Journal of Crop and Weed

20-26

Authors: JOHN R. LEEPER

This is an article on sustainable rice. It could just as easily have been written about cotton, corn, soybean or even mangoes. The basic principles of sustainability go even beyond agriculture and include such inherent concepts as ownership of responsibility and property as well as stewardship. I have worked globally on rice for nearly 30 years, not in the role of a policy setter but on the periphery in development of crop protection concepts and more importantly as an observer and student of farmer practices. I have no vested interest in promoting my position. I receive no grants or support from governments or NGOs. I have a passion for all things relating to rice production and the deepest respect for the diversity in the farmers who produce it. The objective of this paper is to clearly set forth how global rice production has evolved to where it is today and to suggest a less politically charged and more farmer amenable definition for sustainable rice.

32-35

Authors: A. K. NANDI, B. DAS AND M. SABLE

The productivity of major food grains had been increased during late sixties in the lower and middle Gangetic Zones due to the development of seed centered technology and it received huge momentum through the exploitation of ground water during mid-eighty onwards. The major thrust of the present study is to analyze the position and possibilities of seed industry in India and its sub-continent. The efficiency of seed and other inputs are now gradually decreasing and thereby production and productivity are also in stagnant or in downing trend. The study revealed that seed replacement rate of field crops in the lower Indo-Gangetic regions are still very low and it is 18-26 per cent and for vegetables extends up to 83-99 percent with a seed cost of maximum 10 percent of total cost except potato. Productivity in farm saved seeds is always lower than replaced seeds almost both for field and vegetables. The private seed production and replication units mainly concentrated their business on high value low volume vegetable crops. The study also examined the potentiality of seed production and distribution of high volume low value crops of food grains in local and regional basis as well as the relative merits and demerits of seed and grain production of paddy based on different levels of input intensity. The participatory system of seed production and distribution in local as well as for regional level would also helpful to the producer to get the seed in time. Under good governance, the private public partnership in seed sector have to be encouraged for the minimization of productivity gap in local basis, till the availability of genetic ally improved new seeds . Protection of farmers’ right has to be maintained in production and business system in developing countries. Under existing technological back up of present varieties, the Indian seed industry may capable to produce high quality seeds due to wide variability of agro ecological situations in the country.

38-51

Authors: B. K. CHAKRABORTY, S. A. AZAD,A. SIDDIQA, K. M. MOINUL

Present status of aquatic biodiversity and the prospect for raising fish fingerlings in the Haria beel in Bangladesh has been presented. A total number of 84 aquatic species (71 wild fish, five prawn, one crab, four snail and three fresh water turtle) were identified in the beel during 2007 - 2010. About ten types of fishing methods were identified to be used by the fishers’ of the surveyed beel. Increasing pressure of illegal current jal (gill net), Kapuri jal (sein net) and FAD (Fish aggregating device) were detected as detrimental gear and killing method almost all type of species. Over a period of 3 years, total production of fish and allied species in the Haria beel was found to decrease from 178.60±5.50 to 115.98±4.12 t indicating 35.06% decline between 2007 and 2009. Due to increasing fishing pressure and global affect, commercially important 7 species were extinct, 15 species were critically endangered, 27 species were endangered, 27 species were vulnerable status, 4 species were in lower risk and 04 species were not threatened position from biodiversity view point. But in 2010, strict enforcement of fish Act-1950 in the beel resulted in reduces rate of use of gill net, sein net and FAD. Initiation of new technology for production of carp fingerlings in the Haria beel through community based co-management policy and enforcement of Fish Regulation Act-1950, helped to augment productivity of the recorded beel from115.98±4.12 to 184.32±3.49 t exhibiting 103.20% biomass enhancement. Two species bata (Labeo bata) and along (Rasbora elanga) were found to have reappeared in the beel and surrounding floodplains. Note: Beel = Seasonally flooded large water bodies and are used as crop land during dry season. Khal = A narrow channel connected between beel and river.

56-58

Authors: M. M. ADHIKARY, 1K. PRADHAN AND S. MISHRA

In the changed agricultural scenario, as concerns about environmental protection, natural resource stewardship, and the India's ability to feed ever-growing populations continue to mount, the sustainability of agriculture and natural resources is emerging as a central theme among the public and policymakers alike. Increased environmental awareness and health consciousness promoted the scientists and planners to think and promote an alternate pathway of extension science for sustainable agriculture with protect ion to environment and human health, called per suas i v e e x t en s io n . Consequently, the present study was c o n d u c t e d with an aim to highlight the issues of persuasive extension and assess the knowledge practice gap associated with the preventive innovation in agriculture. Data collected from 100 respondents with the help of structured interview schedule followed by statistical analyses revealed that among the three groups of farmers (good, moderate, not so good) good farmers had more knowledge about preventive innovation due to their superior characteristics (more experience, publication reading habit, m ore land holding etc.) than other two groups of farmers, they also followed these practices related to preventive innovation

79-82

Authors: G.R. MANJUNATHA, K.V. ASHALATHA, 1K. R. PATIL AND K.P.VISHWAJITH

Increasing consciousness about environmental degradation as well as health hazards caused by inorganic farming and consumer’s preference to residue free food are the major concern that have led to the mounting interest in alternate forms of agriculture (Organic farming) worldwide. Hence, present study was conducted with the object to determine the effect of years of practicing organic farming on the status of various soil health indicators by using analysis of variance technique (ANOVA) in the selected Agro Climatic Zones of Northern Karnataka. Data for the analysis was elicited from organic farmers’ selected based on multistage purposive random sampling method. The study revealed the significant influence of years of practicing organic farming on various soil health indicators, signaled through highly significant F- ratio. Thus, it can be concluded that by practicing organic agriculture the soil health can be enhanced meanwhile environmental pollution can be reduced.

89-93

Authors: LUNGMUANA, M. GHOSH AND P. K. PATRA

A field experiment was conducted during 2007 kharif season in a farmer’s field in the Red and Laterite zone of West Bengal to evaluate the effect of integrated use of fertilizer with organic amendments viz., rice straw, glyricidia leaves, farm yard manure and vermicompost, on transformation of phosphorus in the rice rhizosphere soil in relation to growth and yield of rice (cv. IR-36). Rhizosphere soil and plant samples collected from rice field during tillering, flowering and harvesting stages of rice were analyzed. Chemical fertilizers and vermicompost furnished the highest amount of available phosphorus in the rhizosphere and produced the highest rice grain yield.These parameters were found to be significantly and positively correlated. Simple regression analyses revealed that about 90% (R2=0.90**) of the variability in grain yield could be explained by the variability in available phosphorus.This experiment clearly brought out the beneficial role of organic amendment on the availability of phosphorus to rice crop particularly at the later stage of growth.

99-102

Authors: R. DAS AND D. SAHA

A laboratory experiment was conducted to study the changes in non-exchangeable K in a half limed, full limed as well as the corresponding unlimed soil. All three soils were treated with nitrogen (urea) and potassium (MOP) fertilizers either alone or in combination. Soils were maintained at 60% of the water holding capacity. The results showed that, irrespective of treatments, full limed soil recorded highest amount of non-exchangeable K over that of half limed as well as unlimed systems. Results further showed that irrespective of treatments, non-exchangeable K in unlimed acid soil increased up to 30th day then decreased on 60th day but again increased on 90th day of the incubation. However, limed soil did not show similar trend of results. Non-exchangeable K decreased up to 60th day in half limed soil and up to 30th day in full limed soil and then showed an increasing trend thereafter. Results further showed that during the 90 day period of incubation, nitrogenous and potassic fertilizer did not show any significant effect on non-exchangeable K content in soil.

106-109

Authors: S. S. GADAKH, A.M. DETHE, M.N. KATHALE AND N.S. KAHATE

Genetic diversity analysis is a powerful tool in quantifying the degree of divergence between biological populations and to assess the relative contribution of different components of total divergence. The present investigation aimed to study the genetic divergence and clustering pattern of 50 genotypes of Green gram (Vigna radiata L. Wilczek) for selection of suitable parents that can be utilized in hybridization programme and to study the genetic parameters attributing to yield. The crosses of genotypes from cluster I, i.e. Kopergaon, Vaibhav, BM-4 and BM-2005-1 with those of genotypes BM-2003-2, PM-203- 18, AKM-9907 and AKM-08-01 belonging to cluster III and RVSM-11, PM-201-19, ML-1354, AKM-0603 belonging to cluster II has the highest intercluster distance and might produce high level of segregating population in regards to yield as well as earliness. Among the thirteen characters the protein content contributed maximum amount towards divergence. High heritability estimates coupled with high genetic advance was observed for harvest index and biological yield per plant resembling the action of additive genes in controlling these particular characters and selection would be rewarding for yield improvement.

114-120

Authors: M. K. MUSAYEV

The results of sea-buckthorn breeding in Azerbaijan are discussed. Assessment of the main biomorphological and economical traits of local varieties of sea-buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) is given. Discusses the results of studying of resistance to salt stress and structural elements of productivity of the varieties and forms of sea buckthorn. The essential differences between varieties were determined.

124-127

Authors: M. E. HAQUE, D. REZWANA, M. I. ISLAM, AND B. SIKDAR

Snake (Tricosanthes anguina) gourd is a popular vegetable and medicinal plant in Bangladesh. The present investigation was under taken for in vitro regeneration of snake gourd from shoot apical meristem and juvenile leaves in Murashige and Skoog (1962) medium supplemented with various concentration and combination of BAP, 2,4-D, NAA, IBA and GA3. Among different concentrations, 1 mg l-1BAP was found for effective callus induction from shoot apical meristem and 2.5 mg l-1 2, 4- D + 0.5 mg l-1BAP from leaves. The highest result for shoot regeneration was observed from meristem derived calli using 1.5 mg l-1BAP + 0.2 mg l-1GA3 and 2.5 BAP + 0.2 mg l-1GA3 from leaves derived calli. In vitro regenerated shoots were rooted well in ½ strength MS with 0.5 mg l-1NAA and well rooted plantlets were successfully established in pot soil with 80% survival rate.

132-138

Authors: A. SHARMA AND S. K. SINGH

The genetic variability in plants is getting narrowed due to human activities and natural calamities. Mutation is defined as sudden heritable change in a characteristic of an organism. Induced mutation is one of the potential tools for generating more variability which has been successfully exploited for improving several traits in many crop plants including rice (Oryza sativa L.). Rice is the world’s leading food grain crop which serves as the main source of calories consumed by human being and occupies almost one-fifth of the total land area covered under cereals. The demand of rice is continuously increasing due to ever-growing population. To meet the growing demand, more variability is required to develop new high yielding varieties with tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Use of induced mutation for improvement of rice received importance as a potential tool in the late sixties. A wide array of physical and chemical mutagens have been evaluated on rice and based on their relative efficiency and effectiveness, x-rays, γ- rays and fast neutrons(among physical) and EMS, nitroso methyl urea (NMU), sodium azide and ethidium bromide (among chemical) have been found useful for obtaining desirable mutants. Now, combination of both, chemical (EMS) and physical (γ- rays) mutagens are also being used which are giving encouraging results in creating variability and developing high yielding varieties. This method is generally being used for improvement of one or two simply inherited traits in otherwise well adapted and highly productive genotypes. The traits which have been induced in rice through mutation in the last five decades are; early maturity, short stature, more number of tillers, resistance to blast and leaf blight, resistance to lodging and cold, improved grain quality and higher yield. The present article gives an insight into the relevance of induced mutation in creation of genetic variability and development of outstanding rice varieties.

145-147

Authors: D. DEBBARMA AND S. K. ACHARYA

A study was conducted on livelihood generation through Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act in the state of Tripura collecting firsthand information from a total of seventy five respondents who are all enrolled under the scheme and it was found that different antecedent variables had different impact on the consequent variable, livelihood(as consequence variable). The fertility status has come up as the most significant variable in the entire study. Also the other variables like income from other sources, independency, number of animals, size of holding, income from agriculture of the respondents have got significant impact on livelihood level of the respondents. It implies that population growth remains unabated; all kinds of welfare projects for generation of livelihood and income shall help to generate desired impact.

151-155

Authors: D. PETKOVA

Field trials with alfalfa were conducted during the period 1996 – 2012 under the meteorological conditions of Obraztsov chiflik, Rousse – Bulgaria. The objective of the study was dry matter yield to be estimated in alfalfa depending on the age of the stand under the meteorological conditions of Northeastern Bulgaria. Dry matter yield of alfalfa, precipitation and temperature sums were determined during the period of vegetation of crop. Annual hydrothermal coefficients (HTCY) were calculated for estimation of moisture - providing also and HTC for vegetation (HTCV) and autumn-winter periods (HTCAW). Dry matter yield in alfalfa without irrigation under conditions of North-East Bulgaria for four years was 499.28 kg ha -1. It varied most strongly during the first and the fourth year of cultivation. The Hydro-Thermal Coefficient from January to December effects positively on yield, comparing with the precipitation and temperature sums.

164-167

Authors: S. K. SWAIN AND 1J. P. GUPTA

Quasi-static compression tests were conducted to study the mechanical behavior of roasted cashew nuts at various moisture contents within the range of 6.75 percent to 13.52 percent and at varying loading rates of 5, 10 and 20 mm min-1. The direction of loading in all experiments under the present investigation was perpendicular to the concave and convex edges i.e. on its longitudinal axis along the natural line of cleavage, which is similar to the orientation followed for shelling in conventional manual hand beating method. The results have shown that under the three rates of loading and four levels of moisture contents the mechanical properties such as force for initial rupture, deformation, energy for rupture and modulus of elasticity followed quadratic relationship with moisture content. The results indicated that the force for rupture, deformation and energy for rupture increased up to the moisture content of 10.20 percent under the three rates of loading but the modulus of elasticity decreased under the similar conditions.

184-187

Authors: H. SINGH, 1N. SINGH, 2A. MARATHE AND J. UGALAT

Aril browning (AB) is one of the major physiological problems of pomegranate, resulting in diminution of quality and commercial value of the fruits. The present study was taken up to investigate the biochemical changes in pulp and seed of aril browning affected fruit in comparison with healthy fruits. Biochemical studies revealed that AB affected aril had higher total sugars (84.45 mg g-1 fresh weight of tissue), reducing sugar (53.40 mg g-1 fresh weight of tissue), TSS (16.3%) and starch (194.96 mg g-1 of tissue dry weight) as compared to healthy aril. Whereas, protein content was lower in AB affected seeds (6.92 mg g-1 FW of tissue) as compared to healthy seeds (7.832 mg g-1 FW of tissue). There was a gradual decrease in anthocyanin (from 0.53 to 0.33 mg 100-1 g) and total phenol content (from 141.25 to 109.70 mg 100-1 g) with the increase in intensity of browning. AB affected seeds showed reduced activities of enzyme like amylase (7.36 mg maltose liberated h-1 g-1 of protein) and total dehydrogenase (1.44 ΔA485 g-1 fresh weight of tissue), in contrast to this there was increased activity of enzyme polyphenol oxidase (0.0063 ΔA412mg-1 protein min-1) as compared to seed of healthy aril.

193-197

Authors: J. UGALAT, 1C. HARADARI AND H. SINGH

Corky tissue is a physiological disorder, affecting Cricket Ball variety of sapota to the tune of 35% or more, especially in the summer season. Very little work has been reported so far on the biochemistry of this disorder. In the present study an attempt was made to characterize the corky tissue affected fruit in biochemical and physiological view. Studies revealed that the percent of corky tissue incidence had a positive correlation with the number fruit per panicle and size of the fruit. Gibberellic acid treatment has reduced the incidence of corky tissue as compared to control and paclobutrazol treatment has increased the incidence of disorder. In corky tissue affected fruit pulp the reducing sugars, total soluble sugars content and enzyme activity like amylase were reduced and starch content was higher as compared to healthy fruit pulp, hence decreased activity of amylase might affected the conversion of starch into simple sugars. Total carbohydrate, proteins, fatty acids, mineral nutrients were comparatively less in case of affected fruits. This indicates that there was less mobilization of these biochemical parameters into the fruit and consequently affected the physiological development of the fruit and manifested as disorder.

201-206

Authors: D. MUKHERJEE

One of the most critical issues on the national and global agenda is the need to preserve endangered high value medicinal plant for future generations while trying to understand and document the indigenous knowledge of resource management practices (Chakraborty, 2009). Traditional medicines, particularly herbal medicines, have been increasingly used worldwide during the last two decades. Man through his keen observation and experimentation in the past identified plants having healing properties and thus developed traditional knowledge base contributing to our rich heritage (Mukherjee, 2008). As the collection of most of the medicinal plants is from the wild, in 70% of the cases the collection or harvesting is destructive in nature as either the whole plant (Swertia chirayita) or parts such as root (eg. Safed musli), bark (Taxus baccata) yields the active principle, which amounts to killing of the plant. Similarly perennial Himalayan herbs Nardostachys grandiflora (jatamansi) and Picrorhiza kurrooa (kutki) are declining in their populations in the wild due to over-harvesting (IUCN, 2008). These are valued for their aromatic and medicinal properties. A good agricultural practice in the context of medicinal plants is a cultivation programme designed to ensure optimal yield in terms of both quality and quantity of any crop intended for health purposes. There is a need to create awareness regarding the importance of medicinal plants as an important resource, which contributes both to our primary health care needs and to our exports as well. The need of the hour is to come up with a policy framework that ensures in-situ and ex-situ conservation of medicinal plants, development of agro-techniques, and most of all sustainable use and harvesting of medicinal plants through good cultivation practices (Mukherjee et al., 2009). The problem of the medicinal plant as a depleting resource can be a blessing in disguise as the danger of their extinction may provide an impetus to their formal harvesting and this could, in turn, lead to enhance rural well being and local economy (Mukherjee and Chakraborty, 2008). A substantial percentage of rural population is directly or indirectly associated with the medicinal plant based industry.

210-213

Authors: Y. INDRANI DEVI , M. PREEMA DEVI AND S. S. ROY

Peach (Prunus persica L.) is an important fruit crop valued for its fresh and canned fruits. It is native to China where its culture dates back at least 3000 years. It has wider climatic adaptability and now its cultivation has been successfully extended to various sub-tropical regions of the world. Peach is now commercially grown in USA, Italy, France, England, Australia and China. However, in India, Pakistan, Turkey, Japan, Germany and USSR its cultivation is on a small scale. In India, it is grown in the mid hills zone of Himalayas extending from Jammu and Kashmir to North Eastern States at an altitude of 1000-2000 m above MSL. As per FAO, the area and production of peach in the world was 15, 68,447 hectares and 20,315,245 tonnes; whereas, India produced 2,37,931 tonnes peach from an area of 35,531 hectares in 2009. Most of the peach cultivars have been bred in various countries suitable to their agro-climatic conditions.

216-217

Authors: A. K. DOLAI, S. BERA, R. K. GHOSH, 1M. K. BHOWMICK AND D. PAL

Congress grass or carrot weed (Parthenium hysterophorus L.) is a native of tropical North and South America (Mexico, USA) and West Indies. It is a herbaceous, erect and annual plant belonging to the family Asteraceae (Compositae) and has now become a major weed of regional, national or international importance within a short period of time because of its huge seed production ability with small and lighter seeds that can travel a long distance through wind, water, birds, other animals, traffic and transported goods (Das, 2008). The weed was introduced first with milo grain (Sorghum Bicolor) seed in India and was first noticed in Pune in 1955. Now, it has been spreading over most of the cropped as well as noncropped areas of the country, thereby posing a serious concern owing to its hazards. Hence, understanding weed biology and ecology is of prime importance towards its successful management.

220-222

Authors: A. K. MALL AND D. N. VISHWAKARMA

Hybrid seed production involves several technical complications, which have to be tackled satisfactorily to obtain an accepted economic yield. One of the major bottlenecks in production of hybrid seed is the non-synchronization of male and female lines. Information on the effect of various factors such as, differential sowing dates of A and R lines, differential seeding age (Halaswamy et al., 1997), and application of urea, P2O5 and recommended dose of GA3 are meager for hybrid seed production. Synchronized heading between two parental lines of different growth duration is achieved by sowing them on different dates, which is termed as seeding interval (SI). The method of arriving at ‘SI’ using growth duration is simple to be practised. Transplanting of rice seedling at the right age in fixed row ratio should be managed to obtain higher yields in hybrid seed production. Initiation of heading in parental lines (A and R lines) at same time is absolutely essential for proper seed setting. Better seed setting occurs, when stigma of female parent gets sufficient pollen from male parent at right time. Ideal parents in hybrids are those, which have same heading date and duration. For proper seed setting, parents are artificially managed, that their heading occurs at same time (Maurya, 1998).