Journal of Applied and Natural Science
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Evaluation of buprofezin 70 DF an insect growth regulator for eco-friendly management of jassid (Amrasca bigutulla bigutulla Ishida) in okra, Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench
Field experiments were carried out for two seasons in 2012 to evaluate the efficacy of a new formulation of buprofezin (buprofezin 70 DF) against jassid (Amarasca biguttula biguttula Ishida) in okra, Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench. The insecticide was applied at 200 and 150 g a.i./ha at the ETL level of the insect (2 Jassids/leaf) and the performance of the same was compared with imidacloprid 17.8 SL @ 20 g a.i./ha, acephate 75 SP @ 562.5g a.i./ha and an untreated control. Results revealed that both the dosages of buprofezin 70 DF were significantly superior over the untreated control at 5 % level of significance. Buprofezin 70 DF at 200 and 150 g a.i./ha performed better over the other treatments with 88.81 and 85.96 % reduction during first season and 89.60 and 84.73% reduction during second season, respectively. Buprofezin , an insect growth regulator which had less or no hazardous effects on human health and environment and thus it can be incorporated in Integrated Pest Management programme in okra cultivation
Growth and yield of Vigna radiata L.) under Terminalia arjuna and Mitragyna parvifolia based agrisilvicultural system
The present investigation was carried out in an agrisilvicultural system with treatments involving silvicultural component of 20 years old Terminalia arjuna Bedd. (Arjun) and Mitragyna parvifolia Korth (Kalam) intercropped with agricultural component of four varieties of green gram (Vigna radiata L.) viz. Pusa Vishal, GM-3, GM-4 and K-851. All the varieties of green gram were compared for growth and yield parameters like plant height (cm), number of leaves, number of branches per plant, total grain yield per plant as well as per plot at harvestablestage under Arjuna and Kalam trees. All the varieties of green gram performed superior in terms of number of leaves, numbers of branches, grain yield (per plant and per plot basis) under open condition as compared to crops under Arjuna and Kalam. However, only the plant height was found to be highest under Arjun, followed by Kalam trees. Among all the varieties tested, K-851 variety showed superiority for number of leaves (12.31) and number of branches per plant (3.96) and grain yield (2.66 gm per plant and 0.80 kg per plot) as compared to other varieties (at P=0.05). Therefore, this variety is suggested to grow in south Gujarat condition. Further, comparatively lower yield of crop under tree cover could be due to shade effect, which can be managed by regular pruning of tree branches
Biometric properties of onion seedlings relevant to the development of onion seedling transplanter
A study was conducted to investigate biometric properties of seedlings of three common varieties of onion viz. Pusa Red, Set-126 and Pusa Ridhi (50, 60, 70 days old). The parameters determined were weight of seedling without and with de-topping, bulb diameter, stem diameter, height, moisture content, compressive strength and coefficient of static friction. The weight of seedlings without de-topping ranged from 0.53 to 3.05 g while with de-topping ranged from 0.47 to 1.68 g for all the three cultivars. The bulb and stem diameter for all varieties ranged from 3.13 to 5.76 g for bulb and 2.44 to 4.33 g for stem whereas height varied from 14.48 cm to 34.65 cm, among all Pusa red was taller than Set-126 and Pusa Ridhi. The moisture content at different age and for all cultivars ranged from 84.89 to 91.63 % (wb). The average coefficient of static friction for mild steel (MS), aluminum and galvanized iron (GI) varied from 0.63 to 0.79. The compressive strength of bulb and stem of seedlings were 9.76 to 19.54 N for bulb and 4.08 to 8.17 N for stem respectively for 50 to 70 days seedlings. This information was not available but is critical in designing and selection of different components of onion seedling transplanter
A study on pathological aspects of Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris causing black rot of cabbage under red lateritic zone of West Bengal
Cabbage, is one of the most important crops of the cole group of vegetables. In India it ranks next to cauliflower in acreage and first in production among cole crops occupying an area of 3,72,000 ha with annual production of 8534,000 tons. It covers about 4.3% area under vegetable crops in India. In West Bengal cabbage covers 78200.00 ha of area and the total production is 2197400.00 MT. Black rot is a major disease of cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata), caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (Xcc) . The disease has been observed in all cabbage growing areas of Bolpur, Birbhum, West Bengal. The present study was carried out on the pathology of black rot disease of cabbage. Morphological, cultural, biochemical, and physiological characteristics of the pathogen were studied. The bacterium produced small, yellow, circular, entire, smooth and shining colonies in the culture medium. The optimum temperature for the growth was found 300C and white light supported maximum growth of the bacterium. Nutritional studies revealed that sucrose gave maximum growth followed by maltase, lactose, dextrose and fructose as the carbon source in the nutrient broth. Black rot of cabbage pathogen also infected other crops of crucifereae family such as Cauliflower, Knol khol, Mustard, Radish and Rape seed. These findings regarding the pathogen may help to formulate the more appropriate way and judicious application of different management options against the diease in this zone
Phytotoxicity of herbicides on Cynodon dactylon
Field experiment was conducted to manage the sedge and broad leaf weeds in lawn during November to December 2013 to February to March 2014. Experimental plot was red sandy loam soil with pH 6.50.The experimental plot consisted of bermuda grass Cynodon dactylon which was established through turfing. The experimental plot was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) having 17 treatments with three replications. Herbicide treatments include 2, 4-D sodium salt 80 WP at (2, 3 and 4g/lit of water), 2, 4-D dimethyl amine salt 58% EC at (5, 7.5 and 10 ml/lit of water), carfentrozone ethyl 40 DF at (0.25, 0.5 and 1 g/lit of water), fluroxypyr meptyl 48% EC at (1.5, 3 and 6 ml/lit of water) and chlorimuron methyl + metasulfuron methyl at (0.3, 0.4 and 0.5 g/lit of water). Hand weeding was done at every 20 days interval at 20 days after application of herbicides and also maintained one unweeded control in during November to December and February to March. The phytotoxic symptoms were observed only fluroxypyr meptyl 48% EC applied at 6 ml/lit of water at 3, 7, 10, 15 and 25 days after application of herbicides (DAAH) but it recovered at later stages. However, the other herbicides did not cause any phytotoxic effect on C. dactylon
Effects of gamma rays on germination and growth in Jatropha curcas L.
The present investigation was carried out at the Forestry Research Farm, Navsari Agricultural University; Navsari to evaluate the gamma rays at 10 kR, 20 kR and 30 kR induced variability in Jatropha curcas L. on germination, growth and yield for seven Jatropha genotypes (Phule J-1, Urlikanchan, Hansraj, SKN Big, Chhatrapati, Hansot and MPJ-55). The significantly maximum germination percentage (66.96%), seedling survival (74.18%), seedling collar diameter (0.958cm), shoot length (49.442cm), number of leaves per seedling (7.757) and leaf area (37. 58)was observed in Chhatrapati genotype during nursery stage. While low rate of gamma rays treatment (10 kR) had stimulatory effect for germination percentage, seedling survival, seedling collar diameter, shoot length, number of leaves per seedling and leaf area. However, higher gamma rays doses (30 kR) drastically reduced all studied characters. The interaction effect of genotype and gamma rays were significant for number of leaves per seedling. Further, it was not significant in other traits like germination percentage, seedling survival, seedling collar diameter, shoot length and leaf area
Isolation, characterization and morphological study of Azotobacter isolates
Among the diazotrops, great attention has been paid to the genus Azotobacter and its role in increasing the growth and health of plants. In the present study, forty two strains of Azotobacter were isolated from soil. These strains were purified and characterized through microscopical and biochemical test for cell shape, pigmentation, colony size, Gram reaction and catalase activity were identified as Azotobacter sp These strains showed wide variability to these characters. Among 42 isolates, 7 were single cocci, 7 coccidal chain and 4 were cocci in clumps. Majority of isolates i.e. 24, were small, medium and large rod shaped. Thirty two isolates were Gram –ve, catalase positive and 10 were Gram +ve, catalase negative. Finally from these isolates, twenty two were confirmed as Azotobacter strains on cyst formation. The carbon-source utilization pattern revealed that out of 22 strains that 16 strains resembled the characters of A. chroococcum, 3 matched with A. vinelandii and 3 with A. beijerinckii. All 22 isolates were analyzed for its nitrogen fixing ability by using Microkjeldhal method. The highest amount of N2 (18.88 mg g-1 sucrose) was fixed by Azo-SBT 72 while lowest (6.04 mg g-1 sucrose) by Azo-SUR 25 strain. However, injudicious and hazardous use of chemical fertilizers have degraded the soil health and there is need of ecofriendly management of soil by screening and hunting of potential nitrogen fixing strains to protect the soil environment and health. In this context, biofertilizers hunting natural environment is the need of soil to ensure better health of future generations
Effect of ethylene on physiological and biochemical parameters in different crop plants - A review
A phytohormone may be defined as an organic substance other than a nutrient active in very minute amounts which is formed in certain parts of all plants and which is usually translocated to other sites, where it evokes specific biochemical, physiological and morphological responses. The gaseous plant hormone ethylene modulates many internal processes and growth responses to environmental stimuli. Ethylene is known to exert its effects by altering gene expression both at transcriptional and post-transcriptional level. Ethylene has long beenrecognized as a growth inhibitor, but evidence is accumulating that ethylene can also promote growth. Therefore, the concept of ethylene as a general growth inhibitor needs reconsideration. Different authors screened various concentrations viz. 100 ppm, 150 ppm which promotes the plant growth in groundnut, soybean, mustard, barley, pigeonpea etc. The lower concentration of ethylene (100ppm) has increased the yield by 17 percent in pigeonpea. It increased the yield by manipulating source-sink relationships and flower retention The present study highlights the various processes of growth stimulated by ethylene and its use in enhancing yield of various crop species. It could be inferred that lower concentration of ethrel sprayed at pre-flowering stage promoted the growth and yield of various crops (barley, corn, groundnut, pigeonpea, soybean etc.)
Plant sterols for human health- A review
The aim of the article was to review phytosterols as functional food and its significance in lowering cholesterol as well as its specific effect on human health. Phytosterols has been known for its cholesterol lowering action long time back but the uprising of phytosterols in form of functional foods gained the interest once again. Fatty food matrix provides optimal solubility but fortification of phytosterols with other food matrices like low fat fermented milk, bread, juice are showing positive results. A dose of 2 g/day of either steryl or stanyl esters has been prescribed for an optimum effect which has been confirmed by FDA and EC. A number of studies have documented the safety and the efficiency of phytosterols. But there is still a big question mark on the use of it because of their adverse effect on body in form of Phytosterol oxidation products (POPs). It needs further investigation to elucidate effect of POPs within body
Soil quality indicators based recommendation to maximize sugarcane productivity in Theni district of Tamil Nadu, India
An assessment study was conducted in five sugarcane yielding blocks of theni district viz., Jeyamangalam, P.C.Patti, Chinnamanur, Andipatti and Usilampatti.The cane yielding zones of the district was classified into three categories viz., low yielding (less than 75 t ha-1), medium (75 to 100 t ha-1) and high yielding (more than 100 t ha-1). The key physico-chemical and biological indicators of soil were assessed in the surface (0-15 cm) and subsurface (15-30 cm) soils samples of each zone. The indicators assessed in the low cane yielding zone reflected slightly acidic pH (6.70), lower CEC (11.9 cmol (p+) kg-1) and low organic carbon (0.14 percent). The positive effects of soil physico - chemical and biological indicators on the sugarcane yield was well proved through the yield data of the high yielding zone. Almost 93 percent of the farms surveyed in the high yielding zone registered an average cane yield of 120 t ha-1. This may be attributed to a neutral pH of 7.21, non-saline soil with an average EC of 0.36 dSm-1, maximum organic carbon status (0.59 percent) and higher range of soil Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) (20 to 58.0 cmol (p+)kg-1) which resulted in maximum cane productivity. It was concluded that application of organic matter, amendments rich in calcium and magnesium in acidic soil and application of gypsum and other amendments rich in sulphur in alkali soils of low cane yielding zone can maximize productivity of sugarcane