THE LEVEL OF KNOWLEDGE OF NURSERY OWNERS IN THE PRODUCTION AND MARKETING OF SAPLINGS

The purpose of this study is to determine the level of knowledge of nursery owners in the production and marketing of saplings. Ninety four nursery owners were selected randomly from a total of 157 nursery owners under four Upazila of Rangpur district. An interview scheduled was used for the collection of data in 2011; and the results shows that 63.8% of the nursery owners had medium level of knowledge, while 36.2% had high level of knowledge. Findings also shows that farm size, annual income ,innovativeness, communication exposure, training received, and involvement in nursery have positive significant relationships and constraints during production; and marketing has negative significant relationship with the level of knowledge of the nursery owners. However, the result of stepwise multiple regression indicates that 69.4% (Adjusted R2=69.4) of the variance in the level of knowledge of the nursery owners could be explained using the explanatory variables of the study. This indicates that there are other variables working behind the level of knowledge of the nursery owners during production and marketing

Effect of antibiotics and BAU-biofungicide in controlling bacterial leaf blight of litchi

The experiment was carried out in the net house, Department of Plant Pathology, Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), Mymensingh, Bangladesh during 16 July 2012 to June 2013 to find out the suitable management practices for controlling bacterial leaf blight of litchi by applying six treatments viz., (i) T1–Gentamycin @ 0.05%, (ii) T2– Erithromycin @ 0.05%, (iii) T3–Doxycycline @ 0.05%, (iv) T4–Copper sulphate @ 0.05%, (v) T5–BAU-biofungicide @ 2% and (vi) T6–Control. Per cent incidence and per cent severity have been found to decrease by applying BAU-biofungicide, copper sulphate and gentamycin, although other treatments showed good result in decreasing severity of bacterial leaf blight. BAU-biofungicide was found superior among the treatments as it increased 18.83% plant height, 43.50% branch over control and reduced 17.16% disease incidence and 63.03% disease severity over control when applied as foliar spray @ 2%. Copper sulphate reduced 13.85% disease incidence and 50.21% disease severity over control and graded second best control measure for bacterial leaf blight of litchi when applied as foliar spray @ 0.05%

Assessing groundwater stoichiometric composition and its suitability in northwestern Bangladesh

Groundwater quality analyses included pH, EC, cations (Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, Zn2+, Cu2+, Mn2+, Fe3+ and As3+), anions (CO32-, HCO3-, NO3-, SO42-, PO43- and Cl-) and TDS of northwestern Bangladesh. The samples contained Ca2+, Mg2+ and Na+ as the dominant cations and HCO3- and Cl- were the dominant anions. Ratios of major cations and anions of water samples suggest the predominance of Ca and Mg-containing minerals over Na-containing minerals. According to TDS and SAR values, all samples were classed as 'freshwater' and 'excellent' categories. The SSP of all waters was under 'excellent' and 'good' classes. All samples were within 'soft' class regarding hardness with 'suitable' RSC. Based on As3+, Zn2+, Mn2+, Fe3+, SO42-, NO3- and Cl- all groundwater samples were within the 'safe' limit for drinking but unsuitable for some industries for specific ions

Optimizing of planting density on the growth and yield of aromatic fine rice in rainfed condition

A field experiment was carried out at the Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA) farm, Mymensingh, Bangladesh during July to December, 2010, in view to find out the optimum plant spacing for the highest yield of aromatic fine rice grown in rain fed season. The experiment was carried out with four aromatic fine rice (V1= BRRI dhan34, V2= Ukunimadhu, V3= Basmati and V4= Kataribhog) and four different plant spacings (S1= 15cm×15cm, S2= 20cm × 15cm, S3= 20cm × 20cm, S4= 20cm × 25cm). The experiment was laid out in split-plot design with three replications assigning variety in the main plot and the spacing in the sub plot. It was observed that almost all the plant characters and yield were significantly affected by the aromatic fine rice and plant spacing. Among the spacings tested against the four varieties, the highest grain yield was obtained at 20 cm × 15 cm and 20 cm × 20 cm spacing. The spacing 20 cm×15 cm and 20 cm × 20 cm were proven more appropriate because it produced more number of effective tillers hill-1 more number of grains panicle-1 and ultimately produced the higher grain yield than other two spacings. Among the varieties Kataribhog, Basmati and Ukunimadhu produced higher grain yield at 20 cm × 15 cm and 20 cm × 20 cm

Yield loss assessment of chickpea caused by botrytis gray mold through fungicide (Bavistin) spray

An experiment was conducted to assess the yield loss of chickpea caused by Botrytis gray mold (BGM) through fungicide spray at Pulses Research Centre, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Ishurdi, Pabna, Bangladesh. Sixteen entries were evaluated following RCB design with three replications. Out of 16 tested germplasms, eight germplasms (92040*52, FLIP97-530 CLIMS, 94-012*98V4006, FLIP98-106C, Gully, FLIP94-509C, 97020-1489 and S95425) showed resistant reaction, while eight and one entries showed susceptible and highly susceptible, respectably, in fungicide sprayed plot. The highest yield increase over BGM inoculated plot were observed in BARWON*98CIH4007 (180.49%) and 97020-1489 (157.96%). The lowest yield increase over BGM inoculated plot were recorded in HEERA*98CZH4010 (6.39%) and 94-012*98V4006 (8.93%) genotypes

Effect of Different Nitrogen and Potassium Rates on Agronomic Characters of Aloe indica

A field study was conducted to investigate the growth of Aloe indica with different rates of nitrogen and potassium fertilizers at the Germplasm Centre, Department of Horticulture, Bangladesh Agricultural University.  Treatments consisted of 0, 200 and 300 kg nitrogen/ha and 0, 100 and 200 kg potassium/ha. The rates of nitrogen and potassium had significant effect on the leaf production of Aloe indica when compared to control. Leaf yield of Aloe indica was highest at application of nitrogen at rate 200 kg/ha and potassium at rate 100 kg/ha. Leaf protein content was 12.71% higher at 200 kg N/ha and 8.47% higher at 300 kg N/ha compared to control. Potassium application at rate of 100 and 200 kg/ha produced 4.86 % and 8.51% higher leaf protein content than the control, respectively. It is recommended to apply nitrogen at rate 200 kg/ha and potassium at rate 100 kg/ha for leaf production of Aloe indica.   Key words: Aloe indica, chemical fertilizers, leaf nitrogen, protein content, potassium conten

Effect of times and levels of inoculum of Trichoderma for controlling root rot and collar rot of lentil

The experiments were carried out during 2010 to 2011 to find out the time of application and level of inoculum of T. harzianum for controlling root rot (F. solani) and collar rot (S. rolfsii) of lentil (Lens culinaris Medik). F. solani and S.rolfsii and their antagonist, Trichoderma were collected from different pulses growing areas of Bangladesh. The experiments were carried out following CRD with five replications. Fourteen isolates of Trichoderma were tested against F. solani and S. rolfsii under Dual Culture Technique. The inhibition was ranged from 60.42 to 99.27% at 10 DAI against F. solani and from 64.07–99.41% at 6 DAI against S. rolfsii. The highest inhibition 99.27% against F. solani was found in isolate, Th-2 and 99.41% was found in isolate TG-2 against S. rolfsii. In the pot, the treatment of soil with the Th-2 isolate of T. harzianum at 2g/kg shown the highest germination (96.67%) and plant stand (81.67%) and the lowest root rot (15.52%), where the isolate of TG-2 of T. harzianum at 20g/kg of soil was observed better for controlling S. rolfsii. T. harzianum (Th-2) increased germination (17.86%), plant stand (171.43%), vigour index (33.27%) and yield (260.74%) over control against root rot. T. harzianum (TG-2) also increased germination (248%), plant stand (600%), vigour index (865.91%) and yield (1209.81%) of lentil over control against collar rot. The soil treatment with Trichoderma at 9, 6 and 3 days before sowing and also at the time of sowing showed significantly better effect in increasing germination, plant stand and reducing root rot and collar rot compared to control. The highest germination, seed yield and lower root rot was obtained by treating soil with Trichoderma before 9 days of sowing against both the pathogens

Effect of botanicals and biofungicide on controlling tikka disease (Cercospora sp.) of groundnut (Arachis hypogea L.)

The leaf spot or Tikka disease (Cercospora arachidicola and Cercosporidiumpersonatum) of groundnut (Arachis hypogea L.) is a predominant, devastating and economically important foliar fungal disease and a major yield reducing factor of groundnut, not only in Bangladesh, but also all over the world. The yield loss was calculated in the groundnut variety Dhaka-1 due to early and late leaf spot (Tikka) by over 30–48% in Bangladesh. The efficacy of NLEFS (Azadirachta indica), DebLEFS (Polyalthia longifolia), DLEFS (Datura metel), Trichoderma based biofungicides (BBST, BBFS and BBSFS) along with a check (Bavistin) and control were evaluated in the pot and field research. Among the treatments, BBSFS, NLEFS, DLEFS and DebLEFS showed better performance in controlling leaf spot and increasing pod yield by 53.61, 51.91, 40.85 and 38.72%, respectively as compared to control in the field. In case of seedling germination, BBSFS gave 97.77% germination followed by NLEFS (88.14%), DLEFS (93.33%) and DebLEFS (95.55%). BBSFS produced higher length and weight of shoot and root and vigour index as compared to control. Maximum vigour index was observed under BBFS (1583.88). BBSFS gave higher plant height, number of leaves and minimum number of infected leaves in the pots and field as compared to control. Minimum leaf area diseased was obtained with BBSFS followed by Bavistin in the field. Biofungicide (BBST, BBFS and BBSFS), NLEFS, DLEFS and DebLEFS showed promising performance in number and weight of pods and pod yield in the pots and field. Maximum weight of pods/plant and weight of mature pods/plant was achieved with BBSFS (20.05 g and 18.55 g) followed by NLEFS (19.83 g and 18.22 g). The highest net profit was recorded with the use of BBSFS by Tk. 176768.00/ha followed by NLEFS Tk. 172275.00/ha, BBFS Tk. 168818.00/ha, while the lowest Tk. 96443.00/ha in untreated control. Maximum Benefit-Cost Ratio (BCR) 1: 2.77 was found in BBSFS followed by BBST (1: 2.65), BBFS (1: 2.64) and NLEFS (1: 2.62)

Effect of date of transplanting on yield and yield attributing characters of aromatic fine rice in rainfed condition

A field experiment was conducted at the Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA) farm, Mymensingh, Bangladesh, during the rainfed season in June to December, 2011, with a view to study the performance of aromatic fine rice under different dates of transplanting. The experiment was carried out with four aromatic fine rice varieties (V1–BRRI dhan 34, V2–Ukunimadhu, V3–Basmati and V4–Kataribhog) and three different dates of transplanting (D1–30 July, D2–15 August and D3–30 August). The experiment was laid out in split-plot design with three replications assigning variety in the main plot and the three different dates of transplanting in the sub-plot. Experimental result showed that aromatic fine rice varieties and dates of transplanting individually had significant effect on the agronomic parameters. The combined effect differed significantly for all the agronomic characters. The highest grain yield (3.11 t/ha) was obtained in Kataribhog, which was similar to Basmati (2.75 t/ha) followed by Ukunimadhu. The highest grain yield obtained in 15 August date of transplanting (2.93 t/ha) was identical to 30 July date of transplanting (2.88 t/ha). Combined effect showed that transplanting on 30 July and 15 August produced highest grain yield by all the varieties. In later date transplanting 30 August, production of grain yield decreased. Kataribhog, Basmati and Ukunimadhu with dates of transplanting 30 July and 15 August can be suggested in rainfed condition of Bangladesh