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Anand Agricultural University, Anand

Anand Agricultural University (AAU) was established in 2004 at Anand with the support of the Government of Gujarat, Act No.(Guj 5 of 2004) dated April 29, 2004. Caved out of the erstwhile Gujarat Agricultural University (GAU), the dream institution of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Dr. K. M. Munshi, the AAU was set up to provide support to the farming community in three facets namely education, research and extension activities in Agriculture, Horticulture Engineering, product Processing and Home Science. At present there seven Colleges, seventeen Research Centers and six Extension Education Institute working in nine districts of Gujarat namely Ahmedabad, Anand, Dahod, Kheda, Panchmahal, Vadodara, Mahisagar, Botad and Chhotaudepur AAU's activities have expanded to span newer commodity sectors such as soil health card, bio-diesel, medicinal plants apart from the mandatory ones like rice, maize, tobacco, vegetable crops, fruit crops, forage crops, animal breeding, nutrition and dairy products etc. the core of AAU's operating philosophy however, continues to create the partnership between the rural people and committed academic as the basic for sustainable rural development. In pursuing its various programmes AAU's overall mission is to promote sustainable growth and economic independence in rural society. AAU aims to do this through education, research and extension education. Thus, AAU works towards the empowerment of the farmers.

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Subject: Soil Science and Agriculture Chemistry × End date: 2009 × Thesis Type: Ph.D ×
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Now showing 1 - 9 of 23
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    SELENIUM STATUS OF GUJARAT SOILS AND FODDERS
    (AAU, Anand, 1968) Patel, Chimanbhai A.; Mehta, B. V.
    Abstract not Available
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    ASSESSMENT OF AVAILABLE COPPER AND MOLYBDENUM STATUS OF SOILS OF NORTH GIJARAT AND RESPONSE STUDIES WITH RESPECT TO ALFALFA
    (AAU, Anand, 1972) Patel, N. A.; Mehta, B. V.
    Abstract not Available
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    ASSESSMENT OF MICRONUTRIENT AVAILABILITY IN SOILS OF KAIRA AND BARODA DISTRICTS OF GUJARAT
    (AAU, Anand, 1969) DANGARWALA, R. T.; Mehta, B. V.
    Abstract not Available
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    AVAILABILITY OF POTASSIUM IN GUJARAT SOILS
    (AAU, Anand, 1952) Mehta, Bansidhar Vithaldas; Shah, C. C.
    Potassium is one of the fifteen chemical elements that have been shown to be essential for the growth of plants. It facilitates the production of translocation of sugars and starches from the leaf, stiffens the straw of cereal crops and the grass tribe generally and enables the plant to withstand adverse conditions of soil, climate and disease. It tends to counteract the rankness of growth developed by a abundant nitrogen. The continued growing and harvesting of crops remove large quantities of potassium from the soil. Our soils have produced thousands of crops which have removed huge quantities of potassium from the soil. In the usual fertilizer practice followed in this country potassium has not been included. The question, whether it will be necessary to include it in the near future, stimulates interest in the problem of potassium status of our soils.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    SOIL AND NUTRIENT LOSSES THROUGH RUNOFF FROM LOAMY SAND SOILS UNDER DIFFERENT CROPPING SYSTEMS
    (AAU, Anand, 1994) Sutaria, Gangdas Samjibhai; Patel, N. K.
    The field experiments were conducted at the College Agronomy Farm, Gujarat Agricultural University, Anand Campus, Anand, to study the soil and nutrient losses through runoff from loamy sand soils (Ustifluvents) under different cropping systems during Kharif season of the year 1992 and 1993. There were ten treatments consisted of sole crop of pearlmillet, pigeonpea, bidi-tobacco and groundnut and their intercropping systems including cultivated and absolute fallow treatments. The results revealed that both the runoff (152.0 mm) and soil loss (8469 kg ha-1 ) were maximum under cultivated plot. Per cent runoff loss under sole crops of groundnut, pearlmillet, pigeonpea and bidi-tobacco was to the tune of 13.9, 16.7, 27.4 and 30.9 per cent of the total rainfall, respectively. The corresponding values for soil loss was 2015, 2516, 6141 and 7436 kg ha"^ for these crops. Runoff loss from bidi-tobacco and pigeonpea was reduced to the extent of 34.0 and 32.7 per cent and that of soil loss by 45.3 and 42.5 per cent when groundnut crop intercropped with these crops. The highest content of various nutrients (N, P, K) in runoff water and that in sediment fractions were observed under sole groundnut crop. The contents of these nutrients in runoff water and in sediment fractions were enhanced under intercropping of groundnut with bidi-tobacco and pigeonpea as compared to that in sole crops. The total loss of nutrients through erosion under sole crops of biditobacco and pigeonpea was 120.2 and 101.2 kg ha-1 , respectively. These loss of nutrients curtailed to the extent of 37.8 and 32.3 per cent when groundnut crop was introduced as intercrop with these crops. The sediment was the main source of loss of nutrients through erosion. Significant negative relations were observed between runoff and soil losses with nutrients enrichment ratios in sediment fractions. The enrichment ratios for various nutrients was high with sole groundnut and it was low with bidi-tobacco and pigeonpea. The fractions of silt and clay were more in eroded sediment (14.05 to 26.94 %) than the soil from which they derived (11.0 %) . The cultivated fallow plot retained more soil-water during dry spell than cropped plots. In contrast to this, cropped plots stored more water than cultivated fallow plot during rainy season. Groundnut as sole or intercrop improved the soil fertility and physical conditions of the soil. The EI30 is a good index for the prediction of runoff and soil losses. Average annual rainfall erosion index (R) is arrived as the figure 772.59. The July and August months contributing 72.39 per cent of EI30 and these months are the most erosive months. Prediction models are developed for measurement of KE and EI30 based on daily rainfall data. Sole pearlmillet and groundnut as well as groundnut intercropped with bidi-tobacco and pigeonpea crops have low crop management factor (C). Soil erodibility factor (K) is worked out to be 73.0 kg ha-1 per unit of erosion index. Prediction models were also developed using multiple factors of USLE (erosivity, crop management and soil erodibility factors) for calculation of runoff and soil losses. The impact of different cropping systems on yield, monetary returns and uptake of nutrients were also studied. The results indicated that pearlmillet crop benefitted from intercrop while pigeonpea and bidi-tobacco crops affected adversely by intercrop. The productivity per unit area was increased by 23 per cent when groundnut intercropped with pigeonpea and bidi-tobacco crops. Incorporation of groundnut as intercrop with bidi-tobacco and pigeonpea crops gave extra monetary returns of 896 and 2648 Rs . ha-1, respectively than that from corresponding sole crops. The uptake of various plant nutrients were high under intercropping system in comparison to that in sole cropping system.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    PHYSICO-CHEMICAL AND SMOKE CHARACTERISTICS OF BIDI TOBACCO AS INFLUENCED BY VARYING STAGES OF HARVEST
    (AAU, Anand, 1985) GHELANI, LAXMANBHAI MANJIBHAI; Dangarwala, R. T.
    With a view to knowing the differences in physico-chemical and smoke characteristics of bidi tobacco due to varying stages of harvest an experiment was conducted during 1982-83 and 1985-84 at Bidi Tobacco Research Station, Gujarat Agricultural University, Anand Campus, Anand Campus, Anand. Different stages of harvesting were; (I) relatively immature stage of harvesting at 140 days after transplanting (M1), (ii) normal stage of harvesting at 160 days after transplanting (M2) and (iii) relatively over-mature stage of harvesting at 180 days after transplanting (M3).
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    ZINC, IRON AND MANGANESE AVAILABILITY IN PADDY SOILS OF SOUTH GUJARAT
    (AAU, Anand, 1978) Patel, Gokalbhai Ramjibhai; Dangarwala, R. T.
    Abstract not Available
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    LONG TERM EFFECT OF FYM AND FERTILITY LEVELS ON PROPERTIES OF LOAMY SAND SOIL (Typic Ustochrept) AS WELL AS YIELD AND QUALITY OF CROPS IN A PEARLMILLET-MUSTARD-COWPEA (FODDER) CROPPING SEQUENCE
    (AAU, Anand, 2002) PATEL, JITENDRAKUMAR ADITBHAI; PATEL, B. K.
    The physico-chemical and biological properties of soil and yield, quality and nutrient content and uptake by different crops as affected by FYM (0 and 10 t ha-1) and fertility levels [no fertilizer (FL1), 50% (FL2), 100% (FL3) and 150%o (FL4) of the recommended NP] in a pearlmillet-mustard-cowpea (fodder) sequence were evaluated during 1998-1999 and 1999-2000 from a long term experiment being conducted since 1994 at the Micronutrient Project (ICAR), G.A.U.. Anand. Soil samples at different depths of profile (0-15 cm) (D1), 15-30 cm (D2), 30-45 cm (D3), 45-60 cm (D4), 60-75 cm (D5) and 75-90 cm (D6) were collected in 2000 summer after harvest of cowpea (fodder). EFFECT OF FYM Application of FYM @ 10 t ha-1 to kharif pearlmillet had decreased bulk density and increased water holding capacity of soil. Its supplementation also improved availability of total N, P, K, S, Mn and Zn due to increase in organic carbon content of soil in the upper horizon (upto 30 cm). The DTPAextractable Fe in soil at 15-30 cm depth was in a deficient range (<5 mg kg-1). The total microbial biomass carbon and microbial population were improved by about 43, and 8.8 per cent, respectively. The overall increase in seed, straw and total yield of pealmillet was about 42 per cent due to FYM application. The total uptake of all the nutrients was higher under FYM than no FYM. The oil and protein contents of pearlmillet seeds were increased by 6.2 and 12.6 per cent, due to FYM addition, respectively. The increase in seed and straw yields of mustard was to the extent of 16.2 and 6.6 per cent due to FYM over no FYM, respectively. The nitrogen content of mustard seed and straw and S and Mn contents of see4 were significantly improved, while Fe, Zn, Cu contents were lower in seed and straw under FYM than no FYM. The uptake of N, P, K and Fe by seed and straw and thereby total uptake was higher under FYM than no FYM. Similarly, S pptake by seed and total uptake, Mn uptake by straw and total uptake as well as Zn uptake by mustard seed were higher under FYM applied to preceding crop of pearlmillet. The protein (10.1%) and oil (6.6%) contents as well as oil yield (26%) potential were significantly improved due to FYM application. The improvement in fodder yield of cowpea under FYM supplementation was due to increase in'green and dry weight as well as chlorophyll contents. The increase in yield resulted in increase N, K and S contents and uptake by cowpea fodder, while P content and uptake were decreased due to FYM application over no FYM. Among micronutrients, Fe and Cu contents were lower in fodder but their uptake was higher with FYM than no FYM. The protein content of cowpea fodder was increased by 49.8 per cent due to FYM application. EFFECT OF FERTILITY LEVELS The water holding capacity and electrical conductivity of soil were improved due to fertility levels. The available nutrients, especially P was increased, while trends for K, S and Cu were not consistent. Interestingly FL3 (100% recommended) fertility level at 15-30 cm depth gave DTPA Fe < 5 mg kg"', while Zn availability was the maximum. The total microbial biomass carbon content increased upto FL3 and decreased significantly thereafter. The yield attributes in general showed increasing trend with the increasing fertility levels, wherein seed yield of pearlmillet and fodder yield of cowpea were the maximum under FL3, while straw and total yield of pearlmillet and yield of all kinds of mustard were maximum under 150 per cent of the recommended dose of NP. The oil content of pearlmillet and mustard seeds was the maximum at the highest fertility (FL4) level. Similarly protein content of pearlmillet seed and cowpea (fodder) was maximum under FL4 and that of mustard seed under FL3. The uptake of N, P and K by pearlmillet was the highest at the highest fertility level. The S uptake by pearlmillet was the highest at FL4 but in mustard and cowpea it was the highest at FL3. Among different micronutrients, Zn removal was the highest at FL4 in all the three crops, while Fe removal was the highest at the same fertility level under pealmillet only. In case of mustard and cowpea, FL2 and FL3 gave maximum total Fe uptake, respectively.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    ASSESSMENT OF IRRIGATION REQUIREMENT OF NARMADA COMMAND USING SOIL-CROP-CLIMATE DATA
    (AAU, Anand, 1997) GIRI, JAYANT DATTATRAYA; PATEL, G. R.
    The assessment of irrigation requirement of Narmada Command covering an area of 18 lakh hectares (1.8m ha) has been carried out using data on soil available water capacity and evapotranspiration data on crops viz., pearl millet, groundnut, pigeonpea, cotton, castor, mustard and wheat. The crop evapotranspiration (ETc) is computed using crop coefficient values (Kc). While ETc has been found to be mainly dependent on the climatic component, the Net Irrigation Requirement (NIR) has been found to depend on climate mainly effective rainfall and the soil available water capacity (AWC). Differences between the Crop Water Requirement (CWR) and NIR were wide for the monsoon season, but narrowed down considerably in the winter and summer seasons. The AWC and the length of growing period of crop have also contributed to the NIR values. Soils with higher AWC had lower NIR while crops with longer growing season showed higher NIR. The AWC of soils has been found to be mainly governed by the soil texture more so by the clay + silt or clay contents. In general, medium textured soils had higher AWC than either coarse or fine textured soils. The 60 per cent level of depletion of AWC has been used to initiate irrigation. The number of irrigations required and the quantity of water applied depends on the overall evaporative demand of climate, the length of growing season of the crop and the AWC of soils. Seasonal evaluation of the scheme water supply efficiency revealed that in general the values were below 1.0 and tended to be around 0.5. The values were around 0.5 during the months of high evaporative demand and considerably less during the monsoon and cooler months when the evaporative demand is lower. However, these values are expected to be higher once all the crops grown will be considered. Scheme efficiency (relation between supply required and actual supply) can be improved by growing perennial crops like sugarcane and banana and such other crops having a high requirement for water. Such crops are recommended to be grown on as soils with no root zone limitations or other limitations imposed by the physical and chemical properties of soils. During months of low water requirement use of exploitable ground water is also recommended. Such conjunctive use will help in saving water which otherwise will go as wasteful flow and also help to keep the ground water level well below problematic levels. Use of data on soil-crop-climate to achedule irrigations for the various crops revealed it to have substantially leas NIR values as compared to the IW/CPE ratio for monsoon season crops and compared well for the winter crops. In the summer, it predicted a less NIR than IW/CPE for groundnut but gave higher values than IW/CPE for pearl millet. The redeeming feature of the model is that it takes into consideration the effective rainfall (Total rainfall less that lost through run-off or deep percolation). The soil-crop-climate model compared well with the other methods of irrigation tried, for the yield of grain in all the crops studied. It gave less WUE than the critical stages approach for all the crops except wheat, where Ife gave higher WUE values. In case of pearl millet and mustard it gave less WUE than the IW/CPE ratio. This may be attributed to the fact that these crops have basically less requirement for water and hence, gave no significant response to any increase in water supplies beyond a certain level. Studies on the behaviour of the model as compared to the other schedules for the nutrient depletion pattern Indicate that no definite pattern with respect to nutrient uptake has emerged and the results had a fair measure of inconsistency. The inherent variability of the crops studied for their capacity of derive nutrition, the natural relationships among the nutrients and the inherent difference in the soil's capacity to supply nutrients can be attributed to the observed inconsistency. Since the model gives moderate dry matter production, it causes moderate depletion of nutrient and hence with proper management and monitoring of the soil fertility, it is expected to give sustained agricultural production. Study on evolving alternative irrigation management practices in areas suffering from problems of rising water table were carried out. Results revealed that for groundnut use of sprinkler system of irrigation with an application depth corresponding to 2.5 cm per irrigation at two stages of crop growth viz. pegging (55 DAS) and pod development (85 DAS) with two irrigation of 5 cm each as pre-sowing and pre-harvest proved to the most beneficial (5.7 t/ha kernel yield). Growing groundnuts without Irrigation (4.6 t/ha) except a pre-sowing irrigation was the next best alternative. Irrigating groundnut at pre-sowing, 55 DAS, 85 DAS and pre-harvest stages with 5 cm depth of application each time had serious negative effects on yield (2.6 t/ha). Under such situations use of sprinklers appears to be a promising alternative as besides giving higher yield it may also help in keeping the ground water level within manageable limits. Growing groundnut without irrigation appear to be the next best alternative. From the study conducted It can be concluded that the soil-crop-climate model, can be used as an effective tool for predicting regional estimates of irrigation requirement inspite of the wide diversity of climate, soil and crops grown In any region, because it takes into consideration these very variables. It is also easy to compute the requirement and has the added advantage of using minimum data sets. The data collected once can be applied without the need for recurrent data collection for a reasonably long time. However, before final conclusions can be drawn, the model needs to be validated for larger number of crops, wider variety of soils and different climatic situations. Because of its requirement of minimum data sets, however it appears to be an attractive alternative tool for making regional estimates of water requirement and merits scientific attention.