Impact of Front Line Demonstration on Soybean in Hingoli District of Maharashtra, India

Front line demonstration on soybean were organized for five years in kharif seasons of 2009-2012 and 2013-2015 in six adopted villages namely Dandegaon, Kumbharwadi, Digras, Sukalivir, yedsi and Bhategaon of Kalamnuri Taluka by Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Tondapur, District Hingoli in Maharashtra. The package of improved practices demonstrated, which included a new variety MAUS 71, balance fertilizer (soil test based) viz., 30:60:30 + 30 Kg Zinc Sulphate kg/ha + Rhizobium + PSB @ 25 g/kg seed over existing farmers practices of (local check18:46:00:00 NPKS kg/ha). Sixty front line demonstration were carried out on 24 ha area. Each FLDs on 0.40 ha area with farmers practices considered as existing farmer practiced for comparison. The data related to the cost of cultivation, production, productivity, gross return and net return were collected as per schedule and analyzed. Result of the present study revealed that higher mean yield in the demonstrations was recorded (17.72 q/ha) as compared to farmers practice (14.12 q/ha) traditionally adopted by the farmers. 25.28 percentage increases in the yield over farmers practice was found. The extension gap, technology gap and technology index were computed 7.28 q/ha, 3.60 q/ha and 29.12 % respectively. The demonstration fields gave higher net return every year. The results of the study indicated the gap exited in the potential yield and demonstration yield is due to soil fertility and weather conditions.