AGRONOMY

Research projects in hand = Rabi = 66, Kharif =55
Objectives
• To develop the production technology for different crops.
• To introduce multiple cropping systems among the farmers.
• To develop cropping pattern for improving soil health and integrated pest management
• To determine consumptive use of water for new varieties
Achievements
Developed the following technologies:
Production technology for wheat-cotton and wheat-rice cropping system.
Mixed cropping system for maize and wheat.
Better cotton based rotation i.e. cotton-wheat-cotton and cotton-mung bean-cotton.
Integrated weed control technology.

Future lines of work
• Economize farm resources (fertilizer and water).
• Rescheduling of irrigations and time of sowing of different crops.
• Promotion of organic farming.
• Control of parasitic weeds by integrated weed management.

PLANT PROTECTION

RESEARCH PROJECTS/EXPERIMENTS IN HAND = 236
RESEARCH AREAS
•Proper utilization of plant protection materials and evaluation of pest control operations.
•To study the biology and population dynamics of major pests of important crops.
•Determination of tolerance, residues and economic dosages of pesticides.
•Protection from pesticide hazards and malpractices.
•Quality control of pesticides.
•To work out control measures of different diseases caused by different pathogens.
•In-service training in the science of plant protection.

ACHIEVEMENTS

•Analyzed large number of samples for quality control of pesticides, only during last 3 years Pesticide Labs. analyzed 11398 samples.
•So far 376 pesticides and their formulations have been standardized in Punjab for day to day use based on two years bio-efficacy trials data.
•IPM technology of pests of different crops viz. cotton, rice, sugarcane, maize, oilseeds, fruit plants etc. was prepared and has become part of the production plans of different crops.
•So far more than 6500 samples of seeds of different crops have been analyzed and the control measures of important disease have also been developed.
•Control measures of a number of soil and air borne diseases of field crops and fruit plants have been developed .
• Technique of potato seed production through tissue culture has been standardized and through its use import of potato seed has been curtailed significantly thus saving foreign exchange.
•Imparted training to over 4200 personnel in the field of plant protection.
•Autumn to Autumn seed production technique of potato seed production has been standardized.
•Sources of resistance of different crops against various insect pests and diseases have been identified for use in breeding programmes.
•Work on lower fungi has been organized and 13 spp.have identified infecting various crops.

NEW VISTAS

•Intensification of research on non –pesticidal control measures of pests to reduce dependence on pesticides (IPM-use of predators & parasites). Use of biotechnological techniques for the pest control (for example Bt gene for the control of Lepidopterous insects).
•Identification of soft pesticides to fit in the IPM.
•Intensification of research on diseases caused by Bacteria, Nematodes and Viruses.
•Identification of sources of resistance.
•Determination of pesticide residues in different crop produces and food stuff.