Journal of Crop and Weed

13-25

Authors: A.A. KHONJE

Malawi is a land locked country which lies on the southern end of the Great Rift Valley between 9o25'S and 17o08'S latitude, and 32o40'E and 35o55'E longitude. It has a total area of 118,480 km2, a total land area of 94,079 km2 and the remaining 24,401 km2 (20%) is covered by mountains (third tallest mountains in Africa) and surface water resources, dominated by lake Malawi and Shire river. It shares boundaries with Tanzania on the north, Zambia on the North West and Mozambique on the South-West, South and South-east (DREA, 1994; EAD, 2002; Kachule and Franzel, 2009).

32.35

Authors: A. RANAWAT, S. K. SINGH, R. SINGH, P. K. BHATI AND A. SHARMA

D2 statistics used to measure the genetic divergence among the genotypes has been successfully utilized by the breeders to analyze the morphological diversity. Hybridization is one the tools to create variability. One may create more variability through hybridization when parents are diversed. Hence, genetic diversity in the parents is a prerequisite for crop improvement programmes. All the genotypes of maize (Zea mays L.) were grouped into three clusters on the basis of the morphological diversity using Mahalanobis D2 statistic. Maximum intra-cluster distance was observed in cluster II (15.44) whereas, maximum inter-cluster distance was observed between cluster II and III (25.46). The analysis of divergence indicated significant differences among parental lines for all the agro-morphological characters. On the basis of results obtained in the present investigation, it was concluded that the allelic diversity can be used for future breeding program. The traits under study are also major yield contributing traits and are largely associated with each other. Therefore, these traits should be taken into consideration either simultaneously or alone for selecting a high yielding maize genotype.

39-43

Authors: J.K. DAS, 1K. PRADHAN, G. MAZUMDER AND 2R. GHOSAL

In the era of globalisation, there is a need to concentrate upon the value added product from the available resources to go with the global market with the help of supply chain management system for the upliftment of the livelihood status of the ultimate stakeholders. The present study was conducted to estimate the socio-economic attributes of the mango growers embedded with the economy of the mango enterprise at the Malda district of West Bengal, India. This study was conducted using multistage sampling with purposively selected villages Dhantola, Kalyanpur, Arapur, Govindapur and Ganipur in the English Bazar block of Malda district. The dependent and the independent variables were operationalised and measured with the help of structured interview schedule. For analyzing and interpretation of the data statistical tools like co-efficient of correlation, regression and path analysis were used. The study revealed that the age, secondary occupation, education, size of orchard, age of orchard, family composition, experience of growers, percentage of variety grown, return from orchard, primary income and secondary income found to be associated with the total income, total expenditure and total savings of the family and the fourteen predictor variables had contributed to explain total family income 57 percent, total yearly expenditure 49 percent and yearly savings 83 percent variations embedded with the predicted variables.

50-56

Authors: L. TZUDIR, S. MAJI, 1S. BASU, 1P. S. BERA, 1R. NATH AND 2P. K. CHAKRABORTY

A two year experiment on four mungbean varieties sown on three different dates has been conducted at the BCKV research farm (22°56' N latitude, 88°32' E longitude). The wind speed at 11:30 h at the initial phase was higher under 15th February and 1st March sowings but the later phase recorded higher wind speed in case of 15th March sowing. The later phase recorded higher wind speed at 15:30 hour irrespective of dates of sowing. Wind speed over the crop was maximum when the leaf area index (LAI) was approximately 0.50. Dry matter accumulation and plant height significantly reduced the wind speed over the crop canopy. Wind speed declined when the LAI exceeded 1.15 under 15th February and 1st March sowings and 1.75 under 15th March sowing. Height over 40.8cm reduced the wind speed of late sown crops. Biological parameters were found to be the polynomial functions of wind speed.

61-64

Authors: L. SOPHIE AND S. K. ACHARYA

Across the world, the problem of malnutrition has been perceived as the most dangerous and menacing factor towards ensuring a decent and secure livelihood. The problem of malnutrition has got social, political, technical and motivational dimensions as well. Education being the basic driving force for any economy and process per se, the school going children need to be focussed and attended comprehensively so that they can grow up themselves as healthy citizens having belligerent mind and body. The available research findings on child nutrition has proved that nutrition is basically a complex phenomenon and cannot be managed in a single intervention. Accordingly the present study was conceptualised with an aim to identify the correlates of school going children’s calorie consumption and nutritional level. The nutrition has been conceived as a composite configuration of food intake, calorie intake, high value food intake, sanitation and total calorie consumption. The study was conducted at Champhai district of Mizoram. It depicts that the predictor variables like age, training, family size, subsidiary income, parents education, crop yield, etc. have become predominant factors in making a discernable difference between high and low level of nutrition status among the respondents.

72-75

Authors: A. MANDAL, P. TARAI, S.K. KAUSHIK, A.C. MAHATA AND 1P. CHAKARBORTI

Allelopathy refers to the advantageous or detrimental effects of one plant on another plant by liberating the chemicals from its components through leaching, root exudation, volatilization, residue decomposition and others in natural and agricultural systems. The present study has been made to appraise the allelopathic action of Rauwalfia tetraphylla L. touching to the alteration of germination, exaggeration of seedling and biochemical actions in gram seed (Cicer arietinum L.). Various concentrations of (12.5, 25, 50, 100, 150, and 200mg ml-1) aqueous extracts were prepared from root of R. tetraphylla L. and germination studies were conducted. The medium concentrations (50mg ml-1 and 100mg ml-1) of root extracts stimulated the seed germination, growth and biochemical constituents (total sugar, protein, amino acid and DNA and RNA concentrations) of gram. In higher concentrations a more or less stagnant nature was observed in all the parameters after T4. A significant variation is found among all treatments considering seedling parameters where, seed treatment is always better than control. In biochemical observations, the view is more or less same where T4 (100mg ml-1) is indicating highest performance excepting fresh and dry weight. The enhanced action in occurrence of root extract can be supportive for early establishment of seedlings especially in water stress location. Therefore, the said treatment can be considered as an invigoration treatment under seed/crop production programme.

81-83

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

An investigation was made on 21 guava cultivars viz., Allahabad Safed, Lucknow-49, Harijha, S 1, F 1, S 8, Apple colour, Red Fleshed, Behat Coconut, Chittidar, Baruipur, Seedless, Supreme, Banarasi, Arka Amulya, Arka Mridula, Khaja, Almond Iskbala, Kairala Seedlings, Patialo and Florida Seedlings under irrigation condition in laterite soil. Results of four consecutive years of study indicated that Banarasi cultivar produced higher average yield (73.7kg plant-1 year-1) followed by Allahabad Safeda, (71.6kg plant-1 year-1) and Apple colour (69.5kg plant-1 year-1. Fruit weight was maximum in Almond Iskbala followed by Red Fleshed and Apple Colour. Fruit quality in respect of TSS/acid ratio was the best in Banarasi followed by Khaja while maximum ascorbic acid content was in Supreme followed by Seedless. Considering the overall performance, ‘Banarasi’ and ‘Apple Colour’ cultivars of guava are recommended for cultivation in red and laterite zone of West Bengal.

91-95

Authors: S. K. ACHARYA, S. BERA AND G. AHMAD

Energy is the driving force in the ecology which changes its forms while transferring from one trophic level to another and from one component of ecosystem to another component i.e. in between animate and inmate forms of life. While transferring from one component of ecosystem there is loss of some energy which is termed as entropy in thermodynamics. Keeping this energy and the energy losses in view the present study “Estimation of Farm Energy Balances of Small Farm Management: A Socio-ecological and Techno-managerial Analysis” has been selected to study the energy balances i.e., consumption and production in crop enterprises as well as in households and its overall impact on social, economic, ecological spheres of ecosystem. Crop Energy Balance (y) is defined as the difference between the energy equivalents of feed taken by the cattle and the energy equivalents of the output from cattle in the form of dung and milk per day per cattle. The variable Crop Energy Balance (y) is the dependent variable being predicted by a set of 14 independent variables. Study was conducted at Saharpara village of Haringhata,in district Nadia of West Bengal. The respondents have been 50 by count and have been selected through both the purposive and random sampling approaches to ultimately derive and elicit their behavioural traits in the energy balances of social, economic, physical and ecological setup. The results show that following new factors, Farm Economy Index, Personal Capacity, Family Resources, Family Motivation have led to consciousness about the energy balances in social ecology and impact of these energy balances on the ecosystem as whole. The Multiple correlation results show Age (X1) has positive significant correlation with Crop Energy Balance (y) whereas the variables Education (X2), Homstead Land Size (X9) and Age (X1) have had significant impact on the predictant y. All these analytical outcomes can be replicated to other enterprises as well to calculate energy balances. A comparative study can be adopted to conclude whether agriculture or fishery or cattle or poultry enterprises can be comparable with each other or all these enterprises can well be complemented to develop a complex model for energy management, so as to attain a balanced energy consumption pattern.

102-108

Authors: CH. S. KAR , D. K. BASTIA AND S. TRIPATHY

Field experiments were conducted during 2011-2013 in Organic Block of Central Research Station, Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with twelve treatments and three replications in kharif season and all the corresponding treatments were the same in summer season except green manuring with Sesbania aculeata. The soil of the experimental site was sandy loam with pH 6.35, BD 1.58 t m-3, PD 2.65 t m-3, high in organic carbon (9.7 g kg-1) and medium in available N-P2O5-K2O (375.0, 34.49 and 221.25 kg ha-1, respectively). Microbial population was highly influenced by organic nutrient management and Biozyme formulations during the crop growing period. Maximum microbial population (Bacteria 1.1 x 107 and 1.08 x 107, Actinomycetes 9.6 x 106 and 9.3 x 106, Fungi 9.6 x 104 and 9.3 x 104 cfu g-1 of soil) was observed at 90 DAT of crop and decreased thereafter. The bacterial, fungal and actinomycetes population during crop growing period had strong positive linear relationship with crop yield (R2 = 0.82 and 0.85, 0.95 and 0.95 and, 0.92 and 0.91 in kharif and summer, respectively). Organic nutrient management and Biozyme formulations expressed conspicuous effect on microbial population which, in turn, resulted in maximum rice yield for treatment receiving Dhanicha + FYM + Vermicompost + BSP + BG + BPPL in kharif (5.09 t/ha) and corresponding treatment receiving FYM + Vermicompost + BSP + BG + BPPL in summer (4.95 t/ha). Soil status after system yield (NP2O5- K2O 358, 36, 229 kg ha-1 ; OC 12.0 g kg-1; pH 6.6; EC 0.115 dSm-1; BD and PD 1.54 and 2.63 t m-3) was very close to or improved from those of initial status of soil.

113-114

Authors: S.DEBNATH AND A.K.BASU

The experiment was carried in District Seed Farm ‘D’ Block, Kalyani, Nadia with four varieties of safflower and four different treatments in four replication in split-plot design. The four treatments were: application of sulphur @ 20,40 and 60kg sulphu. ha-1 along with control i.e., without application of sulphur. Among the treatments application of sulphur @ 20 kg.ha-1 and 40 kg.ha-1 was found most effective for increment of seed yield and oil yield respectively for safflower.

122-127

Authors: S. ADHIKARY

The Agricultural farm of Indian Statistical Institute, Giridih, Chotonagpur Plateau region, is well maintaining the biodiversity of crops and soils. The present paper discussed the experience, policies adopted for conservation of biodiversity and results. Findings show that due to less effect of Green Revolution and World Trade Organization as well as contract farming in Jharkhand, a sustainable biodiversity is maintained in comparison to that of developed states of India. Regeneration of vast gravel land into fertile land and now sustained vegetation achieved adopting 20 years back aforestation program. Collection and identification have been done for a good no. of varieties of several crops practiced in Jharkhand and maintaining them since long period. Some traditional upland rice cultivars were identified as drought tolerant through drought susceptibility index. 40 germplasms of horsegram were collected from different farmers' age-old collections, tested the genetic variation at the seed storage protein level, grouped only into five broad groups. Under the rainfed farming system, cropping systems and cropping sequences had been developed to maintain crop biodiversity, land use and climatic ecosystems as well as production potential following traditional practices of this region. Numbers of wild species of the cultivated crops are found those could be used as genetic race in the breeding program.

138-141

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

The investigation was conducted at Horticultural Research Station, Mondouri, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidhyalaya, Nadia, West Bengal during 2009-11 to find out the effect of micronutrients on growth and yield of garlic cv. katki. Three concentrations of four micronutrients namely zinc sulphate (0.1, 0.25 and 0.50%), borax (0.1, 0.2 and 0.3%), ferrous sulphate (0.1, 0.2 and 0.3%) and manganese sulphate (0.1, 0.25 and 0.50%) were applied as foliar spray at 45, 60 and 75 days after planting. Maximum leaf number (9.45), number of cloves (29.23), weight of bulb (27.18g) and projected yield (7.13 t/ha) were recorded with borax @ 0.2%. Plants under zinc sulphate @ 0.25% recorded maximum plant height (61.72 cm), number of roots (102.56), length of cloves (3.05 cm) and neck thickness (1.08 cm). Borax @ 0.2% was found most effective for yield improvement of garlic followed by zinc sulphate 0.25%.

154-158

Authors: K. JANA AND G. K. MALLICK

Survey for predominance of weedy rice in different rice ecosystem in Western zone of West Bengal was conducted by Rice Research Station (Govt. of West Bengal), Bankura, West Bengal, India during kharif season of 2010 and 2011. Survey works were done in the farmers’ fields of Purulia, Bankura and Paschim Medinipur districts under red and laterite zone of West Bengal, India. Weedy rice species were noticed in the framers’ fields during survey work, but population was low. It was observed that population of weedy rice was more in Bankura and Purulia districts as compared to Paschim Medinipur district. The yield loss of rice due to weedy rice infestation was negligible in Western zone of West Bengal. Removing weedy rice’s panicles before they set seeds after rice planting when weedy rice is taller than the rice crop is most important control measure.

165-167

Authors: V. VISALAKSHMI, P. R. MOHANA RAO AND 1N. H. SATYANARAYNA

Three modules were evaluated against conventional farmers’ practice to manage pest problems in rice at farmers field of Ragolu village, Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh during kharif 2008 and2009.Module III comprising of application of carbofuran 3G@1kg a.i/ha in nursery, pheromone trap with 5mg lure @20 per hectare and field releases of Trichogramma chilonis @1,00,000 t ha-1 five times from 15 days after transplanting at ten days interval found good with low incidence of stem borer (3.26 to 6.78% dead hearts,5.56to7.40 % white ears and 5.61 to8.20% silver shoots)with highest grain yield of 5.89 t ha-1during2008and5.95tha-1during2009withcost benefit ratios of 1:2.38 and 1:3.77during 2008 and 2009 respectively.

172-176

Authors: B. N. PANJA, 1M. K. PANDIT, 1S. B. CHATTOPADHYAY, 2D.MAJUMDER, 3A.K. SAHOO, 3P.PAL AND 4A.K. SENAPATI

This investigation was carried out with fifteen brinjal genotypes during 2008-10 to examine the direct and indirect effects of different growth and yield characters on yield of healthy and Leucinodes orbonalis infested genotypes through path analysis. Observations on growth and yield attributing characters viz. plant height, stem girth, number of twigs plant-1, number of secondary branches, total number of twigs plant -1, number of leaves plant -1, length of leaf, leaf breadth, fruit length, fruit breadth, fruit stalk length, fruit stalk diameter, fruit volume, number of fruits plant -1 and fruit weight plant -1 were recorded for the study. Simple correlation studies of these parameters with yield under two conditions revealed that fruit number per plant had the highest significant positive correlation followed by fruit stalk length and fruit length in both the cases. Partitioning of correlation values through path analysis study showed that fruit stalk length and fruit length in both the cases exhibited direct significant positive and negative effect on fruit yield, respectively. It was evident from the results that fruit stalk length and fruit number per plant should be given priority when selection for the varietal improvement would be taken up even from both fields.

181-184

Authors: A. GHOSAL, M. L. CHATTERJEE AND 1A. BHATTACHARYYA

An experiment was conducted to observe the efficacy of some neonicotinoids against aphid of okra during pre- kharif season of 2010 and 2011 at Instructional Farm, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya. Imidacloprid 17.8 SL @ 50 g a.i. ha-1 was found as a most effective neonicotinoid insecticide against aphid. It recorded least aphid infestation and 84.54 % reduction of population over control. To control aphid population of okra the other two neonicotinoids viz., thiamethoxam 25WG @ 50 g a.i. ha-1 and acetamiprid 20SP @ 40 g a.i. ha-1 were also found at par with imidacloprid and showed better result than acephate 75WP and dimethoate 30EC. Considering incremental cost benefit ratio acetamiprid 20SP @ 40g a.i. ha-1 was found most economic over other neonicotinoids. None of the neonicotinoids have adverse effect on natural enemies of aphid in okra ecosystem.

190-192

Authors: M. D. SURVASE, S. M. NAWLAKHE, S.G. JADHAV, S. K. NAYAK AND Y. M. WAGHMARE

An experiment was conducted at the Research Farm, College of Agriculture, Nagpur during kharif season of 2010-2011. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design with six treatments and four replications. The lowest weed dry matter and highest weed control efficiency were recorded with two hoeing and two weeding at 20 and 40 DAT. The treatment also recorded highest grain yield and straw yield of rice.

196-197

Authors: VIVELA D. SHIRA, Y. SOMI SINGH AND F. K. BAURI

Banana (Musa paradisiaca) is one of the major commercial fruit crop of many tropical and subtropical regions of India. It is cultivated in an area of 830.0 thousand ha with production of 29780.0 thousand MT and productivity of 35.9 MTha-1 (Annon, 2011). Banana is a potassium loving crop and high potassium availability is important at fruiting stage. Any limitation in the supply of nutrients at the shooting stage affects bunch size and quality in banana. Among the several factors affecting fruit quality, adequate potassium application is considered to be of utmost importance in banana cultivation. Potassium is known to influence fruit yield in general and fruit quality in particular (Tandon and Sekhon, 1988).

201-202

Authors: P. B. BEHERE, V. H. SURVE, R.R. PISAL, 1P.R. PATIL AND V.C. RAJ

Sweet corn (Zea mays L) is one of the most important cereals, which ranks fifth in India for production. Maize is grown in 6.5 million ha in India and 45 per cent of the total production is consumed as food. It is used as food, feed and forage as well as in industry. India is the homeland of grain legumes including pulses which play vital role in cereal based Indian diet. Green gram (Vigna radiata L.) locally known as ’Moong’ in India covering an area of 3.1 million hectares with a total production of 1.1 million tonnes with the average of 425 ha-1 (Anon., 2004). Intercropping has been recognised as a beneficial system of crop production and is one of the potent means of better utilization of resources and higher crop production per unit time and area, which can provide substantial yield advantages compared to sole cropping. These advantages may be specially important because they are achieved not by means of costly inputs, but by the simple expedient of growing crop together (Willey, 1979). In new system, the modification of planting geometry may helps in accommodating the companion crop. By adopting the appropriate planting pattern the total productivity can be enhanced.

207-209

Authors: JAI KNOX AND M.S. PAUL

Parthenium hysterophorus L. is one of the worst weed for agriculture, the environment and human health. Parthenium is also known as ‘Congress grass’ and ‘Gajar ghas’ in India. It is a herbaceous, erect and annual plant belonging to family Asteraceae (Compositae). Parthenium was accidentally introduced in India through imported food grains in mid 1950’s (Dhawan and Dhawan, 1996). After noticeable occurrence of Parthenium in Pune (Maharashtra) it had spreads like ‘wild fire’ throughout India. Many methods ranging from manual uprooting, chemical herbicides to biological control agents have been proposed to limit the spread of this uncontrollable weed. Parthenium hysterophorus contain toxins from the chemical group of sesquiterpene lactone (C15 group) (Oudhia and Tripathi, 1998). The major component of toxin being parthenin and other phenolic acids such as caffeic, vanillic, ferulic, chlorgenic, p-hydrobenzoic acid, pcumaric acid and anisic acid are lethal to human beings and animals (Mahadevappa, 1998). Parthenium contains 35 lactones of the pseudoguaicinolide and xanthanolide skeletal types. Parthenin a major constituent is a sesquiterpenoid having a pseudoguaianolide structure. It contains an α-methylene γ-butyrolactone moiety (ring C) along with other functionalities and five chiral centers (Ramesh et al., 2004).

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).