Pod Development Stage Research Articles

Leaf photosynthesis and yield response of winter green gram (Vigna radiata) to high temperature and elevated CO2 in the soil plant atmosphere research (SPAR)

Legumes play an important role in India’s food security, inflation rate and export values. Climate variability might significantly affect the growth, development and yield of legume crops in various regions of the globe. The present study investigated the long episodes effect of high temperature and CO2 and ambient conditions on leaf photosynthesis and yield attributes of green gram (Vigna radiata) using soil plant atmospheric research (SPAR). Green gram was grown under high day temperature (HDT) (day maximum temperature + 3oC) and elevated CO2 (600ppm) (HDT and eCO2), high day and night temperature (HDNT) (day maximum temperature + 3oC) and elevated CO2 (600ppm) (HDNT and eCO2) and ambient conditions. Leaf photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate and chlorophyll index were significantly (p=0.05) increased by 25%, 24.1%, 23% and 4.6%, respectively, under HDT and eCO2 from 30 to 45 DAS (days after sowing) in comparison with ambient and HDNT and eCO2. The significant increase in number of flowers shed per plant increased under HDNT and eCO2 by 13% during 45 to 60 DAS. The increase in the number of pods per plant and grain yield per plant under HDT and eCO2 during 45 to 60 DAS by 26.9% and 25.7%, respectively. However, the biomass of the green gram was increased under HDNT and eCO2 during 30 to 45 DAS. These studies indicated a significant increase in leaf photosynthesis and yield of green gram under HDT and eCO2 at flower initiation to pod development stage (30 to 60 DAS) followed by HDNT and eCO2 and ambient condition. Overall study indicated that increasing temperature and CO2 would increase the biomass and yield of the green gram.

Morphological and molecular insights of calcium in peanut pod development

Calcium is an important secondary macronutrient after nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium for the proper development of the plant. It is typically important for the formation of cell walls, cell members and accumulates in the plant cells. Calcium deficiency occurs rarely in nature but excess calcium limits plant communities on calcareous soils. In peanut, calcium uptake by plants from the soil will remain in the plant tissues and will not be transported back to developing pods where calcium requirement is more. The geotropic growth of peanut pods had capacity of absorption of calcium from the soil for filling and development of pods. Application of calcium before the pod development stage in peanut is required to have sufficient calcium available to the pods which could help an increase in yield up to 20–30%. The calcium-related genes in different metabolic pathways help in the regulation of embryo abortion in peanut and also a well-documented role in mediating plant responses to abiotic and biotic stimuli. This article provides a summary of the role of calcium, its management details, the transport of calcium into plants through the soil and overview of calcium genes in peanut pod development.

Genome-wide association analysis of stress tolerance indices in an interspecific population of chickpea.

Chickpea is a cool season crop that is highly vulnerable to abiotic stresses such as heat and drought. High temperature during early flowering and pod development stages significantly reduces the crop yield. The wild relatives of chickpeas can be potential donors for the introgression of heat and drought tolerance into cultivated chickpeas for crop improvement. Initially, 600 interspecific lines were derived from crosses between two elite cultivars, CDC Leader (kabuli chickpea) and CDC Consul (desi chickpea), and 20 accessions of Cicer reticulatum. The F5 interspecific lines were tested for agronomic and seed quality traits including reaction to ascochyta blight disease under field conditions at two locations in 2018. A subset of 195 lines were selected based on resistance to ascochyta blight and acceptable seed quality. These lines were evaluated for their performance under suboptimal conditions at Lucky Lake (2019 and 2020) and Moose Jaw (2019), Saskatchewan, Canada, and Yuma, Arizona, United States (2019–2020). The lines were grown and evaluated at two seeding dates, normal (SD1) and late (SD2) seeding dates, at each location and year. The same lines were genotyped using Cicer60K Axiom® SNP chip. The population structure was determined based on 35,431 informative SNPs using fastStructure, and the interspecific lines were clustered at a k-value of 15. Significant marker-trait associations were identified for seed yield from SD1 and SD2 seeding dates, and stress tolerance indices (ATI, K1STI, MP, SSPI, and TOL) using phenotypic values both from individual locations and combined analyses based on BLUP values. SNP marker Ca2_34600347 was significantly associated with yield from both the seeding dates. This and other SNP markers identified in this study may be useful for marker-assisted introgression of abiotic stress tolerance in chickpea.

First Report of Diaporthe tulliensis and D. pseudomangiferae causing cacao pod rot in Puerto Rico.

Worldwide cacao pod rot is a devastating disease of Theobroma cacao, infected cacao pods turn necrotic reducing yield up to 30%. From July 2020 to August 2021, a survey was conducted at the USDA-ARS cacao germplasm collection located at Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. Incidence of cacao pod rot was 73.9%, observed in 142 of the 196 accessions sampled. The disease was observed at different stages of pod development (small, green, mature pods, and dry mummified large pods). Diseased tissue from three cacao pods (1 mm2) per each cacao accession was surface disinfested by immersion in 70% ethanol for one minute, rinsed with sterile-distilled-water and plated on potato dextrose agar (PDA) amended with 250 mg/L ampicillin and 60 mg/L streptomycin. After 30 days of incubation at 25°C, seven isolates developing white fast-growing colonies with black-globose pycnidia were observed. All isolates produced hyaline, one-celled, biguttulate, and cylindrical and rounded at the apex α conidia of 5.1 to 7.3 µm × 2.5 to 3.0 µm in size and were identified as Diaporthe spp. (Gomes et al. 2013; Crous et al. 2015). To determine the species identity, seven isolates were sequenced of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS), sections of β-tubulin (BT) and translation elongation factor 1 alpha (EF1-α) and compared using the BLASTn with Diaporthe spp. type specimens deposited in NCBI GenBank. ITS, BT and EF1-α sequences of Phomocac16, Phomcac17, Phomcac18 and Phomcac21 isolates (GenBank accession nos. OL353698 to OL353701, OL412430 to OL412433, and OL412437 to OL412440 for ITS, BT and EF1-α, respectively) were grouped to the holotype BRIP 62248a (Bootstrap BS=100) of Diaporthe tulliensis R.G. Shivas, Vawdrey & Y.P. Tan. The other three isolates (Phomcac8P1, Phomcac8P3 and Phomcac8P4) were grouped to the ex-type (CBS 101339) of Diaporthe pseudomangiferae R.R. Gomes, Glienke & Crous, ITS, BT and EF1-α sequences of (GenBank accessions nos. OL353702 to OL353704, OL412434 to OL412436, and OL412441 to OL412443, for ITS, BT and EF1-α, respectively). Pathogenicity tests were conducted using isolates Phomocac16, Phomcac17, Phomcac18 and Phomcac21 of D. tulliensis and isolates Phomcac8P1, Phomcac 8P3 and Phomcac8P4 of D. pseudomangiferae on five healthy detached green, yellow and red pods of the following cacao varieties: TARS27, ICS16, ICS1, GS29, UF601, SIAL56, Amelonado, SIAL98, EET94, ICS129 and GNV58. Cacao pods were wounded and inoculated with 5-mm mycelial disks from 8-day-old pure cultures grown on PDA of each isolate and wrapped with parafilm. Untreated controls were inoculated with PDA disks only. Fruits were kept in a humid chamber for 8 days at 25°C. Tests were repeated twice. Eight days after inoculation with D. tulliensis and D. pseudomangiferae, all cacao pods turned dark brown, untreated controls showed no symptoms of pod rot, and no fungi were isolated from tissue. Both species, D. tulliensis and D. pseudomangiferae were reisolated from their respective diseased tissues fulfilling Koch's postulates. Diaporthe tulliensis has been reported from rotted stem ends of cacao pods in Australia (Crous et al. 2015), and D. pseudomangiferae was reported in a shipment of cacao seed pods in California; however, pathogenicity tests were not conducted at either location. In California D. pseudomangiferae is considered a quarantine pathogen with a temporary Q rating (Chitambar 2017). To our knowledge, this is the first report of D. tulliensis and D. pseudomangiferae causing cacao pod rot in Puerto Rico. Knowing the identity and incidence of these new cacao pathogens is the first step for developing specific control measures and potential sources for resistance to cacao pod rot caused by Diaporthe spp.

Effect of high night temperature and CO2 on yield and seed quality of summer green gram (Vigna radiata) under soil plant atmospheric research (SPAR)

An experiment was designed in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu during two successive summer seasons, 2021 and 2022, to investigate the effects of high night temperature (HNT) (ambient+3oC) and CO2 (600ppm) on the yield and seed quality parameters of green gram under ten treatments in SPAR (Soil Plant Atmospheric Research) and ambient conditions. The objective of this research was to i) quantify the short-term effects of HNT and CO2 on yield contribution factors and (ii) quantify seed quality parameters employing biochemical analysis. Green gram yield and quality parameters were significantly reduced under HNT and CO2 when compared to ambient condition. Pooled data from two successive summer seasons revealed that when stress was imposed from (i) 43 to 49 DAS (Day After Sowing), the number of flowers dropped per plant significantly increased by 41.3% (ii) 29 to 35 DAS, pod setting percentage decreased by 18.5% (iii) 36 to 42 DAS, grain yield and biomass/plant decreased by 26.9 % and 29.3%respectively. In aspects of seed quality parameters, data revealed that under stress (i) Seed protein decreased by 20.5% from 50 to 56 DAS. (ii) Total sugars, polyphenols, calcium and iron decreased by 17.7, 19.9, 19.9 and 37.3%, respectively from 43 to 49 DAS. (iii) Seed moisture was reduced by 19.7% during 57 to 63 DAS. (iv) The levels of proline and phytic acid increased by 64.3 and 33.8%, respectively, from 50 to 56 DAS and 43 to 49 DAS. Overall, green gram yield was adversely affected on three treatments from 35 to 56 DAS (flower initiation stage to pod filling stage) and seed quality parameters such as protein, total sugars, polyphenols, seed moisture, proline, phytic acid, calcium and iron were reduced under HNT and CO2 from 50% flowering to pod development stage (42 to 56 DAS).

Application of Stress Indices to Identify Terminal Heat Tolerance Genotype in Field Pea (Pisum sativum var. arvense)

Background: The exposure of field pea crop to high-temperature stress during the anthesis and pod development stage led to poor pollination, development of shriveled pods and poor performance that results in reduced seed yield. The study aims to screen and identify heat-tolerant genotypes based on stress tolerance indices. One hundred forty-three field pea genotypes, including three checks evaluated in augmented block design for seed yield per plant under normal and late sown conditions to identify terminal heat-tolerant genotypes of field pea. Methods: Stress indices were computed based on seed yield per plant under normal (Yp) and late (Ys) sown conditions. The stress indices for seed yield are calculated as per the suggested method i.e. tolerance index (Hossain et al., 1990), heat susceptibility index (Fischer and Maurer, 1978), yield stability index (Bouslama and Schapaugh, 1984), mean productivity (Hossain et al., 1990), geometric mean productivity (Fernandez, 1992), stress tolerance index (Fernandez, 1992). Correlation coefficient and principal component analysis were done by using R (version 4.1.1) statistical software. Result: Correlation coefficient analysis reveals that seed yield under stress conditions was positively correlated with the indices viz., MP, GMP, STI and YSI whereas, it was negatively correlated with HSI, signifying that higher estimates of MP, GMP, STI and YSI and lower of HSI correspond to heat tolerance. The seed yield under both environments had a positive and significant association with MP, GMP and STI. Genotypes viz., EC-341743, P-1679, P-1384-3, P-179 and P-781 were found with high indices scores and showing their suitability for the breeding program for heat tolerance. The first two principal components (PCs) accounted for 97.46% of the total variation present in the genotype.

​Phoma Blight of Soybean in Kashmir: Etiology, Relative Yield Losses and Critical Stage of Management Intervention

Background: Soybean leaf blight has been viewed as a possible biotic stress responsible for decreasing yield potential of soybean in Kashmir over the years. Therefore, its etiology and recording associated yield loss were deemed necessary corresponding to baseline findings for deciding any chemical or non-chemical intervention in disease management. Methods: Field and laboratory investigations were undertaken during crop periods of 2019 and 2020. Disease specimens were collected from various locations across valley and the pathogen was isolated on Potato Dextrose Agar medium. To identify the host range of soybean isolate, nine pulse crops were tested under controlled conditions (Tem. 22±3°C and RH greater than 80%). The relative yield loss and critical stage of chemical intervention were assessed by exposing soybean populations to disease at different phenological stages which created five different levels of disease in a field experiment laid in RBD with four replications. Result: Phoma sojicola (syn. Ascochyta sojicola) was associated pathogen of this disease of soybean in Kashmir. Typical disease symptoms on leaves comprised of roughly circular and brown lesions (up to 20 mm diameter) with concentric rings having interspersed pycnidia. Most often the diseased tissue fall apart and gives it a shot hole expression. Radial daily mycelial growth of the pathogen was 3.62 mm colony was grey olivaceous in the centre and light olivaceous towards periphery. Conidia were hyaline, oblong to ellipsoidal and 1-2 celled with average dimensions of 7.98 x 2.87 µ. Chlamydospores were brown olivaceous, globose to sub-globose with average dimensions of 16.89 x 9.30 µ. After artificial inoculation, Phaseolus vulgaris, Vigna sinensis, V. radiata, V. mungo, Cicer arietinum, Vicia faba and Cajanus cajan manifested disease symptoms after variable incubation periods of 8-13 days, while as Lens esculenta and Pisum sativum resisted the invasion. Early appearance of the Phoma blight (V-1 stage) in soybean can reach a terminal intensity of 67.16 per cent besides causing 51.72 per cent yield loss. Tolerable yield loss (5.63%) was achieved only when the crop was maintained disease free up to R-3 (beginning pod development) stage.

Foliar Spray of Micronutrients Alleviates Heat and Moisture Stress in Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik) Grown Under Rainfed Field Conditions.

The simultaneous occurrence of high temperature and moisture stress during the reproductive stage of lentil (Lens culinaris Medik) constrains yield potential by disrupting the plant defense system. We studied the detrimental outcomes of heat and moisture stress on rainfed lentils under residual moisture in a field experiment conducted on clay loam soil (Aeric Haplaquept) in eastern India from 2018 to 2019 and from 2019 to 2020 in winter seasons. Lentil was sown on two dates (November and December) to expose the later sowing to higher temperatures and moisture stress. Foliar sprays of boron (0.2% B), zinc (0.5% Zn), and iron (0.5% Fe) were applied individually or in combination at the pre-flowering and pod development stages. High temperatures increased malondialdehyde (MDA) content due to membrane degradation and reduced leaf chlorophyll content, net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, water potential, and yield (kg ha–1). The nutrient treatments affected the growth and physiology of stressed lentil plants. The B+Fe treatment outperformed the other nutrient treatments for both sowing dates, increasing peroxidase (POX) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activities, chlorophyll content, net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, relative leaf water content (RLWC), seed filling duration, seed growth rate, and yield per hectare. The B+Fe treatment increased seed yield by 35–38% in late-sown lentils (December). In addition, the micronutrient treatments positively impacted physiological responses under heat and moisture stress with B+Fe and B+Fe+Zn alleviating heat and moisture stress-induced perturbations. Moreover, the exogenous nutrients helped in improving physiochemical attributes, such as chlorophyll content, net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, water potential, seed filling duration, and seed growth rate.

Influence of nitrogen levels on yield of French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) under different irrigation regimes

The proper irrigation and nitrogen fertilizer management are crucial for sustainable and potential production of French bean as a legume crop overall favoring human nutrition. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted during November 2018 to April 2019 at Agronomy Field Laboratory, Bangladesh Agricultural University to assess the impact of irrigation and nitrogen at the yield performance on French bean. The stages of irrigation viz., no irrigation, one irrigation during flowering at 40 days after sowing (DAS), two irrigations during flowering (40 DAS) and pod formation stage (60 DAS), and three levels of nitrogen viz., no nitrogen fertilizer, 90 kg N/ha at 100% basal application, 45 kg N/ha at 50% basal application and 45 kg N/ha at 50% pod development stage (60 DAS) were utilized in a Split-plot layout allocating irrigation to the whole plots. The treatments were replicated three times. Yield and yield attributes were appreciably influenced by both irrigation and nitrogen treatments. From irrigation treatment, the highest plant, quantity of pod/plant, length of pod, number of seed/pod, number of seed/plant, weight of 1000 grains, stover yield, biological yield and harvest index were observed in one irrigation at flowering stage at 40 DAS which consequently produced the best grain yield (2.07 t/ha); while the least grain yield (1.48 t/ha) found in control or no irrigation treatment. Considering nitrogen, the best seed yield was recorded in (45+45) kg nitrogen/ha. In interaction, the highest plant (42.87cm), number of pod/plant (5.64), length of pod (15.24), weight of 1000 grains, grain, stover, and biological yields (2.52, 3.76, and 6.29 t/ha, respectively) and the harvest index were observed in one irrigation during flowering (40 DAS) and 90kg N/ha at 50% (45 kg) basal application and 50% (45 kg) at pod development stage (60 DAS). The experiment results indicated to the scope of increasing the yield of French bean by irrigation at flowering stage and proper doses of nitrogen fertilizer. Therefore, the application of one-time irrigation during flowering stage along with 90 kg nitrogen/ha at 50% (45 kg) as basal and 50% (45 kg) at pod development stage (60 DAS) can be recommended as the promising technique for French cultivation.

Productivity of Lentil as Affected by Micronutrient Application at Old Alluvial Zone of West Bengal, India

Field trial was conducted to optimize the micronutrient application in lentil crop (Variety-WBL-77) at Regional Research Station (Old Alluvial Zone), Uttar BangaKrishi Viswavidyalaya, Majhian during 2019-20 and 2020-21. Foliar application of Fe, Zn and B (at 50 and 100 ppm each) were applied twice, first at pre anthesis stage and second at pod development stage. Parameters such as plant height (cm), dry matter (g/m2), number of nodules per plant and number of pods per plant were observed highest with T8(RDF+50 ppm Zn+Fe+B foliar spray) treatment whereas the T1 (RDF) showed the lowest value for each parameter. T3 (RDF+100 ppm Zn foliar spray) resulted with maximum 1000 seed weight (g). T8 (RDF+50 ppm Zn+Fe+B foliar spray) was also recorded with the highest seed yield (kg/ha), stover yield (kg/ha). Both T7 (RDF+100 ppm B foliar spray) and T8 (RDF+50 ppm Zn+Fe+B foliar spray) treatments were resulted with the same value of harvest index followed by the rest of the treatments. Therefore, the treatment T8 (RDF+50 ppm Zn+Fe+B foliar spray) proved best among the treatments selected and can be recommended for lentil (Variety-WBL-77).

Uptake and timing of calcium in runner peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Peanut production in the southeastern United States is often limited due to low Ca availability. Gypsum and lime are common Ca supplements for peanut, but the indeterminate nature of peanut and variable solubility of these products adds uncertainty to timing of Ca amendments. Two sets of field trials were performed in southern Alabama from 2012 to 2014 under both irrigated and non-irrigated conditions using two runner-type peanut cultivars (Georgia-06G and Georgia Greener) to determine Ca uptake patterns and timing of amendments. Calcium uptake was evaluated by pod development stage with four soil Ca treatments: 560 and 1120 kg ha −1 gypsum applied at early bloom, 1120 kg ha −1 lime at planting, and an untreated control. Developmental stages were determined by the hull scrape method. The timing of gypsum and lime was evaluated using metrics of peanut yield, grade, germination, and seed Ca. Treatments included a single application of gypsum at planting and early bloom, split applications of gypsum at planting/early bloom and early/mid-bloom, lime at planting, lime at planting plus gypsum at early bloom, and an untreated control. Results suggested that peanut absorbed Ca throughout the entire growing season and that seed Ca concentration could be used as an indicator of early-season seed quality. Split applications of gypsum at early/mid-bloom tended to have a superior performance than a single application at planting or early bloom and split applications at planting/early bloom. Supplemental gypsum at early bloom combined with lime at planting further increased Ca availability under non-irrigated conditions relative to the lime-only treatment. This study provided helpful information for Ca nutrient management for peanut.

Effect of foliar application of potassium nitrate on yield and energy of garden pea (Pisum sativum L.)

Field experimentation was conducted during Rabi season of 2021 at Central Farm, College of Agriculture, Central Agricultural University, Imphal, India to evaluate the “Effect of foliar application of potassium nitrate on growth, yield and economics of Garden pea (Pisum sativum L)”. Experiment was laid out in Factorial Randomized Block design (FRBD) with three replications consisting of different times of foliar application (A1: Flower initiation stage, A2: Pod development stage and A3: both stages) and four different levels of KNO3 foliar application (F1:0.5 % KNO3, F2:1 % KNO3, F3:1.5 % KNO3 and F4:2 % KNO3) and one control with a total 13 treatments. The results of the study revealed that, among the various treatment combinations, the treatment (A3F4) foliar spray of 2% KNO3 at both flower initiation and pod development stage recorded significantly highest yield components like number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, green pod yield, seed yield and Stover yield but non-significant in pod length and harvest index. It was followed by 1.5 % KNO3 application at both flower initiation and pod development stage. The assessment of the energy requirement of foliar application of potassium nitrate, the results revealed that the total input energy utilization was highest in 2 % KNO3 application at both flower initiation and pod development stage (A3F4) followed by 1.5 % KNO3 at both flower initiation and pod development stage (A3F3). Maximum output energy (75.726 GJ/ha), net energy output (68.839 GJ/ha), energy productivity (0.3885 kg/MJ) and minimum specific energy (2.57 MJ/kg) were found in same treatment (A3F4). But in case of energy use efficiency (11.328 %) was found highest in 2 % KNO3 application at flower initiation stage (A1F4).

Pest Incidence on pole type french bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) under net house

The present study revealed that infestation by serpentine leafminer was maximum i.e. 40.8% damage at the harvesting stage of the crop while red spider mite caused 37.08%, damage at pod bearing stage. Leafhoppers damage initiated with 6.56% reaching to peak of 21% whereas tobacco caterpillar damage ranged from 6.93 to 22.80%. Yellow sticky traps were used to know the abundance of sucking insects pests. A maximum of 21.00 ± 0.82 leafminers, 4.34 ± 0.94 leafhoppers, and 3.00 ± 0.68 of red spider mites were trapped during the pod development stage.

Response of mungbean to foliar application of nitrogen and micronutrients during reproductive stages

An experiment was conducted at the pot yard of Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture, Mymensingh during the period from February to May 2017 to investigate the effect of foliar application of nitrogen and micronutrients on crop characters, yield attributes and yield of two mungbean genotypes. The experiment comprised four levels of nutrients foliar application like, i) T1 = Control; ii) T2 = Foliar application of urea at the rate of 1.5% four times from flowering start to pod development stage with an interval of 4 days; iii) T3 = T2 + 0.1% micronutrients (B, Mo, Zn, Mn, Ca, Fe, Cu) four times from flowering start to pod development stage with an interval of 4 days and iv); T4 = T3 + side dressing (soil application) of 1.5% N and 0.1% micronutrients solution four times from flowering start to pod development stage with an interval of 4 days. The genotypes were Binamoog-6 and Binamoog-7. Results revealed that morphological (plant height, branch and leaf number, leaf area plant-1), physiological (total dry mass plant-1, specific leaf weight, chlorophyll), yield attributes (number of pods plant-1, pod length, single pod weight, number of seeds pod-1 and 100-seed weight) and yield increased in foliar nutrients applied plants over control but the increment was greater in T2 and T3 than the T4 treatment. The highest plant height, branch and leaf number, leaf area, total dry mass, pod number, pod length, 100-seed weight and seed yield were recorded in T2 followed by T3 with same statistical rank (in most cases). The lowest morpho-physiological, yield attributes and yield were recorded in T1 (control) plants. Binamoog-7 was superior in most of plant parameters and yield compared to Binamoog-6.

Effect of Zinc and Iron on Growth and Productivity of Relay Grass Pea (Lathyrus sativus L.) in New Alluvial Zone of West Bengal

A field experiment was designed to validate the effect of Zinc and Iron on growth and productivity of relay Grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.) in New Alluvial Zone of West Bengal. The experiment was carried out in BCKV, Kalyani, West Bengal, India during rabi seasons of 2016-17 and 2017-18, following split-split plot design taking relay sowing of lathyrus in main plots [S1: Satabdi (IET 4786), S2: Swarna (MTU 7029)], three lathyrus varieties in sub plot (V1: Nirmal, V2: Prateek and V3: Ratan) and four foliar sprays at pre-flowering and pod development stages in sub – sub plot (F1: Control, F2: 0.5% FeSO4, F3: 0.5% ZnSO4 and F4: 0.5% FeSO4 + 0.5% ZnSO4) with three replications. First date of sowing (S1) i.e., relay sowing of lathyrus in satabadi (IET 4786) and foliar spray of Fe and Zn, either alone or in combination performed better in terms of plant height, dry matter accumulation, CGR, LAI, LAD, seed yield, stover yield and harvest index of different lathyrus varieties due to higher radiation use efficiency and profile moisture contribution.

Response of Summer Mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) wilczek] to Foliar Potash Fertilization under Different Moisture Regimes

Background: Scheduling of irrigation is the major factor in producing higher yields of summer crops. Water stress during the sensitive stages will cause significant reduction in yield. Potassium (K+) is reported as an important element in reducing the ill effects of crop water stress. Foliar application of potassium increases the drought tolerance in mungbean. Keeping this in view, a field experiment was conducted to study the response of summer mungbean to foliar potassic fertilization under different moisture regimes during 2018 at SVPUAT, Meerut (U.P). Methods: It included 12 treatment combinations comprised of 2 irrigation schedules (0.6 and 0.4 IW/CPE ratio) and 6 foliar potassium treatments (1% spray of K through KNO3 and/or KCl at flowering, flowering and pod development stage including control), replicated thrice and were tested under a split-plot design. Result: The results indicated that, the growth parameters, yield and yield attributes of mungbean were significantly higher under 0.6 IW/CPE ratio as compared to 0.4. The gross returns, net returns and B:C ratio were also found highest with 0.6 IW/CPE ratio. Among the foliar application of potassium treatments, the growth attributes, yield and yield attributes were significantly increased by foliar application of 1% K through KNO3/KCl at flowering and pod development stage. The foliar application of 1% K through KNO3 at flowering and pod development stage fetched significantly higher gross returns, net returns and B:C ratio, but remained on par with dual spray of 1% K through KCl. The interaction effect between irrigation regimes and potassium foliar levels was non-significant for most of the parameters.

Thermal and radiation environments for assessing crop-weather relationship of soybean in eastern Madhya Pradesh

A field experiment was conducted during with three sowing dates (23 June, 8 July and 23 July) with three varieties (JS 20-29, JS 20-34 and JS 97-52) kharif season of 2016 and 2017 at Jabalpur in eastern Madhya Pradesh for assessing crop weather relationship in soybean through thermal and radiation environments. The results revealed that early sown crop attained more accumulated heat units, and yield decreased with delay in sowing. The maximum and minimum temperatures during reproductive stage were positively correlated with seed yield while negatively associated with vegetative and pod development stages. Photosynthetic active radiation absorption (APAR) was maximum in June sowing in semi-determinate JS 97-52 variety at pod formation stage. Maximum leaf area index (LAI) exhibited in June sown for JS 97-52 variety during pod formation stage. Seed yield increase with increased in APAR and LAI during pod formation stage. Season length difference between normal and actual crop maturity period increased with the decrease in GDD thereby suggesting a decline in yield due to shortening of crop growing period.

Effect of elevated temperature on green gram [Vigna radiata (I).Wilczek] performance under temperature gradient tunnel (TGT) environment in Punjab

Physiology of green gram is highly sensitive to fluctuations in the thermal environment. Abnormally high temperatures during pod setting to pod development stage induces reduction in pod setting, nonhealthy development and early maturity of grain which results in yield decline. We evaluated the effect of elevated temperatures in a Temperature Gradient Tunnel (TGT) on phenology, physiology and crop performance of green gram cultivars at semi-arid climate of Indian Punjab (Ludhiana). Five green gram cultivars were grown in TGT chambers in a factorial randomized block design with varying level of elevated temperatures (+3.3° C to 5.2° C) for two consecutive kharif seasons (2015-2016). The results reveal that the phenological stages of green gram, were advanced under elevated temperature within the TGT compared to open / ambient condition by 12-13 days. Maximum influence was observed in pod formationand pod maturity stages. With rise in temperatures by 3.3 to 5.2°C in TGT over ambient condition, the plant height increased but the number of branches per plant and the total above ground biomass as well as grain yield decreased consistently. It was found that with 1 oC increase in average seasonal temperature, the grain yield decreased by 75 kg ha-1. On the other hand, the harvest index was in general lower inside TGT chamber implying adverse influence of elevated temperature on biomass production although the partitioning of biomass was more efficient inside the TGT as evident from increase in harvest index. There was strong negative correlation of elevated temperature (inside TGT) with different yield attributes like 1000 seed weight, number of seeds per pod and number of pods per plant. Among the five green gram cultivars, ML-2037 was the most tolerant while cv. SML-1811 was the most susceptible to elevated temperature condition. In general, the grain yield decreased linearly with gradual increase in temperature.Average seasonal temperature of 29-30 oC may be considered as the favourable thermal conditions for the green gram crop in semi-arid conditions of Punjab. However, the future thrust will be to create more temperature gradients in the lower side so that the critical temperature threshold limits for optimum yield of green gram can be ascertained more accurately.

Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L.) Growth, Yield and Monetary Influence by Drip Irrigation and Mulch in Vertisols of Madhya Pradesh

Background: Farmers are facing many constraints related with pigeonpea cultivation therefore proper resources management and scientific practices can increase the production and productivity of pigeonpea. Drip and mulching can be a way to achieve the goal of more crop per drop. Methods: The field experiments were conducted during kharif season of year 2016-17 and 2017-18. The study area is located (23°16'48'' N-latitude, 77°21'36'' E-longitude) in Madhya Pradesh. The experiment was laid out in vertisols with twenty seven treatment combinations consisting of three mulching, three discharge rate (2 lph-D1, 4 lph-D2 and 8 lph-D3) and three irrigation levels viz. 60% CPE (I1), 80% CPE (I2) and 100% CPE (I3). Well treated bold seeds of pigeonpea (TJT-501) were dibbed in soil on ridge-furrow land configuration. Result: The plant height was maximum in 2 lph (175.78 cm), I2 (176.10 cm) and number of branches, number of pods per plant, seeds per pod also followed the same trend. Maximum yield was registered with D1 (16.48 q/ha) followed by D2 (14.91 q/ha) and D3 (14.46 q/ha). Irrigation level I2 (16.01 q/ha) registered 13.77% higher seed yield than I1 (14.07 q/ha). In case of discharge rate, B:C decreased as rate increased. Among irrigation level treatments, lowest value (1.26) of B:C recorded with 60% CPE whereas highest B:C (1.56) was registered with 80% CPE, which is at par with 100% CPE (1.52). It can be concluded that pigeonpea cultivation is not economical with mulch and 100% supply of irrigation during kharif. It is viable to supply irrigation as per CPE only at branching, flowering and pod development stages.

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.