Physiological studies of Arachis Hypogaea L. under the influence of sulfosalicylic acid.

A study was carried out on growth, photosynthetic pigments, and yield attributing and seed characteristics of Arachis hypogaea L. (Cv. SB-11). The treatments comprised of different concentrations (5, 50, 100 and 200 ppm) of Sulfosalicylic acid (SSA). The results showed that 50 ppm concentration of foliar applied SSA effectively promoted the growth parameters, photosynthetic pigments (chl a, chl b, total chl, carotenoids and chlorophyll stability index), yield parameters and seed protein and seed oil contents of groundnut. Similarly significant decrease in severity of tikka disease was reported with 50 ppm SSA. SSA 100 ppm profound better influence on the number of branches, height of plant and the shelling percentage. It could be concluded that SSA proved to be beneficial in promoting plant growth and yield and in inducing systemic resistance against tikka disease in groundnut.

Nitrogen management to improve the nutrient uptake, yield and quality parameters of scented rice under aerobic culture.

In the present study, the research results concluded that yield attributes of scented rice under aerobic culture responded up to 150 kg/ha nitrogen with four equal splits of nitrogen at ¼ basal + ¼ at active tillering + ¼ at panicle initiation and ¼ at heading. Grain and straw yields obtained higher values with highest level of nitrogen i.e. 175 kg/ha comparable with 150 kg/ha. Grain quality parameters milling percent, head rice recovery, kernel length, breadth, amylose content and protein content of rice registered significantly highest values with 150 kg N ha-1. Spilt application of nitrogen at ¼ basal + ¼ at active tillering + ¼ at panicle initiation and ¼ at heading was the most suitable stages for split application of nitrogen, which record significantly higher values of all quality parameters except amylose and protein content of grain. Nutrient uptake of N, P2O5 and K2O was influenced only by quantity of nitrogen applied and recorded higher with 175 kg/ha but not influenced by time of application of nitrogen except N uptake.

Influence of inorganic n fertilizer on plant characters, yield generation and the incidence of yellow stem borer scirpophaga incertulas, walker in the field of local scented paddy cultivar tulaipanji.

To determine the effect of inorganic N fertilizer on the incidence of yellow stem borer (YSB), Scirpophaga incertulas Walker and on grain yield, yield attributes and bio-chemical characters of local paddy cultivar Tulaipanji, a field experiment for three consecutive years (2007-2009) was carried out by randomized block design in pesticide untreated field. Treatments comprised of seven different dose of inorganic N fertilizer viz 20,40,60,80,100,120,140 kg/ha respectively. Field with no fertilizer application was considered as control. In all the cases higher the doses of inorganic N fertilizer, higher would be the incidence of adult YSB population and accordingly the extent of damage was intensified. Incidence of dead heart (DH) and white head (WH) was 175.74% and 206.72% higher than the control field when the field was fertilized by 140 kg N/ha. Yield attributing characters differed considerably among the treatments. Maximum panicle length (1.71cm), Effective tiller number/ hill (62.01), filled grain number/ panicle (66.12), tiller number/hill (11.27), leaf number/hill (48.11) and leaf width (9.11 mm) was noted when the field was fertilized with 100 kg N. But no significant improvement of yield attributing characters except the number of filled grain number/ panicle was noted when the dose of fertilizer was increased after 100 kg N/ha. Insignificant variation of grain amylose and protein content, total phenol and ortho-dihydroxy phenol (OD phenol) amount under different fertilizer treatment was noted. Plant moisture content, however, was increased as the dose of N fertilizer was improved. Field application of 100 kg N/ha is thus suggested for Tulaipanji cultivation.

Effect of plastic mulch on growth and yield of chilli (Capsicum annuum L.)

In this work a field study was conducted to evaluate the effect of coloured plastic mulch on growth and yield of chilli from October 2005 to April 2006. The plastic mulches were transparent, blue, and black and bare soil was the control. Different mulches generated higher soil temperature and soil moisture under mulch over the control. Transparent and blue plastic mulches encouraged weed population which were suppressed under black plastic. Plant height, number of primary branches, stem base diameter, number of leaves and yield were better for the plants on plastic. At the mature green stage, fruits had the highest vitamin-C content on the black plastic. Mulching produced the fruits with the highest chlorophyll-a, chlorophyll-b and total chlorophyll contents and also increased the number of fruits per plant and yield. However, mulching did not affect the length and diameter of the fruits and number of seeds per fruit. Plants on black plastic mulch had the maximum number of fruits and highest yield. Thus, mulching appears to be a viable tool to increase the chilli production under tropical conditions.

Impact of combined exposure of chemical, fertilizer, bio-fertilizer and compost on growth, physiology and productivity of Brassica campestries in old alluvial soil.

Field experiment was carried out during November 2006 to February 2007 under old alluvial soil to evaluate the impact of combined dose of chemical fertilizer, biofertilizer in combination with compost for the yellow sarson (Brassica campestries cv.B9 ) in a randomized block design replicated thrice. Various morpho-physiological parameters viz., plant population, length of shoot and root, leaf area index (LAI) , crop growth rate (CGR ), net assimilation rate (NAR) , yield attributes viz., number of siliquae per plant, number of seeds / siliquae, 1000 seed weight (test weight ), seed yield , stover yield and physiological and biochemical parameters viz., pigment content, sugar, amino acid, protein, ascorbic acid content in physiologically active leaf were performed. The treatment T1 i.e., 40% less N fertilizer, 25% less P fertilizer, K fertilizer constant + 12 kg ha-1 biofertilizer (Azophos) and organic manure (compost) @ 5Mt ha-1, showed the maximum chlorophyll accumulation (10.231 mg g-1 freshweight), highest seed /siliquae (25.143), test weight of seeds (4.861g) and highest seed yield (10.661 tha-1). A comparison between all the morphological, anatomical, physiological and biochemical parameters due to application of chemical fertilizer, bio-fertilizer and compost alone and in combination and their impact on soil microorganism, flora and fauna will throw a sound environmental information.