Influence of Land Configurations and Mulching on Plant Growth and Yield of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

Inadequate moisture supply and poor soil management are some of the major constraints for productivity in grain legumes like chickpea, present study was to focus on effect of land configurations and mulching in overcoming the constraints and their effect on growth and yield of chickpea. During rabi, 2019-20, the experiment was laid out in split plot design at College Farm, Agricultural College, Polasa, Jagtial with three land configurations (M1- Flat bed, M2- Ridge and furrow, M3- Broad bed and furrow) as main plots and four mulching treatments (S1- Control, S2- Sesamum mulch, S3- Gliricidia mulch, S4- Paddy straw mulch) as sub plots and are evaluated for growth and yield. Significant performance of the growth parameters was observed under broad bed and furrow land configuration and in contrast, flat bed land configuration recorded the least performance. Among the mulching treatments gliricidia recorded the better performance over other treatments.

Performance of CERES-rice model for prediction of different rice cultivars at Navsari

Filed experiment was conducted during kharif season of 2012 at college farm of Navsari Agricultural University, (Gujarat) to investigate the CERES-Rice model validation for three rice cultivars, viz., V1 - Jaya, V2 - Gurjari and V3 - GNR-2 with three different dates of transplanting, viz., D1- 12 July, 2012, D2- 27 July, 2012 and D3-11 August, 2012 and two nitrogen levels, viz., N1-75 kg/ha and N2-100 kg/ha. The experiment was laid out in a split plot design. The model was subsequently validated against observed data from field experiment. From the response of CERES-Rice model it was found that among the genotypes prediction accuracy for cv. Gurjari at third date of transplanting at 100 kg N level was better in respect to panicle initiation with percent error PE (-4.25%), anthesis (-3.40%) and beginning of grain filling (1.05%). But for physiological maturity stage, cv. GNR-2 was found better at third date of transplanting at same N level with PE (-0.97%) as comparison to other treatments.

Effect of Varieties and Crop Geometries on Yield and Profitability of Soybean in Semi – Arid Climate of Telangana

A field study entitled ʻʻEvaluation of varieties at varied crop geometry for yield maximization in soybeanʼʼ was conducted at College farm, Agricultural College, Polasa, Jagtial, PJTSAU, during the kharif season of 2018. The experiment was laid out in split-plot design with three replications to evaluate the performance of promising varieties of soybean (V1- Basar, V2- JS 335, V3- KDS 756 and V4- MACS 1281) and to standardize the crop geometry for Soybean varieties (S1- 45 x 10 cm, S2- 30 x 10 cm, S3- 45 x 05 cm and S4- 35 x 05 cm) under rainfedsemi arid conditions of Telangana. The results obtained from the present experiment indicated that among the varieties the yield attributes and yield are numbers of pods plant-1, number of seeds pod-1, seed yield, stalk yield and harvest index (%) and monetary returns of KDS 756 variety was significantly higher as compared to other varieties followed by Basar, MACS 1281, respectively. Hundred seed weight was significant among varieties and was higher with variety KDS 756 followed by MACS 1281, JS 335 and Basar. JS 335 showed inferior performance regarding yield attributes yield and monetary returns. Among crop geometry 30 x 10 cm recorded higher yield characters and monetary returns followed by 45 x 05 cm, 30 x 05 cm and 45 x 10 cm, respectively.

Effect of Integrated Approach on Growth and Yield Attributes of Maize

The investigation was carried out in sandy loam soils at college farm, College of Agriculture, Rajendranagar, Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University, Hyderabad during kharif, 2019. From results it can be concluded that growth parameters which were recorded at 30 days after sowing (DAS), Knee-high stage, 60 DAS and at harvest like SPAD, leaf area and at flowering parameters like days to 50% tasseling and silking were shown highest in treatment T5-RDF + FYM enrichment with 50 kg ZnSO4 ha-1 and also it was on par with T7-RDF + ZSB (1kg/100 kg FYM) + 0.2% Foliar spray of ZnSO4 (Knee-high and Tasseling stages). Similar trends has been recorded in case of yield attributes like number of rows cob-1, number of kernels row-1, total no. of kernels cob-1, kernels weight cob-1 and test weight.

Available Nutrient Status of Soil as Influenced by Combined Application of Humic Acid and Inorganic Nitrogen

A field experiment was carried out to study the influence of different levels of humic acid (10, 20, 30 kg ha-1) and inorganic N fertilizer viz., 100 % of recommended dose and 75 % of recommended dose on chemical properties of soil under direct sown rice at Agricultural college farm, Bapatla during 2019. The experiment was laid out in RBD with ten treatments replicated thrice with BPT-5204 variety of rice as test crop. Soil samples collected at tillering, panicle initiation and harvest stages of crop were analyzed for chemical properties like available N, P2O5, K2O, Sulphur and cationic micro-nutrients (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu). Results indicated that increased availability of N, P2O5, K2O, Sulphur and cationic micro-nutrients (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu) were observed with the treatment T6 involving 100% RDN and HA @ 30 kg ha-1.

PSXV-26 Late-Breaking: Effects of feeding haylage on the reproductive performance of 2-year-old beef cattle raised in a sustainable production system at Berea college farm

Effects of winter feeding haylage on the growth and reproductive performance of late weaned, summer breeding, rotationally grazed, selectively bred mixed breed cattle (n =90) raised at Berea College Farm during 2015 to 2021 were evaluated. Cattle were grouped based on the year in which they turned 2 years old (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021). The 2017 group alone was not fed haylage. Initial data indicated that maintenance of a pre-ruminant gastrointestinal tract during the early developmental years under our management is the main factor impacting cattle performance. Indeed, despite similar birth weights, weaning and yearling weights were numerically higher in 2018 and 2019 compared to 2017 cattle. Significantly higher weaning and yearling weights (264.47 vs 229.37kg and 306.60 vs 253.03kg; P < 0.05) were observed in 2020 versus 2017 cattle, respectively. Additionally, 2018 (426.83kg) but not 2019 (387.38kg) cattle had higher (P < 0.05) liveweights than 2017 (398.93kg) cattle at yearling pregnancy check. At the 2nd breeding, 2018 cattle maintained numerically higher weights than 2019. However, the higher liveweights observed for 2018 cattle compared to that of 2017 cattle at the yearling pregnancy check, was reversed in the following year at the 2-year-old pregnancy check. Consequently, pregnancy rates at the yearling pregnancy check did not differ (89.47 vs 91.67%) but numerically lower retention (31.8 vs 50%) and pregnancy rates (50 vs 75%) were observed for 2018 cattle than 2017 cattle by the 2-year-old pregnancy check, respectively. Additionally, 55% the 2018 cattle displayed ovarian activity and 50% of the 2019 cattle displayed estrus prior bull introduction. In 2019 cattle, 92% were cyclic before introduction of the bull and a 91% estrus response was detected during the breeding season. Feeding haylage promoted growth and reproductive performance of cattle but apparently did not alleviate 2019 drought induced dystocia occurrences during 2020 and 2021 calving seasons.

Compost Functions as Effective Replacement for Peat-Based Potting Media in Organic Greenhouse Transplant Production

Commercial horticulture in many regions of the world depends upon Sphagnum peat as a potting-media substrate, but extracting peat has serious environmental consequences. Composts may be able to serve as effective substitutes for peat and offer potential environmental advantages. The suitability of compost as potting media depends upon the raw materials as well as processing methods used. This study includes two related experiments—one with beet (Beta vulgaris L.) and the other with tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)—aimed at assessing the potential viability of farm-produced, food-residuals compost as a replacement for peat-based potting media in the production of organic vegetable transplants. The experiments were conducted in 2021 on the Berea College Farm in Kentucky, USA, a USDA certified organic farm. The results indicated that potting media composed of 75% to 100% compost performed as well as fertilized, peat-based growing media for plant growth. Further, although weeds were present in the compost, weed pressure was not severe enough to adversely affect crop growth. Thus, sterilization of compost, which did eliminate weeds in the compost, was not deemed necessary for using the compost as a partial or complete potting medium. Compost pasteurization was also assessed but was ineffective in destroying weed seeds.

Yield Improvement and Nutrient Uptake of Little Millet (Panicum sumatrense) for Agronomic Interventions

Field experiments were conducted during kharif, 2019 and kharif 2020 at S.V. Agricultural College Farm, Tirupati with three different times of sowing of little millet (second fortnight of June, first fortnight of July and second fortnight of July) in combination with three methods of establishment (Broadcasting, Sowing at 30 cm × 10 cm and transplanting 20 days old seedlings) and three nitrogen levels (20 kg N ha-1, 30 kg N ha-1 and 40 kg N ha-1). The results of the experiment revealed that among the three times of sowing, second fortnight of June sowings recorded higher grain yield, straw yield and nutrient uptake of little millet while lower values of these were obtained with July second fortnight sown crop during both the years of study. Transplanted little millet resulted in superior grain yield, straw yield and nutrient uptake compared to broadcasting and sowing at 30 cm × 10 cm. Maximum values of grain yield, straw yield and nutrient uptake were observed with application of 40 kg N ha-1 while minimum values of these parameters were obtained with application of 20 kg N ha-1. Transplanting little millet during second fortnight of June along with the application of 40 kg N ha-1 achieved higher grain and straw yield besides nutrient uptake by grain.

Dates of Sowing and Residual Nitrogen Levels on Growth, Yield and Uptake in Sorghum under Zero-till Conditions in Coastal Belts of India

A field experiment was conducted during rabi seasons of 2017-18 and 2018-19 at College farm, Agricultural College, Bapatla, situated at 8 km away from the Bay of Bengal in the Krishna Agro-climatic Zone of Andhra Pradesh state of India to study the influence of dates of sowing and residue levels of nitrogen on growth, yield and uptake of sorghum under zero- till conditions in coastal rice fallows. The experiment was designed in RDB with factorial concept and replicated thrice. The treatments consisted of three dates of sowing (Factor-1): S1: 49 MW (5th December); S2: 50 MW (15th December); S3: 52 MW (25th December) and four residual nitrogen levels (Factor-2) applied to the previous rice crop: N1-60 kg, N2-80 kg, N3-100 kg and N4-120 kg N ha-1. Sorghum was grown as a residual crop under zero tillage in rice fallows. Significant higher improvement in drymatter (10395 and 10269 kg ha-1), length of spike (24.8 and 24.5 cm), grain (3839 and 3602 kg ha-1) and stover yields (7446 and 7298 kg ha-1) and nitrogen uptake by grain (51.9 and 42.9 kg N ha-1) and stover (42.0 and 39.9 kg N ha-1) was recorded in early date of sowing i.e. 49 MW in both the seasons 2017-18 and 2018-19, respectively, and among the residue nitrogen levels 120 kg N ha-1 showed highest drymatter (10661 and 10484 kg ha-1), length of spike (25.0 and 24.8 cm), grain (4078 and 3815 kg ha-1) and stover yields (7518 and 7443 kg ha-1) and nitrogen uptake by grain (54.6 and 46.6 kg N ha-1) and stover (44.3 and 42.1 kg N ha-1) compared to other nitrogen levels in both the seasons. Based on above results, early sowing of sorghum with high residue nitrogen levels could be recommended to small and marginal farmers in coastal belts of India for higher productivity.

Soil test based fertilizer prescriptions through integrated nutrient management using targeted yield approach for rice

A field experiment was conducted at the Agricultural College farm, Bapatla, during kharif and rabi 2017-18 and 2018-19. The experiment was conducted with variety BPT-5204 in a randomized block design with ten treatments and three replications. The maximum Number of panicles m-2, total filled grains panicle-1, test weight, grain yield, straw yield, harvest Index and return per rupee investment were recorded with soil test based fertilizer recommendation with 10 t ha-1 FYM application which was at par with soil test based fertilizer recommendation alone and 7.5 t ha-1 targeted yield recommendation along with FYM (T5 and T10) and RDF with FYM (T6). Grain yield of rice was significantly higher with soil test based fertilizer recommendation with 10 t ha-1 FYM application which was statistically at par with soil test based fertilizer recommendation alone (T2) and 7.5 t ha-1 targeted yield fertilizer recommendation with FYM (T10) compared to the rest of the treatments.