Effect of NPK and Zn on Growth, Flowering and Bulb Production in Tulip under Polyhouse Conditions in Kashmir

Healthy and uniform bulbs of tulip cv. 'Apeldoorn' were planted in two consecutive growing seasons under polyhouse conditions in FRBD design to study the effect of nutrient management on growth, flowering and bulb production in tulip in the Kashmir valley. Experimental treatments comprised of three levels of nitrogen (0,75 and 150 kg ha-1) and two levels of phosphorus (0 and 50 kg ha-1), potassium (0 and 50 kg/ha) and zinc (0 and 5 kg ha-1). Except for bulb survival, nitrogen @ 75 kg ha-1 significantly improved all the parameters. However, further increase in dose of nitrogen (150 kg ha-1) influenced only a few parameters like scape length, wrapper leaf area, vase life and bulblet weight per plant. Application of phosphorus, potassium and zinc also resulted in better growth, flower quality and bulb production. Application of different nutrients caused increased concentration of nutrients in leaf tissue, which resulted in better performance of the plant. Combined application of N, P, K and Zn @ 75, 50, 50 and 5 kg ha-1, respectively, was found to be the most suitable dose for obtaining better growth, quality flower and bulb production

Effect of Dry and Wet Storage on Post Harvest Life and Flower Quality in Cut Tulip cv. Cassini

Experiments were conducted during 2002-03 and 2003-04 to study the influence of storage methods and duration on post harvest quality of cut tulip cv. Cassini. Cut tulips cv. Cassini stored either dry or wet at 4°C for 0,2,4,6 and 8 days showed that days to flower opening was the lowest in those kept under wet storage for 6 and 8 days. Flower opening was better with 0.2 and 4 days of dry or wet storage whereas flowers stored dry for 8 days did not open at all. Flower size and vase life decreased with the increase in storage period. Larger flowers were obtained with dry and wet storage of 0 and 2 days whereas higher vase life was obtained with zero days of wet and dry storage and 4 and 6 days of wet storage

Studies on Physical and Chemical Characteristics of Pomegranate Cultivars in Kashmir Valley

Ten pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) cultivars, namely, Kabuli Kandhari, Chawla, Ganesh, Mridula, Jyoti, G-137, Dholka, Bedana, Kandhari and Local Check were evaluated for different physical and chemical characteristics of fruit at the Central Institute of Temperate Horticulture, Srinagar, during 2004. Fruit weight, diameter and volume was significantly higher in cv. Bedana compared to the rest of the cultivars. Cultivar Kandhari recorded significantly less rind thickness when compared to other cultivars. Cultivar Chawla exhibited less cracking per cent followed by Kandhari. Total soluble solids and total sugars were highest in cv. Kandhari whereas less acidity was recorded in cvs. Ganesh and G-137% acidity was lowest in cv. G-137 (0.41) and highest in cv. Bedana (0.81). Highest ascorbic acid content was found in cv. Kabuli Kandhari. The highest anthocyanin content was observed in cv. Ganesh and lowest in cv. Chawla. Juice content was found to be maximum in Bedana. The lowest anar butterfly attack was observed in cv. Bedana. The data revealed overall superior performance of cv. Bedana and Kandhari with regard to physical and chemical characteristics and these can be recommended for commercial cultivation in the Karewa belt of Kashmir valley

Evaluation of allelopathic potential of some selected medicinal species

Laboratory trials were made to evaluate the allelopathic potential of selected medicinal species. The aqueous extracts bioassay on two test plants (wheat and pea) was carried out through filter paper method. Toxicity and non toxicity was assessed by recording their effects on germination and percentage growth of radicle and plumule of test plants. The trials were replicated three times in Randomized Complete Split Block Design. The data was analyzed by using software SPSS v II. The results suggested that Sonchus asper and Melilotus officinalis stimulate the growth of wheat (Triticum aestivum) up to 150% of plumule and 40% of radicle. These species had significantly enhanced effect on the percentage growth of test plant. The inhibitory effect was more on the wheat, by aqueous extractions of Sisymbrium irio, Cannabis sativus and Oxalis corniculata. The growth of wheat was more enhanced in the aqueous extractions of Gallium aperine and Ageratum conizoides, almost 150% of radicle. But the most inhibitory and retarded effect was observed in case of S. irio, O. corniculata, Rumex dentatus and Parthenium hysterophorus.Key words: Allelopathy, medicinal species, filter paper

Effect of Pulsing Treatments for Enhancing Shelf-Life of Cut Asiatic Lilium cv. Elite

Studies were conducted on cut Asiatic Lilium cv. Elite to assess the effectiveness of various floral preservatives as pulsing treatments for delaying senescence and prolonging vase life. Uniform spikes of lilium at bud colour break stage were brought to the laboratory in the morning and placed in 8 different pulsing solutions consisting of sucrose (Suc) 5%, aluminium sulphate (AS) 400 ppm, silver thio-sulphate (STS) 2.0 mM and citric acid (CA) 1000 ppm alone and in combination with sucrose. Distilled water without any chemical served as the control. Among individual treatments, STS 2.0 mM maintained better water relations and flower quality compared to others. STS also showed superiority over other treatments when combined with Suc 5% by providing largest flower size (16.74 cm) with maximum vase life (17.29 days) owing to most-favourable water relations parameters

Search for a Signal on QCD Critical Point in Central Nucleus-Nucleus Collisions

We discuss that the QCD critical point could appear in central collisions in percolation cluster. We suggest using the nuclear transparency effect and the one of the light nuclear production to identify the critical point.Comment: To appear in the proceedings of the 20th International Conference on Ultra-Relativistic Nucleus-Nucleus Collisions (QM2008), Jaipur, India, February 4-10, 200

Theoretical and experimental analysis of multifunctional high performance cement mortar matrices reinforced with varying lengths of carbon fibers

An effective scheme to formulate high performance and multifunctional cement based mortar composites reinforced with varying lengths of carbon fibers has been devised. The detailed investigations pertaining to the fracture response of composites in cracks initiation and progression phases, their conducting mechanism and volumetric stability were performed with varying loads of 6mm and 12mm long carbon fibers at two different w/c ratios i.e. 0.45 and 0.50. The experiments concluded that an optimum addition of carbon fibers results in substantial improvement of fracture properties alongside significant reduction in electrical resistivity and total plastic shrinkage. The field emission scanning electron microscopy of the cryofractured specimen revealed crack arresting actions of uniformly distributed carbon fibers through successful crack bridging and branching phenomenon