Panicle Length Research Articles

Deciphering the estimates of combining ability and heterosis for selecting superior parents and hybrids in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Twenty F1s, parents and checks viz., MTU 1010 and RNR 15048 were assessed for grain yield and its contributing attributes to study combining ability and heterosis. The mean of hybrids was greater than that of the parents except for days to 50% flowering and plant height. For majority of the investigated characters, the analysis of variance indicated considerable variations among parents and hybrids. Degree of dominance was more than unity for majority of traits including grain yield. For the examined characters, SCA variances were equal to GCA variances, indicating the dominance of additive and non-additive gene activity. The traits days to 50 % flowering, plant height, panicle length, test weight, kernel length and kernel length/breadth ratio showed additive gene action whereas the remaining traits showed non-additive gene action. The gca effects revealed that among the lines IR 72 had significant gca effects in desired direction for yield and yield attributing traits. Among the 20 hybrids, MTU 1001 x Akshyadhan was found to be a good specific combiner for grain yield per plant. Similarly, the hybrids NLR 34449 x IR10N270 and IR 72 x IR10N270 were found to be good specific combiners for grain yield and yield contributing characters. The standard heterosis of these three hybrids was positively significant over the check varieties MTU 1010 and RNR 15048. Based on mean, sca and heterosis estimates, MTU 1001 x Akshyadhan, NLR 34449 x IR10N270 and IR 72 x IR10N270 were identified as promising hybrids. Keywords: Combining ability, gene action, heterosis and hybrid rice

Improving the process of identification of superior pearl millet populations using Genotype by Yield × Trait (GYT) biplot

Abstract Utilizing a trait-based breeding approach is crucial for developing diverse materials with various agronomic traits, emphasizing a common focus on achieving high grain yield, as seen in many breeding programs. Genotype evaluation based on yield × trait combinations is essential, with yield as the primary variable. Genotype by yield × traits biplot analysis was used in pearl millet to assess associations among yield-trait combinations, trait profiles, and superiority rankings. The Biplot analysis reveals prevalent positive associations among yield-trait combinations, implying that selecting multiple traits can augment grain yield productivity. Notably, ICMV 221 and Dhanashakti exhibit elevated levels of YLD×Fe and YLD×Zn, while SOSAT C88, EC C6, Raj 171, and CZIC 618 excel in combining grain yield with traits such as plant height (PH), panicle length (PL), and days to maturity (DM). Based on overall superiority in yield-trait combinations, populations were ranked as follows: AIMP 92901 > ICMV 221 > SOSAT C88 > CZIC 618 > Raj 171 > ICMP 87307 > EC C6. This study demonstrates the practical utility of the genotype by yield × traits biplot approach for selecting pearl millet germplasm with diverse trait combinations, enhancing the breeding program's effectiveness. Keywords: Trait Association, Trait Profile, Selection Index, Multiple Trait-Based Selection, GYT-Biplot

Estimation of genetic components and assessing heterosis association with molecular markers in half diallel derived rice hybrids developed with landraces of NE India

Combining ability and heterosis were estimated in 45 rice hybrids generated by mating 10 parents, comprising both land races and advance breeding lines, in half diallel fashion. Hayman’s graphical analysis showed that all the twelve morphological traits studied had significant positive dominance variance. Narrow sense heritability was high for Days to fifty percentage flowering, Plant height, Panicle length and Test weight (> 30 %), and low for Grain yield per plant. According to the VrWr graph, traits like GYPP, PL, PH, TN and plot yield showed partial dominance, whereas traits like Blast disease index showed overdominance. A significant improvement over check was observed for heterosis and the crosses Mynri x CAUS103, Joha x CAUS107, CAUS 126 x CAUS107 and CAUS103 x CP, exhibited significantly positive standard heterosis for GYPP (>80 %) and PY (>100 %). Genetic distance based on fourteen markers revealed significant positive association with mid parent and better parent heterosis for Spikelet’s per plant, Filled grains per plant, Harvest index, Grain yield per plant, Panicle number and Plot yield. Therefore, it is evident that crosses with larger genetic distance between the parents gave hybrids with higher heterosis. Keywords: Landraces, Hayman’s graphical analysis, Heterosis, Genetic distance

Study about Correlation and Path Analysis in Grain Amaranth (Amaranthus hypochondriacus L.)

Twenty six genotypes of grain amaranth were evaluated during rabi 2017-18 for assessing the correlation and path coefficient analysis for grain yield and its components. The grain yield per plant was found to be positively and significantly associated with plant height, panicle length, dry weight of leaves, dry weight of panicles, biological yield/plant and harvest index. Dry weight of panicles had highest path towards grain yield per plant, dry weight of leaves directly associated with days to maturity and plant height. This indicates that these characters played an important role in higher grain yield in grain amaranth.

Genetic variability, diversity and principal component analysis in B and R lines of rabi sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench

Hybrid technology is exploited in kharif (rainy) sorghum while the same is not the scenario in Rabi sorghum which is still dominated by landraces and varieties which have poor yield potentiality. Considering the necessity of development of heterotic hybrids, an attempt was made to screen hybrid parents (B and R lines) to assess variability and genetic diversity, for productivity traits. The study was conducted with 32 B and R lines at Regional Agricultural Research Station, Vijayapur during 2021-22. PCV was observed to surpass GCV across all traits. The traits grain yield per plant, fodder yield per plant, grain number per plant, and harvest index exhibited notably high PCV and GCV. Plant height, panicle length, panicle harvest index, and harvest index recorded high heritability and genetic advance, suggesting their control by additive gene action and potential for improvement via selection. Cluster analysis classified the 32 genotypes into four groups. PCA condensed 14 traits into five principal components, capturing 81.50% of total variation. The genotypes remained scattered in all four quadrants in PCA- Biplot, showing large genetic variability in quantitative traits studied. Keywords: Genetic variability, heritability, diversity, clusters, PCA and rabi sorghum

Unveiling genetic basis of yield and salinity tolerance in rice (Oryza sativa L.) through insights from generation mean analysis

Abstract Rice (Oryza sativa L) serves as a primary food source for over a billion people worldwide and is encountering challenges in yield due to the increasing global population and climate changes. Understanding the genetic variations that underlie complex traits is crucial for its enhancement and this can be accomplished through generation mean analysis. In this study, investigation was made to study the genetic mechanisms governing important quantitative traits, specifically yield and salinity tolerance in rice. The study involved six generations (P1, P2, F1, F2, B1 and B2) resulting from two crosses between three parents. The investigation specifically focused on generation mean analysis, assessing twelve traits includes days to flowering, plant height , total number of tillers , number of productive tillers , panicle length, flag leaf length, flag leaf width, number of filled grains per panicle, total number of grains per panicle, spikelet fertility, thousand-grain weight and single plant yield in the two crosses. In Cross I (ADT 45 × APD 19002), traits such as plant height, days to fifty percent flowering, total number of tillers and total number of grains per panicle exhibited opposing signs for dominance × dominance (l) and dominance (h), indicating a prevalence of duplicate epistasis. At the same time, additive and additive × additive gene effects influenced total number of tillers, plant height, total number of grains per panicle, number of filled grains per panicle and spikelet fertility. In Cross II (CO 54 × APD 19002), total number of tillers, plant height, flag leaf length, total number of grains per panicle, spikelet fertility and single plant yield suggested a predominance of duplicate epistasis. Further, the total number of grains per panicle, total number of tillers per plant, spikelet fertility and thousand-grain weight were primarily governed by additive and additive × additive gene effects. These observations show the feasibility of enhancement through selection in subsequent generations, emphasizing the necessity of integrating selection with salinity tolerance screening for the development of high-yield, salinity-tolerant rice varieties. Keywords: Scaling test, genetic effects, salinity tolerance

Principal Component Analysis in rice (Oryza sativa L.) varieties for three seasons in Annamalai Nagar, an east coast region of Tamil Nadu

Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to assess genetic variability and identify key yield-contributing traits among 50 rice genotypes evaluated over three seasons under saline conditions. The study aimed to select promising donor lines for developing salt-tolerant, high-yielding cultivars suitable for coastal regions. PCA identified three principal components (PCs) that explained 73.19%, 70.34%, and 64.81% of the total genetic variation in seasons 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Key plant attributes, such as grain yield per plant, panicle grain density, total tiller number, and productive tiller count, showed significant positive associations with PC1 across various growth stages, underscoring their crucial role in explaining the genetic diversity among the genotypes. Plant height, panicle length, and hundred-grain weight also emerged as major contributors to variation. The PCA biplots consistently demonstrated positive correlations between grain yield and traits like panicle length, hundred-grain weight, and tillering ability. In contrast, days to 50% flowering exhibited a negative association with yield. Genotypes G10, G49, G36, G41, G9, G4, G22, and G21 displayed favourable combinations of grain yield per plant, identifying them as potential donor lines for breeding programs aimed at improving rice yield and associated agronomic traits. This comprehensive PCA analysis highlights the effectiveness of the approach in capturing genotypic diversity and guiding the selection of promising germplasm for targeted trait improvement in rice.

Comprehensive Evaluation and Selection of Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum (L.) Maton) Germplasm Using Morphological Traits.

Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum (L.) Maton) plays a crucial role in Guatemala's agriculture, supporting local families and covering 169,429.29 ha (making it the world's leading producer). Since its introduction to Guatemala in 1910, limited research has focused on unraveling the diversity and defining morphological traits critical for selecting excellent accessions. In this study, we examined 17 morphological traits across 288 accessions to identify key features associated with the germplasm. The comprehensive analysis employed principal component analysis, a morphological composite value (F-value), linear regression, and hierarchical clustering. The Shannon-Wiener diversity index ranged from 0.10 to 2.02, indicating the variation in diversity among traits. Principal component analysis and hierarchical clustering revealed six distinct germplasm groups. The comprehensive analysis facilitated the selection of 14 excellent accessions, and the regression equation incorporating criteria such as plant height, capsule color, panicle number per plant, panicle length, rhizome color, cluster number per panicle, cluster node length, and capsule number per cluster to identify cardamom germplasm. To develop a conservation strategy for the two putative foreign varieties ('Malabar' and 'Mysore'/'Vazhukka') introduced in Guatemala based on plant height, another 12 accessions were selected with a second comprehensive evaluation. This information offers insights into cardamom diversity for informed selection enhancing national utilization, productivity, and conservation.

Optimizing rice (Oryza sativa) growth, productivity, profitability and nutrient uptake with coated urea and organic manure in the new alluvial zone of West Bengal

A two-year field experiment was carried out at experimental farm of BCKV, Nadia, West Bengal during kharif seasons of 2019–20 and 2020–21 to study the effect of combined application of coated urea and organic manure on performance of rice. The experiment was laid-out in a randomized complete block design with four replications and treatment comprised 5 treatment combinations, such as T1 , control plot (without N); T2 , 100% recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN) through neem-coated urea (NCU); T3 , 75% RDN through NCU + 25% RDN through FYM (farm yard manure); T4, 100% RDN through polymer sulphur coated urea (PSCU); T5, 75% RDN through PSCU+25% RDN through FYM. The results showed that 75% RDN through PSCU+25% RDN through FYM re- sulted in maximum growth attributes, viz. plant height (110.8 cm), maximum number of effective tillers per square meter (416/m2 ), highest dry-matter accumulation (DMA) (740 g/m2 ), leaf area index (LAI) (4.47) and crop growth rate (CGR) (6.56 g/m2 /day), highest yield components like panicle length (23.5 cm), panicle weight (9.95 g), num- ber of filled grains/panicle (113), test-weight (21.3 g) and maximum grain yield (4.79 t/ha) and straw yield (5.53 t/ ha). Similarly, maximum amount of total nutrient uptake by crop (99.7, 40.1 and 208 kg/ha NPK), protein yield (418 kg/ha), gross returns (` 71.8 × 103 /ha), net return (` 52 × 103 /ha) and B: C ratio (2.73) were noticed under T5 treat- ment. Therefore, it is advisable to implement a comprehensive nutrient management strategy T5 (75% RDN through PSCU + 25% RDN through FYM) in rice cultivation. This approach enhances growth, yield, nutrient absorption, and quality, ultimately boosting agricultural productivity, profitability, and sustainability.

Influence of various organic nutrient management technologies on microbial abundance, growth, and yield of rice (Oryza sativa L.) under field conditions

A field study (three years) was carried out to evaluate the outcome of various organic nutrient management technologies including farmyard manure (FYM) and poultry manure (PM) integrated with chemical fertilizers for microbial dynamics and growth and yield of rice at Experimental Farm of Nuclear Institute of Agriculture (NIA), Tandojam, Sindh, Pakistan. The most broadly grown rice variety, NIA-Shandar was selected for this study. The experiment involved integrating organic technologies, specifically Farm Yard Manure (FYM) and Poultry Manure (PM), each applied at 10 tons per hectare. These organic technologies were combined with varying levels of inorganic fertilizers: half (60 kg N ha-1 and 45 kg P2O5 ha-1) and full (120 kg N ha-1 and 90 kg P2O5 ha-1) recommended doses. Additionally, zinc was applied at 10 kg ha-1. The study employed a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications to assess treatment effects. Both organic technologies perform better for microbial dynamics and rice growth and yield enhancement either alone technology or combined with chemical fertilizers during three rice seasons. The maximum general microbial abundance (9.70 log10 CFU g soil-1), N2 fixing (7.37 log10 CFU g soil-1), P solubilizing (7.97 log10 CFU g soil-1) and Zn solubilizing(6.75 log10 CFU g soil-1) population was recorded in FYM alone or with half N and P2O5 fertilizer application. The highest plant height (106 cm), tiller numbers(17.10), panicle numbers (26.53), panicle length (26.32 cm), one thousand grainweight (26.53 g) and rice grain yield (7.92 t ha-1) were perceived in FYM with full rate N and P2O5 fertilizer application. Both technologies along with chemical fertilizer induced soil properties and soil nutrients which reflected to increase soil microbial abundance and growth and yield of rice however, FYM showed higher potential than poultry manure during the three years rice cultivation seasons. Hence, it was indicated that a significant contribution to the development of sustainable agricultural technologies that prioritize soil health,environmental stewardship, and food security.

Effect of biochar on soil chemical properties of tidal wetland in Jambi, Indonesia, and growth and yield of various rice varieties

The study aimed to determine the effect of biochar on the growth and yield of several rice varieties in a tidal wetland agroecosystem. This research used a split-plot design with the main plot was biochar application, consisting of three levels (no biochar, rice husk biochar, and coconut shell biochar), and the subplot was rice variety consisting of ten varieties (Inpara, Inpari 30, Kuning, Karya Rendah, Bujang Pelawah, Pandan Wangi, Bujang Berinai, Kwatek Tinggi, Candu, and Serai). Plant parameters observed were plant height, number of tillers, productive tillers, panicle length, number of grains per panicle, number of empty grains per panicle, milled rice weight, and weight of 1,000 grains. Results of this study showed that the application of biochar improved soil fertility by increasing organic carbon, available phosphorus and potassium, cation exchange capacity, and reducing the soluble iron in the soil. However, the application of biochar did not significantly affect the height of rice plants. The application of coconut shell biochar yielded the best results in increasing the number of productive tillers, the number of grains per panicle, grain dry weight, and reducing the number of empty grains per panicle.

Genetic Variability, Character Association and Path Analysis for Yield and Yield Components in Foxtail Millet [Setaria italica (L.) P. Beauv.] Accessions under Multi Environments in Foothills of Nagaland

Background: Foxtail millet cultivation inIndia’s North Eastern Hill regionholds promise due to its adaptation to diverse environments and high-quality grain. The objective of this study was to assess the amount of variability present among the genotypes, association of traits and find out foxtail millet genotypes that produce high yield in diverse environments. Methods: The investigation was carried out during July 2022 to May 2023 in four different dates of sowing. Two environments maintained under rainfed condition and the remaining two environments are maintained under irrigated condition. The experiment was conducted in randomized complete block design with three replications in all environments. Result: Analysis of variance revealed statistically significant differences (at 5%) among the 30 genotypes for all yield variables under evaluation. Genotype ‘G1’ exhibited superior performance for both yield and yield-related traits. The present study revealed considerable genetic variation among the yield traits, with all traits demonstrating high heritability except for harvest index.Traits such as fodder yield per plant, panicle length, biological yield, flag leaf width, peduncle length, panicle width and grain yield per plant show high heritability coupled with high genetic advance. A strong correlation was observed between grain yield per plant and several traits including days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, plant height, panicle length, flag leaf length, peduncle length, biological yield and fodder yield per plant. This correlation was consistent at both the genotypic and phenotypic levels. Biological yield exhibited the strongest direct influence on grain yield per plant, followed by harvest index, flag leaf width and number of base tillers on genotypic and phenotypic levels.

Assessment of Heterosis and inbreeding Depression for Yield, and its Associated Components Traits in Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

The present investigation entitled was carried out at Main Rice Research Centre, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari during kharif-2023 with an objectives to obtain information on manifestation of heterosis and extent of inbreeding depression involved in the inheritance of various yield attributing characters in rice (Oryza sativa L.). This study comprised three crosses using four diverse lines. The experimental material comprised of five generations each cross of pair parents i.e. P1, P2, F1, F2 and F3 of three different crosses were conducted in Compact Family Block Design with three replications during kharif 2023. For grain yield per plant all the three crosses (IRBB 55 × Mahisagar, IRBB 55 × GR-11 and IRBB 55 × TN-1) exhibited significant and positive relative heterosis as well as heterobeltiosis. Among them the highest mid parent heterosis of 39.67% and heterobeltiosis of 7.56% were exhibited by cross IRBB 55 × GR-11. This hybrid showed positive and significant relative heterosis for all the four important characters viz., productive tillers per plant, panicle length, grains per panicle and 100 grain weight. While, the inbreeding depression was found significant and positive for all the three crosses which is not desirable for grain yield per plant. Here, all the three crosses exhibited positive heterosis followed by positive inbreeding depression indicated that trait is under influence of non-additive type of gene action and heterosis breeding would be found rewarding for improvement for grain yield per plant.

Influence of Iron and Zinc Biofortification on Growth and Yield of Drilled Rice (Oryza Sativa L.)

A field experiment was conducted during kharif 2022 and 2023 to study the effect of iron and zinc biofortification on the growth and yield of drilled rice (Oryza sativa L.) at Krushi Vigyan Kendra, Navsari Agricultural University, Dediapada, Gujarat. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with ten treatments. Based on pooled analysis, almost all the growth attributes (periodical plant height, number of tillers plant-1, leaf area, leaf area index and dry matter accumulation plant-1), yield attributes (productive tillers m-2, number of filled grains panicle-1, panicle length, weight of panicle and 1000 grain weight), grain yield (3035 kg ha-1) and straw yield (5336 kg ha-1) were recorded significantly higher under treatment T10 (soil ZnSO4 + FeSO4 each @ 25 kg ha-1 and foliar ZnSO4 + FeSO4 each @ 0.5% at 30 & 60 DAS). Based on the results, it concluded that for achieving higher growth and yield in drilled rice, the crop should be fertilized with soil ZnSO4 + FeSO4 each @ 25 kg ha-1 and foliar ZnSO4 + FeSO4 each @ 0.5% at 30 & 60 DAS along with RDF and soil ZnSO4 + FeSO4 each @ 25 kg ha-1 along with RDF.

Evaluation of new sorghum varieties for grain production cultivated in mineral soil

Sorghum bicolor L. (Sorghum) has been recognized as the fifth largest cereal crop in the world, following maize, wheat, rice, and barley, with a mean annual production of more than 5.89 million tons over the past five years. Grain sorghum is one of the cultivated varieties of the sorghum genus. It is primarily used as human food and animal feed due to the beneficial effects of bioactive compounds in the grain. Sorghum is less popular and unrecognizable in Malaysia, as it was not included in the reports by the Agriculture Department regarding plantation areas. In Malaysia, sorghum is limited because this crop is considered new, and no studies were conducted on the adaptability of its varieties to Malaysian soil and local climatic conditions. Crop production practices such as variety selection, planting density and fertilization will affect yield production. Therefore, a study on grain sorghum varieties (Brachy Sorgho, Jumbo Super, India and Pacific Seed 99) was conducted to evaluate the growth and yield performance of sorghum. Jumbo Super had a significantly higher value for plant height, followed by Brachy Sorgho, India and Pacific Seed 99. India showed the highest value of leaf fresh and dry weight, but no significant difference compared with Brachy Sorgho. Brachy Sorgho recorded the highest value of stem fresh and dry weight, while the least was recorded for Pacific Seed 99. Brachy Sorgho and India showed significantly higher grain yields than Jumbo Super and Pacific Seed 99 in terms of panicle length, panicle weight without grain, grain weight without panicle per plant, number of grains per panicle, and 100-grain weight. The highest gross weight of grain sorghum is Brachy Sorgho (140.00 g/plant), which showed no significant difference compared to the India variety (131.13 g/plant). Meanwhile, Jumbo Super and Pacific Seed 99 varieties showed the lowest grain weight, 77.27 g/plant and 80.16 g/plant, respectively. Overall, all four varieties are adaptable in mineral soil and are considered potential alternative crops for grain production. Bachy Sorgho and India varieties showed the best performance on grain yield compared to Jumbo Super and Pacific Seed 99 varieties. Thus, Brachy Sorgho and India varieties can be recommended for future grain production in mineral soil.

Assessing the genetic diversity and character association of yield components in litchi (litchi chinensis sonn.)

Eighteen litchi genotypes were evaluated in this study for genetic advancement, heritability, variability, and association studies. The genotype ‘CHL-4’ exhibited maximum fruit weight (28.12 g), aril weight (14.00 g), aril thickness (9.65 mm) and seed weight (4.86 g). Fruit length (10.70 and 10.46%), panicle width (10.61 and 10.37%), and panicle length (15.75 and 15.45%) all had substantial phenotypic and genotypic coefficients of variation. All the metrics, with the exception of fruit diameter, aril thickness, seed weight, and number of fruits/panicle, showed higher heritability estimations with substantial genetic advances. In addition to being negatively correlated with fruit weight, aril weight, seed weight and pulp thickness, yield also showed a strong positive correlation with the number of fruits/panicle and aril percentage. Path analysis made the impact of different components on yield very evident. The maximum positive direct effect on yield at genotypic level was through fruit weight (10.120) followed by seed weight (4.070), panicle length (1.550), panicle girth (1.170) and negative direct effect via aril weight (-0.12.860) followed by panicle width (-11.830), fruit length (-6.290). In order to select a diverse parent for a subsequent breeding effort, cluster analysis assists in classifying comparable objects into appropriate categories. Therefore, the goal of the study was to confirm the genetic variability across genotypes of litchi and identify prospective features for the selection of genotypes that are superior. Bangladesh J. Bot. 53(3): 465-473, 2024 (September)

Growth and yield of direct seeded rice as influenced by irrigation levels and varieties

The combined influence of agronomic, environmental and genetic variables results in better crop yield. Among these components, an appropriate irrigation system and varietal choice are crucial. With this background, a field experiment with a split-plot layout was planned during the summer period of 2020 at the Agriculture and Horticultural Research Station, Bhavikere, Karnataka, India, to examine the effects of four different irrigation levels (0.75, 1.00, 1.25 and 1.50 IW/CPE ratio) in the main plot and four different varieties (Local variety, Jyothi, MAS 946-1 and MAS-26) in the subplots on growth and yield performance under direct seeded rice condition. Results of the experiment revealed that among four different levels of irrigation, scheduling irrigation at 1.50 IW/CPE ratio recorded higher growth and yield parameters at harvest viz., plant height (82.76 cm), number of tillers per plant (13.29), leaf area index (2.66), total dry matter accumulation (73.36 g/plant), number of panicle per plant (10.35), panicle length (21.59 cm), number of filled grains per panicle (90.4), grain yield (5569 kg/ha) and straw yield (7514 kg/ha). While, among the varieties used for the study, MAS 946-1 recorded the higher growth and yield parameters at harvest (64.19 cm, 13.96, 2.45, 73.34 g/plant, 10.96, 21.25 cm, 84.3, 5743 kg/ha and 7288 kg/ha, respectively). Hence, scheduling irrigation at 1.50 IW/CPE ratio and use of MAS 946-1 variety demonstrated superior performance, making it most appropriate for maximising higher production under direct seeded rice condition. Bangladesh J. Bot. 53(3): 527-533, 2024 (September)

Enhancing growth and yield attributes through bio priming approach in direct seeded rice

Sowing pregerminated and primed rice seeds was found to be advantageous in shortening the numbers of emergence, heading, and maturity days. Reduction in the maturity period of rice by 14.1 days is a significant phonological achievement. Therefore, to ensure the benefits of seed enhancing techniques on seed yield and yield components of rice (Oryza sativa L.),field experiment was conducted in Split Plot Design with four replications using PMK(R)4 with fourteen different seed biopriming liquid microbial cultures and its combinations. The results showed that the seeds soaked in equal volume of liquid microbial cultures Azospirillum+ Phosphobacteria 20% for 18hrs recorded maximum plant height at 45(29.2cm), 90DAS(105.2 cm) and harvest stages (113.3 cm). The leaf area index(10), number of productive tillers, panicle length(36.3 cm), number of spikelets per panicle (106) and panicle weight were maximum in co-inoculated priming treatment Azospirillum + Phosphobacteria and Azospirillum+ Phosphobacteria+ Silicate Solublizing Bacteria followed by Azosprillium 20% for 18hrs and minimum with non-primed seeds. Combined application of Azospirillum + Phosphobacteria was found to be most effective treatment in improving seed yield per plot(6.6g), seed yield per hectare and 1000 seed weight (24.72 g) over non-primed seeds.

Response of Macronutrients, Micronutrient and Biofertilizer on the Growth and Yield Attributes of Kalanamak Rice (Oryza sativa L.) in Central Uttar Pradesh, India

A field experiment was conducted on the combined application of macronutrients and micronutrient along with biofertilizer significantly improved the growth and yield attributes of Kalanamak rice over two kharif seasons, 2022 and 2023. The most effective treatment, T7 [100 per cent RDF (Recommended Dose of Fertilizer) + 25 per cent N through FYM (Farm Yard Manure) + S (Sulphur) @ 40 kg ha-1 + ZnO (Zinc oxide) @ 5 kg ha-1 + BGA (Blue Green Algae) @ 10 kg ha-1] gave maximum increase in growth and yield attributing characteristics viz. plant height (96.80 cm & 97.82 cm), number of tillers hill-1 (11.23 & 11.25), number of effective tillers hill-1 (10.81 & 10.94), panicle length (35.16 cm & 35.43 cm), number of grains panicle-1 (175.82 & 179.45), number of filled grains panicle-1 (159.89 & 161.02), number of unfilled grains panicle-1 (15.93 & 18.43) and test weight (14.9 g & 15 g). This indicates that integrated nutrient management including the integration of organic manures, i.e., FYM, inorganic nutrients (N, P, K, S and Zn) and bio-fertilizers, i.e., BGA enhances rice growth and yield. The positive impact of BGA on nitrogen fixation, combined with the role of Zn and S in grain formation, contributed to higher grain numbers, greater panicle length and increased test weight leading to improved grain yield. Overall, the study highlights the importance of integrated nutrient management, demonstrating that the synergetic use of biofertilizer and balanced fertilization can optimize nutrient availability, improve soil health, reduce unfilled grains and increase crop productivity in Kalanamak rice cultivation.

Determination of Optimum Nitrogen Level for Maximizing Yield of Two HYV Boro Rice Varieties in Bogura Region, Bangladesh

Application of N fertilizer is very crucial for rice, but both excessive and mild reduced productivity. A field experiment was conducted during the Boro 2021-2022 season to find out the optimum dose of N fertilizer for higher yield. The trial was conducted in a factorial RCBD design with three replications. Factor A: Two varieties of rice viz. BRRI dhan89 and BRRI dhan100 and B: Five Nitrogen levels i.e., 0, 90, 120, 150, and 180 Kg ha−1. Yield and yield-contributing traits varied significantly with N levels. BRRI dhan89 outyielded BRRI dhan100 due to its varietal potential and longer life cycle. The highest tiller number hill−1, panicle number hill−1, panicle length, filled grain panicle−1, grain yield, biological yield and harvest index and lowest spikelet sterility were obtained from 120 kg N ha−1 irrespective of variety. The result revealed that the combination of both varieties with 120 kg N ha−1 followed by 90 Kg N ha−1 in maximizing rice productivity while avoiding excess use of N fertilizer. Bangladesh Agron. J. 2024, 26(2): 41-48