Establishment

Dryland Agricultural Research Station, Chettinad was established on 01.05.2008 to undertake research on soil resource and crop management technologies, crop varietal improvement programme and crop protection technology suitable for crops grown in rainfed tracts having red and red lateritic soils (Alfisol) of Sivagangai District in Tamil Nadu

Mandate

• To evolve drought adapted groundnut varieties suitable for alfisols under rainfed condition.
• To develop land management and agronomic technologies relevant for dryland crops in Alfisols.
• To conduct research on soil health and fertility management in Alfisols.
• To focus on weather based crop planning and soil moisture conservation measures.
• To propose plant protection strategies for rainfed crops.

To reach the un-reached farmers through trainings and demonstration

Activities

• Evolving drought tolerant bunch type groundnut    variteis suitable for alfisols under rainfed situation
• Performance evaluation of kudiraivali genotype suitable for rainfed condition
• Developing suitable organic and inorganic amendments to alleviate surface crusting in Alfisols
• Evolving suitable soil fertility management techniques for Alfisols
• Permanent Manurial Experiment on  long term effect of different nutrient sources on soil health and crop productivity in Alfisols
• Standardizing agronomic measures for mechanization in rainfed condition
• Land and crop residue management strategies for effective moisture retention and crop utilization
• Evaluating suitable fodder crops  for alfisols under rainfed situation
• Weather based crop planning and pest and disease monitoring
• Production of quality seeds in pulses
• Focusing plant protection strategies on pulses and oil seeds
• Effective recycling and utilization of agricultural wastes through biodegradation
• Evaluating suitable medicinal plants, timber wood and oil bearing trees for marginal lands

Achievements

On farm demonstration of seed drill sowing was demonstrated an area of 20 acres groundnut and maize in Farmers Holdings. Farmers were impressed with an advantage of timely sowing and good establishment, reduction in seed cost and manpower. This has created overwhelming response among the farmers to adapt this technology for sowing various crops through seed drill.
Around 2500 farmers were trained in Sivagangai District for agricultural waste recycling, organic manure production and soil health management. Hands on training on vermicomposting technologies were given to the 150 progressive farmers in Sivagangai District.

Updated on Oct 2013