Studies on the influence of liquid biofertilizers and integrated nutrient management practices on growth, yield attributes and yield of maize

Field experiments were carried out at Department of Millets, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore during kharif, 2016, kharif, 2017, kharif, 2018 and kharif, 2019 in sandy clay loam soil to study the influence of variousliquid biofertilizers and integrated nutrient management practices on growth, yield attributes and yield of maize. Based on the results, it could be concluded that application of 60 kg P2O5/ha + NPK consortia recorded highergrain yield (5293 kg ha-1), net return (Rs.44,656/ha) and B: C ratio (2.02) which is the optimum level of phosphorus and suitable liquid biofertilizer for maize. The results of integrated nutrient management practices revealed thatapplication of 100% recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF-250:75:75 NPK kg/ha) recorded higher grain yield (7318 kg ha-1), net return (Rs.72, 772/ha) and B: C ratio (2.49) in maize

Ecological intensification practices for enhancing productivity in greengram – maize cropping system

Field experiments were carried out at Department of Millets, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore during kharif, 2017, rabi, 2017-18,  kharif, 2018 and rabi, 2018-19 in sandy clay loam soil to study the effect ofecological intensification practices on growth, yield attributes and yield of greengram- maize cropping system. Experimental results revealed that in greengram, Ecological Intensification (EI) practices recorded higher grainyield (846 kg ha-1), net return (Rs. 24,782/ha) and BC ratio (1.84) in greengram- maize cropping system. In maize, Ecological Intensification (EI) practices recorded higher grain yield (5963 kg ha-1), net return (Rs. 59,714/ha) and B:C ratio (2.48) in greengram- maize cropping system

Seed priming with different levels and sources of zinc on the seed germination and seedling growth of barnyard millet (Echinocola frumentacea)

Seed priming with zinc increases the seed germination and seedling growth of many crops. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of seed priming with different levels and sources of zinc on seed germination and seedling growth of barnyard millet variety MDU1. A germination experiment was conducted with various Zn sources and concentrations viz., T1- Non-primed seeds (control); T2-water priming; T3-GA3 priming; T4-T6: seed priming with 0.10%,  0.25% & 0.50% ZnSO4 ; T7- T9:  seed priming with 0.10%, 0.25% & 0.50% Zn EDTA; T10-T12: seed priming with 0.10%, 0.25% & 0.50% Zn citrate and the experimental design was a completely randomized design (CRD) which were replicated five times. The seeds of MDU1 variety were treated with different sources and levels of Zn for 12h and the seed germination study was carried out for 15 days. After 15 days, the germination percentage, speed of germination, germination energy, germination index and the seedling growth parameters such as, root length, shoot length, vigour index and seedling dry weight were recorded. Seed priming with 0.50% ZnSO4 performed better in increasing the germination percentage (99%), speed of germination (76.2%), germination energy (69.4%), germination index (3.91) and seedlings growth parameters like shoot length (14.7cm), root length (16.5cm), seedlings dry weight (0.44g), vigour index I (3099) and II (44.6),  Zn content (21.9 mg kg-1) & its uptake (5.54 mg g-1). This was closely followed by seed priming of Zn EDTA at 0.25% and Zn citrate at 0.50%. From this study, it can be concluded that seed priming with 0.50% ZnSO4 could be used to improve the germination and seedling growth of barnyard millet which was also economical.

Genetic variability and correlation analysis in F2 segregating population in brinjal (Solanum melongena L.)

Genetic advance denotes the improvement in the mean genotypic values of selected families over the base population. Thus, it helps the breeder select the progenies in the earlier generation. The objective of the study was to analyse the heritability, genetic advance and genetic variability for ten traits in brinjal contributing to fruit yield were studied in the F2 population obtained from the cross of Sevathampatti local x Seetipulam local. The study examined the subsistence of a significant extent of genetic variability for the traits considered. The characteristics of brinjal exhibited higher values of genotypic variation (GCV), viz., the height of the plant (20.93), yield per plant (17.42), number of branches (22.73)  and shoot infestation (56.39) and phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) viz., the height of the plant (21.10), yield per plant (22.32), number of branches (23.42)  and shoot infestation (57.24). However, the number of branches (45.44 %), height of the plant (42.76%), number of fruits (38.58%), fruit yield (28.02%) and shoot infestation (114.4%) exhibited high estimates of genetic advance and heritability for plant height (98.36), number of branches per plant (94.19) and shoot infestation (97.06). These characteristics can be effectively improved through selection. Association analysis mentioned that the yield of the fruit was significantly and positively correlated with the number of fruits, number of branches, individual fruits per plant and fruit girth. Direct selection may be executed because of these characteristics as the key choice of criteria to minimize the indirect result of additional traits throughout the improvement of high yielding varieties

Impact of soil fertility characteristics on artificial fertility gradient approach developed using sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) in Alfisols

In the advent of precision agriculture, applying fertilizer based on soil testing is a crucial tool to prescribe nutrient levels for crops, to increase nutrient use efficiency and production. A field experiment was conducted in a farmer's field in the Dindigul district, Southern agro-climatic zone of Tamil Nadu to ascertain the effect of artificial soil fertility gradient method on soil fertility, green fodder production of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) (var. CO 30) and nutrient absorption. A fertility gradient technique has been investigated to produce fertilizer recommendations for location-specific in red soils (Alfisols, Typic Rhodustalf).  The experimental field was separated into three equal strips: strip I, II, and III, which received applications of the three graded levels of ertilizer N0P0K0, N1P1K1, and N2P2K2, respectively. Urea, single super phosphate, and muriate of potash fertilizers, respectively, were used to apply NPK. As a gradient crop, S. bicolor  was raised. The N1 level was set based on the general fertilizer recommendation of feed sorghum, while the P1 and K1 values were set based on the soil’s ability to fix 100 kg ha-1 of phosphorus and 100 kg ha-1 of potassium, respectively. Plant samples were taken at harvest time, and their NPK content and nutrient uptake were determined. With addition of graded doses of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizer in Strip I, II & III increased the soil's available N, P & K status substantially in the order of Strip I<II<III and minimize the heterogeneity in the soil population , management strategies employed, and prevailing climate conditions to induce fertility variations in the same field. The outcomes showed that sorghum crop yields for fodder (Strip III – 25.01 t ha-1) and NPK uptake were significantly impacted by the application of graded amounts of NPK fertilizers

Marker-Assisted Breeding as Next-Generation Strategy for Genetic Improvement of Productivity and Quality: Can It Be Realized in Cotton?

The dawdling development in genetic improvement of cotton with conventional breeding program is chiefly due to lack of complete knowledge on and precise manipulation of fiber productivity and quality. Naturally available cotton continues to be a resource for the upcoming breeding program, and contemporary technologies to exploit the available natural variation are outlined in this paper for further improvement of fiber. Particularly emphasis is given to application, obstacles, and perspectives of marker-assisted breeding since it appears to be more promising in manipulating novel genes that are available in the cotton germplasm. Deployment of system quantitative genetics in marker-assisted breeding program would be essential to realize its role in cotton. At the same time, role of genetic engineering and in vitro mutagenesis cannot be ruled out in genetic improvement of cotton

Zinc Nutrition for Improving the Growth and Yield of Barnyard Millet (Echinochola frumantacea L.)

Aims: To evaluate the effect of various levels and methods of zinc fertilization in improving the growth and yield of barnyard millet at different growth stages. Study Design: Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications. Place and Duration of Study: A field experiment was conducted in the farmer’s field at Pasur village, Coimbatore district from January to April, 2022. Methodology: A field experiment was conducted with barnyard millet (Echinochloa frumentacea L.) var. MDU 1 by using different levels of ZnSO4 at 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 kg ha-1 as basal soil application and foliar spraying of 0.25, 0.50 & 0.75% twice along with soil test based NPK as control in Randomized Block Design with three replications. The growth and yield parameters such as plant height, SPAD index, root length, lateral root length, root volume, no. of tillers, panicle length, panicle weight, 1000 grain weight, grain and straw yield were recorded as per standard protocols. Results: Application of soil test based NPK + 20 kg ZnSO4 ha-1 performed better in increasing the plant height (157.0 cm), SPAD index (46.3), root length (21.1 cm), lateral root length (16.3 cm), root volume (3.80 cc) and yield attributes like number of tillers (5.06), panicle length (17.6 cm), panicle weight (29.2 g) and 1000 seed weight (3.89g) of barnyard millet. Higher grain (2606 kg ha-1) and straw yield (3411 kg ha-1) was also registered with the addition of soil test based NPK+20 kg ZnSO4 ha-1 which was 27.1% increase over NPK. Conclusion: Basal soil application of soil test based NPK + 20 kg ZnSO4 ha‑1 was found optimal and economical for improving the growth and yield of barnyard millet variety MDU 1

Combining ability analysis for yield and fibre quality parameters in intraspecific hybrids of G. hirsutum L.

Four genetically diverse jassid resistant varieties viz., SRT 1, Khandwa 2, KC 2 and SVPR 3 (Females i.e lines) were crossedwith three standard varieties viz., MCU 5, MCU 7 and MCU 12 (male parents i.e., testers) in line x tester fashion for estimationin combining ability effects of twelve economic characters including fibre quality traits like 2.5% span length, bundle strength,fibre fineness, uniformity ratio and elongation percentage. Non-additive type of gene action was found relatively more importantfor all the characters. The jassid resistant parent KC 2 was a good combiner for boll weight, lint index, seed index and bundlestrength besides seed cotton yield. While the parents SRT 1 and MCU 5 were found to be good general combiner for 2.5 per centspan length. On the basis of sca effects the combinations KC 2 x MCU 5, KC 2 x MCU 12 and Khandwa 2 x MCU 5 were thebest hybrids for combining high yield, quality and jassid resistance