A field experiment was conducted in 2016–17 and 2017–18 during kharif and rabi season at agricultural research farm of BHU, Varanasi, to study the effect of different tillage practices and green manuring on productivity and profitability of maize-wheat cropping system. The experiment was laid out in split plot design comprising 20 treatments. The four different tillage practices, viz. T1 (Conventional tillage maize-Conventional tillage wheat), T2 (Minimum tillage maize-Minimum tillage wheat), T3 (Minimum tillage maize-Zero tillage wheat) and T4 (Zero tillage maize-Zero tillage wheat) were assigned to main plot and five summer green manuring treatments, viz. M1 (Summer fallowing), M2 (Dhaincha), M3 (Sunnhemp), M4 (Clusterbean) and M5 (Cowpea) were kept in sub plots. The treatment, T4 and T1 were at par with each other and registered higher yield attributing characters, grain (4814.61, 4931.94 and 4754.03, 4840.69 kg/ha during 2016–17 and 2017–18, respectively) and straw yield, quality and B:C ratio. In case of summer green manuring, M2 (Dhaincha) recorded higher yield attributing characters, grain and straw yield and quality (4846.27, 4957.54 kg/ha during 2016–17 and 2017–18, respectively) over other treatments but it was at par with M3 (Sunnhemp). It is recommended that ZT wheat and summer green manure Dhaincha residue mulching should be followed to achieve higher yield and profitability.
The field experiment was conducted to find the appropriate irrigation method, fertilization schedule and its influence on growth, yield and quality of sugarcane. The soil of the experimental site was sandy clay loam, neutral in reaction (pH 7.7), low in organic carbon (0.41%) and available nitrogen (167.0 kg ha-1), medium in available phosphorus (19.1 kg ha-1) and potassium (208.0 kg ha-1). Experiment was laid out in split plot design with four replications. The treatments consisted of three irrigation methods in main plot viz., flood, furrow and drip; five nitrogen scheduling in sub plot viz., farmers practice, 4 splits, 6 splits, 8 splits and 10 splits. In flood method of irrigation all growth and quality parameter were recorded lowest. Thus, it may be concluded that to achieve highest millable cane and quality parameters, drip irrigation is a better option. The number of tillers (177.2 thousand ha-1), number of millable canes (123.3 thousand ha-1), cane length (367.98 cm), cane yield (168.51 t ha-1), commercial cane (CCS) yield (25.05 t ha-1) and economic return were found significantly higher under drip irrigation during first year. Similar trends were recorded during second year of experimentation. The highest dry matter accumulation and crop growth rate were also recorded under drip irrigation during both the years. Similarly, water use efficiency and water productivity were found maximum under treatment of drip irrigation. Significantly highest number of tillers (165.6 thousand ha-1), millable canes (116.3 thousand ha-1), cane yield (154.72 t ha-1), dry matter accumulation, crop growth rate, CCS yield (23.39 t ha-1) and economic return were recorded with 6 splits of nitrogen application. The overall effect of nitrogen scheduling was in the order of 6 splits > 8 splits > 10 splits > 4 splits > farmer’s practice.
A field experiment was conducted at Agricultural College Farm, Bapatla (Andhra Pradesh), study the effect of different sowing dates on the yield and quality of different varieties of clusterbean. The experiment was laid out in factorial randomized block design replicated thrice, six dates of sowing from 15th September to 1st December at fifteen days interval and two clusterbean varieties viz. RGC-936 and RGC-1003. Results revealed that growth parameters, yield attributes, yield (1568 kg ha-1) and quality parameters viz. gum content (31.6 %), protein content (30.1 %) and viscosity (3783 cP) were highest with RGC-1003 sown at 15thNovember, which was at par with 1st December sowing with same variety. The study results showed that the clusterbean crop can be grown successfully in non-traditional area as a rabi crop.
A field experiment was conducted during kharif 2014 at students’ farm of Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, college of agriculture, Kaul (Kaithal). The experiment consisted of four transplanting dates (June 15, July 5, July 25 and August 15) in main plots and six weed control treatments in sub plots treatments consisted of pre-emergence application of pretilachlor, oxadiargyl alone and sequential application of pre and post emergence herbicides viz., pretilachlor fb bispyribac, oxadiargyl fb bispyribac, weed free check and unweeded check. Based on research investigation it was observed that early transplanting dates (June 15 and July 5) produced taller plant, higher tillers/m2 and crop dry matter accumulation at all growth stages. Early transplanting produced significantly higher number of effective tillers/m2 (263) along with higher number of filled grain/ panicle (85) than delayed planting (July 25 and August 15). The 1000-grain weight was not affected by time of transplanting. The highest grain yield (4363 kg/ha) was recorded under June 15 transplanting which was statistically at par to the grain yield (4058 kg/ha) obtained under July 5 transplanting. Among the weed management practices tried, weed free check resulted in the highest values of plant height (104.2 cm), tillers/m2 (305), crop dry matter accumulation (964 g/ m2), effective tillers/m2 (271), grains length (8.5 cm), filled grains/panicle (86.3) as well as grain (4516 kg/ha) and straw yield (5506 kg/ha) which were however, comparable to pre-emergence application of oxadiargyl followed by bispyribac-sodium applied at 25 DAT and pretilachlor followed by bispribac-sodium at 25DAT.
A field experiment was conducted at Agronomy Farm, S.K.N. College of agriculture, Jobner, Jaipur, Rajasthan to evaluate the effect of sowing time, varieties and salicylic acid (SA) application on different physiological parameters (i.e. relative water content, photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, leaf temperature, Membrane stability index, chlorophyll stability index, heat susceptibility index) of Indian mustard. The experiment was laid out in split plot deign and replicated thrice. The experiment consisted of three sowing dates [20th October (timely sowing), 15th November (late sowing) and 30th November (very late sowing)], two varieties [RGN-236, RGN-229] and four levels of Salicylic acid (Control, SA 50 ppm, SA 100 ppm and SA 150 ppm). Physiological traits like relative water content, photosynthetic rate transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, leaf temperature, chlorophyll stability index Content, heat susceptibility index and membrane stability index are directly correlate with heat stress tolerance in crop plant. Results were revealed that effect of different sowing time, varieties and concentration of SA has shown significant effect on all tested physiological parameters of Indian mustard and those are associated with high temperature stress tolerance.
A field experiment was conducted during early rabi season of 2014-15 on clay loam soil at Agricultural College Farm, Bapatla, Andhra Pradesh, to study the influence of sowing dates and varieties on seed quality of soybean in Coastal AP' Early sowing of soybean on 15th September recorded the highest protein content of 34.9 per cent which was on a par with 15th October sowing of soybean and it was significantly superior over 15th November and 15th December sowing. Among the varieties, highest protein content of soybean was recorded with the variety JS-93-05 (35.2 %) which was significantly superior over the other two varieties JS-335 (32.5%) and Local (44.1%). The highest seed quality (Germination %, Seed viability, and seed vigour) of soybean was recorded with soybean sown on 15th September with variety JS-93-05 both at harvest and 30 days after harvest.