Jute seed production as influenced by dates of sowing and topping in red and laterite zone of West Bengal

An experiment was carried out during thekharif season of two consecutive years 2014 and 2015 at Regional Research Sub-station, Raghunathpur, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Purulia, West Bengal with the view to maximise the jute seed yield by manipulating certain non-monetary techniques like dates of sowing and topping associated with crop production. The Capsularis variety Bidhan pat-3 was sown in three different dates (1st-25th June, 2nd-15th July and 3rd-5th August) with 3 topping (clipping of apical portion) practices at 30, 45 and 60 days after sowing (DAS) as separate treatment with no topping as control. These different agronomic practices significantly (at 5 % probability level) influenced the performance of the crop in various aspects. The 1st date of sowing showed its supremacy in terms of expression of the crop in the field in all the aspects achieving a seed yield of 709.50 kg ha-1 and 737.85 kg ha-1 during first and second year respectively, whereas, the last date of sowing showed its inferiority obtaining a seed yield of 590.10 kg ha-1 and 647.13 kg ha-1all through the first and second year respectively.1stdate of sowing also recorded higher net return(Rs. 33721.50 ha-1& Rs.35989.50 ha-1 during first and second year) and benefit: cost ratio (1.46 and 1.56 in first and second year) over the other two date of sowing. How-ever, maximum seed yield was achieved when the crop was topped on 45 DAS (728.80 kg ha-1 and 773.57 kg ha-1 during first and second year) irrespective of the date of sowing

Performance of herbicides for managing weed flora in transplanted aman paddy (Oryza sativa L.)

A field investigation was performed during the rainy seasons of 2018 and 2019 at the Instructional Farm, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Jaguli, Nadia, West Bengal, India (22056'N and 86048'E, 9.75m above mean sea level) with the aim of determining the comparative effectiveness of different herbicides in controlling various kinds of weeds (grass, sedge and broad-leaf) in the transplanted aman paddy. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design having sixteen treatments with three replication, that includes application of either pre-emergence [butachlor, pretilachlor, pyrazosulfuron ethyl and ready mix (RM) of bensulfuron methyl + pretilachlor at 2 days after transplanting (DAT)] or post-emergence [bispyribac sodium and bispyribac sodium + penoxsulum at 20 DAT] herbicides followed by hand weeding at 40 DAT; application of both pre-emergence and post-emergence herbicides; hand weeding at 20  and 40 DAT and weedy check. Hand weeding at 20 and 40 DAT registered significantly lower weed density, weed dry matter and the highest weed control efficiency. Among the herbicidal treatments, ready-mix formulation of bensulfuron methyl 0.6% + pretilachlor 6% (Londax power 6.6%) performed better in controlling weeds of all categories and recorded higher paddy (3.96 t/ha)  and straw yield (4.92 t/ha ) with the maximum weed index which were statistically at par with the hand weeded treatment. Hence, to fetch the effective suppression of weed, application of Londax power 6.6% @ 0.66 kg a.i./ha as pre-emergence (at 2 DAT) with hand weeding at 40 DAT can easily replace additional one hand weeding at 20 DAT

Jute seed production as influenced by dates of sowing and topping in red and laterite zone of West Bengal

An experiment was carried out during thekharif season of two consecutive years 2014 and 2015 at Regional Research Sub-station, Raghunathpur, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Purulia, West Bengal with the view to maximise the jute seed yield by manipulating certain non-monetary techniques like dates of sowing and topping associated with crop production. The Capsularis variety Bidhan pat-3 was sown in three different dates (1st-25th June, 2nd-15th July and 3rd-5th August) with 3 topping (clipping of apical portion) practices at 30, 45 and 60 days after sowing (DAS) as separate treatment with no topping as control. These different agronomic practices significantly (at 5 % probability level) influenced the performance of the crop in various aspects. The 1st date of sowing showed its supremacy in terms of expression of the crop in the field in all the aspects achieving a seed yield of 709.50 kg ha-1 and 737.85 kg ha-1 during first and second year respectively, whereas, the last date of sowing showed its inferiority obtaining a seed yield of 590.10 kg ha-1 and 647.13 kg ha-1all through the first and second year respectively.1stdate of sowing also recorded higher net return(Rs. 33721.50 ha-1& Rs.35989.50 ha-1 during first and second year) and benefit: cost ratio (1.46 and 1.56 in first and second year) over the other two date of sowing. How-ever, maximum seed yield was achieved when the crop was topped on 45 DAS (728.80 kg ha-1 and 773.57 kg ha-1 during first and second year) irrespective of the date of sowing