The present investigation entitled “Correlation Studies in different genotypes of Dolichos bean (Lablab purpureus L.)” was carried out during 2017-18 for 9 different sowing dates at All India Coordinated Research Project on Vegetable Crops, Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri, Maharashtra. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design (R.B.D.) with ten pole type genotypes and three replication. The results of the present investigation clearly showed that pod setting percent, number of pods per vine, number of pods per inflorescence, vine length, pod length, length of inflorescence, number of grains per pod and pod width significantly positive association with green pod yield. Also days to first flowering, days to 50% flowering and days to first picking showed significantly negative association with green pod yield. The association between characters revealed in the present study shall be of great help to choose genotypes with desirable characters for hybridization, selection and further breeding program.

An investigation entitled “Path analysis studies of Dolichos bean (Lablab purpureus L.) genotypes” was carried out during 2017-18 for 9 different sowing dates at All India Coordinated Research Project on Vegetable Crops, Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri, Maharashtra. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design (R.B.D.) with ten pole type genotypes and three replication. The study revealed that number of pods per vine exhibited high positive direct effect on pod yield per hectare followed by average weight of 10 pods, pod setting percent, length of inflorescence, vine length. The association between pod yield and these characters was significant. The direct negative effects on pod yield observed by pod length, number of pods per inflorescence, number of grains per pod, pod width, days to first flowering, days to 50% flowering and days to first picking.

The fertilizer treatment 110: 40: 60: 40 kg NPKS + 7.5 t FYM + 2.5 t PM + 2.5 t VC+ biofertilizers (Azospirillum, phosphobacteria 5 kg each) ha−1 recorded higher potential for total bulb yield (54.63 t ha−1) as compared to RDF (33.00 t ha−1). The soil available N, P and K contents in the soil after harvest significantly increased due to the combined application of organic manures, inorganic fertilizers and biofertilizers in integrated manner. The residual soil fertility in respect to organic carbon (0.60%), available sulphur (10.30 mg kg−1), boron (0.58 mg kg−1) and zinc (0.76 mg kg−1) was also significantly improved by various treatments and was found highest in the treatment receiving 110: 40: 60: 40 kg NPKS + 7.5 t FYM + 2.5 t PM + 2.5 t VC + biofertilizers (Azospirillum, phosphobacteria 5 kg ha each). Total nutrient uptake of nitrogen (103.40 kg ha−1), phosphorus (38.50 kg ha−1), potassium (96.48 kg ha−1), sulphur (29.22 kg ha−1), boron (162.78 g ha−1) and zinc (385.50 g ha−1) by onion crop were recorded under this treatment which was significantly highest. The results indicated that judicious use of organic manures, inorganic fertilizers and biofertilizers as integrated nutrient management system was found to be useful for enhancing the yield, soil fertility and uptake of various nutrients in rabi onion.

The present investigation was conducted at AICRP on vegetable crops, Department of Horticulture, Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri during rabi season 2015-16. The finding revealed that, among the herbicide treatment Oxyfluorfen 23.5 EC PoE @ 0.150 kg a.i./ha + Quizalofop ethyl 5% EC PoE @ 0.050 kg a.i./ha recorded maximum growth viz., plant height, number of leaves per plant. Significantly maximum number of cloves per bulb, bulb length, bulb diameter, average weight of bulb, yield per plot and per hectare also registered by same treatment. Further, lowest weed index (5.12%) and maximum weed control efficiency (84.17%) recorded by same herbicide treatment. This indicates application of Oxyfluorfen @0.150 kg a.i.+ Quizalofop Ethyl 0.05 kg a.i./ha as post emergence herbicide is better option for controlling weed population and obtaining better yield of garlic.

The laboratory investigations on biology of pod borer, Maruca vitrata (Geyer) was carried out during the year 2012-13 at the Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Agriculture, Dapoli, Dist. Ratnagiri. The studies on the biology recorded that the preoviposition, oviposition and post-oviposition period lasted for 3.3, 3.3 and 1.3 days, respectively. A female laid on an average 61.6 eggs singly or in batches on flower buds and tender pods. Incubation period lasted for 3.4 days with 80 per cent egg hatching. The first instar larva was greenish white with head breadth 0.12 mm and body length 1.42 mm, but prior to pupation larvae changed its colour from deep white to green and pupated at the corner of Petri plate. The larval development completed within 12.1 days through five instars, duration of each instar observed to be 2.2, 2.1, 2.3, 2.3 and 3.2 days, respectively. The full grown larva measured 1.8 mm in head breadth and 15.84 mm in body length. The pre pupal and pupal period lasted for 2.2 and 9 days, respectively. Longevity of male and female moths was 4.6 and 9 days, respectively. Male moth measured 11.1 mm in length, 2.6mm in width and 24.38 mm in wing expanse. Female measured 11.88 mm in length, 2.32 mm in width and 24.98 mm in wing expanse. The sex ratio for male and female was 1: 1.08. The life cycle male and female was completed within 31.3 and 35.7 days, respectively.

Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Monech) is an important vegetable crop grown for its tender green pods throughout India, Turkey, Sri Lanka and other neighboring countries. Fruit yield depends upon many yield components, since it is polygenic character. Exploitation of variability is of a great importance and pre requisite for the effective screening of superior etermined the progress of breeding for the economic characters and play an important role in a crop in selecting the best genotypes for making rapid improvement in yield and other desirable characters (Vavilov 1951). Heritability is an index for calculating the relative influence of environment on expression of genotypes. It is very difficult to judge how much of variability is heritable and how much of variability isnon-heritable. Hence, it is essential to partition overall variability into its heritable and non heritable components with the help of genetic parameters like genotypic coefficient of variation, phenotypic coefficient of variation, heritability and genetic advance. Therefore, the present investigation was carried out to study the variability, heritability and genetic advance for 15 quantitative traits in okra.

Onion is important vegetable crop grown worldwide. For improving yields in onion macro and micronutrients were essential for good growth and development. Micronutrients play an active role in the plant metabolic processes and cellular functions within the plants. In addition, they play an essential role in improving yield and quality and highly required for better plant growth in many crops. Soil and foliar application of micronutrients during crop growth can be successfully used for correcting their deficits and improving the mineral status of plants as well as increasing the crop yield and quality. All the micronutrients were found beneficial in maximizing the yield in onion. For obtaining higher yields through the use of micronutrients applications, the soil application of micronutrient mixture grade I @ 10 kg ha-1 along with recommended dose of fertilizer i.e. 100:50:50 NPK kg + 20 t FYM per hectare followed by the foliar application of micronutrient mixture grade II @ 0.5% at 30 and 45 days after transplanting was found beneficial. It is also better for improvement in soil fertility status and reducing storage losses of onion as compared to only recommended dose of fertilizers.

The investigation was undertaken at All India Coordinated Research Project on Vegetable Crops, Department of Horticulture, Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri, Dist. Ahmednagar during late kharif seasons of 2013–14 and 2014–15. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with three replications and sixteen treatment combinations. Application of irrigation at I4-0.8 ETC level coupled with fertigation level F3-80% RD through water soluble fertilizers (WSF) recorded significantly maximum total yield hectare−1 (503.22 and 541.73 q) as compared to rest of the treatment combinations during 2013–14 and 2014-15respectively.

A treatment receiving 100:40:60:40 kg NPKS + 7.5 t FYM +2.5 t poultry manure + 2.5 t vermicopost + biofertilizer (5 kg each of Azospirillum +phosphobacteria) hectare−1 recorded the highest bulb yield of 54.21 t ha−1 as compared to absolute control (25.76 tha−1) and recommended dose of fertilizers (35.28 tha−1). It is indicated that the use of biofertilizers in combination with inorganic fertilizers and organic manures offers a great opportunity to increase the production of onion. Themaximum increase in total bulb yield was recorded in integrated nutrient management treatment over control. The soil nutrient status was also influenced by various treatments comprising of organic, inorganic and biofertilizers in onion under investigation. The total storage losses were also increased as nutrients levels increases and it was lowest in absolute control. The total nutrient uptake of N, P, K, S, Zn and Bw as influenced by various treatments of integrated nutrient management system. The nutrient from all sources influence the yield and yield contributing characters and soilfertility in onion under vertisols of western Maharashtra.

Correlation and path analysis utilizing 40 genotypes of okra was carried out during summer season 2015 and findings revealed that plant height exhibited positive and significant correlation with most of yield and yield contributing characters which indicated that these traits might be improved through direct selection. The path analysis study indicates that number of fruits/plant, number of branches per plant, number of nodes/plant exhibited maximum direct effect on yield per plant. It suggests that these attributes have strong influence on fruit yield. Hence, plant height, number of branches/plant, number of nodes/plant is the determiners of fruit yield/plant and require more attention in okra improvement programme while selecting okra genotypes.

There were eight treatments i.e., seven insecticides (emamectin benzoate 5 SG, lambda cyhalothrin 5 EC, spinosad 45 SC, nimbicidine 10000 ppm, indoxacarb 15.8 SC, novaluron 10 EC and cypermethrin 25 EC) and an untreated control. The treatment of indoxacarb 0.01% was found most effective and recorded least overall mean % damage (7.5%) and was at par with spinosad 0.007% (8.5%), emamectin benzoate 0.002% (9.1%), lambda cyhalothrin 0.005% (9.4%), novaluron 0.015% (9.5%), cypermethrin 0.006% (9.7%) and nimbicidine 0.004% (10.1%). The highest (22.2%) pod and bud damage was recorded in the untreated control.

A field experiment was conducted on onion at All India Coordinated Research Project on Vegetable Crops, Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri during rabi season of 2010 11. The effect of sources and levels of sulphur application in onion on its growth, yield and quality was studied. The treatments consist of two sources (gypsum and elemental sulphur 95) and six levels of sulphur from each sources i.e. 0, 15, 30, 45, 60 and 75 kg S ha−1). The experiment was conducted in factorial randomized block design with three replications. The observations on growth yield and quality character was recorded and data was analyzed. The results indicated that there was substantial increase in all the characters studied. The polar and equatorial diameter and average weight of bulb was influenced by sources and levels ofsulphur application. Theefficacyofgypsumand elemental sulphur in increasing total bulb yield was found to be at par. Response to fertilizer sulphur applied at 15 kg S ha−1 is substantial. By studying the sulphur use efficiency and apparent sulphur recovery percentage, the maximum yield obtained at 45 kg S ha−1. The pyuvic acid, sulphur content in bulb and S uptake was increase with increasing levels of sulphur. The total storage loss was also improved by increasing levels of sulphur. The sulphur application was beneficial for increasing the yield and quality of onion cv. N-2-4-1 in rabi season on inceptisols under Western Maharashtra conditions.

Thirty seven genotypes of Dolichos bean (Lablab purpureus L.) were evaluated to study the genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance for green pod yield and yield attributing characters. The genotype DBP-13-03 recoded highest green pod yield and found promising. Genotypic coefficient of variation was higher for green pod yield plant−1, pod yield plot−1, pod yield hectare−1, average weight of 10 pods and number of pods vine−1. All the characters under study were highly heritable in nature. High heritability estimates associated with high genetic advance as per cent of mean was observed for the yield of green pod plant−1, pod yield−1, pod yield hectare−1 and average weight of 10 pods, which indicated that these characters had additive gene effect and therefore, they may be considered as more reliable for effective selection.

Onion ( Allium cepa L.) is on of the important vegetable crop in India and worldwide.  It has more demand in domestic market as well as in export market.  Weeds apart from being a nuiscence, compete with crop plant for available soil moisture, nutrients, space and light.  This is generally reflected in a drastic reduction in yield and also serve as alternate hosts for several diseases and pests.  Timely hand weeding becomes impracticable during Kharif season due to frequent rains.  Use of herbicides to control weeds was found to be a cheaper and less laborious method.  To control weeds in Kharif onion, the different herbicides and their doses, a study was undertaken at AICRP on Vegetable Crops, MPKV., Rahuri during Kharif season of 2008.  It was found that the maximum weed control efficiency in grasses (89.01%) was noticed by Pendimethalin 38.7% CS @ 1.75 l/ha followed by Oxyflourefen 23.5% EC @ 1.0 l/ha (83.52%).  The maximum weed control efficiency in broad leaf weeds was recorded in treatment Oxyflourfen 23.5% EC @ 1.0 l/ha (84.67%) followed by Pendimethalin 38.7% CS @ 1.75 l/ha (76.64%).  It is concluded that the herbicides Pendimethalin 38.7% CS @ 1.75 l/ha and Oxyflowrfen 23.5% EC @ 1.0 l/ha was found effective in controlling weeds in Kharif onion and ultimately increasing the yields in onion on compare to untreated check.