Pod Development Stage Research Articles

Frequency of Irrigation and Boron on Growth, Yield, Water Use Efficiency and Economics of Summer Green Gram in Humid Sub-Tropical Climate

ABSTRACT Green gram is responsive to irrigation and boron application. The field experiments comprising of three irrigation frequencies (I1 = branching, I2 = branching + flower initiation, and I3 = branching + flower initiation + pod development) and four borax levels (B1 = soil applied at 10 kg/ha, B2 = 0.2% foliar spray at branching, B3 = 0.2% foliar spray at flowering, and B4 = 0.2% foliar spray at branching + flowering) were conducted in a humid sub-tropical climate of India during two consecutive seasons of 2018 and 2019 to optimize irrigation and boron (B) requirements for the plant. Results showed that maximum growth and yield constituents were found in I3 and B4. Mean maximum seed and stover yield and highest accumulation of N, P and K in plant and B in seed and stover were noticed in I3B4. Maximum water use efficiency (9.10 kg/ha-mm) was displayed in I1B4. Maximum nodulation was found in I2B1 and I3B1. The highest gross return, net return and BCR were obtained in I3B4. Thus, irrigation at branching, flower initiation and pod development stage coupled with 0.2% B foliar application at branching and flowering stage was observed the as best treatment combination for deriving maximum growth, yield, yield constituents, nutrients uptake and economics of summer green gram.

Potassium fertilization reduces silique canopy temperature variation in Brassica napus to enhance seed yield

The seed yield of oilseed rape (Brassica napus), an important edible and industrial oil source, is derived mainly from the photosynthetic products of siliques. High temperatures in the pod-development stage threaten the oilseed rape production. Fertilization promotes the growth and yield of oilseed rape. However, it is unclear whether fertilization can alleviate the effect of the temperature on the yield. During 2017–2019 oilseed rape growing season, two oilseed rape cultivars with different K utilization efficiencies (KUtEs) were grown with four K fertilizer rates (0, 60, 120, and 180 kg ha−1) to study the association between the application of the stress-resistance-related element K and silique canopy temperature of oilseed rape. Infrared imaging was used to determine the canopy temperature of the two cultivars at the silique development stage at different K application rates. Partial least squares path modeling (PLS-PM) was used to analyze the potential physiological mechanism of the increase in crop yield with K fertilization. The K fertilization reduced the canopy temperature, specifically, the canopy temperature variation (CTV), at the silique development stage (reduction of 1.3–3.0°C by 1 % increase in K amount). A reduction of 1°C in CTV increased the seed yield by approximately 417.6 kg ha−1. Nevertheless, the cultivar with a low KUtE required almost twice the K amount, compared with the cultivar with a high KUtE, to achieve the same consequent CTV reduction, and produced a lower seed yield at the same K application rate. The reduction in CTV was induced by an increased stomatal function (transpiration rate), which was accelerated by the K application. PLS-PM showed that the K application promoted seed yield by reducing the CTV and increasing the photosynthetic rate and biomass. The photosynthetic rate and biomass were directly affected by the CTV. Overall, the K fertilization combined with the high KUtE cultivars could efficiently maintain a stable canopy temperature microenvironment to promote oil production.

Influence of Foliar Application of Compost tea on Growth, Yield and Quality of Soybean [Glycine max (L)

A field experiment was conducted during kharif season of the year 2016-17 with soybean variety MAUS -71 as test crop in Vertisol. With three replication and eight treatments viz,T1 - Control (RDF 100%), T2-100% RDF + Water spray, T3 - RDF + Compost tea @ 10% foliar spray, T4 - RDF + Compost tea @ 15% foliar spray, T5-RDF + Compost tea @ 20% foliar spray, T6 - RDF + Compost tea @ 25% foliar spray, T7 - RDF + Compost tea @ 50% foliar spray,T8 - RDF + Compost tea @ 75% foliar spray. The results revealed that Among the different doses of foliar application of compost tea with RDF,” application of RDF + compost tea @ 50% foliar spray significantly superior growth attributes viz. plant height, leaf area, number of leaves, dry matter and minimum growth attributes were observed in the control treatment at flowering, pod development and harvest stage. Maximum yield of soybean (2050.0 kg ha-1) was recorded with application of RDF + Compost tea @ 50% foliar spray. The quality of soybean grain improved due to application of T7 - RDF+ compost tea @ 50% foliar spray which recorded higher values of oil content (19.90%) protein content (31.44%) and protein yield (644.29 kg ha-1).This indicated that the application of 30:60:30 kg ha-1 N : P2O5 : K2O with foliar application of compost tea @ 50 percent (30,45,60 DAS) to soybean was found beneficial for increase in growth, yield and quality of soybean.

Sowing Time and Management Effects on Phenology, Growth and Yield of Garden Pea

The experiment was conducted at the research field of the Agronomy Division, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Gazipur and Regional Agricultural Research Stations (RARS), Burirhat during two successive rabi seasons of 2015 and 17 to find out the relation between different development events of garden pea (Pisum sativum L.) and the sowing time based temperature, and also to minimize the yield reduction by adopting appropriate management practices. The treatments comprised with three sowing dates (30 November, 15 December and 30 December) and three management practices (low, medium and high). Under high management, Nov. 30 sowing took maximum days (64 days in 2015-16 and 58 days in 2016-17 at Joydebpur and 58 days in 2015-16 and 57 days in 2016-17 at RARS, Burirhat) to reach harvesting maturity. The results indicated that the number of days required for attaining different phenological stages decreased with delay of sowing. Late sowing took minimum time from flowering to fresh pod maturity (51 days and 49 days in two years at Joydebpur, and 49 days and 46 days in two years at Burirhat) due to increase in minimum temperature. The results revealed that the highest pod yield (14.77 t ha-1in 2015-16 and 13.09 t ha-1in 2016-17 at Joydebpur and 9.63 tha-1 in 2015-16 and 10.33 t ha-1in 2016-17 at Burirhat) was recorded from 30 November sowing with high management practices which was followed by 15 December with the same management. Yield reduction in late sowing was reduced to some extent by high management practices. The two year results revealed that 30 November sowing with high management practices (extra 20% recommended fertilizer dose, HRC + two irrigation at pre flowering and pod development stage + seed treatment + one weeding at 21 DAE) showed better pod yield than other combinations.
 Bangladesh Agron. J. 2020, 23(2): 13-22

Yield Performance of Faba Bean Cultivars under Different Environmental Conditions in Greece

Faba bean is an important grain legume, grown for human consumption and animal feed and can be used as an alternative to soybean protein. Drought and heat strongly influence faba bean growth and production, especially in flowering and pod development stages. The aim of this study was to determine the response of six cultivars to different environmental conditions during the 2018-2019 growing season. Four inbred lines and two commercial cultivars were sown in different environments in South, Central and North Greece. At each location, a randomized complete block design with four replications was used. Different characteristics such as plant height, number of pods plant-1, number of seeds pod-1, seed yield and 1000-seed weight, were recorded. The results indicated that all traits were significantly affected by different climatic conditions and cultivars. In most cases, seed yield and 1000-seed weight decreased with increasing drought conditions in the southern site. KK10 produced higher yield and pods plant-1, especially in North and Central Greece. The late maturity cultivars, ‘Polycarpe’ and KK14, showed lower values for the seed traits under all locations. Multi-location trials are useful for the evaluation of new cultivars and lead to an increase in production of feedstuff directly available to farmers.

Irrigation management in Pigeonpea under rainfed Alfisols

Pigeonpeais one of the major crops and grown in an area of 67,547 ha in drought prone Ananthapuramu district. However due usage of the long duration traditional Pigeonpea varieties and continuous failure of the NE monsoon coincides with the crop critical stages (Flower bud initiation, flowering, pod development in the district are the major drawbacks for the declined productivity. An attempt was done at Agricultural Research Station, Ananthapuramu on different options available for the irrigation to the pigeonpea crop during kharif,2016. Experimental results revealed that growth parameters like plant height and stem girth were higher with continuous irrigations whereas higher yield and yield attributing parameters were registered with flooding (irrigation at all five critical stages irrigations). Flood irrigation at 5 critical stages registered the highest additional net income of Rs 1,10,300 ha-1 which was closely followed by Drip irrigation at flowering and pod development stages with an additional net income of Rs 94,100, However higher BC ratio (7.63) was obtained with Drip irrigation at flowering and pod development stages. Drip irrigation at Flowering and Pod development registered higher water use efficiency (3.68 kg ha-1mm-1) on mean basis.

Improved agro-management in rice (Oryza sativa) and chickpea (Cicer arietinum) at rainfed lowland ecology

An on-farm study was conducted in Odisha during 2014-2016 growing kharif rice (Oryza sativa L.) and chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) at rainfed lowland ecology. Impacts of improved tillage and nutrient management was studied along with supplementary irrigation in chickpea. Rice producing comparable grain yields (3.45-3.72 t/ha) at minimum and conventional tillage (3.50-3.75 t/ha) was significantly higher than that (2.52-2.65 t/ha) at zero tillage. Chickpea produced comparable seed yields at zero (14.4-14.9 q/ha), minimum (14.4-14.8 q/ha) or conventional tillage (14.5- 14.8 q/ha) also. Rice with state recommended dose of fertilizers (SRDF) or INM produced comparable grain yields (3.10-3.20 t/ha and 3.08-319 t/ha). Chickpea also with SRDF or INM produced comparable seed yields (15.20-15.50 q/ha and 15.00-15.40 q/ha). Irrigation in chickpea either at pod development stage alone or also at pre-flowering stage enhanced seed yields (15.50-16.20 q/ha and 14.80-15.60 q/ha respectively), significantly higher than that (8.80-9.20 t/ha) at residual soil moisture situations. Thus, the study ensured maximum profitability of around ` ₹ 100000.0/ha while growing rice with improved nutrient management at conventional or minimum tillage followed by chickpea at conventional, minimum or zero tillage management. Therefore, the study could suggest the prospect of system based improved rainfed lowland rice fallow management in a rice-chickpea cropping system.

Seed Hardening, Foliar Spraying and Their Combined Effect on Dry Matter Partitioning in Green Gram (Vigna radiata L.)

Background: Mung bean is important pulse crop having low productivity. Considering the constraints, it is worthwhile to study the influence of different seed hardening and foliar spraying treatments on the production potential of mung bean. Methods: Mung bean var. GAM-5 was imposed with seed hardening treatments and also for foliar spray using CaCl2 2% and 1%, CCC 500 mg/L, CCC 1000 mg/L, NAA 25 mg/L, NAA 50 mg/L during summer season of 2015-16 and 2016-17. These treatments were evaluated for their dry matter partitioning at field conditions. Result: The leaf dry matter decreased in all the treatments after 60 DAS at the time of pod development upto harvest. There was a very less rate of increase in the stem and root dry matter from pod development stage till the harvest leading to an increase in pod weight. The translocation process must have been more prominent in the treatment CaCl2 2% seed hardening + 1% spraying at 30 DAS (T11) than rest of the treatments and was less in untreated control treatment indicating that photosynthesis and translocation efficiency increases by seed hardening and foliar spraying treatments with agrochemical and growth regulators for increasing the pod yield. Therefore, the treatment T11 was more efficient in dry matter production and its partitioning in leaves, stem, root and pods by allocating maximum dry matter to the pods.

Transcriptome of peanut kernel and shell reveals the mechanism of calcium on peanut pod development

Calcium is not only a nutrient necessary for plant growth but also a ubiquitous central element of different signaling pathways. Ca2+ deficiency in soil may cause embryo abortion, which can eventually lead to abnormal development of peanut pods during the harvest season. To further study the mechanisms by which Ca2+ affects the shells and kernels of peanuts, transcriptome sequencing was used to explore the genes differentially expressed in shells and kernels during the early stage of peanut pod development between Ca2+ sufficient and deficient treatments. In this study, 38,894 expressed genes were detected. RNA-seq based gene expression profiling showed a large number of genes at the transcriptional level that changed significantly in shells and kernels between the Ca2+ sufficient and deficient treatments, respectively. Genes encoding key proteins involved in Ca2+ signal transduction, hormones, development, ion transport, and nutrition absorption changed significantly. Meanwhile, in the early stage of pod development, calcium first promoted nutrient absorption and development of shells, which has less effect on the formation of seed kernels. These results provide useful information for understanding the relationship between Ca2+ absorption and pod development.

Stress induced dynamic adjustment of conserved miR164:NAC module.

Salinity and drought are the two major stresses limiting the productivity of economically important crops such as Glycine max (soybean). The incidence of these stresses during the pod development stages affects the quality and quantity of seeds, which compromise the yield of soybean. The miR164:NAC module has been shown to play a critical role in regulating the response to salt and drought stress in several plant species. However, biological role of miR164:NAC module in salt stress in soybean is not fully understood. In this study, we identified 215 salt responsive miRNAs, using miScript miRNA array with a sensitive and a tolerant soybean genotype, William82 and INCASoy36, respectively. The targets of these salt regulated miRNAs were searched in the degradome datasets. It was found that four salt stress deregulated miRNAs targeted the NAC transcription factor and among these miR164k and miR408d showed antagonistic expression in the two soybean genotypes. The expression of miR164k was higher in salt tolerant INCASoy36 as compared to salt sensitive William82, under unstressed conditions. However under salt stress, miR164k was downregulated in INCASoy36 (-2.65 fold), whereas it was upregulated in William82 (4.68 fold). A transient co-expression assay validated that gma-miR164k directs the cleavage of GmNAC1 transcript. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that the regulation of NAC transcription factor family by members of miR164 family is conserved across many species. The dynamic expression profiles of miR164 and NAC-TFs were captured in different tissues of rice, tobacco, and two soybean genotypes under drought and salt stress conditions. Collectively, our results suggest that genetically determined dynamic modulation of the conserved miR164:NAC-TF module may play an important role in determining the adaptive response of plants to stress.

Effect of foliar application of nitrogen and varieties on productivity and profitability of mungbean (Vigna radiata) in Afghanistan

A field experiment was conducted in 2017 at ANASTU, Afghanistan to find the productivity and profitability of foliar application of nitrogen on different varieties of mungbean (Vigna radiata L. Wilczek) crop. The treatments included two mungbean varieties (Mash 2008 and NM 94) and seven methods of nitrogen applications including absolute control, basal application 25 kg N/ha, one time foliar application of 2% urea at 40, 50 and 60 days after sowing (DAS), two time foliar application at 50 and 60 DAS and three time foliar application of 2% urea spray at pre flowering (40 DAS), flowering (50 DAS) and pod development (60 DAS). The results showed that the variety Mash 2008 showed significantly higher seed and stover yields, harvest index, gross and net returns, production and monetary efficiency compared to NM 94.Among the nitrogen application treatments, 3 times foliar application of 2% urea at pre flowering + flowering + pod development stages (40, 50 and 60 DAS) was most suitable treatment to get highest growth, productivity, profitability and production and monetary efficiency of mungbean. It was concluded that the 3 times foliar of 2% urea at pre flowering + flowering + pod development stages (40, 50 and 60 DAS) may be applied to the variety Mash 2008 to get highest productivity and profitability of mungbean and this combination may be recommended under the semi-arid conditions of Afghanistan.

Effect of moisture stress on physiological mechanisms in drought tolerance in selected genotypes of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Eight groundnut genotypes of including four released and pre-released genotypes were evaluated for moisture stress at pegging (M2) and pod development (M3) stage stress situations with control (M1) during post-rainy season (Nov-April), 2018-19 at University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad and Karnataka, India. The drought stress was imposed by with holding irrigation at 40-80 DAS (M2) and 80 DAS-harvest (M3). Observations were recorded for physiological parameters like leaf area, SPAD readings, chlorophyll content, stomatal frequency, photosynthetic rate and pod yield per plant. Among the selected genotypes, GPBD-4, Dh-257 and Dh-256 are considered as drought tolerant genotypes at both the stress levels based on lesser reduction in leaf area, optimum chlorophyll content and photosynthetic rate, less leaf folding and by these adaptations recorded reduced reduction in pod yield over control. Genotypes, Dh-86 and TMV-2 affected severely by drought at both the stages. But higher effect was observed under pod developmental stage stress.

Irrigation scheduling and weed management in rabi greengram (Vigna radiata)

An experiment was conducted in rabi season to study the weeds and yields of greengram as influenced by irrigation scheduling and weed management during 2018-19. Fifteen treatment combinations comprising three irrigation schedules viz., irrigations at flowering, irrigations at flowering and pod development and irrigations at branching, flowering and pod development stage; five weed management practices viz., Pendimethalin CS, Quizalofop-P-ethyl, Pendimethalin CS (PE) fb Quizalofop-P-ethyl (PoE), 2 HW at 20 and 40 DAS and unweeded check. were Echinochloa spp., Trianthema portulacastrum, Digera arvensis. Physalis minima, Convolvulus arvensis and Cynodon dactylon. were found as major weeds in experiment. The growth and yield attributes viz. plant height, number of branches/plant, dry matter accumulation, number of pods/plant, number of seeds/pod and 1000 seed weight were recorded significantly higher under Irrigations each at branching, flowering and pod development stage, ultimately produced higher seed and stover yield. Further, application of Pendimethalin CS 1 kg/ha significantly minimized the weed density and dry weight of weeds, resulted higher growth and yield of green gram crop. Whereas, weeds cause 58.8% yield losses under unweeded control. On the basis of interaction, it is inferred that irrigating the crop at branching, flowering and pod development and managed the weeds either through Pendimethalin CS 1.0 kg/ha (PE) or 2 HW at 20 and 40 DAS.

Standardizing the Hydrogel Application Rates and Foliar Nutrition for Enhancing Yield of Lentil (Lens culinaris)

Lentil (Lens culinaris) is an important winter season annual legume crop known for its highly valued seed in human and animal nutrition owing to its high lysine and tryptophan content. Shortage of water during the crop growth period has become the major impediment for cultivation of pulses in rice fallow in particular. Under such conditions, the application of hydrogel can be a potential alternative to improve photosynthetic efficiency, assimilate partitioning, and increase growth and yield. A field experiment was conducted from November to February during 2015–16 to 2017–18 on clay loam soil that was medium in fertility and acidic in reaction (pH 5.4) at Central Agricultural University, Imphal, Manipur. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with three replications. There were three hydrogel levels in total in the main plot and foliar nutrition with five different nutrient sprays in sub-plots, together comprising 15 treatment combinations. The data pooled over three years, 2015–2018, revealed that application of hydrogel at 5 kg/ha before sowing recorded a significantly greater number of pods per plant (38.0) and seed yield (1032.1 kg/ha) over the control. Foliar application of nutrients over flower initiation and pod development had a positive effect on increasing the number of pods per plant eventually enhanced the seed yield of lentil. Foliar application of either 0.5% NPK or salicylic acid 75 ppm spray at flower initiation and pod development stages recorded significantly more pods per plant over other nutrient treatments. Further, the yield attributed improved because of elevated growth in plant. Significantly maximum seed yield (956 kg/ha) recorded in the NPK spray of 0.5% remained on par with salicylic acid 75 ppm (939 kg/ha) over the rest of the treatments.

Infestations Of Two Major Pests Of Cocoa, Conopomorpha Cramerella and Helopeltis Theivora Under Natural Condition

The Cocoa pod borer (CPB), Conopomorpha cramerella (Snellen) (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) and Helopeltis theivora (Miller) (Hemiptera: Miridae) are the major pests of cocoa in the South East Asian Region. C. cramerella started to infest cocoa pod which more than 7cm in length, whereas H. theivora started to infest the pod at a very early stage of pod development. The present study aims to determine the relationship and the degree of damage severity of these two significant pests under natural condition. No insecticide spraying was carried out throughout sampling occasions; however, other management practices were implemented. Destructive sampling of fifty cocoa pods at various lengths was carried out at fortnightly basis.Percentage of infestation, number of CPB eggs, entry, and exit holes were recorded for an individual pod. The results obtained denoted that H. theivora begin attacking pods at a young age and the majority of the pods were infested when they reached 8 cm in length. The percentage of damage severity increased as the pod developed. In contrast to H. theivora incidence, the number of C. cramerella eggs were recorded higher when the percentage of H. theivora incidences were low. The highest mean number of C. cramerella eggs were recorded when the pod length is more than 150 mm. Although infestation of the C. cramerella was more serious, management of both pests must be started when the pod length is less than 8 cm. Integrated control approaches must be targeted to both pests at the appropriate time, to reduce significant losses.

Salinity response function on groundnut crop yield for Coastal region in Gujarat

Water scarcity and salinity are major constrains for agricultural sector in arid and semi-arid regions. Seasonally fluctuations in salt concentration of irrigation water effect on crop yield. Hence in the present effort the influence of variable concentrations of irrigation water subjected to groundnut crop and its effect was assessed on crop yield response by undertaking a field experiment during 2015. Four different concentration of saline irrigation water mainly 2 dSm−1 (T1), 4 dSm−1 (T2), 8 dSm−1 (T3) and 12 dSm−1 (T4) applied to vegetative stage (S1), flowering stage (S2) and pod development stage (S3), treatments were replicated four times. Threshold irrigation water salinity level was found to be 2 dSm−1 at each stage. FAO approach failed to predict concentration of irrigation water at which relative yield becomes zero accurately. The salinity of irrigation water at which yield become zero was estimated for different stages as per the procedure developed in the present study. Developed approach for yield response to differential salinity at different stages represented with a 3rd or 4th order polynomial equation. Based on different concentration of saline water, concluded that for each stage, yield decreases continuously while salinity increases above threshold level.

Evaluation of mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek] varieties under water deficit stress

Legumes are the most important source of food and fodder but due to climatic changes and global warming; crops are consistently exposed to environmental stresses such as low water shortage, high salinity, mineral toxicity and deficiency, extreme temperatures, etc. Drought is undoubtedly the major constraint limiting plant growth and crop productivity worldwide. The present study was conducted to assess the effect of drought on the growth of plant and productivity in three different mungbean varieties [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek] i.e. IPM 02-3, RMG 975 and IPM 02-14. The studied varieties exhibited significant variation in plant height, root length, pod length, pods/plant, fresh weight of shoot, root and nodule, dry weight of shoot, root and nodule, number of leaves/plant, plant leaf area, relative leaf water content (RLWC) and initiation day of flowering. The effect of drought can better seen at the flowering stage and pod development stage that ultimately reduces crop productivity. The deleterious effect of drought in terms of morpho-physiological properties studied as above was more prominent in the variety IPM 02-14 in comparison to RMG 975 and IPM 02-3. It can be concluded that varieties IPM 02-3 and RMG 975 are better adapted to drought condition.

Effect of biochar on soil physical and hydrological properties, and on growth, yield, quality of rabi groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) in red sandy loam soils of North Coastal Andhra Pradesh

A field experiment was conducted in red sandy loamsoils of North Coastal Andhra Pradesh to study the effect of biochar on soil physical and hydrological properties, and on growth and yield of rabi groundnut (variety K-6) during 2018-19. Biochar application to soil had significant influence on soil bulk density, porosity and maximum water holding capacity, non-significant influence on final infiltration rate and saturated hydraulic conductivity. Significantly low bulk densities (1.40 mg/m3 and 1.39 mg/m3) and high total porosities (47.17% and 47.55%) of soil at sowing stage were recorded in treatments which received biochar @ 6 t //ha (T5 & T8) and these treatments were on par with treatments which received biochar @ 4 t /ha(T4 and T7) and @ 2 t //ha (T3 and T6). However, T5 and T8 were significantly lower in bulk densities and higher in total porosities when compared to T1 (control) and T2 (100% RDF). Highest bulk density of 1.58 Mg /m3 and lowest total porosity ofsoil (40.38%) was noticed in T1 (control). Soil penetration resistance and soil temperature followed the trend of bulk density. In general, soil bulk density, soil penetration resistance and soil temperature increased fromsowing to harvesting stage of groundnut crop, but the percent pore space decreased. Biochar addition to soil impacted the maximum water holding capacity (MWHC) by recording increased water retention with increased rate of biochar addition from control to 2 t /ha upto 6 t /ha. Biochar addition @ 6 t /ha (T5 & T8) significantly increased MWHC of soil when compared to control (T1) and 100% RDF (T2). A slight but non-significant decrease in final infiltration rate and saturated hydraulic conductivity was noticed by biochar addition. Groundnut crop growth in the form of leaf area index at pod development stage was highest (3.16) in T5 (biochar 6 t /ha + 100% RDF) which was on par with T4 (biochar 4 t/ha + 100% RDF) and both T5 & T4 were significantly higher than T6, T7, T8, T2 and T1. In general, the dry matter accumulation increased from peg penetration to harvest. Highest dry matter accumulation of 2950.90 kg /ha and 6427.54 kg /ha, respectively at peg penetration and pod development stage was observed in T5 (100% RDF + biochar @ 6 t /ha) which was on par with T4 (100% RDF + biochar @ 4 t /ha), T3 (100% RDF + biochar @ 2 t /ha),T8 (75% RDF + biochar @ 6 t /ha) treatments. Groundnut pod yield was highest (4020 kg /ha) in T5 treatment (100% RDF + biochar @ 6 t /ha), which was on par with T4 (100% RDF + biochar @ 4 t /ha) and T8 (75% RDF + biochar @ 6 t /ha). From these observations, it could be concluded that application of biochar at either @ 4 t/ha + 100 % RDF or @ 6 t /ha + 75% RDF, resulted in better soil physical environment and also increased availability of nutrients which resulted in higher plant growth, dry matter production and pod yield in groundnut.

Growth and Productivity of Chickpea Genotypes under Different Soil Moisture Environment

The field experiment was conducted in concrete drought plots at crop physiology field lab, Department of Agronomy at CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar during rabi season 2017-18 with the objective to study the effect of soil moisture environment on growth and productivity of chickpea genotypes in Factorial Randomized Block Design with three replications. In one block two irrigations one at pre-flowering stage and other at pod development stage were applied and in other block no post sown irrigation was applied. Significantly more number of days were taken to reach various phenological stages, taller plants and higher dry matter accumulation and yield was recorded under irrigated environment in comparison to rainfed environment. Among genotypes, H 13-09 had taken significantly more number of days to 50 percent flowering, 50 percent podding and maturity as compared to other genotypes. Highest seed yield (2097 kg/ha) was recorded in genotypes H 13-36 as compared to other genotypes; however, it was statistically at par with genotypes H 12-63(1979 kg/ha) and H 13-09(2011 kg/ha).

Field Evaluation of Newer Insecticides against Spotted Pod Borer [Maruca vitrata (Geyer)], on Blackgram (Vigna mungo L.) in North Coastal Andhra Pradesh

Aims: To evaluate the efficacy of novel insecticides against the spotted pod borer on rice fallow blackgram.
 Study Design: Randomised Block Design (RBD) was used in this study.
 Place and Duration of Work: The present study was carried out at College farm Agricultural College, Naira during Rabi 2017-2018 season.
 Methodology: The spotted pod borer, Maruca vitrata (Geyer) is a serious pest of blackgram through out the growth period especially in flowering and pod development stages in North Coastal Andhra Pradesh. Management of this pest becomes difficult due to its concealed nature of feeding inside flowers and pods. Different newer insecticides were evaluated for the management of M. vitrata on blackgram cultivar LBG-752 under rice fallow situations with ten treatments replicated thrice.
 Results: The current study indicated that among all the insecticidal treatments chlorantraniliprole 9.3% + λ cyhalothrin 4.6% @ 0.5 ml l-1 was found to be very effective by recording 75.91 per cent overall mean reduction in M. vitrata larval population with lowest pod damage (7.04%) over control (60.58%) and also recorded highest grain yield (8.31 q ha-1) followed by chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC @ 0.0037% and flubendiamide @ 39.35 SC 0.00787% with 72.04 and 67.30 per cent overall reduction in mean larval population of M. vitrata over untreated control. The cost - benefit (C:B) ratio for all the treatments revealed that chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC @ 0.0037% was highly economical with a C : B of 1: 17.14 followed by spinosad 45 SC with cost - benefit (C:B) ratio 1: 15.28.
 Conclusion: Usage of newer insecticides with novel modes of action are highly effective against spotted pod borer with an additional increase in yield of blackgram.