Journal of Crop and Weed

5-9

Authors: A. GHOSH, V. J. SINGH, G. SRIHIMA, 1P. SAHOO AND S. K. CHAKRABORTI

An investigation was carried out to study the effects of application of gypsum and lime (lime sludge) to seed crop of groundnut variety TAG-24 on seed yield parameters. The study consisted of 12 treatment combination T as control, T NPK+ Gypsum @ 50 1 2 kg ha-1 (100% basal), T NPK+ Gypsum @100 kg ha-1 (100% basal), T NPK + Gypsum @150 kg ha-1 (100% basal), T NPK+ 3 4 5 Gypsum @ 50 kg ha-1 (50 % basal + 50 % top dressing), T NPK + Gypsum @ 100 kg ha-1 (50 % basal + 50 % top dressing), T 6 7 NPK + Gypsum @ 150kg ha-1 (50 % basal + 50 % top dressing), T NPK + Gypsum @ 50 kg ha-1 (75% basal + 25 top dressing), T 8 9 NPK + Gypsum @ 100 kg ha-1 (75% basal + 25 % top dressing), T NPK + Gypsum @ 150 kg ha-1 (75% basal + 25 % top 10 dressing), T NPK + Lime @ 100% LR (basal) and T NPK + Lime @ 20% LR (basal) + Gypsum 50 kg ha-1 (100% top dressing). 11 12 The crop was evaluated in term of Plant height, Number of branches, Days of first flowering, Harvesting maturity, number of pegs/plant, Number of effective pegs, Number of matured pods, Number of immature pods, pod weight, Shelling percentage, Number of seed/ pod, Weight of 100 seed (g), Pod yield/ plant (g), Pod yield/ha and Number of seed/kg. Result of the investigation revealed that the plant height, number of pods per plants, 100-pod weight, pod yield per plant, shelling percentage and 100-seed weight were significantly increased in T and T respectively.

14-18

Authors: A. K. MAITI AND S. KUNDU

Water chestnut (Trapa natans) is one of the most important and popular minor aquatic fruit crops grown in India. It is mainly grown in the tropical and sub-tropical regions as submersed plant community. It is also grown in the soft nutrient freshwater wetlands, lakes, ponds and streams. In India, it is most commonly used as edible nuts. The kernel of water chestnut contains a large amount of protein (up to 20%), starch (52%), tannins (9.4%), fat (up to 1%), sugar (3%), minerals, etc. It is most popular and aquatic fruit crop and can easily be grown in neglected and marshy areas, where the other fruit plants cannot be grown successfully. But because of faulty marketing system, the production and technological improvement has not gain momentum. Its marketing system is not organized. Nadia and 24-Parganas (North) are two districts where water chestnut is cultivated in a large scale and the study is restricted to 24-Parganas (North) district of West Bengal and data relates to the agricultural year 2011-12. The study is mainly focused on to identify the marketing channels involved in the marketing of water chestnut and to analyse the price spread of water chestnut and marketing efficiency. Farmer – Secondary Wholesaler – Retailer – Consumer is found to be more dominant as 38% of the produce of the sample area are enrooted through this channel. In Barrackpur-1block, channel-I is found to be most efficient channel (marketing efficiency-1.92) and in Rajarhat-1 block, channel-III is most efficient channel (marketing efficiency-2.01). Efficiency of marketing channels varies from block to block. Profits reaped by the traders determine the efficiency of the marketing channel.

28-33

Authors: A. SINGH, P. K. JAIN, H. L. SHARMA AND Y. SINGH

An experiment was conducted to assess the different date of planting viz; September 15 (D1), September 30 (D2) and October 15 (D3) and different sources of organic and inorganic fertilizers. The result revealed that the growth parameters and yield attributing traits were significantly influenced by different planting dates and sources of nutrients. Planting on September 15 (D1) recorded the highest plant height (254.95 cm),number of leaves per plant (33.47), fruits per plant (80.39), fruit length (6.75 cm), fruit girth (5.53 cm), mean fruit weight (124.26 g), yield per plant (10.39 kg),yield per plot (42.44 kg) and TSS (5.55 ºB) content over later date of planting. The plants treated with 50% RDF +10 t ha FYM + 5 t ha poultry manure + biofertilizer showed maximum number of leaves per plant (36.88), fruits per plant (74.69), fruit length (6.85 cm), mean fruit weight (134.33 g), yield per plant (10.77 kg), yield per plot (38.90 kg) and ascorbic acid content (40.02 mg/100g) over treatment having 100% RDF alone. Among interaction the plants planted on 15th September along with 50% RDF +10 t haFYM + 5 t haPoultry manure + biofertilizer resulted better yield and quality traits

38-43

Authors: A. SARKAR

A study was undertaken with eight maize hybrids in three different environments, characterized by having different moisture regime with different irrigation scheduling, in the experimental farm of Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya located under terai region of West Bengal to assess the extent of genetic variability of the different hybrids and to analyse the stability performance for yield and other yield related traits. There existed substantial variation in the mean performance of all the genotypes over environments for most of the characters and for yield r under moisture regime-1 was the rich environment and the two other were poor . But for plant height, number of tassel branches, ears per plant and width of ear the g x e (linear) and pooled deviation were both significant indicating differential performance of genotypes under diverse moisture regimes environments and with varying reaction norms and they were positively and significantly correlated with the yield. Hence selection may be made for related traits under poor environments (stress) and then for yield under rich environments and under optimum conditions with emphasis on the related traits. The hybrids Deccan and 900-M-Gold had the negative phenotypic stability with high deviation from linearity while the hybrid KMH-3712 showed negative deviations from linearity with a low but positive phenotypic stability for grain yield. Ganga Safed and Pinnacle could be recommended for the rich environments as better yielding ones but none of the hybrids were found to be stable over all the environments. That moisture regime during crop growth is an important factor is thus found to be an important factor in this region for the studied genotypes as found in similar such studies.

51-61

Authors: S. MUKHARJEE, 1D. C. PRADHAN, 2S. HALDAR, 3S. K. M. RAHAMAN AND 4SOWMYASHREE B. V.

An investigation was carried out to study the Impact of micro-finance on SHG members in Burdwan district in West Bengal during 2011-12. A sample of 60 SHGs members were chosen from two villages viz. Gopal Nagar (village-1) nearer to block head quarter and the Rosui Khondo (village-2) farthest from the block head through SRSWOR method. The microfinance through SHGs helped the members in capital formation activities in livestock and poultry raring, agriculture, irrigation structure, educating their children’s, etc. The on farm employment generating has been escalated while, women participation in income generation activities are greatest impact. On an average, the SHGs members’ households earned Rs. 39327 and Rs. 26683 respectively in village-1 and village-2. The t statistics of average total income showed that members in village-1 could generate significantly higher income than village-2 as they could access the district head quarter very frequently. The Kendall’s W test showed that members from both the villages unanimously accepted that the benefits from micro-credit (SHG model) and were highly satisfied.

67-70

Authors: S. PAL AND 1D. MAZUMDAR

Groundnut is one of the major sources of edible oil in India. Around one-fourth of country’s total edible oil is produced from groundnut. This paper deals with a critical study of groundnut production of India with a non-linear approach. Different nonlinear growth models viz. Monomolecular, Logistic and Gompertz models have been employed for modeling of India’s total groundnut production during the period 1950-51 to 2011-12. The parameters of these models were estimated using Gauss- Newton algorithm. It was observed that Monomolecular and Logistic models performed better followed by Gompertz for this dataset based on various goodness of fit criteria viz. Coefficient of determination (R2), Mean absolute error (MAE), Root mean square Error (RMSE) and Mean absolute percentage error (MAPE). Finally, India’s total groundnut production for 2014-15 to 2019-20 has been forecasted by using the Monomolecular and Logistic models.

80-85

Authors: N. K. TUDU, K. K. GOSWAMI AND 1N. GHOSH

The present work was done in two blocks viz., Haringhata and Hanshkhali blocks of Nadia district of West Bengal during January, 2011 to December, 2013 where “Front Line Demonstration on Black Bengal goats” of Nadia KVK, BCKV is being initiated for study on Black Bengal goat farming: an important component for integrated farming system. The goat farming is much popular amongst the ST (48.5%), followed by SC (29.5%) and General Caste (18.5%), whereas only 4.5% of goat farmers belong to OBC. 8.5% farm women keeping buck was able to earn on an average Rs. 3960.00 per year through servicing the does @ Rs. 20.00 per service. Total distribution of types of birth of Black Bengal goats were 35.82% singlet, 47.59% twins and 16.57% triplets in 1st year, 30.63% singlet, 58.38 twins and 10.98% triplets in 2nd year and 40.41% singlet, 54.58% twins and 5% triplets in 3rd year. The body weight was statistically significant (pd” 0.05) between the male and female at birth, 3 month, 6 month, 9 month and 12 months age of Black Bengal goats. Male goats were significantly (pd” 0.05) heavier than their female counterparts at all the age groups of Black Bengal goats studied viz., at birth and at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months of age and also in all types of birth viz., singlet, twins and triplets.

90-94

Authors: N. HARI SATYANARAYANA, 1S. MUKHERJEE, 2S. ROY, BHANU PRIYA, K. K. SARKAR AND 1P. BANDHOPADHYAY

Sixty genotypes of roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) were evaluated for fibre yield and its contributing characters during Kharif, 2013 for eleven characters and genotypes were grouped into seven clusters. Grouping of genotypes into different clusters was not related to their geographic origin. The genotypes from different geographic locations were grouped into one cluster while genotypes of the same geographic origin showed genetic diversity. Cluster I was the largest containing 34 genotypes followed by Cluster II (fifteen), Cluster III (four), Cluster IV, V and VI with two genotypes each and mono-genotype Cluster VII. The highest inter cluster distance was observed between Cluster VI and VII followed by Cluster VI and IV and Cluster VI and I. Fibre yield per plant (42.54%) followed by dry stick weight per plant (22.48%) and petiole length (9.21%) have contributed maximum percent of contribution towards divergence. Cluster VII which consists of a single genotype has high cluster mean values for most of the characters while Cluster VI has lowest cluster mean values for most of the characters. Based on per se performance of genetic diversity and cluster means, genotypes belonging to Cluster I, IV, VI and VII may be chosen for crossing programme for roselle crop improvement.

106-112

Authors: A. M. PUSTE, 1B. RAY PRAMANIK, K. JANA, S. ROY AND 2T. SUNANDA DEVI

Field study was undertaken at the University Research Farm, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur, West Bengal, India (23.5ºN, 89ºE and 9.75 m above MSL) during two consecutive summer seasons (pre-kharif) to study the effect of irrigation on the basis of soil moisture tension (SMT) and sulphur fertilization on growth, yield, consumptive use (CU) and water use efficiency (WUE) of sesame var. Rama and also to optimize the sulphur application to sesame under New Alluvial zone of West Bengal. The experiment was planned in a split-plot design keeping four levels of irrigation on the basis of SMT [I - without 0 irrigation or control, I - irrigated at 0.35 atm (atmospheric tension), I - irrigated at 0.55 atm and I - irrigated at 0.75 atm) as 1 2 3 main plot and four levels of sulphur (S - without sulphur or control, S - 20, S - 40 and S - 80 kg S ha–1] as sub plot treatments, 0 1 2 3 respectively. The experimental results revealed that vegetative growth and yield attributing characteristics of sesame were significantly influenced with irrigation at different SMT and sulphur fertilization. Among different levels of SMT, higher vegetative growth (plant height, number of branches per plant and dry matter production) were observed with irrigation at 0.35 atm. tension but maximum yield components (no. of capsules plant-1, no. of seeds capsule-1 and 1000 seed weight), seed yield, oil content and oil yield were exhibited with irrigation applied at 0.55 atm. tension. Higher values of growth characters, yield components and ultimately seed and oil yields of sesame were obtained with 40 kg S ha-1. Maximum oil content was recorded with 60 kg S ha-1, though it did not differ significantly with the former one. CU was maximum (282.50 mm) when irrigation was done maintaining at 0.35 atm. tension and it was decreased with increase in SMT level. WUE was the highest (4.16 kg ha-1 mm-1 of water use) when irrigation was given at 0.55 atm. tension. For seed yield, the response of per kg of sulphur application was found to be quadratic in nature and maximum response (7.06 kg seeds per kg of S application) at the sulphur level of 20 kg ha-1 and decreased with the increase in S level but the optimum level was found at 29.89 kg ha-1. From the study it may be concluded that irrigation at 0.55 atm. tension along with 40 kg level of S ha-1 gave the higher economic return than that of other treatments because of the favourable effect of these treatments on the growth and yield attributes and other parameters of sesame in the new alluvial zone of West Bengal.

118-123

Authors: G. SATYANARAYANA REDDY AND P. BANDYOPADHYAY

Field experiment was conducted using split-plot design during boro season of 2012-13 and 2013-14, to study the influence of different irrigation scheduling and weed management practices on growth, yield and water use efficiency of lowland transplanted rice. The experimental results revealed that among the irrigation regimes, continuous submergence of 5±2 (I1) gave the significantly higher growth and yield attributing characters resulted in maximum grain yield 6471 kg ha-1 with low water use efficiency 5.0 kg ha-1 mm-1 (pooled of 2 yrs). Continuous saturation treatment (I5) gives just 7.82% less grain yield with high water use efficiency 13.7 kg ha-1 mm-1 (pooled of 2 yrs) than the I1 treatment. Whereas among the weed management practices, weed-free check followed by W3-Pretilachlor 50% EC on 1 DAT + hand weeding on 40 DAT, W5-Hand weeding twice on 20 and 40 DAT and W4-Bispyribac sodium 10% SC on 20 DAT + hand weeding on 40 DAT gave significantly higher growth, yield attributing characters and yield with high water use efficiency.

127-133

Authors: K. P.VISHWAJITH, P. K. SAHU, B. S. DHEKALE, MD NOMAN AND P. MISHRA

Arecanut is one of the important cash crop in India by virtue of its own merits. Any enterprise which has got potentiality for employment of human resources and which can contribute in Indian economy through substantial foreign exchanges is of much importance. Keeping in mind the resource limitation scenario vis-à-vis judicious utilization of resource, in this study, an attempt has been made to identify not only the best cropping system but also the best farming system for arecanut growers in Thirthahalli, Karnataka, India. Analysis of primary information’s from 48 arecanut growers reveals that by a large arecanut based cropping system could be grouped into sole arecanut, arecanut – banana, arecanut - coco and arecanut – spices groups. Among this arecanut – spices cropping system has better monetary advantage over the others. Moreover, among the arecanut – spices combination, arecanut – pepper by far is the best one. Discriminant analysis identifies the importance of different parameters like area, labour cost, fertilizer cost etc. are the major contributing parameters in differentiating the farmers among the groups. The probability of correct classification which as high as 0.85. Among the arecanut based farming system, inclusion of poultry enterprise has raised benefit cost ratio from 2.20 (sole arecanut) to 2.72. From the study it also appears that arecanut – pepper - poultry may be good options in augmenting farm income of the arecanut growers.

139-141

Authors: A. K. PAL, K. DEBBARMA AND D. JANA

To study the methods of bulb production of tuberose cv. Prajwal, an experiment was conducted at the Horticultural Research Farm, Mondouri, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya during the year 2009 – 2011 with five bulb size of tuberose - Whole bulb, ½ bulb, 1/4th bulb, 1/6th bulb and 1/8th bulb. Each bulb size (treatment) was replicated four times in Randomized Block Design. Planting was done in April 2009, at a spacing of 30 cm X 30 cm. Highest number of bulbs per clump (large, medium and small) per plot was recorded in whole bulb (4.22, 9 and 30.33 nos.) followed by ½ bulb (3.44, 6.77 and 15.33 nos.) and maximum weight of bulbs per clump (large, medium, small) was produced by whole bulb (192.44, 95.33, 55.55) followed by ½ bulb (185.22, 92.50, 34.99). The maximum (Size) diameter of bulbs per clump(large, medium and small) was produced by whole bulb (4.32cm, 1.86 cm, 0.92 cm) followed by ½ bulb (4.27 cm, 1.64 cm, 0.92 cm). Dry matter percentage of bulb was highest in whole bulb (35.72%) followed by ½ bulb (35.51%). The interpretation of the analyzed data reveals that whole bulb and ½ bulb performed comparatively better than other bulb sizes in respect to good quality bulb production. Therefore along with the whole bulbs farmers can use the ½ bulb size with a portion of the disc plate intact for propagation and bulb production of Prajwal under the Gangetic plains of West Bengal.

146-148

Authors: K. C. GUPTA AND R. SAXENA

Field experiments was conducted for three consecutive kharif seasons of 2011, 2012 and 2013 at Rajasthan Agricultural Research Institute, Durgapura, Jaipur to study the effect of resource management in cowpea for yield maximization under rainfed conditions. Results of three years pooled data revealed that foliar application of urea either @ 1% or @ 2% and mulching @ 3 t ha-1 at 25-30 DAS of crop significantly increased yield attributes (pods plant-1, seeds pod-1 and seed index) and seed yield of cowpea. Foliar application of 2% urea recorded maximum values of yield attributes, seed yield, net returns ( ha-1) and B:C ratio. The significant increase in pods plant-1, seeds pod-1 and seed index due to foliar application of 2% urea were 7.64 and 16.34, 4.38 and 9.30 and 5.23 and 6.23 per cent respectively over normal planting and control. Further, the maximum value of pooled grain yield (9.26 q ha-1), net returns ( 21892 ha-1) and B:C ratio (1.77) were recorded under foliar application of 2 % urea while the least were observed under control (5.47 q ha-1, 9299 ha-1 and 0.85).

161-166

Authors: R. K. SINGH, S. K. VERMA*, S. K. PRASAD AND 1S. B. SINGH

An experiment was conducted during rabi season of 2008-09 and 2009-10 at the Research Farm of Department of Agronomy, BHU, Varanasi. The experimental field was infested with Rumex dentatus, Chenopodium album, Melilotus spp and Lathyrus aphaca among broad leaf weed during both years of study. Post emergence application of metsulfuron-methyl 20% WG@ 4 g ha-1 + 0.2% surfactant significantly reduced broad leaf weed population and total weed dry weight with highest wheat yield over other herbicidal treatments during both years. There was no phytotoxicity symptoms on crops. Weed control efficiency and harvest index was higher under metsulfuron-methyl 20% WG, 5 g ha-1 + 0.2% surfactant during both the years. The evaluation of weed dry weight and weed control efficiency of the different treatments and the regression of yield on it revealed that reduction in grain yield could be 8.05 kg ha-1 for weed dry weight and 1% increase in the weed control efficiency increased the grain yield by 13.27 kg ha-1, respectively.

171-174

Authors: SUDHAVANI V., VIJI C. P., LAVANYA A. AND SYAMSUNDAR REDDY P.

Isothiocyanate is a crucifer specific volatile which plays an important role in plant defence as attractants and deterrents. Field Experiment was conducted at Horticultural College and Research Institute, Venkataramannagudem, West Godavari (Dist.) during the period from October, 2010 to January, 2011 to study the effect of sowing dates (1st October, 15th October, 1st November and 15th November) and spacings (45 x 10 cm, 45 x 20 cm and 45 x 30 cm) on the level of isothiocyanate content, its influence on the pest population and root yield of radish cv. Pusa Chetki. The study revealed that population of Lipaphis erysimi appeared in 3rd or 4th week after sowing (WAS) and increased with crop maturity. Highest aphid population was recorded in 8 WAS (16.2 aphids leaf-1) in closely planted late sown crop. Isothiocyanate concentration increased with delay in sowing and decreased with increase in spacing. Highest isothiocyanate concentration was recorded in closely spaced late sown crop (20.00 mg–100g). Highest yield was recorded in D S (closely spaced crop and 1st October sowing) (13.88 t ha-1) which had high isothiocyanate content (12.50 mg 1 1 g-100) and harboured more aphids. Even though aphid population is more in closer spacing, root yield of radish was high since more number of plants was recorded per unit area.

179-182

Authors: S. BARLA, R. R. UPASANI AND A. N. PURAN

A field experiment was conducted at Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi during kharif season of 2012 and 2013 to study the efficacy of different weed control methods on weed dynamics and productivity of turmeric. The treatments comprised of integrated application of herbicides along with hoeing and straw mulch including weed free and weedy control. The results of pooled data revealed that application of metribuzin 0.7 kg ha-1 fb. by two hoeing being similar to weed free recorded reduced grassy and sedges weed at 30 DAP whereas, application of pendimethalin 1.0 kg ha-1 fb. two hoeing and application of pendimethalin 1.0 kg ha-1 fb. straw mulch 10 t ha-1 fb. one hand weeding were similar with weed free at 60 DAP. Application of pendimethalin 1.0 kg ha-1 fb. two hoeing similar to weed free recorded reduced total weed density and weed dry matter accumulation at 30 and 60 DAS. Application of metribuzin 0.7 kg ha-1 fb. by two hoeing recorded maximum yield (24.66 t ha-1) consequently higher gross return (616519 RS. ha-1) similar to metribuzin 0.7 kg ha-1 fb. straw mulch 10 t ha-1 fb. one HW, pendimethalin 1.0 kg ha-1 fb. two hoeing, pendimethalin 1.0 kg ha-1 fb. straw mulch 10 t ha-1 fb. one HW, atrazine 0.75 kg ha-1 fb. straw mulch 10 t ha-1 fb. one HW. Application of metribuzin 0.7 kg ha-1 fb. by two hoeing recorded 44.89 % and 134.86% higher yield than weed free and weedy check, respectively. Significantly maximum net return (504319 RS. ha-1) and B:C ratio (4.45) was recorded with application of Metribuzin 0.7 kg ha-1 fb. by two hoeing.

186-192

Authors: J. TALUKDAR, A. K. SAIKIA AND 1P. BORAH

Bhut Jolokia (Capsicum chinense Jacq.) a chilli pepper formerly recognized as the worlds’s hottest chilli by Guinness book of World Records (Bosland and Baral, 2007). It is extensively grown in North Eastern region of India, predominantly in the states of Assam, Nagaland and Manipur. Field surveys were carried out in Bhut Jolokia growing district of Assam (Sivasagar, Jorhat, Golaghat). Among the diseases 10 per cent showed fungal infection, 3 per cent showed bacterial infection and 60 per cent showed viral infection. Five fungal diseases on Bhut Jolokia, Anthacnose / Fruit rot caused by Colletotrichum capsici, Die- back caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporoides, Stem rot and wilt caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Collar Rot caused by Rhizoctonia solani, leaf spot caused by Corynespora cassicola were identified. Bacterial wilt disease caused by R. solanacearum was observed on Bhut Jolokia at later stages of crop growth. The average virus disease incidence after 15-20 days after transplanting in the farmers field ranged from 8 to 78%. Four different viruses were identified based on symptomatology, transmission, host range and serological assays. These diseases were identified as Mosaic caused by Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), Potato virus Y (PVY), Leaf and Stem necrosis disease caused by Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus (TSWV) and leaf curl disease caused by Chilli leaf curl virus (ChLCV). CMV, PVY and TSWV were easily transmitted by grafting and by sap inoculation to Bhut Jolokia . However, ChLCV is transmitted by grafting. Sap inoculation failed to produce any symptom. The presence of PVY, CMV and TSWV were confirmed using DAS-ELISA. The highest incidence of PVY (87.50 per cent) followed by CMV (75.00 per cent) and TSWV (62.50 per cent) were recorded in Golaghat district. Lowest infection was recorded at Sivasagar district for all the four viruses. However ChLCV incidence was low in the surveyed field.

198-200

Authors: Y. Y. JAMI, A. SARKAR AND C. S. MAITI

Evaluation of strawberry cultivars in the foothills of Nagaland was carried out at Horticultural Experimental Farm, SASRD, Nagaland University. Ten strawberry cultivars viz. Ofra, Fairfox, Elista, Blackmore, Doglas, Sasta, Shimla Delicious, Belrubi, Chandler and Sweet Charlie were planted early October during 2009-10 to study the performance of growth, flowering, fruiting, yield and quality attributes of fruits under shade net (50%) house. The variety Sweet Charlie showed the maximum number of flowers (35.07) and fruit set (33.73) per plant which was followed by Chandler with 34.80 and 32.93 respectively. The maximum fruit weight (7.77g) and yield (262.00g per plant) were recorded with the variety Sweet Charlie followed by Ofra with 6.97g and 207.37g and Chandler with 6.14g and 202.18g per plant respectively. The highest TSS (13.700B) content of fruit was obtained in Sweet Charlie followed by Ofra (13.620B) and Belrubi (13.000B). And the highest total sugar (7.37%), ascorbic acid (97.03mg/100g juice) and the lowest acidity (0.86%) was found in cv. Ofra under standard cultivation practices.

205-209

Authors: K. C. BHUTIA, S. BHANDARI, R. CHATTERJEE, S. O. BHUTIA AND N. GURUNG

Black cumin (Nigella sativa) is an annual flowering plant, native to Iran and other parts of South West Asia, belonging to the family Ranunculaceae. It is a promising aromatic and medicinal herb found in dry temperate regions and has recently domesticated from its wild habitat. Micronutrients may play an important role, as cofactor, in activation of several enzymes such as those involved in photosynthesis. This would reflect increasing the accumulation of carbohydrates in cells. The present investigation has been carried out at HRS. Mondouri, BCKV, during 2013-2014, to find out the effect of integrated micronutrient spray on yield of black cumin. Four micronutrients namely iron, copper, zinc and boron were included in this investigation. Iron in the form of ferrous sulphate (FeSO , 7H O) @ 0.5%; copper in the form of copper sulphate (CuSO ,7H O) @ 0.2%; zinc in the 4 2 4 2 form of zinc sulphate (ZnSO , 7H O) @ 0.5%; and boron in the form of borax (Na B O ) @ 0.2%. Combination of four 4 2 2 4 7 micronutrients also included. They applied as foliar spray either once or twice. There were altogether 11 treatments including control (water spray). First and second spraying were done at 45 and 60 days after sowing. All experimental plots received a uniform dose of FYM @ 20 tonnes ha-1, 40 kg N, 40 kg P O and 45 kg K Oin the form of urea, single super phosphate and muriate 2 5 2 of potash. FYM and full dose of dose of fertilizer were applied as basal. The observations were recorded on five randomly selected plants from each plot on different growth and yield parameters. The observations regarding the plant height was recorded at 75 and 105 days after sowing (DAS). The number of primary and secondary branches was recorded at 75 DAS. Yield per hectare was calculated on plot yield basis after deducting 20% area utilized for channel, ridges etc. Data recorded on different parameters of black cumin were analyzed statistically to express the result. Among different treatments the double spray of borax 0.2% recorded maximum plant height (90.73 cm) at 105 days after sowing, maximum number of secondary branches (27.61) at 75 DAS and 1000 seed weight (3.02 g) as compared to 76.72 cm, 20.86 and 2.36 g under control. Double spray of ferrous sulphate produced maximum number of primary branches (7.20) against 6.45 number of branch under control. The plants under double spray of zinc sulphate 0.5% caused higher nodal length (7.53 cm) as compared to (5.53 cm) nodal length under control. The single spray of zinc sulphate 0.5% recorded maximum plot yield (171.09 g) and projected yield (760.44 kg ha-1) as compared to plot yield (141.93 g and 630.81 kg). The next best treatment in respect of projected yield was double spray of ferrous sulphate 0.5% and double spray of borax 0.2%.From yield maximization point of view the most effective treatment was zinc sulphate @ 0.5% as single spray followed by ferrous sulphate @ 0.5% as compared to double spray and borax @ 0.2% as single spray under alluvial plains of West Bengal for black cumin production.

217-219

Authors: L. TRIPATHY, S.K DASH, D.K DASH. AND S. MURMU

An experiment was conducted during 2011-12 and 2012-13 at All India Coordinated Research Project on Floriculture at Chiplima, Sambalpur, Odisha. Ten treatments with four pre-emergence chemicals in different concentrations were administered to spray chrysanthemum cultivar “Flirt” in three replications per treatment The data collected was pooled over for two years .The result depicted that the treatments varied significantly with respect to weed count per square meter, fresh weight of weeds and dry weight of weeds. Pendimethalin 1.00 kg a.i.ha-1was found to be most effective in controlling weed growth as compared to other treatments and Pendimethalin – 0.75 kg a.i.ha-1was at par with Pendimethalin 1.00 kg a.i.ha-1.The growth parameters like plant height, plant spread, number of sprays per plant, weight of flowers per plant, number of flowers per plant did not vary significantly with the treatments which suggest that the chemicals have no effect on the plants and can be used for controlling weeds in spray chrysanthemum.

224-227

Authors: K. CHARAN TEJA, B. DUARY AND M. K. BHOWMIK

A field experiment was conducted during the kharif (wet) season of 2013 at farmer's field of village Benuria, Sriniketan, Birbhum, West Bengal with rice variety 'Swarna' (MTU 7029) to study the effect of bensulfuron-methyl + pretilachlor and other herbicides on weed growth and productivity of wet season transplanted rice. The experiment comprising of twelve treatments was laid out in a randomized block design with three replications. From the experimental findings it revealed that rice was infested with the three categories of weeds viz. grassy, broadleaved and sedges. Cynodon dactylon, among the grasses; Fimbristylis miliacea, among the sedges and Ludwigia parviflora, among the broadleaved weeds were predominant throughout the cropping period. The experimental field was dominated by broadleaved weeds. Among the herbicides application of bensulfuron-methyl 0.6%+ pretilachlor 6% at 60+600 g ha-1 at 3 DAT registered the lower number as well as dry weight of grassy, broadleaved, sedge and total weeds at 45 DAT but it was at par with bensulfuron-methyl 0.6%+ pretilachlor 6% at 90 + 900 and 120 +1200 g ha-1 at 3 DAT. Metsulfuron methyl + chlorimuron-ethyl (Almix) + azimsulfuron at 4+35 g ha-1 at 15 DAT was also quite effective in controlling broad spectrum weeds. Lower values of weed density, total weed dry weight and weed index, higher values yield attributes and yield of rice, weed control efficiency, net return as well as return per rupee invested were registered with application of bensulfuron-methyl 0.6%+ pretilachlor 6% at 60 + 600 g ha-1 at 3 DAT and metsulfuron methyl + chlorimuron- ethyl (Almix) + azimsulfuron at 4+35 g ha-1 at 15 DAT. The loss of grain yield of rice due to weed infestation was to the tune of 40%. Application of bensulfuron-methyl 0.6%+ pretilachlor 6% at 60+600 g ha-1 at 3 DAT or metsulfuron methyl + chlorimuron- ethyl (Almix) + azimsulfuron at 4 + 35 g ha-1 at 15 DAT appeared to be the most promising for managing weeds, obtaining higher yield and net return of transplanted kharif (wet) rice in the lateritic belt of West Bengal.

3

Authors: S. S. DANA, U. K. BANDYOPADHYAY AND AMITAVA GHOSH

The study was conducted among randomly selected 4 tribal villages of Binpur block of Medinipur district of West Bengal. Data were collected through personal interview schedule, observational technique and case study method. The findings of the study revealed that the morbidity rates due to contagious ecthyma were highest but case fatality was very low. The results indicated that the major cause of mortality was diarrhoea. The age-wise morbidity and mortality rates of goats indicated that the highest mortality was recorded in kids of 0 to 3 months age group followed by young stocks and adults. The study also indicated that the indigenous medicines used against diarrhoea in kids are not effective. So, concerted educational efforts are needed to educate the farmers to avail veterinary hospital facilities to control diarrhoea in kids.

4

Authors: M. A. HASNAT, S. SARKAR, 1M. S. HOSSAIN, 2I. F. CHOWDHURY, 2M. A. MATIN

A field experiment was conducted at the experimental field of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University (SAU), during kharif season of May, 2011 to September, 2011 with a view to find out the abundance of pollinators, foraging activity and yield of different varieties of okra in a Randomized Complete Block design with three replications where experimental treatments included four okra varieties (T = Metal, T = BARI Dherosh 2, T = Munmun 45, T = Sarosh 2). Major pollinators 1 2 3 4 namely Apis cerana (hymenoptera), Papilio demolius (Lepidoptera), Desmocerus californicus dimorphus (coleoptera) and Ceria dimidiatipennis (dipteral) of insect orders were found during the flowering period. Hymenoptera and Lepidoptera were the major pollinators visiting okra flowers and peak of foraging activity during 9-11 am. Among the tested varieties, Munmun45 (T ) was superior in case of yield performance by producing the highest number of fruits per plant (41) and 3 fruit yield (11.23 t ha-1) while Sarosh2 (T ) produced the lowest number of fruits per plant (29.33) resulted in lowest fruit 4 yield (6.8 t ha-1).

4

Authors: S. K. BORDOLUI, R. SADHUKHAN1 AND P. CHATTOPADHYAY

Farmers participated in their own way in selection, conservation and genetic improvement processes. It cannot be denied that any success in the persistence of these genotypes depends to a large extent on the personal motivation of the farmers who intimately know these genotypes. These are on many occasions termed as land races or folk varieties. Participatory Plant Breeding (PPB) has made many gains over the past decades. The ideal model of participatory breeding should be flexible enough to harvest benefit from collaboration between breeders and participatory farmers. Twenty-five aromatic and twenty non-aromatic genotypes were evaluated with three high yielding varieties and two hybrid varieties to determine ways to conserve these indigenous genotypes ex-situ in active participation of such experienced farmers at Gontra village, Chakdah, Nadia, West Bengal. All the genotypes were evaluated during kharif season of 2008 and 2009 in Randamised Block Design in three replications following standard agronomic practices. Seed yield among the indigenous genotypes ranged from 152g m-2 (Tulsimanjari) to 537 g m-2 (Chamarmani). Other genotypes which recorded comparatively superior performance were Sitashal (526 g m-2), Kedargouri (526 g m-2), Tilakkati (515 g m-2), Langalmuthi (513 g/m2), Dudkhas (508 g m-2), Dadshal (498 g m-2), Kalma (485 g m-2), Kanakchur (470 g m-2), Tulaipanji (471 g m-2), Chinikamini (463 g/m2), Chinigura (459 g m-2), Chinapakri (485 g m-2). The standard semi-dwarf check variety IET-4786 (Satabdi) and IET-4094 (Kshitish) recorded 602 and 608 g m-2. However, most of these folk varieties had longer days to 50% flowering which ranged from 108 days in Mohanbhog to 131days in Kalma, Langalmuthi and Jugal whereas IET-4786 had 80 days to 50% flowering only. All these genotypes were very tall and plant height ranged from 121cm in Kalijira to 170cm Suonagra. Thousand grain weight ranged from 10.4g in Badshabhog to 28g Agulha and Tilakkati. Though, these folk varieties did not have significant edge in yield advantage and duration, several genotypes were preferred by the farmers for various purposes for multiplication.

4

Authors: S. CHATTOPADHYAY, P. SANTRA, S. BEHERA AND T.K.MAITY

A field experiment was conducted on onion (Allium cepa L.) cv. Sukhsagar during the Rabi seasons of 2010-11 and 2011- 12 at ‘C’ Block Farm, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Kalyani, West Bengal to assess the influence of sulphur on growth, yield and quality in onion. The treatments comprised of four levels of sulphur (0, 15, 30 and 45 kg ha-1) as basal application from two sulphur sources viz. gypsum and as elemental sulphur. The experiment was laid out in factorial randomized block design with three replications. Harvested onion was kept for four months in low cost storage structure and observations were recorded for physiological loss in weight and losses due to rotting and sprouting. Pooled results of two year revealed significantly highest total yield (298.81q ha-1) and marketable yield (272.13 q ha-1) with application of elemental sulphur @ 30 kg ha-1. The highest amount of pyruvic acid content in bulb (4.5μmol g-1) and minimal storage loss were also found from the same treatment. The study suggested that soil application of elemental sulphur @ 30 kg ha-1 is to be made for better yield, quality and shelf life of onion cultivar Sukhsagar under new alluvial zone of West Bengal.

4

Authors: A. KUMAR, S. MANUJA, J. SINGH AND D. R. CHAUDHARY

Under dry temperate conditions of Western Himalayas limited information is available on control of weeds in cauliflower using herbicides. Field experiment was conducted during 2010 and 2011 to develop weed management practice for cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis).The weed control strategy included pendimethalin, fluchloralin and isoproturon in different doses and combination constituting thirteen treatments. The application of pendimethalin 1.5 kg ha-1 and fluchloralin 1.0 kg ha-1 were the effective herbicides in reducing the weed density of both narrow and broadleaf weeds at all the stages of observation. However when these herbicides were applied at lower dose of 0.75 kg ha-1 and supplemented with one hand weeding at 30 days after transplanting then the weed biomass reduction was highest with weed control efficiency more than 90% compared to their higher rate application having weed control efficiency of 70-80%. Hand weeding twice at 30 and 60 days after transplanting was equally effective at later stages for reducing weed density and weed biomass in comparison with herbicides. Pendimethalin 1.5 kg ha-1 was observed to be best weed management treatment in terms of average curd weight, total curd yield and net returns. Although the next best yields are obtained when two hand weeding were practiced at 30 and 60 days after transplanting but in terms of net returns pendimethalin and fluchloralin each at 1.0 kg ha-1 as pre emergence were the second best option.

5

Authors: S. KUNDU, S. CHAKRABORTY, D. ROY, B. GHOSH AND P. DUTTA

The effect of organic nutrition in improving yield and quality of ber cv. BAU Kul-1 was studied at Horticulture Research Station, Mondouri, BCKV, West Bengal, India. The treatments were FYM (20 kg plant-1), Vermicompost (10 kg plant-1), Neem Cake (5 kg plant-1), ½ (FYM + Vermicompost), ½ (FYM + Neem cake), ½ (Vermicompost + Neem cake), 1/ (FYM + 3 Vermicompost + Neem cake) and Control i.e. RDF (N, P O K O: 150, 90, 150 g/plant/year). Sole use of vermicompost or 2 5, 2 neem cake was found to be effective in improving the soil nutrient status, soil microbial population and leaf phosphorus content as compared to other treatments. But their combination i.e. ½ (Vermicompost + Neem cake) showed more beneficial effect in increasing fruit yield and available soil phosphorus content. FYM or vermicompost and their combination i.e. ½ (FYM + Vermicompost) resulted higher leaf nitrogen and potassium content. The physico-chemical characters of ber were found to be superior with FYM alone as compared to others. The sole use of neem cake or vermicompost or their combination i.e. ½ (Vermicompost + Neem cake) were much effective in improving the soil condition, leaf phosphorus content and yield of ber plants; whereas, sole application of FYM was found to be most useful in enhancing the fruit quality of ber.

5

Authors: N. CHATTOPADHYAY, F. LALRINPUII AND U. THAPA

An investigation was carried out to study the influence of different concentration of growth regulators and chemicals on the growth and yield of garlic (local cultivar Katki). during rabi season of 2010-2011 and 2011-12. Four plant growth regulators viz. GA , NAA and thiourea (50 ppm, 100 ppm and 200ppm) along with kinetin (10 ppm, 20 ppm and 40 ppm) 3 and two chemicals viz..KNO and NaH PO @ 50 ppm, 100 ppm and 200 ppm were tested in the present investigation. 3 2 4 Maximum breadth of large clove (1.20cm), length of medium clove (1.90cm), weight of bulb(24g), yield per plot (1.68kg 2.1m-2) and projected yield (5.89t ha-1) were noticed under thiourea 100 ppm. Highest diameter of bulb (4.21cm) was associated under GA 200 ppm. Maximum length of large (2.53cm) and small clove (1.33 cm) were recorded under kinetin 3 40 ppm. Maximum cost benefit ratio (1:3.19) was noted under thiourea 100 ppm followed by NaH PO 100ppm (1: 3.00). 2 4 The most promising treatment under the alluvial tracts of West Bengal for garlic production is thiourea 100 ppm followed by NaH PO 100 ppm ,GA 200 ppm and kinetin 40 ppm.

5

Authors: A. SAHA AND M. M. ADHIKARY

The study was conducted in villages namely Chengerkuthi Khalisamari, Choto Khalisamari Jatamari of Coochbehar district of West Bengal to identify the distributional pattern of different types of rural migration and its effects on rural agriculture. The finding of the study indicates that, due to high remunerative and regularity of income the youth and middle age group are more attracted for migration, as a results of it labour crisis becomes an emerging problem of agricultural sector. These consequences results for increasing numbers of farm child labour. Less land-human ratio and high cost of cultivation repeals the rural population towards the bright street light of industrialized urban culture. Due to transformational change of occupation (from monolithic agriculture to versatile urbanized job opportunity) rural-urban type migration is most dominating. The tremendous influx of rural labour migration process radically affects the choice of cropping pattern, investment for agriculture and farm activities, labour sharing pattern of farm ecology. Level of women employment has increased on migrant households, particularly on poor households; however, work load of women has also increased.

5

Authors: S. BAIRAGI, M. K. PANDIT, P. SIDHYA, 1S. ADHIKARY AND A.V.V. KOUNDINYA

The experiment was conducted during 2012-13 and 2013-14 to study the effect of date of planting and crop geometry impacts on growth and yield of baby corn (Var. G-5414) in a split plot design with five dates of planting viz,October (D ), 1 November (D ), December (D ), January (D ) and February (D ) and three levels of plant population viz. 45 x 30 cm (S ), 2 3 4 5 1 45 x 20 cm (S ) and 45 x 10 cm (S ) with three replications. Plant height, corn yield and fodder yield were higher when 2 3 baby corn planted wider spacing of 45 x 30 cm. December sowing took the longest duration for 50% germination, which was at par with that of November sowing. Number of leaves per plant was the highest in February sowing and it did not vary with that of October sowing. Whereas, closer spacing of 45 x 10 cm resulted in shorter plant height and reduction of both corn and fodder yield. Days to 50% flowering did not vary among the spacing but this character did vary significantly across the sowing dates and the longest and shortest durations being in the December and February sowings respectively. The growth and yield parameters of baby corn were clearly indicative that they were thermo- sensitive and baby corn cobs and fodder yield are higher at closer spacing.

6

Authors: S. PRADHAN AND S. MOHARANA

A field experiment was carried out at Bhubaneswar during 2013-14. The soil of the experimental site was sandy loam in texture with 6.35 pH. Rice-rice sequence was taken for six consecutive years with seven organic nutrient management treatments in Randomized Block Design. Organic nutrient management expressed significant effect on DM (dry matter accumulation), CGR (Crop growth rate), RGR (Relative Growth Rate) crop yield and productivity. DM, CGR, RGR were highest in treatment T receiving Dhanicha+ FYM+Vermicompost in kharif 5 and FYM+Vermicompost in summer (75.99 and 75.80 g hill-1 DM). Maximum average grain yield of 4.47 and 4.26 t ha-1 were also witnessed in T during kharif and summer seasons respectively.

6

Authors: I. DAS, V. D. SHENDE, T. SETH, Y. YADAV AND A. CHATTOPADHYAY

Evaluation of thirteen pole and seven bush type advanced lines/varieties of dolichos bean was carried out in two consecutive years to study the genetic variability and character associationships among different quantitative characters with pod yield. Significant variation among eight quantitative traits irrespective of genotypes having differences in growth habit was observed. Higher estimates of PCV and GCV were observed for number of pods per plant and pod weight in pole and bush types, and pod length in bush type, indicating much scope for their improvement through selection. The characters pod weight, number of pods per plant, pod length and pod width were characterised by high heritability coupled with high genetic advance in both types. Interrelationships among component characters and pod yield revealed a significant and positive correlation with number of pods per plant at genotypic level in pole type and none of the traits in bush type. However, positive correlation with pod yield was depicted by pod length, pod width and number of seeds per pod in pole type and by number of pods per plant in bush type. Study on path coefficient analysis suggested that yield of dolichos bean could be improved through direct selection for number of pods per plant and pod weight in pole type, and number of pods per plant, pod weight and number of seeds per pod in bush type.

6

Authors: D. DUTTA, D. DUTTA MUDI AND T.L. THENTU

A field experiment was conducted during 2010 to 2012 (three years) at Gayeshpur, Nadia, West Bengal to investigate the effect of irrigation schedules and planting geometry on growth, yield and water-use efficiency (WUE) of summer baby corn (Zea mays L.). The experiment was laid out in split-plot design with four irrigation levels viz. conventional method (Farmers’ practice), IW/CPE ratios of 0.6, 0.8 and 1.0 in main plots and three levels of planting geometry viz. 30 × 30 cm, 45 × 20 cm and 60 × 15 cm in sub-plots. Pooled results of three years showed that significantly higher growth, yield attributes and cob yield of baby corn (1310 kg ha-1) were obtained with irrigation at IW/CPE 1.0, which was statistically at par with conventional irrigation. However, the maximum WUE of 3.91 kg ha-mm-1 was recorded with IW/CPE 0.6. While the planting geometry of 45 × 20 cm exhibited significantly higher baby corn yield, but on a par with 60 × 15 cm geometry. The highest gross return, net return and benefit-cost ratio were recorded with IW/CPE 1.0 and 45 × 20 cm planting geometry.

6

Authors: B. KUMAR, M. HAQUE, A. KALPANA AND D. NAGARJUNA

A field experiment was conducted during Kharif season of 2011 and 2012 at Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, to evaluate the bioefficacy of different herbicides on weed management of aerobic rice (Oryza sativa. L.). Among weed control combinations two hand weeding at 20 and 40 DAS, PE Pendimethalin 30EC @ 1.0 kg ha -1 fb POE Bispyribac10SC @ 35.0 g ha-1; PE Pendimethalin 30EC @ 1.0 kg ha-1 fb POE Ethoxysulfuron 15%WDG @ 15g ha-1 were found highly effective and exhibited better weed control efficiency, economic advantage and recorded higher grain yield as well as yield attributing characters in comparison to other treatments. The maximum mean grain yield 4.72 t ha-1 was recorded in two hand weeding at 20 and 40 DAS and was statistically at par with PE Pendimethalin 30EC @1.0 kg ha-1 fb POE Bispyribac10 SC @ 35.0 g ha-1(4.43 t ha-1); PE Pendimethalin 30EC @1.0 Kg ha-1 fb POE Ethoxysulfuron 15%WDG @15 g ha-1(4.34 t ha-1); PE Pendimethalin 30EC @1.0 kg ha-1 fb POE 2,4-D Na salt 80%@ 0.06 kg ha -1(4.26 t ha-1) and PE Butachlor60% EC @1.5 kg ha-1 fb POE Bispyribac10 SC @ 35.0 g a.i. ha-1 (4.24 t ha-1). The highest net return of Rs. 38,108 ha-1 with B:C ratio 1.91 was recorded in PE Pendimethalin 30 EC @ 1.0 kg ha-1 + POE Bispyribac sodium 10 SC @ 35 .0 g ha -1 closely followed by two HW at 20 & 40 DAS (net return Rs. 37,864 ha-1with B:C ratio 1.57 ).

7

Authors: S. ROY, A. BHATTACHARYYA AND A. CHOWDHURY

A laboratory experiment was performed to understand the persistence behaviour of the herbicide dithiopyr in three different soils of West Bengal, India. Estimation of dithiopyr residues revealed its dissipation following first-order kinetics. The half-life (T ) values were in the range of 13.75-31.03 days for T and 21.20-41.24 days for T . The dissipation of 1/2 1 2 dithiopyr was maximum in coastal soil with the shortest T (13.75 and 21.20 days) and the higher persistence was 1/2 recorded in Gangetic alluvial soil. Formation of three metabolites of dithiopyr viz. dithiopyr monoacid, reverse monoacid and diacid were also quantified and their structures were confirmed by Gas chromatography-Mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The metabolites were detected in soils at 7-30 days after application with varying rates of formation reaching maximum between 30-90 days followed by a decreasing trend. Among the metabolites, only diacid could be detected till 120 days. The degradation pathway of dithiopyr in soil involved pH induced abiotic hydrolysis of the methylthioester groups to form the monoacids and diacid which was more favourable under alkaline condition as observed in coastal soil (pH = 8.50) compared to the Terai soil (pH = 5.20) and the least in Gangetic alluvial soil (pH = 6.90).

7

Authors: M. ADNAN, A. A. SHAHID, M. ALI AND A. HAIDER

To investigate the infestation status of alien invasive weed Parthenium hysterophorus a detailed survey was conducted at waste lands, edges of agricultural fields, fallow lands and waterways in 53 sites of 3 tehsils of district Sialkot , Punjab during August- October 2009-10. Maximum infestation (60%) of P. hysterophorus was found along roadsides followed at along the crop fields (56%), fallow lands (54%), waste lands (50%) and in the water channels minimum 46% infestation. In tehsil wise maximum infestation of P. hysterophorus was found in tehsil Daska (94.74%) followed by Tehsil Sialkot (92.31%) and minimum 91.67%. in tehsil Pasroor.

8

Authors: G. GADDEYYA AND P. K. RATNA KUMAR

Trianthemae portulacastrum L. (Family: Aizoaceae), commonly known as horse purslane is a troublesome weed in Indian agriculture. It is known as Hand Qooqi in Arabic, Dewasapt in Persian and Horse purslane in English. A field study was conducted at crop fields of Visakhapatnam district in Andhra Pradesh to screening of agents to control weed population by means of eco-friendly approach i.e., biological control. During field study severe infection on horse purslane was examined and the foliar disease symptoms represented as round to irregular maroon spots with dark borders. The pathogen allied with the infection of horse purslane was isolated from infected parts of the weed and the isolate was confirmed as Gibbago trianthemae Simmons. The disease severity of the isolate was examined by means of invitro study and Keywords: Biological control, Gibbago trianthemae, Trianthemae portulacastrum L. the results revealed the pathogenicity of the isolate. The findings of research suggested that the isolate, G. trianthemae is highly virulent to host weed and recommended for further studies as an effective biological control agent.

9

Authors: P. K. SARKAR AND D. ROY

Field bio-effectiveness of pre-mix formulation of cartap hydrochloride 50% SP + buprofezin 10% EC (KCB-2010) were evaluated against jassid (Amrasca biguttula biguttula), whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) and fruit borer (Earias vittella) during 2011 and 2012 in spring-summer crop. KCB-2010 @ 600 and 750 ml ha-1 reduced okra fruit borer population to the tune of 73.07 % and 75.51 % in two seasons respectively. The treatments also provided significant reduction of jassid (59.33% and 60.87 %) and whitefly (69.46 % and 70.91%) population vis-à-vis highest yield (16.62 and 17.27 t ha-1) in comparison to 6.66 t ha-1 in untreated plots. Tested dosages were soft against natural enemies like, coccinellides, syrphids, spiders and staphylinids, with population reduction of 8.35 and 9.50%, 10.00 and 9.85%, 7.00 and 8.10% and 1.78 and 3.50%, respectively; hence can be considered as a suitable IPM compatible tool with favorable toxicological profile.

18-28

Authors: B. K. CHAKRABORTY, S. A. AZADI AND B. BORMON

Cuchia (Monopterous cuchia), a delicious, nutritious and favorite fish for Adivasi and South Asian countries people was abundant throughout the Bangladesh. At present this fish is scarcely found in the open water system. The study was conducted in Kokraduba beel surrounding two Adivasi fisher’s villages Chitolia and Shampur; district Mymensingh to collect information about ecosystem health of Kokraduba beel, habitat, food and feeding habit and reproductive biology of cuchia (M. cuchia) by interviewing Adivasi fisher’s indigenous technological knowledge (ITK). Both primary and secondary data were collected by direct interviews to the Advasi respondents, Department of Fisheries and websites. According to the ITK method of Adivasi fisher’s, total production of the Kokraduba beel was recorded 14395.0 kg and 13208.0 kg between the year 2012 and 2013 respectively. About 8.25% production was decreased from 2012 to 2013. According to (78.57-88.01)% fisher’s blocked water flow and shallow depth of the beel, expansion of agriculture and aquaculture, use of chemicals, fertilizer and pesticide, infrastructure development and fishing pressure in breeding season were main causes for destruction of natural habitats and reducing production of M. cuchia in Kokraduba beel. Three fishing methods viz. physical (by hand picking), line and traps (bair) were identified in the survey area among which traps catches relatively undersized M. cuchia. According to the ITK method, food and feeding habit, identifying characteristics of male and female, breeding behavior, fecundity and larvae development, mother care, cannibalism were identified and 64.24% Adivasi fisher’s recognized that breeding period of M. cuchia was April to mid July. Updated Adivasi’s ITK method with science based knowledge on habitat, food and feeding habit, reproductive biology, management of hatchlings, fry and fingerling production, in alternative income generating activities (AIGAs) and developed value chain; will be a new horizon to develop ecosystem health and production of M. cuchia in the Kukraduba beel through community based co-management aspect.

33-37

Authors: B. R. NAYAK, N. PANIGRAHY AND A. K. DASH

An experiment was conducted at the Regional Research Technology and Transfer Station, Chiplima, Sambalpur during 2009, 2010 and 2011 to study the response of papaya to different irrigation methods and nutrient management practices. The experiment was comprised with three irrigation methods (I - Drip irrigation, I - Basin irrigation with straw mulch and I - Basin 1 2 3 irrigation without straw mulch) in the main plots and three levels of nutrients management practices such as N - 100% inorganic 1 source ( RDF-100:80:120g of N:P O :K O plant-1 year-1), N - 100% organic source (FYM 15.0 t ha-1 + vermicompost 5.0 t ha-1 + 2 5 2 2 neemcake 0.5 t ha-1) and N -integrated nutrient management (75% inorganic source + 25% organic source) in the sub-plots with 3 four replications in a split plot design. Pooled analysis of three years’data indicated that basin irrigation with straw mulch (I ) 2 recorded highest fruit yield of 23.17 t ha 1 with water requirement of 205.43cm and water use efficiency of 112.78 kg ha-cm-1. Integrated nutrient management practice comprised of 75% inorganic source + 25% organic source (N ) recorded the highest 3 fruit yield of 22.31t ha-1. The basin irrigation with straw mulch and exploitation of integrated nutrient tactics comprised of 75% inorganic+25% organic source produced maximum papaya fruit yield of 24.32 t ha-1 due to better soil health.

43-45

Authors: K. SENGUPTA AND D. TAMANG

A field experiment was carried out in the Farm of BCKV, West Bengal (22095’N, 88050’E) during the summer season of 2010 and 2011 on sandy-loam alluvial soil (Inceptisol), neutral in soil reaction (pH 7.2) having 0.65% organic carbon, 0.08% total N, 27.54 kg ha-1 available P O and 135.15 kg ha-1 available K O, to find out the effect of foliar application of nutrients and Brassinolide on 2 5 2 yield of green gram crop. The crop was fertilized with a common dose of N-P O -K O at 20-40-40 kg ha-1 and grown with only one 2 5 2 pre-sowing irrigation. The variety Bireshwar was used for this experiment, carried out in RBD with 8 treatments and 3 replications. From the results it was found that foliar application of nutrients (urea and DAP) and Brassinolide had a significant influence on growth and yield of the crop. The growth in terms of plant height, LAI and dry matter accumulation per unit area were significantly higher in the treatments where the plants got nutrients and Brassinolide. Foliar fertilization had significant effect on the main yield component, i.e., number of pods per plant; though, other yield components were statistically at par. The highest seed yield was obtained in the treatment where the crop was sprayed with Brassinolide, 0.25 ppm at 25 DAS and 45 DAS followed by the treatments where the crop was sprayed with DAP (2% solution) at 25 and 45 DAS and Urea (2% solution) at 25 and 45 DAS.Thus, it may be concluded that foliar application of nutrients and Brassinolide had a distinct effect to increase the yield of green gram crop.

49-53

Authors: R. YADAV, D. H. DWIVEDI, GOVIND AND S. MAJI

A field experiment was carried out to assess the effect of integrated nutrient management on growth and yield of onion cv. Pusa Madhvi at Horticultural Research Farm, Department of Applied Plant Science (Horticulture), Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow, U.P. India during the year 2013-14. 10 treatments [RDF as control, FYM, Vermicompost, PSB, Azotobacter, Azosprillium, and combination with nitrogen, phosphorus and potash] were applied with three replications and laid out under Randomized Block Design. The results showed that the maximum plant height (74.32 cm), bulb diameter (4.60 cm), neck thickness (1.06 cm), bulb length (4.39 cm) and number of leaves (9.88) per plant were recorded under treatment T - RDF (50%) + 10 Vermicompost (50%) at 90 (DAT). Whereas, the maximum leaf length (62.23 cm) was observed in the treatment T (Azotobacter @ 5 100%). Although, the treatment T showed the maximum bulb weight (175.67 g) but the maximum yield (283 q ha–1) and TSS 5 (12.30 0B) were recorded in T . Thus, it can be concluded that treatment T i.e. application of RDF (50%) + Vermicompost (50%) 10 10 was suitable for better growth and higher production of onion cv. Pusa Madhvi under Lucknow condition having high soil pH of 8.2.

58-61

Authors: P. PATI AND P. K. MAHAPATRA

Field experiment was conducted at the Central Research Station, Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar (Odisha) during the consecutive two rabi seasons of 2010 and 2011 to study the effect of integrated nutrient management on yield performance and nutrient uptake of mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) Czern and Coss]. Experiment was laid out in a randomized block design, consisting eleven treatments viz., T - RDF (N : P O : K O @ 60 : 30 : 30 kg ha-1), T - RDF + S (40 kg ha-1), T - RDF 1 2 5 2 2 3 + B (1 kg ha-1), T - RDF + lime (0.2 LR), T - RDF + Zn-EDTA (0.5 kg ha-1 as foliar spray), T - 75% RDF, T - 75% RDF + FYM (5 t 4 5 6 7 ha-1), T - 75% RDF + FYM (5 t ha-1) + S (40 kg ha-1), T - 75% RDF + FYM (5 t ha-1) + B (1 kg ha-1), T -75% RDF + FYM (5 t ha-1) + 8 9 10 lime (0.2 LR), T - 75% RDF + FYM (5 t ha-1) + Zn-EDTA (0.5 kg ha-1as foliar spray), respectively replicated thrice. The soil was 11 loamy sand in texture with pH 5.5, low in organic carbon and nitrogen, high in phosphorus and medium in potash. The results reveal that the treatment (T ), which received 75 % RDF + FYM @ 5 t ha-1 + lime (0.2 LR) produced maximum number of effective 10 siliqua (226 plant-1), longest siliqua (4.4 cm), seeds siliqua-1(14.1), 1000 seed weight (4.35 g), highest seed and stover yield (1423 and 2759 kg ha-1), respectively. Reduction of 25% fertilizer from the recommended dose (RDF) produced minimum yield of 973 kg ha-1which was 8% less than RDF. The treatment (T ) also absorbed 72 kg N, 13 kg P, 34 kg K, 17 kg S, 124 g B, 163 g Zn and 42 kg 10 Ca ha-1. So sound agronomic and environmentally acceptable integrated nutrient management practices are essential to achieve a reduction in fertilizer derived environmental risk while increasing the net return and crop productivity through nutrient use efficiency.

66-71

Authors: A. PATHAK, A. C. MAHATA, S. SEN, 1A. MONDAL AND P. CHAKRABORTI

The biochemical action accompanying seed storability of wheat seed (cv. C306) was very much controlled through the approach of variable storing devices. The treatment outcome was prominent at later stages, accelerating a declining trend of biochemical reaction interrelated to seed quality or protecting storability. Considering diverse quality linking parameters, the inhibitory effect on waning nature provided the highest peak in PC (plastic container) followed by PP (40 micron plastic packet) where EP (earthen pot) retained uniformity mostly with the normal (brown paper packet), sometimes with PN (brown paper packet+ naphthalene ball @ 5 g kg-1 seed). The 90 days storage was the turning point for lowering the biochemical activity in normal seed, representing in Electrical conductivity and in á-amylase enzyme activity under variable imbibing stages though a significant discrepancy was observed in application of treatments. In action of peroxidase, a noticeable drop was started after 135 days of storage which was alike to total carbohydrate content. As a result, PC (plastic container) and PP (40 micron plastic packet) can be utilized for wheat seed storing to conserve the storability.

75-79

Authors: S. K. SWAIN, A. K. DASH, A. K. MOHAPATRA, D. BEHERA AND B. K. BEHERA

The small and marginal farmers in many parts of the state of Odisha still depend upon the animal energy for accomplishment of agricultural operations because of small and fragmented land holding as well as poor socio-economic status. Of late, the maintenance cost of a pair of bullocks proves to be a burden on these farmers with increase in labour cost. A study on use of animal energy for two post harvest operations such as paddy threshing and chaff cutting with rotary gear system was made to increase the annual use of the bullocks so as to reduce the owning cost of bullocks.The results on operation of thresher indicated that the average output of the thresher was 143.23 q h-1 with mean threshing efficiency of 93.12%. The mean draft was 420 N which was 6.9 % of the bodyweight of the bullocks indicating that the bullocks were underutilized as far as power utilization is concerned. The results on operation of chaff cutter through bullock operated rotary unit indicated that the mean draft requirement was 250 N varying from 275 to 216 N which was 4.1 % equivalent to the bodyweight. The average output was found to be 69.43 kg h-1. The power output was observed to be 0.207 kW. The cost of operation of the thresher and chaff cutter in rotary mode suggests that rotary unit is not economical compared to threshing and chaff cutting if operated by electrical power source but surely it will increase the utilization of animal which otherwise would have been sitting idle and can save time in threshing compared to traditional bullock treading.

88-91

Authors: M. SUMARJIT SINGH, D. NONGMAITHEM AND 1S. SHARMILA DEVI

A field experiment was conducted at Central Agricultural University, Imphal, Manipur during 2010 and 2011 to study the effect of spacing on the growth and yield of Hedychium spicatum, a valuable medicinal plant in temperate regions. Treatments comprised of four plant spacing: 30 × 20 cm, 30 × 30 cm, 30 × 40 cm and 40 × 40cm. Results showed that values on growth of H.spicatum were found to be highest in widest spacing of 40 × 40 cm (14.16 t ha-1). Yield of the crop was higher even in 30 × 40cm spacing (13.46 t ha-1) than the closer spaced distance 30 × 20 cm and 30 × 30 cm which gave 10.39 and 12.54 t ha-1 respectively. Though the number of rhizomes per unit area in closest spacing, 30 × 20 cm (32.61) outnumbered that of rhizomes per unit area in widest spacing, 40 × 40 cm (14.33), yield was observed to be highest in 40 × 40cm spacing which may be due to highest number of tillers plant-1 (3.41) and fresh weight of rhizomes plant-1 (109.61g) compared to lowest number of tillers plant-1 (2.54) and fresh weight of rhizomes plant-1 (68.08 g) in 30 × 20 cm spacing.

98-100

Authors: A. K. MAITI AND S. DE

Mat-stick, a non-conventional perennial crop, has the potentiality to augment the income and provide gainful employment of rural mass of India. The study thus examines the income potentiality of cultivation of mat-stick in Paschim Midinipur district of West Bengal. The findings of this study clearly advocate the cultivation of this crop. Benefit-cost ratio is worked to be 1.60, which is higher than any competing crop combinations. The wage bill clearly indicates the opportunity to absorb human labour. The only limiting factor, which restricts the allocation of area under this crop, is higher cost of cultivation.

108-112

Authors: S. PRADHAN, D. K. BASTIA AND S. TRIPATHY

A field experiment was carried out at Bhubaneswar during 2008-14. The soil of the experimental site was sandy loam in texture with 6.0 pH. The values of bulk density and soil organic carbon contents in 0-15 and 15-30 cm soil depth, respectively, were 1.58 and 1.66 tm-3 and 5.2 and 4.0 g kg-1. Rice-rice sequence was taken for six consecutive years with seven organic nutrient management treatments in randomized block design. Organic nutrient management exerted significant effect on soil organic carbon status and sustainable yield index. The observed soil organic carbon stock was maximum in treatment receiving dhanicha+ FYM+vermicompost (46.29 t ha-1) and highest rate of sequestration was also observed in the same treatment (4.00 t ha-1 year-1). Maximum average grain yield & (4.47 and 4.26 t ha–1) and highest SYI (Sustainable Yield Index) was witnessed in the same treatment in kharif (0.78) and summer (0.77) seasons respectively.

120-123

Authors: S. S. DANA, A. GHOSH AND 1U. K. BANDYOPADHYAY

Aquaculture of the mud crab has been practised for the past 100 years in China and for the past 30 years throughout Asia. Almost all crab aquaculture production relies on wild-caught stock, as larval rearing has not yet reached a commercially viable level for stocking into aquaculture farms. Crab meat is virtually cent per cent fat-free, rich in protein and offers no carbohydrates. According to dieticians, crab meat fits in perfectly with the new dietary guidelines, which suggest high-protein foods that are lean and either low-fat or fat free. In India aquaculture has emerged as an important farming activity transforming aquaculture from a traditional livelihood-support rural activity to a profit oriented production system. It could be able to improve the livelihood of the fishers as well as ensuring nutritional security. Keeping in view the facts the present study was designed with the following specific objectives, i.e., to study the socio-economic profile of the crab farmers, to study the present status of the crab farmers and to study the constraints encountered in crab farming. The present study was conducted in randomly selected three villages of Gosaba block in South 24-Parganas district of West Bengal as it has the highest crab farmer concentration. Three villages from the Lahiripur Gram Panchayat area of Gosaba block were selected by simple random sampling technique. A total of 120 crab farmers were listed out from the said locale and out of them, 60 crab farmer, those who are presently involved in crab farming were selected for this study. The findings of the study showed that 84% of respondents belonged to rural areas and their age varied from 17-60 years, in which majority (46.67 %) were in middle aged (26-50 years) category. Out of the total number of respondents, 70% were male and rest 30% female. Majority of the respondents were having the educational qualification up to high school level. 68.33 % respondents belonged to Scheduled Caste followed by General category and Scheduled Tribe. Majority (81.67%) of the respondents were having land access to less than 10 cottah and owned medium sized (4-8 Katha) water bodies. About 58.33 % of respondents belonged to Above Poverty Level (APL) category followed by 41.67 % Below Poverty Level (BPL) category. Most of the respondents (93.33%) preferred their fellow friends as a reliable source of information, followed by Radio (88.33%), Relatives (78.33%) and Fishery Extension Officers (FEOs) (35%). Majority of the respondents (61.67%) practised intensive crab culture technique and 83.33 % preferred the November-February duration as an ideal time for crab farming with seeds collected from the wild (68.33%) i.e. from swamps and derelict water bodies. It was conspicuous from the present study that majority of the respondents used trash Puntias sp. as supplementary feed. As far as the disease outbreak in crab farming was concerned, 35% of respondents reported that crabs suffered from ulcer on carapace and necrosis of appendages and they used lime and KMnO to get 4 rid of these diseases. Lack of crab seeds emerged as prime constraint followed by marketing problem, transport problem, credit problem and problems related to diseases.

128-131

Authors: U. KUMAR AND B. PRASAD

The present investigation was carried out to screen the 21 genotypes of garlic for plant growth, yield and yield contributing parameter under field condition for two consecutive years. Attempt has been made to assess the genetic variation for plant architecture and yield traits of garlic genotypes. Among genotypes, RAUG-4 observed as the tallest plant having maximum number of leaves, however, RAUG-5 had the ability to complete their life cycle at a shortest period and potent to produce larger size of bulb along with maximum marketable as well as total yield. The plants with medium height bearing sizeable number of leaves with a rapid growth, quickly to harvest photo radiation and accumulated photosynthates into the economic partat a better way. Besides the superior genotypes are RAUG-5 and RAUG-16, RAUG-12, RAUG-7, RAUG-15 and RAUG-4 were moderate yielder. However, the genotype RAUG-1, RAUG-2, RAUG-3, RAUG-6 RAUG-10, RAUG-14, RAUG-17 exhibited somewhat lower performance (45- 70 q ha-1) while accession RAUG-8, RAUG-9, RAUG-11, RAUG-18 RAUG-19 and RAUG-20 depicted as poor yielder

138-143

Authors: J. N. PAPADE, P. M. CHANDAN, AND A. K. SAHOO

The experiment was carried out during the year 2012-13 at Post Harvest Technology Laboratory, Department of Horticulture, Post Graduate Institute Dr. PanjabraoDeshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola. Fully matured and uniform sized fruits of PDKV lime and seedless lime i.e. PDKV lime (V ) and seedless lime (V ) were procured from All India Co-ordinate Research Project on Citrus, 1 2 Dr. PDKV, Akola and the squash was prepared by mixing of different amounts of lime juice and sugar as per treatments, Juice 25% + 400B Sugar + 350 ppm KMS (T ), Juice 25% + 420B Sugar + 350 ppm KMS (T ), Juice 25% + 450B Sugar + 350 ppm KMS (T ), 1 2 3 Juice 25% + 400B Sugar + 350 ppm Sodium benzoate(T ), Juice 25% + 420B Sugar + 350 ppm Sodium benzoate (T ), Juice 25% + 4 5 450B Sugar + 350 ppm Sodium benzoate (T ), Control- Juice 25% + 450B Sugar (T ). Then the squash was treated with 6 7 preservative KMS or Sodium benzoate at 350ppm concentration. The observations in respect to chemical analysis and sensory evaluation of lime squash was recorded periodically at an interval of 20 days upto 80 days and the data obtained was analyzed using FCRD design. A gradual increase in TSS, reducing sugar and total sugars content of the acid lime squash was observed on advancement of storage period irrespective to varieties and treatments used However, titratable acidity content, non-reducing sugars and ascorbic acid content of squash were found to decrease with the advancement of storage period. The acid lime squash prepared from variety seedless lime was found to be acceptable up to 60th days of storage in respect to sensory qualities whereas acid lime squash prepared from variety PDKV lime was found to be acceptable 80th days of storage period. So the treatment combination V T was concluded as the best treatment all variety and treatment combination.

152-156

Authors: K. SETHI, P. C. LENKA AND S. K. TRIPATHY

The field experiment was carried out under All India Coordinated Research Project on Cashew of OUAT, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India during 2011 and 2012 in ten years old cashew plantations to evaluate the cashew hybrids on the basis of vegetative growth and nut yield. The experiment was laid out by adopting Augmented Statistical Design with 60 hybrids, 8 parents and 3 check varieties. The analysis of results based on adjusted mean and values on vegetative growth parameters and nut yield showed significant variations. Considering the overall vegetative growth parameters as well as nut yield the present study concluded that the hybrids such as A-71, B-27, D-19, G-8 and H-6 may be promising for commercial cultivation. The study also revealed that both KBN and VTH-711/4 were identified as better male parent for hybridization programme in cashew.

161-164

Authors: D. BISWAS, A. BANERJEE AND B. BANDYOPADHYAY

Keeping in view of the growing economic importance of banana pseudostem weevil (Odoiporus longicollis Oliv.) and dearth of detailed information regarding seasonality of the pest, the present investigation has been conducted to study the incidence pattern of this pest on cv. Martaman (AAB) and Kanchkel (ABB) in farmers’ plots at different locations of Nadia district, West Bengal during 2007-08. The field investigation revealed that the pest infestation appeared and established in 8 months old plants where the planting was completed within September, 2006. The trend of incidence pattern of O. longicollis shows that it remains active throughout the year on both the cultivars. Initial infestation was 3.63% on cv. Martaman and 2.14% on cv. Kanchkel at 23rd standard week i.e. during June, 2007. The infestation has been recorded highest at 26th standard week i.e. during June, 2008 in both the cultivars but, the degree of damage has been recorded higher on cv. Martaman (17.56%) as compared to cv. Kanchkel (10.43%) indicating that cv. Kanchkel is less susceptible to O. longicollis than cv. Martaman. The results from correlation studies on the influence of meteorological parameters showed that incidence of O. longicollis was positively correlated with maximum and minimum temperature and minimum relative humidity in case of cv. Martaman whereas a positive correlation of maximum and minimum temperature of this pest on cv. Kanchkel has been recorded.

168-172

Authors: V. P. SURYAVANSHI, S. B. SURYAWANSHI AND 1K. T. JADHAV

A field experiment was conducted during 2012 and 2013 at Oilseeds Research Station, Latur (M.S.) to study the effect of different pre (PE) and post-emergence (POE) herbicides on yield and economics of sunflower in vertisols. Though the highest head diameter (17.5 and 15.9 cm), seed yield per plant (35.23 and 25.08 g), 100 seed weight (5.69 and 5.53 g) and seed yield (1710 kg ha-1) were observed in weed free situation, but these parameters were found statistically at par with the application of Pendimethalin 38.7 CS @ 0.75 kg a.i. ha-1 (PE) + one hoeing at 30 DAS followed by hand weeding at 40 DAS and application of Pendimethalin 38.7 CS @ 1.0 kg a.i. ha-1 (PE) + Quizalofop Ethyl 5% EC @ 37.5 g a.i. ha-1 or Propaquizofop 10% EC @ 62 g a.i. ha-1 or Fenoxoprop Ethyl 9.3% w/w@ 37.5 g a.i. ha-1 at 20 DAS (POE). The highest Net Monetary Return (‘ 38262 ha-1) and BC ratio (2.89) were recorded with the application Pendimethalin 38.7 CS @ 1.0 kg a.i. ha-1 (PE) + Quizalofop Ethyl 5% EC @ 37.5 g a.i. ha-1 at 20 DAS (POE). Among different chemical weed control methods lowest dry weed weight (12 and 83 g/m2), Weed Index (2.1 and 0.8) and highest Weed Control Efficiency (90 and 87 %) and Crop Resistance Index (10.2) were observed with the application Pendimethalin 38.7 CS @ 1.0 kg a.i. ha-1 (PE) + Quizalofop Ethyl 5% EC @ 37.5 g a.i. ha-1 at 20 DAS (POE). The application of Quizalofop Ethyl 5% EC @ 37.5 g a.i. ha-1 + Chlorimuron Ethyl 25 % wp @ 9 g a.i. ha-1 at 20 DAS (POE) has shown phytotoxicity effect on sunflower crop resulting stunted and reduced growth. In 0-10 scale phytotoxicity of this treatment was rated as 2-3 (20-30%).

177-180

Authors: R. K. MATHUKIA, P. V. GADHIYA AND D. M. PANARA

An experiment was conducted at Junagarh Agricultural University, Gujarat to judge the profitability and suitability of different weed management in field pea under clay soil. Experiments with 12 different treatment combination indicates that depend upon the availability of labour, profitability of rabi field pea could be achieved through 2 hand weeding and intercultural operation at 20 and 40 days after sowing. The study also reveals that application of pendimethalin @ 0.75 kg ha-1 or oxyfluorofe @ 0.18 kg ha-1 also suitable for the purpose.

190-193

Authors: L. GIRIJA DEVI, M. S. MURUGESH AND V. L. GEETHAKUMARI

An experiment was conducted at College of Agriculture, Vellayani during the year 2012 to standardize the nutrient schedule and weed management techniques for organic rice with its economic feasibility. The experiment was laid out in split-plot design with four replications. The study revealed the superiority of closer spacing (15×15 cm) on grain and straw yield. The stale seed bed technique and hand weeding were at par with respect to grain yield. The grain and straw yield were the higher with one third RDN as FYM, one third as vermicompost and one third as vermicompost and one third as neem cake + 2 kg Azospirillum + 2 kg P solubilizing bacteria ha-1, and statistically at par with soil test based application (half as vermicompost and half as neem cake). Stale seed bed technique and closer spacing effectively controlled the weeds. The weed biomass was lower with FYM 1 t + green leaf manure 1 t+ dual culture of Azolla + 2 kg Azospirillum + 2 kg P solubilizing bacteria + 1 kg PGPR (mix 1) ha-1 and FYM 5 t+ 800 kg oil cakes ha-1 (half basal + half top dressing at active tillering stage). The comparison between organic and conventional methods showed significant difference at all the crop growth stages with the least weed biomass in organic over conventional.

197-199

Authors: D. K. GHOSH AND A. BANDOPADHYAY

Coconut has a long productive period hence, selection of quality materials are of utmost important for increasing the productivity in coconut garden can be increased by improving the genetic potential. An evaluation trial was done under AICRP on Palms at Horticultural Research Station, Mondouri, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, West Bengal to evaluate the performance of seven cultivars of coconut namely - Philipines Ordinary, Laccadive Ordinary, Andaman Ordinary, Laccadive Micro, S S Green, East Coast Tall, West Coast Tall and three hybrids namely COD x WCT, WCT x COD and MYD x WCT during 2004 and 2005.The materials were supplied from CPCRI and planted in 1986 spaced at 7.5 x 7.5 m. in RBD with 3 replication and 4 plants for each treatment. It was observed that the bunch production was maximum in hybrid COD x WCT (9.4 palm-1) followed by Philippines Ordinary (8.4 palm-1). The nut yield per palm was recorded maximum (105.2 palm-1) in Laccadive Micro followed by 92.6 palm-1 in COD x WCT. The copra yield was highest in COD x WCT (9.3 kg) followed by Laccadive Ordinary (9.2 kg ). The hybrid CODXWCT (Chandrasankara), Lacadive Ordinary, Lacadive Micro and Philipines Ordinary performed better than the other cultivar or hybrids in West Bengal.

204-207

Authors: P. S. SANDHU, S. S. MAHAL AND V. SARDANA

A field experiment was conducted during the winter (rabi) season at the research farm of Punjab Agricultural University. Treatments consisted of two hybrids (PMH 128 and 145) and one variety RLC1 (check), three nitrogen levels (N , N , N kg ha-1) 100 125 150 and two row spacings (30 and 45 cm) evaluated in a split plot design. RLC 1 (check) registered significantly higher seed yield (17.68 q ha-1) than PMH 145 (14.70 q ha-1) and was statistically at par with PMH 128 (16.60 q ha-1). Among the three doses of nitrogen, 150 kg ha-1 of N application produced highest seed yield (17.09 q ha-1) which was statistically at par with 125 kg ha-1of N (16.74 q ha-1), however, significantly higher than 100 kg ha-1 of N (15.14 q ha-1). Among the two row spacing, seed yield was significantly higher in 30 cm 17.01 q ha-1as compared to 45 cm. Quality parameters (palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid and linolenic acid) were found to be highest in RLC1 (check). Higher erucic acid content was observed in PMH 128 and PMH 145 as compared to RLC1 (check).

213-215

Authors: R. N. SHINDE, P. N. KARANJIKAR AND D. N. GOKHALE

The field experiment was conducted at Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Latur during kharif, 2011 to study the effect of fertilizer levels and micronutrients on growth, yield and quality of soybean. Application of 100 per cent RDF (F ) 3 recorded significantly higher growth, yield and quality contributing characters followed by application of 75 per cent RDF (F ) 2 and 50 per cent RDF (F ).Application of Zinc (M ) recorded significantly higher growth, yield, and quality contributing 1 3 characters followed by Boron (M ) and Fe (M ). Application of 100 per cent RDF produced significantly higher seed yield (2972 1 2 kg ha-1) than 50 per cent RDF (1986 kg ha-1) and 75 per cent RDF (2527 kg ha-1) and Zn application @ 10 kg ha-1 (2668 kg ha-1) produced significantly higher seed yield than Fe @ 10 kg ha-1 (2290 kg ha-1) but was found to be at par with B @ 2 kg ha-1. In case of oil yield, 100 per cent RDF (608 kg ha-1) recorded significantly higher oil yield than other treatments. In case of micronutrients Zn application @ 10 kg ha-1 recorded significantly higher oil yield (556 kg ha-1) than Fe application @ 10 kg ha-1 (475kg ha-1), but it was at par with the B application @ 2 kg ha-1 (513 kg ha-1).

220-224

Authors: S. ADHIKARY, M. K. PANDIT , A. V. V. KOUNDINYA, S. BAIRAGI AND A. DAS

The experiment was conducted in lower Gangetic alluvial zone of India at district seed farm (A-B Block), Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Nadia, West Bengal during autumn-winter season, 2012 and 2013. Experiment was conducted with the objectives to study the system productivity, profitability and interpretation of different intercropping systems of baby corn and vegetables. Baby corn was taken as the base crop and it was intercropped with vegetables such as tomato, chilli, brinjal and pea. Significantly highest baby corn equivalent yield (BEY) was exhibited by baby corn + pea (115 q ha-1) followed by baby corn + brinjal (110.5 q ha-1), baby corn + tomato (108.5 q ha-1) however, baby corn + chilli (91.4 q ha-1) was decreased in respect of sole baby corn (103.3 q ha-1). All the intercrop treatments recorded land equivalent ratio (LER) more than 1 and highest LER was observed for baby corn + pea (1.52) intercropping system. Highest benefit cost ratio (B:C) was observed in baby corn + pea (3.66) intercropping followed by baby corn + brinjal (2.78), baby corn + tomato (2.62) and baby corn + chilli (2.40). Highest monetary advantage index (MAI) was found for baby corn + pea (30753.4) intercropping system stating that it was the most profitable among all the intercropping treatments.In respect of relative crowding co-efficient (RCC),total K values ranged from t 2.87-13.47 suggesting yield advantage through intercropping. Positive aggressivity values of baby corn (A )were showing that baby corn dominated the vegetable intercrops.Higher CR values (4.65-10.65) than CR (0.1-0.22) pointed out the higher b v competitive ability of the baby corn for resources than vegetable intercrops. From this study it was found that baby corn based vegetable intercropping systems were productive and profitable than sole cropping of baby corn and among all the intercropping treatments baby corn + pea intercropping system was established as the most productive and profitable than other systems.

227-228

Authors: A. SASMAL

An experiment was conducted to study the insect pest population in finger millet crop and presence of beneficial insects at the Centre for Pulse Research, Berhampur, OUAT, Odisha under All India Coordinated Small Millet Improvement Project during Kharif, 2013 which included 32 number of Initial Varietal Trials entries and one local check. The results indicated that the infestation due to grasshoppers ranged from 0 to 4.6%, due to aphids ranged from 0 to 7.4% and infestation of panicles varied from 1.4% to 12.4%, and due to stem borer infestation the percentage of ‘Dead Heart’ was noted 0 to 20.1% in different entries. Among different types of naturally available beneficial fauna in ragi, the spiders and coccinellids are predominant one.

232-235

Authors: P. O. BHUTADA AND V. M. BHALE

Chickpea is one of the important and most commonly using pulse crop in the world. Just like other pulse crops, yield of chickpea, nutrient, resources may be drastically reduced by weed infestation. The objective of the study was to study the relative efficacy of herbicides and cultural practices on nutrient uptake by Chickpea and weed. The maximum nutrient uptake by chickpea was found in 2H at 15 and 30 DAS + HW at 40 DAS (T ) followed by T , T , T , and T . The uptake of highest nutrients was found in treatments 10 8 4 9 5 T followed by T , which may be due to lowest weed count. treatment T show high gross monetary return, net return and B: C ratio 10 8 10 due to best weed control high Fertilizer use efficiency.

13-18

Authors: KUMARI NAMRATA, P.W. BASARKAR1, M. SRINIVASA2

A field experiment was conducted with eight treatments exposed to Homa atmosphere replicated during kharif season to study the biochemical efficacy of Homa Organic Farming in soybean crop (JS 335) by creating Homa atmosphere. The conventional control (CC) and control without Homa (CWH) were maintained 1 km away. A common basal treatment of cow dung (CD) and cow urine (CW) was given to seeds of Homa treatment. Agnihotra Homa (AH) at sunrise and sunset and Om Tryambakam Homa (OTH) performed for 3-4 h daily yielded smoke and ash were used for seed treatment and for furrow application and Biosol was used for soil and foliar application. Treatment T (Seed treatment with OTH ash, fresh CD and CW + furrow application of OTH 3 ash) was significantly superior over control in case of nodule count and nodule dry weight. The macro and micro nutrients increased in Treatment T (Seed treatment with AH ash, fresh CW and CW + furrow application of AH ash), T , T (Seed treatment 2 3 4 with AH ash + fresh CW and CW + soil application of Biosol) and T (Seed treatment with OTH ash, fresh CW and CW + soil 5 application of Biosol) was recorded. Soil Zn content and dehydrogenase activity increased over control with treatment T and T . 2 4 Total protein and oil content increased on HT and activities of â-amylase and invertase in soy seeds on soil application of Biosol were superior. Homa smoke, ashes and Biosol thus show promise to the farming community to produce crops with good returns.

25-36

Authors: MIRZA MUSAYEV

A detailed investigation about the biodiversity and breeding of grapes was undertaken at Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan is a rich source of plant genetic resources due to diverse soil and climatic condition. Vine growing is one of the most ancient and widely adopted culture to support the economic life of the people. Different information indicated that the history of cultured vine growing in Azerbaijan has at least 7 millenium. Scientist and tresearchers indicated that centre of origin of grape in Azerbaijan and Southern Caucasus. Wild grape [V. Vinifera L. Subsq. sylvestris (C.C. Gmel) Hegi] spreads on the teritory of Azerbaijan from 12m below sea level to 200m above sea level. There are two kinds of wild grape: Typica negr (with hair)and Aberrans negr (hairless). At present more than 600 lacal and introduced grape varieties are spread in Azerbaijan, of which more than 100 varieties are threatened. White, red, black and pink coloured table, technical and universal grape varieties are cultivated. Wide variation in duration for maturity ( 120 to more than 171 days) was observed among the types. Plartid DNA sequence variation study revealed presence of three polymorphic sites in DNA: on in tra H – psp A intergenic region and two in rpl 16 intron area. The varieties were divided into four different haplotypes: AAA, ATT, GTA and ATA. Some resistant varieties against mildew, oidinm and grey rot diseases identified. Salt and drought tolerant varieties also reported. Most of the local threatened varieties are conserved for utilizing them in future improvement programme.

42-47

Authors: M. GHOSH, P. K. PATRA AND 1C. BHATTACHARYYA

A field experiment was conducted to explore the potentiality of growing rice varieties under limited supply of irrigation water. Seven varieties of rice under 5 water management practices were evaluated in the farmers’ field at Jhargram. Water management practices exerted significant influence on height, grain and straw yield and the highest grain yield (3.38 t ha-1) was recorded under continuously flooded water regime (CF). Limited supply of irrigation water at different stages of growth decreased grain yield ranging from 27.5 to 43.5% compared to that in CF.Rice genotypes exhibited differential response to water management practices. Though UPLRi -7 produced the highest grain yield (4.39 t ha-1) under CF, under limited water supply IR -36 was still the best variety producing the highest average grain yield (3.31 t ha-1).The present research work pointed out that without ensuring adequate supply of irrigation water rice cultivation during boro season may not be profitable in the Red and Laterite zone of West Bengal.

53-55

Authors: D. MANNA, T. K. MAITY AND A. GHOSAL1

A study was conducted at Horticultural Research Station, Mondouri, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur, Nadia, West Bengal during rabi season (November- April) of 2010 and 2011. The main aim of the experiment was to enhance the production of onion through assessing the effect of different levels of boron and zinc. The experiment consisting of 4 levels of boron (0, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.5 %) and 4 levels of zinc (0, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.5 %) were applied as foliar spraying. Application of 0.5% boron significantly increased the growth (plant height, 63.93cm and number of leaf per plant, 7.25), yield (30.74 t ha-1) and quality (Total soluble solids, 13.45ºB and pyruvic acid 5.94 μmol.g-1) of onion. Among various levels of zinc 0.5% exhibited the best growth (plant height, 67.25cm and number of leaf per plant, 7.75), yield (33.34 t ha-1) and quality (Total soluble solids, 14.57 0B and pyruvic acid, 5.86 μmolg-1) attributes of onion.

61-63

Authors: S. N. GHOSH, 1B. BERA AND 1S. ROY

An investigation was made to find out the effect of interval of watering on control of fruit drop and to improve the yield in ber cv. Banarasi Karka cultivar of ber grown in laterite soil. There were six treatments which included as application of basin watering @ 60 litres/plant, applied at 15, 20, 25, 30 days (at two different dates )interval and no watering (control). Tree basin was mulched with grasses in all the treatments including control. The result of two years of investigation revealed that basin watering @ 60 liters /plant at 20 days interval started from 20th October and continued upto 5th January resulted in highest fruit retention (42%) which consequently resulted in highest fruit yield of 14.6 kg/plant as against 6.2 kg–1/plant in control. Maximum in fruit weight, pulp percentage and ascorbic acid content in fruit were also significantly noted from plants, watered at 20 days interval.

69-72

Authors: B. DE, B. DAS1 B. DAS2 AND A. C. SINHA

A field experiment was conducted in the experimental farm of Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Pundibari, Cooch Behar, West Bengal during 2007, 2008 and 2009 to study the effect of integrated nutrient management on yield, uptake and economics of Rapeseed (Brassica campestris var. yellow sarson). Based on pooled data treatment T (50% RDF + FYM @ 2.5 t ha-1 + VC 11 @1.25 t ha-1 + NC @ 1.25 t ha-1 + PM @ 1.25 t ha-1) recorded highest grain yield of 13.48 q ha-1 which was statistically at par with T (T + Neemcake @ 2.5 t ha-1) and T (T + Vermicompost @ 2.5 t ha-1) (13.40 q ha-1). However, T (100 % RDF+ Borax @ 10.0 Kg 9 1 8 1 1 ha-1) fetched highest B: C ratio.

77-81

Authors: B. PRAMANICK, K. BRAHMACHARI1 AND A. GHOSH1

A field experiment was conducted during pre-kharif season of 2012 and 2013 with the focal objectives of studying the efficacy of seaweed saps derived from two marine algae viz. Kappaphycus and Gracilaria on growth and yield improvement of sesame , nutrient uptake by the crop and monetary advantage. The foliar spray was performed thrice at different concentrations (0, 2.5, 5.0, 10.0 and 15.0% v/v) of seaweed extracts. Such application of seaweed extracts significantly enhanced the growth and yield parameters. The highest seed yield was evidenced with the combined applications of 15% Kappaphykus sap and 75% recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) and this treatment was closely followed by the application of 15% Gracilaria sap along with 75% RDF. The maximum net monetary return (`28650) and benefit: cost ratio (1.99) were documented with this treatment. Nutrient uptake (N, P and K) was also increased with seaweed extract applications.

93-97

Authors: S. ISLAM, R. CHATTERJEE AND S. DATTA

The experiment was laid out in split plot design with three replications. Treatments consisted of five cauliflower varieties allotted in main plot viz, Girija (V ), White Excel (V ), Remi (V ), Pushpa (V ) and White Marvel (V ) whereas bio-inoculants treatment 1 2 3 4 5 (with or without bio-inoculants) as seedling root dipping was taken as sub plot. The pooled results indicated that seedling root dipping in bio-inoculants had significant role on the performance of cauliflower varieties. Curd initiation and curd maturity were advanced in presence of bio-inoculants. The curd weight and total yield per hectare were found superior in presence of bioinoculants. Variety White Marvel in presence of bio-inoculants emergence best with respect to days to curd initiation (42.75 days) and days to curd maturity (51.84 days), whereas White Excel variety produced significantly highest curd weight (1274.67 g) and yield (29.58 t/ha) in presence of bio-inoculants. However the presence of bio-inoculants showed non-significant differences for the quality attribute like vitamin-A and ascorbic acid content of curd.

101-106

Authors: S. DE AND S M. RAHAMAN

The economics of cabbage production and price spread in marketing of cabbage was under taken during the year 2010-11, while primary data was collected from three villages namely Ola, Nikunjipur and Pingrui of Onda block in Bankura district of West Bengal. Three major marketing channels were identified in direct sale of cabbage that are of very short period. The price spread was estimated to be Rs. 2.69 / kg of cabbage in channel III followed by Rs.1.66 in channel II and only Rs. 1.18 per kg of cabbage in channel I, which indicates a very normal situation with greater marketing efficiency.

111-114

Authors: B. MITRA, S. MOOKHERJEE AND S. BISWAS

Rice is a main crop in the terai region of West Bengal, India where it grows extensively under rainfed condition during monsoon months. The participatory approaches revealed the real problem associated with rice cultivation and it has been found that the farmers of this geographic regions are in urgent need of a short duration high yielding rice variety in lieu of the traditional long duration variety MTU-7029 to catch the rabi season in time. Considering the factual need of the farming community, the front line demonstration has been planned by the KVK and FLDs were conducted in an area of 56.53 hectares involving 306 farmers in eleven adopted villages of the KVK across five different blocks of Coochbehar district. It was revealed that the yield of newly introduced rice variety Gotra Bidhan-1(G-B-1) increased successively over the years in demonstration plots and with little increase in cost of cultivation under demonstration a higher return was achieved. The technology gap, ranging between 14.0-7.0 q ha-1 with an average of 10.83 q ha-1, reflected the farmers’ cooperation in carrying out the demonstrations with encouraging results. The extension gap increased slightly during the successive years (8.50 to 9.00 during 2010-11 and 9.00 to 11.50 during 2011-12). The successive decreased value of technology index reflected the feasibility of the variety in farmers’ field.

121-125

Authors: J.K. HORE, N. CHATTOPADHYAY, M.K. SAMANTA1, D. MURMU AND S. GHANTI

The experiment was conducted at teaching farm, Mondouri, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, W.B. during 2009 and 2010, to assess the efficacy of different chemicals on growth and yield of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) cv. Suguna. Five chemicals namely GA (50, 100 and 200 ppm), Ethrel (25, 50 and 100 ppm), KH PO (0.25, 0.50 and 1.0%), KNO (0.25, 0.50 and 1.0%) and 3 2 4 3 Thiourea (0.25, 0.50 and 1.0%) were included in this investigation. The experiment was laid out in RBD with three replications. Rhizomes (30-35 g) were soaked in different chemicals for two hours and water soaked rhizomes for same duration was treated as control. The plot size was 3 x 1 m and treated rhizomes were planted at 25 x 25 cm spacing. The FYM @ 20 tonnes per ha along with NPK @ 150:60:150 kg/ha-1 was applied uniformly to all the treatments. Crop was mulched immediately after planting with paddy straw @ 10 t ha-1. Maximum plant height (184.16 cm), leaf number (22.78) and tiller number (3.28) were noticed in plants raised from thiourea 0.5%, KNO 0.25% and thiourea 0.25% at 180 days after planting. Rhizomes treated with KH PO 0.5% 3 2 4 produced significantly higher maximum clump weight (346.28 g), yield per plot (14.97 kg/ 3 sq. m) and projected yield (34.37 t ha-1) as compared to control 258.34g, 10.62 kg/3m2 and 26.55 t ha-1 respectively. The other promising treatments with respect to yield were GA 200 ppm (14.35 kg/ 3 sq. m) and KNO 0.25% (13.75 kg/ 3 sq. m).

130-133

Authors: M. M. ADHIKARY, K. PRADHAN1 AND R. SAHARIA

The concept of ‘entrepreneurship development’ is becoming global phenomenon today not only because of industrial growth and business ventures but also a solution of unemployment and for the socio-economic prosperity of the community. In case of handicraft, craft form is a significant sector in India, not only because of their intrinsic cultural and aesthetic value but also because of their promising potential for economic development. An entrepreneurship development process is a judicious blend of management and risk orientation process for profit maximization. The present study was conducted at Pub Nalbari block of Nalbari district and Balipara block of Sonitpur district under the state Assam with respondents selected randomly. For the growth of any enterprise efficient management plays a key role. This management includes planning, production and market management. The study revealed that majority of the handicraft entrepreneurs efficiently managing their enterprise for profit maximization and experience, increased income, education and use of skill hired labour played a crucial role in entrepreneurship management, quality product and minimizes the risk and ultimately improves the performance of the enterprise.

139-142

Authors: V. VISALAKSHMI, P. RAMA MOHANA RAO AND 1N. HARI SATYANARAYANA

Field experiments were conducted during rabi 2008-09 and 2009-10 at Agricultural Research Station, Ragolu, Srikakulam district in Andhra Pradesh to assess the comparative incidence of insect pests in two different systems of rice cultivation i.e., System of Rice Intensification (SRI) and in conventional transplanting method. Incidence of yellow stem borer (Scirpophaga incertulas (Walker)) was recorded at tillering stage and at reproductive stage whereas, incidence of gallmidge (Orseolia oryzae (Wood Mason)) was recorded only at tillering stage. Stem borer incidence was low in SRI method (6.1% dead hearts and 7.2% white ears) compared to conventional method of cultivation (15.6% DH and 11.9% WE). The same trend continued in case of gall midge too with 4.1% silver shoots in SRI method against 7.1% in conventional method. In the conventional transplanting method gallmidge incidence was low in MTU1010 (6.4%) where as stem borer incidence at vegetative (15.1%) and reproductive stage (11.1) was low in hybrid. Yield increase to the tune of 1.3% and 11.88% were recorded in SRI over conventional transplanting method during rabi 2008 and 2009 respectively in hybrid Arize 6444 and MTU1010 variety. Yield increase in case of SRI method was more in MTU1010 during rabi 2008 (11.73%) where as it was more in hybrid during rabi 2009 (17.3%). Highest cost benefit ratio was observed in SRI method with hybrid Arize 6444 during 2008 (1:1.70) and 2009 (1:1.72).

147-151

Authors: R. PODDAR, S. BERA1, R. K. GHOSH AND D. PAL

A field trail was conducted during the pre-kharif season of 2011 and 2012 Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, West Bengal to evaluate the weed management practices through ammonium salt of Glyphosate 71% SG and its influence on soil micro-flora in cotton. The application of Glyphosate 71% SG on inter row in cotton @ 3.5 l ha-1 recorded better weed control efficiency in comparison to its lower dose though the result showed at par results with hand weeding (at earlier stages), applications of Glyphosate 41% SL @ 3 l ha-1 and Paraquat dichloride 24%SL @ 2.5 l ha-1 increased the yield of cotton under irrigated condition. Initially after application herbicides with different doses reduced the microflora population significantly but after the degradation it increased microflora (bacteria, actinomycetes and fungi) population considerably.

163-166

Authors: R. PANSE, 1A. GUPTA, 2P. K. JAIN, 3D. S. SASODE AND 3S. SHARMA

Field experiments were carried out at Vegetable Research Farm, JNKVV, Jabalpur during three consecutive years 2009-12 to find out the efficacy of different herbicides in onion crop. The dominant weed flora recorded over Chenopodium album, Melilotusalbus, Eragrostis cillansis, Parthenium hysterophorus, Anagallis arvensisL., Cyperus rotundus and Sperogula arvensis. Among the various treatments, the application of Oxyfluorfen 23.5% EC before planting + Quizalofop ethyl 5 % EC at 30 days after transplanting recorded highest weed control efficiency and higher marketable bulb yield with cost benefit ratio.

172-174

Authors: I. DAS, A. K. PRADHAN AND A. P. SINGH1

Indiscriminate use of synthetic chemicals and the problems arising from them forced all concerned to think about the alternative means. Organic manures such as farmyard manure, compost, vermicompost, biofertilisers etc. can be used at least as supplement, if not as substitute. Among the components of organic farming cited above, biofertilizers (Rhizobium for legumes, Azotobacter for non legume crops, Azolla for low land paddy) are very important as they are ready to use live formulates of beneficial microorganisms which on application to seed, root or soil mobilize the availability of nutrients by their biological activity in particular and help build up the micro flora and in turn the soil health in general. Root colonizing bacteria (rhizobacteria), which exert beneficial effects on plant development, have been defined as “Plant Growth Plant Rhizobacteria” (PGPR). Mungbean, being a leguminous crop fixes 31-85 kg N ha-1. Rhizobium which supplies about 20-40 kg N ha-1, can be considered as a complementary or supplementary source of plant nutrient. Roy and Hore ( 2012) demonstrated highes soil fertility build up with organic manure microbial inoculants combination compared to inorganic nutrient. Inoculation of Rhizobium to mungbean enhances nodulation, nitrogen fixation and grain yield. Yield increase from 10 to 37 per cent following inoculation has been reported in mungbean (Mortan et al., 1982).

179-181

Authors: A. B. MANDAL, H. M. THAPA, D. PAL1 AND A. MANNA2

In West Bengal wheat growing climate is widely different than other states where the duration is about 140 – 150 days. In West Bengal winter persist not more than 100 – 110 days generally. Thus, an ideal climate required for optimum wheat crop is meager in the state. More over wheat is grown generally after the harvest of aman rice resulting delay in sowing (late sown condition). Besides wheat crop is affected to sudden rise in temperature resulting initiation of reproductive phase. During grain developmental phase the temperature exceeds 35ºC. this reduces grain size and grain filling which ultimately results substantial loss in wheat yield. No studies have been made on incomplete grain filling (sterility) as well as effect of boron application on grain filling under new alluvial soil zone. Therefore, the present studies have been made on the above object in addition to nitrogen concentration of whole plant.

186-188

Authors: S. DATTA, 1R. DAS, D. SINGH, 1U. THAPA AND 1A. R. MANDAL

Besides its significance to human food security, potato is also a crop with fascinating genetic traits and cultural history (Swaminathan, 1999). The presentday cultivated potatoes (tetraploid; 2n=4x=48) in most part of the world represent S. tuberosum subsp. tuberosum and S. tuberosum subsp. andigena, although their numerous diploid (2n=2x=24) relatives are still under cultivation in and around its primary and secondary centre of origin in South America. Genetic variability has been considered to be the basis of plant breeding (Simmonds, 1962). So, genetic variability in any crop is the essential prerequisite for initiation of breeding work. Potato being the vegetative propagated crop, clonal selection is the important breeding method and for executing the effective selection programmes association between different characters is a pre-requisite. Complex polygenic traits e.g. tuber yield in potatoes can be improved through indirect selection for close component traits (Killick, 1977). Therefore, study of correlation coefficient among various desirable characters is one of the most important aspects for any breeding programme to elucidate the degree of favourable or unfavourable association between different useful characters. Given this back drop, the present investigation was undertaken to assess correlation among different agronomical and economically important traits of thirty five potato genotypes.

4-9

Authors: R. K. GHOSH, S. SENTHARAGAI AND D. SHAMURAILATPAM

The System of Rice Intensification (SRI) shows promise for substantially raising rice productivity by using farmers’ improve thinking and practice with resources what farmers already have, besides offering increase soil & plant health, saving resources & lowering GHG emission. The on station field experiments (weed, nutrient & water management) were conducted at the Viswavidyalaya farm, Mohanpur during summer 2012 - 2014 in transplanted puddled paddy cv. IET 4786 following SRI methodology. In nutrient management the experiment was conducted with RBD replicated four times and with five treatments viz. N -100% NPK through inorganic fertilizers; N 25% organic N + 75% inorganic N + 100% PK through inorganic fertilizers; N - 1 2- 3 50% organic N + 50% inorganic N + 100% PK through inorganic fertilizers; N -75% organic N + 25% inorganic N + 100% PK 4 through inorganic fertilizers and N - 100 % N through organic + 100% PK through inorganic fertilizers. The field experiment on 5 water management was conducted with four treatments (2-3 cm water submergence in active tillering, panicle initiation and flowering only and rest period irrigation at hair crack stage (2-3 cm WS at AT, PI and F + HC), irrigation at hair crack stage (HC), 2-3 cm water submergence (2-3 cm WS) and Farmers’ practice with 3-5 cm water submergence (FP) following RBD replicated six times. There were six treatments on weed management [Weedy check (WC); two mechanical weeding at 15 and 40 DAT (2 MW); three mechanical weeding at 15,25 and 40 DAT (3 MW); hand weeding at 25 DAT + 2 ME (HW + MW); chemical Pretilachlor 50 EC @ 500 g ha-1 at 1 DAT + 2 MW (CC+ MW) and aqueous extracts of Pathenium, Calotropis and Tectona leaves @ 5 ml litre of water-1 + surfactant Tween 20 at 1 DAT + 2 MW (BC + MW)] and the experiment was laid out in RBD replicated four times. The results revealed that 75 % N as organic + 100% PK through inorganic fertilizers showed better paddy productivity in addition to more soil population of soil biota and nutrient availability. The most interesting result was that keeping PK as constant in 100 % N through organic sources, the insect and pathogenic pest’s infestation was reduced to the tune of 31.13 % fb 75 % N as organic (22.2 %), 50 % N as organic (15.5 %) and 25 % N as organic (4.46%) as compared to 100 % N through inorganic treatment. In water management experiment the results revealed that the total water used in this experiment was 6.88, 4.72, 8.06 and 10.23 million lit ha-1 against treatments 2-3 cm WS at AT, PI and F + HC, HC, 2-3 cm WS and FP, respectively. The corresponding figures for water saving in respect to FP were 32.78, 53.90 and 21.23 %. The grain yield data also revealed that 3750.00, 3347.22, 3027.78, and 3138.89 kg ha-1 were obtained against the treatments 2-3 cm WS at AT, PI and F +HC, HC, 2-3 cm WS and FP, respectively. Therefore, the water required for kg yield of rice were 1833.84, 1409.20, 2661.60 and 3259.40 litre, respectively. With a common 20.80 % O in all plots at 25 DAT in FP the average GHG CO , CO, N O and Methane emissions were 2 2 2 to the tune of 398 ppm, 0.97%, 17 and 40 kg ha-1 , respectively and the corresponding figures at 55 DAT were 399 ppm, 0.99%, 21 and 46 kg ha-1 but in SRI treatment 2-3 cm WS at AT, PI and F + HC these data were 394 ppm, 0.92%, and 16 and 25 kg ha-1 at 25 DAT while at 55 DAT the corresponding figures are 395ppm, 0.95%, 25 and 32 kg ha-1. In weed management experiment the BC + MW could be the best alternative of both HW + MW and CC + MW treatments by increasing the NPV (considering biological yield) 3.14 and 3.77 %, respectively and over the WC by 54.1 %. The experimental results were also verified at on farm locations of nine districts of West Bengal (Nadia, Howrah, Hooghly, Burdwan, Birbhum, Purba and Paschim Medinipur, and North and South 24 parganas) during summer 2013 and 2014. An average of 8.0 - 15.5% more paddy grain yield was also observed over the traditional transplanted rice (TTR) . In Conclusion more organic nutrient application with BC + MW at 15 and 40 DAT weed management and 2-3 cm WS at AT, PI and F + HC water management were the best for increasing paddy productivity in SRI system at this Gangetic plains of India.

14-18

Authors: J. K. HORE, S. GHANTI AND M. CHANCHAN

The experiment was carried out at Horticultural Research Station, Mondouri, BCKV during the rabi (winter) season of two consecutive years i.e. 2009-10 and 2010-11. In both the years, big to medium size cloves cv. Katki were planted during middle of October, in 2.0 m x 1.5 m plots, at 20 x 15 cm spacing accommodating 100 plants per plot. The experiment with four levels of sulphur (0, 20, 40 and 60 kg ha-1) and five levels of nitrogen (50, 100, 150, 200 and 250 kg ha-1) was laid out in split plot design with 3 replications assigning sulphur levels in main plot and nitrogen levels in sub-plots.The maximum plant height (76.16 cm), leaf number (11.96), equatorial diameter (3.92 cm), and number of cloves per bulb (34.27) were observed with S N . But the plants 60 250 grown under S N interaction recorded widest leaf (1.52 cm), maximum polar diameter (3.67 cm), weight of bulb (33.68 g), yield 60 200 per plot (3.00 kg per 3m2), projected yield (7.50 t ha-1), maximum net return (Rs. 1,48,038/-) and B : C ratio (1.92). The minimum plant height (50.72 cm), leaf number (7.32), weight of bulb (19.15 g), projected yield (4.23 t/ha), net return (Rs. 52,736/-) and B:C ratio (0.71) were observed under S N treatment. From yield maximization and B:C ratio point of view 60 kg S ha-1 and 200 kg N 0 50 ha-1 was found best when applied with 125 kg P O and 150 kg K O ha-1.

24-30

Authors: M. M. RAHMAN AND M. M. MASOOD

The sustainability of rice productivity in Bangladesh is likely to face major threat due to water shortage during boro (winter season). The conventional transplanted boro rice requires huge amount of irrigation water due to wastage of various means. It is an imperative task that water saving production technology is needed to replace the conventional system for sustaining boro rice production in the country ensuring food security. Keeping with this in view, a field experiment was conducted during two consecutive boro seasons of 2009-10 and 2010-11 on two rice varieties viz. V - BRRI dhan28 and V - BRRI dhan29 in farmers 1 2 field under three different systems viz. T - puddle transplanted conventional irrigated, T - puddle transplanted alternate wetting 1 2 and drying irrigated and T - dry direct seeded systems at four locations of Bangladesh viz. Sundarban in Sadar of Dinajpur, 3 Norkona in Modhupur of Tangail, Narandia in Purbadhala of Netrokona and Bijoynagar in Godagari of Rajshahi, respectively. At each location, the experiment used a split-plot design with four disperse location allocating systems in the main plot and variety as sub-plot.The result revealed that the rice yield and economic return for both the varieties were highest in dry direct seeded system. The number of irrigation required for puddle transplanted conventional system were 14-19, while those for dry direct seeded field and puddle transplanted alternate wetting and drying fields were 6-9 and 11-15, respectively. The puddle transplanted alternate wetting and drying field and dry direct seeded fields used about 24% and 58% less irrigation water than the puddle transplanted conventional irrigated field. The study concluded that dry direct seeding could be practiced for boro rice cultivation to get higher yield using 58% less irrigation water.

38-42

Authors: J. S. BINDHU, S. K. RAJ AND L. GIRIJADEVI

Onattukara sandy loam tract an important agro ecological zone spread over the Karunagapally taluk of Kollam and Karthikapally and Mavelikara taluks of Alappuzha districts of Kerala. The soils are highly permeable, acidic in reaction and are extremely deficient in all the major plant nutrients. Sesamum is mainly grown in Kerala as a sole crop in the summer rice fallows of Onattukara tract. The crop grows in this tract utilizing the residual moisture available in rice fields. The establishment of the crop is often poor resulting in low productivity. Hence an experiment was laid out to find out the suitability of raising pulses as an inter crop in Sesamum and to find out the nutrient status and residual effect of the intercropping. The experiment was laid out in Randomised Block Design with 9 treatments viz Sesamum sole (T ), black gram sole (T ), green gram sole (T ), Sesamum + 1 2 3 Blackgram (1:1) (T ), Sesamum + black gram (2:1) ( T ), Sesamum + black gram (3:1) (T ), Sesamum + green gram (1:1) (T ), 4 5 6 7 Sesamum + green gram (2:1) (T ), Sesamum + green gram (3:1) (T ) with 4 replication. Sesamum being a soil exhausting crop, the 8 9 inclusion of leguminous crops like black gram and green gram may benefit the companion crop through current nitrogen transfer and to the rice crop through the residual effect. The soil test data after the experiment indicated a significant positive build up of nitrogen and phosphorus in all plots except in plots of sole crop of Sesamum. Among intercropping system, Sesamum + Blackgram in 1:1 ratio gave highest monetary returns and biological efficiencies. The results indicated that legume association with Sesamum could increase the total productivity in addition to the enrichment of soil fertility. Thus, in summer rice fallows instead of growing sole crop of Sesamum, intercropping of Sesamum with black gram in 1:1 proportion can be recommended as an economically viable, biologically suitable and sustainable intercropping system.

50-56

Authors: C. K. CHANDRAKAR, G.K. SHRIVASTAVA, S. K. DWIVEDI AND NIVEDITA

An experiment was conducted during winter season 2010-11 and 2011-12. The soil of experimental site was clay loam in texture, neutral in soil reaction. The climate of the region is sub humid with an average annual rainfall of 1200-1400 mm. Results revealed that minimum total weed density and total weed dry weight was found under drip irrigation (100% of Open pan evaporation) at all stages during both the years and on mean basis, yield attributes and total tuber yield of potato crop was significantly maximum under drip irrigation (125% of Open pan evaporation) as compared to furrow irrigation. The herbicide Metribuzin (500 g a.i. ha- 1PE) proved better among other weed management practices recorded minimum total weed density and total weed dry weight was found at all stages and the maximum yield attributes and total tuber yield of potato crop. Application of 75% N inorganic fertilizer + 25 % N organic (Poultry manure) + PSB + Azotobactor was found non significant to weed control while produced significantly highest yield attributes and total tuber yield.

63-70

Authors: P. K. CHAKRABORTY, M. DUTTA AND L. DAS

Nine IMD stations (Alipore, Krishnagar, Sagar Island, Midnapore, Berhampore, Bankura, Contai, Shantiniketan, Haldia), distributed randomly in alluvial, red-laterite and coastal regions of West Bengal, were selected for studying the temperature change. First five stations have database of 105 years, sixth, seventh and eighth stations have database of 45years and the ninth station has the database of 15 years during the period of 1901-2005. Six GCMs simulations wore used for the purpose of model validation and future temperature change for the year 2050. First five stations showed drastic rise of temperature ranging from 1.24-3.67º C in 105 years in the post-monsoon season whereas the stations in the red laterite zone recorded a nominal change of temperature ranging from 0.26-0.980C during 1961-1990. The winter seasons showed the similar warming trend (0.75-2.810C in 105years) alike post monsoon in the first five stations. Abrupt warming (~0.05-3.03ºC) was recorded in last 15 years in the remaining four stations. All GCM models showed a rise of post-monsoon temperature by 0.8-1.8 ºC indicating slightly under estimate the observed warming whereas the winter warming is well simulated by GCMs as 1.4-2.4ºC. Irrespective of these two seasons, future temperature may rise by 1.4-1.80C with reference to 1961-90 at end of 2050. This temperature may rise have an important effect on growth and productivity of crops sown during October-March.

77-81

Authors: V. S. KUCHI, R. GUPTA, R. GUPTA AND S. TAMANG

Firm ripe guava fruits of Lucknow-49 harvested from college farm were used for the study. Jelly bar of 2 cm x 7 cm pieces were made and packed in LDPE and laminated aluminium foil pouches. Storage study was conducted in ambient and refrigerated conditions for two months. Among different treatment combinations, the recipe with 50 % sugar, 0.3% citric acid and 0.5 % pectin added to pulp extract recorded highest organoleptic score. Physico-chemical characteristics like total sugars and TSS increased while acidity, pectin content, ascorbic acid, and organoleptic scores decreased in the jelly bar stored in ambient condition while the changes are negligible for the jelly bar in refrigerated storage. Jelly bar packed in laminated aluminium foil and stored in refrigerated condition has better quality till consumption.

89-93

Authors: B. ROY

Seed is the most important input to harvest a good crop. The potential yield of crop depends on the quality of the seed used for cultivation of crop. Use of quality seeds alone can enhance the crop productivity by 15-25%. One of the main reasons for low productivity of crops is unavailability of reliable quality seeds in the local markets. To enhance productivity, seed should be of high quality, which will express full potential yield of the genotype under favourable cultivation environments. Therefore, there is urgent need to establish quality seed sources at least for major crops of northern part of West Bengal. Considering the importance of quality seeds of crops, Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya started Farmers’ Participatory Seed Production Programme since 2006. Initially, leading farmers were selected for seed production in two villages, namely Kharikabari (Unishbisha, Mathabhanga-2) and Petlanepra (Chotosalbari, Sitalkuchi) of Cooch Behar district. First two years (2006 and 2007), the farmers were trained on seed production technologies of major field crops of northern part of West Bengal. The farmers of Sitalkutchi and Unishbisha who involved in seed production under the guidance of UBKV were brought under one umbrella forming a Self Help Group - Suphala Beej Swanirbhar Gosthi in June 2008, and registered under District Rural Development Cell, Cooch Behar in 2008. The SBSG is producing Certified and Foundation seeds of different varieties of rice, potato, pulses and mustard. The seed is being registered and certified by the West Bengal Seed Certification Agency on satisfaction of the quality of the produced seeds. The SHG sell the seeds in the brand name of Shyamali. The quantity of Certified Seeds production in the 2010-11 of rice and potato were 53 t and 75 t, respectively and subsequently the quantum of rice seed production increased to 186.0 t in Kharif-2011. Local farmers of Sitalkuchi and Mathabhanga blocks of Cooch Behar district get certified seeds of major field crops, particularly rice at reasonable price through this Farmers Participatory Seed Production programme of Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya.

104-107

Authors: BHANUPRIYA, B. DAS, N.H. SATYANARAYANA, S. MUKHERJEE AND K. K. SARKAR

The present investigation was planned to assess genetic diversity for yield, yield contributing traits and quality traits in forty nine germplasm of bread wheat along with 4 checks and two triticale variety collected from DWR, Karnal were evaluated in randomized block design with two replication in Nadia district of West Bengal during rabi season in two consecutive years 2010- 2011 and 2011-2012. Principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that five components (PC1 to PC5) accounted for about 75 % of the total variation among traits in bread wheat cultivars. Out of total principal components retained PC1, PC2 and PC3 with values of 25.9%, 17.1% and 13.3% respectively contributed more to the total variation. The first principal component had high positive loading for 9 characters out of 16 viz. weight of grains spike-1, number of grains spike-1, number of spikelets spike-1, spike length, plant height, days to heading, days to flowering, grain protein content and yield plant-1 which contributed more to the diversity. The result of present study could be exploited in planning and execution of future breeding programme in wheat.

111-117

Authors: M. K. KUNDU, S. MAJI, S. BASU, R. NATH AND ¹P. K. CHAKRABORTY

A study was conducted for two consecutive year (2012-2013 and 2013-2014) to assess the performances of sixteen pre-released and two standard varieties of bold seeded lentil for their growth and productivity potential. Germination of seed required 4 to 7 days. The duration of germination to branch initiation phase was 11 to 13 days; flower initiation required 32 to 57 days, in first year and 29 to 36 days in the second year. Significant differences were observed in plant height, nodule number, dry matter accumulation, yield and yield attributes of the crop. The dry matter accumulation was better in the second year. The seed yield was maximum in PL-129 in both the year. The second year yield was lower than the first year, as it was exposed to higher temperature during the reproductive phase of the crop. The maximum productivity of lentil would be archived when the maximum and minimum temperature during 100% flowering ranged from 24.6 to 28.6 and 10.1 to 10.9ÚC respectively.

122-127

Authors: S. K. ACHARYA, M. GUPTA AND A. BISWAS

A study was carried out to assess the correlates of employment and income generation through bamboo enterprise in Tripura. Here, 96 respondents were selected randomly from the Hezamara block of Tripura; total numbers of predictor variables were 19. The study revealed that the predictor variables namely family size, land under agricultural crop, land under bamboo, annual income before bamboo, energy consumption, cost incurred in bamboo cultivation had recorded significant association with employment and wage generation from bamboo enterprise. The variables like age, family size, land under agricultural crop, cropping intensity, land under bamboo, material possessed, energy consumption, cost incurred in bamboo cultivation, had been retained in the step down regression to imply that these variables were extremely important to these causal variables to interpret the reason and spectrum of variance of the consequent variable in its behavior and performance. It has been found that the variable family size has exerted the highest direct effect and routed highest indirect effect, the variable land under bamboo has been exerted the highest indirect effect, to characterize the man-days and wages generation from bamboo enterprise. From the cross loading of the canonical covariates, it can be inferred that, while the entire Y set of variable are in interactive relationship, the three left side variables i.e. man-days generated from bamboo enterprise and wages generated from bamboo enterprise have respondent and dovetailed some of the X set of variable.

135-140

Authors: K. PRADHAN AND P. TALUKDAR

In the realm of appropriate entrepreneurship development and management, the present study has undertaken to analyse the Entrepreneurship Development and Management Index (EDMI) and the relation of the same with the socio- psychological, sociopersonal and communication related determinants associated with the enterprise. The present study was conducted in three villages under Cooch Behar-II block in Cooch Behar district of West Bengal. Purposive as well as multistage sampling and random sampling procedures were followed for the selection of the respondents. The Entrepreneurship Development and Management Index (EDMI) is considered as the consequent variable for the study and the sixteen other variables were considered as antecedent variables for the study. The data were collected with the help of structured interview schedule through personal interview method. The collected data were processed into statistical analyses like coefficient of correlation, multiple regression and factor analysis. The variables annual income, land holding, material possession, house type, adoption leadership, management orientation, risk orientation, social participation, cosmopolitenes and mass media exposure are positively and significantly associated with the Entrepreneurship Development and Management Index of the entrepreneurs. The variables annual income, management orientation and risk orientation are contributing positively and significantly in case of characterising the Entrepreneurship Development and Management Index (EDMI) of the entrepreneurs. The R2 value being 0.554, it is to infer that the sixteen predictor variables put together have explained 55.40% variation embedded with the predicted variable EDMI. The five factors namely economic and social competency, family and farm interaction, educational exposure, capacity orientation and personal trait are identified which reflect the conglomeration of predictor variables in explaining the variations embedded with the Entrepreneurship Development and Management Index (EDMI).

147-154

Authors: VISHWAJITH K.P, B S DHEKALE, P K SAHU, P MISHRA AND MD NOMAN

Pulses are known as poor man’s meat as these are comparatively cheaper sources of protein in balancing human diet. In a populous developing country like India, production of pulses play pivotal role in nutritional security of the country. Production of pulses depends on many production factors like rainfall, fertilizer etc. and also on area under crops and its productivity. Analysis of production behaviour, modelling and forecasting of production taking all these factors in to consideration play vital role in human nutritional security. In this paper attempt has been made to analyse and forecast the production scenario of pulses in major pulses growing states of India. Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) methodology has been used to model and forecast the behaviour of pulses production with and without inclusion of the above factors of production. In most of the cases, inclusion of the factors of production in the model outperformed the simple ARIMA modelling. To take care of conditional variances, use of Generalised Autoregressive Conditional Heteroscedastic (GARCH) models are found in literature; the method has also been used in this study. From the forecasted value it is clear that among the Indian states, Madhya Pradesh has to play a major role in augmenting pulses production in India with its estimated share of 3661 thousand tons out of all India production of 14360 thousand tons in 2015. Comparative analysis reveals that uniform superiority of neither the ARIMA model nor the GARCH could be established in modeling and forecasting the production behavior of pulses in India.

166-169

Authors: D. ROY AND A. K. BANDYOPADHYAY

Scented or aromatic rice is nature’s gift to the Indian sub-continent and human kind at large. Compare to other classes of rice, aromatic rice is highly demanded and get better premium price in global market due to its pleasant aroma, superfine long slender grains with delicate curvature, remarkable linear elongation and excellent flaky soft texture on cooking. The concerned two agricultural university of West Bengal (Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya and Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya) have introduced the high yielding varieties of aromatic rice to the farming community with modern package of practices for betterment and popularization of aromatic rice through different Central and State sponsored projects. Accordingly farmers are showing very kin interest about the cultivation of aromatic rice and most of the farmers have already adopted the different varieties of aromatic rice. Keeping in view the vast potential and importance of aromatic rice cultivation to the state’s revenue in the broader sense and the impact of practice on improving the social life of the farmer, the study was under taken. The main objective of the study was to estimate the factors contributing towards the adoption of aromatic rice production technology. Two blocks from Nadia district of West Bengal were purposively selected for this study. The work was conducted with the dependent variable adoption behaviour and 22 independent variables categorised in three different factors viz socio-economic factors, sociopsychological factors and extension communication factors. For the study 150 respondents were selected purposively for interview in the year 2013. Data were collected through well structured interview schedule and analyzed by co-efficient of correlation and multiple regression analysis. Family type, family size, education, area under aromatic rice cultivation, land, farm power, material possession, annual income, attitude towards aromatic rice cultivation, knowledge level, market orientation, risk orientation, economic motivation, innovation proneness, personal cosmopolite were positively significant with the adoption behaviour of aromatic rice growers. From Regression analysis, the R2 value indicates that all the casual variables put together could explain 72.10% variation in the consequent variable. Natural hazards are found to be the greatest problem perceived by the respondents.

179-182

Authors: D. ROY, S. KUNDU, B. GHOSH, P. DUTTA AND R. PAL

Pummelo (Citrus maxima Merill.) is one of the major monoembryonic species of citrus. It is easily grown in inferior, marginal and backyard orchard. Pummelo is considered as an excellent tree for waste land development in arid and semi-arid region. The fruit is a fat, sodium and cholesterol free and this makes a very good source for dieters. It is also a good source of vitamin C and calories. The nutritional value of 100 g edible portion consists of 25 – 58 calories, 84.82 – 94.1 g moisture, 0.5 – 0.74 g protein, 0.2 – 1.56 g fat, 6.3 – 12.4 g carbohydrates, 0.3 – 0.82 g fiber, 0.5 – 0.86 g ash, 21 – 30 mg calcium, 20 – 27 mg phosphorus, 0.3 – 0.5 kg iron, 20 IU vitamin A, 0.04 – 0.07 mg thiamine, 0.02 mg riboflavin, 0.3 mg niacin and 30 – 43 mg ascorbic acid (Morton, 1987). In spite of tremendous potentiality for commercial exploitation, pummelo plants are yet to be given due importance in India. The cultivation and improvement of pummelo did not receive any attention so far. It is mostly grown in homestead gardens in many parts of India. No standard variety of pummelo is found except Nagpur Chakotra (Rajput and Haribabu, 2004). However, the diverse eco-geographical distribution in India and the occurrence of spontaneous mutation and natural hybridization have given rise to a wide range of variability in pummelo. West Bengal is also endowed with extremely diverse populations of pummelo in her diverse agro- ecological zones and altitudes.

190-195

Authors: B. KAR, S. KARMAKAR, 1G. SAHA AND R. BHATTACHARYA

The increasing demand of the growing population requires enhancement in the production of rice. This has a direct bearing on the global environment since the rice cultivation is one of the major contributors to the nitrous oxide (N O) emissions. As the rice 2 cultivation is intensified with the current practices and technologies, the nitrous oxide fluxes from paddy fields will substantially rise. Improved high yielding rice varieties together with efficient cultivation techniques will certainly contribute to the curtailment of the nitrous oxide emission. The effect of organic-fertilization on rice yield and their relationships with nitrous oxide fluxes as influenced by various weather factors was investigated taking various treatment as two dates of transplanting, two different aged seedlings for a most promising variety of Oryza sativa L. (Satabdi) under irrigated and rainfed condition. Trace gas fluxes from the soil were measured fortnightly throughout the entire growth period using a closed chamber method. Experimental results showed that N O emission rate was highest for rainfed rice fields than irrigated ones especially after 30 and 60 days of 2 transplanting. Canopy temperature and ambient temperature significantly affect the N O emission rate. In case of irrigated 2 system a positive correlation exists in between ambient temperature and N O emission after 30 and 60 DAT (R2= 0.98 and 0.31 2 respectively) but for rainfed condition the correlation was 0.45 and 0.33 only after 30 and 75 days after transplanting respectively. Another significant correlation was found in between canopy temperature and N O emission from both water 2 treatments as R2 = 0.35 and 0.38 for irrigated fields (30 and 60DAT respectively) and as R2 = 0.38 and 0.57 for rainfed fields (30 and 60 DAT respectively). These two climatic factors also affect the productivity of rice. Same trend of association was observed between N O emission potentiality and yield of rice where R2= 0.46 ( rainfed) and 0.17 ( irrigated) during 30DAT. So it is 2 concluded that during organic rice cultivation atmospheric parameters plays pivotal role in N O emission from rice field followed 2 by productivity of rice.

205-218

Authors: S. SHARMA AND R. THOKCHOM

India has a very rich plant biodiversity, many of which are medicinally useful. The rich resource is disappearing at an alarming rate as a result of over-exploitation. Therefore, the management of traditional medicinal plant resources has become a matter of urgency. An ever increasing demand of uniform medicinal plants based medicines warrants their mass propagation through plant tissue culture strategy. Tissue culture technology is potent and has opened extensive areas of research for biodiversity conservation. Plant in vitro regeneration is a biotechnological tool that offers a tremendous potential solution for the propagation of endangered and superior genotypes of medicinal plants which could be released to their natural habitat or cultivated on a large scale for the pharmaceutical product of interest. Tissue culture protocols have been developed for a wide range of medicinal plants, which includes endangered, rare and threatened plant species. Some of these endangered medicinal plants are Saussaurea lappa, Picorrhiza kurroa, Ginkgo biloba, Swertia chirata, Gymnema sylvestre, Tinospora cordifolia, Salaca oblonga, Holostemma, Celastrus paniculata, Oroxylum indicum, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Tylophora indica, Bacopa monnieri, Rauwolfia serpentina. The conventional means of propagation takes a long time for multiplication and also clonal non uniform. Conventionally, there are two methods of conservation: in situ and ex situ conservation, both are complementary to each other. In situ methods allow conservation to occur with ongoing natural evolutionary processes ex situ conservation via in vitro propagation also acts as a viable alternative for increase and conservation of populations of existing bioresources in the wild and to meet the commercial requirements. A review highlighting various in vitro protocols developed for selected rare and threatened plant species of India has been done to highlight the significance of ex situ conservation in cases where regeneration through conventional methods is difficult to undertake and species are left with low population in the wild. Thus in vitro cell and tissue culture methodology is envisaged as a mean for germplasm conservation to ensure the survival of endangered plant species, rapid mass propagation for large scale re-vegetation and for genetic manipulation studies.

219-222

Authors: K. REANG, A. BISWAS, S. K. ACHARYA AND B. R. MARAK

Rubber farming has been the main stay of continuous income generation of poor tribal jhumias’of hilly state in Tripura over the several years since it was introduced. Owing to suitability of climatic condition, the state has emerges as one of the largest rubber producer in the country along with changes in the adoption of cultivation technology. The present study was undertaken in three villages of Manu block, Dhalai district, Tripura to ascertain some associates variables of the rubber growers’ adoption behavior. The results indicate that the socio-economic variables like age, education, homestead land, own land and area under rubber cultivation had become the predominant factors in adopting the recommended technology packages among the respondents.

240-247

Authors: A L RANAWAKE, U G S AMARASINGHE AND S G J N SENANAYAKE

Twenty five Sri Lankan modern rice cultivars were screened for submergence tolerance at seedling and vegetative stages. An experiment was carried out at the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna, Mapalana, Kamburupitiya, Sri Lanka during May to September, 2011 according to the randomized complete block design (RCBD) with 4 replicates and each replicate contained 20 plants to evaluate submergence tolerance of the rice cultivars were evaluated in two growth stages; seedling stage and vegetative stage. At seedling stage, germinated seedlings were grown for 2 weeks at normal growth conditions and 5-day, 9- day and 14-day complete submergence stresses were given in separate experiments. Plants were allowed two-week-recovery period after each submergence stress. Plant height was recorded just before and after submergence stress, just after submergence stress and just after recovery period. Plant survival percentage was recorded after the recovery period. The experiment was repeated using 6 week old plants for vegetative stage. Among tested rice cultivars 100%, 32% and 24% of rice cultivars survived at 5-day, 9-day and 14-day submergence periods respectively at the seedling stage while 64%, 28% and 16% of rice cultivars survived at 5-day, 9-day and 14-day submergence periods respectively at vegetative stage. According to the Duncan’s multiple range test at 14-day complete submergence, Bg 379/2 was the best tolerant cultivar among the tested cultivars at both seedling stage (20% survival rate) and vegetative stage (17.5% survival rate). All the survived rice cultivars were elongated (100%) under 14-day submergence stress at both seedling and vegetative stages compared to that of control plants. Some survived rice cultivars reduced the plant height at 5-day and 9-day complete submergence stresses at both seedling and vegetative stages compared to that of control plants but none of the cultivars reduced the plant height at 14-day complete submergence stress compared to that of control plants was able to survive. There was a correlation between height gain during submergence stress and survival percentage of rice cultivars which depends on both growth stage and submerged period. The correlation between elongation ability of rice cultivars under control condition and under stress condition was also depends on the growth stage and the submergence period

252-267

Authors: D. K. BASTIA, S. TRIPATHY AND S. PRADHAN

At the present time, soil carbon sequestration is of paramount importance to address the imminent threat of increased atmospheric carbon dioxide, which is looming large on the very survival and existence of the biome. The quantum of all carbon everywhere in the globe is same and fixed. It exists to the tune of 800 Pg in the atmosphere, 1700 Pg in terrestrial and 38000 Pg in aquatic ecosystem. Even though, the terrestrial carbon stock is quite meagre in comparision to aquatic carbon stock, yet it warrants attention because it is readily amenable to anthropogenic manipulations and potentially respond to modifications and management. The potential for carbon sequestration in crop-based agriculture globally is 20-30 Pg carbon, whereas, that of India is 0.039-0.049 Pg carbon y-1 or about 47% of current annual fossil fuel emission. The quantity of soil organic carbon (SOC) that will be stored in an ecosystem depends on quantity and quality of organic matter returned to the soil matrix, ability of soil to retain organic carbon and abiotic influences of both temperature and precipitation. Hence, organic agriculture holds added promise to sequester and enhance the SOC pool.

272-276

Authors: A. DUTTA

Rapeseed mustard is one of the important crops under oilseed scenario in India. Likewise in West Bengal it is also one of the major oilseed crop which contributing 53% of total oilseed production of the state. One of the major constraints is low productivity of this crop due to non adoption of recommended package of practices and situation-specific improved varieties by most of the growers. The ex-post-facto analysis of secondary data pertaining to front line demonstrations (FLDs) in rapeseed-mustard conducted under ‘Integrated scheme on Oilseeds, Pulses, Oilpalm and Maize (ISOPOM)’ revealed 22.7% yield advantage by adoption of improved varieties may be possible. The other components viz. adoption of right method and time of sowing, seed treatment, application of sulphur and boron, integrated fertilizer and irrigation management, integrated pest and disease management showed 38.5,32.1,26.1, 23.4, 38.8 and 18.6% respectively yield advantage were exhibited over farmers’ practice. Popularization of these proven technologies to the rapeseed- mustard growers will help them to get higher economic returns with sustainable production system of the state.

281-286

Authors: R. KUMAWAT, S. MAJI, GOVIND AND D. C. MEENA

Papaya is one of the most important fruit crops belongs to family Caricaceae grown in tropical to subtropical areas all over the world. It is normally propagated by seeds which show wide variability in germination and seedling growth. The present experiment was carried out to find out the role of media and bio-regulators on seed germination and seedling growth of papaya. The bio-regulator GA , borax and thiourea were applied along with media mixture i.e. soil, compost, cocopeat and river sand. The 3 experiment comprised with three media [M - Soil + compost + cocopeat (1:1:1), M – Soil + compost + river sand (1:1:1) and M 1 2 3 – soil + cocopeat + riversand (1:1:1)], three bio-regulators and chemicals [C - GA - 150ppm, C - Borax - 0.5% and C - Thiourea 1 3 2 3 – 2000 ppm) and their combinations with 16 treatments. The experimental treatments were laid down in factorial CRD with three replications. The seeds were sown in poly bags filled with respective media and treated with respective bio-regulators. The results showed that the application of treatment M C [Soil + compost + cocopeat (1:1:1) + GA - 150ppm] was found superior for early 1 1 3 as well as higher germination percentage, better shoot growth, better growth of tap root, secondary root production and chlorophyll content in seedlings of papaya cv. Coorge Honey Dew under drier tracts of sub tropical area of Lucknow.

292-294

Authors: A. CHAKRAVORTY, 1A. GHOSH AND P. D. GHOSH

In West Bengal, it is most promising to tender early maturing high yielding varieties of rice since they can fulfil their life cycle successfully within short period of persisting cool temperature. The objective of this present investigation was to identify these high yielding early maturing genotypes of rice having quality characters and higher performance in grain yield. A study was conducted during kharif season 2010-12 at Zonal Adaptive Research Station, Krishnagar, Nadia, West Bengal to evaluate some promising traditional rice germplasms and to identify the suitable cultivars for early days (D) to maturity with high grain yield. Cultivars Machkata, Laldhula and Kalamkathi (white) showed high grain yield. Cultivars showing early maturity (112-120 days) were Netaisal (116D), Dhuri (116.5D), Kalamkathi (white) (117.5D), Jhuli (119D), Baidjhulur (120D) and Dhuladhan (120.5D). The superior variety which showed early maturity was Kalamkathi (white). Maximum cultivars had sweet fragrance except Laldhula and Malliksal which were with strong fragrance. Cultivars which showed extra long slender grain (> 7.5mm grain length and >3.0 grain length/breadth ratio) were Machkata, Laldhula, Kalamkathi (white), Badshabhog, Behalsal, Mallicksal, Netaisal, Kalma, Lalhusri and Annada.

303-307

Authors: T. B. BAGCHI, 1T. ADAK AND 2 K. CHATTOPADHYAY

Considering the nutritional importance of rice bran (RB), a study was undertaken to observe the effect of various treatments on stability of RB and to identify the method which would safely preserve the bran for at least six months. The RB samples from the organically grown aromatic rice cultivar Ketakijoha were processed immediately after milling for stabilization. The rice bran samples were subjected to eight treatments including hot air oven heating, micro wave heating and ethanol to study their effect on RB stability. Different parameters including rancidity of rice bran oil and its' nutritive values were determined on zero, 30 days and 180 days of storage at room temperature (32°C) after applying these treatments. Near Infra Red spectrometer was used to determine crude fiber and ash content. Micro wave heating (900W) for 2.5 min was found to be best among the treatments as it provided higher stability in respect of antioxidant activity, ã-oryzanol, crude oil and total protein content. The rancidity indicators like free fatty acids accumulation, peroxide value, moisture content and pH value changed only marginally during the storage period. The ash and crude fiber content of rice bran remained nearly constant in the treated samples whereas the control sample became completely rancid, discoloured with formation of clumps and emitted unpleasant odour which increased during the study period.

316-319

Authors: F. K. BAURI, A. DE, 1D. K. MISRA, 2B. BANDYOPADHYAY, S. DEBNATH , S. K. SARKAR AND P. AVANI

An experiment was conducted with eight treatments to study the effect of micronutrient and growth regulators for yield and quality in banana cv. Martaman (Musa AAB, Silk) during 2011-2012. The treatments were, T – Borax (0.1%), T - KH PO (0.5%), T - 1 2 2 4 3 KNO (0.5%), T - K SO (0.5%), T - GA (30 ppm), T – 2,4-D (30 ppm), T – Dehanding and T – Control (water spray). 3 4 2 4 5 3 6 7 8 Micronutrient and growth regulator have got significant influence over yield and fruit quality. Maximum increase in bunch weight (17.72kg), yield (44.30t/ha), number of hands (8.88), number of finger per bunch (133.66) and finger length (13.45cm) was recorded by KH PO (0.5%) application. With regard to physicochemical characters of fingers, Borax (0.1%) showed maximum 2 4 influence for total soluble solids (26.72 oBrix), total sugar (14.57 %) and sugar: acid ratio (45.53). The maximum vitamin C content (8.60 mg/100g pulp), shelf life (6.40 days) and benefit: cost (1.48) was recorded by the treatment of 2, 4-D (30 ppm).The same treatment was also found to be next most influencing treatment in increasing bunch weight, yield, hands number and finger length after KH PO (0.5%) . It may be concluded that the application of 2,4-D @ 30 ppm was effective in modifying the finger 2 4 characters thereby improving the yield, fruit quality and B: C ratio of banana cv. Martaman.

325-330

Authors: M. GHOSH, B. C. PATRA AND D. MAZUMDAR1

Daily rainfall data of 12 years (1981-1992) recorded at Regional Research Sub-station, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Raghunathpur (23036’N, 86042’E, 169 m), Purulia, West Bengal, India were analysed for determining annual, seasonal, monthly and weekly rainfall averages of the region, which were compared with corresponding values of the current period of 5 years (2003-2007). Mean annual rainfall was 1156.0 mm, of which July recorded highest rainfall (313.3 mm) and January lowest rainfall (1.8 mm). Mean rainfall for pre-kharif, kharif and rabi season were 106.6 mm (9.22%), 1010.7 mm (87.43%) and 38.7 mm (3.35%), respectively. The changes in rainfall pattern between two periods of 1981-1992 and 2003-2007 were very little during pre kharif (-1.7%) and kharif (+1.0%) seasons, but moderate during rabi season (-22.7%). Mean week of onset and withdrawal of south-west monsoon were 24th (11-17 June) standard meteorological week (SMW) and 40th SMW (1-7 October) and average length of rainy season was 18 weeks (126 days) with a variation between 15 and 24 weeks. Mid season drought was likely to occur during 33rd-34th SMW and terminal droughts during 37-40th SMWs at <10 and 10-25% probability levels, respectively. Rice was the main crop in the region during kharif season along with maize and arhar in some areas, while short duration pulses, oilseeds and wheat could be grown with residual soil moisture and live-saving irrigations during rabi season.

334-339

Authors: V. KUMAR, P. K. SINGH, A. S. DUDHANE, D. K. DE AND P. SATYA

In the present investigation eight genotypes of C. olitorious L. (OMU-09, OMU-42, OMU-43 OEX-16, OIM-45, JRO-204, JRO- 524, JRO-8432), and one genotype of C. capsularis L. (Fanduk) were included to evaluate their morphological and anatomical characteristics. Mean performance of six different morphological and nine different anatomical characters at 30, 60, 90 and 120 DAS of the crop revealed plant height, basal diameter and inter-node length increased sharply between 30 and 60 days age and slowly between the latter two growth stages; mid-diameter and top diameter reduced between 30 and 60 days and increased between the latter two growth stages; number of nodes increased steadily all along. Fibre anatomical characters revealed that total bark diameter and difference between fibre wedge tip and outer bark layer increase sharply between 30 and 60 days; average length and width of fibre cell wedge, number of fibre cell block at base and at middle increased linearly all along up to 120 days age of the crop. Number of fibre cell in each block increased sharply between 30 and 60 days and slowly between the latter two stages. All the plant morphological and fibre anatomical characters exhibited high variation at different growth stages. The anatomical characters may be considered as an easy and effective method for screening genotypes without destructive sampling within a short period.

345-349

Authors: P. C. BHOWMIK

The invasive species is of global importance. It is recognized as one of the leading threats to biodiversity and imposes tremendous costs on agriculture, fisheries, wetlands, forestry, natural areas, and other human enterprises, including human health. The nature and distribution of invasive species has no geographical boundaries. The invasive plants (native, non-native, or alien) tend to have many similar biological attributes/traits relating to high reproduction and stress tolerance. These traits include germination of seeds without complicated requirements, rapid seedling growth, vegetative and sexual reproduction at early stage, aggressive spread by runners or rhizomes, diverse dispersal mechanisms, and the ability to tolerate a wide range of environmental conditions. Invasive species have been identified as the second biggest threat to biological diversity after habitat destruction. Will invasive weeds make ecological adaptation with climate change? What impacts do these plants may have in agriculture, health and the environment?

355-358

Authors: A. KUNDU, S. MUKHERJEE, 1B. GHOSH, A. GOON, 2S. ROY, 1K. CHAKRABARTI AND A. BHATTACHARYYA

A field study was conducted to observe the persistence behavior of tetraconazole on watermelon, at University Research Farm, Mondouri, Nadia, West Bengal season the season of 2013. The commercial formulation oftetraconazole (DOMARK 3.8 % EW w/w) was applied at the rate of 40 ga.i.ha-1 (recommended dose i.e. T ) and 80 g a.i. ha-1 (double the recommended dose i.e. T ) 1 2 along with untreated control. The average recovery of tetraconazole was100.3% in plant and 97 % in fruit matrix.The calculated half-life (t ) value of tetrazonazole ranged 1.36 – 1.55 days. No residue of the fungicide was found in the watermelon fruit 1/2 samples at harvest. This study revealed that watermelon fruit may safely be recommended for human consumption.

365-374

Authors: C. T. ABRAHAM AND N. JOSE

Weedy rice are complex of Oryza morphotypes widely distributed in the commercial rice fields in more than 50 countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America, especially in areas where farmers have switched to direct seeding due to labour shortage and high cost. Wild and weedy forms of different species coming under the genus Oryza are also known as wild rice, red rice, padi angin, windy rice, air rice, varinellu, wild rice etc. Southeast Asia has been identified as the centre of origin of rice and many wild and weedy relatives are present in different rice growing areas of this region. Indian weedy rice is identified as Oryza sativa f. spontanea which belongs to the indica group. They are major threat to irrigated rice production systems in Southeast Asian countries because of their great adaptability to emerge at low temperature and from deep soil or water depths. Weedy rice is problematic, especially in Asian rice bowls. The spread of wild rice takes place in West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh. Wild and weedy forms are problematic in Eastern India (Eastern U. P., Bihar, Orissa, Manipur, and West Bengal) and Southern India (Kerala). In North Western states like Punjab and Haryana, weedy rice is rarely seen. Heavy infestation of weedy rice in rice fields during the recent years is forcing farmers to abandon the crop due to huge reduction in crop yield (around 40-70 per cent) depending on the severity of infestation (5-15 or even more mature weedy plants per square meter). Genetic and morphological similarity of weedy rice to the cultivated species makes it difficult to control and chemical methods alone are unlikely to be effective.Origin and spread of weedy riceCultivated rice is included in the genus Oryza of the grass family (Poaceae). This genus includes two cultivated species (Asian rice - Oryza s ativa, and African rice - O. glaberrima) and more than 20 wild species with ten different genome types, i.e., AA, BB, CC, BBCC, CCDD, EE, FF, GG, JJHH, and JJKK. The wild relatives of rice with different genome types usually have significant reproductive isolation, making them unlikely to hybridize under natural conditions. The AA genome weedy and wild relatives are highly compatible sexually with cultivated rice. Their interspecific F hybrids could form complete chromosome pairing in meiosis and have relatively high pollen 1 and seed fertility to produce viable offspring. It is widely hypothesized that weedy rice has a variety of origin.Weedy plants are adapted to a wide range of environmental conditions. The spread is generally favoured by the planting of commercial rice seeds that contain grains of the weed. The spread of weedy rice is likely to be accomplished by several means, including water, cattle, farm machinery, and as contaminants of new varieties. Disk cultivation also helped to move the seeds downward to the 3 - 15 cm soil layer resulting in serious infestations and difficulties in control.

392-396

Authors: A. BHATTACHARYYA, 1B. GHOSH, S. P. DAS AND 1A. BHATTACHARYYA

To find out the persistence feature of Clomazone (50 EC), recently introduced in India was applied in paddy field, 3-5 days after transplantation of paddy. The study was conducted at BCKV farm, Mohanpur, Nadia during August to November, 2012. Clomazone 50 % EC was applied on paddy @ 1000 ml/ha and 2000 ml/ha along with untreated control. Cropped soil and plant samples were extracted separately with ethyl acetate: acetone (8:2 v/v) and subsequently the extract were cleaned up by using PSA, C & GCB. Then the extract was filtered and analysed in GC-MS/MS. The recovery percentage was ranged between 86-95% 18 with LOQ 20 ngg-1 for all matrices. Following first order kinetics, the half-life of clomazone was found in ranges 0.91-1.13 days for cropped soil and 2.04 days for paddy plant respectively. From this study it was proved beyond doubt that Clomazone may not create any residual toxicity problem.

407-413

Authors: B. GHOSH, 1A. BHATTACHARYYA, 2S. MUKHERJEE, S. DAS AND 1A BHATTACHARYYA

To find out the persistence behavior of a mixed herbicide formulation Pyroxsulam 4.5% oil dispersion (OD) and Sulfosulfuron 75% water dispersible granules (WDG), a supervised field study was conducted in B.C.K.V. experimental farm, Mohanpur, West Bengal during 2012-2013 and 2013-2014. The mixed herbicide formulation was applied @ 18 g and 36 g a.i. ha-1 along with untreated control and was analyzed by LC-MS/MS in MRM mode. The method includes extraction with acetonitrile for Pyroxsulam and ethyl acetate for Sulfosulfuron separately followed by clean up using dispersive solid phase extraction (d-SPE) with PSA ,GCB (only for plant) and activated MgSO4. The ethyl acetate extract was evaporated under a nitrogen evaporator and reconstituted with acetonitrile. The average recovery percentage of Pyroxsulam and Sulfosulfuron was 87.67% and 85.07% for wheat plant, 88.87% and 87.40% for wheat straw, 85.67% and 90.80% for wheat grain and 86.27% and 86.00% for field soil respectively. Following 1st order kinetics, the half-life of Pyroxsulam and Sulfosulfuron was found in the range of 1.51-1.67 days and 1.68-2.95 on wheat plant and 1.95-2.84 days and 2.89-3.58 on field soil irrespective of dose and season. No residue of Pyroxsulam and Sulfosulfuron was detected in harvest samples of wheat straw, grain and field soil.

419-429

Authors: G. GADDEYYA AND P. K. RATNA KUMAR

A systematic field study was conducted in crop fields such as food crops, pulses, vegetable crops, oil crops and commercial crops at Visakhapatnam District. A total of 120 weed species belonging to 40 families were carefully studied and recorded. The weed species were grouped as sedges, grasses and broad laved weeds. The weed species belonging to the family Asteraceae (12 species) and Fabaceae (12 species) were more dominant fallowed by Euphorbiaceae (11 species), Amaranthaceae (10 species) and Poaceae (7 species), respectively. The species of Cyperus rotundus, Cyperus difformis, Cyperus iria, Cyperus diffuses, Echinochloa colona and Echinochloa crusgalli were recorded as more common and dominant weeds in all cereals crops and broad leaved weeds belonging to Asteraceae, Fabaceae, Euphorbiaceae and Amaranthaceae were recorded in vegetable and other field crops.

433-436

Authors: B. PRAMANICK, P. S. BERA, C. K. KUNDU, P. BANDOPADHYAY AND K. BRAHMACHARI

A field experiment was carried out to study the effect of different herbicides used in transplanted rice on weed management in ricelathyrus cropping system at Central Research Farm (New Alluvial Zone), Gayeshpur, Nadia, West Bengal (23°N latitude, 89° E longitude). The experimental results revealed that Imazosulfuron 10% SC @ 100 g a.i. ha-1 applied at 5 days after transplanting (DAT) effectively controlled most of the rice weeds, exhibiting no phytotoxicity symptoms to the rice crop and increased both grain and straw yields vis-à-vis benefit : cost ratio. This treatment shows no statistical divergence with hand weeding twice. Similar trend of observations were documented in the succeeding crop of the sequence lathyrus. So, the findings of the experiment provide us with a great opportunity of using new herbicides with very low doses to cope up with the labour crisis and minimize the cost of cultivation, therefore, maximizing benefit cost ratio.

441-444

Authors: S. GHOSH, 1S. MUKHARJEE, 2A. BHATTACHARYYA, A. BHATTACHARYYA AND S. ROY

A liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC/MS-MS) method for analysis of residual azoxystrobin in chilli was developed in present work. Azoxystrobin is generally a systemic fungicide applied in chilli to control anthracnose and powdery mildew diseases. The method was based on extraction with 1:1 ethyl acetate: 10% aq. NaCl solution, clean-up by PSA, GCB and florisil, evaporated in N evaporator, followed by volume make up with Acetonitrile and analysed by LC/MS-MS in multiple reaction 2 monitoring (MRM) mode. Recoveries from fortified samples were found in the range from 90% to 92%. The limit of quantification (LOQ) of the method was 0.01 ppm. The half life value of azoxystrobin in chilli was determined as 0.73 to 0.80 days.

451-456

Authors: M. KARALE AND H. L. SHARMA

In the present investigation, trends in population dynamics of major insect pests under rice-potato-okra cropping system have been studied through probability models. Among the major insect pests climbing cutworms were observed on rice, whiteflies and jassids on potato and whiteflies, aphids and jassids on okra. The data have been taken from an experiment which was conducted by the staff of department of Agronomy during kharif, Rabi and summer season 2006-07 at the Krishi Nagar farm, Adhartal JNKVV, Jabalpur, following randomized complete block design (RCBD) with varying number of treatments under each crop. The variety pusa basmati was taken for rice, kufri jawahar for potato and ladies finger for summer okra. The occurrences of the insects were grouped in the form of frequency distribution according to the number of plants. The Poisson distribution is found to be adequate for describing the pattern of climbing cutworms on rice, whiteflies and jassids on potato and aphids on okra. In addition to these, Polya-Aeppli distribution is well fitted for the number of whiteflies and jassids on okra. These distributions may be used for forecasting of the losses in these crops due to major insect pests considered here.

461-465

Authors: H. PATRO, 1M. A. ALIM, 2S. S. NANDA AND 3A. K. BEHURA

A field experiment was conducted to study the integrated weed management in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) for consecutive three kharif seasons in 2010, 2011 and 2012 at Breeder Seed Production Farm of Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar with 7 weed management treatments in four replications. Weed free check (two hand weeding at 20 and 40 DAS and manually uprooting of weeds at 60 DAS) was found more effective to control weeds in groundnut and recorded lowest weed density, weed dry matter , weed index and highest weed control efficiency. It was also recorded significantly highest growth and yield attributes in groundnut over all the other treatments viz. number of pods plant-1, shelling per cent and pod yield. Pre- emergence application of pendimethalin 30 EC @ 1 kg. a.i. ha-1 + one HW at 45 DAS alone or in combination with post emergence application of quizalofopethyl 5 EC @ 50 g. a.i ha-1 at 20 DAS was found next superior treatment after weed free check in respect of all weed and crop parameters. Though weed-free check recorded significantly highest gross returns and net returns, which was 39,535/ha and 16,962/ha, respectively.Highest B:C ratio (1.84) was recorded in treatment having pre-emergence application of pendimethalin 30 EC @ 1 kg. a.i ha-1 + one HW at 45 DAS in combination with post emergence application of quizalofopethyl 5 EC @ 50 g. a.i ha-1 at 20 DAS which was found most economically feasible weed management practice for groundnut.

472-479

Authors: S. MUKHERJEE, 1S. MUKHERJEE, 1A. KUNDU, 2G. K. DAS AND 1A. BHATTACHARYYA

A simple, fast and inexpensive analytical method was developed and validated for screening of Fluroxypyr-Meptyl, a selective post-emergent systemic broadleaf herbicide in onion (plant leaf, bulb) and soil using GC-MS/MS. The method comprised of extraction with ethyl acetate using matrix solid phase dispersion method followed by column chromatographic and dispersive solid phase extraction cleanup and quantified in GC-MS/MS. The method was validated in concentration ranging from 0.02-0.1 μg g-1. The recovery of Fluroxypyr-Meptyl in onion (all substrates) and soil was ranging from 88-98% at different levels of analytes with RSD (HorRat< 0.51) of 8-15%. The global uncertainty was calculated at 0.02 μg g-1. In order to evaluate in safety use in India and degradation kinetics, a field study was conducted following the validated method.

484-487

Authors: N. GURUNG, 1G. S. K. SWAMY, S. K. SARKAR, S. O. BHUTIA AND K. C. BHUTIA

Passion fruit (Passiflora edulis), a native of tropical America (Brazil), belonging to the family Passifloraceae is a high value and export oriented crop. It is grown mostly in tropical and sub-tropical part of the world. South America is currently the largest producer of passion fruit worldwide (Sema and Maiti, 2009). In India it is cultivated in few pockets in the Nilgiris, Wynad, Kodaikanal, Coorg and Malabar in the South and North East states like Manipur, Nagaland, Mizoram and Meghalaya.

492-494

Authors: R. K. JAT, A. G. PATEL, A. SHVIRAN, A. L. BIJARNIA AND VANIKA BHUNWAL

Livestock population is the largest in the India, comprising 182.50 million cattle may be cow, 61.30 million buffaloes, 76.65 million goats, 41.30 million sheeps, 10.0 million pigs and 3.04 million other animals. The integrated efforts even could not improve the declining trend in per capita availability of milk from 263 g during 2011 because most of our animals are either low producer or under malnutrition and about 55.05 and 41.95 percent of the total cows and buffaloes respectively, remain dry and infertile. In India, about 6.91 million hectares of land which contributes about 4.4 per cent of the total cultivated area are under fodder crops cultivation. Out of which only 1.02 million hectares of land is irrigated. In Gujarat state, total animal population is about 18.44 million and their optimum fodder requirement is 42.2 million tonnes, whereas only 20.0 million tonnes of fodder is made available in normal year. Thus, fodder and concentrate production is not enough to feed the animals and there is a wide gap between the actual requirements and availability of feeds and fodders for the present population of livestock. Among the different rabi fodder crops, oat is one of the most important rabi fodder crop. Oat requires the cool and moist weather for germination, tillering, booting and heading stage. More over, oat make their best growth on loam soil in the state of Punjab, Haryana, U.P., Maharashtra, Orissa, Bihar, West Bengal and Gujarat. Oat grain makes a good balanced concentrate in the rations for poultry, cattle, sheep and other animals. Looking to the chemical composition on dry matter basis oat at milk stage contain 6.44 crude protein, 28.72 fiber, 53.20 nitrogen free-extract. Beside this, it contains 2.31 ether extract, 9.33 total ash, 0.47 calcium, 0.22 phosphorus, 0.22 magnesium, 0.52 sodium and 2.84 per cent potassium. (Sen and Ray, 1971).

497-499

Authors: K. JANA

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is an important cereals crop and grown across the world. ‘Rice is life’: It is an important and prominent slogan since the International year of rice in 2004. Most of the peoples of the world depend on rice for their secured livelihood and a way of life. It is the staple food for more than 65 per cent of the people and provides employment and livelihood to 70 per cent of the Indians. There is a need to enhance the productivity of the rice to meet the growing demand under conditions of declining quantity and quality of land (Raju, 2013). Nitrogen is a key nutrient in promoting the plant growth and determining the yield level of rice. Recovery of applied nitrogen in rice is very low owing to various losses. Optimization of applied nitrogen at critical growth stages, coinciding with the period of efficient utilization is essential to meet the nitrogen requirement of crop throughout the growing season (Pandey et al., 2002). Nitrogen management is an important aspect for obtaining good yield of rice. Optimum dose and schedule of fertilizer application is necessary to achieve higher yields, minimize lodging and damage from insect pests (DRR, 2013). Nutrition is the critical input in yield realization of rice under rainfed shallow lowland situation as availability of required nutrients is low-medium in red and lateritic areas of West Bengal.

504-507

Authors: P. ADHIKARY AND R. K. GHOSH

An important part of crop weed ecology is the weed seed bank as it is the most important source of annual weeds in cropping systems are establishing each year from seeds and therefore represents a significant point in the weed life cycle for control. Because of such germination-delaying factors as the dormancy-non dormancy continuum, seeds of annual species can persist in soil for years, resulting in a reservoir of viable seeds of various ages from which future generations develop (Albrechta and Auerswald, 2009). Understanding the dynamics of weed seed banks is an essential first step in improving weed management plans. By understanding how long seeds remain viable in the seed bank and how those seeds are related to the aboveground weed community, a producer could tailor weed management programs to increase efficiency and efficacy. A package of practice of crop cultivation is to manage weeds toward lowering their total numbers and the numbers of seeds deposited in the soil seed bank (Lamour and Lambertus, 2007). Management practices also alter distribution of weed seeds vertically within the soil profile (Buhler, 1995), which can affect loss of seeds from the seed bank by influencing seed germination, decay, and herbivory. Weed management practices such as hand weeding, mechanical weeding (wheel hoeing), herbicides use and inter row cultivation influencing weed seed density and distribution in the crop field.