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ThesisItem Open Access EFFECT OF FERTIGATION AND DRIP IRRIGATION ON PRODUCTIVITY OF TOMATO UNDER PROTECTED ENVIRONMENT.(CSK HPKV, Palampur., 2019-07) Singh, Jaspreet; Sandal, Sanjeev K.The present study was conducted at experimental farm of CSKHPKV, Palampur during the year 2018 with the objectives to study the effects of fertigation and drip irrigation schedule on soil, water productivity, crop productivity and NPK uptake. The treatments comprised of two drip irrigation levels DI1 (drip irrigation applied from week 1 to 2 @ 1.0 PE, week 3 to 8 @ 0.4 PE, week 9 to 14 @ 0.6 PE, week 15 to 20 @ 0.8 PE, week 21 to 24 @ 1.0 PE) and DI2 (Drip irrigation applied @ 1.0 PE from week 1 to till harvest) with five nutrient schedules viz., T1 100 % NPK applied through conventional method (C), T2 (C + 100 % N fertigation), T3 (C + 100 % NK fertigation), T4 (C+ 100 % NPK fertigation) and T5 (50 % NPK applied through Conventional method + 150 % through NPK fertigation). The tomato (lycopersicum esculentum) crop was transplanted on April 20, 2018. The results indicated that the soil water content and soil water stock was higher under DI2 and lower under DI1 treatments. The plant height and relative leaf water content (RLWC), biological yield and fruit quality parameter (titrable acidity) and root length were significantly higher under DI2 and lower under DI1 treatments. Among nutrient schedules, plant height, root weight, root length, ascorbic acid, titrable acidity, total soluble solids, biological yield, total NPK uptake were significantly higher under T5 and lower under T1. However, the root volume was significantly higher under T3 and lower in T1. The gross return was highest under T5D2 and lowest under T1D1. The B: C ratio was highest in T3D2 and lowest under T1DI1.The study concluded that the drip irrigation level DI2 (Drip irrigation applied @ 1.0 PE from week 1 to till harvest) and fertigation treatment T5 (50 % NPK through applied conventional method + 150 % through NPK fertigation) were the optimum treatments for obtaining maximum crop productivity.ThesisItem Open Access ASSESSMENT OF SOIL QUALITY UNDER PREVALENT CROPPING SYSTEMS IN DIFFERENT AGRO-CLIMATIC ZONES OF HIMACHAL PRADESH.(CSKHPKV, Palampur, 15-07-19) Ravinder Kumar; Paliyal, S.SThe present investigation entitled “Assessment of soil quality under prevalent cropping systems in different agro-climatic zones of Himachal Pradesh” was carried out with a view to ascertain the physical, chemical and biological properties of soils under prevalent cropping systems viz., maize- wheat, rice- wheat and vegetable based in different agro climatic zones of Himachal Pradesh. On the basis of detailed survey and random sampling, representative 180 soil samples from two depths i.e. 0-0.15 m and 0.15-0.30 m were collected. Soil samples were analyzed for their physical, chemical and biological properties and key indicators were identified using multivariate statistical analysis for computing the soil quality index. Wide variations in the soil health indicators were observed among different sites. The soil texture under various sites selected in the present study varied from sandy loam to sandy clay loam, however sandy loam was observed as the most dominant texture both under cereal and vegetable based cropping systems in all the four zones of the state. Soil reaction across various sites under present study was slightly acidic to neutral in Zone I-III but neutral to slightly alkaline in zone IV. Higher salt accumulation (EC) was observed under vegetable based cropping systems as compared to those of cereal based. Organic carbon was medium to high and available N, P and K contents were in low to medium category in all the four zones. Organic carbon and available and total N P and K contents were higher under the vegetable based cropping systems than cereal based. DTPA Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu were observed sufficient, whereas total Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu were recorded higher in cereal and vegetable based cropping system in all the zones. Microbial biomass carbon, microbial biomass nitrogen, potentially mineralizable nitrogen and soil respiration were higher at low hill subtropical zone in all cropping systems as compared to those in Zone-II, III and IV. The mean soil quality index (SQI) values for rice- wheat, maize- wheat and vegetable based cropping systems were 0.74, 0.74 and 0.81; 0.85, 0.77 and 0.81; 0.92, 0.68 and 0.73; 0.72, 0.71 and 0.78 in zone-1, II, III and IV, respectively. Overall higher soil quality index was observed under vegetable based cropping system as compared to the cereal based cropping systems.ThesisItem Open Access SULPHUR DYNAMICS AND ITS CRITICAL LIMITS FOR FRENCH BEAN AND CAULIFLOWER IN ACIDIC SOILS OF HIMACHAL PRADESH.(CSKHPKV, Palampur, 2019-07) Gourav; Sankhyan, N. K.Sulphur is best known for its essentiality and vitality in crop production, but due to its widespread deficiency, it is imperative to study its transformations in acidic soils. In the present investigation, 500 soil samples were collected randomly from cultivated acidic soils of Himachal Pradesh, as identified during previous surveys conducted by Department of Soil Science, CSK HPKV Palampur. Processed soil samples were analyzed for pH, soil texture and available sulphur. Five soil profiles were also selected randomly to study the vertical distribution of S. The transformation of sulphur with externally added elemental sulphur was studied in twenty one incubated soil samples, which varied in pH and texture. Further, 10 locations were selectedthat varied in pH, clay content and available S to study the response and to establish critical limits of S for french bean and cauliflower; furthermore the detailed experiment was conductedin pots under glasshouse. In study area, textural class, pH (1:2.5) and available sulphur ranged from loamy sand to clay, 4.23 to 7.00 (extremely acidic to neutral) and 11 to 65 kg ha-1 (deficient to sufficient) respectively. Around 35 per cent of the soil samples were found deficient in available sulphur. Available S exhibited a significant positive correlation with clay and silt, whereas significantnegative correlation was found with sand and pH. All the S fractions (sulphate-S, water soluble-S, heat soluble-S, organic-S and total-S) increased with incubation of soil samples and added elemental S. The highest content of these S fractions were obtained with the application of 80 kg S ha-1. Sole incubation of soil for thirty days without the addition of S, increased all the S fractions except organic-S. Contents of all the S fractions in soils increased with increase in clay and decreased with increase in pH of soil. In soil profiles study, all the S fractions decreased with increase in depth and highest contents of all the S fractions were found in surface layer. Sulphur fractions followed the order as total-S>organic-S>heat soluble-S>sulphate-S>water soluble-S. French bean and cauliflower responded significantly to the S application. Highest yield and yield attributes were obtained with the application of 40 kg S ha-1 in both the crops. However, the green pod yield in french bean at 30 kg S ha-1 was statistically at par with 40 kg S ha-1. Critical limits for french bean and cauliflower in soil were found to be 9.5 mg kg-1 and 10.5 mg kg-1, respectively. Whereas, the critical limits for french bean and cauliflower in plantswere found to be 0.103 per cent and 0.337 per cent sulphur, respectively.ThesisItem Open Access EFFECT OF FERTIGATION AND DRIP IRRIGATION ON PRODUCTIVITY OF TOMATO UNDER PROTECTED ENVIRONMENT(CSKHPKV, Palampur, 2019-07) Singh, Jaspreet; Sandal, Sanjeev K.The present study was conducted at experimental farm of CSKHPKV, Palampur during the year 2018 with the objectives to study the effects of fertigation and drip irrigation schedule on soil, water productivity, crop productivity and NPK uptake. The treatments comprised of two drip irrigation levels DI1 (drip irrigation applied from week 1 to 2 @ 1.0 PE, week 3 to 8 @ 0.4 PE, week 9 to 14 @ 0.6 PE, week 15 to 20 @ 0.8 PE, week 21 to 24 @ 1.0 PE) and DI2 (Drip irrigation applied @ 1.0 PE from week 1 to till harvest) with five nutrient schedules viz., T1 100 % NPK applied through conventional method (C), T2 (C + 100 % N fertigation), T3 (C + 100 % NK fertigation), T4 (C+ 100 % NPK fertigation) and T5 (50 % NPK applied through Conventional method + 150 % through NPK fertigation). The tomato (lycopersicum esculentum) crop was transplanted on April 20, 2018. The results indicated that the soil water content and soil water stock was higher under DI2 and lower under DI1 treatments. The plant height and relative leaf water content (RLWC), biological yield and fruit quality parameter (titrable acidity) and root length were significantly higher under DI2 and lower under DI1 treatments. Among nutrient schedules, plant height, root weight, root length, ascorbic acid, titrable acidity, total soluble solids, biological yield, total NPK uptake were significantly higher under T5 and lower under T1. However, the root volume was significantly higher under T3 and lower in T1. The gross return was highest under T5D2 and lowest under T1D1. The B: C ratio was highest in T3D2 and lowest under T1DI1.The study concluded that the drip irrigation level DI2 (Drip irrigation applied @ 1.0 PE from week 1 to till harvest) and fertigation treatment T5 (50 % NPK through applied conventional method + 150 % through NPK fertigation) were the optimum treatments for obtaining maximum crop productivity.ThesisItem Open Access STUDIES ON HEAVY METALS CONTAMINATION ALONG NATIONAL HIGHWAY SOILS AND PLANTS ECOSYSTEM IN HIMACHAL PRADESH.(CSKHPKV, Palampur, 2019-07) Khatkar, Ameesh; Parmar, D. K.The unique geographical position and special climate environment have attracted more and more tourists to Himachal Pradesh and consequently, affecting the environment gradually by vehicular exhaust because environment in this state is rarely affected by other anthropogenic activities. The present study entitled “Studies on heavy metals contamination along national highway soils and plants ecosystem in Himachal Pradesh” was therefore, designed to assess the extent of heavy metals concentration in roadside soils and plants along NH-21 and to characterize soil and plant samples into safe/toxic levels. The selected study sites of current study were Dadour, Nagchala, Takoli, Nagwain and Jhiri in Mandi district and Kais, Kararsu, Raison, Katrain and Patlikuhal in Kullu district. One rural road in each district was also taken as a background sampling site (Rahala in Mandi and Dobhi in Kullu) to compare the extent of heavy metals with that of NH-21. Soil and fruit samples of commercially grown tomato and apple were collected at 0 m, 50 m, 100 m, 200 m, 300 m, 400 m and 500 m on both sides of NH-21. The sampling was done during peak tourist season starting from first week of May, 2018 till last week of July 2018. Surface soil samples collected at above mentioned sites were processed, digested and analyzed for heavy metals following standard methods. Similarly, fruit samples of tomato from each site in Mandi district and apple fruits in Kullu district were processed, digested and analyzed for heavy metals using standard techniques. Means were used to assess the contamination levels of heavy metals in soil and fruit samples at each site and comparison was done with maximum permissible limits set by WHO/FAO. Correlation carried out to determine the relationships between sampling locations from road and soil properties and heavy metal in both soil and edible plant parts. The results of current study revealed that samples taken next to the road were characterized by higher values of soil pH, EC and heavy metals in soil as well as in tomato and apple fruits. Decreased values of measured variables in soils and plant were recorded along with an increase in the distance from the national highway. The concentration of heavy metals were in sequence Fe > Mn > Zn > Cu > Pb > Cr > As > Hg for soil and Mn > Zn > Cu > Fe >Pb > As > Cr > Hg for plant. However, Hg in soil was detected only at Dadour and Nagchala sampling sites in Mandi, whereas it was below the detection limit in other sampling sites of Mandi and Kullu district. The roadside surface soil as well as tomato and apple fruit samples were relatively contaminated with heavy metals. The results of this study revealed elevated values of heavy metals e.g. Fe, Zn, Pb and As in soil and Cu, Zn, Pb and As in plant. On the other hand, Cu, Mn, Cr and Hg in soil and Fe, Mn, Cr and Hg in plant were below the maximum permissible limits as set by WHO/FAO. The results of correlation analysis between the levels of the heavy metals and varying sampling distances from road along two sides (left and right) from each of the sampling sites revealed a significant (p ≤ 0.01) but negative correlation. The observed negative correlation values depicted that concentration of heavy metals in soil and plant decreased with increase in sampling distances from the road. These heavy metals are cumulative poisons and their values need to be below the proposed maximum tolerable levels fixed by the FAO/WHO. It is therefore, recommended that the levels of heavy metals in soils and plants should be constantly monitored.ThesisItem Open Access SOIL HEALTH ASSESSMENT IN TEA GARDENS OF HIMACHAL PRADESH.(CSKHPKV, Palampur, 2019-07) Gill, Ankit; Sharma, V.K.The soiill healltth assessmentt proviides an iinsiightt iintto soiill-rellatted consttraiintts and pottenttiialls for susttaiinablle agriiculltturall pllanniing.. In tthe presentt iinvesttiigattiion,, 37 ttea orchards were sellectted att random from ttea growiing areas of Hiimachall Pradesh tto sttudy variious soiill healltth iindiices// attttriibuttes iin surface (0 - 0..30 m) and sub-surface (0..30 – 0..60 m) soiills and assess soiill healltth sttattus of ttea gardens on tthe basiis of recommended sett of soiill healltth iindiicattors.. As regards diisttriibuttiion of soiill healltth iindiices,, physiicall soiill attttriibuttes iin surface soiill viiz..,, ttextturall cllass,, bullk densiitty (Mg m--3),, porosiitty (%) and watter sttablle aggregattes (%) ranged from lloamy sand tto sandy cllay,, 1..07 tto 1..58,, 40 tto 58 and 26 tto 59,, whereas chemiicall attttriibuttes,, namelly soiill pH (1ThesisItem Open Access EFFECT OF CONTINUOUS APPLICATION OF FERTILIZERS AND AMENDMENTS ON PRODUCTIVITY, QUALITY OF MAIZE (Zea mays L.) AND SOIL HEALTH IN AN ACID ALFISOL(CSKHPKV, Palampur, 2019-06) Thakur, Anjali; Sharma, R.P.The prresentt iinvesttiigattiion was carrrriied outt iin an on--goiing llong--tterrm fferrttiilliizerr experriimentt,, iiniittiiatted durriing 1972 att experriimenttall ffarrm off Deparrttmentt off Soiill Sciience,, CSK HPKV Pallampurr,, tto sttudy tthe effffectt off conttiinuous applliicattiion off fferrttiilliizerrs and amendmentts on prroducttiiviitty,, qualliitty off maiize ((Zea mays L..)) and soiill healltth iin an aciid Allffiisoll underr maiize--wheatt crroppiing systtem.. The experriimentt consiistted off elleven ttrreattmentts.. The soiill off tthe experriimenttall siitte was siilltt lloam and cllassiiffiied ttaxonomiicalllly as Typiic Haplludallff.. Soiill samplles,, collllectted ffrrom ttwo deptths viiz..,, 0--0..15 and 0..15--0..30 m afftterr tthe harrvestt off maiize ((khariiff 2018)),, werre anallysed fforr detterrmiinattiion off diifffferrentt physiicall ((bullk densiitty,, parrttiiclle densiitty,, porrosiitty and watterr holldiing capaciitty)),, chemiicall ((pH,, SOC,, avaiillablle N,, P,, K,, Ca,, Mg,, Fe,, Mn,, Zn and Cu)) and biiollogiicall parrametterrs ((MBC,, MBN and dehydrrogenase acttiiviitty)).. Grraiin and sttoverr samplles werre allso collllectted and anallyzed tto callcullatte nuttrriientt upttake and assess grraiin qualliitty parrametterrs.. Conttiinuous applliicattiion off fferrttiilliizerrs and amendmentts fforr fforrtty--siix yearrs siigniiffiicanttlly iinfflluenced tthe yiielld and nuttrriientt upttake by maiize.. The ttrreattmentt comprriisiing 100 perr centt NPK + FYM rrecorrded tthe hiighestt grraiin (46..47 q ha--1) and sttoverr yiielld (77..00 q ha--1) and nuttrriientt upttake and was att parr wiitth 100 perr centt NPK + lliime.. Omiissiion off S and K decrreased tthe grraiin yiielld by 55..1 and 52..6 perr centt,, rrespecttiivelly,, wherreas conttiinuous applliicattiion off N allone rresulltted iin zerro yiielld.. IInttegrrattiion off FYM and 100 perr centt NPK iimprroved tthe qualliitty off maiize grraiin and rrecorrded hiighestt vallue off crrude prrotteiin,, crrude ffatt,, crrude ffiibrre,, carrbohydrrattes,, sttarrch,, rreduciing and non--rreduciing sugarr,, ash and llowestt moiistturre conttentt.. Addiittiion off manurre orr lliime allong wiitth rrecommended dose off fferrttiilliizerrs iimprroved tthe soiill healltth iin tterrms off physiicall,, chemiicall and biiollogiicall prroperrttiies off soiill.. Diifffferrentt soiill healltth parrametterrs werre siigniiffiicanttlly and posiittiivelly corrrrellatted wiitth grraiin and sttoverr yiielld and qualliitty ttrraiitts off maiize exceptt bullk densiitty whiich was negattiivelly corrrrellatted.ThesisItem Open Access EFFECT OF IRRIGATION AND NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT ON PRODUCTIVITY OF GOBHI SARSON (Brassica napus L.) UNDER CONSERVATION TILLAGE(CSKHPKV, Palampur, 2019-06) Bijani, Hemali; Sharma, Sanjay K.The present study was conducted at experimental farm of CSK HPKV, Palampur, during the year 2017-18 with the objectives to evaluating the effect of irrigation levels and nutrient management on yield and nutrient uptake by gobhi sarson (Brassica napus L.) under conservation tillage and to study the effect of various treatments on soil properties. Twelve treatments comprised three irrigation levels viz., I1 (no irrigation), I2 (50% i.e. 25 mm irrigation at critical stages) and I3 (100% i.e. 50 mm irrigation at critical stages) in main plots and four nutrient management (NM) levels viz., NM1 (FYM @ 25 t ha-1), NM2 (FYM @ 20 t ha-1 + 50%NPK), NM3 (FYM @ 10 t ha-1 + 75%NPK) and NM4 (100%NPK) in sub plots were evaluated in a split plot design. Gobhi sarson (var. GSC-7) was sown on 24 November 2017. Irrigation with 25 mm water (I2) at 40 DAS (vegetative growth stage) and 130 DAS (siliqua development stage) improved the plant height (cm) and no. of primary and secondary branches, no. of siliquae per plant, no. of seeds per siliqua of crop and finally enhanced the yield of crop significantly in comparison to rainfed conditions (I1). Further increase in irrigation level to I3 at the respective irrigation stages, however, did not enhance the yield. Among nutrient management practices significantly better growth and yield attributes were observed under INM treatment involving NM3 which resulted in significantly highest seed yield (13.50 q ha-1) followed by NM2 and NM4. The minimum growth and seed yield (10.27 q ha-1) of crop was observed in the plots receiving 25 t ha-1 FYM only. Effects of irrigation and nutrient management levels on 1000-seed weight and harvest index were not significant. The uptake of different nutrients viz; N, P, K, S, Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn by gobhi sarson in general, followed the yield trend. Crude protein content (15.63%) were higher under I3 level of irrigation and NM3 level of nutrient management (15.38%). Soil pH and organic carbon at surface (0-0.15 m) and sub-surface (0.15-0.30 m) layers were not affected by irrigation as well as nutrient management levels. Water holding capacity and available N, P, K, S and micronutrient cations (Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn) in soil increased significantly by integrated nutrient management levels over sole chemical and organic application but irrigation levels did not bring significant change in their contents. Total water use efficiency (TWUE) was not affected by irrigation levels but nutrient management levels had significant influence on it. Irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) decreased with increase in irrigation levels, whereas among nutrient management levels integrated plots increased it. The highest gross return (Rs. 66,063 ha-1) and net return (Rs. 33,407 ha-1) were obtained under combination I3NM3 whereas highest B: C ratio obtained with combination of I2NM4 (2.47).ThesisItem Open Access Integrated nitrogen management in maize-potato system in an acid Alfisol(CSKHPKV, Palampur, 07-01-19) Butail, Nagender Pal; Dixit, S. P.The present investigation was carried out at the experimental farm of Department of Soil Science, College of Agriculture, CSK HPKV, Palampur in randomized block design consisting of ten treatments combinations viz. control, 100 per cent mineral N, farmers’ practice, 100% mineral N +FYM (recommended), 25 and 50 per cent substitution of N through FYM, vermicompost and poultry manure, respectively. The experiment was conducted in maize-potato system for two years i.e. from kharif, 2015 to rabi, 2016-17. The soil of the experimental field was silty clay loam in texture, acidic in reaction (pH 5.31), medium in organic carbon (6.58 g kg-1) with 234, 21.4 and 185 kg ha-1 of available N, P and K, respectively. The micronutrient cations viz. Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu in the soil were 21.8, 19.1, 0.93 and 0.48 mg kg-1, respectively. Surface (0-0.15 m) soil samples taken at the harvest of each crop were analysed for water holding capacity, pH, organic carbon (OC), cation exchange capacity (CEC), available N, P, K and micronutrient cations viz. Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu. Microbiological properties i.e. microbial biomass carbon, microbial biomass nitrogen and soil respiration were also determined at harvest of potato, rabi 2015-16 and 2016-17. While different fractions of N were determined at the end of experimentation i.e. at the harvest of second crop of potato, rabi 2016-17. Plant samples of both the crops at the harvest of each crop, were analyzed for total N, P, K and micronutrient cations content and their respective uptake by both the crops were worked out. The present study revealed that integrated use of chemical fertilizer and different organic manures improved the soil physical, chemical as well as biological properties with highest value in the treatment where 100 % N was applied through chemical fertilizes +FYM at recommended rates. Highest yield of both the crops was recorded in same treatment and was significantly superior to the rest of the treatments followed by treatment where 50% N was substituted with poultry manure. Application of 50 per cent N through chemical fertilizers + 50 per cent N through poultry manure improved the nitrogen use efficiency as compared to the rest of the treatments i.e. 56.2 % at the end of experimentation. The contribution of different organic as well as inorganic forms of nitrogen viz., hydrolysable ammonical-N, amino acid-N, serine+threonine-N, hexosamine-N, unidentified-N, non hydrolysable-N, ammonical-N and nitrate-N, towards the total-N was 20, 23, 8, 7, 17, 15, 7 and 3 %, respectively. Different fractions of nitrogen were also found to be positively and significantly correlated with one another except non hydrolysable-N. Application of 50 per cent N through chemical fertilizers + 50 per cent N through poultry manure to both the crops recorded highest net returns as well as highest benefit cost ratio. It is concluded that the application of 100 per cent N through chemical fertilizers + FYM at recommended rates proved best treatment in terms of productivity, nutrients uptake and soil properties while 50 per cent N substitution through poultry manure proved to be the best treatment in terms of profitability and nitrogen use efficiency.