Effect of Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) Modules on yield, yield attributes and profitability of Indian mustard [Brassica juncea (L.)] in Western Uttar Pradesh

A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of integrated nutrient management (INM) modules on indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.) in Western U.P., variety Pusa Vijay at Crop Research Centre (CRC), Main Campus, Modipuram Meerut, during Rabi season, 2020-21. The soil of experimental field was sandy loam texture, alkaline in nature with pH, low in organic carbon (0.42%) and available nitrogen (181.60 kg/ha), available phosphors (16.50 kg/ha), available potassium (230.47 kg/ha) and available sulphur (7.38 kg/ha). Ten treatments of different nutrient management practices consisting T1 Control, T2 100% RDN (120 kg. N/ha), T3 75% RDN, T4 75% RDN + 25% through Vermicompost (VC), T5 75% RDN + 25% through Poultry Manure (PM), T6 75% RDN + 25% through Press Mud Compost (PMC), T7 75% RDN + 25% through [ VC , PM (1:1) ], T8 75% RDN + 25% through [VC, PMC (1:1) ], T9 75% RDN + 25% through [PM , PMC (1:1)], T10 75% RDN + 25% through [VC , PM, PMC (1:1:1)] were tested in randomized block design with three replications. The experimental results revealed that yield attributes (siliqua length, siliqua plant-1, seeds siliqua-1 and test weight), grain and stover yield (q ha-1). The increment in seed yield with application of 75% RDN + 25% through [VC, PM, PMC (1:1:1)] was 130.98 % over control. The maximum gross return and net return were recorded with the application of 75% RDN + 25% through [VC, PM, PMC (1:1:1)], however B:C ratio was lower than the use of RDF only but in application of vermicompost, press mud compost and poultry manure enhance soil fertility which improve the productivity and productivity of mustard.

Effect of Micronutrients on Growth of Onion (Allium cepa L.)

Onion is one of the most important bulb crop grown all over the India. It belongs to family Alliaceae and locally known as Pyaj. An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of micronutrients on growth of Onion (Allium cepa L.) during Rabi season of 2019-2020 at the Horticultural Research centre of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Meerut (U.P.). The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications. The maximum plant height (27.18, 43.32, 49.22 and 47.45 cm at 30, 60, 90 and at harvest after days of transplanting, respectively), number of leaves (5.11, 8.83, 12.87 and 13.98 at 30, 60, 90 and at harvest after days of transplanting, respectively), diameter of stem per plant (6.64, 8.97, 11.13 and 10.95 mm at 30, 60, 90 and at harvest after days of transplanting, respectively) and length of longest leaf at harvesting (43.56 cm) were reported under treatment T9 -RDF + Zinc Sulphate 20 Kg ha-1 + Borax 10 Kg ha-1 whereas the minimum values for above parameters were recorded under T11- control. Hence application of RDF + Zinc Sulphate 20 Kg ha-1 + Borax 10 Kg ha-1 is worth recommendable for formers to get significantly better growth of Rabi onion.

Exploring the Relationship between Yield and Yield Attributing Traits in Advanced Breeding Lines of Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Aim: Present study endeavors to explore the genetic variability for various agro-morphological and quality traits as well as to delineate the association between grain yield and its yield attributing components Study Design: Randomized Complete Block Design Place and Duration of Study: Division of Plant Breeding and Genetics, She-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu during kharif 2020. Methodology: A experiment was carried out to determine the association between grain yield and yield attributing components among advanced breeding lines of rice to establish a well grounded selection criteria for developing rice varieties with improved grain yield. Phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) was found to be relatively greater than the genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) for most of traits indicating role of environment in the phenotypic expression of traits. Characters viz., plant height, total number of tillers per plant, number of effective tillers per plant, panicle length and grain yield per plant exhibited high heritability coupled with high genetic advance indicating their efficient inheritance from preceding generations. Results: Association studies indicated that characters viz., Plant height, total number of tillers per plant, number of effective tillers per plant, panicle length, 1000 grain weight and grain yield per plant had a significant positive relationship with grain yield per plot indicating their role in breeding rice varieties for higher grain yield. Conclusion: Cause and effect relationship revealed that traits viz., days to 50 per cent flowering, total number of tillers per plant, days to maturity, panicle length and grain yield per plant can be exploited for indirect selection for improving grain yield.

Private Telecommunication Companies and Climate Finance: Evidence from the Niger Republic

Recently, the number of private telecommunication companies is increasing in the West African region. These private companies could be key actors in financing climate actions in their operating countries. Yet, the contribution of private telecommunication companies in financing climate actions in West African countries is not well documented. Accordingly, this study aims to examine the contributions of private telecommunication companies in financing climate actions in the Niger Republic. This study is based on secondary data collected through a systematic review. The literature search was conducted through Web of Science, Google Scholar, and the blog pages of the websites of the key private telecommunication companies operating in the Niger Republic. The findings of the study showed that several climate actions were executed by the key private telecommunication companies operating in the Niger Republic. These included both climate adaptation and mitigation strategies that targeted to combat desertification, fight against youth unemployment, alleviate poverty, reduce population illiteracy, and reduce the exposure of the vulnerable groups to food insecurity. Consequently, an implementation of a comprehensive public-private strategy between the government and the private telecommunication actors to finance climate actions could significantly reinforce the effort of the country to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Land Inventorization at Tardi-Babhlaj Villages of Shirpur Taluka Maharashtra State using RS and GIS

Scientific evaluation of the land is essential in order to understand the suitability for agricultural and non-agricultural purposes and identification of capabilities and constraints of the land for various crops and their cultivation helps in appropriate and sustainable usage. In order to uplift the production, productivity as well as profitability from a farm land, the knowledge regarding various land resources and soil properties become pre-requisites. In this, direction, a land inventorization was carried out using RS and GIS techniques. The prime objective was to carry out land evaluation studies based on land based on land capability classification and suitability of lands for commonly cultivated crops in the region. Soil morphological features, physical, physico-chemical and fertility properties of the land were analysed and the results indicated that the soils are good in inherent properties even with the slight variation in the morphological and physicochemical properties. Land evaluation based on Land Capability Classification (LCC) revealed that, all the blocks fall under Class-IV with some of the limitations like, erosion, texture and low organic carbon content in soils. Suitability of land to the crops indicated that there are limitations with respect to erosion, slope and soil fertility. Based on the obtained results, corrective measures were suggested for all the blocks to reduce the erosion losses improve the soil properties for higher productivity of the cultivated crops. The study concludes that variation in soils in all blocks is due to the close relationship between soils, physiography and climate which are interrelated.

Evaluation of Generalized Extreme (GEV), Log-Pearson Type 3 (LP3), Pearson Type 3(P3) and Gumbel (EV1) Distributions for Development of IDF Equations for Warri, Nigeria

The application of Gumbel (EVI) to the development of rainfall intensity– duration – frequency (IDF) curves has often been criticized on theoretical and empirical grounds as it may underestimate the largest extreme rainfall amounts. The consequences of underestimation are economic losses, property damages, and loss of life. Therefore, it is important that water resources engineering infrastructure be accurately design to avoid these consequences. This paper evaluates the performances of four probability distributions; GEV, EV1, LP3 and P3 using the annual maxima precipitation series of 26 years for Warri Metropolis obtained from Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet). The strength and weakness of the four probability distributions were examined with the goodness of fit (GOF) module of Easyfit software which implemented Kolmogorov - Smirnov (KS) and Anderson - Darling (AD) tests at 5% significance level. The Easyfit software fitted the precipitation series data to the four probability distributions and ranked the four probability distributions across the fifteen rainfall durations. Results show that for both KS and AD tests, GEV distribution was found to be best-fit distribution and it was applied to the development of IDF curves in Warri Metropolis, Nigeria. Furthermore, the IDF values obtained were applied in the development of three-parameter IDF models for return periods of 10 - , 15 -, 20 -, 25 - , 50 -, and 100-years. The mean absolute error, Nash – Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSE) and Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) indices computed for the IDF models increase with increasing return periods. The IDF curves and models depicted the general attributes of IDF curves and models. This study could be of significant academic value and improvement to professional practice in the design of storm water drainage systems. Therefore, the developed IDF curves and models are recommended to the Warri Urban Authority for inclusion in her stormwater handbooks and manuals.

Gravity Fed Micro Irrigation System for Small Landholders and Its Impact on Livelihood - A Review

Worldwide pressurized micro irrigation technologies have remarkably shown its effectiveness in water saving and increasing the crop yield with several other benefits. Although among the small land holder farmers, adoption of pressurized micro irrigation system is minimal mainly due to the small land holding and more system cost. Gravity micro irrigation is one of the best alternatives for the small land holder farmers with almost all benefits derived by the pressurized micro irrigation. Gravity fed drip irrigation has enormous capability for water and nutrient conservation. This review paper explains design, layout, features of gravity fed micro irrigation system, its suitability and benefits to the small farmers for achieving more yield per drop of water. The comprehensive attempt in the current review analysis is to enhance a most favourable methodology and technology to magnify and intensify the operation of gravity fed drip irrigation system in extensive cultivation and production. Further to accomplish the efficient utilization of available water resources for growing horticultural crops in hilly region of India, gravity-fed micro irrigation should be integrated with water harvesting system.

Phenotypic Evaluation of Advanced Breeding Lines for Resistance against Bacterial Leaf Blight Disease in Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Bacterial Leaf Blight disease epidemically damaged the rice crop. Absence of resistance against BLB disease in MTU1010 is one of the main reason for these epidemics. Thus, there is urgent need to search for resistant source and subsequently, their phenotypic evaluation to validate the resistant source. In this paper discussing about the highlights of phenotypic evaluation of Bacterial Leaf Blight resistance in MTU1010 NIL variety of rice. In the present study, fifty advanced breeding lines along with parents i.e., MTU1010 NIL X Akshayadhan NIL, were screened for bacterial leaf blight disease, Thirty-four breeding lines were shown resistance against bacterial leaf blight disease.

Phenotypic Screening of F4 Breeding Lines against Bacterial Blight Disease in Rice

Biotic stresses are major threat to rice production. Among biotic stresses, bacterial leaf blight is one of the major diseases affecting rice grain production in rice growing areas. Present investigation was conducted to evaluate phenotypic effect of 50 breeding lines from a cross (Pranahitha//ISM/MTU1010) in glass house at Regional Agricultural Research Station, Jagtial by inoculating Bacterial leaf blight culture (DX-020) by leaf clipping method. Out of these 50 F4 lines evaluated, twenty nine breeding lines showed resistant reaction with disease score of 1. Eleven lines showed moderately resistant reaction with disease score 3. Twenty nine breeding lines that were resistant with disease score 1, had excellent grain yield. Hence, these lines can be advanced to further generations. Thus the present study has demonstrated that phenotypic selection is successful in the glass house and these breeding lines with higher yield levels are expected to perform better in the field trials and further in the farmers fields with the good level of bacterial blight resistance.

Effect of Irrigation and N-fertigation Levels on Broccoli Performance in a Polynet House

The purpose of this study is to see how the microclimate of the polynet house, irrigation, and fertigation levels affect broccoli output. The experiment was set up in a randomized block design within bounds beneath a polynet house with 320 m2 floor area covered with 50% perforated green colour net. Plant height, dry matter production yield, and its attributes were found to be maximum in drip irrigation (1.0Epan) + 125 % N at all growth stages, as per effect of scheduled irrigation and fertigation levels on crop biometric performance. Drip irrigation (1.0Epan) + 125% N resulted in a high higher yield (22.02 t ha-1); while treatments drip irrigation (1.5 Epan) + 75% N resulted as in lowest yield (18.02 t ha-1).The treatment drip irrigation (1.0Epan) + 125% N had a maximum NPK uptake. Polynet house covered with 50% perforation of green colour is suitable for realizing favorable microclimate for broccoli cultivation. Drip irrigation scheduled at 1.0 E pan with 125%N in the poly net house is recommended for broccoli production in central Telanganaagro-climatic conditions as it maintained high yield and water use efficiency.