Comparative efficacy of different mulching materials to enhance growth and development and to control weed infestation in cotton

The present study was based on the hypothesis that mulching materials can directly control weeds and indirectly crop growth and development by improving soil fertility. The present study was conducted to evaluate the “Comparative efficacy of different mulching materials to enhance growth and development and to control weed infestation in cotton” at Student’s Experimental Farm, Department of Agronomy, Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam, during Kharif season, 2016, in a three, replicated randomized complete block design (RCBD). The net plot size was 4m x 3m (12m-2). There were three cotton varieties (Haridost, Shahbaz, and Sind-1), three mulching materials (wheat straw, sunflower, and banana leaves, each applied at 12 t ha-1), and a control without any mulching treatment. The study revealed that the maximum sympodial branches plant-1 (27.93), opened bolls plant-1 (47.53), the weight of seed cotton plant-1 (124.55 g), seed index (8.73 g), seed cotton yield (5394.4 kg ha-1), staple length (30.33 mm), ginning out-turn percentage (37.96%) and oil contents (22.45%) were recorded in Sindh-1 with banana leaves as mulching material. The same treatment caused the maximum leaf area (136.56 cm-2), and leaf area index (4.92 cm) in Haridost. The minimum weed density (55.00 m-2), weed fresh (293.6 g m-2) and dry biomass (122.52 g m-2) with maximum weed control (81%) was recorded with banana leaves as mulching material in Sindh-1. It can be concluded that mulching with banana leaves at 12 t ha-1 significantly reduced the weeds infestation, resulting in enhanced growth, yield, and physiological parameters of cotton crop..

Foliar Application of Boron Improves the Growth and Yield in Barley (Hordeum Vulgare L.)

Crop productivity is limited by several environmental constraints. Among these, micronutrients availability to plants plays a key role in agricultural crops production. Boron is an important micronutrient for crops and it significantly aids in a grain setting. Soil applied boron become unavailable to plant due to fixation in soil sites and cause nutrients deficiency in plants, immature grain settings, and yield reduction. Thus, the aim of this work was to quantify the impact of the foliar application of boron gradients on the yield and growth of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). Five treatments were studied, which included; T1= Control (0% B), T2 = 0.5% B, T3 = 1% B, T4 =1.5% B, and T5 =2% B. The results indicated that foliar application of B significantly increased the yield and growth traits in barley. However, 2% foliar application of B showed the highest value for all studied traits including; plant height (5.6%), number of tillers per plant (2.4%), spike length (32%), weight gain per spike (6.2%), seed index (6%), grain yield (10%), and biological yield (4%). Based on these findings, it can be concluded that the foliar application of B at 2% can be used to improve the growth and yield in barley.

Study on Heterosis for Yield and Yield Contributing Traits in Desi Cotton (Gossypium arboreum L.)

The present investigation entitled “Studies on Heterosis for Yield and Yield Contributing Traits in Desi Cotton (Gossypium arboreum L.) was undertaken with the objective to study the scale of heterosis over mid parent (Average heterosis), better parent (Heterobeltiosis) and standard check (Standard heterosis). The line x tester method of analysis was followed involving four females viz., PA 811, PA 839, PA 808 and PAIG 380 and six males viz. AKA 8, JLA 505, PA 812, AKA 7, PA 08 and Phule Dhanwantry for study of heterosis for various yield and yield contributing characters. The F1’s and theis parents were evaluated in Randomized Block Design with two replications. Observations were recorded on Days to 50 % flowering, Plant height (cm), Number of sympodia, Number of bolls/plant, Boll weight (g), Seed index, Seed cotton yield/plant (g) and Lint index. The magnitude of heterosis was highest for seed cotton yield per plant, which was recorded to the extent of 115.28 % over standard check PKV Suvarna in the cross PAIG 380 x AKA 8 followed by 109.68 % over standard check PKVDH 1.

Combining Ability Analysis for Seed Cotton Yield and Yield Contributing Traits in Desi Cotton (Gossypium arboreum L.) over the Environments

Cotton is one of the most important fiber and cash crop of India and plays a dominant role in the industrial and agricultural economy of the country. Fifty six crosses with fifteen parents and four checks viz., PKVDH 1, PKVSuvarna, NACH 12 and PA 255 were grown in Randomized Block Design with two replications. Pooled over the environments, the highest GCA effect for seed cotton yield plant was showed by line PAIG 346and also exhibited high GCA (in desirable direction) for the traits, sympodia per plant, number of bolls per plant, seed index, lint index and harvest index. Among the testers, highest GCA for seed cotton yield per plant (9.72) was reported in CNA 449.This tester showed significantly desirable GCA for the characters viz. plant height, number of sympodia per plant, number of bolls per plant, boll weight, seed index and harvest index. Pooled over the environments, among the crosses highest SCA for seed cotton yield per plant was reported in PA 740 x Digvijay. It has also exhibited significant SCA in desirable direction for days to 50 % boll bursting, number of sympodia per plant, number of bolls per plant, boll weight, seed index and harvest index. Another cross which ranked second for with high per se and high SCA for seed cotton yield per plant was PAIG 346 x DWDa 1402.It showed significantly desirable SCA for days to 50 % flowering, number of sympodia per plant, number of bolls per plant, seed index, lint index and harvest index.

Pre-Sowing Seed Traetments of Panchagavya and Plant Growth Regulators on Growth, Yield And Yield Attributing Traits of Field Pea (Pisum sativum L.) Variety-IPF (4-9)

A field experiment was conducted during rabi 2020 at Crop Research Farm, Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, SHAUTS, PRAYAGRAJ, (U.P.). The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design and comprised of 13 treatments and 3 replications. The treatments which are T0 -Control, T1-Panchagavya 3%, T2-Panchagavya 5%, T3- Panchagavya 5%, T4-Panchagavya 5%, T5- Gibberellic acid 10 ppm for 6 hours, T6-Gibberllic acid 10ppm for 12 hours, T7- Gibberellic aid 15ppm for 6 hours, T8-Gibberlic acid 15 ppm for 12hours, T9-IAA at 50 ppm, T10-IAA at 100 ppm, T11-NAA at 50 ppm, T12-NAA at 100 ppm used. The result showed that viz., Field emergence, Plant height 90 DAS, Days to 50% flowering, Number of branches, Days to maturity, Number of pods per plant, Number of seed per pod, Seed yield per plant (gm), Biological yield (gm), Seed index (gm) and Harvest index were recorded significantly highest in the treatment of T8-Gibberllic acid 15 ppm for 12 hours and the least performance was observed in T0-Control when compared to other treatments. Hence, the seed treatment of Gibberellic acid 15ppm for 12hours could be recommended for the Field Pea.

Effect of Chemical Mutagen on Yield and Yield Attributing Traits in Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

An experimental trail was conducted to differentiate the effect of sodium azide on yield and its attributes of chickpea. Overnight pre-soaked fresh seeds of ADBG-1, ICC-3020, ICCV-15112 genotypes were treated with various treatments of sodium azide (0.01%, 0.02%, 0.04%, 0.06%, 0.08% & control) for 06 hrs for the purpose of induction of mutation. The effect of sodium azide with unlike concentrations on yield and its attributing characters were studied in M1 generation of chickpea. Both laboratory readings and quantitative traits were recorded during experimentation. From the result, it was observed that all the laboratory readings exhibited reduction in their values upon increasing the concentrations of mutagen when compared to the control which was not treated. Whereas the efficacy of sodium azide on the average mean performance of quantitative traits on 03 chickpea genotypes exhibited that ICCV-15112 (0.04% SA) had higher seed yield and their attributing traits are Plant height, no. of secondary branches, biological yield and seed index.

Study about GAU 4: A New High Yielding Ymv Resistant Urdbean Variety

GAU 4 is a high yielding, YMVD resistance variety developed through selection from germplasm maintained (GP No. 6) at ARS, AAU, Jabugam, Dist : Chotta Udaipur, Gujarat and tested as JAUG 2 in trial. JAUG 2 recorded 21.03 and 24.48 per cent higher yield (961 kg/ha) over the checks T 9 and GU 1, respectively under middle Gujarat. In kharif season, JAUG 2 recorded 1005 kg/ha seed yield which was 19.08 and 23.92 per cent higher over T 9 and GU 1, respectively under middle Gujarat. In summer, JAUG 2 recorded 864 kg/ha seed yield which was 22.21 and 23.42 per cent higher over T 9 and GU 1, respectively under middle Gujarat. The proposed genotype JAUG 2 has semi-erect plant type and medium maturity duration. It has deltoid leaf shape, green hairy pod with 5-7 seeds per pod, dark black and medium seed size (seed index.:4-5 g). On quality point of view, this genotype contains 24.66% protein, 55.58% total carbohydrate, 4.77% total soluble sugar, 0.946% phenol and 8.89 mg/100g flavonoid, which is comparable to check varieties T 9 and GU 1. In mineral contains 49.97 Fe, 29.28 Zn and 7.29 Cu mg kg-1 which is higher than both check varieties viz., T 9 and GU1. The genotype JAUG 2 is found resistant to Yellow Mosaic Disease under natural field condition as compared to check T 9 and GU 1. The special feature of newly develop variety is medium maturity, semi-erect plant type, hairy pod, dark black, drum shape seed, resistant to YMD with higher yield.

Correlation, Regression Analysis of Seed Oil Contents in Relation to Morphological Characters in Cotton

Cotton is the backbone of Pakistan’s economy. More than half of the export of Pakistan depends on cotton and cotton-based products. Morphological quantitative traits are important for estimation of cotton yield. In this regard, a study was conducted to evaluate the morphological responses on cotton crop at experimental farm of MNS-University of Agricultural Multan during the year 2019-2020. Four cotton varieties with different time windows (early, normal and late) were sown in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) in a split plot arrangement. Correlation and regression studies of cultivars of Gossypium and Malvaceae were analyzed for quantitative characters. Result revealed that significantly positive correlation of boll weight (r=0.211), seed volume (r=0.138), seed oil content (r=0.020) and negatively correlation with seed index (r= -0.005) was displayed by all traits with seed cotton yield, which showed that seed cotton yield was greatly influenced by all characters. Regression coefficients showed that a unit increase in seed index (b=71.375), seed volume (b=120.326), seed oil content (b=4.954) resulted into a proportional increased in seed cotton yield. In future, this study will helpful in selection program for improvement of cotton varieties towards the yield.

Genetic variability for yield and fiber related traits in genetically modified cotton

Background Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) is grown for fiber and oil purposes in tropical and sub-tropical areas of the world. Pakistan is the 4th largest producer of cotton. It has a significant contribution in the GDP of Pakistan. Therefore, the present study was performed to assess the genetic variations and genetic diversity of yield and fiber quality traits in cotton and to analyze the associations present among them. Results Analysis of variance exhibited significant variation for all studied traits except total number of nodes and the height to node ratio. The phenotypic coefficient of variation was higher than the genotypic coefficient of variation for all studied traits. Plant height, monopodial branches, total number of bolls, lint index, seed index, and seed cotton yield displayed high heritabilities in a broad sense with maximum genetic advance. Correlation analysis revealed that seed cotton yield had a significant positive association with plant height, the number of monopodial branches, the number of sympodial branches, ginning outturn (GOT), the number of bolls, seed per boll, seed index, uniformity index, the number of sympodial branches, reflectance, and seed index at the genotypic level while a significant positive relationship was observed with plant height, the number of sympodial branches, boll number, and GOT. Plant height, monopodial branches, GOT, boll weight, seeds per boll, and short fiber index exerted direct positive effects on seed cotton yield. The first 6 principal component analysis (PCs) out of the total fourteen PCs displayed eigenvalues (> 1) and had maximum share to total variability (82.79%). The attributes that had maximum share to total divergence included plant height, uniformity index, the number of sympodial branches, seed per boll, GOT, seed cotton yield, and short fiber index. Conclusion The genotype AA-802, IUB-13, FH-159, FH-458, and CIM-595 were genetically diverse for most of the yield and fiber quality traits and could be utilized for the selection of better performing genotypes for further improvement.

COMPARATIVE EFFICACY OF PURPLE NUTSEDGE ALLELOPATHY AND OTHER METHODS ON WEED MANAGEMENT IN BARLEY (HORDEUM VULGARE L.)

This research was made for the comparison of the effects of purple nutsedge allelopathy and other methods on the weed management in barely at Students’ Experimental Farm, Department of Agronomy, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam for weed as well as barely parameters having eight treatments with three replications. The data revealed that maximum weed number (45.6 m-2), weed fresh weight (20.6 g m-2), weed dry weight (6.3 g m-2) was observed under T1= No weeding (control). However, the maximum weed control (91.3%) was recorded under T7= Puma super 75 EW at 0.625 L ha-1, 50 reduced (30 DAS) + Purple nutsedge water extract at 15 L ha-1 (45 DAS). The barley crop results revealed that maximum tillers (355.6 m-2), plant height (106.3 cm), spike length (11.5 cm), grains spike-2 (47.3), seed index (51 g), biological yield (11737 kg ha-1), grain yield (4493 kg ha-1) and harvest index (41.9%) was recorded under T7= Puma super 75 EW at 0.625 L ha-1 50 % reduced (30 DAS) + Purple nutsedge water extract at 15 L ha-1 (45 DAS). Hence, current results manifested that proper application of puma super 75 EW at 0.625 L ha-1 50 % reduced (30 DAS) + Purple nutsedge water extract at 15 L ha-1 (50 DAS) produce maximum growth and yield parameters of barley crop. So, it was suggested that application of puma super 75 EW at 0.625 L ha-1, 50 % reduced (30 DAS) + Purple nutsedge water extract at 15 L ha-1 (45 DAS) apply for getting higher yield (4493 kg ha-1) of barley crop. It was finalized that this study will be very fruitful for the future progress of barley production.