Effects of potassium application on yield attributes, yield and grain quality of lentil in terrace soil of Joydebpur

An experiment was conducted in the research field of Pulses Research Sub-Station, BARI, Gazipur during two consecutive years of 2015-16 and 2016-17 to determine the suitable dose of potassium for achieving higher yield attributes, nodulation, nutrient concentration and yield maximization of lentil. There were 5 treatments viz. T1 = Control, T2 = 30 kg K ha-1, T3= 40 kg K ha-1, T4= 50 kg K ha-1 and T5= 60 kg K ha-1 along with the blanket dose of fertilizers of N, P, S, Zn and B @ 15, 20, 10, 2 and 1.5 kg ha-1, respectively for all treatments. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Results revealed that the highest seed yield (1092 kg ha-1) of lentil (mean of two years) was found in T4 followed by T5 treatment and the lowest (736 kg ha-1) was noted in K control (T1) treatment. The highest % yield increase over control (48.3%) was recorded from T4 treatment. The maximum nodulation was found in T5 followed by T4 treatment. The highest protein (26.9%), N, P, K, S, Zn and B concentrations of lentil seed were recorded in T4 treatment. Therefore, the results suggest that the appliction of 50 kg K ha-1 along with N15P20S10Zn2B1.5 kg ha-1 are optimum for achieving higher yield potential of lentil in terrace soils of Bangladesh. Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 44(4): 599-607, December 2019

Farmer’s knowledge, attitude and practices on safety, quality and post harvest management of brinjal and tomato in some selected areas of Bangladesh

Not Available Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 44(4): 695-702, December 2019

Determinants of household food security in rural Bangladesh: an imperial analysis of farm level data

The study endeavors to estimate the food security status and identify the determinants of food security among households in Hakimpur Upazila in Dinajpur district, Bangladesh. it was found that households of Hakimpur upazila in Dinajpur district were food insecure during the period of the survey. Number of dependents, income of household head, age of household head and level of education were found to significantly influence household head food security in the study area positively. It is recommended that social security measures must ensure that the benefits of public efforts to improve food security and nutrition are universal. Human rights based practices are preferable. Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 44(4): 649-658, December 2019

Effect of foliar spray of bioregulators and irrigation on dry matter accumulation of mustard (Brassica juncea L.)

Not Available Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 44(4): 689-693, December 2019

In vitro propagation of popular banana cultivar (Musa spp. Cv. Patakpura)

The present experiment was conducted to optimize protocols for in vitro propagation of banana (Musa sp.) cv. ‘Patakpura’ (AAB), supplemented with different growth regulators. Shoot tips obtained from sword suckers were cultured aseptically on MS medium supplemented with different concentrations of cytokinins like 6-Benzylaminopurine (BAP) and Kinetin (KN) for multiplication of shootsand auxins such as indole acetic acid (IAA) and naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) for induction of roots. The best result from the initial culture was obtained from MS medium supplimented with 4 mg/l BAP + 0.5 mg/l IAA. The highest shoot fresh weight, shoot length and number of shoots per explant were recorded from MS medium supplemented with 4 mg/l BAP + 0.5 mg/l IAA + 0.25 mg/l NAA. Therefore, the MS medium supplemented with 4 mg/l BAP + 0.5 mg/l IAA + 0.25 mg/l NAA was found to be most effective and productive combination for shoot multiplication and proliferation of the culture in vitro. IAA at a concentration of 1 mg/l was found to be most suitable for rooting of the shoots. Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 44(4): 641-648, December 2019

Evaluation of plant extracts, fungicides, bio-agent and soil amendments against foot and root rot disease of betelvine caused by Sclerotium rolfsii under field condition

The studies were carried out on the management of foot and root rot disease caused by Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc. of betelvine (Piper betle L.) during April, 2017 to April, 2018 in a betelvine orchard (baroj) in the experimental farm of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka. There were 10 treatments, namely Provax 200, Tilt 250 EC, Score 250 EC, Pencozeb 80 WP, Garlic clove extract, Allamanda leaf extract, Poultry waste, Vermi-compost, Trichoderma harzianum and Control. The in-vivo evatuation, plant was inoculated by S. rolfsii after six month of plantation. The evaluation revealed that the lowest disease incidence of 8.33% was found in Provax 200 whereas the highest disease incidence of 91.67 was recorded under the untreated control treatment. The maximum of 90.91% reduction in disease incidence over control was found under Provax 200, which was significantly higher compared to all other treatments. Among the treatments, Provax 200 was noted as the most effective fungicide followed by Score 250 EC. The highest yield (7.57 t/ha) at 120 days after inoculation was found in case of Provax 200 which was 330.1% increased over untreated control. Stem and soil treated with Provax 200 including spraying at 3 days after inoculation, then sprayed at 7 days’ intervals minimized disease incidence and increased yield. Among the eco-friendly approach, Garlic clove extract, Trichoderma harzianum and soil amended with Vermi-compost also showed better performance in controlling foot and root rot disease of betelvine as compared to control. Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 44(4): 669-677, December 2019

Moisture level and storage container effects on seed quality of soybean genotypes under ambient condition

The experiment was conducted at the Seed Laboratory, Regional Agricultural Research Station, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Jamalpur in 2013 to study the effect of seed moisture content and storage containers on seed quality of soybean genotypes. Three genotypes of soybean (AGS 191, ASET 93 and Shohag), four initial seed moisture content (6, 8, 10 and 12%) and two types of storage containers (polythene bag and glass jar) were included in the experimental treatment. Seeds of soybean genotypes was stored at ambient condition were temperature ranged from 15.97 to 29.37 0C, relative humidity ranged from 75.21 to 86.23% and rainfall ranged from 0.00 to 425mm during the whole storage period. Seed moisture content (%), germination (%) and vigour index were recorded at 50, 100, 150 and 200 days after storage (DAS). Result showed that final seed moisture content increased with the increase of initial seed moisture content. Genotype AGS 191 showed the highest germination (%) and vigour index. Seeds stored in polythene bag or glass jar showed similar performance for germination (%) and vigour index. Highest seed moisture content significantly reduced the germination and vigour index errespective of containers. The results indicate that soybean seed can be stored safely for at least 200 days maintaining >80% germination and high vigour when stored in polythene bag or glass jar with 6-8% initial moisture content at ambient room temperature and relative humidity. Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 44(4): 631-640, December 2019

Influence of plant growth regulators on vegetative growth, sex expression and yield of summer bottle gourd

Field experiments on bottle gourd variety ‘BARI Lau -4’ were conducted at the Plant Physiology field of Horticulture Research Center, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Gazipur during two consecutive summer seasons of 2015 and 2016 to investigate the effect of plant growth regulators on growth, sex expression, yield and yield components of the crop. The experiment consisted of different concentrations of Gibberellic acid (GA3), Naphthalene acetic acid (NAA), Maleic hydrazide (MH) and single concentration of cycocel (CCC) viz., GA3 @ 10 ppm, GA3 @ 30 ppm, NAA @100 ppm, NAA @ 150 ppm, MH @ 50 ppm, MH @ 150 ppm and CCC @ 500 ppm along with distilled water considered as control. All growth regulators were sprayed to the seedlings at two-leaf stage and 4 days after the first spray. Growth regulator treatments had significant effect on primary branches/plant, node number of 1st male and female flower appearance, number of days to 1st male and female flower appearance, number of male and female flowers, sex ratio (male:female flower) number of fruits/plant, individual fruit weight and fruit yield. Spraying of MH @ 150 ppm gave the highest primary branches/plant (17.0 and 18.0 in first and 2nd year, respectively) and induced maximum female flowers (37.3 and 40.0 in first and 2nd year, respectively) at lower nodes followed by CCC @ 500 ppm (36.3) in the first year and MH @ 50 ppm (40.0) in the 2nd year. Application of MH @ 150 ppm caused early appearance of female flowers on the nearest node (from bottom). Application of MH @ 150 ppm gave the lower number of male flowers (81.7 and 96.0 in first and 2nd year, respectively) and the highest number of female flowers/plant, thereby producing lower male:female sex ratio (2.2 and 2.5 in first and 2nd year, respectively) and the maximum number of fruits/plant (12.0 and 14.0 in first and 2nd year, respectively). The maximum fruit weight/plant was obtained from the application of MH @ 150 ppm (29.3 and 35.8 in first and 2nd year, respectively) followed by CCC @ 500 ppm (26.0 in the 1st year and 29.0 in 2nd year). The highest fruit yield per hectare was recorded significantly with the application of MH @ 150 ppm (97.6 t/ha and 89.6 t/ha in first and 2nd year, respectively) closely followed by CCC @ 500 ppm (88.5 t/ha in 2015) and GA3 @ 30 ppm (75.3 t/ha in 2016), as compared to other treatments. The highest mean yield over the years was also recorded at MH @ 150 ppm (93.6 t/ha) followed by CCC @ 150 ppm (80.6 t/ha) and GA3 30 (74.1). Application of MH @ 150 ppm gave the maximum gross return and net return with the highest BCR of 5.24 followed by CCC 500 ppm (4.15) and GA3 30 ppm (3.86). Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 44(4): 577-590, December 2019

Effect of potassium on yield, quality and shelf life of tomato

The experiment was conducted at the experimental field of the Department of Horticulture, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University (BSMRAU), Salna, Gazipur, to study the effect of potassium on yield, quality and shelf life of tomato under ambient condition during 15 October 2015 to 30 June 2016. Six levels of K viz., 0, 35, 70, 105, 140 and 175 kg/ha consisted of the treatments of the experiment. The tomato plant treated with K105 produced maximum plant height (128.50 cm), number of fruits plant-1 (26.49), fruit diameter (5.71 cm), fruit length (5.83 cm), weight of fruits plant-1 (1.72 kg), fruit yield ha-1(71.96 ton), dry matter (7.56 %), firmness (1.22 N), shelf life (15 days), TSS (10.30 %), β carotene (0.090 mg/100 g), ascorbic acid (26.49 mg/100 g) and total sugar (5.05 %). Contents of iron (123.20 ppm), calcium (0.42%) and potassium (0.71%) were recorded maximum in K140, K35 and K175 respectively. Iron and potassium content increased with the increasing level of potassium but reverse effect was found in case of calcium. The regression equation for applied K were Y=-3.339x2 + 636.5x + 42606. Based on this equation, the optimum dose of K for tomato was 95.31 kg ha-1 in salna series of shallow red brown terrace soil and its corresponding yield is 71.96 t ha-1. Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 44(4): 659-668, December 2019

Incidence of major insect pests on sweet gourd germplasm

Abundance of the major insect pests viz., red pumpkin beetle, epilachna beetle and fruit fly on twelve sweet gourd germplasms namely BD 264, BD 265, BD 266, BD 268, BD 269, BD 274, BD 275, BD 277, BARI Mistikumra 1, BARI Mistikumra 2, Gazipur Local Line and China line was studied in the experimental field of the Department of Entomology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur, Bangladesh during July 2018 to June 2019. The mean number of red pumpkin was the highest (2.3 adults/ 3 leaves) during 4th week of December and the lowest (0.7 adults/ 3 leaves) during 4th week of March. The mean number of grub (6.5 grubs/3 leaves) and adult (2.3 adults/ 3 leaves) of epilachna beetle were the highest during 2nd week of March and 4th week of February, respectively. The mean number of fruit fly was found the lowest (1.0 adults plant-1) during 5th week of January and the highest (2.5 adults plant-1) during 4th week of February. BARI Mistikumra 1, BARI Mistikumra 2 and China Line provided the lowest yield ranged from 4.8 ± 5.3 to 7.4 ± 0.5 t ha-1 and the remaining germplasms showed statistically similar yield. Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 44(4): 621-630, December 2019