Journal of Crop and Weed

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.

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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.

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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.