Effect of foliar application of iron and zinc on performance of transplanted rice in middle Gangetic plains of Bihar

A field experiment was conducted during kharif season of 2015 and 2016 at research farmof the ICAR- Indian Agricultural Research Institute Regional Station Pusa, Samastipur, Biharto determine the foliar feeding of micronutrients (iron and zinc at different growth stages)on growth, yield and economics of rice in middle Gangetic plains of Bihar. The experimentwas laid out in randomized block design consisting of 9 treatments with 3 replications. Thetreatments consist of 0.5% spray of Zinc Sulphate and 1% spray of Ferrous Sulphate at fourdifferent growth stages i.e. 40, 50, 60 and 70 days aĞer transplanting (DAT) and one con-trol. The results shown significant increasing trends of growth, yield aĴributes and yield ofrice with four sprays of 1.0% solution of FeSO4at 40, 50, 60 and 70 days and three sprays ofZnSO4at 50, 60 and 70 days recorded significantly higher plant height, effective tillers/m2,panicle length, grains/panicle, 1,000-grain weight, biological yield, grain yield and straw yieldat maturity. These treatments also gave significantly higher net returns and benefit: cost ratioover the control.

Diversity expresseGenetic variabitity, heritability and genetic advance for yield and yield contributing traits of greengramd by wheat germplasm under temperate Srinagar (J and K) Conditions

Greengram is an important short duration pulse crop grown extensively throughout India. The productivity is very less when compared to other pulse crops in India and in Uttar Pradesh. Hence, the experiment was conducted with the aim of identifying different genotypes and characters that will be useful in improving its productivity. The present investigation was intended to study the extent of variation, heritability and genetic advance among different characters of greengram in sandy loam soils of Uttar Pradesh in a set of 20 genotypes including check Samrat in randomized block design with three replications during the Kharif, 2017. Observations were recorded for 13 quantitative characters. The genotypes KM11 584, KM11 583, RMG 1030, MH 934, NAVYA and SHARIF were identified as desirable genotypes. Harvest index, biological yield per plant, number of clusters per plant, number of seeds per pod exhibited high GCV, PCV, heritability and genetic advance as percent of mean. Thus priority should be given to these characters during selection in breeding programme for greengram yield improvement.

Optimization of phosphoric fertilizers for cultivation of potato under high phosphorus soils of Eastern Indo-Gangetic plains of Bihar

Phosphorus (P) is an important element that is applied in the form of di-ammonium phosphate or single super phosphate in potatoes. An experiment was conducted at ICAR-Central Potato Research Station, Patna, Bihar during Rabi, 2017-18 and 2018-19 to evaluate invariably use of phosphorus fertilizers in potato crop. The use of phosphorus is often applied at higher rate than its uptake from the soil. Therefore, experiment was undertaken with the objective to optimize and utilize soil phosphorus more efficiently. Potato variety Kufri Khyati was planted in three replications with eight different treatments of fertilizer phosphorus. Data on tuber yield (t/ha) and tuber number (lacs/ha) was recorded. The maximum tubers were recorded at 20% of recommended dose of phosphorus i.e. 5.14 lacs/ha followed by 100% recommended dose of phosphorus (4.56 lacs/ha). The tuber yield was maximum at 100% recommended dose of phosphorus (33.53 t/ha) followed by 50% recommended dose of phosphorus (31.35 t/ha), which was at par with the yield obtained at 20% (30.29 t/ha) to 40% (29.98 t/ha) of recommended dose of phosphorus. The recorded results showed that the omission of phosphorus does not have any significant reduction in the yield as compare to tuber numbers. Therefore it may be recommended that in high P soils, the maintenance dose of 20 % of recommended dose of P is sufficient to harvest economic yield.

Estimates of genetic parameters of economic traits in murrah buffaloes

Data from 1991 to 2017, pertaining to early performance traits was collected from 659 Murrah buffaloes, sired by 188 bulls, maintained at Directorate of Livestock Farms, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, Punjab. Least squares means and effect on non-genetic factors were evaluated for economic traits. Moderate heritability estimates of 0.217 ± 0.00, 0.231 ± 0.00, 0.260 ± 0.046 were calculated for first calving interval (FCI), First 305 day milk yield (F305MY) and first peak yield (FPY) respectively and low heritability values of 0.015± 0.025 and 0.043 ± 0.03 were estimated for age at first calving (AFC) and first lactation length (FLL) respectively. The phenotypic and genetic correlation of AFC was found to be positive with FLL and FCI and negative with F305MY and FPY. Although the production efficiency traits like F305MY, FLL and FPY had high positive genetic and phenotypic correlation among themselves.

Diversity expressed by wheat germplasm under temperate Srinagar (J and K) Conditions

To know the expression of diversity, their extent and pattern, field evaluations of 119 indigenously collected wheat germplasm were conducted under temperate valley conditions at KD Research Farm of NBPGR, Regional Station Jammu and Kashmir, India, for two consecutive years. All together 14 traits were undertaken. To measure the diversity simple statistical tools like maximum, minimum and standard deviation were taken into account. Correlation study, principal component analysis and cluster analysis were performed. Excellent amount of diversity were expressed by the tested germplasms. Standard deviation showed highest variation in yield deciding factors, i.e., the biomass and gain yield. Correlation studies accord that no. of spikelets / spike had maximum influence with other traits of Kashmir Valley conditions. PCA bi-plot study showed less variation as compare to other traits. Cluster analysis suggested that plant height was significantly correlated with all the traits except no. of spikelets / spike. Excellent amount of diversity were expressed under temperate Kashmir valley conditions by the all the tested wheat germplasms various traits, which can be utilised as donor in the temperate wheat breeding program.

Modeling and Trend Analysis of Climatic Variables of Ranchi District, Jharkhand

In this paper, an attempt has been made to study the temporal variation in monthly, seasonal and annual rainfall, and average annual maximum and minimum temperature for the period 1901-2015 over Ranchi district of Jharkhand, India. Long-term changes in rainfall, temperature was determined by Man-Kendall rank statistics and Sen’s slope, and forecasting of time series was determined by ARIMA model. The results revealed that there was significant decrease of average rainfall in the month of February and August while increase in month May and Pre-monsoon season. Average rainfall in the month of February, May, August and Pre-monsoon season showing insignificant increasing as well as decreasing rainfall trend. The average annual maximum and minimum temperature showing decreasing and increasing trend over Ranchi district during the period 1901 to 2015. This paper also describes five-year prediction of rainfall and temperature climatic variables.

Assessment of management modules against yellow stem borer in paddy

Yellow stem borer (YSB) is one of the most serious and monophagous pest of paddy in India. Field experiments were carried out to assess the different management modules against the yellow stem borer in paddy during the Kharif season of 2019 and 2020. The results on efficacy of modules revealed that during both the years the minimum ‘Dead Heart’ (DH) (10.1 and 11.4% during the year 2019 and 2020, respectively) was recorded in M3 (clipping of terminal shoots at the time of transplanting and application of cartap hydrochloride 50 SP) followed by M2 (11.9 and 14.5% during the year 2019 and 2020, respectively) in which 1st application was done with fipronil 0.3G and 2nd with NSKE 5% and M1 (19.6 and 20.9% during the year 2019 and 2020, respectively) i.e. farmers’ practice where only carbofuran 3G was applied. ‘White Ear Head’ (WEH) was also recorded minimum in M3 (11.6 and 12.1% in the year 2019 and 2020, respectively) followed by M2 (13.3 and 16.4% in the year 2019 and 2020, respectively) and M1 (20.8 and 22.4% in the year 2019 and 2020, respectively) in paddy. Maximum yield (33.8 and 43.1 q/ha during the year 2019 and 2020, respectively) was also recorded in Module 3 practiced clipping of terminal shoots and spraying with cartap hydrochloride 50 SP with the highest BC(Benefit: Cost) ratio 1.52:1 and 1.94:1 in the year 2019 and 2020, respectively. The overall results of the present study indicating the overall superiority of M3 (clipping of terminal shoots at the time of transplanting and two applications of cartap hydrochloride 50 SP at 40 and 60 DAT) in all the aspects i.e. DH, WEH, yield and BC ratio.

Assessment of soil fertility under northern light soil area of FCV tobacco in Andhra Pradesh

An assessment of soil fertility of Northern Light Soil area of FCV tobacco was carried out to study the status of soil macro and micronutrients. Soils of the study area are mostly moderately acidic in nature with low organic carbon and available nitrogen with a mean value of 0.29 % & 110 kg ha-1, respectively. Available phosphorus was high (88% samples) with a mean value of 92.6 kg ha-1. While the average available potassium content was 297 kg ha-1 with 48 % samples in medium class. Among available micronutrients, the available zinc content in 73 % of samples was very low – low (0.0 to 0.6 ppm). Whereas the availability of copper in 25 % samples was very low to low as per the fertility class (0.0 - 0.30 ppm). Available iron (18.8 -35.03 ppm) and manganese (17.03-21.5 ppm) contents were high in the region. Nutrient index of available nitrogen was 1.00 (Low) while, NI was 2.83 (High) & 2.36 (Medium) for available phosphorus and available potassium, respectively.

Whole Body Vibration on drivers seat and fender with fully loaded double axle tractor-trailers under different operating conditions

Tractors play an important role in Indian agriculture; it is used for agricultural operations and as a common means of transportation in rural areas. It exposes the drivers and workers sitting on fenders to whole body vibration. which results into back pain, spine degeneration and even spine disc problems. Keeping this in mind a study was carried out to measure the whole body vibration on driver and fender seat with fully loaded double axle tractor-trailer under different operating conditions. Vibration was measured on two terrains (Asphalt, Farm), at three speed (10, 12, 14 km/h on asphalt terrain and 4, 5, 7 km/h on farm terrain, as per ISO-5008 (1979)), in three directions (longitudinal, transverse, and vertical) using tri-axial accelerometers. Data was taken for 120 s each and analyzed using vibration meter and analyzer for three replications of each treatments. Vector sum of vibration and Health Guidance Caution Zone upper and lower limit were obtained for different operating conditions to know the health effect of vibration.

Estimation of crop water requirement for rice- wheat and rice- maize cropping system using CROPWAT model for Pusa, Samastipur district, Bihar

This study is about estimation of crop water requirement for rice-wheat and rice-rabi maize cropping system for Pusa Region of Samastipur district of Bihar using CROPWAT model for year 2017-18.The effective rainfall was calculated using USDA S.C. Method. Reference crop evaporation was calculated using meteorological data viz temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and Sunshine using Penman Monteith equation. The meteorological data were collected from university observatory of R.P.C.A.U Pusa. Crop coefficient (Kc) value was taken according to crop growth stages. Effective rainfall and crop water requirement was used for determining net irrigation requirement. The annual crop water requirement of Rice- Wheat cropping system was found to be 904.1 mm whereas the crop-water requirement of Rice- Rabi Maize cropping system was 991.7 mm.