Nutrient Management Strategies for Groundnut-blackgram Cropping Sequences

Aims: To refine nutrient management practices for the groundnut-blackgram cropping sequence, focusing on enhancing both yield and quality.Study Design: The experiment was conducted in a split-plot design with three replications.Place and Duration of Study: Regional Research Station in Vridhachalam during the Kharif and rabi season of 2016-17.Methodology: The experimental encompassed various nutrient levels applied to groundnut in the main plots: M1-Control, M2-100% RDF, M3-125% RDF, and M4-150% RDF. Additionally, different nutrient levels were applied to the blackgram subplot: S1-Control, S2-50% RDF, S3-75% RDF, and S4-100% RDF.Results: Analysis of the results indicated that use of 125% RDF in groundnut significantly provide higher pod yield (2657 kg/ha). However, the control group recorded a significantly lower pod yield. Subsequent blackgram seed yield was notably influenced by inorganic fertilizers applied to the preceding groundnut crop. In blackgram, the application of 75% RDF resulted in a higher number of pods per plant (34.6), No. of branches/plant (7.8) and seed yield (823 kg/ha). This performance was comparable to the application of 100% RDFConclusion: These findings underscore the importance of optimizing nutrient management practices, particularly the combination of 125% RDF for groundnut, to enhance pod yield, while the application of 75% RDF demonstrated positive effects on subsequent blackgram seed yield.

Enhancing Rainfed Castor Growth, Seed, and Oil Yield Via Nano Urea Application

Aims: Conventional urea fertilizer has been critical in enhancing castor yields. However, nano urea, a game-changing technology in modern agriculture, provides a significant advancement in terms of sustainable and efficient crop production.Study Design: The experiment was conducted in a Randomized block design (RBD) with eight treatments and three replications.Place and Duration of Study: Tapioca and Castor Research Station in Yethapur during the Kharif season of 2022.Methodology: The major objective is to increase hybrid castor growth and production under rainfed circumstances by foliar application of nano urea. The castor hybrid YRCH 1 with an RDF of 60:30:30 NPK kg ha-1 was chosen for the study. The experimental details viz; T1 - 100% N through Urea –RDF, T2 - 50 % of recommended basal N + Nano urea foliar spray @ 2 ml/l at 30 and 60 DAS, T3 - 50 % of recommended basal N + 2 % Urea foliar spray at 30 and 60 DAS, T4 - 75 % of recommended basal N + Nano urea foliar spray @ 2 ml/l at 30 and 60 DAS, T5 - 75 % of recommended basal N+ 2 % Urea foliar spray at 30 and 60 DAS, T6 - 100 % of recommended basal N + Nano urea foliar spray @ 2 ml/l at 30 and 60 DAS, T7 - 100 % of recommended basal N + 2 % Urea foliar spray at 30 and 60 DAS.Results: According to the findings of the study, applying 100% of the recommended basal N + Nano urea foliar spray @ 2 ml/l at 30 and 60 DAS is advantageous to the crop and improves the growth and yield characteristics of hybrid castor under rainfed conditions. However, when compared to other treatments, foliar application of nano urea with 50% indicated basal N resulted in significantly lower growth and yield.Conclusion: The major objective is to increase hybrid castor growth and production under rainfed circumstances by foliar application of nano urea

Mitigation of Salinity Stress by Application of Plant Growth Promoting Substances in Rice

Aim: Salt stress adversely affects plant growth and development. Various mitigating strategies have been employed to enhance the adaptability of plants to salt stress. The present study was conducted with the objective of evaluating the recently developed CO55 rice variety's ability to withstand salt-induced stress during seedling growth. This evaluation included foliar spraying of plant growth promoting substances like melatonin, salicylic acid, silicon, and selenium, along with the identification of effective plant growth-promoting substances that exhibit tolerance to salinity. This study is required to develop salt-tolerant varieties capable of withstanding salinity stress during the seedling stage. The seedling stage is more susceptible to salinity, and also to increase the growth and yield of rice, thereby satisfying the country's agricultural needs.Study Design: Completely randomized design.Place and Duration of Study: Department of Crop Physiology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore; March-April 2023.Methodology: In the hydroponics experiment, the CO55 rice variety was subjected to foliar spraying of various plant growth promoting substances such as melatonin, salicylic acid, orthosilicic acid, and sodium selenate. Parameters like leaf drying score, osmotic potential, osmotic adjustment, sodium content, potassium content, and Na+/K+ ratio were assessed. One-way ANOVA was used to analyze the data.Results: Specific pairwise differences between means were assessed at the 0.05 significance level using Fisher's least significant difference (LSD) test. Among the treatments applied, salicylic acid recorded the highest potassium content (3.94%), and the lowest potassium content (2.60%) was found in orthosilicic acid. On the other hand, from the standard evaluation score, it was observed that CO55 rice variety seedlings were found to be tolerant when treated with salicylic acid, whereas it was susceptible under orthosilicic acid treatment.Conclusion: Observations indicated that foliar application of salicylic acid at the concentrations of 50µM and 100µM exhibited higher tolerance towards salinity during the seedling growth stages.

Antitumour Activity of Methanolic Extract of Plumeria alba L. Leaves against Dalton Lymphoma Ascites in Mice

Purpose: To evaluate Plumeria alba leaves for antitumor activity against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) and Dalton lymphoma ascites (DLA) bearing Swiss albino mice. Method: The antitumour activity of the methanolic extract of Plumeria alba leaves (MPA) was evaluated against EAC and DLA using in-vitro cytotoxic and mean survival time; a decrease in the tumour volume and viable cell count in the DLA tumour hosts. The animal was observed for improvement in the haematological parameters (e.g.; heamoglobin content; red and white blood cells count; and differential cell count) following MPA treatment of the tumour bearing mice. Results: MPA was found to be cytotoxic in the in-vitro model. Intraperitoneal administration of MPA increased the survival time; dead cell count haematological parameters and solid tumour mass was also significantly reduced. Conclusion: MPA possesses significant antitumour activity

Restoration of tissue antioxidants and prevention of renal stone deposition in vitamin B6 deficient rats fed with vitamin E or methionine.

Observed loss in body weight gain, increased lipid peroxidation reaction, decreased concentrations of antioxidants, ascorbic acid, alpha-tocopherol and reduced glutathione and antioxidant enzymes, glutathione peroxidase and catalase and increased concentration of hydroperoxides and hydroxyl radicals in vitamin B6 deficient rat liver [J Nutri Biochem, 2 (1991) 245] and kidney [Biochem International, 21 (1991) 599] were nearly normalized on feeding with vitamin E or methionine. Accumulation of oxalate and calcium during vitamin B6 deficiency was abolished by feeding vitamin E or methionine. Calcium oxalate deposition observed in vitamin B6 deficient kidney was completely prevented when fed along with vitamin E or methionine. However the hyperoxaluria and hypercalciuria persisted even after feeding with vitamin E or methionine.

Increased plasma lipidperoxidation in vitamin B-6 deficient rats.

Lipidperoxidation in plasma of rats fed with vitamin B-6 deficient diet for a period of 12 weeks was studied with pair-fed controls. Plasma pyridoxal 5'-phosphate, alanine amino transferase and aspartate amino transferase, the markers of vitamin B-6 status, were significantly low in vitamin B-6 deficient rats. Plasma malondialdehyde level, conjugated dienes and lipofuscin like pigments were increased in vitamin B-6 deficiency. Increased levels of plasma lipids, calcium, iron and copper were observed in vitamin B-6 deficiency. Plasma susceptibility to lipidperoxidation was maximal in vitamin B-6 deficiency, upon stimulation by the promotors, Fe2+, Fe3+, Cu2+, ascorbate, t-butyl hydroperoxide and hydrogen peroxide.