Impact of Capacity Building Programmes on Farmers of Hassan District of Karnataka, India

The study was conducted in 5 villages of Channarayapattanataluk of Hassan district in Karnataka. The College of Agriculture, Hassan, Karnataka has conducted Rural Agricultural Work Experience Programme for the final year B.Sc (Hons.) Agriculture, B.Tech (Bio Technology) and B.Tech (Food Technology) in those 5 villages during the year 2021-22 for 3 months. The regular capacity building programmes were organized for the farmers by the students in the presence of scientists of the college. During the capacity building programmes such as training, method demonstration, exposure visits etc., the pre and post evaluation was also done to understand the knowledge and skill of the farmers about the bio agents and its application in crop production. The data was collected from 100 farmers to assessimpact of capacity building programmes on bio agentssuch as Trichoderma, Pseudomonas, Phosphate Solubilizing Bacteria etc. Thestudy reveals that, majority (78.00%) of the farmers were not aware about the availability of different bio agents in the market, 80.00 per cent of them were unaware about the importance of application of bio agents in crop production, around 89.00 per cent were not having knowledge about use of bio agents in different crops. Nearly 90.00 per cent of farmers were having poor knowledge and skill on how to use the bio agents in crop production practices. After the pre evaluation the different programmes like training programmes about the importance and application of bio agents, skill on demonstration about the bio agents treatment, exposure visits etc., were organized and conducted post evaluation also. The data from the study reveals that, there was increase in the knowledge level and skill in the application of bio agents to an extent of 25 to 30 per cent among the participants. During the year 2022, the study was conducted to assess the adoption level of farmers in the same villages about the importance and application of bio agents in their crop production practices. It was observed that, still farmers were using the bio agents in their farming practices and they were happy to share that, there was a good result in crop yield due to non incidence of pest and diseases and also due to reduced cost of pesticide application.

Effect of Bio-Agents and Elicitors on Alternaria brassicae of Mustard (Brassica juncea L.)

Rapeseed-mustard is one of the major oilseed crops cultivated in India. Alternaria brassicae is the most destructive pathogen of oilseeds. The present study aims to evaluate the effect of bio-agents and elicitors on Alternaria brassicae of mustard in vitro using dual culture technique and poison food technique in completely randomized design (CRD). The study was conducted at the Department of Plant Pathology Laboratory, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology And Sciences, Prayagraj. The results revealed that among bio-agents, Trichoderma viride + Pseudomonas fluorescens (87.70mm) recorded the maximum per cent inhibition of mycelial growth of Alternaria brassicae, followed by Trichoderma viride (82.60mm). Among elicitors, the maximum per cent inhibition of the pathogen was recorded by salicylic acid at 150 ppm (75.33%), followed by salicylic acid at 100 ppm (58.69%).

A Review: Combination of Fungicide, Polymer Coating and Packaging Materials on Improve Germination Rate and Improve Uniformity of Seedling Emergence of Different Seeds during Storage

Seed coating is a method of encasing seeds in adhesive materials to improve germination and performance while lowering cost. Seed coating has been widely used in agriculture as an efficient way to reduce biotic and abiotic stressors, hence boosting crop growth, productivity, and health, in order to satisfy the demands of the development of precision agriculture. Plant-beneficial microorganisms include Trichoderma, rhizobium, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungusfungi and plant growth-promoting bacteria. Fungicide seed treatment is easy, affordable, and efficient. Additionally, it is well known that the selection of chemicals for seed treatment also has a favourable impact on seed viability and vigour during germination storage. Seed coating polymers are utilised in conjunction with active components like fungicides and insecticides. A new era of biocontrol techniques has recently begun. By utilising hostile microbes to fight seed-borne illnesses, new technology is being developed. Beneficial fungus like Trichoderma harzianum and Trichoderma viride are among the bioagents most powerful and efficient fungus- and soil-borne pathogen suppressants such as seedling blight, collar rot, stem rot, root rot, dry root rot, and their use may can effectively manage each of these illnesses, and thus encourage crop growth and yield.

Efficacy of native bio-agents against sclerotium rolfsii sacc. causingfoot rot of finger millet

Finger millet is one of the important millet crops widely cultivated across India. Although, it is known to be one of the hardiest crops, is affected by many diseases, of which foot rot caused by Sclerotiumrolfsiihas been on the rise especially under irrigated and high rainfall situations.Nine Trichoderma spp. and 10 Pseudomonas spp. isolated from cultivated soils of Mandya, Karnataka, india were screened in in-vitro against S.rolfsii. Among the bio-agents Chandagaluisolate (CT) of Trichoderma and Kannahatty isolate (KP) of Pseudomonas were found to be very effective in suppressing the foot rot of finger millet in susceptible variety Indaf-5. These two potential bio-agents when tested in different delivery methods under greenhouse conditions, seedling root dip followed by soil application of Trichoderma (CT) and Pseudomonas (KP) were significantly superior over other methods in reducing foot rot incidence, besides enhancing seedling growth parameters and grain yield.

Control of Seed Borne Fungi in Green Gram and Black Gram Through Bioagents.

Test the efficacy of fungal and bacterial antagonistic formulations were controlling the seed borne fungi in seed samples of green gram and black gram collected from Pulse Research Unit, Akola were used for laboratory test. Seed treatment with talc based formulation of Trichoderma viride at 4 g/kg, Pseudomonas fluorescens at 10 g/kg and Bacillus subtilis at 10g/kg bio agents were tested for their efficacy against seed-borne mycoflora to improve seed germination and also recorded significantly incidence of seed borne fungi. Among this three bio agents T. viride was found superior in controlling the seed borne mycoflora (86.90%, 88.00%) and also maximum seed germination was observed in T. viride (67.60%, 71.00%), shoot length (8.91cm, 11.5cm), root length (7.10cm,9.15cm) and seedling vigour index (1119,1466) in green gram and black gram respectively.

Efficacy of Bioagents Against Seed Borne Fungi of Rice.

The effect of different antagonist ’ viz. Trichoderma viride Pseudomonas fluorescens and Bacillus substilis were evaluated against different seed borne fungi of rice by dual culture technique. Among three bio agents Trichoderma viride (42.59 to 73.33%) followed by Bacillus subtilis and Psuedomonas fluorescens over control. Significant suppression of radial mycelial growth of Drechslera oryzae by Trichoderma viride, and Trichoderma harzianum in dual culture and Inhibition of Curvularia lunata causing black kernel in rice with Bacillus subtilis (97.77%) followed by Trichoderma viride (96.44%) and Trichoderma harzianum (93.50%) in dual culture method.