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ThesisItem Open Access Productivity of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] as influenced by drip irrigation, fertigation and mulching(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2018) Ramanpreet Kaur; Angrej SinghThe present study entitled, “Productivity of soybean [Glycine max (l.) Merill] as influenced by drip irrigation, fertigation and mulching” was conducted during the Kharif season of 2017 at research farm, Department of Soil and Water Engineering, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana and University Seed Farm, Ladhowal to study the effect of drip irrigation, fertigation and mulching on productivity of soybean. The soil of the experimental field was sandy loam and loamy sand at Ludhiana and Ladhowal, respectively. At both the sites, soil was low in organic carbon, available nitrogen, medium in available phosphorous and potassium. The treatments included three levels of drip irrigation (100% ETc, 80% ETc and 60% ETc) and three fertigation levels 50, 75 and 100% RDF and two levels of mulch i.e. no mulch and paddy straw mulch @ 6 tonne ha-1 and control plot (conventional furrow irrigation with RDF). The experiment was laid in randomized complete block design with three replications. Among drip irrigation levels seed yield was significantly increased to the tune of 14.2 and 11.8 per cent with increasing drip irrigation level from 60% ETc to 80% ETc for Ludhiana and Ladhowal, respectively. However, further increase in irrigation level up to 100% ETc increased the seed yield marginally by 3.5 and 4.6 per cent for respective locations. With increasing fertigation level from 50% to 75% RDF seed yield was significantly increased to the tune of 9.2 and 9.4 per cent for Ludhiana and Ladhowal, respectively. However, further increase up to 100% RDF increased the seed yield by 4.8 and 5.3 per cent for respective locations. Application of paddy straw mulch resulted in 13.0 and 9.8 per cent increase in seed yield over no mulch. Mean of all combinations of drip irrigation, fertigation and mulching treatments recorded 12.3 and 19.2 per cent increase in yield as compared to conventional furrow irrigation (control) for Ludhiana and Ladhowal respectively. The quality parameters like oil content, protein content and oil yield were significantly influenced by drip irrigation, fertigation and mulching at both the locations.ThesisItem Open Access Growth and productivity of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] as influenced by nitrogen application at different stages(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2018) Bhangu, Ritu; Virk, Harpreet KaurThe investigation entitled “Growth and productivity of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] as influenced by nitrogen application at different stages” was conducted at Pulses Research Farm, Department of Plant Breeding & Genetics PAU, Ludhiana and Regional Research Station, Faridkot during kharif 2017. The soil of experimental site at Ludhiana was loamy sand with low organic carbon and available nitrogen, high available phosphorus and medium available potassium. Whereas, at Faridkot, soil texture was loam with medium organic carbon, low available nitrogen, medium available phosphorus and high available potassium. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design replicated four times using soybean variety SL 958. The experiments were sown on 9 June and 14 June, 2017 at Ludhiana and Faridkot, respectively. The experiment consisted of ten treatments comprising, control, seed inoculation (SI) with Bradyrhizobium sp., recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN) (39 kg ha-1), RDN + SI, SI + 15 kg N ha-1 at sowing + 15 kg N ha-1 at flower initiation (FI), SI + 10 kg N ha-1 at sowing + 10 kg N ha-1 (FI) + 10 kg N ha-1 at pod initiation (PI), SI + 40 kg N ha-1 at sowing, SI + 20 kg N ha-1 at sowing + 20 kg N ha-1 (FI), SI + 20 kg N ha-1 at sowing + 10 kg N ha-1 (FI) + 10 kg N ha-1 (PI), RDN + SI + 2% urea spray at 60 and 75 days after sowing (DAS) at flowering and podding stages. The results revealed that treatment of SI + 20 kg N ha-1 at sowing + 10 kg N ha-1 (FI) + 10 kg N ha-1 (PI) recorded the highest seed yield of 2468 and 2212 kg ha-1 at Ludhiana and Faridkot, respectively. Treatment of SI + 20 kg N ha-1 at sowing + 10 kg N ha-1 (FI) + 10 kg N ha-1 (PI) improved growth parameters like dry matter accumulation, LAI which was reflected in higher seed yield. The symbiotic parameters (nodule count, nodule dry weight and leghaemoglobin) were maximum in SI + 40 kg N ha-1 at sowing which was however, statistically at par with SI + 20 kg N ha-1 at sowing + 10 kg N ha-1 (FI) + 10 kg N ha-1 (PI). The application of nitrogen at flowering and pod initiation stages also improved the nutrient uptake and protein content of the crop. Treatment of SI + 20 kg N ha-1 at sowing + 10 kg N ha-1 (FI) + 10 kg N ha-1 (PI) also gave significantly higher net returns and B:C ratio. Therefore, it can be concluded that growth and productivity of soybean improved with application of nitrogen at reproductive stages as SI + 20 kg N ha-1 at sowing + 10 kg N ha-1 (FI) + 10 kg N ha-1 (PI) and provided high net returns and B:C ratio.ThesisItem Restricted Agronomic biofortification of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) with zinc and iron(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2018) Vajinder Pal; Guriqbal SinghThe investigation entitled, “Agronomic biofortification of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) with zinc and iron” was conducted at the Research Farm of Pulses Section, Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, during Rabi 2015-16 and 2016-17. The soil of the experimental site was loamy sand in texture with normal soil reaction and electrical conductivity, low in organic carbon & available nitrogen, medium in available phosphorus, potassium, zinc and iron. Under the present investigation, three experiments were conducted and laid out in randomized complete block design replicated three times using the chickpea variety PBG 7. The Experiment I, II and III were sown on 7th November, 2015 during first year and 8th November, 2016 during second year. In Experiment I, six zinc application treatments and three urea foliar application treatments were studied. Experiment II had three iron foliar application treatments and three urea foliar application treatments. In Experiment III, twelve treatments consisting of zinc, iron or urea foliar application and their various combinations were studied. The recommended dose of urea @ 40.6 kg ha-1 and single superphosphate @ 125 kg ha-1 was applied at the time of sowing. The nutrients used for foliar treatments in the present study were ZnSO4.7H2O (21% Zn), FeSO4.7H2O (19% Fe) and urea (46% N). In all the experiments 375 litres of water ha-1 was used for each foliar spray. Results revealed that soil application of ZnSO4 @ 25 kg ha-1 at sowing + foliar spray of ZnSO4 @ 0.5% at flowering and pod formation stages resulted in the highest growth parameters, symbiotic parameters, yield attributes, grain yield, net returns, benefit cost ratio, nutrient content and nutrient uptake. The highest concentration of zinc and iron in chickpea grain was also recorded with the soil application of ZnSO4 @ 25 kg ha-1 + foliar spray of ZnSO4 @ 0.5% at flowering and pod formation stages (45.1 & 44.7 mg zinc kg-1 and 59.7 & 62.9 mg iron kg-1 in first and second year of study, respectively). In experiment II, foliar spray of FeSO4 @ 0.5% at flowering and pod formation stages resulted in the highest growth parameters, symbiotic parameters, yield attributes, grain yield, net returns, benefit cost ratio, nutrient content, nutrient uptake and the highest concentration of zinc (35.1 & 34.2 mg zinc kg-1) and iron (73.5 & 75.3 mg iron kg-1) in chickpea grain. In experiment III, foliar spray of ZnSO4 @ 0.5% + FeSO4 @ 0.5% + urea @ 2% (individual as well as tank mix) resulted in the highest growth parameters, symbiotic parameters, yield attributes, grain yield, net returns, benefit cost ratio, nutrient content and nutrient uptake. Tank mix application of ZnSO4 @ 0.5% + FeSO4 @ 0.5% + urea @ 2% provided the second highest content of zinc (44.1 & 43.1 mg zinc kg-1) and iron (71.1 & 73.9 mg iron kg-1) in chickpea grain and was equally effective in biofortification of chickpea grain as individual application of these nutrients (45.1 & 45.0 mg zinc kg-1 and 71.4 & 74.2 mg iron kg-1). Therefore, it can be concluded that these treatments improve the nutrient content in chickpea grain and, therefore, can help in removing the micronutrient (zinc and iron) malnutrion in humans.ThesisItem Open Access Productivity of oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) and garden pea (Pisum sativum L.) intercropping system(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2018) Pawar, Suman; Jagmohan KaurThe study entitled “Productivity of oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) and garden pea (Pisum sativum L.) intercropping system”, was carried out at Student’s Research Farm, Department of Agronomy, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, during rabi 2016-17 and 2017-18. The soil of the experimental field was loamy sand, normal in pH and electrical conductivity, low in available N, medium in available P and K. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with four replications. The treatments consisted of three cultivars of oilseed rape viz., GSC 6, GSC 7 and Hyola PAC 401 intercropped with garden pea (Punjab 89) in 1:1 (Furrow 60 cm), 1:1 (Flat 60 cm), 1:2 (Flat 90 cm) row proportions, sole GSC 6 (Flat 30 cm), sole GSC 7 (Flat 30 cm), sole Hyola PAC 401 (Flat 30 cm), sole garden pea (Ridge 60 cm) and sole garden pea (Flat 30 cm). Seed yield of oilseed rape cultivars viz., GSC 6, GSC 7 and Hyola PAC 401 were not significantly influenced by different intercropping treatments. Flat sown sole pea produced highest green pod yield which was significantly higher than all other treatments. Significantly higher equivalent yield and system productivity of oilseed rape cultivars was recorded in different intercropping systems with garden pea as compared to the sole oilseed rape crop stand. Land equivalent ratio of different intercropping systems was more than one and was highest in furrow sown Hyola PAC 401 + ridge sown garden pea in 1:1 row ratio (1.18). All the oilseed rape based intercropping systems resulted in higher gross returns when compared to their sole crop stand. Intercropping of GSC6 , GSC 7 and Hyola PAC 401 with garden pea in either 1:1 or 1:2 row ratio makes oilseed rape intercropping system more remunerative because of increase in the net returns to the tune of ` 4,200 to `11,000 ha-1.ThesisItem Restricted Production potential of bed planted spring maize (Zea mays L.) based intercropping systems in relation to row orientations and nutrient application(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2018) Jaswinder Kumar; Thakar SinghPresent study entitled “Production potential of bed planted spring maize (Zea mays L.) based intercropping systems in relation to row orientations and nutrient application” was carried out at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana during 2016 and 2017. In first experiment, two row orientations viz. north-south and east-west were kept in main plots. Each main plot was divided into nine sub plots to allocate spring maize based intercropping systems and sole planting of component crops. In second research experiment, four intercropping systems viz. spring maize + maize (fodder), spring maize + groundnut, spring maize + spinach and spring maize + summer squash were kept in main plots and each main plot was divided into five sub plots to allocate per cent recommended dose of nutrients (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100%) to intercrops. Results showed that cultivation of spring maize on raised beds under north-south direction recorded higher yield advantages, spring maize equivalent yield, system productivity and economic returns in comparison to east-west direction, but differences were nonsignificant between two row orientations. Yield of intercrops remained at par under both row orientations. PAR interception was not influenced significantly with row orientations but increase was observed under north-south direction. Among intercropping systems, spring maize + summer squash recorded significantly higher spring maize equivalent yield, system productivity, land equivalent ratio and economic returns in comparison to other intercropping systems. Spring maize + summer squash system produced 92.4% higher equivalent yield, 92.3% higher system productivity and ` 60200 ha-1 higher net returns in comparison to sole spring maize system. Spring maize + maize (fodder) was found to be the second best intercropping system. Growth, yield attributes and yield of spring maize decreased significantly under spring maize + spinach intercropping system. Among nutrients applied to intercrops, it was observed that there is need to apply 75% of the recommended dose of nutrients for summer squash and 50% for maize fodder, spinach and groundnut under spring maize based intercropping systems. Quality parameters and nutrient content in plant parts of spring maize were not significantly affected by different intercropping systems and levels of nutrients applied to intercrops.ThesisItem Open Access Weed management in maize (Zea mays L.) using straw mulch and herbicides(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2018) Ramandeep Kaur; Charanjeet KaurThe field experiment entitled “Weed management in maize (Zea mays L.) using straw mulch and herbicides” was conducted at Students’ Research Farm, Department of Agronomy, PAU, Ludhiana and Research Farm, Regional Research Station Gurdaspur (PAU) during kharif 2017. The experiment was conducted in a factorial randomized block design with three replications. There were three mulch treatments as first factor (no mulch, paddy straw mulch at 6.25 t ha-1 and paddy straw mulch at 9.0 t ha-1) and six weed control treatments were taken as second factor viz. atrazine at 1.0 kg ha-1 pre-emergence, atrazine at 0.8 kg ha-1 preemergence, tembotrione at 0.110 kg ha-1 at 20 DAS, tembotrione at 0.088 kg ha-1 at 20 DAS, weed free and unweeded check. The major weed flora included Dactyloctenium aegyptium, Eragrostis tenella, Digitaria sanguinalis, Echinochloa colona, Cynodon dactylon as grasses, Trianthema portulacastrum as broadleaf weed and Cyperus rotundus as sedge. Among different mulch treatments, application of paddy straw mulch at 9.0 t ha-1 recorded significantly lower density and weed dry matter accumulation of grasses, sedges and broadleaf weeds as compared to paddy straw mulch at 6.25 t ha-1 and no mulch treatments. Highest yield attributing characters, grain yield, net returns and benefit cost ratio were recorded with application of paddy straw mulch at 9.0 t ha-1 which were significantly higher than application of paddy straw mulch at 6.25 t ha-1 and no mulch treatment. Also, application of paddy straw mulch at 6.25 t ha-1 produced significantly higher growth and yield attributes of maize as compared to no mulch treatment. Among the herbicide treatments, tembotrione at 0.088 kg ha-1 and tembotrione at 0.110 kg ha-1 were found very effective in controlling different weed species as compared to atrazine at 0.8 kg ha-1 and atrazine at 1.0 kg ha-1. Application of tembotrione at 0.088 or 0.110 kg ha-1 in combination with straw mulch at 9.0 t ha-1 recorded significantly lower density and dry matter accumulation of all weed species but resulted in significantly higher yield attributing characters, grain yield, net returns and benefit cost ratio as compared to all other combinations of straw mulch and herbicides. Thus, for getting higher productivity and profitability from maize, tembotrione at 0.088 kg ha-1 as post-emergence in combination with paddy straw mulch at 9.0 t ha-1 can be applied, as this herbicide-mulch combination helps in reduction of 20% dose of herbicide.ThesisItem Restricted Integrated weed management in autumn potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2018) Shafiq, Mohammad; Simerjeet KaurIntegrated weed management in autumn potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)ThesisItem Open Access Nitrogen scheduling for canola oilseed rape (Brassica napus) sown on varied dates(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2018) Loveleen Kaur; Sardana, VirenderA field study was conducted during rabi 2016-17 at the Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana (30o54‟N, 75o48‟E) to investigate the influence of sowing time, dose and time of application of nitrogen (N) on growth, productivity, nitrogen uptake and quality of oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.). The experiment was laid out in split plot design in three replications with three sowing dates (15 October, 30 October and 15 November) in the main plots, whereas the sub plots comprised seven treatments of dose and time of application of N viz; application of 100 and 125 kg/ha of N in two equal splits at sowing and at initiation of stem elongation, 100 kg/ha of N in two splits as 25 kg at sowing and 75 kg at stem elongation, 100 kg/ha of N in three splits as 50+25+25, 25+50+25, 34+33+33 and 125 kg/ha of N in three splits as 50+50+25 at sowing, initiation of stem elongation and initiation of flowering, respectively. Canola oilseed rape variety GSC 7 was sown at spacing of 45 cm x 10-12 cm. Soil of the experimental field was loamy sand Ustochrept, neutral in pH, low in organic carbon and available nitrogen and rich in available phosphorus and medium in available potassium. With delay in each sowing from 15 October to 30 October to 15 November, the number of days required for emergence, flowering and physiological maturity significantly increased. However delay in sowing significantly reduced the plant height, dry matter accumulation (DMA) and PAR interception at different growth stages, number of secondary branches per plant, seeds per siliqua and 1000 seed weight, N content except in stem at 80 DAS and uptake by different plant parts at different growth stages and in seed and stover at maturity. Crop sown on 15 October produced 4.1%, 27.3%, 2.9% and 10.8% higher seed, stover, oil and seed protein yield, respectively than 30 October sown crop which in turn, out yielded 15 November sown crop by 36.1%, 36.4%, 41.2% and 40.9% for seed, stover, oil and seed protein yields, respectively. Sowing dates had inconspicuous effect on different fatty acids of oil. Higher dose of N (125 kg/ha) in general resulted in better growth, improvement in yield attributes, yields (seed, stover, oil and protein) and N uptake than 100 kg/ha. However response of time of application of N was variable. Application of N in two equal splits at sowing and initiation of stem elongation resulted in more plant height, DMA, SPAD value at different growth stages than its application in three splits. The highest seed yield (2681 kg/ha) and oil yield (1056 kg/ha) produced by 15 October sown crop with application of 125 kg/ha of N in three splits as 50 kg at sowing + 50 kg at initiation of stem elongation + 25 kg at initiation of flowering was at par with the crop sown on 15 October with the application of 100 and 125 kg/ha of N in two equal splits and that sown on 30 October with application of 125 kg/ha of N in three splits but significantly higher than all other treatments. The effect of dose and time of application of N on fatty acid composition of oil was not significant.ThesisItem Open Access Response of Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) to Seed Priming and Seed Rate for Enhanced Growth and Productivity under different Planting Methods(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2018) Jassal, Rupinder Kaur; Harmeet SinghThe present study “Response of Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) to Seed Priming and Seed Rate for Enhanced Growth and Productivity under different Planting Methods” was carried out at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, during 2015 and 2016. In experiment I, in vitro studies were conducted in Factorial CRB design with twelve seed priming treatments (i.e. control, water soaked, KCl – 50 ppm, KCl – 100 ppm, KNO3 – 0.5%, KNO31.0 %, KH2PO4 - 0.5%, KH2PO4 - 1.0 %, GA3 - 50 ppm, GA3 - 100 ppm, Cytokinin -50 ppm and Cytokinin 100 ppm) for two priming durations i.e. 2 and 4 hour, respectively. Results revealed that 100 ppm GA3 treated soybean seeds for 2 hours recorded better performance under in vitro conditions and recorded significant higher Germiation Perceantage, Mean Germination Time, Germimation Time, Coffecient of Velocity, Vigour Length, Seedling Dry Weight, Root and Shoot Length as compared to other treatments. Experiment II was conducted in RCB Design with these seed priming treatments viz. control, water soaked, KCl – 50 ppm, KCl – 100 ppm, KNO3 – 0.5%, KNO31.0 %, KH2PO4 - 0.5%, KH2PO4 - 1.0 %, GA3 - 50 ppm, GA3 - 100 ppm, Cytokinin -50 ppm and Cytokinin 100 ppm. The results revealed that GA3 used at 100 ppm for seed priming recorded significantly higher plant characters viz. emergence count, plant height, dry matter accumulation, LAI and PARI. A non significant effect of different seed priming treatments was observed at all phenological stages of soybean crop. Symbiotic characters like root nodule count, root nodule dry weight and leghaemoglobin content in nodules were significantly higher in 100 ppm GA3 treated seeds. During both the years, seed yield was significantly higher with treatment 100 ppm GA3 which was statistically similar with 100 ppm cytokinin, 50 ppm GA3 and 50 ppm cytokinin. An increase of 30.6 % in seed yield was recorded with the use of 100 ppm GA3 treated seeds as compared to control or dry seeds this is due to more plant height, dry matter accumulation, LAI and yield attributing characters. N, P and K uptake by seeds and straw at harvest was recorded significantly higher with 100 ppm GA3 treated seeds which was statistically at par with 100 ppm cytokinin. A non significant effect was recorded on the quality parameters viz. protein, oil and starch content with different seed priming treatments. During both the years, gross returns, net returns and benefit cost ratio were recorded higher in treatment 100 ppm GA3 treated seeds. Experiment III was conducted in Factorial split plot design, keeping two planting methods (flat planting and bed planting) and two seed priming treatments (non-primed and 100 ppm GA3 treated seeds as primed seeds) in main plots and three seed rate (50, 62.5 and 75 kg ha-1) in sub plots. The results revealed that under bed planted method significantly higher emergence count, plant height, dry matter accumulation, LAI and PARI was recorded as compared to flat planting method. A non significant effect was observed at all phenological stages with respect to different planting methods. Bed planted crop recorded higher number of root nodule count and significantly higher root nodule dry weight and leghaemoglobin content in nodules as compared to flat planting method. Yield attributing characters viz. pods plant-1, seed pod-1 and 100 seed weight were higher in bed planted soybean crop as compared to flat planted crop. An increase of 15.6 % in seed yield was recorded under bed planted crop as compared to flat planted crop. N, P and K uptake by seeds and straw at harvest was significantly higher in bed planted crop as compared to flat planted crop. Maximum gross returns, net returns and B: C was obtained under bed planted soybean crop as compared to flat planted crop in both the two years. Primed seeds with 100 ppm GA3 recorded significant results in plant characters viz emergence count, plant height, dry matter accumulation, LAI and PARI, earliness in phenological stages, symbiotic characters, yield attributing characters and final seed yield. Primed seeds with 100 ppm GA3 recorded 23.2 % increase in pooled seed yield than non-primed seeds. N, P and K uptake by seeds and straw was also significantly higher in primed seeds as compared to non primed seeds. 100 ppm GA3 treated seeds recorded maximum gross returns, net returns and B: C as compared to non primed seeds. Seed rate of 62.5 kg ha-1 recorded higher plant growth, yield attributing characters and seed yield than 50 kg ha-1 and statistically at par results was recorded with 75 kg ha-1. Pooled seed yield was increased by 4.61 and 12.5 % with 62.5 kg ha-1 than 50 and 75 kg ha-1. Similarly, N, P and K uptake by seeds and straw was recorded significantly higher with with 62.5 kg ha-1 than 50 kg ha-1. Seed rate of 62.5 kg ha-1 recorded maximum gross returns, net returns and Benefit cost ratio than 50 and 75 kg ha-1