Higher Harvest Index Research Articles

The Contribution of the Flag Leaf and the Lower Parts of the Leaves and Inflorescence in the Production of Dry Matter and Composition Holds the Grain for Three Genotypes of Oats.


 
 
 
 Tow field experiments have been conducted, during winter season (2015 – 2016) at the agricultural experiments and researsh station (3 km sothern west Al-samawa) of the college of Agriculture – University of Al-Muthanna, Where it was ten inflorescences conduct transaction in the expulsion of 50% for each expermental unit stag and when reach this stage of transactions conducted a comparsion and removing flag leaf awn and remove the lower leaves and shading of inflorescence, to study the contribution of flag leaf, other leaves, parts of spike and tips in production of dry matter and composition of grain yield for wheat and oat crop. The experiment has been carried out by using the Split plot with R.C.B. desgin to three replications. Results show the control treatment gave high mean grain yield (5.402 g plant), biological yield (12.473 g plant) and harvest index (49.560 %). Removing of flag leaf, tip and other leaves treatments have led to lower of no. of grains per spike, weight of grain, grain yield, biological yield and percentage of protein. Shadowing of spike treatment has gaven decreasing in yield components and increasing to percentage of protein. Percentage of the contribution of flag leaf, other leaves, tips and spike (13.587 , 25.064 , 23.837 and 34.17) % respectively.
 
 
 

DOSIS PUPUK KANDANG DAN UMUR PANEN PADA PRODUKSI BABY KANGKUNG (IPOMOEA REPTANS)

<p align="left"><em>The research aims to assess the yield of baby kale that can be consumed almost all of the parts and generate organic manure free. Field research was conducted in Sindon Village, Ngemplak, Boyolali in September to October 2016. The research method uses Randomized Complete Block Design factorial with two factors, these are the dosage of manure and the age of harvest. Manure consisted of 4 doses O1 (0 ton/ha), O2 (6 tons/ha) and O3 (8 tons/ha) and O4 (10 tons/ha), and age of harvest consisted of P1 (16 DAS), P2 (20 DAS), and P3 (24 DAS). Variables observed were plant height, number of leaves, internode length, fresh weight, dry weight, leaf area index, and harvest index. The result showed that age of harvest has significant influence plant height, internode length, the number of leaves, leaf area index, fresh weight, dry weight, and harvest index. Manure doses only influence dry weight. Manure dosage of 8 ton/ha and harvest age of 16 DAS is the best combination of baby kale. Manure dosage of 10 ton/ha and harvest age of 16 DAS produce baby kale that can be consumed almost in all parts of the plant with the highest harvest index that is equal to 0.83.</em></p>

Harvest index is a critical factor influencing the grain yield of diverse wheat species under rain-fed conditions in the Mediterranean zone of southeastern Turkey and northern Syria

Environmental and plant factors critical to the grain yields of bread (Triticum aestivum L.), durum (T. durum L.) and emmer (T. dicoccum L.) wheat cultivars were investigated at two Mediterranean rain-fed field sites: Adana in southeastern Turkey (2009 and 2010) and Aleppo in northern Syria (2009). The grain yield (GY) and biological yield (BY) of most cultivars were higher in Adana than in Aleppo, and the lower GY in Aleppo resulted from lower harvest index (HI) and lower BY due to higher temperatures and lower rainfall. The variations in the HI among cultivars were greater in Adana than in Aleppo. The GY was closely related to the HI but not the BY across cultivars at each site, and a higher GY was accompanied by a superior conversion-efficiency of incident radiation during the grain filling period for grain yield [GY/Ra, where Ra is the cumulative radiation for 30 days after heading (D30)] across all observations. The GY/Ra correlated negatively with the average temperature for D30, and higher HI values resulted in higher GY/Ra. In Adana, the time from anthesis to physiological-maturity decreased as the average temperature for D30 increased, resulting in a lower HI. Cultivars exhibiting the early heading trait can effectively escape the negative impacts of terminal high-temperature and water-shortage conditions on the HI. The results suggested that the HI is a critical factor for GY across diverse wheat cultivars under terminal high-temperatures and water-shortages in Mediterranean areas, and the BY is also an important factor under severe water-limitation conditions.

Impact of live mulches, cover crops and herbicides on weeds and yield of direct-seeded rice

A field investigation was conducted during the rainy seasons of 2014 and 2015 at Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, to study the impact of live mulches, cover crops and herbicides on weeds and yield in direct-seeded rice (Oryza sativa L.). Sesbania cover crop followed by (fb) bispyribac Na 25 g/ha + azimsulfuron 30 g/ha at 15 DAS had lesser weed density and dry weight of grasses, sedges and broadleaved weeds than sunhemp cover crop fb bispyribac-Na 25 g/ha + azimsulfuron 30 g/ha at 15 DAS. Sesbania cover crop fb bispyribac-Na 25 g/ha + azimsulfuron 30 g/ha at 15 DAS had higher harvest index in comparison to sunhemp cover crop fb bispyribac-Na 25 g/ha + azimsulfuron 30 g/ha at 15 DAS. Sesbania cover crop fb bispyribac-Na 25 g/ha + azimsulfuron 30 g/ha at 15 DAS improved grain and straw yields with higher gross and net returns, and benefit: cost ratio as compared to sunhemp cover crop fb bispyribac-Na 25 g/ha + azimsulfuron 30 g/ha at 15 DAS.

GENETIC DIVERSITY OF RAPESEED (Brassica napus L.) GENOTYPES IN BANGLADESH

Genetic diversity in thirty eight traditional rapeseed genotypes was studied under favorable condition through Mahalanobis D2 statistic for yield and yield contributing characters. The genotypes were grouped into five clusters. The inter-cluster distances were higher than intracluster distances indicating wider genetic diversity among the clusters. The intra-cluster distances were lower in all the cases reflecting homogeneity of the genotypes within the clusters. Among the different cluster the genotypes of the cluster IV, III and I included were taller plant. The genotypes in the cluster III and IV had large size raceme. The genotypes in the cluster IV, III and V exhibited comparatively higher number of siliqua per raceme. Longer siliqua was noticed for the genotypes in the cluster III, IV and I. Higher number of seeds per siliqua noticed in clusters I, II and III. The genotypes of the cluster I and II produced bold size seed. The genotypes in the cluster V and I had high harvest index. The genotypes of the cluster III and I produced high seed yield per plant. Among the different cluster, the cluster III included the genotypes which had high yield, higher number of seeds per siliqua, longer siliqua, siliqua number per raceme and high plant height. Moreover these cluster displayed wide divergence with the genotypes of cluster V. The genotypes of the cluster V had the highest harvest index therefore selection of the parental material for crossing program for improvement of yield in rapeseed is suggested from these two clusters.

Accurate estimation of biomass production and partitioning efficiency in castor (Ricinus communis L.)

There is continuous leaf fall due to senescence from 35-60 days after sowing (DAS) till harvest depending on crop duration in castor which is not quantified in general for computation of total dry matter (TDM) and harvest index (HI). By calculating HI with the TDM at harvest of the plant which excludes senesced fallen leaf weight gives high HI values than actually are. In castor, major emphasisis on selecting genotypes with high partitioning efficiency which is shown by high HI. Hence, an experiment was conducted during 2013-15 for two years to devise suitable methodology for quantification ofsenesced fallen leaf while working out plant dry matter. Senesced fallen leaf was collected, quantified, factor for estimation of senesced leaf weight was developed using linear regression equation and model was validated. The equations derived for estimation of TDM and HI from senesced leaf include: TDM with senesced leaf weight = 1.217 * TDM without senesced leaf weight and HI with senesced leaf weight = 0.805* HI without senesced leaf weight. This factor can be used for accurate estimation of TDM at harvest and HI to enhance the quality of data for selection of genotypes with high partitioning efficiency.

Effect of variety and planting density on weed dynamics and yield performance of transplant Aman rice

The experiment was conducted at the Agronomy Field Laboratory, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh during Aman season from June to November 2016 to find out the effect of variety and planting density on weed dynamics and yield performance of transplant Aman rice. The experiment consisted of four varieties viz. Binadhan-7, BR25, BRRI dhan56 and BRRI dhan62 and four planting density viz. 25 cm × 15 cm, 25 cm × 10 cm, 20 cm × 15 cm and 20 cm × 10 cm. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Variety exerted significant effect on weed density and dry weight at different days after transplanting (DAT). The lowest weed density and dry weight were observed in BR25 and the highest ones were observed in Binadhan-7. Weed population was not significantly affected by planting density while weed dry weight was significantly affected and closer spacing produce the lowest weed dry weight. Yield and yield contributing characters of transplant Aman rice were significantly influenced by variety and planting density. BR25 showed produce the highest plant height (157.9 cm), panicle length (24.94 cm), grains panicle(103.10), sterile spikelets panicle−1 (29.36), grain yield (4.30 t ha−1) and straw yield (8.99 t ha−1) while BRRI dhan62 the highest number of total tillers hill−1 (14.75), effective tillers hill−1 (11.62), and non-effective tillers hill−1 (3.10). The highest 1000-grain weight (25.21g) was found in the variety Binadhan-7and the highest harvest index (53.50%) was obtained from BRRI dhan56. In case of planting density, the highest value of plant height (124.27 cm), total tillers hill−1 (13.53), effective tillers hill−1 (11.20), non-effective tillers hill−1 (2.32), panicle length (22.59 cm), grain yield (4.17 t ha−1) and straw yield (5.75 t ha−1) were obtained from 25 cm × 15 cm spacing. On the other hand, the highest number of grains panicle−1 (84.23) and harvest index (45.18 %) were obtained from 25 cm × 10 cm spacing, heaviest 1000-grain weight (23.83 g) from 20 cm × 15 cm spacing. Experimental results indicated that BR25 grown under 25 cm × 15 cm planting density appeared to be the best in order to get maximum grain yield as well as reducing weed infestation.J. Bangladesh Agril. Univ. 15(2): 167-173, December 2017

Different mechanisms underlying the yield advantage of ordinary hybrid and super hybrid rice over inbred rice under low and moderate N input conditions

The adoption of ordinary hybrid rice and super hybrid rice significantly increased the grain yield under non-limited nitrogen (N) fertilizer condition, however, the information on direct comparison of grain yield and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) among the high-yielding super hybrid, ordinary hybrid, and inbred rice under low and moderate N rates is limited. Therefore, field experiments with two representative cultivars of each these types were conducted under N0 (0kgNha−1) and N90 (90kgNha−1) treatments in 2014 and 2015 in Wuxue County, Hubei Province, China. Grain yield of the super hybrid rice was higher than that of the inbred rice by 3.33-7.41% at N0 and 5.94-10.87% at N90. Similarly, the ordinary hybrid rice outyielded the inbred rice by 4.53-6.17% and 4.35-4.69% at N0 and N90, respectively. The yield advantage of the ordinary hybrid rice over the inbred rice was mainly due to higher aboveground total dry weight (TDW), while for the super hybrid rice, higher grain yield was mainly attributed to higher harvest index (HI) at N0, and both high HI and TDW at N90. Larger leaf area index (LAI) at heading stage and higher crop growth rate (CGR) contributed to higher TDW of the ordinary hybrid rice. Total N uptake at maturity was consistently higher in the ordinary hybrid rice, while the super hybrid rice had significantly higher nitrogen use efficiency for grain production (NUEg) than the inbred rice, which was associated with higher N harvest index (NHI) and lower leaf N concentration of the super hybrid rice. In conclusion, it was found that the super and ordinary hybrid rice exhibited higher yield over the inbred rice at low and moderate N rates, but the physiological mechanisms underlying the yield advantage were different.

Impact of Plant Arrangement and Density on Yield and its Components of Two Faba Bean Cultivars (Vicia faba L.).

In order to study the effect of plant arrangement (2 plants hill-1 on one side and plant hill-1 on two side of ridge) and hill spacing (15, 30 and 45 cm between hills) on seed yield and its components of two faba bean cultivars (Sakha 1 and Giza 843), an experiment was conducted in two growing seasons 2013/14 and 2014/15 winter seasons, in the farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, kafrelshiekh university, kafre-Elshiekh Governorate, Egypt. A split-split plot with four replications was used. The main plots were assigned to cultivars, the sub plots to plant arrangements and the sub-sub plots to hill spacing. The data collected were: plant height, number of branches/plant, number of pods/plant, number of seeds/pod, 100 seed weight, seed yield and harvest index. Results indicated that, the cultivar Sakha 1 was superior to Giza 843 on plant height, number of branches/plant, number of pods/plant, Seeds/pod, seed weight/plant, 100-seed weight, seed yield and harvest index % .Plants arranged on one side of ridge recorded taller height and higher harvest index than those arranged on two sides of ridges. The inverse was true in the other characters. The increases in plant density by narrowing the distance between hills resulted in significant decrease in number of pods/plant, number of seeds/pod, seed weight/plant, 100-seed weight and seed yield. However, plant height was increased by increasing plant density. Seed yield was significantly increased by increasing hill space from 15 to 30 cm. It can be concluded that sowing the faba bean cultivar ''Sakha 1'' on two sides of ridges 60 cm apart at 30 cm space between hills is the recommended treatment for optimum seed yield in Kafre El-Sheikh area.

Stability of a winter wheat population with high yield and high resource use efficiency

Using the winter wheat cultivar Tainong 18 as the experimental material, we analyzed yield stability from 2012 to 2016 under three different treatments: T1(following typical local field management practices), T2(high-yield: high nitrogen and water were supplied to foster high grain yield), and T3(high-yield, high-efficiency: optimized field management including increasing plant density, reducing nitrogen input and delaying of the sowing date). Yield related phenotypic traits, including the number of ears on the main stem and tillers, leaf area index (LAI), photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) interception, dry matter accumulation and distribution, as well as grain yield, were analyzed over four seasons to determine their relationships with annual radiation, accumulated temperature and precipitation. We then determined grain yield stability for each of the three treatments. The amount and distribution of radiation, accumulated temperature, and precipitation varied greatly within each season. The ears on the main stem represented 38.9%, 58.7%, and 66.9% of the total ears, respectively, for wheat grown in the T1, T2 and T3 treatments, indicating that T1 ears originated mainly from the tillers, T2 ears from both the main stem and the tillers, and T3 ears from the main stem. The T2 and T1 treatments produced the highest and lowest amount of dry matter and grain yield, respectively. Although having relatively lower dry matter accumulation at maturity compared with T2, T3 led to higher grain yield due to high LAI, high PAR interception and utilization, high net canopy photosynthetic rate from booting (especially from 14 days after anthesis) to maturity and a higher harvest index. Among the three treatments, T3 resulted in the lowest annual range, standard deviation, and coefficient of variation for LAI, PAR interception, and dry matter accumulation. Thus, grain yield was most stable in wheat grown in the T3 treatment mainly due to stability in biological production during all four seasons.

Cereal progenitors differ in stand harvest characteristics from related wild grasses.

The domestication of crops in the Fertile Crescent began approximately 10,000 years ago indicating a change from a hunter‐gatherer lifestyle to a sedentary, agriculture‐based existence. The exploitation of wild plants changed during this transition, such that a small number of crops were domesticated from the broader range of species gathered from the wild. However, the reasons for this change are unclear.Previous studies have shown unexpectedly that crop progenitors are not consistently higher yielding than related wild grass species, when growing without competition. In this study, we replicate more closely natural competition within wild stands, using two greenhouse experiments to investigate whether cereal progenitors exhibit a greater seed yield per unit area than related wild species that were not domesticated.Stands of cereal progenitors do not provide a greater total seed yield per unit ground area than related wild species, but these crop progenitors do have greater reproductive efficiency than closely related wild species, with nearly twice the harvest index (the ratio of harvested seeds to total shoot dry mass).These differences arise because the progenitors have greater seed yield per tiller than closely related wild species, due to larger individual seed size but no reduction in seed number per tiller. The harvest characteristics of cereal progenitors may have made them a more attractive prospect than closely related wild species for the early cultivators who first planted these species, or could suggest an ecological filtering mechanism. Synthesis. Overall, we show that the maintenance of a high harvest index under competition, the packaging of seed in large tillers, and large seeds, consistently distinguish crop progenitors from closely related wild grass species. However, the archaeological significance of these findings remains unclear, since a number of more distantly related species, including wild oats, have an equally high or higher harvest index and yield than some of the progenitor species. Domestication of the earliest cereal crops from the pool of wild species available cannot therefore be explained solely by species differences in yield and harvest characteristics, and must also consider other plant traits.

Maize harvest index and water use efficiency can be improved by inhibition of gibberellin biosynthesis

AbstractPossibilities to improve maize harvest index and nutrient utilization efficiency by application of plant growth regulators were investigated. In container experiments, the effects of different growth regulators on the development of the maize (Zea mays L.) cultivars Pioneer 3906 and Fabregas were tested. Paclobutrazol (PAC) and chlorocholine chloride (CCC), two inhibitors of gibberellin biosynthesis, as well as gibberellic acid (GA3) were applied at growth stage V5. Three weeks after application of PAC, shoot growth of both maize cultivars was strongly affected with a significant decrease in plant height in the PAC treatment by 44% and 36% for Pioneer 3906 and Fabregas, respectively. The growth‐retarded plants had higher leaf areas and reduced transpiration rates. The higher shoot growth after GA3 application was accompanied by a reduction in leaf area and an increase in transpiration rate during 1 week before anthesis. CCC treatment showed no significant effects on plant height, leaf area and transpiration rate. The PAC‐treated cultivar Pioneer 3906 produced several cobs per plant, which were mainly barren at maturity. However, PAC application to Fabregas resulted in just one cob per plant with good kernel development and a grain yield, which was not significantly reduced in comparison with the control. With this similar grain yield in combination with a straw yield decrease of 32%, the harvest index was significantly improved by 12%. In addition, with PAC‐treated Fabregas plants, a 19% increased water use efficiency of the grain (WUEgrain) during the critical period of kernel setting was achieved. In this maize cultivar, CCC application also improved harvest index by 5%, but no effect on WUEgrain occurred. GA3 treatment decreased harvest index of both maize cultivars, and it either reduced WUEgrain (Pioneer 3906) or showed no effect (Fabregas). Utilization efficiencies of N, P and K were not increased with growth regulator application, even in the PAC‐treated Fabregas plants with a significantly improved allocation of assimilates to the grain, mirrored by the higher harvest index. The results indicate that fertilizer applications must be adjusted to the reduced demand of growth‐retarded plants, most likely leading to higher nutrient utilization efficiencies.

The effects of plastic-film mulch on the grain yield and root biomass of maize vary with cultivar in a cold semiarid environment

Plastic-film mulch is an agricultural technology widely used for maize (Zea mays L.) production in northern China, but the effects of the interaction between cultivar and plastic-film mulch on the grain yield and biomass production have not been studied. Five maize hybrids, Jinsui 4; Jixiang 1; Pingyu 8; Xianyu 335 and Yuyuan 5, were assessed in 2014 and 2015 in plastic-film mulched and non-mulched ridge-furrow plots in a cold semiarid environment. In 2014, the grain yield of the five cultivars varied from 685 to 898gm−2 with no mulch, and from 966 to 1228gm−2 under mulch. In 2015 (drier and warmer than in 2014), the grain yield varied from 179 to 353gm−2 without mulch, and from 548 to 1021gm−2 with mulch. By incorporating the variation in grain yield over cultivars, mulch treatments and cropping years, Jixiang 1 was the highest yielding cultivar: in 2014 the grain yield reached 898gm−2 under no mulch, compared to 1228gm−2 under mulch, while in 2015 the grain yield was 329gm−2 under no mulch compared to 1021gm−2 under mulch. Cultivar and mulch independently affected the aboveground biomass and harvest index of maize. Jixiang 1 attained high yields as a result of average aboveground biomass, but high harvest index. Differences in maize water use efficiency (grain yield per unit of evapotranspiration) as affected by mulch and cultivar paralleled those of grain yield due to minor effects of mulch and cultivar on growing-season evapotranspiration. The effects of plastic-film mulch on maize root biomass in the upper 0.6m soil profile and root/shoot ratio varied with cultivar. Averaging years and mulch treatments, Jixiang 1 had the smallest root biomass in the upper 0.6m soil layer and Jixiang 1 and Jinsui 4 had smaller root/shoot ratios than the other three cultivars. We conclude that the effects of plastic-film mulch on the grain yield, root biomass and root/shoot ratio varied significantly with cultivar. A moderate aboveground biomass and high harvest index may give satisfactory grain yield in plastic-film mulched or non-mulched fields in hydrothermally-limited areas. A wide variation of root/shoot ratio with maize cultivar and cropping year indicated that using a fixed root/shoot ratio to estimate the root carbon input to the soil would induce large uncertainty.

Determinants of yield and quality in winter rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) under Mediterranean conditions

SUMMARYWinter rapeseed was introduced into Greece a decade ago to provide oil for biodiesel. To identify agronomic traits affecting yield and quality, three hybrids and an inbred line were tested over two seasons (2005–2006 and 2006–2007) and four locations, in central and northern Greece, varying in pedo-climatic conditions. The large variations in seed yield, quality and agronomic traits were largely ascribed to location; in contrast, cultivar accounted for ⩽0·010 of the variation for many traits. Below 40°N, rapeseed is a risky crop; short season, high temperatures and low rainfall during reproductive growth diminished seed yield and oil content, increased oleic and erucic acid and minimized linolenic acid. A hybrid, Exact, with tall stature and large seeds was adaptive to such conditions. The most productive location had dense stands with tall plants bearing numerous pods on the main raceme. At the site with the coldest winter, plant density (PD) was lowest (ca. 30 plants/m2) but rapeseed compensated by producing large seeds, with high oil content and harvest index (HI). A biplot revealed that the hybrid Excalibur, outperforming the other cultivars for oil content in six out of eight trials, produced the highest and most stable oil yield. Combined data showed that seed yield and oil yield were positively correlated with PD, seed size and HI and negatively to the number of pods on branches and per plant. Large seeds had high seed oil content. Oleic acid was negatively correlated to linolenic acid concentration. High temperatures and low rainfall favoured oleic acid, which was positively associated with seed number per pod.

Selection of drought tolerant and sensitive genotypes from wheat DH population

Drought has significant effect on wheat production by decreasing grain yield. Phenotyping the populations is a useful tool for understanding the interactions between phenotype and genotype. 135 doubled haploid (DH) genotypes and their parental varieties Plainsman (Pl) and Cappelle Desprez (CD) were phenotyped in glasshouse under well-watered (WW) and drought-stress (DS) conditions. The response of plant height, heading time, aboveground biomass, grain yield, root dry mass harvest index (HI) under both conditions, and stress tolerance index (STI) and water consumption in WW conditions was studied. We found 20% decrease in the plant growth, 66% decrease in the aboveground biomass, and 77% decrease in the grain yield. Under WW conditions, high water consumption was not related to high yields, STI, and HI. The tolerant and the sensitive genotypes were selected. In the WW and water consumption treatment, the sensitive genotype group had better grain yield performance, but under DS, the tolerant group had higher grain yield. The average yield loss was 59% in the tolerant group compared to the WW treatment, and the sensitive yield loss was 68%. Correlation was found between the grain yield and root dry mass in the tolerant group. There was significant difference between the tolerant and sensitive groups on water consumption, as the sensitive genotypes had higher water need. We found strong positive correlation between the water consumption and the grain yield in the tolerant group. This study showed that the tolerant genotypes had improved water regulating efficiency.

Variability for harvest index and biomass in lentil (Lens culinaris Medik) varieties

Lentil is an important cool season food legume of our nation and positions next just to chickpea. Pulses are generally known to produce higher vegetative part and less grain yield, consequently poor harvest index. Lentil is no exception to this, and produces excess vegetative growth and support lesser grains. Therefore, in present investigation attempt has been made to screen 36 lentil varieties for biomass and harvest index in macro-sperma and micro-sperma types. Ample amount of variability were recorded for both harvest index and biomass. 37.78-62.96 per cent and 3.38 g to 40.94 gm range was noticed for harvest index and biomass, respectively. At the end of present investigation, three lentil varieties viz. L 4147, IPL 406 and PL 234 were identified as high biomass and high harvest index varieties. These varieties may be used as an agronomic base in the future lentil improvement programme for evolving high yielding varieties.

Evaluation of Performance of Induced Mutants In Mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek

To enhance genetic variation for desirable traits, the present study on mutation breeding in mungbean crop was initiated with two varieties K-851 and Sona mung, both treated with four doses of gamma rays (100, 200, 300 and 400 Gy). The gamma ray has been widely used for the improvement of various traits of crops, Songsri et al. (2011) and Aney (2013). Mutations could be induced through physical and chemical mutagens, Ahloowalia et al. (2004), Chopra (2005), Jain (2005) and Sangsiri (2005). Auti. (2012) reported that induced mutation in mungbean plays an important role in creating genetic variability, he also stated that high yielding varieties in mungbean is possible by the exploitation of mutation breeding. For yield and its attributing traits, selection was practiced on the basis of the traits showing high positive correlation with primary trait like yield per plant. In Cv. Sona mung, number of branches per plant, clusters per plant, pod per plant, pod per cluster had shown significant positive effect whereas, plant height, number of branches per plant, pod per plant and 100 seed weight showed significant positive effect in Cv. K-851. Coefficient of variation for most of the traits was successively reduced in advanced generations indicating attainment of uniformity within families in the advance generations. Four high yielding mutant families accompanied by high harvest index were identified in M7 generation from 200 and 400 Gy of Sona mung and 200 and 300 Gy of K-851 and families from 200 Gy also showed synchronous maturity for about 80 percent pods. Some of the high yielding families from 300 Gy of K-851 had reduced test weight, thus providing scope for development of high yielding small seeded varieties in mungbean.

Assessment of the effect of landfill leachate irrigation of different doses on wheat plant growth and harvest index: A laboratory simulation study

The aim of this study was to assess the suitability of landfill leachate irrigation for wheat plant (Triticum aestivum) by evaluating the trace element accumulation, plant growth (shoot length, root length, number of leaves), and harvest index at different leachate dose rate soil. For the laboratory simulated irrigation, leachate sample was collected from the Ghazipur landfill site, Delhi which has an area of 30ha and a dumping quantity of 2800 tons per day (TPD) of solid waste. The three treatment groups: control soil (C), fertilizer treated soil (C-F) and leachate treated soil with different concentration: C-L1 (50ml), C-L2 (150ml), C-L3 (300ml), C-L4 (450ml) and C-L5 (600ml) were used for this experiment to assess the wheat plant growth under various treatments. Leachate irrigation on soil modified the physicochemical properties of soil by increasing the pH, EC (electrical conductivity), organic content, exchangeable nutrients, available phosphorous (Avail. PO4), total nitrogen (TN) and trace elements. Trace elements concentrations in soil and wheat grain were below the Indian permissible limit under various treatments. Growth parameters of wheat plant showed positive response at all leachate dose rate soil and fertilizer treated soil as compared to control soil. The highest harvest index (HI) found in 450ml leachate dose rate soil (C-L4) due to higher number of grains suggests that leachate can be used as fertilizer. In order to estimate the potential health risk from trace elements by consuming wheat grain, hazard quotient and hazard index have been calculated. It has been observed that trace element risk was not noticeable except 600ml leachate irrigated soil (C-L5). The study recommends that the optimum dose of leachate can be used as a fertilizer.

Response of Wheat Cultivars in Different Agricultural Practices Differed by Sowing Date

A field experiment with three wheat varieties at different sowing dates on two crop establishment methods was accomplished to identify the optimum sowing date at AFU Rampur during winter season of 2014/2015. Three wheat varieties namely: Tillotama, Danfe and Vijay sown on three dates: 14th November, 29th November, and 14th December under two crop establishment practices: Conservational and conventional agriculture were evaluated with strip –split plot design in three replications. The field data onyield attributes and yields were collected. Earlier sowing on 14th November gave the highest yield (3427.15 kg ha-1), total dry matter (8154.44 kg ha-1), with longest days to crop maturation (133.11 days). In case of varieties, Vijay gave the highest grain yield (3458.61 kg ha-1) and total dry weight (4456.11 and 8832.42 kg ha-1 respectively) with earliest days to heading and maturity. The straw yield was the highest for 29th November sowing (5821 kg ha-1) and for Danfe variety (5756 kg ha-1). Vijay variety recorded the highest test weight (43.60 g) and highest harvest index (35.89%) even though with the lowest effective tillers per square meter (320.83), it proved to be the most promising variety. Int. J. Appl. Sci. Biotechnol. Vol 5(2): 250-255

Tillage and Nitrogen Fertilization Impact on Irrigated Corn Yields, and Soil Chemical and Physical Properties Under Semiarid Climate

study evaluated the effects of tillage (deep tillage (DT), conventional tillage (CT), minimum tillage (MT) and no-till (NT)), and nitrogen (N) rates (0 (N0), 200 (N200), 250 (N250), and 300 (N300) kg ha-1) on: i) corn growth and yields, ii) some soil chemical properties (total soil carbon, nitrogen, and available nutrient stocks), and iii) selected soil physical properties (bulk density, total porosity, and infiltration) under semiarid climate. Total carbon (Corg), total nitrogen (TN), nitrate, available phosphorus (AP), exchangeable potassium (K), bulk density (ρb), penetration resistance (PR) and soil infiltration rates were measured. No-till had significantly higher Corg (9%) but lower TN (5%) as compared to CT. Deep tillage decreased ρb (2 to 5%) and PR (35 to 60%) compared to other tillage practices. The highest level of N had higher Corg (20%), TN (30%) and nitrate (35%) compared to the control treatment. The Highest N rate under DT has higher harvest index than those of CT, MT, and NT treatments. The nitrogen rate of 240 kg ha-1 produced near maximum yields (~90%) in DT and CT than the 260 kg ha-1 N – MT treatment and the 270 kg ha-1 N-NT treatment.