Influence of Sowing Dates on the Phenological Development, Growth and Yield Of White Maize Genotypes

The experiment was conducted at the Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University (90o22 E, 23o 41 N), Dhaka, Bangladesh in Rabi (winter) season of 2017-2018 to study the effects of sowing date on growth and yield of four white maize genotypes, viz. PSC-121, Yangnuo-7, Yungnuo-30 and Changnuo-6. Sowing dates were November 26, December 11, and December 26. Data were collected on different phenological growth stages, dry matter, physiological attributes, yield, and yield attributes. A delay in sowing date delayed the time required for seedling emergence, to reach the 6-leaf collar, maturity stage, and also reduced yield. The planting of PSC-121 in November 26 gave the highest dry matter plant-1, the number of grains cob-1, and 100- grain weight that resulted in the highest grain yield (11.65 t/ha) of the genotype. Bangladesh Agron. J. 2021, 24(1): 57-70

Effect of Late Seeding Warmer Condition on Phenology and Yield of Wheat

Four wheat variety/genotype (BARI Gom-26, BAW-1202, BAW-1182 and BARI Gom-27) were tested under three heat stress regimes (normal, moderate and severe) to evaluate the effect of late seeding warmer condition on phenology and yield of wheat, as well as to identify suitable cultivars to develop heat-tolerant genotypes at Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University (HSTU), Dinajpur during November, 2016 to April, 2017. Results revealed that genotype BAW-1182 and BAW-1202 showed greater thermostability of cell membrane with acceptable yield performance under heat stress condition. The order of tolerance based on heat susceptibility index (based on grain yield) was BAW-1182>BAW-1202>BARI Gom-27>BARI Gom-26 under heat stress conditions. Thus, BAW-1182 and BAW-1202 have the greatest potential to be used as high-yielding wheat genotypes under warm to hot environments and could be used in a breeding programme to develop heat-tolerant wheat. Bangladesh Agron. J. 2021, 24(1): 13-23

Increasing Cropping Intensity and Crop Productivity of Four Crops Based Mustard-Boro-T. Aus-T. Aman Cropping Pattern

A field trial on soil test based (STB) fertilizer doses was conducted during the year of 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 in Jashore region (AEZ-11) to find out the most suitable fertilizer doses for four crop based cropping pattern considering the agronomic feasibility and economic return of the system. The experiment consisted of eight different treatments viz. T1: 100% NPKSZnB (STB), T2: T1 + 25% N, T3: T1 + 25% NP, T4: T1 + 25% NK, T5:T1 + 25% PK, T6:T1 + 25% NPK, T7: 75% of T1, T8: Native fertility. Randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications was followed. Data revealed that seed yield of mustard was remarkably influenced by fertilizer treatments while grain yield of other components of the cropping system was not affected significantly by the treatments except control or native fertility. It was observed that 25% more NPK over 100% STB dose provided the highest yield of all the component crops. The highest rice equivalent yield (3.34 t ha-1) was recorded from T6 and the lowest (1.88 t ha-1) from T8 treatment. Maximum gross return (Tk. 420000/ha) and marginal benefit cost ratio (4.08) were also obtained from T6 treatment. So, 25% NPK+ 100% STB dose of fertilizer could be followed for productive and remunerative rice based cropping system Mustard-Boro-T. Aus-T.Aman in AEZ-11. Bangladesh Agron. J. 2021, 24(1): 109-117

Influence of Twig Removal on Yield and Economics of Pea Varieties

The experiment was conducted at the Research field of Agronomy Division, BARI, Joydebpur, Gazipur during rabi seasons of 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 to evaluate the effects of twig removal on yield and yield attributes, and extra benefit incurred due to removal of twig as a leafy vegetable in pea varieties. Treatments consisted of three varieties such as V1=Natore local, V2 = BARI Motorshuti-1 and V3= BARI Motor-1 and five twig removal variables, viz. T1= control (no removal), T2 = removal of 5 cm twig at 25 DAE, T3= removal of 7.5 cm twig at 25 DAE, T4=removal of 10 cm twig at 35 DAE, T5= removal of 12.5 cm twig at 35 DAE. Leafy vegetable yield varied among the varieties and twig removal variables. The highest leafy vegetable yield (778 and 975 kgha-1) over the years was recorded in BARI Motorshuti-1 when 12.5 cm twig removed at 35 days after emergence which was at par with BARI Motor-1 at the same cutting time and the same length. The maximum pod yield (9.15 t ha-1 and 9.52 t ha-1) was recorded in BARI Motorshuti-1 when 5cm twig removed at 25 days after emergence (DAE), which was statistically similar to the same variety with twig removal of 7.5 cm at 25 DAE. The highest gross return (Tk. 76522.00 ha-1), gross margin (Tk.48272.00 ha-1) and BCR (2.71) was recorded in BARI Motorshuti-1 when twig removed 5 cm at 25 DAE, which was similar to the same variety with 7.5 cm twig removed at 25 DAE. The result revealed that 5-7.5 cm twig removal at 25 DAE from the tip might be a profitable technique for pea (var. BARI Motorshuti-1) production for dual purpose as vegetables and pod yield. Bangladesh Agron. J. 2021, 24(1): 37-42

Inluence of Different Levels of Cowdung on Mitigation of Water Deficit Effect on Wheat

The experiment was conducted in pot at the net house of the department of Agronomy, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka during the period from November, 2018 to March, 2019to find out the optimum dose(s) cowdung to mitigate the water deficit effect on wheat. The experiment comprised of two factors viz. factor A: Five levels of cowdung, i) C0= Control (No cowdung), C1= 25% less cowdung of recommended dose, C2 = Recommended dose of cowdung, C3 = 25% higher cowdung of recommended dose and C4 = 50% higher cowdung of recommended dose, and factor B: four levels of water deficit at, i) D0 = Control (No water deficit), D1= Crown root initiation stage (20-19 DAS), D2 = Booting stage (45-54 DAS) and D3= An thesis stage (55-64 DAS). The experiment was laid out in a Factorial R and omized Complete Block Design with three replications. The test crop variety was BARI Gom28. The result reveled that cowdung level had positive impact on yield of wheat under water deficit condition, and 50% higher cowdung of recommended dose (C4) gave the highest grain yield (5.12g plant-1). The particular treatment also produced the highest number of effective tillers plant-1 (5.25), spike length (10.39 cm), spikelet spike-1 (15.72), grains spike-1 (32.56), grains spikelet-1 (2.07) and 1000-grain weight (47.32 g) of wheat. The treatment C3 (25% higher cowdung of recommended dose) also gave statistically similar yield with C4 treatment. In respect of water deficit imposition treatments, grain yield was found the highest in control treatment which was statistically similar with water deficit imposition at booting stage treatment (D2). These two treatments also showed the higher and similar number of effective tillers plant-1 (4.86 and 4.58), spike length (10.53cm and 10.11cm), spikelets spike-1(15.50 and 15.19), grains spike-1 (34.10 and 30.17), grains spikelet-1 (2.20 and 1.98) and 1000-grain weight (45.42g and 45.36g, respectively). Regarding the interaction of levels of cowdung and water deficit imposition at different stages of plant growth, C4D0 and C3D0 were highest yielder which was attributed to higher 1000-seed weight, number of effective tillers plant-1, spikelets spike-1 and grains spike-1. Contrary, 25% higher cowdung than recommended dose (as it saved 25% cowdung) seems promising to overcome yield loss due to water deficit imposition at booting stage of wheat (D2). However, application of cowdung (12.5 t ha-1) was found effective to combat water deficit at booting stage (D2) of wheat compared to other growth stages. Bangladesh Agron. J. 2021, 24(1): 93-100

Foliar Application of Boron and Irrigation Levels on the Performance of Lentil

The experiment was conducted to study the response of lentil to irrigation levels and different methods of boron application in relation to yield and yield contributing characters. Three levels of irrigation viz., I0: control (No irrigation), I1: one irrigation at 25 days after sowing (DAS), I2: two irrigations at 25 DAS and 40 DAS, and four levels of Boron viz., B0: control (No boron), B1: 80% recommended dose (RD) as basal + rest 20% as a foliar spray (FS) at pre-flowering (PF), B2: 60% RD as basal + rest 40% as FS at PF, B3: 40% RD as basal + rest 60% as FS at PF as treatment variables. It was found that the highest number of pods plant-1, number of seeds pod-1, 1000-seed weight, pod length, seed yield and stover yield was obtained with two irrigations. In contrast, B3 had a significant effect on the yield contributing characters of lentil. Results also revealed that numerically more seed yield (638.23 kg ha-1) was recorded in I2B3. Similar trend was found in case of stover yield (751.26 kg ha-1) and biological yield (1389.4 kg ha-1) from I2B3 combinations. These results suggested that combined application of irrigation at 25 and 40 DAS and boron at 40% RD as basal + rest 60% as FS at PF significantly enhanced the crop yields of lentil. Bangladesh Agron. J. 2021, 24(1): 129-138

Influence of Planting Method and Nitrogen Dose on Growth and Yield of Quinoa (Chenopodium Quinoa Willd.)

The experiment was conducted at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka during Rabi season 2018-19 to find out the influence of planting methods and nitrogen dose on growth and yield of Quinoa-a highly nutritious super food newly introduced in Bangladesh. The experiment was laid out in a Split-plot design with 3 replications. Two planting methods viz., i) seed sowing (M1) and ii) seedling planting (M2) in the main plot and eight nitrogen doses viz., i) Control (F1), ii) 50 kg N ha-1 (F2), iii) 100 kg N ha-1 (F3), iv) 150 kg N ha-1 (F4), v) 180 kg N ha-1 (F5), vi) 200 kg N ha-1 (F6), vii) 220 kg N ha-1 (F7) and ix) 250 kg N ha-1 (F8) in the sub-plot were assigned. Almost all the studied characters were found statistically significant due to variation in treatments. The higher plant height, leaf number plant-1, branch number plant-1 and inflorescence height were observed in seedling transplantation than seeds sowing. Increment of nitrogen doses increased the plant height, leaves number plant-1, branch number plant-1, inflorescence height and SPAD value up to 150-200 kg N ha-1 and then decreased. Higher doses of nitrogenous fertilizer application increased the grain weight. Planting seedling with 150 kg N ha-1 showed the highest seed yield (1227.43 kg ha-1) which was similar to 180 kg N ha-. Cultivation of quinoa with 25 days old seedlings and 150 kg N ha-1 gave 206.77% higher yield compared to that of control and it was 64.71% higher in case of seeds sowing with similar nitrogen dose. Bangladesh Agron. J. 2021, 24(1): 83-92

Effects of Irrigation, Organic and Inorganic Nutrient Sources on the Growth, Yield and Soil Fertility Status With Rice-Rice Cropping

Continuous cultivation of highly exhaustive cropping sequence in most of the irrigated fertile lands has resulted in the decline of soil physico-chemical condition in general and particularly soil organic matter (SOM) content. The experiment was laid out inasplit- plot design with irrigation (I1: traditional irrigation i.e. continuous flooding, I2: saturated condition, I3: Alternate wetting and drying) in main plots and fertilizers treatments: T0 = Control, T1 =100% (Recommended dose of chemical fertilizer), T2 =50% RDCF + 5 ton cowdung ha- 1, T3=70% RDCF + 3 ton cowdung ha-1, T4 =50% RDCF + 5 ton compost ha-1, T5 =70% RDCF + 3 ton compost ha-1, T6 = 50% RDCF + 3.5 ton poultry manure ha-1, T7 =70% RDCF + 2.1 ton poultry manure ha-1to the sub - plots. The rice yields were not significantly affected by different irrigation but higher grain yields were obtained in continuous flooded irrigation. The treatment T7 gave higher Boro and T. Aman rice yields. The higher Boro rice grain yields were obtained from I1T7 (70% RDCF + 2.1 ton poultry manure ha-1 with continuous flooded irrigation) followed by I3T7 (alternate wetting and drying + 70% RDCF + 2.1 ton poultry manure ha-1). The 100% RDCF was applied to T. Aman rice resulted residual effects of fertilizer and the higher T. Aman rice yields were recorded in I2T2 (saturated condition + 50% RDCF + 3 ton cowdungha-1) followed by I2T3 (saturated condition + 50% RDCF + 3 ton cowdungha-1) treatment combinations due to more residual effects of inorganic plus manure application during Boro rice cropping. The highest organic matter level was found in post-harvest soils where inorganic fertilizer plus cowdung were used and soil pH increased by using poultry manure. The higher levels of available P and K concentrations were observed in the post experiment soils where fertilizer and manure were applied. Bangladesh Agron. J. 2021, 24(1): 71-81

Growth and Yield of Cowpea as Influenced by Different Phosphorus Levels

The experiment was carried out at the research field of the Department of Agronomy of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University (BSMRAU), Gazipur during December 2016 to April 2017 to investigate the effect of different phosphorus levels (0, 30, 60 and 90 kg P ha-1) on the growth and yield of four selected cowpea genotypes (BARI Felon-1, A-06008, VI046192 and VI034386). The experiment was laid out in a factorial randomized complete block design with three replications. The results indicated that, among the genotype, BARI Felon-1 required minimum days to 1st (96 DAS) and 50% flowering (108 DAS) showing the highest absolute growth rate (0.71 g day-1), crop growth rate (23.69 g m-2 day-1), relative growth rate (0.047 g g-1 day-1), net assimilation rate (1.40 g m-2 day-1), leaf area index (6.68), SPAD value (51.03), seed length (0.71 cm) and breadth (0.54 cm). But the genotype, A-06008 gave the highest grain yield (0.62 t ha-1). Application of phosphorus at 90 kg ha-1 showed the highest leaf area index (6.67), SPAD value (50.98), pod length (14.33 cm), seed length (0.70 cm), seed breadth (0.50 cm) and grain yield (0.34 t ha-1). In terms of growth and yield, the cowpea genotype A-06008 showed the best performance at the phosphorus level of 90 kg ha-1. Bangladesh Agron. J. 2021, 24(1): 25-36

Physiological and Yield Responses of Some Selected Rapeseed/Mustard Genotypes to Salinity Stress

An experiment on rapeseed/mustard genotypes was conducted during 2019-2020 rabi season in vinyl house of Plant Physiology Division of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Gazipur to find out the salt-tolerant genotypes based on the responses of their physiological parameters and yield. Five selected rapeseed/ mustard genotypes (V1= Jun-536, V2 = BJDH-12, V3 = BD-10115, V4 = BARI Sarisha-14, V5 = BD-6950) were tested at three salinity levels (S0= 0, S1= 5 and S2=10 dS m-1). Irrespective of the genotypes, salinity stress showed a negative effect on the measured physiological parameters as well as seed yield. Leaf chlorophyll contents, leaf area, leaf photosynthetic rate and total dry matter (TDM) were reduced due to salinity stress which ultimately affected seed yield irrespective of the genotypes. However, these parameters were less affected by the salinity in V1 and V2 genotypes compared to others. Sodium and potassium ion contents and their ratios (K+/Na+) in leaf tissues were significantly affected by salinity stress. Among the genotypes, V1 and V2 showed higher K+/Na+ ratios in leaf under both the salinity treatments, and that phenomenon indicated their higher tolerance to salinity than the other genotypes. Catalase (CAT), Peroxidase (POD) activity and Malondialdehyde (MDA) content of the genotypes increased due to salinity stress with variability among the genotypes. The higher CAT and POD activity with lower MDA content was found in V1 and V2 genotypes which indicated their better salt tolerance ability compared to others. These genotypes also showed higher seed yield under both the salinity levels (5 and 10 dS m-1) compared to other genotypes. Based on the responses of physiological parameters and seed yield to salinity, the genotypes Jun-536(V1) and BJDH-12(V2) could be considered relatively tolerant to salinity stress. Bangladesh Agron. J. 2021, 24(1): 43-55