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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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ThesisItem Open Access SALICYLIC ACID-INDUCED BIOCHEMICAL CHANGES AGAINST ROOT-KNOT NEMATODE (Meloidogyne incognita) IN CHICKPEA, Cicer arietinum (L.)(AAU, Anand, 2002) ARUNA, K. V. S.; TALATI, J. G.Investigations were carried out at the Departments of Biochemistry and Nematology, B.A.College of Agriculture, G.A.U., Anand during rabi 2001-2002, to study the effect of exogenous salicylic acid on the induction of resistance through biochemical changes in chickpea, Cicer arietinum (L.) against root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita). Study on development of PR proteins by exogenous SA revealed that SA applied as seed treatment was found to be more effective in inducing PR proteins in chickpea seedlings compared to foliar spray or their combinations. Another experiment was conducted to study the effect of SA on different resistance inducing biochemical parameters viz., sugars, amino acids, proteins, phenols and enzymes using three methods of SA application viz., seed treatment, seed treatment + spray and foliar spray. The results conclusively proved that although the application of SA in all the three methods, effectively enhanced production of all biochemical parameters under study in chickpea. However, seed treatments produced more significant effects than the other treatments. Among the different concentrations used under each method of application, 1500 ppm was more effective followed by 1000 ppm and 500 ppm. This implies that resistance in plant against M. incognita increases with increase in concentration of SA, irrespective of the method of application. Enzyme activities of peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase increased more at later stages of growth (45 & 60 DAS) in contrast to enzyme activities of phenylalanine amonia lyase (PAL), Tyrosine ammonia lyase (TAL) and β-glucosidase in the initial growth stages (30 & 45 DAS). Total soluble sugars decreased with increase in plant age whereas free amino acids, proteins and phenols increased with plant age. No isozymes of peroxidase were detected in both root and leaves due to the SA treatments. All these biochemical changes brought about by the application of SA induced resistance in chickpea against M. incognita which was observed by a decrease in the root-knot index. The third experiment organized to study the effect of SA in inducing resistance at two inoculum levels of M. incognita, showed no significant variation in total phenols and enzyme activities of peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase and phenylalanine ammonia lyase with increase in the inoculum level. The decrease in the root-knot index due to the SA treatments was more at lower inoculum level (1000 J2/plant) than at higher inoculum level (10,000 J2/pIant). All the three experiments conclusively proved that exogenous SA induced plant defence mechanism in chickpea by various biochemical changes which effects the life cycle and development of M. incognita.ThesisItem Open Access MANAGEMENT OF LEAF CURL DISEASE OF TOMATO(2002) KRISHNAN, AMBILI; Valand, G. B.To evaluate the influence of various phytoextracts, chemicals and other substances against Tomato Leaf Curl Virus (ToLCV) disease and the cultural management practices viz., barriers and mulching, present investigation was carried out during the year 2000-2001 at B. A. College of Agriculture, Gujarat Agricultural University, Anand. The study on evaluation of various plant extracts against ToLCV indicated that pre-inoculation spray of phytoextract was more effective as compared to their application after ToLCV inoculation (Post-inoculation treatment). Among the plant species tested 10% aqueous leaf extract of Mirabilis jalapa and Catharanthus roseus as pre-inoculation spray were the best and recorded an inhibition of 93.33% while the same when applied after inoculation could exert an inhibition of 73.33% which was highest among its post-inoculation counterparts. The effect of pre- and post-inoculation treatment of chemicals and other substances didn't have much of a variation in case of growth regulators. The difference in ToLCV inhibition by pre- and post-inoculation treatment with gibberellic acid was not as large as seen in the case of phytoextracts. Although, gibberellic acid didn't inhibit or inactivate the leaf curl virus its pre- and post-inoculation spray resulted in least ToLCV infection (6.67 to 13.30%) followed by Guanidine hydrochloride (0.2%)) and Guanidine carbonate (0.2%). None of the different concentrations of cow urine could exert any inhibition of ToLCV. Moreover, the concentrations of cow urine that exceeded 20% caused phytotoxic effect at the true leaf stage of the tomato test plants. Whitefly count recorded at weekly interval from the yellow sticky traps installed in all the unsprayed plots of barriers indicated that the yellow sticky traps in grey cloth and nylon net barriers plots recorded least number of white flies as compared to those recorded in the rest of the traps throughout the season. Further, the numbers of white flies on the traps were as high as 29 in control where as grey and nylon net recorded only 15-18 whiteflies at 11 weeks after tomato transplanting. Among the different treatment combinations of barrier and insecticide spray, grey cloth barrier along with four sprays of triazophos @ 0.04% was at par with nylon net and superior to sunnhemp and rest of the treatment combinations. Grey cloth and nylon net emerged as significantly superior to rest of the treatments in preventing the immigrant whiteflies from entering the tomato plots thus reducing the ToLCV incidence (21.67% and 27.61% respectively) which in turn reflected in the tomato fruit yield (57.50 and 54.50 t/ha). The next best treatment was sunnhemp. From the two years of periodical observation and that of pooled it can be inferred that among the variety of mulches tested, the silver and grey mulches could maintain the ToLCV disease incidence below 10% even till 75 days after transplanting. Where as, at this period the incidence in control was 45.97% about four times of that recorded in the former cases (9.67 and 9.77% respectively). Pooled analysis of two years of mulch experiment data revealed that significantly least incidence was recorded at harvest jn silver and grey mulch plots due to corresponding least whitefly population. The next best treatment was "triazophos @ 0.04%. The black and silver mulch could also suppress the weed population significantly. Fruit yield was also highest in silver and grey (58.55 and 56.32 t/ha respectively) followed by triazophos. The ICBR computed for mulching as a management practice in tomato revealed that silver and grey gave maximum additional income (73,620 Rs/ha). The ICBR for silver and grey mulches were 1:2.77 and 1:2.60 respectively. Although triazophos @ 0.04% gave a very high ICBR of 1:19.73 but the ecofriendly nature of the management through mulching puts it at an advantage over the insecticide application. Hence, it can be concluded that, silver and grey mulching in tomato field can be practiced to keep the whitefly population at a low level thereby reducing ToLCV incidence.ThesisItem Open Access POWDERY MILDEW OF CORIANDER CAUSED BY Erysiphe polygon D.C. AND IT'S MANAGEMENT(AAU, Anand, 2002) DESAI, VIRAL K.; PATEL, J. G.Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) is an important spice crop. Coriander seeds and fresh coriander leaves are consumed as spice and for flavouring various culinary preparations, respectively. It is native of Mediterranean region. Today coriander is commercially grown in India, Morocco, Russia, Hungary, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Rumania, Guatemala, Mexico, USA, Bangladesh and Pakistan. Coriander belongs to family Apiaceae. In India, it was estimated that coriander is grown over an area of 3,22,000 hectares with a production of 3,08,000 hectares in the year 1997-98, while export of coriander seeds to foreign countries was to the tune of 26,826 metric tonne valued at around Rs. 58 crores for the year 1998-99. The crop can earn valuable foreign exchange. Powdery mildew is a major disease of coriander caused by Erysiphe polygoni D.C. The pathogen is air borne. It cause losses up to 15-40% in addition to considerable loss in quality of coriander seeds. Present investigations were carried out on patliogenicity, inlluence of sowing dates and weather parameters on development of disease, screening of germplasms/varieties, field evaluation of fungicides, phytoextracts and water spray against E. polygoni, at Vegetable Research Station, GAU, Anand. During the study in Rabi 2000-2001, it was observed that the powdery mildew of coriander appeared in late December - January - February and increased till harvesting. Infected plants showed typical symptoms of white ashy powdery coverage on foliar parts and stem. The fungus could not he multiplied under laboratory conditions. Therefore, in order to prove the pathogenicity, conidia obtained from the diseased plant parts were sprayed on plants of cultivar Gujarat Coriander-2. Among various sowing dates under study, the early sowing dates i.e. 20th October and 5th November were found superior to subsequent sowing dates i.e. 20th November, 5th December, 20th December and 5th January. Environmental factors played an important and vital role in development of disease. Periodical progression of disease intensity increased from 16.40 to 57.60 per cent. Positive and significant correlation was observed in case of wind speed and positive but non-significant correlation in case of maximum, minimum and mean temperatures. Disease was initiated in between late December to Early January. Among twenty-six different germplasms/varieties screened, no variety was found immune or resistant to powdery mildew infection. However, the germplasms CM-17, CM-26 and CM-25 recorded lower disease incidence i.e. 48.26, 50.93 and 51.20 per cent, respectively. Among different fungicides and phytoextracts tried in control of powdery mildew of coriander, Dinocap proved to be most effective fungicide followed by wettablc Sulphur with respect to disease intensity, seed yield and oil content. Phytoextracts were found next to fungicides in respect of disease control.ThesisItem Open Access ASSESSMENT OF GENETIC VARIABILITY AND CHARACTER ASSOCIATION STUDIES IN Aloe (Aloe barbadensis Mill.) FOR AGRO - BOTANICAL AND QUALITY TRAITS(AAU, Anand, 2004) DEORE, ABHIJIT A.; Sriram, S.Aloe (Aloe barbadensis Mill.), one of the priority medicinal plants of commercial importance in India, belongs to the family Liliaceae. Dry weight of juice and aloin content (gm/100 gm dry exudate) are important economic traits of this plant. These traits are manifestations of many contributing characters. As the work on genetics of these traits is scarce in the literature, the present investigation was undertaken. Information was generated on variability, character associations as well as direct and indirect effects of different characters on these economic parameters of Aloe. The field experiment was conducted during January-2002 to February-2003 at the experimental farm of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Project, Anand Agricultural University, Anand. The experimental material (19 months old) comprised of 23 genotypes. The evaluations were made in completely randomized design. Observations were recorded on randomly selected five plants and each plant was treated as single repeat. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences among the genotypes for all 35 characters studied suggesting presence of good deal of variability in the experimental material. The characters studied were length of inflorescence, number of flowers per inflorescence, density of flowers in an inflorescence, per cent pollen fertility, number of capsules per inflorescence, number of seeds per inflorescence, number of seeds per capsule, per cent seed germination, leaf length, leaf breadth, leaf thickness at the base, number of leaves per plant, weight of single leaf, weight of gel, volume of gel, dry gel content (gm/100 ml juice), fresh weight of juice, dry weight of juice, moisture per cent in juice, fresh weight of exudate, dry weight of exudate, moisture per cent in exudate, dry exudate content (gm/100 ml exudate), cold extracted gel (gm/100 ml juice), cold extracted gel (gm/100 gm gel powder), hot extracted gel (gm/100 ml juice), hot extracted gel (gm/100 gm gel powder), aloin content (gm/100 gm fresh exudate), aloin content (gm/100 gm dry exudate), aloin content (gm/100 gm fresh juice), aloin content (gm/100 gm gel powder), barbaloin content (gm/100 gm fresh exudate), barbaloin content (gm/100 gm dry exudate), barbaloin content (gm/100 gm fresh juice) and barbaloin content (gm/100 gm gel powder). Characters, length of inflorescence, number of flowers per inflorescence, density of flowers, per cent pollen fertility, number of seeds per inflorescence, per cent seed germination, weight of leaf, weight of gel, volume of gel, fresh weight of juice, dry weight of juice, fresh weight of exudate, dry weight of exudate, cold and hot extracted gel in juice, cold and hot extracted gel in powder showed predominance of genotypic variance and also showed high magnitude of broad sense heritability coupled with high genetic advance. Hence, it is concluded that experimental material possessed potential for improvement in these traits. Correlation matrix revealed that all character paired were positively and significantly correlated with each other both at genotypic and phenotypic levels but for number of flowers per inflorescence and number of leaves per plant which were negatively correlated. Characters, length of inflorescence, number of flowers per inflorescence, leaf length, leaf breadth, leaf thickness at the base, weight of single leaf, weight of gel and fresh weight of juice showed their highly significant and high magnitude positive association with both the economic parameters viz., dry weight of juice and aloin content (gm/100 gm dry exudate). Hence, based on high magnitude correlation coefficient with economically important characters, it could be concluded that certain inflorescence and leaf characters could be exploited for improvement in this crop. Path analyses revealed that leaf thickness at the base and weight of gel had positive direct effect on both the economic parameters i.e. dry weight of juice and aloin content (gm/100 gm dry exudate). Other characters, length of inflorescence, number of flowers per inflorescence, leaf length, leaf breadth, weight of single leaf and fresh weight of juice had direct but negative effect on these economic traits. Though their correlation with economic traits was positive and significant, their direct and indirect effect on both the economic parameters was variable. In general, characters leaf thickness at the base and weight of gel, with high magnitude of direct effects may be helpful to select the elite genotypes for improvement in these two economic traits i.e. selection could be based on visibly assessable character leaf thickness at the base and later results could be confirmed in laboratory, testing for gel weight. Based on these analyses and mean values, eight elite genotypes viz., IC-112522, IC-112527, KM 12535, IC-112528, KM 11269, KM 12531, Bitter rayan and Sweet rayan were identified for further use in crop improvement programme.ThesisItem Open Access INFLUENCE OF IRRIGATION SCHEDULES (IW : CPE RATIO) AND MULCHES ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF SUMMER GREENGRAM UNDER MIDDLE GUJARAT CONDITIONS(AAU, Anand, 2005) PANCHAL, HIRENKUMAR D; PATEL, J. J.A field experiment was conducted during summer season of the year 2003 at the College Agronomy Farm, Anand Agricultural University, Anand to study the, "Influence of irrigation schedules (IW : CPE ratio) and mulches on growth and yield of summer greengram under middle Gujarat conditions". The soil of the experimental field was loamy sand in texture having good drainage, low in nitrogen, medium in available phosphorus and high in potash with pH 7.5. Sixteen treatment combinations consisting of four levels of irrigation schedules (IW : CPE ratio) viz.,I0- control critical growth stages. I1- 0.5 IW : CPE ratio, I2- 0.7 IW : CPE ratio and I3- 0.9 IW : CPE ratio and four mulches viz., control-no mulch (Mo), organic mulch i.e. Bajra Bhusa @ 5t ha-1(M1), black polythene sheet (M2) and silver colour sheet (M3) were tested under split plot design with four replications. The results indicated that the seed and dry fodder yield as well as most of the growth and yield attributes of summer greengram were significantly influenced due to different irrigation schedules. The results further revealed that treatment I2 (0.7 IW : CPE ratio) recorded significantly higher av. plant height at 20 and 50 DAS and at harvest, av. number of branches per plant, av. number of pods per plant, av. number of seeds per pod, av. pod length (cm) and test weight (1000- seed weight in g). Treatment I2 (0.7 IW : CPE ratio) secured the highest seed yield (1234.03 kg ha-1) and dry fodder yield (2303.47 kg ha-1) of summer greengram. The seed and dry fodder yield increase under the same treatment was to the tune of 110.86 and 34.35 per cent, respectively over treatment lo (Control- critical growth stages). Significantly the highest nitrogen uptake (49.21 kg ha-1) by seed was observed under treatment I2 (0.7 IW : CPE ratio), while same treatment recorded significantly higher phosphorus uptake (4.06 kg ha-1) and was being at par with treatment I3 (0.9 IW: CPE ratio). The consumptive use of water was increased with increase in IW : CPE ratio, whereas the water use efficiency was higher with lower IW : CPE ratio. The highest net realization (18515 Rs. ha-1) was secured under treatment I2 (0.7 IW : CPE ratio), followed by h (0.9 IW : CPE ratio) and Ii (0.5 IW : CPE ratio), while the lowest net realization (6354 Rs. ha-1) was found under treatment lo (Control- critical growth stages). The highest net ICBR (1:7.17) was secured under treatment h (0.7 IW : CPE ratio), followed by the treatments I1 (0.5 IW : CPE ratio) with net ICBR of 1: 5.68 and I3 (0.9 IW: CPE ratio) with net ICBR of 1:3.63. Among the various mulches, application of organic mulch i.e. Bajra Bhusa @ 51 ha-1 (M1) resulted in the maximum growth and yield attributes which ultimately resulted in higher seed and dry fodder yield of summer greengram. Application of organic mulch i.e. Bajra Bhusa @ 51 ha-1 (M1) secured significantly the highest seed yield (1128.47 kg ha-1) and dry fodder yield (2076.39 kg ha-1). The seed and dry fodder yield increase under the same treatment was to the tune of 41.79 and 17.48 per cent respectively over treatment Mo (Control-no mulch). Treatment M1 (organic mulch) recorded significantly the highest nitrogen uptake (42.89 kg ha-1) in seed. Apart from this, it secured the highest consumptive use of water and water use efficiency. The highest value of net realization (16289 Rs. ha-1) and net ICBR 1:1.52 were observed under the same treatment. During the course of investigation, interaction effect of irrigation and mulches revealed that treatment combination of I0M2 (Control: at critical growth stage and black polythene sheet) recorded significantly lower toted weed count and dry weight of weed at harvest. For securing higher seed yield and net realization from summer greengram crop Cv. GM- 4 raised on loamy sand soils of middle Gujarat, it is advisable to apply nine irrigations, 2nd irrigation of 25 mm depth and rest of the irrigations, each of 50 mm depth to be scheduled at an IW : CPE ratio of 0.7. The first irrigation should be applied immediately after sowing, second at seven days after first irrigation and remaining irrigations at an interval of seven days with application as organic mulch i.e. Bajra Bhusa @ 5 t ha-1 (M1) for securing higher seed yield and maximum net realization over control i.e. no mulch.ThesisItem Open Access GENETIC ARCHITECTURE OF GREEN FRUIT YIELD AND QUALITY CHARACTERS IN RELATION TO GMS BASED HYBRIDS IN CHILLI (Capsicum annuum var. longum (D.C.)Sendt.)(AAU, Anand, 2004) PATEL, PRAGNESH R.; Patel, J. A.The present investigation comprised of 40 F1S developed from four Gms lines and ten male parents through Line x Tester mating design in chilli (Capsicum annuum var. longum (D.C.) Sendt.) was undertaken at Main Vegetable Research Station, Gujarat Agricultural University Anand during kharif planting crop season of the year 2002-03. The experimental material (40 F1S, 4 Gms lines, 10 pollen parents and one check variety) was evaluated in complete randomized block design with three replications. The main objective of the experiment was to study heterosis, gene effects and combining ability effects for green fruit yield and various yield as well as quality characters. Analysis of variance indicated presence of considerable amount of variability among genotypes for all the fourteen characters studied. Mean squares due to parents and hybrids were significant for all the characters. Whereas, parents was. hybrids contrast comparison was significant for all the attributes except average fruit weight, suggesting the existence of differences between parents and hybrids leading to evidence for presence of heterosis for all those characters. In respect to per se performance of parents, among the Gms lines ACMS-3 and ACMS-4 and among the male inbreds ACS 97-2, ACS 2000-01. ACS 2000-02, ACS 2000-03, Punjab Gucchedar and RHRC Pendent were found to be superior for green fruit yield and most of the yield as well as quality characters. Among the hybrids. ACMS-2 x Pb. Gucchedar. ACMS-3 x Pb. Gucchedar. ACMS-3 x ACS 97-2, ACMS-4 x Arka lohit and ACMS-2 x ACS 2000-02 had high per se mean for green fruit yield. These hybrids also possessed high mean values for other important characters in respect to yield and quality. In the present investigation, significant and higher estimates of relative heterosis, hetcrobeltiosis and standard heterosis were observed for green fruit yield. The hybrids ACMS-2 x Pb. Gucchedar. ACMS-4 x ACS 2000-03, ACMS-4 x ACS 2000-01 and ACMS-3 x Pb. Gucchedar exerted greater amount of heterobelliosis and standard heterosis for yield, these hybrids also depicted larger estimates of heterosis for number of fruits per plain. These lop ranking hybrids also registered significant desirable heterosis for most of the growth and quality characters in addition to important yield contributing component characters. For number of fruits per plant, hybrid ACMS-3 x Pb. Gucchedar borne the highest fruits followed by ACMS-4 x Arka lohit and ACMS-2 X Pb. Gucchedar. likewise these hybrids also depicted the maximum values of standard heterosis and larger estimates of heterobeltiosis for the said trait. These hybrids also registered higher estimates of various heterotic effects for one or more than one yield contributing component characters. In respect to earliness, hybrids ACMS-: X ACS 2000-03. ACMS-4 x ACS 2000-03 and ACMS-1 x ACS 96-33 look the minimum days for flowering. hence these hybrid had the least estimates of standard heterosis. The estimates of components of genetic variance revealed the importance of non additive gene effect for genetic control of green fruit yield and its important component character number of fruits per plant, for all the growth attributes except plant height and for all the quality parameters. Additive gene effect was importance for fruit length and fruit diameter. Whereas, both the components of genetic variance were significant for average fruit weight. For plant height and fruit shape index none of the gene effects had significant estimates.ThesisItem Open Access INTEGRATED NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT IN Kharif PIGEONPEA [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] UNDER IRRIGATED CONDITION(AAU, Anand, 2004) PATEL, CHIRAGKUMAR NATVARBHAI; SADHU, A. C.A field experiment was conducted during Kharif season of 2002 at the College Agronomy Farm, Gujarat Agricultural University, Anand campus, Anand to study the "Integrated nutrient management in Kharif pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] under irrigated condition". The soil of the experimental plot was loamy sand in texture having good drainage, low in nitrogen, medium in phosphorus and rich in potash with pH 7.9. Twelve treatment combinations consisting of four levels of bio-fertilizer / FYM (control, Rhizobium inoculation, Rhizobium + PSB inoculation and Rhizobium + PSB inoculation +FYM @ 10 t / ha) and three fertility levels (0 %, 50 % and 100 % recommended dose of fertilizers i.e. 25 kg N + 50 kg P2O5 / ha) were tested under factorial randomized block design with four replications. The results indicated that the growth and yield parameters as well as yield and protein content in grain were significantly affected by different bio-fertilizer / FYM levels. The treatment of Rhizobium + PSB inoculation +FYM @ 10 t / ha recorded significantly the highest plant height at harvest, no. of branches / plant, no of pods / plant, pod length and test weight. This treatment being at par with Rhizobium + PSB inoculation treatment also recorded significantly higher values of plant height at 30 DAS, no of seeds / pod, grain yield / plant and protein content in grain (23.59 %) than control and Rhizobiiim inoculation alone. Marked increase in the growth and yield attributes resulted in significantly the highest grain and straw yields (1495 kg/ha and 5186 kg/ha, respectively) under the treatment of Rhizobium + PSB inoculation +FYM @ 10 t / ha. It also recorded the highest net realization of Rs 16,413 / ha, while maximum C.B.R. of 3.35 was recorded under the treatment of Rhizobium + PSB inoculation. The results revealed that different fertility levels had marked influence on various parameters except harvest index. Each increase in fertility levels from no. fertilizer to 100 % recommended fertilizer dose (25 kg N + 50 kg P2O5 / ha) significantly increased the growth and yield attributes, yield as well as protein content in grains. Application of 100 % recommended dose of fertilizers recorded significantly the highest plant height at 30 DAS and at harvest, no. branches / plant, no of pods / plant, pod length, no of seeds / pod, test weight, grain yield / plant and this resulted in significantly the highest grain as well as straw yields (1530 kg/ha and 4529 kg/ha, respectively) under this fertility level. Significantly the highest protein content in grain (23.91 %) was also recorded under 100 % recommended fertilizer dose. This treatment also gave the highest net realization of Rs 17,462 / ha with maximum C.B.R. of 3.12. During the course of investigation, interaction effect of bio-fertilizer / FYM levels X fertility levels revealed that treatment combination of Rhizobium +PSB inoculation +FYM @ 10 t / ha +100 % recommended fertilizer dose (25 kg N + 50 kg P2O5 / ha) recorded the highest no.of pods / plant (147.8) and the highest grain yield (1643 kg/ha). Rhizobium +PSB inoculation +FYM @ 10 t / ha + 100 % recommended fertilizer dose also recorded the highest net realization of Rs 17490 / ha, while the maximum C.B.R. (3.12) was recorded under treatment combination Rhizobium +PSB inoculation +100 % recommended fertilizer dose (25 kg N + 50 kg P2O5 / ha). In light of the results obtained from this investigation, it is revealed that the seeds of pigeonpea should be treated with Rhizobium and Phosphorus solubilizing bacteria along with the application of 10 t FYM / ha and 100 % recommended fertilizer dose (25 kg N + 50 kg P2O5 / ha) for getting maximum yield and net profit from pigeonpea under middle Gujarat agro-climatic conditions.ThesisItem Open Access EFFECT OF ZINC ENRICHED ORGANICS ON YIELD AND NUTRIENT UPTAKE BY CROPS UNDER WHEATMAIZE (F) CROPPING SEQUENCE(AAU, Anand, 2003) RATHOD, DHARMSINH DIPSINH; Patel, K. P.The present investigation was undertaken to study the comparative efficiency of different Zn-enriched organics on crop yields and increase the fertilizer use efficiency in wheat-maize (F) cropping sequence. The enrichment of different organics was carried out with Zn by composting the locally available organics viz., farm yard manure (FYM), poultry manure (PM), sewage sludge (SS) and biogas slurry (BGS) for six to seven weeks as required to complete the enrichment process. Zinc was added at 2.5 and 5.0 kg ha-1 ttirough 500 kg of organics. The enriched organics were used for field experiment on the pre-identified Zn deficient site at Forage Research Project Farm, GAU, Anand. The treatments of Zn-enriched organics were evaluated as against straight Zn application @ 2.5 kg Zn ha-1 and 5.0 kg Zn ha-1 besides control on wheat var. Lok-1 (Triticum aestivum L.)- for direct effect and on fodder maize var. GM-3 (Zea mays L.) for residual effect. The application of Zn-enriched PM and BGS to wheat in rabi was found beneficial in increasing yields of both wheat as well as maize (fodder) in summer. The Zrvenriched PM and BGS improved average wheat grain yield by about 68 and 49 per cent respectively over control whereas same was higher by 33 and 18 per cent over straight Zn application respectively. It was noticed that the grain and straw yield improvement due to 2.5 kg and 5.0 kg Zn ha-1 enrichment rates with all the organics was comparable within each organic which indicated that the Zn application to wheat could be reduced to one half of the recommended dose of 5 kg Zn ha-1 if the Zn was to be supplemented through any of the organics after its enrichment with Zn. However, Zn enrichment at higher level i.e. 5.0 kg Zn ha-1 was found beneficial with FYM as it registered total dry matter yield of wheat significantly higher by about 13 per cent over 2.5 kg Zn ha-1 Although the straight Zn application increased wheat yield significantly over control, the increase in yield was found comparatively less to that of Zn-enriched organics at both the levels of Zn application. The maize dry matter yield increased significantly due to residual effect of Zn treatments over control. The overall maximum improvement in maize dry matter due to PM and BGS was higher by about 19 and 9 per cent over straight Zn application. The residual effect was found more beneficial under PM when enriched witii Zn at 5 kg ha-1 compared to residual effect due to straight Zn application at same level. Thus, it indicated that the application of Zn-enriched FYM and PM after enrichment at 5 kg Zn ha-1 to wheat was necessary to meet the total Zn requirement in a sequence of wheat-maize (fodder) in order to get significantly higher wheat yield as a direct effect of Zn application and on succeeding maize as residual effect, respectively. The Zn application at 2.5 kg ha-1 was found sufficient when applied after enrichment with BGS and SS for higher wheat and maize yields in the sequence. The Zn-enriched PM and BGS treatments more favorably altered the nutrient contents in grain and straw of wheat than other organics over straight Zn application. The increase in grain and straw yield ultimately caused more removal of major (NPK), secondary (S) and micronutrients (Fe, Zn, Mn and Cu) by wheat due to direct effect and by maize as residual effect due to Zn treatments. The uptake of nutrients was higher under PM and BGS than FYM and SS over straight Zn application. The results further revealed that Zn-enriched PM and BGS enhanced availability of most of the nutrients especially available N, H^O, S and DTPA-extractable micronutrients like Fe and Zn after wheat. Also, the Zn-enriched PM and BGS showed beneficial effect on availability of nutrients with regard to their increase/maintenance in soil after maize due to residual effect. The efficiency of the organics was observed as PM > BGS > SS > FYM for their use after Zn enrichment in wheat-maize (F) cropping sequence. Thus, the overall findings suggested the importance and practical utility of the Zn enrichment technique for organics in integrated nutrient management to maintain fertility and crop productivity of the Zn-deficient soil.ThesisItem Open Access EFFECT OF ZINC AND IRON ENRICHED FYM ON YIELD AND REMOVAL OF NUTRIENTS UNDER MUSTARD-SORGHUM (F) CROP SEQUENCE(AAU, Anand, 2003) MEENA, MAHESH CHAND; Patel, K. P.The present investigation was undertaken to study the comparative efficiency of Zn and Fe enriched FYM on crop yields and nutrients removal under mustard (var. GM-2) - sorghum(var. S-1049) crop sequence. The enrichment was carried out with two levels of Zn (2.5 and 5.0 kg) and Fe (5 and 10 kg) by composting the locally available farm yard manure (FYM) at 500 kg ha-1 for seven weeks as required to complete the enrichment process. The enriched FYM was used for field experiment on the pre-identified Zn and Fe deficient site at Forage Research Project Farm, GAU, Anand. The treatments of Zn and Fe enriched FYM were evaluated as against straight Zn and Fe application at corresponding rates through inorganic fertilizers in conjunction with FYM at 0, 5 and 10t ha-1 In order to evaluate the effect of S, an additional treatment was also kept to supply S at 20 kg ha-1. The average increase in the seed, straw and total yield due to FYM application was higher by 184, 356 and 539 kg ha-1 respectively over no FYM. The Zn and Fe enriched FYM improved average mustard seed yield by 20 per cent over control whereas it was higher by 11 per cent over straight Zn and Fe application. It was noticed that there was no significant difference in mustard yield due to level of Zn and Fe enrichment and FYM levels. The average yield increase in dry matter of sorghum by 11 per cent was observed due to residual effect of FYM over control The overall maximum improvement in sorghum dry matter due to Zn and Fe enriched FYM was higher by about 9 per cent over straight Zn and Fe application. The residual effect of FYM at10 t ha-1 and Zn and Fe enrichment at 2.5 and 5.0 kg ha-1 was found more beneficial to increase sorghum fodder yield. Further, the nutrients removal was found higher under Zn and Fe enriched FYM treatments. Further, mustard seed quality parameters viz. oil, protein and potential oil yield were found improved under treatments of Zn and Fe enrichment compared to straight application of Zn and Fe. In general, the effects under both the levels of enrichments on different parameters in mustard were more or less similar which indicated to lower down the Zn and Fe supplementation dose by one half of the recommended quantity of 5 and 10 kg ha-1 respectively. The application of S alone was also found beneficial; however, the response by the crops was increased when Zn and Fe application was made after their enrichment along with FYM at 10 t ha-1 The Zn and Fe enriched FYM application either maintained or improved the soil fertility status. The Zn and Fe enriched FYM enhanced availability of most of the nutrients especially available N, S and DTPA-extractable micronutrients like Fe, Zn, Mn and Cu after mustard. Thus, the overall findings suggested the importance and practical utility of the Zn and Fe enrichment technique for organics in integrated nutrient management to maintain fertility and crop productivity of the Zn and Fe deficient soil, besides reduction in use of inorganic fertilizers of the micronutrients.