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ThesisItem Restricted Response of seed potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) to phosphorus management and growth regulators(Punjab Agricultural University, 2023) Amanpreet Singh; Aulakh, C.S.The present study entitled “Response of seed potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) to phosphorus management and growth regulators” was conducted during 2019-20 and 2020-21 at Research Farm, School of Organic Farming, PAU, Ludhiana and Farmer’s Field, Jalandhar. The soils of the experimental field at Ludhiana and Jalandhar were loamy sand and sandy loam with high and medium levels of available phosphorus, respectively. The experiments on phosphorus management were conducted at Research Farm, School of Organic Farming, PAU, Ludhiana and Farmer’s field, Jalandhar in split plot design with three replications and three main plot treatments [organic sources- Control, Biofertilizer (Biof) and Farmyard manure (FYM)] and five subplot treatments [Fertilizer P – 0%, 75%, 100%, 150% and 200% of recommended dose (62.5 kg P2O5 ha-1)]. The application of FYM at 50 t ha-1 recorded significantly higher growth and yield attributes, productivity, seed size (35-45mm) tuber yield and economic returns during both the years at Ludhiana and Jalandhar. At Ludhiana, FYM application resulted in 35.8 and 34.4 percent increase in seed-size tuber yield (95.9 and 113.6 q ha-1) as compared to unfertilized control during 2019-20 and 2020-21, respectively. Tuber quality attributes (except TSS and non-reducing sugars) were also significantly higher with the application of FYM as compared to biof and control. The application of FYM had significant positive influence on soil organic carbon (SOC) and available P. The significantly lower disease incidence and aphid population were observed with FYM. The biof also performed significantly better than the unfertilized control in terms of growth, yield and quality attributes. The significantly higher growth attributes, total tuber yield, seed size (35-45mm) tuber yield, tuber quality attributes, nutrient uptake and economic returns were observed with 125 kg P2O5 ha-1 (200% P) but were statistically at par with 93.8 kg P2O5 ha-1 (150% P) at both the locations during both the years. At, Jalandhar, higher level of fertilizer P, 125 kg P2O5 ha-1 resulted in 13.4 and 14.5 percent higher seed-size tuber yield than 93.8 kg P2O5 ha-1 during both the years. Soil pH, EC, SOC, available N and available K, were not influenced significantly by different levels of P. The significantly lower disease and aphid incidence were recorded with 125 kg P2O5 ha-1 as compared to all the other treatments except 93.8 kg P2O5 ha-1 during both the years at both the locations. The experiment to study the effect of plant growth regulators on growth, productivity and quality of seed potato was conducted at Ludhiana in randomized complete block design with three replications and 11 treatments i.e., Control, IBA (100 ppm), IBA (200 ppm), NAA (25 ppm), NAA (50 ppm), Ethrel (25 ppm), Ethrel (50 ppm), GA3 (100 ppm), GA3 (200 ppm), jeevamrit and wastedecomposer. The increase in seed-size tuber yield with GA3 (200 ppm) as compared to the control was 51.8 and 39.0 percent during 2019-20 and 2020-21, respectively. Significantly higher yield attributing characters and seed size (35-45 mm) and total tuber yields were obtained with foliar application of GA3 (200 ppm) at 45 and 60 days after sowing during both the years. It improved tuber quality (except TSS, ascorbic acid and non-reducing sugars) and gave the highest B:C ratio. The net returns were higher for GA3 (200 ppm) [` 302.0 thousand ha-1 and 361.2 thousand ha-1 during 2019-20 and 2020-21, respectively] due to higher seed as well as total tuber yield. Significantly lower post-harvest losses than all the other treatments were observed with foliar application of GA3 (200 ppm). The significantly lower late blight incidence was observed with GA3 (200 ppm).ThesisItem Open Access Thermal modeling of asymmetric overlap roof greenhouse for year round microclimate control(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2017) Amanpreet Singh; Sethi, V. P.In this study global solar radiation availability and thermal model for newly developed asymmetric overlap roof shape of greenhouse was developed. A mathematical model for global solar radiation availability was utilized to compute monthly average daily solar radiation, hourly solar radiation and instantaneous solar radiation; the computed values of solar radiation were utilized in dynamic thermal model to ascertain hourly plant and inside air temperature. Newly developed shape was also compared with previously developed two best shapes of greenhouse viz. even-span and modified arch in terms of solar radiation capture and for inside plant and air temperature buildup. Experimental validation of both the models is carried out for the measured instantaneous solar radiation, plant and inside air temperature for an east-west orientation, asymmetric overlap roof greenhouse (for a typical day in summer) at Ludhiana (310N and 770E) Punjab, India. The per cent difference between predicted inside air temperature and the average of measured values ranged from 0.49 to 24.58 with root mean square error of 5.69. The difference between the measured and predicted values of plant temperature varies from 3.96 to 26.99 per cent with root mean square error of 3.7. During the experimentation, tomato crop is grown inside the greenhouse and modified fan-fogger evaporative cooling system was installed and operated in sequence with different combinations of back side screen net (40×40 mesh size) and assorted sequential timings of on/off operations of fan-fogger. In this study, three different combinations of back side screen net with operational timings of fan-foggers combinations were employed and in order to optimize the operation time of fans and foggers, different combinations of operational time at fixed back side screen opening were also tested. By using modified fan-fogger evaporative cooling system, inside air temperature (Tai) drop was 120 C in twelve minutes during peak hours of solar load. During summer months of May and June, modified fan-fogger evaporative cooling system extracts heat at the rate of 9-10 kW to maintain inside air temperature lower by 8-90 C as compared to ambient air. Optimum value of cooling efficiency of modified fan-fogger evaporative cooling system comes out to be at 6 feet back side screen net slot and at 25 seconds of total operational time of MFFECS.ThesisItem Restricted Understanding Purchase Behaviour and Analyzing Marketing Mix Strategies: A study of Bottom of the Pyramid (BOP) Consumers(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2016) Amanpreet Singh; Kathuria, Lalit MohanThe present study was undertaken with the objectives: to investigate purchase behaviour of bottom of the pyramid consumers; to examine the willingness to purchase branded products; to explore the influence of social networks on purchase behaviour; to study marketing mix strategies of companies; and to recommend changes in marketing mix strategies. First three objectives were achieved by collecting primary data through a survey of 600 respondents held across two states of northern India viz. Punjab and Haryana. Findings highlighted that female members in the households play a greater role while taking purchase decisions related to food and FMCG; whereas male members were found to play a major role in purchase decisions related to durable products. The study also provided empirical evidence regarding differences in the purchase behavior of rural and urban consumers towards durable products. For example, perceived behavioral control emerged as the strongest predictor to purchase durable products among urban consumers; whereas subjective norms were found to be the most important predictor of purchase intention among rural consumers. Further, results highlighted attitude as the strongest driver of intention to purchase branded food followed by perceived behavioral control and subjective norms. Factor ‘product appearance, price and brand’ was found to be significant in the prediction of willingness to purchase branded FMCG; whereas three factors ‘familiarity and convenience’; ‘appearance and price’; and ‘quality and brand name’ emerged significant predictors of willingness to purchase branded durable products. The results highlighted trust as the strongest predictor of intention to purchase a product recommended by network members. Fourth objective of the study was achieved by interviewing 50 managers of selected companies. Findings indicated that pricing strategies emerged as the strongest predictor of company’s performance followed by promotion strategies, distribution intensity and product strategies. Based on these findings, the present study also suggested modifications in marketing mix strategies of companies serving BOP consumers.
