Agricultural Research Research Articles

Recombinant Breeding in Barnyard Millet (Echinochloa frumentacea. L): Pioneering High-yield Varieties for Sustainable Agriculture

The development of new crop varieties, including barnyard millet, typically spans 6 to 9 years, a process that began with breeding efforts initiated in 2008. The breeding work involved initial crossings, followed by selection starting from the F2 generation, which achieved stabilization in the F5 generation with the identification of the best plants. The resulting high-yielding, medium-maturing barnyard millet variety, DHBM-93-3, was developed at the Agricultural Research Station in Hanumanamatti, under the University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad. This variety matures in 85 to 90 days, features an erect growth habit with a height ranging from 132 to 147.5 cm, and produces bold, oval-shaped grains of gray color. DHBM-93-3 has demonstrated an impressive grain yield of 23.20 q/ha and a fodder yield of 6.33 t/ha, along with remarkable tolerance to shoot fly infestation (0.0%). Notably, this variety outperformed national checks VL-172 and VL-207, with yield increases of 27.17% and 12.59%, respectively. In preliminary and station trials conducted between 2010 and 2013, DHBM-93-3 achieved an average seed yield of 39.24 q/ha, significantly exceeding RAU-11 and VL-207 by 42.17% and 16.82%. Over a three-year evaluation period, it consistently yielded 23.20 q/ha, surpassing VL-172 and VL-207 by 27.15% and 12.59%, respectively. The varieties exceptional adaptability was highlighted by significant yield increases across various states, particularly in Andhra Pradesh, where it exceeded VL-172 by 108.5%. DHBM-93-3 also exhibited superior disease resistance, with a mean grain smut incidence of 2.46%, compared to 10.06% for VL-172 and 15.93% for VL-207, as well as complete resistance to head smut. Furthermore, it showed outstanding resilience against shoot fly infestation, maintaining a consistent infestation rate of 0.0%. Nutritionally, DHBM-93-3 excelled in zinc (36.8 mg/kg), iron (12.5 mg/kg), and calcium (14 mg/kg) content, although its protein content was slightly lower than that of VL-172. DHBM-93-3 represents a highly productive and resilient variety, capable of enhancing food security and addressing micronutrient deficiencies, thus positioning it as an excellent choice for cultivation across diverse agro-climatic regions of India.

Development of Faba Bean Genotypes for Broomrape Tolerant and Foliar Diseases Resistance in F\(_2\) Factorial Crosses

Two field experiments were conducted at Sakha Agricultural Research Station, Kafr El-Sheikh, Egypt. The first experiment was in a naturally Orobanche- free field and the second one was in a naturally Orobanche-infested field. In each experiment sixteen F2 crosses and their parents were sown. The sixteen F2 crosses were produced by a 4 x 4 factorial mating design in F1 and selfed to give F2-crosses. The data were then analyzed using a line x tester design. The main objective of this study was to develop new promising faba bean genotypes that are able to produce high yield, resistance to foliar diseases and broomrape tolerance. Significant differences among all genotypes mean square were observed for all studied traits under both growth conditions. The parents, crosses and their interaction mean squares were detected for all traits in the two environments. The mean squares of lines were significant and/or highly significant for flowering date and 100-seed weight under both conditions, while number of pods per plant was significant under normal condition, in addition to the number of seeds per plant and broomrape dry weight per plant under infested broomrape condition were significant and highly significant, respectively. Mean squares of testers were significant for chocolate spot at the two conditions; rust disease, plant height, number of pods and seeds, seed yield per plant and 100-seed weight under normal condition. Lines x testers mean squares were significant for all traits in both conditions, except for number of branches and 100-seed weight. L1 and L4 and the parental testers T4 were considered more resistance parents to foliar diseases under both environments. The crosses; L2 x T3, L2 xT4, L3 x T2, L3 x T4 and L4 x T4 were considered resistant to foliar disease and had an earlier flowering date. The testers, T3 and T4 showed significantly the highest values of number of seeds per plant, seed yield per plant and 100-seed weight under both conditions, while the crosses; L3 x T4 and L4 x T4 had the highest values for seed yield per plant and 100-seed weight under both conditions. The parental L2 and T4 were considered good combiners for chocolate spot and rust diseases under both environmental conditions, while L1 and T4 performed as good combiner parents for number of seeds and seed yield per plant. The cross; L2x T3 performed as good specific combiner cross for foliar diseases under both conditions. The crosses; L2x T3, L3xT4, L3 x T1and L4 x T4 had highly significant (sij) values for the No. of seeds and seed yield per plant under infested soil condition. The phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) values ranged from 5.52% to 84.01% and genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) values ranged from 3.18% to 79.21%. Broad-sense heritability (H) ranged from 72.98% to 99.29%, and narrow sense heritability (h2) ranged from 2.3% to 21.38%. Expected genetic advance (Ga) ranged from 0.03 to 0.71, and predicted genetic advance (Ga%) ranged from 8.21% to 10.86%.

High Yielding Pest and Disease Tolerance Variety (DHLM-14-1) in Little Millet (Panicum sumetrense. L) Developed through Recombinant Breeding Technology

The little millet variety DHLM-14-1 developed at the Agricultural Research Station (ARS) Hanumanamatti under the University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad. With a maturation period of 85-90 days, this variety features an erect, tall plant stature ranging from 112 to 130 cm and produces bold, oval-shaped gray grains. DHLM-14-1 stands out for its notable tolerance to shoot fly, exhibiting only a 13.89% incidence compared to 19.15% in the national check JK-8. Its impressive yield performance is evident, yielding 18.42%, 30.58%, and 3.14% more than the national checks OLM-203, JK-8, and KOPLM-53, respectively, making it a beneficial option for millet producers looking for resilient, high-yielding crops. Across trials conducted from 2011 to 2014, DHLM-14-1 showcased exceptional agronomic performance, achieving a mean seed yield of 42.41q/ha, significantly outperforming local check TNAU-63 and national check OLM-203 by 26.63% and 23.75%, respectively. Its consistent yield superiority, with an average of 15.89 q/ha over three years, illustrates the cultivar's adaptability to diverse agro-climatic conditions, surpassing OLM-203 and JK-8 by 18.42% and 30.58%. Recognized during the 29th Annual Group Meeting of the ICAR All India Coordinated Research Project on small millets, DHLM-14-1 has shown strong disease resistance against grain smut, brown spot, and sheath blight, with disease incidences similar to OLM-203 and significantly lower than JK-8. Additionally, its effective resistance to shoot fly underscores its potential to reduce pest damage, reinforcing DHLM-14-1's value as a high-yielding, resilient cultivar that not only enhances sustainable millet production but also supports food security and improves farmer livelihoods across India.

Energy Budgeting of Different Cropping Sequences in the Indian Upper Gangetic Plains

Background: This study is meant to examine the energy requirement and energy input- output of different cropping sequences .The crucial objective to conduct experiment to understand energy efficiency using inputs and outputs which were disbursed in cropping sequences. Hence, it is need of the hour to identify the most remunerative and cost effective cropping sequence with high energy efficient for UGP of India. Methods: This study was carried out at the research farm of ICAR-Indian Institute of Farming Systems Research, Modipuram, during 2017-2021.The divergent cropping sequences viz. sugarcane-ratoon-wheat (CS1); rice-wheat-dhaincha (CS2); pigeonpea +maize-chickpea-okra (CS3); maize-berseem-black gram (CS4); sorghum-mustard-green gram (CS5) and Napier+cowpea/berseem (CS6) were compared in reference to curtail higher energy inputs through selected alternate cropping sequences. The obtained energy values were calculated by multiplying the amount of inputs and outputs by using energy conversion factors. Result: Maximum inputs energy consumed by sugarcane crop alone (33.14´103 MJ ha-1). Results shown that irrigation, seed, fertilizers and diesel required higher energy for the completion of cultural operations. However, higher inputs energy was used in irrigation followed by seed and fertilizers, respectively. In regard to per cent energy intake through inputs, the highest energy spent was for irrigation (35.30 MJ ha-1) and fertilizer (23.80 MJ ha-1).The wheat equivalent yield was higher in sugarcane-ratoon-wheat (125.58 t ha-1). Maximum output energy was with above system (596.70×103 MJ ha-1). Highest net energy returns was counted with sugarcane-ratoon-wheat (549.37´103 MJ ha-1), energy ratio (12.60) and energy profitability (11.60). Indeed, energy efficiency was highest in same system (1657.50) followed by maize-berseem-black gram (1421.96).

Effect of Organic Manures and Biofertilizers on Crop Phenology, Growth Parameters and Yield of Mung Bean (Vigna radiata)

To assess the fertility level of organic nutrient management practices and biofertilizers on phenology studies, growth parameters and yields of mung bean the present study was carried out during summer season of 2024 at Research Farm, School of Agriculture, OM Sterling Global University, Hisar. Seven treatment combinations comprising organic manures and bio fertilizer were tested in randomized block design in three replications. The results revealed that the phenology studies viz., days taken to emergence (6.67), flowering (43.67), pod initiation (52.00) and maturity (65.67), growth parameters viz., plant height (21.07; 48.82; 58.67; 59.00 cm), dry matter accumulation (4.93; 13.83; 19.32; 21.41 g) root shoot ratio on the length (0.58; 0.65; 0.70; 0.75), root shoot ratio on the weight basis (0.29; 0.35; 0.35; 0.36) and number of branches per plant (3.67; 5.00; 5.67; 5.83) at 30, 45, 60 and at harvest stages, respectively and seed yield (1,197 kg ha-1) were significantly higher in the treatment of Jeevamrutha@ 3000 l ha-1 through three splits at sowing, 30 and 45 DAS + Rhizobium +PSB. Whereas, significantly minimum for all above parameters were recorded under control.

Assessment of Different Organic Manures on Yield of Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. Italica Plenck.) cv. KTS-1 under Bundelkhand Climatic Condition

Aims: The organic content in manure helps soil retain moisture, increases gas exchange, and introduces beneficial bacteria, loosens clayey soil, promoting root growth. Soil with a higher organic content is more resistant to erosion and produces superior crops. Using organic manure decreases farming's environmental impact. Unlike synthetic fertilizers, it recycles waste materials, nourishes the soil, and nurtures crops. Methods: This experiment was carried out during Rabi 2023-24 at the Organic Research farm Kargunwan ji, Department of Horticulture, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Bundelkhand University Jhansi (Uttar Pradesh). Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italicaPlenck.) cv. KTS-1 was sown under randomized block design (RBD) with 11 treatment viz., Control, Vermicompost 100%, Cow litter 100%, Pressmud 100%, Vermicompost 75%, Cow litter 75%, Pressmud 75%, Vermicompost 50%+Cow litter 50%, Cow litter 50%+Press mud 50%, Pressmud 50%+Vermi 50%, Pressmud 33%+Cow litter 33%+Vermi 33% with 3 replication accommodating spacing (60 × 45) cm2,plot size (2.4 × 1.8) m = 4.32 m2 with total gross experimental area of (23.5 x 9.6) m = 225.06 m2. Results: Results shows thatat harvest, treatment T10 took to the minimum curd initiation at 53.10 days, compared to the control plot at 68.07 days. Similarly, days to 50% curd initiation and maturity were also shorter in T10, at 67.03 days and 80.13 days, respectively, while the control plot took (78.03 and 96.13) days. Ttreatment T10 produced the largest curd diameter (14.78 cm) and weight (321.03 g), significantly surpassing the control plot (6.37) cm diameter and (138.43) g weight. Overall, T10 yielded (321.03) q/ha, markedly higher than the control plot (138.43) q/ha, demonstrating significant improvements in broccoli yield and quality. Conclusion: The results clearly revealed that the application of organic treatments, particularly T10 (Pressmud 33% + Cow litter 3% + Vermi 33%), significantly enhanced the yield and quality of broccoli. This treatment resulted in faster curd initiation and maturity, larger curd diameter, and increased curd weight compared to the control plot. The findings indicate that the strategic use of organic manure can optimize broccoli production, suggesting a viable approach for improving crop outcomes in sustainable agriculture.

Investigating Genetic Diversity and Correlations Between Mineral Concentration and Neurotoxin (β-ODAP) Content in the Lathyrus Genus

Grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.) is a nutritious legume crop well-adapted to fragile agro-ecosystems that can survive under challenging climatic conditions. The cultivation of grass pea faces stigma primarily due to the presence of β-N-Oxalyl-L-α, β-diaminopropionic acid (β-ODAP), which is associated with a risk of inducing neurolathyrism upon prolonged consumption of its grains as a staple diet. The grass pea improvement program of the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) aims to reduce β-ODAP content to a safe level along with improving yield potential and nutritional quality of grass pea. In this study, 183 germplasm accessions representing 13 different Lathyrus species and 11 L. sativus breeding lines were evaluated for β-ODAP content based on Rao protocol and mineral concentration using ICP-OES. Significant variability was observed among the accessions for the studied traits. The results showed low β-ODAP content and high mineral concentration in 25 accessions of crop wild relatives, which included L. cicera, L. ochrus, and L. cassius, with one accession IG65277 of L. cassius, in addition to two lines, IG117034 and ACC1335, of L. sativus having very low β-ODAP content. Furthermore, some accessions of L. pseudocicera, L. aphaca, L. cicera, L. marmoratus, L. gorgoni, and L. tingitanus also showed low β-ODAP content. The results showed significant positive correlations among different trait combinations, viz., K and P (r = 0.193 ***), K and Fe (r = 0.177 ***), Mn and Fe (r = 0.210 ***), Mn and Se (r = 0.137 ***), β-ODAP and Mg (r = 0.158 **), and β-ODAP and Ca (r = 0.140 **). L. cicera, L. ochrus, and L. cassius were identified as a great source for improving the mineral concentration and reducing β-ODAP content in the cultivated grass pea.

Sustainable Nitrogen Management in Rice Farming: Spatial Patterns of Nitrogen Availability and Implications for Community-Level Practices

Sustainable nitrogen management is crucial for long-term food security and environmental protection in rice farming systems. However, the spatial patterns of nitrogen availability at the community level remain poorly understood, hindering the development of effective sustainable management strategies. This study introduces a novel application of spatial autoregressive analysis to investigate available nitrogen distribution in paddy soils across a rice farming community in Kyoto, Japan. Soil samples from 61 plots, including organically farmed ones, were analyzed for available nitrogen and various physicochemical properties. Contrary to the hypothesis of high variability between adjacent plots, significant positive spatial autocorrelation in available nitrogen was observed, revealing previously unrecognized community-level patterns. The spatial Durbin model outperformed traditional regression approaches and revealed complex spatial interactions in soil properties. Water-soluble organic carbon and humus content showed strong but opposing effects, with a positive direct impact but negative spatial interaction, suggesting topography-driven accumulation processes. Water-soluble nitrogen exhibited reverse patterns with negative direct effects but positive spatial interaction, indicating potential nutrient transport through water movement. These findings highlight the importance of considering both direct and indirect spatial effects in understanding soil fertility patterns, challenging the conventional plot-by-plot management approach. This methodological advancement provides new perspectives for more effective, community-scale soil management strategies in rice farming systems. Moreover, it demonstrates an innovative approach to maximizing the value of outsourced soil analysis data, providing a model for more comprehensive utilization of such data in agricultural research. By enabling more targeted and efficient nitrogen management practices that consider both plot-level processes and landscape-scale interactions, this study potentially contributes to the development of more sustainable and resilient rice production systems.

“The Source of All My Joy and All My Stress”: Children and Childcare as Underappreciated Sources of Stress That Affect Farm Women

ABSTRACT Objective Women have always played a crucial role in agriculture through their work on the farm, caring for the family and the household, and off-farm employment. Yet, like their essential contributions to agriculture, their mental health and well-being have largely been invisible since much of the focus of the mental health in agriculture research has been on older, male farmers. This paper seeks to address this knowledge gap by focusing on the emotional consequences stemming from the expectations of juggling childcare responsibilities, farm work and managing the household whilst keeping children safe. Methods The data were collected via focus groups and photovoice activity with, respectively, 68 and 33 farm women from Ohio, Wisconsin, and Vermont. Results The content thematic analysis first indicates that the juggling of multiple roles along with limited support deeply impacted farm women’s wellbeing. Worries that the children could get hurt was a major source of stress. Stress and mental health issues connected to children do not lessen as they age but rather shift and become more complex. Conclusion This article highlights the implications of the lack of investment in farm women’s mental wellbeing and their lived realities of caring for children on the farm. Future research should address supply chain and affordability issues, particularly for rural childcare provision.

Effect of tillage methods and nitrogen management practices on soil mineral nitrogen and grain protein, and yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum)in rice (Oryza sativa)-wheat system

The field experiment was carried out during winter (rabi) season of 2020–21 at ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi to study the effect of tillage methods and nitrogen management practices on soil mineral nitrogen and grain protein and yield of wheat in rice- wheat system. The experiment was laid out in a split plot design (SPD), where the main plots included 4 different crop establishment methods, and the sub-plots tested 4 nitrogen management strategies that were replicated thrice. The results showed that, residue retention in zero tillage recorded significantly (P<0.05) higher soil mineral nitrogen, protein content in grain (12.6%) and grain yield (4.99 t/ha) over other treatments. Similar results also recorded under different nitrogen management practices, where leaf colour chart (LCC)-guided N application has significantly (P<0.05) higher soil mineral nitrogen, grain protein content (12.9%) and grain yield (5.39 t/ha) over remaining treatments. The LCC-guided N application in residue retained (3 t/ha) ZT practices can be recommended in wheat under rice- wheat system for higher soil mineral nitrogen availability, improving grain protein content and productivity.

Soil test crop response nutrient prescription equations for improving soil health and yield sustainability—a long-term study under Alfisols of southern India

IntroductionEnhancing soil health and nutrient levels through fertilizers boosts agricultural productivity and global food security. However, careful fertilizer use is essential to prevent environmental damage and improve crop yields. The soil test crop response (STCR) is a scientific approach to fertilizer recommendation that ensures efficient use, supporting higher crop production while protecting the environment and preserving resources.MethodologyA long-term field experiment on the STCR approach was initiated in 2017 at the Zonal Agriculture Research Station, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, India. The experiment aimed to study the impact of STCR-based nutrient prescription along with farmyard manure (FYM) for a targeted yield of soybean (Glycine max), sunflower (Helianthus annuus), dry chili (Capsicum annuum), aerobic rice (Oryza sativa L.), foxtail millet (Setaria italica), okra (Abelmoschus esculentus), and kodo millet (Paspalum scrobiculatum) on yield and changes in soil health in comparison with other approaches of fertilizer recommendation.ResultsThe results showed a significant and positive impact of the integrated use of fertilizer with FYM based on the STCR approach on the productivity of all the crops and soil fertility. Significantly higher yields of soybean (23.91 q ha−1), sunflower (27.13 q ha−1), dry chili (16.67 q ha−1), aerobic rice (65.46 q ha−1), foxtail millet (14.07 q ha−1), okra (26.82 t ha−1), and kodo millet (17.10 q ha−1) were observed in the STCR NPK + FYM approach at yield level 1 compared to the general recommended dose and soil fertility rating approach. This approach outperformed the standard recommendations, enhancing nutrient uptake and efficiency across various crops. Utilizing the principal component analysis, the soil quality index effectively reflected the impact of nutrient management on soil properties, with the STCR NPK + FYM treatment at yield level 1 showing the highest correlation with improved soil physical and chemical parameters.DiscussionThe STCR approach led to improved yield, nutrient uptake, utilization efficiency, and soil health, thanks to a balanced fertilization strategy. This strategy was informed by soil tests and included factors like crop-induced nutrient depletion, baseline soil fertility, the efficiency of inherent and added nutrients through fertilizers and farmyard manure, and the success of yield-targeting techniques in meeting the nutritional needs of crops.

Effect of micronutrients on growth and bulb production of LA hybrid lilium (Lilium longiflorum) cv. pavia

The experiment was conducted during the 2021–22 at ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi to determine the effect of micronutrients on the growth and bulb production of LA hybrid lilium cv. pavia. The experiment's findings showed that applying micronutrients topically in combination was more beneficial than doing so topically alone. In contrast, a combination of ZnSO4 + MnSO4 @6 g/litre each sprayed at 40 and 60 days after planting performed better in terms of growth attributes, such as net assimilation rate (4.07 g/m2 leaf area/day), relative growth rate (9.46 mg/g/day), and specific leaf area (46.68 m2/kg). Bulb attributes included number of bulblets/plant (4.60), bulb circumference (14.97 cm), bulblets circumference (3.77 cm), weight of bulb (30.44 g), and bulblets (2.64 g) in LA hybrid lilium cv. pavia, whereas the control group showed the lowest interaction effect levels. This demonstrates that the growth of bulbous ornamental crops such as lilium benefits more from the combined administration of micronutrients. It results from the application of the ideal concentration of micronutrients at regular intervals, which increases photosynthetic rate. These micronutrients help plants accumulate biosynthates through a variety of activities and control metabolic processes that occur in plants. Additionally, they activate enzymes that enhance development and better distribute carbohydrates to various regions of the plant, such as carbonic dehydrogenase, peroxidase, tryptophan synthase, and catalase. Micronutrients are essential for all cellular and metabolic processes, and their optimal utilization enhances the quality of the crop.

Wheat (Triticum aestivum) response under soil moisture and crop water stress based irrigation scheduling at variable nitrogen regimes

The field experiment was conducted during winter (rabi) seasons of 2021–22 and 2022–23 at research farm of ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi to examine the water productivity and crop response under soil moisture and crop water stress based irrigation scheduling at variable nitrogen regimes in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Experiment was conducted in a split-plot design (SPD) design comprised of 3 irrigation regimes in main plots and 5 graded nitrogen (N) levels in sub-plots, replicated thrice. Irrigation scheduling regimes included I1 (50% available soil moisture depletion-ASMD); I2 (CWSI i.e. crop water stress index based); and I3 (Conventional crop growth stage based). The 5 graded N levels included 0 (N0); 50 (N1); 100 (N2); 150 (N3); and 200 (N4) kg N/ha. Results showed that 50% DASM based irrigation significantly increased grain yield (11.28 and 6.30%), straw yield (5.33 and 5.70%), dry matter accumulation (5.65 and 5.44%), water productivity (11.37 and 6.19%), root length (15.89 and 44.48%), root weight (11.63 and 12.77%) and grain N uptake (20.88 and 14.52%) compared to conventional crop stage based irrigation during 2021–22 and 2022–23, respectively. Among the graded N application, maximum grain yield (4.78 and 4.82 t/ha) and crop water productivity (13.91 and 15.09 kg/ha-mm) were recorded with treatment N4 (200 kg N/ha), but remained statistically at par with N3 (150 kg N/ha) due to the marginal increment beyond 150 kg N/ha. Overall, soil moisture based irrigation at 50% MAD with 150 kg/ha N application proved to be the most effective and economical approach to enhance dry-matter accumulation, yield and water productivity with saving from harmful environmental effects ascending from excessive nitrogen use.

Drone-assisted herbicide optimization for energy efficiency, weed control and economics in transplanted rice (Oryza sativa)

The experiment was conducted during summer and rainy (kharif) seasons of 2021 and 2022 at Agricultural Research Station (Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu), Bhavanisagar, Tamil Nadu to evaluate the efficiency, economics and energetics of drone-based herbicide spray (fluid) application in transplanted rice (Oryza sativa L.). During the experiment the application of pre-emergence and post-emergence herbicides was done using drone and knapsack sprayer to assess the weed control efficiency (WCE). Treatments included 3 herbicide combinations, viz. pyrazosulfuron ethyl as pre-emergence (PE); pyrazosulfuron ethyl as pre-emergence (PE) fb bispyribac sodium as PoE; and pyrazosulfuron ethyl as PE fb metsulfuron methyl + chlorimuron ethyl as PoE; and 4 spray fluids applied using drone and knapsack sprayer (25, 37.5, 75 and 500 litre/ha). Weed free and unweeded check plot were used as reference for calculating WCE. Application of pyrazosulfuron ethyl fb bispyribac sodium using knapsack sprayer reduced weed density from 77.74–86.45% and weed dry weight from 89.60–91.40% over unweeded plot. Moreover, it was found on par with drone application of 37.5 litre/ha using herbicides during both the seasons. Interaction effect between herbicides and drone spray fluids was found to be non-significant. Pyrazosulfuron ethyl fb bispyribac sodium application through knapsack sprayer (500 litre/ha) and drone (37.5 litre/ha) produced higher grain yield and straw yield. Higher net return, benefit: cost ratio (2.49 and 2.40), energy-use efficiency (13.44 and 13.40 MJ) and energy productivity (0.414 and 0.416 kg/MJ) were noticed with drone application of pyrazosulfuron ethyl fb bispyribac sodium using 37.5 litre/ha spray fluid in both the seasons. From the experiment, drone application of pyrazosulfuron ethyl fb bispyribac sodium with spray volume of 37.5 litre/ha was found as an effective strategy to manage weeds in transplanted rice and more advantageous in terms of energy-use efficiency and profitability.

Breeding for Pest and Disease Tolerance High Yielding Variety (DHLM-36-3-1) in Little Millet (Panicum sumetrense. L)

Developed from 2008 to 2013 and evaluated between 2010 and 2014, the high-yielding medium-maturing little millet variety DHLM-36-3-1 was officially released and notified in 2018, showing its potential as an excellent variety. This cultivar, developed at the Agricultural Research Station in Hanumanamatti, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, is well-suited to the state of Karnataka. It matures in 85 to 90 days and features an erect growth habit, reaching heights of 112 to 130 cm, with bold, oval-shaped grains of light black color. DHLM-36-3-1 demonstrated a grain yield of 14.29 q/ha and a fodder yield of 5.6 t/ha, showing good tolerance to shoot fly infestation (15.50%) compared with the national check JK-8, which recorded a 20.34% infestation rate. Furthermore, DHLM-36-3-1 outperformed both national checks OLM-203 and JK-8 by 9.59% and 11.21%, respectively, in terms of grain yield. Similarly, the newly developed variety DHLM-14-1 has yielded promising results across various trials conducted throughout India, demonstrating its potential as a high-yielding and nutritionally rich option for farmers. Over three growing seasons, DHLM-14-1 achieved an impressive average seed yield of 35.12 q/ha, exceeding the local check TNAU-63 by 18.56% and the national check OLM-203 by 12.06%. It has consistently performed well in All India Coordinated Trials, showing adaptability across diverse agro-climatic conditions, with notable yield improvements in states such as Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Tamil Nadu. Nutritional assessments highlight DHLM-14-1's superior mineral profile, boasting higher levels of zinc (4.06 mg/100 g) and calcium (3.45 mg/100 g) compared to national checks, while its iron content (16.2 mg/100 g) significantly surpasses that of OLM-203. Additionally, disease resistance evaluations revealed that DHLM-14-1 maintained lower incidence rates for grain smut and brown spots, with competitive resistance to shoot fly. Collectively, these findings emphasize DHLM-14-1's vital role in promoting sustainable millet production, enhancing food security and farmer livelihoods, supporting integrated pest management strategies, and improving the nutritional quality of staple diets in areas with micronutrient deficiencies.

Winter barley productivity in the southern part of the Rostov region when sowing sunflower as a forecrop with different seeding rates

The current study was conducted in the southern part of the Rostov region in the agrotechnical crop rotation of the laboratory for cultivation technology of grain and row crops of the FSBSI Agricultural Research Center “Donskoy” in 2021–2023. The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of seeding rates on productivity of various winter barley varieties sown after sunflower. The conducted study allowed identifying the response of winter barley varieties to different seeding rates. The winter barley variety ‘Marusya’ on average over the years of research formed the mean maximum grain productivity of 6.43 t/ha when sowing with the lowest seeding rate (3 million pcs. of germ. grains per 1 ha). For the varieties ‘Vivat’ and ‘Foks 1’, the optimal seeding rate was 4 million pcs. of germ. seeds per 1 ha, and the obtained productivity was 6.31 and 5.81 t/ha, respectively. The response of the studied winter barley varieties to seeding rates was different through the years, but the effect of this factor was 4.6–10.5 %. Reliable differences in the experiment were obtained only for the variety ‘Vivat’ for all seeding rates. The winter barley productivity was determined by the choice of a variety, and the effect of this factor ranged from 32.5 to 78.1 %. There was determined that when sowing with the lowest seeding rate (3 million pcs. of germ. grains per 1 ha), all winter barley varieties in the trial had the largest number of grains per ear and grain weight per ear with 36.3–43.2 g and 1.62–2.10 g, respectively. There was established that in the variant with this seeding rate, the varieties formed a heavy, large-size grain (nature weight of 637–660 g/l) with ‘1000-grain weight’ of 42.1–43.8 g and 10.8 to 11.3 % of protein in grain. There has been established an economic efficiency of cultivating the varieties ‘Vivat’, ‘Marusya’ and ‘Foks 1’ when sowing them with the lowest seeding rate of 3 million pcs. of germ. grains per 1 ha. With a low cost price of produced grain (5405–6136 rubles/t), in this variant of trial, the varieties obtained the maximum conditional net income (34378–45499 rubles/ha) and production profitability (108–147%).

Axant™ Flex cotton response to topramezone applied early- or mid-postemergence

Abstract The continued development of herbicide-resistant weeds, such as Palmer amaranth, represents a growing concern across the United States Cotton Belt. To mitigate this issue, BASF Corporation developed Axant™ Flex cotton, the first quadruple-stacked herbicide resistance germplasm to improve the control of troublesome weed species in cotton. Field studies were conducted in 2022 and 2023 at the Texas Tech University Research Farm near New Deal, TX, to evaluate the response of Axant Flex cotton to topramezone applied alone or in combinations when applied to 3-leaf cotton (early-postemergence (EPOST)) or to 7-leaf cotton (mid-postemergence (MPOST)). No difference in cotton stand was observed between isoxaflutole or prometryn PRE treatments compared to the nontreated control. In 2022, no EPOST treatment caused greater than 6% crop response at 7 and 14 d after application (DAA). When treatments were made to 7-leaf cotton, crop response did not exceed 18% at 7 and 14 DAA. In 2023, crop response was ≤ 2% at 28 DAA regardless of application timing. No differences in lint yield were observed following any herbicide treatment when compared to the nontreated control in either year. Additionally, fiber length and strength were not adversely affected by treatments containing topramezone EPOST or MPOST in 2022 and 2023. These results support the potential use of topramezone in Axant Flex cotton to help manage troublesome weeds without detrimental effects on yield and fiber quality.

Response of various cultivars of Egyptian wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) to infection by Stemphylium vesicarium

AbstractA new fungal disease affecting wheat in Egypt, known as Stemphylium leaf spot, caused by Stemphylium vesicarium Wallr (Simmons) is reported. From all symptomatic wheat leaves, S. vesicarium was the most frequently isolated fungus (71.9%). The isolated pathogen was identified based on morphological characteristics together with molecular diagnosis. The Stemphylium isolate AUMC 15115 in this study was clustered at the same branch as Stemphylium mali CBS 122640, ex-type material (Synonym = Stemphylium vesicarium). At the Smart Agriculture Clinic Project, Sids Agricultural Research Station, Agricultural Research Centre, Beni Suef governorate, 12 cultivars of wheat were assessed in pot experiments for their resistance to Stemphylium leaf spot during the 2020 and 2021 growing seasons. Overall, distinct variations were observed in all examined cultivars in response to S. vesicarium infection. The Sakha 95 cultivar exhibited a minimal infection rate (disease incidence was 6.7, 3.3% and disease severity being, 0.7, 0.5%, respectively in the two growing seasons) and was classified as resistant. In contrast, Beni Suef 5 had the highest percent of infection (63.3, 66.7%), disease severity (38.5, 40.3%) and was classified as susceptible. In resistant cultivars, there was an increase in total phenol content, polyphenol oxidase (PPO), peroxidase (POD), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities. Conversely, there was a reduction in electrolyte leakage percentage and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) accumulation. However, the number of protein bands in resistant wheat cultivars exhibited a more significant increase than susceptible ones, particularly in the Sakha 95, which displayed the highest number of proteins.

Evaluation of Chickpea Production under Different Management of Irrigation and Nitrogen Fertilizer

Background: Chickpea is a prominent leguminous crop cultivated in the West Asia and North Africa (WANA) region. Historically, it is planted during the spring season as a rainfed crop in the area, characterized by its unpredictable and frequently inadequate precipitation. Methods: To examine the impact of various levels of irrigation and nitrogen fertilizer on the yield and yield components of the Adel cultivar of chickpea, a factorial experiment was conducted based on a randomized complete block design with four replications at the research farm in Jolgeh Rokh District in Torbat-e Heydarieh (35.19 N, 59.45E) throughout the 2021 and 2022 growing seasons. The experimental treatments included three levels of nitrogen: 30, 75 and 150 kg ha-1 as urea fertilizer. The irrigation was applied at three levels: full irrigation, one supplementary irrigation at the flowering stage and two supplementary irrigations at the flowering and pod filling stages. The studied traits included grain yield, biological yield, the number of pods per plant, and the number of seeds per pod. Result: Our results showed that different levels of irrigation and nitrogen fertilizer had a significant effect on the number of seeds per pod, pods per plant and biological and grain yield. The interaction effect of irrigation and nitrogen fertilizer was significant for all studied traits. In this study, the interaction between the full irrigation treatment and 75 kg N ha-1 resulted in a significant increase in all traits (except biological yield) compared to other treatments. Furthermore, one irrigation at the flowering stage with 150 kg N ha-1 caused a significant decrease in all of the studied traits. The combination of full irrigation and 150 kg N ha-1 treatment had the highest biological yield (8.9 t ha-1), while its grain yield was 1854 kg ha-1. Therefore, by maintaining moisture levels during the critical period of chickpea growth and utilizing balanced nutritional levels, particularly nitrogen at rates of 30 and 75 kg ha-1, the yield of chickpea can be increased.

Enhancing Blackgram (Vigna mungo L.) Productivity through Good Agricultural Practices in Tamil Nadu, India

Large scale pulse seed production demonstrations on black gram under the TN IAMP scheme conducted by Agricultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Vazhavachanur, Tiruvannamalai district, Tamil Nadu, India in 2 cluster villages at 50 farmer’s holdings during 2019-2020 and 2020-2021, respectively. The result and data analysis show an extension gap of 0.09 q/ha over farmers' traditional practices. The results revealed that TNIAMP intervention demonstrated registered higher growth and yield parameters viz., no. of clusters per plant, no. of pods per plant, grain yield and benefit-cost ratio compared to farmer’s practice grain yield and benefit cost ratio. TNIAMP pulse seed production intervention has had a good impact on pulse growing farmers of the Aliyar sub-basin, as they were motivated by good agricultural practices in the TNIAMP intervention plots and yielded an increase of 15.8 % higher than farmer’s practices.