Yield prediction model of summer groundnut based on spectral characteristics

Spectral characteristics were studied at pod development stage (75 DAS) in summer groundnut, at Pune, in western Maharashtra plain zone. A simple regression model (yield vs. vegetation index, R2= 0.94) and another multiple regression model (yield vs. B: R, G: R, NIR: R and VI, R2= 0.99) were developed to predict the yields of summer groundnut. The yield prediction model based on spectral ratios at pod development stage (75 DAS) is helpful in forecasting the yield of summer groundnut, one month in advance, in western Maharashtra plain zone.

Response of Summer Mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) wilczek] to Foliar Potash Fertilization under Different Moisture Regimes

Background: Scheduling of irrigation is the major factor in producing higher yields of summer crops. Water stress during the sensitive stages will cause significant reduction in yield. Potassium (K+) is reported as an important element in reducing the ill effects of crop water stress. Foliar application of potassium increases the drought tolerance in mungbean. Keeping this in view, a field experiment was conducted to study the response of summer mungbean to foliar potassic fertilization under different moisture regimes during 2018 at SVPUAT, Meerut (U.P). Methods: It included 12 treatment combinations comprised of 2 irrigation schedules (0.6 and 0.4 IW/CPE ratio) and 6 foliar potassium treatments (1% spray of K through KNO3 and/or KCl at flowering, flowering and pod development stage including control), replicated thrice and were tested under a split-plot design. Result: The results indicated that, the growth parameters, yield and yield attributes of mungbean were significantly higher under 0.6 IW/CPE ratio as compared to 0.4. The gross returns, net returns and B:C ratio were also found highest with 0.6 IW/CPE ratio. Among the foliar application of potassium treatments, the growth attributes, yield and yield attributes were significantly increased by foliar application of 1% K through KNO3/KCl at flowering and pod development stage. The foliar application of 1% K through KNO3 at flowering and pod development stage fetched significantly higher gross returns, net returns and B:C ratio, but remained on par with dual spray of 1% K through KCl. The interaction effect between irrigation regimes and potassium foliar levels was non-significant for most of the parameters.

Studies on Rainwater Harvesting and Reutilization for Protective Irrigation with Farm Pond

The research on, ‘Studies on rainwater harvesting and reutilization for protective irrigation with farm pond’ was conducted during the year 2016-17 at demonstration farm of the Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani. The daily depth of water impounded in the farm pond was recorded for developing stage-storage relationship of the farm pond. For estimation of the loss of water through evaporation from farm pond, daily pan evaporation data was multiplied by pan co-efficient (0.70). The harvested water in the farm pond was utilized for applying protective irrigation to the pigeon pea crop. The experiment consisted six replications and two treatments. One protective irrigation for pigeon pea at pod development stage (T1) was applied on 30.11.2016. The treatment T2 consisted without protective irrigation to pigeon pea. The grain yield of pigeon pea was recorded plot wise.The grain yield data was analyzed using MAUSTAT software and results obtained were compared treatment wise. For economic analysis of the treatments, cost of cultivation, cost of cultural operations, fixed and operational costs of pump and accessories were calculated. These total cost was be used to determine the gross monetary returns (GMR), net monetary returns (NMR) and benefit cost ratio (B:C ratio). The area of top section and bottom section of the farm pond was 279.75 m2 and 516.82 m2 respectively. The average elevation of embankment at top was 413.130m. The average elevation of bottom of pond was 410.210m. The elevation at the bottom of outlet was 412.437m. The maximum depth of water impounded and maximum storage volume in the farm pond was 2.165m and 933.99m3 respectively. The total water evaporated through farm pond for the month of July, August, September, October, November and December 2016 was found to be 19.14 m3, 32.60m3, 25.40 m3, 35.9882m3, 29.8620m3 and 1.1965 m3 respectively. The maximum water evaporated through the farm pond was recorded in the month of October-2016. Total evaporation loss through the farm pond recorded was144.17 m3.The seepage loss through the pond for the month of July August, September, October, November and December 2016 was found to 634.88, 358.05 m3, 651.80 m3, 611.64 m3, 147.33 m3, and 37.89 m3 respectively. The maximum water seepage through the farm pond was recorded in the month of September -2016.The total seepage loss recorded through the farm pond was 2441.59 m3. The harvested water in the farm pond was utilized for irrigating the pigeon pea crop at its pod development stage. One of protective irrigation (T1) recorded significantly higher pigeon pea grain yield than treatment of without protective irrigation (T2). Due to the one protective irrigation, 27.30 per cent grain yield increased over or control was observed. The study revealed that the treatment T1 i. e. one protective irrigations at pod development stage recorded highest GMR (111302.00Rs/ha) and NMR (76302.00) as compared to control (T2) i. e. without protective irrigation. The benefit- cost ratio (2.18) is found to be higher under the treatment T1i. e. one protective irrigation pod development stage. The lowest B:C ratio (1.69) is estimated under the treatment T2 (without protective irrigation).

Seed Hardening, Foliar Spraying and Their Combined Effect on Dry Matter Partitioning in Green Gram (Vigna radiata L.)

Background: Mung bean is important pulse crop having low productivity. Considering the constraints, it is worthwhile to study the influence of different seed hardening and foliar spraying treatments on the production potential of mung bean. Methods: Mung bean var. GAM-5 was imposed with seed hardening treatments and also for foliar spray using CaCl2 2% and 1%, CCC 500 mg/L, CCC 1000 mg/L, NAA 25 mg/L, NAA 50 mg/L during summer season of 2015-16 and 2016-17. These treatments were evaluated for their dry matter partitioning at field conditions. Result: The leaf dry matter decreased in all the treatments after 60 DAS at the time of pod development upto harvest. There was a very less rate of increase in the stem and root dry matter from pod development stage till the harvest leading to an increase in pod weight. The translocation process must have been more prominent in the treatment CaCl2 2% seed hardening + 1% spraying at 30 DAS (T11) than rest of the treatments and was less in untreated control treatment indicating that photosynthesis and translocation efficiency increases by seed hardening and foliar spraying treatments with agrochemical and growth regulators for increasing the pod yield. Therefore, the treatment T11 was more efficient in dry matter production and its partitioning in leaves, stem, root and pods by allocating maximum dry matter to the pods.

Estimates of Genetic Variability in Selected Advanced Breeding Lines of Groundnut for Morphological, Yield and Its Contributing Traits under Imposed End-of-Season Drought Stress

Aim: To study genetic variability for morphological, yield and its contributing traits in forty groundnut genotypes. Study Design: Randomized complete block design with two replications. Place and Duration of Study: College of Horticulture, Hiriyur, University of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences, Navile, Shivamogga, Karnataka, India during Rabi 2016-17. Methodology: Forty genotypes of groundnut were evaluated under irrigated and imposed end-season drought conditions. Crop was taken care as per recommended package of practices. Stress was imposed by withholding irrigation at pod development stage (@90DAS) for 20 days in drought block. However, control block was provided with regular irrigations. Observations on different morphological, yield and its related traits were recorded on randomly sampled five plants per genotype per replication in both stress-full and stress-free environments. The mean data was subjected to statistical analysis using Genstat 14.1 software. Results: The analysis of variance revealed that highly significant differences observed for all the traits even at p <0.01 level indicating the sufficient variability exist among the entries for the traits under study. High genotypic and phenotypic co-efficient of variation, high heritability coupled with high genetic advance over mean was observed for number pods per plant, immature pods per plant, pod yield per plant and hectare, harvest index, kernel yield per plant, fresh weight of seedlings and kernels per plant under moisture deficit condition. Conclusion: It’s a clear evidence for lesser influence of environment and predominance additive gene action in germplasm for these traits which offers opportunity for selection, unvaryingly direct selection for these traits could be effective for developing high yielding drought tolerant genotypes.

Evaluation of mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek] varieties under water deficit stress

Legumes are the most important source of food and fodder but due to climatic changes and global warming; crops are consistently exposed to environmental stresses such as low water shortage, high salinity, mineral toxicity and deficiency, extreme temperatures, etc. Drought is undoubtedly the major constraint limiting plant growth and crop productivity worldwide. The present study was conducted to assess the effect of drought on the growth of plant and productivity in three different mungbean varieties [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek] i.e. IPM 02-3, RMG 975 and IPM 02-14. The studied varieties exhibited significant variation in plant height, root length, pod length, pods/plant, fresh weight of shoot, root and nodule, dry weight of shoot, root and nodule, number of leaves/plant, plant leaf area, relative leaf water content (RLWC) and initiation day of flowering. The effect of drought can better seen at the flowering stage and pod development stage that ultimately reduces crop productivity. The deleterious effect of drought in terms of morpho-physiological properties studied as above was more prominent in the variety IPM 02-14 in comparison to RMG 975 and IPM 02-3. It can be concluded that varieties IPM 02-3 and RMG 975 are better adapted to drought condition.

Differential involvement of ascorbate and guaiacol peroxidases in soybean drought resistance

Soybean (Glycine max L.) is a small but growing component of the agricultural economy of South Africa and is predicted to become a major crop in Africa because of its high protein content. Drought induction at flowering or early stages of pod development has detrimental effects on soybean yield. As antioxidative enzymes play a protective role in plants during various abiotic stress conditions, this study was conducted to investigate how ascorbate (Enzyme Commission (EC) number 1.11.1.1) and guaiacol (EC: 1.11.1.7) peroxidases are involved in soybean drought resistance at different maturity stages (flowering and pod development). We also investigated whether the levels of these enzymes decline with plant maturity. Three tolerant soybean genotypes (G1, G2, G3) and a susceptible genotype (G4*) were used. These cultivars were categorised according to their sensitivity to drought stress in previous studies. The activity of ascorbate peroxidase was significantly induced by drought stress at both growth stages with higher activity in the resistant than susceptible plants, strongly supporting the protective role of this enzyme against drought stress at both developmental stages. The guaiacol peroxidase activity was induced to higher levels in the resistant than in the susceptible plants at flowering only, with no significant increase observed at pod development stage, indicating its selective protective involvement against drought stress. Interestingly, the levels of these enzyme activities were induced in all cultivars at both developmental stages, irrespective of drought stress, indicating that their activities increased with maturity.

Effect of foliar application of water soluble fertilizers on growth, yield and economics of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

A field experiment was conducted during rabi, 2012-13 and 2013-14 on red sandy clay loam soil to study the effect of foliar application of water soluble fertilizers on chickpea. The experiment consisted of fifteen treatments which were replicated thrice in RCB Design. Results indicated that spray of water soluble fertilizer (19:19:19) at 1.5 % concentration at flowering and pod development stage along with basal application of fertilizers (13.5: 25: 25 kg N, P2O5, K2O) significantly increased growth attributes, yield and benefit cost ratio in chickpea cultivation. Further increase in spray concentration up to 2.0 % did not significantly improve the performance of chickpea.

Incidence, bionomics and management of spotted pod borer [Maruca vitrata (Geyer)] in major pulse crops in India-A review

Spotted pod borer is one of the major biotic constraint for pulses production which can cause damage to the economic plant parts such as flower buds, flowers and pods. The larvae feeds on 39 host species of legume crops. The seasonal incidence of spotted pod borer differed from crop to crop and season to season. However, the peak incidence of larvae was observed at flowering and pod development stage in different pulse crops. Female moths lays flat scaly eggs on floral buds, flowers, leaves, leaf axils, terminal shoots and tender pods. Larvae are translucent with dark brown spots on each segment and larval period lasted from 11 to 21 days and the duration of total life cycle varied from 27 to 36 days on different hosts. The efficacy of chemical insecticides belonging to different groups against spotted pod borer was well established on different pulse crops. Neem products such as neem seed kernel extract (NSKE) or neem oil and biocides like <italic>Bacillus thuringiensis</italic> (Bt) showed different levels of efficacy on different crops.