HortFlora Research Spectrum

193-198

Authors: Anil Kumar Singh; Pravesh Kumar; Renu Singh; Nidhi Rathore

Integration of trees with crops adds a significant element of biological diversity to agronomic systems and promotes sustainable, protective and productive land use. The biological interactions between the major components i.e., trees and crops are of primary importance ana introduce challenges and complexities not present in sole cropping. Specifically, it must be demonstrated that satisfactory growth and yields of both trees and crops can be achieved in the microenvironment of the agroforestry land-use system that varies considerably with time. Compared to an open environment, the modified microclimate under trees will have reduced solar radiation, a lowered red:far-red light ratio, a more moderate temperature regime, higher humidity, lower rates of evapo-transpiration and higher soil moisture levels. All of these factors will change as a function of tree development and tree management practices. The spacing arrangement chosen for trees will also be a factor in determining how rapidly the changes come into play. During the establishment phase, tree shade will be minimal and have little significant effect on the understory companion crops. However, as the trees grow, the changes in the microclimate will become more pronounced, which might strongly affect the growth and compatibility of the understory companion crop.

208-214

Authors: Naresh Kumar; Vijai Kumar; M.C. Singh

In an experiment conducted on ashwagandha (Withania somnifera Dunal), to study the response of different organic amendments with organic manure (FYM) and bio-fertilizers in relation to plant growth, root yield and quality parameters it was found that the seedlings (5-7 leaf stage) inoculated with Azospirillum @ 105 or 106 CFU resulted a significant increase in plant growth and biomass yield. However, the root and seed yields were observed higher in the plants planted in soil amended with vermi-compost and FYM @ 2 or 3 kg/1.8 m2/plot. The plant height varied significantly among all the treated plots but remain taller (24.80 cm) in plots treated @ 2kg FYM having maximum stem diameter (0.48 cm) at 30 DAP (days after planting) and highest numbers of leaves per plant (438) after reaching 75 DAP followed by seedling treated with Azospirillum @ 106 CFU. However, the lowest number of leaves per plant (97.4) was observed in the plants grown in plots amended vermi-compost @ 2 kg/plot. Number of branches per plant remained highest (51.0) with plants treated with Azospirillum @ 106 CFU, soil amended with vermi-compost @ 2 kg and FYM @ 3 kg/plot followed by plants grown with Azospirillum @ 105 CFU (46.0). Whereas, the plants grown in plots amended without FYM produced least number of branches (21.2) even at 75 DAP. Fresh root weight per plant was observed maximum (24.0 g) in the plants amended with vermi-compost @ 2 kg and FYM @ 3 kg/plot and inoculated with Azospirillum @ 106 CFU. However, the dry weight of the roots remained highest (7.6 g/plant) in the plants treated with FYM @ 3 kg, vermi-compost @ 2 kg/plot and inoculated with Azospirillum @ 105 CFU.

220-224

Authors: Praveen Kumar Nishad; Balaji Vikram; V. M. Prasad

Guava cv. Apple colour is a commercial fruit crop for the grower in India but its self life is poor and its waste causes many economic problems. The aim of this study was to improve the self life of the fruit by the use of different chemicals composition, Waxol percentages and packaging materials. There were ten post harvest treatments - Bavistin (0%), (0.1%) and (2%) and Wax (0%), (6%) and (8%), and one storage condition i.e (Room temperature). Name of chemical use - Their effects were accessed by complete randomized design with three replications. The treated fruits of guava were stored at room temperature. There was decrease in vitamin C (mg) and acidity during storage period of guava fruit under room temperature. The increase in TSS and juice pH and physiological loss in weight of fruit was noticed in storage period irrespective of post harvest treatment and room temperature. All the treatments were found better in respect of TSS & ascorbic acid content over control. On the basis of results obtained the treatment combination T4 (Waxol 6%+Bavistin 0.2%) proved to be the best in terms of fruit quality and better shelf life at room temperature.

231-234

Authors: A. S. Sidhu; B. S. Sidhu; J. S. Brar

The data revealed that fruit yield of peach increased with increasing application of zinc sulphate. The maximum fruit size (5.0 cm length and 4.9 cm breadth), fruit weight (89.00 g), fruit yield per plant (58.25 kg) and yield per unit area (64.07 q/hectare) were observed with 800 g ZnSO4 per plant as soil application followed by foliar spray (0.5%) whereas minimum yield was obtained without zinc application. Zinc application also improved total soluble solids (TSS) and TSS:acid ratio. However, acidity of fruits obtained from treated and untreated plants was not differ significantly but the highest acid content was observed in control plants, whereas lowest was in foliar application of 0.50% ZnSO4. Fruits were also more palatable in Zinc applied plants. The highest concentration of zinc (11.55 ppm) in leaves was observed at higher doses of soil zinc application and was in lowest in control plants.

239-243

Authors: Yogita and R.B.Ram

The present investigation comprising the supplementation of chemical and biofertilizers for onion crop was carried out under field conditions at Horticultural Research Farm of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow during rabi season of 2010-2011. The experiment comprised of four levels of chemical fertilizers and six levels of biofertilizers. The maximum plant heights, number of leaves, neck thickness, bulb diameter, bulb weight, number of scales and yield were found with the application of T12 (100 kg N+50 kg P+70 kg K/ha+2 kg/ha Azotobacter+1.9 kg/ha VAM) that was closely followed by Tn (100 kg N+50 kg P+70 kg K/ha+2 kg/ha Azotobacter+2 kg/ha Phosphobacteria), T18 (75 kg N+37.5 kg P+52.5 kg K/ha+2 kg/ha Azotobacter+1.9 kg/ha VAM) and T17 (75 kg N+37.5 kg P+52.5 kg K/ha+2 kg/ha Azotobacter+2 kg/ha Phosphobacteria) respectively. Minimum number of days required for bulb formation and number of days taken to maturity were also obtained with the application of T12 (100 kg N+50 kg P+70 kg K/ha+2 kg/ha Azotobacter+1.9 kg/ha VAM). Results obtained by the application of inorganic fertilizers with biofertilizers exhibited significant effect on various parameters studied under the investigation.

253-258

Authors: Santosh Gangwar; H.S.Shukla; Dheerendra Katiyar; Vivek Pandey

The experiment was conducted at the Department of Horticulture, C.S.A. University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur during the year 2006-07 to find out effect of calcium nitrate on physico-chemical changes and shelf-life of aonla fruit. Completely Randomized Design (CRD) was selected with four treatments of calcium nitrate (0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 per cent with control) and four other treatments of cultivars (Banarasi, Krishna, Kanchan and NA-7) and 5 days, 10 days and 15 days of storage period. Experiments unit was 1 kg fruit in perforated polythene bags. Fruits were treated and stored on 17 November, 2006. As regards among the treatments tried as post-harvest dip at 1.0 per cent calcium nitrate treatment proved most effective in respect to increase physico-chemical qualities and shelf-life of aonla fruits. The 1.0 per cent calcium nitrate treated fruits significantly reduced the physiological loss in weight, pathological loss, exhibited better quality on account of its favourable effect on total soluble solids, total sugar and in retaining more ascorbic acid and acidity thereby rendering them acceptable upto period of 15 days. Different cultivars could keep well up to 5 days with 'Excellent' rating, 10 days with 'Good' rating while only NA-7 and Krishna with 'Fair' rating upto 15 days.

263-266

Authors: Jitendra Kumar; Anis Mirza; Krishan Pal

An investigation was carried out to find the effect of different chemicals as pulsing solutions (CaCl2 1%, Sucrose 5%+8HQC 150 ppm, Sucrose 3%+Al2(SO4)3 300 ppm for duration of 20 and 24 h) and wrapping materials (Newspaper, Butter paper and Cellophane sheet for duration of 16 h) on the quality and vase life of cut rose cv. First Red. Results obtained show that all treatments performed better than that of control. Among all the treatments, A2C2 (cut rose pulsed with Sucrose 5%+8HQC 150 ppm for 20 h and packaged with Butter paper for 16 h) recorded the maximum increase in quality and vase life of 12.34 days. Whereas the treatments A2C0 (pulsed with Sucrose 5%+8HQC 150 ppm for 20 h only) and A0C2 (packaged with Butter paper for 16 h only) recorded a vase life of 11.13 days and 11.02 days, respectively. However, in control treatment (A0C0) the vase life recorded was 8.53 days.

270-273

Authors: Mani Ram; Virendra Pal; Manoj Kumar Singh; Mukesh Kumar

An experiment was conducted to assess the effect of spacing and salicylic acid levels on vegetative growth and flowering of gladiolus cv. White Properity at HRC, SVPUAT, Meerut. The three levels of spacing (20×10, 20×20, and 20×30 cm) and three levels of salicylic acid (0, 50 and 100 ppm) were used in randomized block design (RBD) with three replications. Out of these a optimum spacing 20×20 cm was found superior with 100 ppm salicylic acid concentration in respect of number of leaves, leaf length (cm), days to opening of 1st floret and visibility of first spike, spike length, and number of florets per spike.

278-280

Authors: A.K. Singh; B.P. Bhatt; Santosh Kumar; P.K. Sundram

Single plant selection (SPS) is the one of the best way to identify and purify the desirable traits. Both lines were screened and purified adopting the same technique. 2011215 is identified for rainfed and irrigated environment whereas 2011410 is best suited for irrigated condition. Both the lines were found suitable for Eastern States, viz. Eastern U.P., Bihar and Jharkhand.

284-285

Authors: Awadhesh Kumar; Hashim Mouzzam; Priyanka Singh

Field studies were conducted in Uttar Pradesh, India, in 2011, to investigate response of gibberellic acid (GA3) on the growth behaviour and menthol content in Mentha piperita under the influences of variable seasons (winter and summer). Uniform suckers of M. piperita were grown in nursery beds with appropriate supply of organic manures. Four weeks old nursery grown saplings were transplanted in pots. All pots were treated by the exogenous application of different successive concentrations (0, 10, 15, 25, 50 and 100 ppm) of GA3. At 75 days after GA3 application in each season (winter and summer), observations on plant height, number of stolons and leaves per plant, leaf area, plant biomass and menthol content were recorded. Results showed that the long photoperiod treatment along with higher concentrations of GA3 favoured more stimulation of menthol content in the peltate glandular trichomes of the M. piperita plant body.