Studies on conjoint application of nutrient sources and PGPR on growth,yield, quality,and economics of cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis L.)

The present experiment was carried out with cauliflower cv. Pusa Snowball K1 in a randomized block design with three replications. The experiment comprised of seven different treatments with different sources of nutrients including organic fertilizers, inorganic fertilizers, and biofertilizers, which were applied following the proper procedures as per treatment. Conjoint use of fertilizers, manures, and plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) significantly influenced plant growth and yield attributes of crop. Gross weight (1,267.22 g), curd weight (981.05 g), curd yield (392.45 q/ha), number of days taken to curd initiation (86.17) and curd maturity (94.00) and ascorbic acid content (74.87 mg/100 g) were found best under T₅. Also, treatment T₅ recorded 42.77% increase in yield over recommended practice (T₁) along with highest benefit cost ratio (3.36) and quality (ascorbic acid). From present investigation, it can be concluded that treatment T₅ (75% NPK + 50% FYM and 50% VC on N equivalence basis + PGPR) can be suggested as a cost-effective nutrient module for getting higher yield and quality with 25% net saving of fertilizers, besides enhanced soil health as evident by soil fertility status of soil after crop harvest.     

The nutrient levels in fruiting and non-fruiting terminals of three mango cultivars

The leaf nutrient status of 3 mango cultivars, determined in fruiting and non-fruiting terminals after fruit harvest (June 1976) from 20 orchards, were compared. N, P and Ca contents were significantly higher in ‘Dashehari’ than in ‘Chausa’ and ‘Lucknow Safeda’. The reverse was true for K, S and Zn contents. Mg and Mn contents were more or less at par in all the 3 cultivars. Leaves collected from non-fruiting terminals contained significantly higher amounts of N and P in all the 3 cultivars, but K, Ca, S and Zn only in 2 cultivars, as compared to those from fruiting terminals. Mn and Fe contents in both kinds of terminals were more or less at par in all the 3 cultivars.     

Impact of crop and nutrient management on crop growth and yield,nutrient uptake and content in rice

Paddy and Water Environment - System of rice intensification (SRI) together with appropriate nutrient management holds promise in increasing rice productivity with micronutrient enriched grains....     

Comparison of Collagen Distribution and Muscle Structure Between Cultured Amberjack (Seriola dumerili) and Cultured Yellowtail (Seriola quinqueradiata)

ABSTRACT

The collagen distribution in cultured specimens of amberjack and yellowtail were assessed by histochemical observation in relation to the meat texture of the fish. Major structural alteration was observed in the level of pericellular connective tissue of yellowtail that had higher muscle lipid content; these changes are likely to be associated with the large-scale changes in muscle firmness resulting from the weakening of the cellular binding force. However, lipid deposition was limited to the myocommata in amberjack muscle; lipid deposition was not observed in the pericellular connective tissue, which is the likely reason why amberjack maintained firmer meat texture.     

Diversity of entomopathogenic bacteria associated with the white grub, Brahmina coriacea

A survey of potato fields located in the south-eastern region of Himachal Pradesh (India) was carried out in order to find out the natural pathogens infecting the white grub, Brahmina coriacea. About 88 % population of the infected grubs were found to exhibit symptoms of natural bacterial infection during the years 2007–2008. Hence, we attempted to isolate and characterize the most potent bacteria for the management of B. coriacea and tested their insecticidal activity. In this study, ten different bacterial isolates belonging to genera Bacillus, Psychrobacter, Paracoccus, Paenibacillus, Mycobacterium, Staphylococcus and Novosphingobium were isolated from B. coriacea. Bacterial species were identified based on morphology, biochemical tests and homologies of 16S rRNA gene sequences. Pathogenicity tests for all isolated bacteria at 1.0 × 10⁸ cfu/ml of broth were performed on late first instar grubs. Among the bacteria tested, Bacillus cereus induced highest mortality level of 51.85 % within 7 days of treatment followed by Psychrobacter pulmonis (33.33 %), Bacillus psychrodurans (25.93 %), Bacillus pumilus (25.93 %), Paenibacillus tylopili (22.22 %) and Novosphingobium capsulatum (18.52 %). Mortality levels were further increased up to 100 % by B. cereus followed by 88.89 % by P. pulmonis after 30 days of treatment. Our results indicate that B. cereus, P. pulmonis, B. psychrodurans, B. pumilus, P. tylopili and N. capsulatum may be valuable biological control agents for white grubs, B. coriacea.     

Assessment of soil quality monitoring indicators under long term rice cultivation in hot arid Ghaggar-flood plains of India

ABSTRACT

The evaluation of soil quality is essential in monitoring the long term effects of rice cultivation. Present study investigated the effects of long term rice cultivation on soil properties and organic C pools and identified indicators for monitoring soil quality in Ghaggar-flood plains of hot arid India. Soil samples were collected from fields with 0, 10, 20, 30 and 40 years of rice cultivation. The study revealed that electrical conductivity (EC) and exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) increased after 30–40 years of rice cultivation. Available nutrients increased with increasing years of rice cultivation. The organic carbon pools namely, total organic carbon (TOC), Walkley Black carbon (WBC) and particulate organic carbon (POC) were increased above 50% in 20 and above years of rice cultivation. The TOC and POC were increased by 40.6 to 132.4% and 31.7% to 104.8% in 10 to 40 years of rice cultivation. Cation exchange capacity, WBC, ESP and CaCO₃ could serve as soil monitoring indicators of long term rice cultivation in arid region. The findings clearly indicated that long term rice cultivation could aggravate soil salinity and have negative impact on soil quality in arid environment.     

Development of ascochyta blight (Ascochyta rabiei) in chickpea as affected by host resistance and plant age

Ascochyta blight caused by Ascochyta rabiei, is the most destructive disease in many chickpea growing countries. Disease development varies with the growth stage and host resistance. Hence, disease development was studied in cvs ICCX 810800 (resistant), ICCV 90201 (moderately resistant), C 235 (moderately susceptible), ICCV 96029 and Pb 7 (susceptible) under controlled environment (ICRISAT, Patencheru) and field conditions (Dhaulakuan, Himachal Pradesh) at seedling, post-seedling, vegetative, flowering and podding stages. Under controlled environment, the incubation period and terminal disease reaction (TDR) did not vary significantly at different growth stages against virulent isolate AB 4. Cultivars ICCX 810800, ICCV 90201 and C 235 showed a significantly longer incubation period than the susceptible cv. Pb 7. Cultivar ICCX 810800 showed slow disease progress and the least TDR. Field experiments were conducted during the 2003–2004 and 2004–2005 growing seasons. During 2003–2004, TDR was higher in plants inoculated at podding and the flowering stage and the lowest disease reaction was recorded in ICCX 810800. A severe epidemic during 2004–2005 was attributed to the favourable temperature, humidity and well distributed high rainfall. TDR did not differ significantly at any of the growth stages in susceptible cvs ICCV 96029 and Pb 7. With respect to seeding date and cultivar, the highest yield was recorded in the early-sown crop (1,276.7 kg ha⁻¹) and in ICCV 90201 (1,799.3 kg ha⁻¹), respectively. The yields were greatly reduced in all the cultivars during 2004–2005 and the highest yield was recorded in ICCX 810800 (524.7 kg ha⁻¹). Integrated disease management using resistant cultivars, optimum sowing period and foliar application of fungicides will improve chickpea production. The experiment under controlled environment and field conditions (during the epidemic year) showed a similar disease development.     

An application of data envelopment analysis to investigate the efficiency of lumber industry in northwestern Ontario, Canada

This study aims at exploring the technical efficiency of lumber industry in northwestern Ontario,Canada using data envelopment analysis(DEA).The DEA model analyzes relative technical efficiency of lumber mills with disproportionate inputs and outputs by dividing the 10year time series data,for inputs and outputs of 24 lumber mills,over two periods(1999-2003 and 2004-2008).Four inputs,namely,material(log volume),labour(man-hours),two types of energy(hog-fuel and electricity),and one output(lumber volume) are used in this study.The trend analysis shows an annual reduction of 10%,13% and 13% for lumber output,log consumption(input) and number of employees,respectively,during the period 1999-2008.The results from DEA with two scenarios with energy inputs and without energy inputs,for the two periods are found to be mixed and interesting.While some mills have improved their performance in terms of best use of available scarce inputs in the second period,some have shown negative per cent change in efficiency.In the with energy input and the without energy input scenario,some of the mills show a reduction in efficiency in the second period from the first period,with the highest estimated reductions of-13.9% and-47.6%,respectively.A possible explanation for these negative performances of mills in the latter period is the decline in production in the second period compared to the first period,where these mills were not able to adjust their inputs(mostly labour) as proportional lay-offs might not have been possible.These results provide policy makers and industry stakeholders with an improved understanding of the trends of efficiency and employment as well as reallocation opportunities of future inputs in order to increase benefits from this sector.