A field experiment was performed to study the effect of different sowing times and varieties on agroclimatic indices, phenology and growth of clusterbean at CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar (Haryana). Experiment was laid out in factorial randomized block design with three replications. Treatments consists of two factors i.e. sowing time and varieties. Three clusterbean varieties i.e. HG 365 (V1), HG 563 (V2) and HG 2-20 (V3) with each sown at three different dates of sowing i.e first (D1), third (D2) and fourth (D3) week of July. Clusterbean variety HG 563(V2), sown in first week of July (D1) resulted in significantly higher accumulation of agroclimatic indices i.e. growing degree days, photo thermal units, heliothermal units and heat use efficiency because the early sown crop had a fully developed normal reproductive phase and took longer time to attain maturity. Similarly, more number of days were taken for emergence, days to 50% flowering, days to 50% pod formation and days to maturity in variety HG 563, sown in first week of July. Significantly higher leaf area index and dry matter accumulation were observed in HG 563 sown on 1st week of July than rest of the varieties and date of sowings.

An experiment was conducted on “Performance of Kharif maize (Zea mays L.) with integrated nutrient application” during Kharif 2017, on Soil Conservation and Water Management Farm, CSA University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur on hybrid Maize with three level of inorganic fertilizers (kg/ha) i.e.100% R.D.F. (100 N + 60 P + 40 K+ 20 Z), 75% RDF (75+45+30+15), & 50% RDF (50+30+20+10) along with three Levels of organic manure viz; 15, 20 & 25 ton FYM/ha. On the basis of overall results it can be concluded that the fertility level 75% RDF + 25 t FYM/ha (F2+O3) was found superior over all other treatment combinations of fertility management maximum yield of grain (26.47 q/ha), stover (89.01 q/ha) and water use efficiency is 9.76 kg ha-1 mm-1. The treatment combination F2+O3 (75% RDF + 25 t FYM/ha) is very suitable among over all treatments.

The abiotic stresses, such as soil salinity and sodicity are largely responsible for the low productivity of crops mainly due to low availability of micro-nutrients especially as zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe). Therefore, judicious management of plant nutrients in these soils is as important as their reclamation. A field experiment was conducted for 4 consecutive years, consisting of 12 treatments laid out in randomized block design to evaluate the effect of rate and methods of zinc and iron as single or combined soil as well as foliar application in pearl millet-mustard cropping system grown on salt affected soils. Soil application of Zn and Fe were applied at the time of sowing with FYM or without FYM (addition of FYM done only in pearl millet) and foliar application of respective nutrients were also applied at 30 and 45 days after sowing of crops. The results of experiment showed that, application of FYM 10 t ha-1 along with 5 kg Zn+10 kg Fe significantly (p=0.05) improved the yield parameters of pearl millet and mustard followed by 5 kg ha-1 Zn and 10 kg ha-1 Fe as soil application. The results also indicated that combined soil application of 5 kg Zn+10 kg Fe +10 t FYM increased the pearl millet grain yield (36.6 q ha-1) and mustard seed yield (22.7 q ha-1) by 57.1% and 42.8% higher over control, however, yield improvement was 35.6 and 20.7 % due to application of 5 kg Zn+10 kg Fe without FYM, respectively, in pearl millet and mustard over control. Ferrous-iron content in both crops proved to be a better index of Fe nutrition status compared to total plant Fe and DTPA- extractable soil Fe under salt affected soils. Salt affected soils are having vast potential to produce a significant amount of food grain by applying optimum dose of Zn, Fe and FYM in pearl millet and mustard. Combined foliar application of Zn and Fe also increased the yields of pearl millet and mustard grown in saline soils. Ferrous iron (Fe2+) is better indicator for iron nutrition in crops.

The present investigation entitled “Correlation and characters association studies in bitter gourd (Momordica chantia L.)” was carried out at Horticulture Research Farm, Department of Horticulture, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (A Central University), Vidya- Vihar, Rae Bareli Road, Lucknow (U.P.), India during summer season of the year 2014-2015. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design with three replications. The experimental materials consisted fifteen genotypes of bitter gourd i.e. HABG-22, NDBT-07, NDBT-09, Meghana-2, Selection-5, Preethi, Phul Ujjwala, Priya, Nakhara, Pant Karela-1, Hirkani, VRBT-23, Pusa Vishesh, Pusa Ashaudhi and Arka Harit. Correlation coefficient and direct and indirect effect of fruit yield attributing traits, it is clear that for bring out designed improvement towards fruit yield in bitter gourd. Average fruit weight and fruits per vine can be used as direct selection parameters.

In the present study 13 genotypes and their 23 F1s were evaluated. The observations were recorded for eleven traits including incidence of Alternaria blight and the data was subjected to the statistical analysis to see the magnitude and direction of heterosis over the mid-parent, better parent and standanrd variety Jawahar-1. The desirable amount of significant heterosis over mid parent, better parent and standard variety was observed maximum in 10, 9 and 9 crosses for number of capsules per plant, 9, 2 and 20 crosses for plant height, 9, 3 and 9 crosses for corolla size, 3, 1 and 5 crosses for incidence of Alternaria blight, 6, 2 and 1 crosses for seed yield per plant. While other traits like 1000-seed weight, days to maturity, capsule size, number of primary branches per plant, seed size and number of seeds per capsule exhibited less number of heterotic crosses. Considering overall performance, it is suggested that derivative of cross Jawahar-1 x EC-322680 may be handled properly in subsequent generations for the development of high yielding linseed varieties whereas, for isolating Alternaria blight resistant genotypes cross EC-541194 x EC-607789 seems to be promising one. Pedigree method and bulk method are equally important for the improvement of those characters which are governed by additive type of gene action. After all, the handling of the segregating generations may be carried out with the help of pedigree and/or mass selection.

A field experiment was conducted in the Department of Agricultural Botany, Janta Mahavidiyalaya Ajeetmal, Auraiya (C. S. J. M. University, Kanpur) during 2014, to evaluate the effect of various levels of nitrogen on growth, yield and quality of fodder maize. 3 treatments were taken up (viz.,T1 75, T2 100 and T3 125 kg nitrogen ha-1 along with control (T0).Plant height, dry matter accumulations (t ha-1), forage yield (t ha-1) increased with increasing levels of nitrogen, while stem diameters (cm), leaf area (cm2), fresh weight (g), crude protein percent decreased with increasing levels of nitrogen.

A field experiment was conducted at the student instructional farm of Department of Soil conservation and water management, C.S. Azad University of Agriculture & Technology, Kanpur (U.P.)-India during 2014. To evaluate the effect of weed management on growth, yield and yield attributes of pearl millet under rain fed condition. A significant enhancement were recorded in treatment T8 in relations to Plant stand, plant height, number of tillers, number of leaves, number of ear bearing tillers, days to 50 % flowering days and maturity, length of ear, girth of ear, weight of ear, grain weight per ear, test weight, biological yield and harvest index. The maximum grain yield was reported in treatment T8 (188.9). However, the lowest grain production was reported in treatment T0 (11.6) followed by T1.

The study investigates the genetic diversity among the Basmati rice genotypes. Selected nine Basmati rice genotypes were studied for twelve morphological traits, biochemical parameters and for molecular analysis with 11 SSR markers. Pusa Sugandha 5 and Basmati 370, showed strong aroma while other varieties showed medium aroma. Alkali spreading value were intermediate in Basmati 386, Vallabh Basmati 22 and Vallabh Basmati 24 while other varieties showed high values. Pusa Basmati 1 and Basmati 386 showed soft category of gel consistency while in rest varieties it was under medium category. Amylose percentage in grains were ranged from 18.02% (Taraori basmati) to 22.0% (Basmati370). Molecular analysis with 11 SSR markers showed 125 allels with an average number of allels 11.36 per locus. All the markers showed specific type of banding pattern along with 82 polymorphic allels in different genotypes. This study focuses on application of statistical methods and techniques in analysis of genetic diversity of the agronomic data, biochemical aspects related to quality parameters and at the molecular level using SSR markers for clustering procedure making dendrogram that helps the more accurate selection of the superior basmati genotypes for the further studies of the breeders and researchers.