National Agricultural Research Center Research Articles

Participatory sorghum varietal evaluation and selection in Pakistan

A number of improved pipeline varieties of sorghum including PARC SS-1, PARC SS-2 and PARC Ss-15 were planted in various agro-ecological zones of Pakistan for 2 years (2004 and 2005). The participatory Mother-Baby Trial methodology was used for the first time in Pakistan for varietal evaluation and selection. Six varieties of sorghum were evaluated along with the local checks. In general, the pipeline varieties developed at the National Agricultural Research Centre had a yield advantage of 15 to 20% over the local checks and other improved varieties included in the trial. The farmers were involved in the varietal selection process. These varieties were selected by the farmers on the basis of maturity, higher yield, resistance to leaf blight and red rot diseases, drought tolerance, and the dual (grain cum fodder) nature of the varieties. Based on the evaluation and selection, these varieties are being released for general cultivation in various ecologies. The results from participatory trials on various agronomic aspects are presented and discussed in this paper.

Temperature Trends at the National Agricultural Research Center for Hokkaido Region in the 40 Years from 1966 to 2005

We examined 40-year temperature records maintained by the National Agricultural Research Center for Hokkaido Region (NARCH) in Sapporo, and compared them to temperature records from meteorological observatories of the Japan Meteorological Agency at Suttsu, Abashiri, and Nemuro, which are used to monitor global warming. The urbanization effect at NARCH was small. The rate of temperature increase (RTI) recorded at NARCH was less than 39% of the RTI recorded at the three JMA observatories over the 40 years covered by this study, which suggests that the RTI in rural agricultural areas unaffected by urbanization is less than the RTI estimated from temperature records from the JMA observatories.

Evaluation of integrated weed management practices for chilies in Pakistan

Weed management studies in transplanted chilies were conducted during 2004 and 2005 at the National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad, Pakistan. Pendimethalin and oxadiazon at 0.825 and 0.240l a.i.ha−1, respectively were applied 1 week before and 2 days after transplanting and their efficacy alone and in combination with one manual weeding was evaluated to reduce weed competition and its effects on fruit yield. Compared to weed free condition, weed crop competition caused 301% and 464% reduction in the fruit yield during the first and second year, respectively. Cyprus rotundus (43%) and Dactyloctenium aegyptium (22%), Chenopodium album and Lamium amplexicaule (9%) were the dominant weeds recorded in the field. Oxadiazon one week before transplanting in combination with one hand weeding at 45 DAT was found more effective in enhancing fruit yield and recorded the highest net returns than other treatments. The net returns obtained in this treatment were 194% and 350% higher than weedy check while 3.6% and 3.0% higher than weed free treatment during the first and second year, respectively.

Soil Solarization: A Safe, Affective and Practicable Technique for the Control of Soil Born Fungi and Nematodes

A technique i.e., Soil Solarization and Amendments (neem, chicken farmyard manure, farmyard manure and biokhad viz synthetic bio fertilizer), towards the natural cropping system has been evaluated for its effectiveness and practicability at the National Agricultural Research Center Islamabad Pakistan. Soil solarization and amendments were analyzed as a control measure against soil born fungi and nematodes. Eight weeks of solarization resulted in about 11 degrees C increase in the soil temperature. This increase in soil temperature caused a reduction of about 70 to 80% in the fungal population and about 99% in nematode population at various depths. Neem and Biokhad amendments were proved synergistic for solarization and also improved the properties of soil in the benefit of crop plants. Fusarium sp., Macrophomina phyaseolina and Verticillium sp. of fungi and Tylenchus sp., Haplolaimus sp., Xiphenema sp. and almost all of the parasitic nematodes were significantly (p<0.01) controlled. It was found that even after 40 days the solarized plots contain significantly less number of fungi and nematodes as compared to the nonsolarized plots, which confirmed the durability of this process.

Integrated weed management practices in garlic crop in Pakistan

Weed management studies in garlic crop were conducted during 2000–2001 and 2002–2003 at the National Agricultural Research Center, Islamabad Pakistan. During first year, pendimethalin was sprayed at 0.80 l a.i. ha −1 pre emergence 2 days after first irrigation in moist condition followed by different mechanical weeding regimes. During second year, pendimethalin, oxadiazon, glyphosate, and metribuzin were sprayed at 0.80 l, 0.25 l, 0.6 l, and 0.45 kg a.i. ha −1, respectively, pre emergence 2 days after first irrigation in moist conditions followed by one hoeing at 80 days after herbicide application. Herbicide treatments were compared with weed free and weedy check. The most dominant weed species were Phalaris minor, Cronopus didymus, Medicago denticulata, and Rumex dentatus. All herbicide treatments followed by hoeing except metribuzin gave bulb yield at par with weed free treatment. Metribuzin resulted in minimum bulb yield (0.59 t ha −1) because of its extreme phytotoxicity to garlic crop, which resulted in the survival of a few plants. Pendimethalin in combination with manual hoeing gave the highest bulb yield and monetary returns.

Response of Spinach and Komatsuna to Biogas Effluent Made from Source‐Separated Kitchen Garbage

Recycling of kitchen garbage is an urgent task for reducing public spending and environmental burdens by incineration and/or landfill. There is an interesting regional effort in Ogawa, Saitama prefecture, Japan, in which source-separated kitchen garbage is anaerobically fermented with a biogas plant and the resultant effluent is used as a quick-release organic fertilizer by surrounding farmers. However, scientific assessments of fertilizer values and risks in the use of the effluent were lacking. Thus, a field experiment was conducted from 2003 to 2004 in Tohoku National Agricultural Research Center to grow spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) and komatsuna (Brassica rapa var. perviridis L. H. Bailey) for evaluating the fertilizer value of the kitchen garbage effluent (KGE), nitrate, coliform group (CG), Escherichia coli, fecal streptococci (FS), and Vibrio parahaemolyticus concentrations of KGE and in the soil and the plant leaves. A cattle manure effluent (CME) and chemical fertilizers (NPK) were used as controls. Total nitrogen (N) and ammonium N concentrations of the KGE were 1.47 and 1.46 g kg(-1), respectively. The bacteria tested were detected in both biogas effluents in the order of 2 to 3 log CFU g(-1), but there was little evidence that the biogas effluents increased these bacteria in the soil and the plant leaves. At the rate of 22 g N m(-2), yield, total N uptake, apparent N recovery rate, and leaf nitrate ion concentration at harvest of spinach and komatsuna in the KGE plot were mostly comparable to those in the NPK and CME plots. We conclude that the KGE is a quick-release N fertilizer comparable to chemical fertilizers and does not cause contamination of CG, E. coli, FS, or V. parahaemolyticus in the soil and spinach and komatsuna leaves.

Nitrogen application method for improving yield and protein content of “Kitanokaori”, a new variety of winter wheat for bread use in Hokkaido

(Jpn. J. Soil Sci.Plant Nutr., 77, 273–281, 2006) “Kitanokaori” is a new variety of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) for bread use bred at the National Agricultural Research Center for Hokkaido Region. The grain protein content of wheat for bread use should be higher than 120 g kg−1. Much nitrogen application is necessary to obtain high grain protein content. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the optimum amount of nitrogen to obtain the required protein content and to prevent nitrogen from remaining in the soil. Field experiments were conducted for four years from sowing in 2000 to study the effect of the amount of nitrogen and the time of top-dressing. In the experiment in which sowing was carried out in 2003, nitrogen treatments were 40, 40–60, 40–60–0–60, 40–60–0–60–30, 40–60–0–60–60, 40–60–60–60, 40–60–60–60–30, 40–60–60–60–60, 40–60–30–30, 40–60–30–30–30 and 40–60–30–30–60 (each value showing the amount of applied nitrogen at sowing · re-growing stage · panicle formation stage · flag leaf stage · full heading stage, kg ha−1). The experiments were conducted in Andosol, which has moderate nitrogen fertility, and in Histosol, which is fertile soil. Kitanokaori did not lodge with high-applied nitrogen, and both yield and protein content increased with an increase in applied nitrogen. In a moderate climate, Kitanokaori reached a protein content of 120 g kg−1 when the amount of absorbed nitrogen was about 190 kg ha−1, and the yield was about 7·8 Mg ha−1 at that time. The top-dressing at the panicle formation stage was effective to raise the yield and the top-dressing at the full heading stage was effective to raise the grain protein content. It is recommended that the amount of applied nitrogen should be 160 kg ha−1 until the flag leaf stage, and additional nitrogen should be applied at the full heading stage to obtain a grain protein content of more than 120 g kg−1. Nutritional diagnosis at the full heading stage will be necessary to determine whether more nitrogen is needed to achieve the required protein content. When the amount of total applied nitrogen did not exceed 220 kg ha−1, the amount of absorbed nitrogen was over 90% of applied nitrogen, and there was little inorganic nitrogen in the soil after harvest. Therefore, it was considered that the residue of nitrogen in the soil was small within 220 kg ha−1 of nitrogen application, while favorable growth and high yield were obtained.

Leaf color diagnosis and nitrogen management for winter wheat “Kitanokaori” in Hokkaido

(Jpn. J. Soil Sci.Plant Nutr., 77, 293–298, 2006) “Kitanokaori” is a new variety of wheat for bread use bred at the National Agricultural Research Center for Hokkaido Region. The grain protein content of wheat for bread use should be higher than 120 g kg−1. Much nitrogen application is necessary to obtain high grain protein content. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the optimum amount of nitrogen to obtain the required protein content and to prevent nitrogen from remaining in the soil. The nutrition diagnosis using leaf color was investigated to predict the need and the amount of top-dressing. Field experiments were conducted for four years with nitrogen treatments in Andosol, which has moderate nitrogen fertility, and in Histosol, which is a fertile soil. The leaf color was measured using a chlorophyll meter SPAD502 (CM value) at the middle part of the leaf, avoiding the center rib. The colors of the 10·15 uppermost second leaves were measured in one plot and averaged. A close relation was found between leaf color at the full heading stage and grain protein content at harvest. Leaf color at the full heading stage is therefore a good index to control the protein content. Considering the effect of top-dressing at the full heading stage in each CM value, the diagnosis criterion was decided. When the CM value is over 52 at the full heading stage, more nitrogen application is not needed. When the CM value is 50·52, 30 kg N ha−1 of top-dressing at the full heading stage is needed, and when the CM value is 45·50, 60 kg N ha−1 of top-dressing is needed to obtain a grain protein content of more than 120 g kg−1.

Utilization of Diverse Germplasm for Soybean Yield Improvement

Seventeen soybean varieties were evaluated for yield components at National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad during July to October 2002. Data were recorded for traits viz. leaf area, chlorophyll content, 1st pod height, days to 50% flowering, days to flowering completion, days to pod initiation, days to 50% maturity, plant height, number of pods per plant, number of branches per plant, number of unfilled pods, number of shattered pods, 100 seed weight, grain yield, oil content, protein content. Data were analyzed for analysis of variance, heritability, correlation coefficient and path analysis. Results of analysis of variance revealed that there were highly significant differences among genotypes for all the characters. High heritability was recorded in 100 grain weight, days to maturity, days to flowering completion, days to pod initiation, leaf area, days to 50% flowering, oil contents, no. of shattered pods/plants and grain yield/plant, plant height and protein contents respectively indicating the additive type of gene action. On the basis of heritability selection for these traits will provide greatest improvement in soybean. Correlation coefficient of yield was significant and positive with leaf area, pods per plant and oil contents. Therefore, increase in these traits will ultimately increase the grain yield. Path coefficient analysis revealed that days to pod initiation had maximum direct contribution to yield followed. Therefore, it is suggested that this characters can be considered as selection criteria in improving the bean yield of soybean genotypes

Effect of drip fertigation system on nitrate control in spinach Spinacea oleracea L.

(pp. 9–16) Nitrate is a major form of uptake and storage of nitrogen for upland plants. However, nitrate is harmful to human health · ingestion of a large quantity can lead to cancer or methemoglobinemia. The effectiveness of drip fertigation for reducing nitrate in spinach was investigated in this study. Fertilizer application can be controlled effectively by drip fertigation. Field experiments were conducted in September 2002 and June 2003 at the National Agricultural Research Center for Hokkaido Region. Two spinach cultivars were grown in each cultivation in a plastic greenhouse, and the plants were treated with 4, 8 or 12 g N m−2 of fertilizer applied by drip fertigation, and with 8, 12 or 16 g N m−2 of fertilizer applied as basal application. The nitrogen was applied at the rate of 0.15 g m−2 per day for the first 15 days, and 0.25 g m−2 for the following 23 days in 8 g N m−2 treatment of drip fertigation. The rate of growth and nitrogen absorption of spinach in the early growth stages was very slow, but they increased quickly from around day 23 after sowing. The amount of nitrogen absorbed by spinach was close to the amount applied in 8 g N m−2 treatment. This treatment resulted in spinach with a low nitrate concentration without reduction in yield. Although the same results were obtained by treatment with 8 g N m−2 of fertilizer by basal application, there was a tendency for nitrate concentration to fall further with drip fertigation. The rate of nitrate-nitrogen to total-nitrogen rose sharply when the total-nitrogen concentration was higher than 42 g kg−1 DW in leaf blade and 18 g kg−1 DW in leaf petiole. The total-nitrogen concentration was lowered a little and for that reason the rate of nitrate-nitrogen to total-nitrogen was lower in spinach treated with 8 g N m−2 of drip fertigation than in spinach treated with 8 g N m−2 of basal application. Thus, drip fertigation was considered to reduce nitrate more stably.

Evaluation of integrated weed management practices for onion in Pakistan

Weed management studies in transplanted onion were conducted during 2004 and 2005 at the National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad, Pakistan. Pendimethalin and oxadiazon were applied post-emergence 2 days and 4 week after transplanting and their efficacy alone and in combination with one manual weeding was evaluated to reduce weed competition and its effects on marketable bulb yield. Hand weeded and weedy check were included. Compared to weed free condition, weed crop competition caused 71% and 76% reduction in the marketable bulb yield during the first and second year, respectively. Cyprus rotundus (41%) and Coronopus didymus (19%) were the dominant weeds recorded in the field. Both pendimethalin and oxadiazon when applied 2 DAT in combination with one weeding at 60 DAT were found more effective in enhancing marketable bulb yield and recorded higher net returns than other treatments.

NUTRITIONAL VALUE AND PHYSIOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS OF SWEETPOTATO LEAVES

Recently a new sweetpotato cultivar, 'Suioh', was developed by the National Agricultural Research Center for Kyushu Okinawa Region, Japan for utilization as a leafy vegetable. Characteristics of 'Suioh' cultivar include good taste and much higher contents of calcium and vitamin K than spinach. Sweetpotato leaves contain a high content of polyphenolics in comparison with 12 kinds of the major commercial vegetables. The polyphenolics were composed of caffeic acid (CA) and five kinds of caffeoylquinic acid derivatives, 3-mono-O-caffeoylquinic acid (chlorogenic acid, ChA), 3,4-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid (3,4-diCQA), 3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid (3,5-diCQA), 4,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid (4,5-diCQA), and 3,4,5-tri-O-caffeoylquinic acid (3,4,5-triCQA). These polyphenolics showed various kinds of physiological functions, radical scavenging activity, anti-mutagenic activity, anti-cancer, anti-diabetes, and anti-bacterial activity in vitro or in vivo which may be helpful for maintaining and promoting human health. The physiological function of caffeoylquinic acid (CQA) derivatives with plural caffeoyl group is more effective than with a monocaffeoyl one. Furthermore, commercial products with these physiological functions have been developed from sweetpotato leaves in Japan.

The third Canadian workshop on fusarium head blight, Winnipeg, Manitoba, 2003 / Troisième colloque canadien sur la fusariose, Winnipeg, Manitoba, 2003

The third Canadian workshop on fusarium head blight, Winnipeg, Manitoba, 2003 / Troisième colloque canadien sur la fusariose, Winnipeg, Manitoba, 2003

Augmentation of natural enemies for pest control in protected culture

Eizi Yano (National Agricultural Research Center, Japan) summarize current status of implementation and research about augmentative biological pest control in protected culture in Japan.

Effects of Rates of Inorganic and Organic Fertilisers on Desmodium uncinatum Nodulation, Dry Matter and Seed Yields on Phosphorus and Nitrogen Deficient Soils

Forage legumes are important in the smallholder farming system since they increase the quality of livestock feeds and soil fertility through quality manure. The legumes can also concurrently enhance soil fertility through nitrogen fixation for companion grasses and subsequent cereal crops. Farmers in Kenya are aware of the importance of forage legumes but stunted/slow growth during the establishment year and non availability of low cost seed has limited adoption of this technology. Two experiments were carried out on nitrogen and phosphorus-deficient soils at the National Agricultural Research Centre Kitale. In experiment 1 the effects of nitrogen applied at the rates of 0, 10, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 kg N/ha were evaluated for nodulation and dry matter accumulation of Desmodium uncinatum. Experiment 2 evaluated the effects of 0, 23, 46, 69, 92, 115 kg P2O5/ha in the form of single superphosphate fertiliser and 10, 20, 30 and 40 t/ha of farm yard manure on nodulation, herbage dry matter and seed yields of Desmodium uncinatum. A randomized complete block design with 3 replicates was used in each experiment. Nitrogen fertilisers did not increase nodulation and dry matter yields significantly. Increasing nitrogen fertiliser rates beyond 20 kg N/ha resulted in a significant (P<0.01) decline in the total and number of effective nodules produced per plant. Herbage dry matter yields also significantly (P<0.01) declined with application of more than 40 kg N/ha. Application of 23 and 46 kg P2O5/ha significantly (P<0.05) increased nodulation (total and effective number of nodules) and herbage dry matter yields. However, for 2 years there was no advantage in applying rates exceeding 46 P2O5/ha. Farm yard manure also significantly (P<0.5) increased nodulation but there were no significant differences between application of 10 t/ha and higher rates of 20, 30 or 40 t/ha. Herbage dry matter yields were increased by application of farm yard manure though the results were not significant at P>0.05. Seed yields were not significantly increased by phosphate or farmyard manure application.

Natural 15N and 13C abundance in Andisols influenced by long-term fertilization management in Japan

Two field experiments were conducted on Andisols in Japan to evaluate the changes in the natural 15N and 13C abundance in the soil profile and to determine whether the values of δ15N could be used as an indicator of fertilizer sources or fertilizer fate. The 6-year experiment conducted at the National Agricultural Research Center (NARC) consisted of the following treatments: application of swine compost (COMPOST), slow-release nitrogen fertilizer (SRNF), readily available nitrogen fertilizer (RANF), and absence of fertilization (CONTROL). Experimental plots located at the Nippon Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) received cattle compost at different rates for 12 years; a forest soil at this site was sampled for comparison. Swine compost application led to a considerable change in the δ15N distribution pattern in the soil profile, with the highest δ15N values recorded in the top 20 cm layers of the COMPOST plot, decreasing in the sequence of CONTROL >- RANF > SRNF, mainly due to the relatively high δ15N value of swine compost and its subsequent decomposition. In contrast, SRNF application resulted in the lowest δ15N values in soil, indicating the presence of negligible nitrogen losses relative to input and low nitrogen cycling rates. Values of δ15N increased with compost application rates at NARI. In the leachate collected at 1-m depth, the δ15N values decreased in the sequence of COMPOST > RANF ≥ CONTROL > SRNF. The δ13C values in soil peaked in the 40–60 cm layers for all the fertilizers. The δ13C value was lowest in forest soil due to the presence of plant residues in soil organic matter. These results indicated that the δ15N values in the upper soil layers or leachate may enable to detect pollution sources of organic or inorganic nitrogen qualitatively in Andisols.

EFFECT OF ROW DIRECTIONS ON YIELD AND YIELD COMPONENTS OF SUNFLOWER (Helianthus annuus L.) / EFECTO DE LA DIRECCION DE EXTENSION DE HILERA SOBRE EL RENDIMIENTO Y LOS COMPONENTES DEL RENDIMIENTO DE GIRASOL (Helianthus annuus L.) / EFFET DU SENS DES RANGÉES SUR LE RENDEMENT ET LES COMPOSANTES DU RENDEMENT CHEZ LE TOURNESOL (Helianthus annuus L.)

SUMMARY Effect of different row directions on yield and yield components of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) was studied in a field experiment at National Agricultural Research Center, Islamabad, Pakistan, during spring 1991 and 1992. Four row directions, i.e., north-south (NS), east-west (EW), north eastsouth west (NESW) and north west-south east (NWSE) had very little effect on seed yield and other agronomic characters of sunflower. The differences in the mean plant height, head diameter, seed yield, 100-achene weight and fatty acid profile were statistically non-significant. Trends were similar in both years. As an average of the two years, although statistically non-significant, the highest seed yield of 3065 kg/ha was obtained from north east-south west (NESW) row direction and the lowest yield of 2624 kg/ha from east-west (EW) row direction. The most pronounced effect of row direction was noted on seed moisture content. As an average of the two years, the maximum seed moisture content at harvest (21.4%) was obtained from east-west (EW) row direction and the minimum (14.6%) from north-south (NS) row direction. NESW row direction also gave significantly lower moisture content (15.1%) than EW (21.4%) and NWSE (18.1%) row directions. Therefore, using north-south and NESW row directions would help the crop to dry more quickly before harvest and reduce post harvest costs and losses. Seed production fields that require examination of sunflower heads to detect pollen production should be planted in NS rows for efficient roguing to maintain genetic purity. For research plots, EW rows with plot labels on the east end are often preferred, because it is easier to evaluate most plots when all heads face the viewer.

SIMULATION OF LEAF DAMAGE BY ARTIFICIAL DEFOLIATION AND ITS EFFECT ON SUNFLOWER (Helianthus annuus L.) PERFORMANCE / SIMULACION DEL DAÑO DE HOJA POR LA ELIMINACION ARTIFICIAL DE HOJAS Y SU EFECTO SOBRE LAS PERFORMANCES DEL GIRASOL / SIMULATION DE DÉTÉRIORIATION DES FEUILLES CAUSÉE PAR DEFOLIATION ARTIFICIELLE ET SON EFFET SUR LE TOURNESOL (Helianthus annuus L.)

SUMMARY Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) hybrid NK-212 was planted at National Agricultural Research Center, Islamabad, during 1992 and 1993 to assess the impact of various levels of simulated leaf damage, commonly caused by insects, hail or foliar diseases, on source and sink relationship. Insect attack, hail and foliar diseases often partially defoliate sunflowers and may become important factors limiting the production. Reduction in leaf area may also occur in the field as a consequence of pathogens or atmospheric conditions. Artificial defoliation was chosen as an experimental means to assess its effect on seed yield and plant behavior. It had also made possible to evaluate the effect of such a reduction at different phenological stages and to identify the leaves that contribute greatly to the seed yield. The leaves were clipped in various proportions from different parts of the plant, i.e., lower, middle and upper. The removal of upper 2/3 and 1/2 leaves caused a yield reduction of 29 and 55.8%, in 1992 and 37 and 44.8%, in 1993, respectively. In 1992, about 1% yield decline was recorded when the lower 1/3 leaves were removed and 6% yield decline with the removal of the lower 1/2 leaves. In 1993, the yield reduction was 26.7 and 39.2% due to removal of lower 1/3 and 1/2 leaves, respectively. This indicated that the upper leaves (source) contribute more towards seed yield (sink) than the lower ones. Correspondingly, the results indicated that insects and pests feeding on the upper portion of the sunflower plant can cause larger reduction in seed yield than those feeding on the lower leaves.

Economic Efficacy of Different Pre- and Post-emergence Herbicides to Control Weeds in Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

The study on weed control in chickpea was conducted at the National Agricultural Research Centre,Islamabad to evaluate the performance of selected Pre-emergence herbicides; ronstar, stomp, tolkin and tribunil and post-emergence herbicides; flex, fusilade and tribunil. Treatment-wise per hectare cost incurred on pre-emergence herbicides was Rs.540, Rs.247, Rs. 270 and Rs.369, whereas on post-emergence herbicides,it was Rs.36, Rs. 225, Rs.261, Rs.374, Rs. 369 and Rs.1050. These herbicides were applied alone and in combinations to study broad spectrum performance, if any. Two checks, hand weeded and weedy plots were kept for comparison of yield and economic gains. Chickpea variety was CM-72. Almost all the herbicides treated and hand weeded plots controlled the weeds density per unit area by 21 to 141% and significantly increased the grain yield by 14 to 141% or 332kg ha -1 to 735 kg ha -1. Amongst pre-emergence herbicides, ronstar and Stomp gave the highest net return/per rupee investment of Rs.1:3.76 and Rs.1:2.74 respectively, followed by tribunil and tolkan to the tune of Rs.1: 2.70, while the post-emergence herbicide Fusilade applied @ 0.75 and 0.50 kg a.i. ha -1 gave net return of Rs.2.36 and 2.10. post-emergence herbicide flex followed these treatments and earned net return of Rs.1.99. Low return from flex alone or when mixed with fusilade are likely due to phytotoxicity caused by flex being non-selective against broadleaf plants. Hand weeding though gave quite reasonable yield of 776 kg ha -1, yet its return were lowest because of low labor efficiency at high cost of prevailing daily wages.

Results and prospects in soybean breeding in National Agricultural Research Center for Tohoku Region

Results and prospects in soybean breeding in National Agricultural Research Center for Tohoku Region