HortFlora Research Spectrum

189-196

Authors: N.S. Joshi; A.V. Barad; D.M. Pathak; Nilima Bhosale

Field experiments were conducted for two consecutive years on medium black calcareous soil of Horticultural Instructional Farm, Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh. The experiment was laid out in factorial randomized block design with twenty four treatments replicated three times. The treatments consisted of two varieties of chrysanthemum viz., IIHR-6 (V1) and Shyamal (V2), three levels of nitrogen (100, 200 and 300 N kg ha - 1), two levels of phosphorus (100 and 150 P2O5 kg ha- 1) and two levels of potash (100 and 150 K2O kg ha -1). Both the varieties significantly influenced growth and flowering parameters, where, plant height, number of branches per plant and leaf area were observed higher in the variety IIHR-6 during both the years and in pooled results; whereas higher fresh and dry weight of plant, weight of 10 flowers, flowering span and dry weight of flowers were recorded in the variety Shyamal. The later variety also took more days for first flower bud initiation and first flower open. Application of nitro gen at 300 kg ha-1 recorded significantly highest plant height, number of branches per plant, leaf area, fresh and dry weight of plant, flowering span, total fresh and dry weight of flower, weight of 10 flowers and diameter of flower during the first year, second year and in pooled data. The dose @ 300 N kg ha-1 also took less days for first flower bud initiation and first flower open. Phosphorus also played a significant role in improving all of these attributes at higher level except, leaf area, fresh weight of plant, number of days taken for first flower open and flowering span. Effect of pot ash was failed to influence all of these growth and flowering parameters during both the years and in pooled results also.

208-214

Authors: Vijay Bahadur; Pavan Kumar; Devi Singh

The present studies on genetic variability, heritability and character association in Dolichos bean (Lablab purpureus) were carried out at vegetable research farm, Department of Horticulture, Allahabad School of Agriculture, SHIATS, Allahabad. The experiment having 20 genotypes was laid out in simple RBD with three replications. It was observed that PUSA SEM-3 genotype was found superior in terms of pod yield per plant (2.319 kg). The phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) was higher than GCV for all the traits. Heritability in broad sense was noticed high for all the traits except days to germination. Higher genetic advance was observed for plant height, and high genetic advance as per cent of mean was found in pod yield per plant. The traits like plant height, number of primary branches per plant, number of inflorescence per plant, number of flowers per inflorescence, number of pods per inflorescence, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, pod length, pod width and pod weight showed positive significant correlation with pod yield per plant at both genotypic and phenotypic levels. Number of pods per plant exhibited the highest positive direct effect on yield at both genotypic and phenotypic path level.

220-224

Authors: Arun Kumar; S.C. Verma; Shilpi Chaurasia; S.B. Saxena

The study was undertaken during the season of 2009-10 to estimate the cost of cultivation of marigold flower and returns and marketing margins of different middleman involved in marigold flower trade in Kannauj district of Uttar Pradesh. The study was based on information collected from randomly 60 marigold flower growing farmers, commission agent cum wholesaler and retailers. The overall cost of cultivation of marigold flower was estimated as Rs. 7365 per hectare. The overall gross income and average net income from marigold crop was estimated to be Rs. 121792 and Rs. 48141 per hectare, respectively. The average return per rupee investment was estimated as Rs. 1.66, which shows that marigold cultivation was highly profitable in the selected area. Out of two marketing channels, Channel-I (producer-commission-retailer-consumer) was the important channel from producers point of view, where producers received more percentage share (35.68 per cent) in consumer’s rupee than the channel-II (31.95 per cent). The total marketing cost was Rs. 6.90 and Rs. 8.63 per kilogram of marigold flower for channel-l and channel-II, respectively. The major item of marketing cost were the value of quantity loss and labour charges. In channel-I retailers earned a margin of 10.35 and 34.69 per cent of the price paid by the consumers.

230-234

Authors: N.A. Deshmukh; R.K. Patel; Bidyut C. Deka; V.K. Verma; A.K. Jha; J.E. Pathaw

Front line demonstrations (FLD) on high yielding turmeric cv. Megha Turmeric-1 were conducted at Ri-Bhoi district of Meghalaya under farmer’s participatory mode during year 2011-12. A total of eleven SHGs from nine villages involving 122 farmers were participated in demonstration covering the total area about 7.5 ha area. From the FLD,1152.29 q of fresh turmeric was produced from a 7.5 ha area with productivity of 156.31 q/ha. The attractive gross return (Rs. 234460 Rs/ha) and net returns (Rs. 141604/ha) with higher B:C ratio (2.52) were recorded by the SHGs with adoption of scientific management practices. Production of turmeric through farmer’s participatory mode with technological intervention (Megha Turmeric-1) not only increased the production of turmeric but also generated employment and developed entrepreneurship among tribal farmers.

244-246

Authors: Rajiv Kumar; D.S. Yadav

The present investigation was carried out to evaluate the performance of seven genotypes under polyhouse conditions in sub-tropical mid hills of Meghalaya. Significant differences were observed for all the characters. The results revealed that genotype Monarch recorded maximum leaf length (38.75 cm), number of leaves/plant (23.22) and delayed bud burst (123.00 days) and first flower opening (130.00 days). Maximum stalk length (62.85 cm) and disc diameter (2.97 cm) was recorded in genotype Piton. Genotype Sangria recorded maximum leaf breadth (11.25 cm), number of suckers/plant (4.13) and number of ray florets/flower head (69.65 cm). Maximum plant spread (46.51 cm), stalk diameter (0.83 cm), flower diameter (12.98 cm) and vase life (11.65 days) was recorded in genotype Pink Elegance. However, genotype Sazou recorded maximum number of flowers/plant (37.65 cm) followed by Pi ton (37.25) and Sangria (36.62). On the basis of overall performance, genotypes Pink Elegance, Pi ton and Sangria were found promising for cut flower production under polyhouse in Meghalaya conditions.

251-254

Authors: Ram Singh Umrao; Siddarth Singh; Jitendra Kumar; D.R. Singh; D.K. Singh

Seven novel insecticides (imidacloprid, fipronil, indoxacarb, endosulfan, malathion, Roket and neemarin) with an un treated control were tested for minimizing Earias vittella infestation in okra crop. Three sprayings, first at 30 days after sowing and second and third subsequent sprayings at 15 days interval were done. Data were recorded on 10th day after each spraying. All the treatments were found effective in minimizing fruit infestation over control and indoxacarb was proved to be the best one among all the treatments. After 10th day of first, second and third spraying, infestation was 14.47, 2.68 and 5.68 per cent, respectively. While neemarin was lesser effective having higher fruit infestation of 47.38, 30.53 and 33.52 per cent, respectively over control after 10th day of first, second and third spraying. The yield of okra fruits showed that indoxacarb recorded the highest fresh fruit yield i.e. 7.00 kg per plot (58.33 q/ha) with 42.86 per cent in creased yield as compared to control. While neemarin recorded minimum fresh fruit yield i.e. 5.27 kg per plot (43.89 q/ha) with 24.05 per cent in creased fruit yield as compared with control.

259-261

Authors: Purandar Mandal; Bibhuti Bhusan Sahoo; Bhaskar Chandra Das; Dhirendra Katiyar

In the study different recipes of Aonla Nectar was standardized to explore the processing potential of Aonla. There were five different possibilities of recipes. The Nectar prepared from the recipes with 20% pulp, 13% TSS and 0.30% acidity gave highest organoleptic quality score followed by Nectar prepared from 20% pulp, 16% TSS and 0.25% acidity and the consumer accept ability of the ideal Nectar was maintained up to fifth month at ambient temperature.

265-267

Authors: B.S. Dhillon; Sukhjit Kaur

An experiment was conducted to assess the effect of post-harvest application of Calcium Chloride on the storage life of mango (Mangifera indica L.) var. Dushehari fruits. The fully mature mango fruits were harvested and treated with different concentrations of CaCl2 viz. 0%, 2%, 4%, 6% and 8% and stored for different days viz. 3, 6, 9, and 12 days at room temperature. The results showed that post-harvest application of Calcium Chloride(6%) had proved quite effective in enhancing the shelf life of Dushehari mango fruits up to 12 days at room temperature.

271-273

Authors: Diwaker; P.N. Katiyar

Maximum percentage of cuttings sprouted (24.33%) and maximum number of roots per cutting (7.67) were recorded with treatment IBA 2000 ppm+PHB 1000 ppm. The treatment with PHB 1000 ppm recorded minimum percentage of sprouting (8.83 %). Maximum number of sprouts per cutting (7.67) was observed with T7 and its minimum number (2.67) was noted under control. The length and diameter of primary root (9.33 cm and 2.80 mm) were also noted maximum under 2000 ppm IBA + 1000 PHB. The diameter of sprout (3.53 mm) and the size of leaves in terms of their length and width (5.67 cm, and 3.83 cm, respectively) was maximum with IBA 1500 ppm + PHB 1000 ppm. The maximum dry matter accumulation in the roots (132.33 mg) was with IBA 2000 ppm whereas, the cutting treated with IBA 2000 ppm + PHB 1000 ppm ex pressed the highest survival (77.00%) of rooted cuttings.