Two hundred Japanese quail chicks of 3 weeks of age were divided randomly into 5 treatment groups comprising 4 replicates of 10 chicks in each. Groundnut cake of control ration (T1) was replaced at 50% level on protein equivalent basis by untreated solvent extracted mustard cake (SEMC) (T2), 0.4% copper sulphate treated (T3), 1% ferrous sulphate treated (T4) and combined copper sulphate and ferrous sulphate treated (T5) SEMC in experimental rations. Experimental feeding continued for 8 weeks followed by a metabolic trial. Average daily feed consumption did not differ significantly among groups. Average daily gain in body weights was 2.36 ± 0.04, 2.37 ± 0.07, 2.46 ± 0.07, 2.50 ± 0.05 and 2.54 ± 0.04 g in groups T1 to T 5, respectively, and variation among groups was not significant. The retention of nitrogen in different groups also did not differ significantly. However, average daily retention of calcium and phosphorous was significantly higher in ferrous sulphate treated SEMC fed group. It was concluded that solvent extracted mustard cake can replace 50% protein of groundnut cake protein in the ration of Japanese quail and its treatment with copper sulphate or ferrous sulphate was advantageous.
Submitted to C.C.S. University, Meerut
A field experiment on direct-seeded rice was conducted during kharif 2011 and 2012 at the College Farm, ANGRAU Hyderabad, to study the influence of different doses of bispyribac sodium 10% SC (10, 15, 20, 25 and 40 g a.i/ha) on physical, physico-chemical and fertility properties of the soil. Persistence of the herbicide in soil from application to harvest of the crop and the residues in plant samples at harvest were also studied. No significant changes in physical (texture, bulk density, particle density, pore space, maximum water holding capacity), physico-chemical (pH, EC, CEC, organic carbon) and fertility properties of the soil (available N, P 2 O 5 and K 2 O) were noticed at any of the applied doses. Bispyribac sodium dissipation in soil followed a first-order decay process. Half-life (DT 50 ) of bispyribac sodium was 13.10 days, 10.21 days and 9.93 days at 40 g/ha, 25 g/ha and 20 g/ha doses respectively. DT 90 values were also calculated. No detectable residues of bispyribac sodium were found in the straw or grain at the time of harvest.
The phenotypic stability for fruit yield and its component traits of 64 genotypes (48 hybrids and their 16 parents) of okra grown on three different dates indicated the significant differences among the genotypes (G), environments (E) and G x E interactions for all the characters (except number of nodes at first flowering for environment and G x E interactions) indicating variable response of different genotypes for various traits under varied environmental conditions. Non-significance of G x E (linear) against pooled deviation for most of the characters under study suggested that performance of genotypes remained similar for their linear regression on environmental index. Non-linear component (pooled deviation) also played an important role for all the characters except for number of nodes at first flowering and fruit length. On the basis of mean ((X) over bar), regression coefficient (bi) and deviation from regression (S(2)di); parents JOL-06(K)-2 and GO-2 as well as hybrid JOL-06(K)-2 x GO-2 were found stable and widely adapted for general cultivation for fruit yield and its components in okra.
