UAS Dharwad releases 10 new crop varieties in a year

The University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS) Dharwad has developed and recommended the release of 10 new crop varieties and 20 agricultural technologies in the last one year.

Addressing presspersons on the university campus in Dharwad on Thursday, Vice-Chancellor P.L. Patil said that new varieties of foxtail millet, little millet, barnyard millet, finger millet, kodo millet and proso millet have been released along with new varieties of sesame, sunflower, okra and tomato.

Farm technologies

The farm technologies developed and released by the university are split application of nitrogen in pearl millet under irrigated condition and under rain-fed condition; soil moisture conservation through crop residues for increasing productivity in pearl millet under rain-fed condition; bio efficacy or pre emergence herbicides against weeds in sugarcane; response of sugarcane to silicone nutrition; weed management in maize through ready mix herbicide and in groundnut, through post emergence herbicide; chemical weed management in groundnut with discosoulam 84% WDG; advanced production technology in Kodo millet; Micronutrient management in moth bean in shallow black soil (Inceptisol) of Zone 3; Evaluation of liquid formulation of Azospirillum in grain yield of maize and foxtail millet; planting geometry for turmeric and pole beans in polyhouse; yield and economic assessment of vegetable cropping systems under pandal method of cultivation; management of defoliators in groundnut during kharif; management of mired buds in BT cotton; evaluation of the broad bed and furrow (BBF) planter in pigeon pea for moisture conservation and higher yield; treatment of avulsion wounds of chin in bullocks with surgical correction followed by stainless steel orthopaedic wiring through mandible; rhizosphere and mycorrhiza and a cereal-based diabetes mix.

This apart, the university has obtained three patents and one copyright for its research, he said.

Replying to a query on the university’s focus on millet varieties, Prof. Patil said that there has been an increase in the cultivation area of different varieties of millets in the recent years.

Director (Research) B.D. Biradar said that the cultivation area of millets has gone up to 14.5 million hectares from 13 million hectares.

Prof. Patil said that they have commercialised two varieties of coloured cotton to two companies as cultivation has to be done under controlled condition.

To another query, he said that due to various reasons, including market-based cropping pattern, cultivation of cotton has come down in the region.

On encroachment upon university’s land, he said that they are taking the necessary steps and have procured a stay order from court in their favour.