Agronomic Research Research Articles

Phenotypic Characterization of Fungal Pathogens Associated with the Main Mycoses of Cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.)

Aims: To study the diversity of fungal pathogens associated with cashew mycoses in Togo.
 Study Design: This research project was initiated by the Mycology Research and Applications Unit of the Botany and Plant Ecology Laboratory (LBEV) in order to have adequate information on cashew mycoses in Togo.
 Place and Duration of Study: Laboratory of Botany and Plant Ecology (LBEV) of the University of Lome (UL) and of Crop Protection and Biosafety Laboratory of Togolese Institute of Agronomic Research (ITRA), February to August 2020.
 Methodology: A total of 148 symptomatic samples (leaves, buds, inflorescences, nuts, and apples) were collected from cashew trees in the East Mono prefecture of Togo. Malt-agar medium supplemented with chloramphenicol at 0.5 g/l was used for the isolation of fungal pathogens. The characterization of these fungal pathogens was carried out from the 7th day based on their macroscopic (texture, color, diameter of growth) and microscopic (hypha, spore, fruiting body) characters.
 Results: This study revealed the presence of five mycoses in cashew orchards in the East Mono prefecture. These are leaf anthracnose, bud’s dieback, black rust, leaf yellowing, and powdery mildew. In total, 12 fungal genera were encountered and 14 species of fungal pathogens were identified on all the samples collected: Rhizopus sp., Penicillium sp., Mucor sp., Sporotrichum sp., Fusarium nivale, Fusarium moliniforme, Fusarium moliniforme var. subglutinans, Curvularia lunata, Curvularia geneculata, Alternaria tenuissima, Alternaria brassicisola, Beltrania rhombica Penz., Thielavia coactilis Nicot, Helminthosporium avenae, Helminthosporium siccans, Phoma eupyrena, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger. 
 Conclusion: It would be of great interest to train cashew producers in the East Mono prefecture on the recognition of the symptoms of these mycoses and their management.

Monitoring of Soil Properties and Crop Performance (Rice) under Different Rice-based Cropping Systems

An experiment on rice-based cropping systems to monitor the soil properties and crop performance (Rice) was conducted at Agronomy Research Farm in Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology, Kumarganj (Ayodhya, U.P.) during 2020-21 in Complete Randomized Block Design with seven treatments and three replications. Seven cropping patterns viz; rice-wheat-fallow, rice-wheat-green gram, rice-frenchbean-green gram, rice-berseem-sudan chari, rice-cauliflower-okra, rice-potato-cowpea, rice-mustard-green gram were compared with rice-rice cropping pattern. The cropping systems were evaluated for their productivity & to assess their effect on the soil properties like soil pH, EC, organic carbon contents, soil organic matter, and available soil NPK. The results revealed that the green manuring and leguminous cropping patterns gave higher paddy yield as compared to the commonly practiced rice-rice cropping pattern. The maximum yield of rice (43.15q/ha) was obtained from a rice-mustard-green gram cropping pattern which was comparatively higher than those of a rice-rice cropping pattern. As regards the cost-benefit ratio, the highest ratio was received in the case of the rice-mustard-green gram (1:1.77) cropping system followed by the rice-frenchbean- green gram (1:1.65) and rice-wheat-green gram (1:1.52) as against the existing cropping system rice-rice. The results further indicated that the introduction of green manuring or leguminous crops in the existing rice-wheat system increased grain yields and improved the physio-chemical properties, organic matter contents, and nutrient availability in the soil. Soil pH lowered from 8.3 to 7.97 and organic carbon increased from 0.38 % to 0.39 %.

JKI and CAS – Bilateral Departmental Research in Agronomy since 1998

JKI and CAS – Bilateral Departmental Research in Agronomy since 1998

Rapid in situ nondestructive evaluation of lodging risk in dryland agronomic wheat research

AbstractThe natural occurrence of lodging in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in small‐plot research aiming to record visual ratings is unpredictable highly dependent on environmental conditions, and does not differentiate between root and shoot lodging. Detailed plant characteristics can be used to indicate lodging risk; however, such measurements are destructive and time‐consuming for projects that are not focused solely on evaluating lodging. The Stalker, a push force meter, can be used nondestructively to rapidly indicate stem strength and elasticity, which may be useful for measuring lodging risk in small‐plot research to indicate both root and shoot lodging. The objective of this study was to evaluate the ability of the Stalker to detect agronomic management practices that are known to reduce lodging risk (reduced plant density, split nitrogen applications, and plant growth regulator applications). Stalk strength (resisting force) and elasticity (spike displacement, energy, and power) measurements were taken at anthesis and physiological maturity in a small‐plot agronomic research trial. The Stalker was able to identify practices with high and low lodging risk. Lower plant density led to increased stem strength (measured by resisting force) and stem flexibility (measured by spike displacement) compared with high plant densities, indicating a decreased risk of both stem and root lodging when low plant densities were used. Overall, the Stalker is a new tool for rapid and nondestructive measurements of lodging risk in small‐plot agronomic research trials and can indicate both stem and root lodging risk by measuring indicators of both stem strength and elasticity.

Improvement of crop and soil management practices through mulching for enhancement of soil fertility and environmental sustainability: A review

The logarithmic phase of the human population creates high food demand near the future throughout the world. On the flip side, improved crop production requires uninterrupted water irrigation. Therefore, sensible agricultural inputs are needed to overcome these concerns. New technology-based innovative agronomic research steps will boost the contemporary agriculture practices in developed and developing countries. Agricultural cropping systems could follow mulching practices as one of the best crop management practices for its water and nutrient management potential. It is primarily to accomplish healthy economic and environmental bonds. By covering the soil's surface with biodegradable resources such as organic and inorganic materials, mulching improves the physicochemical characteristics of the soil. This approach provides a favorable environment for the development of plant growth and fosters the activities of microbial communities. Additionally, it reduces the growth of weeds, manages erosion, gets rid of pesticide residue, and increases soil fertility. Mulching the soil surface has profound benefits in improving the soil moisture levels due to a reduced evaporation rate. This method is a practical agronomic entrance to reduce water scarcity and raise the chance of water conservation, notably in arid and semiarid regions. It can also boost crop security and production to meet the global food requirements. This review significantly focuses on the current influence and advantages of organic mulches for crop establishment in the agriculture sector, which can close the production gap between achievable and actual yield.

Probing the impact of biochar combined with organic and inorganic amendments on soil carbon pools of rice (Oryza sativa) - wheat (Triticum aestivum) cropping system

Biochar incorporation as a soil amendment has been shown to improve soil quality by sequestering carbon in soil for longer period of time. The two years field experiment was done at Agronomy research fields of Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, India during 2018-19 and 2019-20 to probe the impact of biochar combined with organic and inorganic amendments on soil carbon pools of rice-wheat cropping system. The experiment was comprised with nine treatments viz., 100% Recommended Dose of Fertilizer (RDF), 50% RDF + Biochar, 50% RDF +25% FYM + Biochar, 50% RDF + 50% FYM + Biochar, 50% RDF +25% VC + Biochar, 50% RDF + 50% VC + Biochar, 50% RDF + 25% PM + Biochar, 50% RDF + 50% PM + Biochar, control (no fertilizer) and imposed in RBD design with three replications for each treatment. Pusa basmati 1121 and PBW550 varieties of rice and wheat was taken as a test crops. The results revealed that application of 50 % RDF + 50% PM + Biochar in rice and 50% RDF + 50% FYM + Biochar in wheat crop to soil significantly improved the soil carbon fractions i.e., Permanganate oxidizable carbon, Particulate organic carbon and Microbial biomass carbon at harvest of the crops during both years. This study has demonstrated that C pools in the soil can be enhanced by the biochar through stimulating soil microorganisms. Carbon storage in the soil is improved after biochar addition. By adding biochar with fertilizer and manures C sequestration can be enhanced. Based on the findings in this study, conventional fertilizer and manure application to soils could be associated with biochar through which multi-benefits (e.g., soil amendment, environment protection, and C sequestration) could be obtained simultaneously. Thus, converting rice straw to biochar for its application as soil amendment and C sequester decrease straw burning in open field in Northern India.

Probing the impact of biochar combined with organic and inorganic amendments on soil carbon pools of rice (Oryza sativa) - wheat (Triticum aestivum) cropping system

Biochar incorporation as a soil amendment has been shown to improve soil quality by sequestering carbon in soil for longer period of time. The two years field experiment was done at Agronomy research fields of Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, India during 2018-19 and 2019-20 to probe the impact of biochar combined with organic and inorganic amendments on soil carbon pools of rice-wheat cropping system. The experiment was comprised with nine treatments viz., 100% Recommended Dose of Fertilizer (RDF), 50% RDF + Biochar, 50% RDF +25% FYM + Biochar, 50% RDF + 50% FYM + Biochar, 50% RDF +25% VC + Biochar, 50% RDF + 50% VC + Biochar, 50% RDF + 25% PM + Biochar, 50% RDF + 50% PM + Biochar, control (no fertilizer) and imposed in RBD design with three replications for each treatment. Pusa basmati 1121 and PBW550 varieties of rice and wheat was taken as a test crops. The results revealed that application of 50 % RDF + 50% PM + Biochar in rice and 50% RDF + 50% FYM + Biochar in wheat crop to soil significantly improved the soil carbon fractions i.e., Permanganate oxidizable carbon, Particulate organic carbon and Microbial biomass carbon at harvest of the crops during both years. This study has demonstrated that C pools in the soil can be enhanced by the biochar through stimulating soil microorganisms. Carbon storage in the soil is improved after biochar addition. By adding biochar with fertilizer and manures C sequestration can be enhanced. Based on the findings in this study, conventional fertilizer and manure application to soils could be associated with biochar through which multi-benefits (e.g., soil amendment, environment protection, and C sequestration) could be obtained simultaneously. Thus, converting rice straw to biochar for its application as soil amendment and C sequester decrease straw burning in open field in Northern India.

Synergism of Organic Manure and Mycorrhizae Along with Inorganic Fertilizers on Crop Growth and Yield of Maize

Field experiment was conducted during Rabi 2021-22 to evaluate the synergistic effect of organic manure and mycorrhizae on soil health and crop performance in winter maize (Zea mays L.) at Agronomy Research Farm of Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture & Technology, Kumarganj, Ayodhya- 224229. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design and replicated thrice. The experiment consists of 8 treatments i.e. T1 (Control),T2 (100% RDF), T3 (80% RDF + 20% VC+ Mycorrhizae), T4 (80% RDF + 20% PM+ Mycorrhizae), T5 (60% RDF + 40% VC+ Mycorrhizae), T6 (60% RDF+ 40% PM+ Mycorrhizae), T7 (60% RDF+ 20% PM + 20 % VC+ Mycorrhizae), T8 (50% VC+ 50% PM+ Mycorrhizae). Results showed that growth and yields were substantially improved under Treatment T6 (60% RDF+ 40% N- PM+ Mycorrhizae) viz. plant height (cm), leaf area index (LAI), dry matter accumulation (kg ha-1), cob length (cm), number of grain rows cob -1, number of grains cob-1, test weight (g), weight of cob (g), grain yield (q ha-1), stover yield (q ha-1) and biological yield (q ha-1). Conclusively, synergistic incorporation of inorganic fertilizers with organic manure and mycorrhizae can be used with optimum rates to improve crop growth and productivity on sustainable basis.

Effect of Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) on Growth Parameters and Yield of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

An experiment was conducted during spring season of 2021-22 at Agronomy Research Farm, Dolphin PG college of Science and Agriculture Chunni Kalan, Fatehgarh Sahib Punjab, India. The experiment consists of fourteen treatments were laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replication. The obtained results revealed that the growth parameters were significantly influenced by different integrated nutrient management at successive growth stages of wheat crop except 30 days. The growth rate of the experimented plants were increased progressively with increase in duration of wheat crop. Growth rate was maximized up to 90 days and followed by a slightly increase in growth was obtained up to harvest. Among the treatment evaluated, 100% RDF +25% N through (vermicompost) + ZnSO4 @ 25 kg ha-1 proved to found better with respect to plant height ( 92.25 cm), dry matter accumulation (274.65 g m-2) and number tillers m-2 (92.43 m-2) at harvest stage in respective years. Leaf area index was measured tended to maximum at 60 days. The minimum growth parameters were observed under control. Maximum grain yield (55.32 q ha-1), straw yield (81.14 q ha-1), biological yield (136.46 q ha-1) and harvest index (40.53 %) was associated with the plot fertilized with 100% RDF +25% N through (vermicompost)+ ZnSO4 @ 25 kg ha-1

A yield comparison between small-plot and on-farm foliar fungicide trials in soybean and maize

Agronomic research provides management recommendations based on small-plot trials (SPTs) and on-farm trials (OFTs) with very different characteristics. SPTs are traditionally conducted at agricultural experiment stations by research institutes or universities, while OFTs are conducted under commercial-scale conditions and managed by farmers using their own equipment. Several researchers claimed that discrepancies could occur between these two types of trials, which can make the extrapolation of results from SPTs to the farm level difficult. In our study, we conducted an extensive comparison of small-plot and on-farm trials to analyze the effect of foliar fungicide application on maize and soybean yields. We collected data on maize and soybean from five US states. Analysis of the soybean data showed similar mean yield responses and within-trial standard deviation to fungicide application between 479 OFTs and 83 SPTs. For maize, our comparison of 300 OFTs and 114 SPTs showed similar mean yield response in both. Nevertheless, the within-trial standard deviation was three times smaller in on-farm compared to small-plot trials. On the other hand, the between-trial standard deviation (measuring the variability of the effects of fungicide application across different environments) was almost twice as large in SPTs than in OFTs for both crops. Hence, the differences in the effects of fungicide on yield were similar whether they were estimated using OFTs or SPTs for both crops. This implies that OFTs can potentially detect significant yield differences with fewer replicates and thus reduce the cost of data generation. We argue that SPTs can be seen as a preliminary step before scaling up to OFTs to facilitate technology transfer and extrapolate the results in real farming conditions.

System Intensification for Enhanced Productivity and Water use Efficiency in Banana [Musa (AAB) Nendran

Background: The steady demand for banana due to its varied uses makes banana a high value crop. In Kerala, more than 70 per cent of banana cultivation is done on leased lands and hence obtaining maximum income from a unit area assumes utmost importance. High density planting (HDP) could realize it, but had to be standardised in agro climatic regions of the state using specific cultivars and management level. Methods: Field experiments were conducted at Agronomic Research Station, Chalakudy, Kerala to assess the water use efficiency and productivity of banana variety Nendran under HDP. The experiment was laid out in factorial RBD with irrigation methods and crop geometry as the factors. Irrigation methods included drip irrigation with 50% pan evaporation compensation (PE) and 75% PE on alternate days (I1 and I2) and basin irrigation with 100% PE on alternate days (I3). Geometry treatments consisted of planting single plants at spacing of 2 m x 2 m (G1), planting 2 plants/hill at a spacing of 2.6 m x 2.6 m (G2) and planting 3 plants/hill at spacing of 3.0 m x 3.0 m (G3) resulting in 2500, 2950 and 3330 plants/ha respectively. Result: High density planting with 3 plants / hill resulted in increased yield by 21.6% over single plant/pit. Drip irrigation at 75% PE produced comparable yields with basin irrigation at 100% PE and had higher water use efficiency than basin irrigation. In banana HDP with 3 plants/hill under drip irrigation at 75% pan evaporation compensation on alternate days can be recommended to farmers of Kerala.

Effect of Combined Application of Herbicides on Weed Flora, Yield Attributes, Yield and Profitability of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) commonly known as gram or Bengal gram belongs to the family Leguminaceae (Fabaceae). It's one of the most important rabi season pulse crops grown in India for economic importance and to improve soil fertility. The productivity of chickpea is low despite of having high-yielding varieties and new agronomic practices. One of the causes of poor productivity is the infestation of weeds in the field of chickpea. It is a poor competitor to weeds because of its slow growth rate and limited leaf area development at early stages. To overcome this, a field experiment was conducted during the rabi seasons of 2021-22 at the Agronomy Research Farm of the Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology, Kumarganj, Ayodhya (UP). Replicated thrice set of eleven treatments (T1) Pendimethalin 30 EC @ 1.0 kg a.i./ha PE,(T2) Imazethapyr 10% SL @ 0.06 kg a.i./ha PoE,(T3) Clodinafop propargyl 15 WP @ 0.06 kg a.i./ha PoE, (T4) Propaquizafop 10 EC @ 0.075 kg a.i./ha PoE,(T5) Quizalfop ethyl 5 EC @ 40 g a.i./ha PoE, (T6) Pendimethalin 30 EC @ 1.0 kg a.i./ha PE followed by (Fb) Imazethapyr 10% SL @ 0.06 kg a.i./ha PoE, (T7) Pendimethalin 30 EC @ 1.0 kg a.i./ha PE fb by Propaquizafop 10 EC @ 0.075 kg a.i./ha PoE, (T8) Pendimethalin 30 EC @ 1.0 kg a.i./ha PE fb by Clodinafop propargyl 15 WP @ 0.06 kg a.i./ha PoE, (T9) Pendimethalin 30 EC @ 1.0 kg a.i./ha pE fb by Quizalfop ethyl 5 EC @ 40 g a.i./ha PoE, (T10) Weed free and (T11) Weedy check, was laid out in randomized block design. Weed management was done as per treatment. Other crop management practices were followed as per the recommendation of the area. Pendimethalin @1.0 kg a.i./ha PE fb Clodinafop propargyl 15 WP @ 0.06 kg a.i./ha as PoE during the experiment recorded significantly less weed density, weed dry matter, and higher weed control efficiency, yield attributes (number of pods/plant, number of seeds/pod and test weight), yield (grain yield, stover yield, biological yield, and harvest yield). Economically it recorded higher gross returns, the net return, and B:C ratio was noted and proved to be more remunerative as compared to other herbicide applications used in chickpea crop.

Bridging Ecology and Agronomy to Foster Diverse Pastures and Healthy Soils

Renovating pastures to increase forage species diversity is a burgeoning practice among producers. Over a century of grassland and small-plot research suggests that increasing plant diversity can lead to improved pasture productivity, resilience, and soil health. However, it remains hard to decipher how these benefits translate to grazed production systems given the limited experimentation in realistic grazing systems. There is a disconnect between ecological and agronomic research regarding what qualifies as a “diverse” grassland or pasture. This review aims to examine the current state of research regarding plant diversity and its potential benefits for soil health in pasture systems, and outlines how we can improve our understanding and implementation of this practice in production systems.

Weed management practices in Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.) in lower Gangetic plain Zone

The field experiment was conducted during rabi season in 2017-18 and 2018-19 at the Agronomy Research Farm, A.N.D. University of Agriculture & Technology, Kumarganj, (Ayodhya)to find out the effect of weed management practices on productivity and economics of mustard (Brassica juncea L.). Fifteen treatments were evaluated in randomized block design with three replications. Two hand weedings at 20 and 40 DAS recorded significantly lowest population and dry weight of weeds as compared to rest of the treatments during both the years. Among the herbicides combination, pendimethalin (PE) @ 1000 g ha-1 applied either with hand weeding at 40 DAS or paddy straw mulch @ 10 t ha-1 at 2-3 DAS recorded the lowest weed density and dry weight m-2 followed by metribuzin (PE) @ 175 g ha-1 either with hand weeding at 40 DAS or paddy straw mulch @ 10 t ha-1 at 2-3 DAS. Weedy check till maturity recorded significantly highest density and dry weight of weeds as compared to rest of the treatments during both the years. Pre-emergence spray of pendimethalin (PE) @ 1000 g ha-1 + hand weeding at 40 DAS being at par with two hand weeding at 20 and 40 DAS but recorded highest values of all yield attributes and yields as compared to rest of the treatments. The increase in grain yield due to pendimethalin (PE) @ 1000 g ha-1 + hand weeding at 40 DAS was recorded to the tune of 10.4% over pendimethalin (PE) @ 1000 g ha-1 + paddy straw mulch @ 10 t ha-1 at 2-3 DAS. The yield losses due to weedy check till maturity was recorded to the tune of 58.2%, 53.3% and 43.3% as compared to two hand weeding applied at 20 and 40 DAS, pendimethalin (PE) @ 1000 g ha-1 + hand weeding at 40 DAS, and pendimethalin (PE) @ 1000 g ha-1 + paddy straw mulch @ 10 t ha-1 at 2-3 DAS, respectively. The highest net income (Rs. 57394 ha-1) and B:C ratio (1.5) was recorded with pendimethalin (PE) @ 1000 g ha-1+ hand weeding at 40 DAS which was followed by two hand weeding at 20 and 40 DAS with net income of Rs. 55485 ha-1 and B:C ratio 1.49.

Weed management practices in Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.) in lower Gangetic plain Zone

The field experiment was conducted during rabi season in 2017-18 and 2018-19 at the Agronomy Research Farm, A.N.D. University of Agriculture & Technology, Kumarganj, (Ayodhya)to find out the effect of weed management practices on productivity and economics of mustard (Brassica juncea L.). Fifteen treatments were evaluated in randomized block design with three replications. Two hand weedings at 20 and 40 DAS recorded significantly lowest population and dry weight of weeds as compared to rest of the treatments during both the years. Among the herbicides combination, pendimethalin (PE) @ 1000 g ha-1 applied either with hand weeding at 40 DAS or paddy straw mulch @ 10 t ha-1 at 2-3 DAS recorded the lowest weed density and dry weight m-2 followed by metribuzin (PE) @ 175 g ha-1 either with hand weeding at 40 DAS or paddy straw mulch @ 10 t ha-1 at 2-3 DAS. Weedy check till maturity recorded significantly highest density and dry weight of weeds as compared to rest of the treatments during both the years. Pre-emergence spray of pendimethalin (PE) @ 1000 g ha-1 + hand weeding at 40 DAS being at par with two hand weeding at 20 and 40 DAS but recorded highest values of all yield attributes and yields as compared to rest of the treatments. The increase in grain yield due to pendimethalin (PE) @ 1000 g ha-1 + hand weeding at 40 DAS was recorded to the tune of 10.4% over pendimethalin (PE) @ 1000 g ha-1 + paddy straw mulch @ 10 t ha-1 at 2-3 DAS. The yield losses due to weedy check till maturity was recorded to the tune of 58.2%, 53.3% and 43.3% as compared to two hand weeding applied at 20 and 40 DAS, pendimethalin (PE) @ 1000 g ha-1 + hand weeding at 40 DAS, and pendimethalin (PE) @ 1000 g ha-1 + paddy straw mulch @ 10 t ha-1 at 2-3 DAS, respectively. The highest net income (Rs. 57394 ha-1 ) and B:C ratio (1.5) was recorded with pendimethalin (PE) @ 1000 g ha-1 + hand weeding at 40 DAS which was followed by two hand weeding at 20 and 40 DAS with net income of Rs. 55485 ha-1 and B:C ratio 1.49.

Proximate Composition and Fibre Fraction of Pearl Millet Fodder as Influenced by Different Nutrient Management Practices

Background: Quality traits of forage crops are largely influenced by various agronomic management practices at field conditions in different climatic strata. Judicious use of organic and inorganic sources of nutrients may sustain soil health, fodder productivity and quality. Keeping above facts in view an experiment was conducted for evaluation of nutrient management practices to increase fodder quality of pearl millet. Methods: The experiment was carried out during kharif season (2019-20) at Agronomy Research Farm, ICAR-NDRI, Karnal and laid out in randomized block design with eight treatments, viz., T1: Absolute control; T2: 100% RDF; T3: 100% RDF + Cow urine foliar spray; T4: 100% RDF + PGPR; T5: 100% RDF + PGPR + Cow urine foliar spray; T6: 75% RDF + Cow urine foliar spray; T7: 75% RDF + PGPR and T8: 75% RDF + PGPR + Cow urine foliar spray. Each treatment had three replications. Result: The results showed that the fodder proximate principles viz., dry matter, crude protein, ether extract and total ash content increase by 27.04, 21.33, 24.06 and 31.17% respectively, with T5 treatment than absolute control. The cell wall constituents such as neutral detergent fibre (63.99%), acid detergent fibre (39.50%) and acid detergent lignin (5.60%) were also lower in T5 treatment over the other treatments. It can be concluded that the fodder quality of pearl millet significantly better with application of T5 treatment, that was found statistically at par with T4 treatment. Which, will further strengthen and sustain the performance of livestock in terms of health and milk production.

Design of a protective shield for a radiological emergency intervention using Monte Carlo simulation and an anthropomorphic phantom.

Due to the increasing use of radioactive sources, new challenges appear for the protection of humans and the environment against ionizing radiation. Thus, organizations handling these sources must be endowed with plans how to react in case of any radiological emergency situations. Monte Carlo simulations are among the most widely employed methods used for the management and reconstruction of radiological incidents and accidents. In this work, results of a Monte Carlo simulation study with the Geant4 simulation toolkit using a digital anthropomorphic phantom are reported. The investigated scenario included an emergency intervention carried out inside the ionization cell of the National Institute of Agronomic Research (NIAR) of Tangier/Morocco, which houses a 60Co gamma irradiator. In this scenario, a radiological incident was assumed where the source cage of the gamma irradiator is stuck in the guide tube and not completely inserted into its storage container. The objective of this work was to design a radiation shield to protect an operator during the emergency intervention and make sure that any radiation exposure is below the recommended dose limits, taking into account the date of occurrence (which determines the activity of the source at the time of the emergency situation) of the accident and economic aspects of shielding design. In this work, the maximum time available for the operator to accomplish the operation intervention while remaining protected is calculated. The results obtained show that the shielding prototype developed gives the operator a time between 3 and 300s, depending on shielding design. It is concluded that shielding of the type investigated in the present study will allow any facility to manage the assumed emergency scenario, should it occur.

The Systems Productivity, Profitability and Soil Properties are Altered by Tillage Methods and Cropping Systems in the Mid-hills of Nepal

With the aim of identifying appropriate crop establishment methods in cereals-cereals, cereals-legumes, legumes-cereals and legumes-legumes cropping patterns, an experiment was carried out during 2019/20 to 2020/21 in National Agronomy Research Centre, Khumaltar. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with 8 treatments and 3 replications. Main plot was for two tillage methods [Zero tillage (ZT) and conventional tillage (CT)] and sub-plots for 4 different cropping patterns (maize-wheat, maize-lentil, soybean-wheat and soybean-lentil). In zero tillage, the soil was disturbed only along the rows for making seeding furrows and the previous crop residues were left anchored. The rest of the crop management practices were adopted as per the recommended practices. The data were analyzed using GenStat software. The results revealed that tillage treatments did not influence the winter crop yields in 2019, but in 2020, ZT recorded a significantly higher yield of wheat (4.9 Mt ha-1) compared to CT (3.4 Mt ha-1). Similarly, irrespective of crop establishment methods, pooled system yields and benefit: cost ratios were significantly influenced by various cropping patterns. The significantly higher system yield was recorded with maize-wheat (9.0 Mt ha-1) and the least with the soybean-lentil (5.2 Mt ha-1) cropping systems. Improvements in the soil properties were observed as SOM was 14% higher in ZT compared to CT. Similarly, average soil moisture and soil temperature in ZT and CT were found to be 30.2%, 27.5 °C and 28.7%, 29.4 °C, respectively. It is suggested that CA could possibly be an alternative production system for the fragile agro-ecology in the mid-hills of Nepal.

Response of Rice Establishment Methods on Different Dates on Yield and Yield Attributing Characteristics of Rice in Mid-hills of Nepal

An experiment was conducted in the summer season of 2019 and 2020 at the National Agronomy Research Centre to find out the response of various establishment methods and dates on the performance of rice. The experiment was carried out in 2 Factorial Randomized Complete Block (RCB) design with 3 replications in an area of 12 m2 and planting geometry of 25 cm between rows and 20 cm between plants. The establishment methods were Sprouted Direct Seeded Rice (SDSR) broadcasting, puddled transplanting, and unpuddled transplanting at three dates viz. 10th June, 26th June, and 10th July. Twenty four hours water-soaked seeds were allowed to sprouting for 48 hours and broadcasted in a puddled plot. 22 days old seedlings were transplanted in a puddled and unpuddled plots. Recommended doses of fertilizer @ 100:30:30 N:P2O5:K2O kg ha-1 was used in the experiment. SDSR produced the highest yield of 4.2 Mt ha-1 compared to puddled transplanting method with 3.4 Mt ha-1. The highest grain yield was recorded on 10th June (5.9 Mt ha-1) followed by 26th June (4.0 Mt ha-1). Sprouted direct seeded rice permitted to mature early and produced the higher grain yield.

Enhancing Zinc Biofortification of Wheat through Integration of Zinc, Compost, and Zinc-Solubilizing Bacteria

Zinc (Zn) deficiency is a fairly widespread agronomic constraint in many of the world’s cereal (wheat, rice, corn, barley, etc.) production regions. Zinc is an imperative micronutrient required for optimum plant growth and development. Low Zn availability in about 50% of global land has resulted in Zn deficiency in cereal grains. A two-year field experiment was conducted at the Agronomy Research Farm, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar, during Rabi season 2018–19 (Y1) and 2019–20 (Y2) to study the impact of Zn levels (0, 5, 10 and 15 kg Zn ha−1), compost types (control, composted sheep manure (SMC), composted poultry manure (PMC) and farmyard manure compost (FYMC), and Zn-solubilizing bacteria (ZnSB) (with (+) and without (-) on Zn biofortification in order to overcome Zn deficiency. The experiment was set up in three replications in a randomized complete block design. The wheat variety “Pirsabak-2013” was planted in a 30 cm row-to-row spacing. The plot size was kept at 9 cm2, with 10 rows plot−1, and the seed was sown at a rate of 100 kg ha−1. The results showed that ZnSB application increased ShZnC (shoot Zn concentration) to a maximum level of 29.3 mg kg−1, ShZnUp (shoot Zn uptake) to 176.0 g ha−1, SZnUp (straw Zn uptake) to 116.67 g ha−1, and TZnUp (total Zn uptake) to 230.3 g ha−1. In the case of compost types, PMC resulted in maximum grain Zn uptake (GZnUp) (28.9 mg kg−1), ShZnUp (192.9 g ha−1), GZnC (33.4 mg kg−1), GZnUp (125.06 g ha−1), SZnUp (125.26 g ha−1), and TZnUp (250.3 g ha−1). In the case of Zn levels, higher ShZnC (31.5 mg kg−1), ShZnUp (191.3 g ha−1), GZnC (34.4 mg kg−1), SZnC (23.5 mg kg−1), GZnUp (128.98 g ha−1), SZnUp (129.29 g ha−1), and TZnUp (258.3 g ha−1) were calculated with the use of the highest rate of 15 kg Zn ha−1, which was either statistically similar to or followed by 10 kg Zn ha−1. A strong positive correlation was found among uptake by different plant parts (ZnG, ZnS, ShZnUp, GZnUp, SZnUp, and TZnUp). It was concluded that the combined application of PMC and 10 kg Zn ha−1 along with ZnSB (+) improved Zn biofortification and uptake in wheat crop under Zn-deficient soils.