Water use pattern and related agrometeorological indices of rabi & kharif sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) at Deccan plateau

The agrometeorological data pertinent to estimation of water use and related agrometeorological indices of KBSH - II (1988 to 1991) and MORDEN varieties of sunflower (1992 and 1993) cultivated both in rabi and kharif seasons, were used to understand the comparative water use pattern and agrometeorological indices for getting an idea about the crop condition at Bangalore. The study revealed that mean weekly water use was higher in almost all the years during the kharif season than during the rabi season except in 1990 and the consumptive water use increased with development of the vegetative cover of the crop reaching a peak value in the vegetative growth stage. The ARI (agroclimatic rainfall index) and cumulative YMI (yield moisture index) were always higher during the kharif season than correspondingly those during the rabi season and showed yearly and seasonal variability in different growth stages which was due to the moisture stress condition of the soil as well as prevailing weather conditions of the atmosphere. In case of AI (aridity index), high values were observed at early and late crop growth stages during the kharif season which showed that the crop experienced less aridity between vegetative to seed formation stage. The water use efficiency (WUE) of the crop also revealed wide variation due to variety and season.

Effect of Nitrogen and Phosphorus Fertilization on the Growth and Yield of Mustard Under Irrigated Conditions in Agra District

The present field experiment was conducted at Agricultural Research Farm of RBS College, Bichpuri Agra, during Rabi season of 2018-19. The soil of the experimental site is Gangetic alluvial. The experimental was laid out in RBD factorial having 3 main treatment (N level) and 4 sub treatments (P2O5 level) with 3 replications. All growth and yield attributing character increase with application of N @ 120 Kg-1 and P2O5 @ 60 kg-1. All the yield components i.e., number of siliquae plant-1, length of siliqua and number of seeds siliqua-1 improved with the increase in the level of nitrogen. Higher value of harvest index was associated with the application of 60 kg P2O5 ha-1. Seed yield increased appreciably with every additional increase in the level of nitrogen. Respectively 26.85 and 40.05 per cent higher seed yield ha-1 was obtained with the application of 80 and 120 kg ha-1 nitrogen as compared to 40 kg ha-1 .

Impact of Nitrogen Nutrition through Organic and Inorganic Sources of Fertilizer on Growth Phenology and Yield of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

The field experiment was conducted at wheat research farm of CCS Haryana Agriculture University during Rabi season of 2019-20 to study nitrogen nutrition through organic and inorganic source of fertilizer on growth phenology, yield and quality of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with three replications containing 16 treatments combination i.e T1-Control; T2-100% RDN through urea; T3- 100% RDN through FYM; T4-100% RDN through vermicompost; T5-50% RDN through urea+ 50% RDN through FYM; T6-50% RDN through urea+ 50% RDN through vermicompost; T7-25% RDN through urea+ 75% RDN through FYM; T8-25% RDN through urea 75% RDN through vermicompost; T9-100% RDN through urea + Azotobacter; T10-100% RDN through FYM + Azotobacter; T11-100% RDN through vermicompost + Azotobacter; T12-50% RDN through urea+ 50% RDN through FYM + Azotobacter; T13-50% RDN through urea+ 50% RDN through vermicompost + Azotobacter; T14-25% RDN through urea+ 75% RDN through FYM + Azotobacter; T15-25% RDN through urea+ 75% RDN through vermicompost + Azotobacter; T16- Azotobacter. Treatment T9, 100% nitrogen nutrition through chemical fertilizer (urea) with seed treatment of Azotobacter has taken significantly maximum days to emergence (5.3). Days taken to 50% spike emergence (94.7) and days taken to maturity (148.0) respectively. Similarly T9 had significantly higher grain yield (5640 kg/ha), hectoliter weight (83.167 kg/ha), grain appearance score (7.933 scale/10) and protein content (12.90 %) of wheat during the research period respectively.

Effect of Micronutrients on Growth of Onion (Allium cepa L.)

Onion is one of the most important bulb crop grown all over the India. It belongs to family Alliaceae and locally known as Pyaj. An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of micronutrients on growth of Onion (Allium cepa L.) during Rabi season of 2019-2020 at the Horticultural Research centre of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Meerut (U.P.). The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications. The maximum plant height (27.18, 43.32, 49.22 and 47.45 cm at 30, 60, 90 and at harvest after days of transplanting, respectively), number of leaves (5.11, 8.83, 12.87 and 13.98 at 30, 60, 90 and at harvest after days of transplanting, respectively), diameter of stem per plant (6.64, 8.97, 11.13 and 10.95 mm at 30, 60, 90 and at harvest after days of transplanting, respectively) and length of longest leaf at harvesting (43.56 cm) were reported under treatment T9 -RDF + Zinc Sulphate 20 Kg ha-1 + Borax 10 Kg ha-1 whereas the minimum values for above parameters were recorded under T11- control. Hence application of RDF + Zinc Sulphate 20 Kg ha-1 + Borax 10 Kg ha-1 is worth recommendable for formers to get significantly better growth of Rabi onion.

Water loss and canopy resistance to water flow from sunflower (Helianthus Annus L) in two different climatic environments

ABSTRACT. In the present paper water loss and variations in canopy resistance in sunflower during kharif and rabi have been analysed. Mean daily water loss of sunflower in rabi season is slightly less than that in kharif. The water loss falls considerably as the soil dries down. The soil water loss is found to be significantly correlated with moisture content in 0-45 cm depth soil profile. The canopy resistance is fairly low when the soil is wet but as soil dries. The resistance increases.

Influence of Abiotic Factors on Population of Aphid Complex and Its Coexisting Natural Enemies in Mustard Agroecosystem

A field experiment was conducted to determine the population build-up of mustard aphid and their natural enemies in relation to abiotic factors at TCA, Dholi during the Rabi season of 2018-19 and 2019-20 respectively. The incidence of mustard aphid started in the 2nd and 3rd SMW of 2019 and 2020 respectively and reached maximum in 8th SMW in both the years. However, the predatory activity of coccinellids, syrphid larvae and spiders were started from 3rd SW with their peak activity at 3rd and 4th week of February in both the years. Mustard aphid population exhibited positive correlation with maximum temperature (0.347 & 0.543), minimum temperature (0.317 & 0.152) and negative correlation with relative humidity (-0.083 & -0.479) during 2019 & 2020 respectively and rainfall (-0.35) during 2020. However, natural enemies viz., coccinellids, syrphid larvae and spiders exhibited positive correlation with Tmax, Tmin, rainfall and negative correlation with RH in both the years.

Effect of Different Nutrient Management Practices on Productivity and Profitability of Double Zero Indian Mustard (Brassica juncea L.)

A field experiment was conducted at Crop Research Center, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture & Technology, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh in Rabi season 2021 with a view to compare the production potential under different nutrient management practices and also to find out the economic viability of this cultivar for soil quality. The experiment was analysed in Randomised block design (RBD) and the treatments comprised of Control (T1), 100% N (T2), 100% NP (T3), 100% NPK (T4), 125%NPK (T5), 100% NPK+ S@40kg ha-1 (T6), 100%NPK+ Zn@5kg ha-1 (T7), 100%NPK + B@1kg ha-1 (T8), 75% NPK+ VC@ 2t ha-1 (T9), 75%NPK+FYM@ 6t ha-1 (T10), 75%NPK + VC@ 2t ha-1+ Azotobacter (T11) and 75%. NPK + FYM@6t ha-1 + Azotobacter (T12). Results revealed that treatment T11 and T12 exhibited significant influence on yield attributes and yields of mustard as compared to the application of 100% NPK alone. The maximum gross return was obtained in T12 followed by T11. The highest net return was obtained in T5 followed by T12, T6 and T11, whereas, minimum gross return and net return was obtained in T1.T11 recorded higher gross return and net return but the B:C ratio was lower due to higher cost of vermicompost. Higher values of B: C ratio (4.23) was obtained in T6 and T5 respectively. The current study reveals that T11 and T12 exhibited significant beneficial for yield, yield attributes and profitability of mustard.

Study of Combining Ability and Heterosis in Quality Protein Maize using Line x Tester Mating Design

Background: High protein content with good quality maize is likely to gain wider acceptance if hybrids are produced that have agronomic performance similar to normal hybrids and retain an enhanced nutritional quality. Thus, an attempt was made to develop quality protein maize hybrids for the benefit of different sections of society depending on maize. Methods: During the Rabi season of 2016-17 (hybrids were obtained crossing ten inbred lines and four testers following Line x Tester mating design) and 2017-18 (evaluation of hybrids and parents involved along with two commercial checks based on different agro-morphological traits). Result: Highly significant differences were observed among lines, testers and crosses. Combining ability revealed SCA variances was higher indicating preponderance of non-additive gene action. The contribution of line x tester interaction was higher suggesting parents used in this study can provide high heterotic cross combinations. The parents CML 508, CML 163-D and CML 169 were superior general combiners, indicating their efficacy as parents in future maize breeding programs. Heterosis identified superior yield advantage of the crosses namely, CML508 x CML154-2, CML170 x CML169 and CML163-D x DMRQPM103 over the standard commercial checks HQPM1 and 900 M Gold.

Regional scale cropping systems management options in Telangana using WorldClim data

The present study evaluates the existing district-wise cropping system of Kharif and Rabi season prevailing in Telangana State of India. In kharif season, it was observed that all districts of the states are water surplus and whereas during Rabi season all districts become water deficit. In order to enhance the agricultural production and agricultural based rural economy, alternate cropping system weresuggested. Due consideration was given to the existing water resource and farming practices prevailing in the respective district. Re-appropriation of area under various crops was suggested for two scenarios namely, ‘A’ and ‘B’, aimed for reduction in crop water requirement by 10 % and 20 %, respectively. In scenario ‘A’, it was suggested to reduce the area under transplanted paddy and ground nut by half and 40% respectively,in kharif season and substantial enhancement in the area under redgram. For rabi season the area under transplanted paddy could be reduced to half for scope to double the area under oilseed. The scenario ‘B’ however is feasible in 3 districts, suggests restricting the area under groundnut to comprehensive increase in pulse area. For rabi in scenario ‘B’, it is recommended to further reduce the area under oilseed, paddy and other crops allows more crop diversity including millets, sorghum and caster. The economic analysis suggested that the alternate scenario has the potential to significantly improve the benefit cost ratio apart from enhancement in water productivity.

Sowing Dates and Varieties of Wheat can Affect Yield, Nutrient Content in Grain, Straw and Soil after Crop Harvest

The present study aimed to determine the Sowing dates and varieties of wheat can affect yield, nutrient content in grain, straw and soil after crop harvest. A field experiment was conducted during Rabi season (2015-16) at Instructional Farm, Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture JAU, Junagadh to evaluate the identification of the suitable date of sowing and variety of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) for South Saurashtra, Gujarat under changing climatic conditions. The experiment consisted of 12 treatment combinations of four dates of sowing in main plots (05th November, 15th November, 25th November and 05th December) and three varieties in sub plots (GW 322, GW 366 and GW 173) was carried out in split-plot design with three replications. Significantly maximum grain yield, N, P and K in grain and straw was recorded with sowing on 15th November and with the sowing of GW 366. Higher available N, P2O5 and K2O in the soil after harvest was found on 05th December and GW 173.