Journal of Applied and Natural Science
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Zinc dynamics in an Alfisol as influenced by levels of farm yard manure
Get PDFField experiments were conducted on sandy loam soil at Shimoga, Karnataka, India to study the influence of FYM application on dynamics of zinc in an Alfisol under fingermillet (Eleusine coracana L.) crop. Three levels of FYM viz., 7.5, 15.0 and 22.5 t/ha with and without recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) were evaluated for the purpose. Changes in available (DTPA extractable) and different fractions of Zn in soil were monitored. Application of FYM at all levels, with or without fertilizers, caused significant (p<0.05) increase in DTPA-Zn, the effect being more pronounced at higher levels. Maximum DTPA- zinc (0.97 mg/kg) in soil was observed in the treatment RDF+FYM@ 22.5 t/ha. Increase in level of FYM application increased the water soluble, sorbed, easily reducible manganese bound, carbonate bound and organic bound fractions of Zn significantly (p<0.05), but decreased residual fractions in soil compared to that of RDF and absolute control treatments. All the fractions except residual one had positive and significant correlation with each other indicating the existence of a dynamic equilibrium among them. DTPA-Zn was positively and significantly (p<0.01) correlated with soil OC, WS, SORB, ERMn, CA, OM and Fe and Alox fractions (r= 0.683,0.603,0.683,0.702,0.777,0.678 and 0.476 respectively) in soil. The treatment receiving RDF+FYM @ 22.5 t/ha excelled over others with respect to grain and straw yield (3.028 t/ha and 1.890 t/ha respectively) of fingermillet. Thus, keeping in view the availability of Zn in soil and yield of fingermillet, FYM @22.5 t/ha supplemented with RDF was found to be the superior one
Response of wheat cultivars to foliar potassium fertilization under irrigated saline environment
Get PDFA field experiment with split-split plot design (SSPD) was conducted to study the response of two winter wheat (Triticumaestivum L.) cultivars (viz. salt tolerant cultivar KRL-1-4 and salt non-tolerant cultivar HD-2894) under saline irrigation regimes with and without foliar potassium fertilization on growth and grain yield of wheat during rabi 2011-12 and 2012-13. Potassium in the ratio of K+: Na+ (1: 10) was applied as foliar application during the heading stage of the crop. Results showed that the grain yield of KRL-1-4 and HD-2894 cultivars with foliar potassium fertilization at the heading stage increased by 6.5 to 22% and 3 to 15% during rabi 2011-2012, respectively under different saline irrigation regimes as compared to the control. Moreover, the results of rabi 2012-13 showed an increase in grain yield ranging from 4.5 to 20% for KRL-1-4 as compared to the control. Statistical analysis of grain yield parameter showed that the foliar potassium application in both varieties resulted in significant yield difference at 0.05 probability level as compared to the non-foliar application. Overall, it was observed that the foliar potassium fertilization increased the grain yield of both wheat cultivars, while the salt tolerant cultivar performed better than the salt non-tolerant cultivar under irrigated saline regimes
Socio economic profile of direct seeded rice (DSR) farmers of Haryana
Get PDFThe study has focused on socio economic profile, adoption level of Direct seeded rice (DSR) farmers and extension strategy to increase the adoption of DSR cultivation in Haryana (India). More than half of respondents (51.66 %) belonged to the middle age group 36-50 years and maximum 21.67 per-cent farmer qualification found metric. Majority of the farmers (50.83 per cent) had low level of socio-economic. Economic motivation of farmers was 70.83 per cent belonged to low to moderate level, whereas 67.5 per-cent of respondents belonged moderate to high innovation proneness. The overall adoption level of DSR technology was low to moderate, since 70 per-cent of respondents belonged to low to medium category
Characterization of wheat varieties (Triticum spp.) through seed morphology
Get PDFAn experiment was carried out at the Department of Seed Science and Technology, Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh, to characterize 28 wheat varieties of different species [17 varieties (MP 4010, HI 1500, HI 1531, HI 1544, GW 1, GW 503, DL 788-2, HD 2932, GW 11, GW 173, GW 190, GW 273, LOK 1, GW 322, MP 3288, GW 366 and GW 496) of Triticum aestivum, 9 varieties (HI 8381, HI 8498, HI 8627, HI 8713, A 28, A 206, GDW 1255, GW 1139 and RAJ 1555) of Triticum durum and 2 varieties (DDK 1025, DDK 1029) of Triticum dicoccum)] released for general cultivation in Gujarat at state level as well as at the National level in Central India based on the seed morphological characters. Based on the seed colour, the varieties were grouped into amber (25), white (1) and red (2). On the basis of seed shape, wheat varieties were separated in to round (2) ovate (7), oblong (12) and elliptical (7). On the basis of seed size, varieties were grouped into medium seed size (5), bold seed size (15) and very bold seed size (8). On the basis of seed hardness, varieties were grouped into soft (1), semi-hard (7) and hard (20). Based on the seed germ width, varieties were grouped into medium (15), wide (9) and narrow (4) seed germ width types. The varieties were grouped based on the seed crease into three groups, as medium (11),shallow (12) and deep (5) grain crease types. Based on the brush hair length, wheat varieties were grouped as short (17), medium (7) and long (4) brush hair length types
On-farm impact analysis of resource conservation technology on wheat at Tarai-Teesta Flood plain of Eastern Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP)
Get PDFAdoption of resource conservation technologies (RCT) may improve the productivity, reduce cost and sustainability of wheat production in the irrigated areas of eastern Indo-Gangetic plains (IGP) of South Asia. Critical on –farm study on factors favouring adoption and non-adoption is required. Findings from an on-farm trial conducted during 2005-2009 are used to evaluate the on-farm impacts of zero tillage (ZT) in wheat from three sites at Tarai-Teesta flood plain of eastern IGP. On an average, there was 11.54% increase in productivity in ZT wheat over conventional tilled (CT) wheat. Water productivity increased from 1.99 kg m-3 in CT to 2.73 kg m-3 in ZT due to lower estimated water use (1147 m3 ha-1 in ZT than 1435 m3 ha-1 in CT) and higher productivity (3.38 t ha-1 in ZT than 3.03 t ha-1 in CT). Saving in tractor operation and diesel use in farmers’ ZT wheat fields were 3.23 and 19.09 hours ha-1. Sowing can be done earlier by one week through adoption of ZT machine for better utilization of limited winter. Savings in ZT on farmers’ fields were in the components of land preparation (1938 Rs ha-1), seed (462 Rs ha-1), nitrogen (269 Rs ha-1), phosphate fertilizer (104 Rs ha-1) and irrigation (380 Rs ha-1) over conventional wheat cultivation. Availability of zero-till seeder and its servicing, skilled operator and sometimes reluctance of local tiller operator for apprehension of lower earnings from single tillage pass are also revealed as the factors of non-adoption. More such in-depth studies should be conducted on site-specific basis so that it can be replicated more widely in areas for the benefit of the farming community
Economics analysis of tomato cultivation under poly house and open field conditions in Haryana, India
Get PDFIn the present paper an attempt has been made to study the comparative economics of tomato cultivation under poly house and open field conditions in Karnal district, Haryana. Production and marketing constraints under poly house cultivation have also been identified. The primary data for the agriculture year 2013-14 were collected by personal interviews of the selected farmers with the help of a specially designed schedule. Simple statistical tool like Averages and percentages were used to compare, contrast and interpret the results properly. The overall findings of the study reveal that the cost of cultivation of tomato under poly houses was higher by Rs. 206816.90/acre as com-pared to open field conditions. At the same time, the net returns under poly houses were higher by Rs. 51097.54/acre. Farmers realized 53.71 % higher yield of tomato under poly house as compared to open field conditions. The gross return, returns over variable cost and net return were also higher by 106.94 %, 160.70 % and 48.70 %, respectively in case of poly house as compared to open field conditions. The results of the study also revealed that the tomato cultivation under poly houses has significantly contributed to the yield
Seed anatomical studies on dormancy and germination in Chamaecrista absus
Get PDFPresent study was conducted to analyze the anatomical structure of seed to study the dormancy behaviour in Chamaecrista absus. Seed germination behaviour was also studied after breaking the seed dormancy by artificial seed treatments. The anotamical studies revealed that seed has apical hilar region and seed coat has four layers consisting of outer cuticle, sub cuticle, palisade layer and inner tegma leading to physical dormancy. Outer cuticle and sub cuticle layers are very hard to break naturally and hence seeds possess hard seed coat dormancy. This physically hard seed coat should be made soft to enhance germination. Studies to break dormancy were conducted involving treatments like hot water, hormones and in combinations of both. The results revealed that seeds dipped in boiling water made inner layers permeable for water absorption in hilar region and thus germination enhanced. In specific seeds treated with boiling water for 5 minutes recorded higher germination (82 %) over untreated control (26 %). . Other artificial treatments with hormones gibberellic acid (33 % ) and ethrel (34 % ) did not enhanced the germination significantly over control. C. absus has hard coat dormancy and can be overcame by treating seeds with boiling water treatment
Evaluation of different plant powders as seed protectants against rice moth, Corcyra cephalonica Stainton
Get PDFThe present study was aimed to develop the eco-friendly and economic approaches to keep the stored food grains free from insect attack would be using the plant products as grain protectants. In the context of biological control as an alternative to chemical control, under laboratory conditions, different plant powders viz., dharakkernel and leaf (Melia azadirach L.), neem kernel and leaf (Azadirachta indica Adr. Juss), karanj kernel (Pongamia glabra), aak leaf (Calotropis procera Br.), datura leaf (Datura alba Nees.), citrus leaf (Citrus lemon L.), podina leaf (Mentha arvensis) and tulsi leaf (Ocimum sanctum L.) were compared, at three rate of application (1.0, 2.5 and 5.0 g per 100 g seeds), as protectants against infestation of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) seeds by the storage pest Corcyra cephalonica Stainton. The larval period of test insect got progressively increased with the increase in dose level of different plant powders. The maximum (77.83%) and minimum (37.83%) reduction in adult emergence was observed in dharak kernel powder and tulsi leaf powder, respectively. The test insect developed on seeds treated with dharak kernel powder laid significantly (P? 0.5) minimum number of eggs (80.33 eggs/ female) followed by neem kernel powder (85.66 eggs/female). The dharak and neem kernel powders were found most effective in reducing the longevity of male (3.96 and 5.13 days) and female adults (4.63 and 4.97 days), respectively. The results suggest that these materials tested have the potential in the development of post-harvest protection technology against, C. cephalonica, the major pest of stored grains
Allelopathic effect of Leucaena leucocephala on Pansy (Viola tricolor L.)
Get PDFThe present study on allelopahtic effect of L. leucocephala on pansy (V. tricolor L.) both laboratory and nursery conditions were undertaken. Leucaena which significantly reduced the seed germination in all treatments at 2% (43%), 3% (42%) and 4% (40%) over Control (Distilled water), except in treatment at 1% (55%) wheregermination was found to be maximum over Control (Distilled water), this result shows the stimulatory effect on germination at 1% concentration of leaf leachate under laboratory condition. Leucaena soil in combination with Field soil showed stimulatory effect on the growth parameters in Pansy. Highest germination percentage (82%), fresh shoot weight (2.82g), fresh root weight (0.22g), dry shoot weight (0.50g), dry root weight (0.05g), vigor index (99.36) were recorded in treatment amended with soil 50% Leucaena soil and 50% Field soil and inhibitory effect was seen in pansy when amended into with 100% Leucaena soil under nursery condition. From this study it appears that Leucaena produces allelopahtic substrates, increase in concentration exhibit adverse effect on germination and growth parameters. Hence it is suggested that pansy could be affected economically but this tree can very well adapt to diversified soil condition
Quantification of the abundance and diversity of predatory spiders in rice ecosystem of Rajendranagar, Telangana, India
Get PDFThe effective prey searching ability and polyphagy of spiders makes them important predators of crop pests. 19 species of spiders have been recorded in rice ecosystem (Rajeswaran et al., 2005). There is now a growing need to conserve all species and not only the large vertebrates (Samways, 1990) and contribute to the natural biological process. However, literature pertaining to their abundance and diversity in rice crop in Rajendranagar area is scant. Hence, the p resent study was conducted to understand their abundance and diversity. Spider samples were collected from rice fields of Rajendranagar in kharif and rabi seasons of 2011-12 and 2012-13. A total of 2,094 individuals collected in kharif represented eight families with a density of 12.48/sq.m. Members of Tetragnathidae were recorded most abundantly in kharif (46.32% of the Arachnid population) followed by Lycosids (26.22%). In rabi 1,095 spiders of seven families were collected with a density of 6.38/sq.m. Tetragnathidae andLycosidae were the most abundantly found species in rabi also comprising 27.85% and 26.12% of Arachnid population respectively. Study of guild composition was also carried out. A t-test between indices of richness, diversity, effective no.of species and species evenness of kharif and rabi seasons revealed that there were no significant differences with respect to these parameters (p>0.05) indicating that spider diversity of rice in Rajendranagar was more or less same between kharif and rabi seasons. This is the first study on the spider diversity of rice ecosystem of Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, India