EVALUATION OF TURNIP (Brassica rapa L.

) VAR PTWG FOR YIELD

AND RELATIVE ECONOMICS UNDER FRONTLINE
DEMONSTRATIONS IN DISTRICT BUDGAM

Abstract

The study was conducted to evaluate the turnip variety purple top white globe for yield and
yield contributing characters through front line demonstration in District Budgam for three
consecutive years 20-18,2019 and 2020.A total of 25 FLD’s were distributed in village
Roshanabad of block Narbal, District Budgam. The results obtained reveals that the improved
variety was having higher yield and hence better returns to the growers as compared to the
local check. Study also revealed a wide gap in the production technology of turnip. The
farmers themselves observed the difference between the improved variety and local check.
The yield increase of 57.9% over the control and B:C ratio of 3.48 in demonstration plot
(2.13 in control) may be attributed to scientific cultivation method viz proper selection of
variety, use of quality seed, seed treatment, proper spacing, recommended dose of fertilizers
and integrated pest management.

Keywords: Turnip, frontline demonstrations, yield, B:C ratio

Introduction

The valley of Kashmir is known for cultivation of potato, turnip, carrots, spinach,
cauliflowers, cabbage, radish, onion, lotus Stalk, brinjal, gourds etc. Turnip is one of the
important root crop commonly grown in temperate climates worldwide for its white fleshy
tap root. It is hardy biennial plant in the mustard family (Brassicaceae). It has dual purpose
used as food both for human and livestock consumption(Nawaz et al,2020). Small tender
varieties are grown for human consumption and large ones for livestock. It is rich in
vitamins, minerals, dietary fibre and phytochemicals. The nutritive value for 100 gram of
turnip bulb contains91.6% moisture, 0.12% fat, 34 calories, 2.25% fibres, 7.84%
carbohydrates, 1.10% protein and no cholesterol (Susan, 2010). Turnip greens (tops) can be
used as vegetable which has high levels of Vit A, B but the crops are generally grown for its
swollen hypocotyls. In India turnip is grown on an area of 2500 ha with annual production of
50,000 tonnes (Pumulla and Kerketta , 2021)Under Kashmir condition, it is grown in August
- September. This is a short duration crop and fits well in many cropping systems. However
the local varieties are yielding low and farmers were not getting the remunerative returns
from the same. As such to boost the economy of farmers an improved SKUAST-k
recommended variety of turnip, Purple top white globe was disseminated among farmers of
zone Narbal district Budgam for three years Front Line Demonstration (FLD) programme of
KVK Budgam. Front Line Demonstration (FLD) is one of the key extension tools for transfer
of technology at grass root level that directly impact the horizontal spread of technology. It is
a unique approach to provide a direct interface between researchers and farmers as the
scientists are directly involved in planning, execution and monitoring of the demonstrations
for the technologies developed by them, and get direct feed back from them (Choudhary et.
al., 2021).

Material and methods

Krishi Vigyan Kendra Harran Budgam, gave 25 FLD in various villages of district
Budgam during years 2018 and 2019. The average area under each demonstration was 0.20
ha with 25 beneficiaries. It was observed that the farmers lack the information regarding the
scientific cultivation of this crop. So several training programmes were carried out in these
areas to acquaint the farmers with proper package of practice for raising a healthy successful
crop. Scientific package of practice from SKUAST-K was followed. The recommended
practice includes direct sowing during Aug- Sept, seed rate of 5-7 kg/ha, with spacing of 30 x
15-20cm. After germination when plants attain some height thinning was done to maintain
desired plant to plant distance. Fertilisers were applied as per recommended fertilizer dose of
15-20 t/ha, 150 kg Urea, 187.5 kg DAP and 100 kg MOP. Entire FYM, P, K and ½ N was
applied at the time of Ridge Raising and another ½ N as top dose after 30days of thinning.
At early stages of growth weeds may pose a problem so shallow hoeing with the help of hand
cultivators was recommended to suppress the weeds and provide aeration, thus enhancing
root formation. Pre sowing irrigation was applied for rapid and uniform seed germination. It
was also advised to apply half ridge irrigation, otherwise seeds and ridge tops are washed. It
was also advised to keep soil moist, so frequent light irrigations were recommended. Low soil
temperatures and higher moisture content are favourable for higher yield of quality roots. In
case of local check (control plots) farmer was allowed to use his own method for raising the
crop and indiscriminate use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides. Observations were recorded
on yield (q/ha) from five randomly selected plants each in the control and demonstration plot
and various economic parameters viz cost of cultivation, net profit and B: C ratio were
worked out. Finally Extension gap, Technology gap and Technology index along with benefit
cost ratio was worked out (Samui et al 2000) as given below:

Technology gap= potential yield –Demonstration yield

Extension gap =Demonstration yield – farmers yield

Technology index= Technology gap X 100

potential yield

Results and Discussion

Table 3 depicts the comparison between productivity of demonstration and local

check. Perusal of the data reveals that the variety under study i.e Purple Top White Globe
performed well in terms of yield and yield contributing characters in comparison with the
local varieties during all the years (Table 2 and 3). The mean value (Table 2) over the years
reveal that mean plant height in demonstration plot was observed to be 32.75cm as compared
to 29.25 cm in farmers practice. Mean values over the years reveal that leaf length and leaf
width for demonstration plot recorded was 17.3cm and 8.7cm where as for farmers practice
values were 16.12cm and 7.9 cm respectively. In local check, mean values for root length
and root width was recorded as 4.9cm and 7cm and for demonstration plot 5.6cm and 9.3cm
respectively. Average root weight for all the years studied was significantly higher in
demonstration plots as compared to local check. In demonstration plot, average root weight
was 243g in 2018, 260g in 2019, 256g in 2020 and mean value over years was 253 g where
as for local check, average root weight was recorded as 160g, 180g, 173g and mean value
over years was 171g respectively. The results also depict that improved variety performed
well against the check in all the locations of district Budgam. Similar results were reported by
Ganai etal 2018. The productivity in the local variety is low due to use of low quality seed
and non scientific cultivation practices adopted by the farmers. The same trends in yield
results were earlier reported by Rajput etal (2016) and Sharma and Singh (2020). The yield
under demonstration was recorded as 280q/ha, 276q/ha, 268 q/ha in 2018, 2019 and 2020
respectively and yield average for three years was 274.6q/ha. The yield is governed by
accumulation of carbohydrates and other metabolites which depend ultimately on the
syntheses and supply of photosynthates by leaves and their subsequent translocation
vertically downwards to the root. Percent increase in yield over check was calculated as
60.63 %, 55.61 % and 57.46% and the average percent increase over control was 57.9.
Perusal of overall date reveals significant differences among check and demonstration plots
which can be attributed to introduction of quality seed, improved variety, seed treatment with
fungicide, line sowing, maintenance of proper spacing, recommended fertiliser dose and
application and plant protection measures. Farmers were motivated by results of
demonstration plot where scientific technologies were adopted.

Table 1: Comparison of Cultural Practices Adopted by Farmer and FLD

S.no. Cultural Farmers FLD employing Gap %

operations practice improved cultivation
practices
1 variety Local PTWG 100 %
Sowing time Aug -sep Aug-Sep No gap
2 Seed quality Low quality seed High quality seed 100%
3 Seed No treatment Seeds treated with thiram 100%
 treatments @2g/kg seed
Seed rate 10-15kg/ha 5-7kg/ha 100%
4 Method of broadcasting Line sowing 100%
sowing
5 Spacing Not maintained 30x15-20cm 100%
6 Fertiliser Indiscriminate 15-20 t/ha, 150 kg urea, 100%
application use 187.5 DAP and 100 kg
MOP
7 Farming Irrigated irrigated No gap
situation
8 Control Indiscriminate As per recommendation 100%
measures use
9 Handling of No safety Use of all safety measures. 100%
pesticides measures (gloves, glasses, mask etc)
undertaken

Table No.2: Performance of PTWG for yield and yield contributing characters

Year Plant Leaf Leaf Root Root Root Yield (q/ha)

height(cm) length(cm) width(cm) length diameter weight
(cm) (cm) (cm)
FP RP FP RP FP RP FP RP FP RP FP RP FP RP
2018 30.1 32.02 16.7 17.2 8.2 9 4.8 5.3 7.5 9.1 160 243 168.9 280
2019 28.6 33.9 16.2 16.9 8.0 8.7 4.1 5.5 7.2 10.4 180 260 173.5 276
2020 29.05 32.35 15.48 17.8 7.5 8.4 4.9 6 6.3 8.5 173 256 170.2 268
Mean 29.25 32.75 16.12 17.3 7.9 8.7 4.6 5.6 7 9.3 171 253 170.8 274.
6

TABLE 3: YIELD PERFORMANCE AND ECONOMIC INDICATORS IN TURNIP

PTWG

Year No. of Yield (q/ha) % Gross Gross return Net return BC ratio
Demo increase expenditure (Rs,000/ha) (Rs,000/ha)
s over FP (Rs,000/ha)
RP FP RP RP FP RP FP RP FP RP FP
2018 10 280 168.9 60.63 115.5 118.8 420 253.3 304.5 134.5 3.6 2.13
 3
2019 10 270 173.5 55.61 128.4 130.8 432 277.6 303.6 146.8 3.3 2.12
6
2020 5 268 170.2 57.46 132 135 455.6 289.3 323.6 154.3 3.4 2.14
5
Total 25 272.6 170.8 57.9 125.3 128.2 436 273.4 310.5 145.2 3.4 2.13
/Mea 6 8
n

Perusal of data presented in table 3 indicated that demonstration plot recorded higher gross
return during all the years (Average 436,000Rs/ha) and average net return of Rs310,500 /ha
with benefit cost ratio of 3.48 as compared to 2.13 in local check. The sale rate of turnip in
local market was about 15 Rs/kg, 16 Rs/kg and 17 Rs/kg during 2018, 2019 and 2020
respectively. The higher returns obtained in demonstration plot are due to higher yields
obtained during improved technologies as compared to farmers practice during the
experimental years. Similar results were obtained by kumar et. al. (2018) and Tiwari et. al.
(2021). As such increased B:C ratio shows economic viability of interventions made under
these demonstration. Thus convincing the farmers that the intervention is more remunerative.
Similar reports were obtained from Kushwah et al (2017) in pea, Suryavanshi etal (2019) in
green gram and Sharma and Singh (2021).

Table 4 : impact of FLD’s on yield gap and yield index

year Potential Average Technology Extension Technology

yield Demonstration Gap Gap q/ha index
yield q/ha
2018 300 280 20 111.1 6.66
2019 300 270 30 96.5 10
2020 300 268 32 97.8 10.66

Yield gap and yield index

The technology gap is the gap between demonstration yield and potential yield and it
was 20 q/ha, 30q/ha and 32q/ha during 2018, 2019 and 2020. The observed technology gap is
presented in Table 4. This indicates that a gap existed between technology evolved and
technology adoption at farmer’s field. Hence, to reduce the yield gap, location specific
recommendations for varieties and timely sowing appears to be necessary. The extension gap
was recorded as 111.1q/ha in 2018, 96.5q/ha in2019 and 97.8q/ha in 2020 (Table 4). The
extension gap should be assigned to adoption of improved dissemination process in
recommended practices which outcome in higher yield than the farmers practice. There is a
need to decrease this wider extension gap through latest techniques and emphasis the need to
educate the farmers regarding improved agricultural technologies so that the trend can be
reversed. The technology index showed the feasibility of evolved technology at farmer’s
field. Lower technology values indicated that the feasibility of variety among the farmers is
more (inverse relations). The technology index was 6.66, 10 and 10.66 per cent during three
study years.

Conclusion

The present study was carried to study the effect of using scientific cultivation methods and
improved variety of turnip in block Narbal of District Budgam. The results revealed that there
was an average increase of 57.9% in yield over the local check. Higher benefit cost ratio
proved that the technologies adopted are profitable and can be further adopted by the farmers.
The technology is suitable for enhancing productivity of Turnip crop and can be used to
increase the area under this crop. As this crop is short duration crop and fits in any cropping
sequence and results in crop diversification. The selection and adoption of high yielding
improved varieties can be more remunerative for the farmers.

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