and crops. The University covers six Agro-climatic Zones, viz., North Eastern Transitional Zone, North Eastern Dry Zone, Northern Dry Zone, Northern Transitional Zone, Hilly Zone and Coastal Zone.

Research needs of the farmers are catered through 36 Agricultural Research Stations spread across diverse agro-ecosystem, 46 AICRPs and nearly 250 Externally funded Adhoc Projects.

As a result of adhoc research projects funded by World Bank aided NATP, ICAR, DST, DBT, GOK and other national and international agencies, the financial outlay under research has increased from Rs. 10 crores to Rs. 50 crores within a period of last four years.

Some of the mega research projects include world Bank aided National Agricultural Technology project (consisting of 90 sub-projects), CIDA-McGill-UASD Collaborative Project on “Consolidation Food Security in South India”, World Bank Funded project through GOK entitled “Community Based Tank Management Consultancy Project”, Afforestation Project in and around Bellary Thermal Power Station, Transgenic Brinjal project in collaboration with Cornell University, USA and Wheat Project in Collaboration with Indonesian Government.

Research Stations with their Lead Functions

I. AGRICULTURE

A. Crop Improvement

Since the inception, the University has released a total of 119 crop varieties, which include cereals - 34, oilseeds - 16, pulses - 19, commercial crops - 20, fodder crops - 12 and horticultural and plantation crops - 17. While most of these varieties have spread in Karnataka, a few have also moved out of the subcontinent.

Cotton

Varalaxmi, first interspecific hybrid in the world was developed in 1971 at Agricultural Research Station, Dharwad, followed by release of Jayalaxmi (DCH-32). These two hybrids with extra long staple superiority in quality and unprecended yield in quantity revolutionized the cotton cultivation in the entire country.

Other important varieties/hybrids developed by the University are DHB-105 (interspecific), DHH-11 (intraspecific), DHB-543, (interspecific long staple hybrid), CPD-431 (hirsutum cultivar), Abhadita and Sahana (boll worm tolerant cotton varieties).

University has for the first time developed naturally coloured cotton variety (DDCC-1) with all the commercial qualities. Long staple desi cotton (DLSA-17) has inherent qualities like resistance to biotic and abiotic stress. Development of Bt cotton resistant to bollworm is also in advanced stage. First public transgenic Bt cotton is expected shortly which will stand as a check to the monopoly of private sector.

Wheat

Karnataka is unique in cultivation of three species, namely, Triticum aestivum (Bread wheat), Triticum durum (Durum or soji wheat), and Triticum dicoccum (Dicocum or diabitics wheat). Totally nine varieties have been developed by the University. Important ones are: (1) DWR-162 (bread wheat) which has occupied 80 per cent of wheat area in Karnataka and about 2.5 lakh ha in the entire Peninsular India; (2) DWR-225 with an yield potential of 40 q/ha and resistance to all existing races of leaf rust.

In Durum wheat, the University has released (1) DWR-185 for irrigated conditions (occupies an area of 30,000 ha) and (2) DWR-2006 resistant to leaf blight for rainfed conditions.

Karnataka is the only State where Dicoccum wheat is grown commercially. UASD is a pioneer Institute in the world to develop and release a semi dwarf dicoccum wheat variety namely, DDK-1001. Another variety DDK-1009 which is resistant to leaf blight has been released recently. Dicocum wheat have greater future due to their thearaputic value in diabetes management and higher profitability.

Groundnut

UASD has developed DH-40, DSG-1, R 8808 (KRG-2), R 9251 (KRG-3). For coastal tract, DH-40 is the only recommended variety, which is early maturing, with high shelling out turn and high yielding under receding moisture conditions. As bud necrosis disease is a major constraint in the production of summer groundnut in the command areas, release of KRG-2, tolerant to bud necrosis, high yielding for sustainable production in Zone-1, 2 and 3 both for kharif and summer seasons has enhanced groundnut production. Similarly, another variety KRG-3 has also been identified as tolerant to bud necrosis suitable for summer cultivation. In the transitional zone, foliar diseases are the major constraints, which result in reduction of yield to a great extent. Recently developed varieties, namely, GPBD-4, resistant to leaf spot disease, hold a greater promise in Zone-8 during kharif. Another variety, TAG-24, is profitable under summer irrigated condition.

Sunflower

The University has developed downy mildew resistant early maturing hybrid DSH-1 in 1996, which has been gaining popularity in North Karnataka. In addition, Morden, which was an early maturing variety cultivated in the entire country has been improved and released as renovated dwarf Morden to replace the original Morden variety. Recently RSFH-1 has been released for Zone- 1 and 2.

Safflower

Variety A-300, which was released long back, occupied the entire safflower cultivated area in Karnataka in the beginning and was replaced by A-1, highly adaptable to dry situation and high yielding. Recently an improved variety A-2 has been released which is having high oil content (33 to 34%) compared to earlier varieties (28 to 30%). This variety is early maturing, semi compact and is suitable for intercropping with bengalgram.

Pigeonpea

During 1970’s, scientists from Gulbarga improved the existing local cultivar and the university released the variety under the name GS-1. Since this variety was found to be susceptible to wilt, variety Maruti released in the year 1985 has occupied almost ¾^th of the tur growing area in the entire North Karnataka. Cultivation of this variety alone has generated additional revenue valued at more than Rs.100 crores due to its wilt resistance.

To manage sterility mosaic disease, ICPL-87119 (Asha) has been released. In shallow medium black soils, a medium duration cultivar WRP-1 that yields high due to escape mechanism from pod borer has been released.

Chickpea

Annigeri-1 is the popular variety covering the entire chickpea area not only in Karnataka, but also in the surrounding States. Since this variety has been showing susceptibility to wilt, two new varieties have been identified namely, ICCV-2 and ICCV-10. Variety ICCV-2 is a Kabuli type with bold sized grains. This variety is expanding in area since it fetches premium price in the market and thus makes it more profitable.

Sorghum

Variety DSV-2, a dual season sorghum variety suited for kharif and rabi, matures in about 115 to 120 days, resist several foliar diseases and tolerate insect pests damage. Owing to high yield potentiality of 45 q per ha, the variety has covered an area of about 20 per cent of kharif sorghum in Dharwad and Belgaum districts.  Among the hybrids, University has identified CSH-14, an early maturity high yielding hybrid to replace 80 per cent of the area occupied by CSH-1.

Among rabi sorghum varieties, M 35-1 has been the champion of all varieties covering almost 90 per cent of the rabi sorghum area. Charcoal rot resistant varities, namely, DSV-4 and DSV-5, have been released.

Maize

University developed a composite variety (Prabha), tolerant to leaf blight and downy mildew disease, which has a potentiality of producing 70 to 80 q per ha. Hybrid DMH-1, a triple cross hybrid released in 1995. DMH-2, a single cross hybrid developed for the first time in the country, has just been recommended for cultivation.

Soybean

Variety JS-335 identified by the University in 1995 has occupied almost entire soybean cultivated area. The contribution of this crop to the State is about Rs.100 crores every year. In recent years, crop suffered heavily due to rust disease. Release of rust tolerant variety PK-1029, as practical remedy suggested by UAS, Dharwad, is becoming popular in Belgaum district along the Krishna river belt.

Sugarcane

Co-8014, a medium duration and 20 per cent higher yielder over Co-740, tolerant to smut and much responsive to fertilizer and irrigation was released in 1992-93. It has covered 30 per cent of the sugarcane growing area in the northern Karnataka and helped in increasing the state revenue to an extent of Rs. 6 crores annually.

Variety Co-86032, identified for spring planting and under protective irrigation is ready to replace Co-8014 because of yield superiority and higher sugar recovery.

Aerated steam therapy and single bud multiplication programme is launched at Agricultural Research Station, Sankeshwar and the seedlings are being distributed to the farmers in sugarcane growing areas of northern Karnataka. This practice of single bud seeding transplantation reduces the seed-sett cost and also reduces the duration of the crop, apart from getting disease free seed material. A notable achievement in recent past has been the development of three clones highly resistant to sugarcane woolly aphid. One clone that meets the sugar industry requirement is in the final stage of testing and multiplication through tissue culture.

Chilli

Chilli is an important cash crop of Haveri, Dharwad and Belgaum districts. Byadgi variety is extensively grown in this area. Since this variety is highly susceptible to Murda (leaf curl), the UAS has developed resistant varieties, viz., KDCC-6 and GPC-82. In addition, the UAS has recently developed a hybrid 9646 which is higher yielding and tolerant to leaf curl disease.

B. Crop Production

To enhance and sustain the productivity, integrated nutrient management practices have been developed in cotton, sugarcane, chilli, soybean, sorghum, rice and wheat. In these crops, application of crop residues, FYM and vermicompost enhanced the crop yield to an extent of 25 per cent and also resulted in saving of inorganic fertilizers by 50 per cent. This amounts to saving of Rs. 225 crores annually over investment on chemical fertilizer besides enrichment of fertility and soil properties.

Residue incorporation with ”Rotovator” improved the physico-chemical and biological properties of soil, which helped in economising the chemical fertilizers. Copper ore tailings (COT) is a natural waste obtained after mining of copper from ore, which is rich in micronutrients, namely, Fe (10.3%), Mn (0.28%), Zn (0.11%) and Cu (0.08%). The pollution and disposal problems of COT can be reduced by using it in agriculture as micronutrient source.

Application of copper ore tailings (COT) @ 1 t per ha has increased the yield of groundnut, sunflower, soybean, bengalgram, wheat, cabbage and cauliflower by 11-27 per cent.  This has not only helped to over come the micro nutrient deficiencies for the crops and cost saving but also came as effective use and means of disposing of ore tailing.

Green manuring in rice, sugarcane, tobacco, maize and cotton helped in increasing the yield to an extent of 25 per cent and also improved the soil productivity.

The University has developed efficient ‘N’ fixing and ‘P’ solubilising - strains. These cultures are being produced on large scale and being used over an area of 20 lakh ha.

The profitable cropping systems identified are: sorghum + pigeonpea, paddy + cotton, cotton + soybean, pigeonpea + soybean, sugarcane + soybean, chilli + cotton + onion, chickpea + safflower and maize+soybean.  A relay sequence cropping of maize-chickpea developed for Ghataprabha and Malaprabha project areas has been widely adopted in the command area and enabled evalevation of farm income to an extent of Rs.100 crores.

University feels proud of its research on dry farming and watershed management which has brought laurels at the national level.  The integrated watershed development practices have enhanced the crop yield and helped in conserving the natural resources.  These practices have been adopted over an area of 12 lakh ha.

Soil Health Restoration

Improper use of irrigation water without proper drainage system in TBP and UKP command areas, has led about 80,000 ha and 27,600 ha to go out of cultivation due to salinity and water logging, respectively. Every year, these figures are escalated by about 3000 ha. The productivity of rice, sugarcane, cotton, sunflower and maize has gone from 81 to 32; 95 to 47, 3.5 to 1.7, 2.5 to 1.0 and 5.5 to 2.0 t/ha, respectively, resulting in a total loss of Rs. 210 crores to the state. The University has developed a dual package, a permanent and expensive practice of sub surface drains for economically sustainable farmers and a low cost open drains at 50 meter apart for poor farmers. With these techniques, it has been possible to restore cultivation of abandoned land for agriculture.

C. Crop Protection

IPM packages against major pests in important crops have been developed by the University to combat biotic stresses. Pod borer in pigeonpea has been successfully managed by eco-friendly IPM strategy employing bioagents such as Ha NPV, insectivorous birds, neem based products and use of selective chemicals. In Gulbarga and Bidar districts, this technology spread over an area of 50,000 ha and led to reduction in pesticide usage by 50 per cent and saving cost on plant protection by 30 to 40%.

In Dharwad and Raichur tracts, IPM modules have been developed to manage cotton sucking pests and bollworms. Large scale demonstration of IPM technology in these areas has created considerable awareness among farmers to adopt the technology successfully and this has been reflected in lowering pesticide usage to the tune of 40 to 50 per cent. In sorghum, midge resistant variety, DSV-3 has been developed and adopted by the farmers in midge endemic areas. Yet another success in the recent past has been identification and utilisation of least expensive mycoinsecticide (fungal pathogen - Nomurea rileyi) for the control of caterpillar pests in groundnut, soybean, cotton and pulses in humid tracts. Inoculation of a small area serves as nucleus for multiplication and spread of fungus in an area. Mass multiplication techniques for this fungus have been standardised.

UASD has developed economical and eco-friendly measures by developing bioagents like Trichoderma, etc. The bioagent is used as seed dressing to manage pod rot in groundnut, root rot in chickpea and sclerotium wilt in potato. Soil application of Trichoderma has also helped in combating the wilt of pepper.

Introduction of a tolerant variety PK 1029 in Soybean and one spray with propiconazole has helped the farmers to continue cultivation of soybean profitably.

II. HORTICULTURE

Out of 17 varieties released in vegetables, fruits, ornamental and plantation crops, the University has for the first time released two hybrids in Sapota, namely, DSH-1 and DSH-2 which yield about 25 to 30 per cent more and possess higher TSS than the existing varieties Kalipatti and Cricket Ball.

Arecanut is the high value commercial plantation crop of Uttar Kannada district. SAS-1 variety released in 1995 is high yielding, regular bearing, compact bunch with synchronised maturity. University is producing seeds and seedlings of this variety and distributing it to the farmers every year. This variety has already covered 10 per cent of the new plantations.

High yielding tamarind variety DTS-1, released in 1996 has a high yield potential and starts bearing within 5 to 6 years of planting. The demand for this variety is increasing every year. This variety is going to boost the economy of dry land farmers in the watershed areas and arid zones.

III. HOME SCIENCE

The standardization and optimization of production of dyes from natural resources such as Marigold, Acalyfa, Teak and Arecanut is a path breaking accomplishment, a boon for expelling with production of hazardous synthetic dyes by the Textile Industry. The non-edible products could be fully utilized and a break through for eco-friendly dyes for replacement of the hazardous synthetic dyes has been achieved. These dyes are tested for its colour fastness on silk and cotton and dyeing procedures are standardized.

Dicoccum wheat varieties are proved to be nutritionally and therapeutically superior in protein and dietary fiber, low in carbohydrates digestibility and glycemic value, which are vital factors in the management of metabolic disorders, viz., diabetes mellitus and heart diseases. These varieties are very promising and a variety of pasta products and extradites could be manufactured. The dicoccum wheat is a boon for proper management of Diabetes Mellitus.

The contribution of percentile growth norms of rural children on a sample of 33,000 of six states in the country is an important reference tool for screening the children for nutritional intervention for promoting optimum development in children from birth to 18/20 years. A cost effective stimulation program for infants from birth to 36 months has proved to be effective in optimizing the psycho-motor, mental, social and emotional development of infants thus bringing about qualitative and quantitative changes in human resources.

Improved Saral Kurpi is designed and tested which is women friendly and is proved to be effective to reduce drudgery while performing the weeding activity in all the crops of Zoe-8 of Karnataka.

IV. ANIMAL SCIENCE

The HF x Deoni cross bred cows by UAS, Dharwad have higher production capacity and adaptability to diversified local conditions in North Karnataka. The cross bred cows in a lactation period of 305 days, yield 1800 kg more and calve once in a year as against 18-24 months in local breeds.

Addition of 2% of subabul, stylosanthus and mulberry leaf meal in brioiler diet increased the feed efficiency and dressing percentage. Similarly, rain tree pods can replace rice bran in the feed to the tune of 50% without any side effects on HF x Deoni heifers.

An improved surgical trevis/chute has been developed. This device facilitates conducting operations on large animals. The cost not only in less by 1/3 but also in more efficient.

Stocking density of tiger prawn at 40,000 PL/ha was found economically viable under improved extensive farming in the coastal areas. The mantisshrimp, a bycatch of trawlers, has been found to enhance prawn production when incorporated in the compounded feed. An yield of 1400 kg/ha has been obtained in improved extensive farming. Composite fish culture in inland water bodies yield a net profit of Rs. 50,000/ha/year.

SEED PRODUCTION

The university is producing the nucleus and breeder seeds and substantial quantity of foundation and certified seeds of recently released varieties/hybrid. UAS, Dharwad is recognized as model centre for seed production. During the last five years, there has been quantum jump in the production of breeder, foundation and certified/truthful seeds of various crops. Seed production is taken up in 12 research stations identified for seed production. The quantum of seed produced under various classes during 2005-06 was about 45,239 quintals as against 4722 quintals during 2001-02.

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