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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 Effect of time of nitrogen application and weed management practices on weeds, yield attributes and yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under Middle Gujarat Conditions(AAU, Anand, 2013) Padheriya, DHAVAL R.; SADHU, A. C.A field experiment was conducted during rabi season of the year 2011-12 at the College Agronomy Farm, B. A. College of Agriculture, Anand Agricultural University, Anand (Gujarat). The treatments comprised combination of time of nitrogen application (T1 - 1/2 as basal + 1/2 at CRI, T2- 1/2 as basal + 1/4 at CRI + 1/4 at FND and T3 - 1/3 as basal + 1/3 at CRI + 1/3 at FND) and weed management practices [ W1- Pendimethalin @ 1000 g/ha (PE) , W2 - Metsulfuron methyl @ 4g/ha (PoE at 25-30 DAS), W3 - Pendimethalin @ 1000 g/ha (PE) fb Metsulfuron methyl @ 4g/ha (PoE at 25-30 DAS), W4 - Hand weedings at 20 and 40 DAS and W5 - Weedy check ]. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design (Factorial) with fifteen treatment combinations replicated four times. Effect of time of nitrogen application and weed management practices on plant population was found non-significant. Higher plant height at 30 DAS and the highest plant height at harvest was recorded under treatment T3 (1/3 as basal + 1/3 at CRI + 1/3 at FND) i.e. 44.57 and 77.32 cm, respectively, whereas significantly lower plant height at 30 DAS and at harvest was recorded in treatment T1 (1/2 as basal + 1/2 at CRI) i.e. 40.81 and 72.40 cm, respectively but it was at par with treatment T2. The maximum number of effective tillers per metre row length and length of ear were observed in the treatment T3 (Va as basal + 1/3 at CRI + 1/3 at FND) i.e. 64.67 and 16.23 cm, respectively. The minimum number of effective tillers per metre row length and length of ear were recorded in treatment T1 (1/2 as basal + 1/2 at CRI) i.e. 58.71 and 13.39 cm, respectively. The test weight was recorded significantly higher (48.99 g) in treatment T3 (1/3 as basal + 1/3 at CRI + 1/3 at FND), whereas the lowest test weight was recorded in treatment T1 ( 1/2 as basal + 1/2 at CRI) (41.69 g). Significantly the highest grain weight per plant i.e. 13.03 g/plant was recorded in treatment T3 (1/3 as basal + 1/3 at CRI + 1/3 at FND), While the lowest grain weight per plant was recorded in treatment T1 (1/2 as basal + 1/2 at CRI) i.e. 9.57 g. The grain and straw yields were recorded significantly the highest in treatment T3 (1/3 as basal + 1/3 at CRI + 1/3 at FND) i.e. 4017 and 6506 kg/ha, respectively, while the lowest grain and straw yields were recorded in treatment T1 (1/2 as basal + 1/2 at CRI) i.e. 3483 and 4962 kg/ha, respectively.ThesisItem Open Access Effect of benzyladenine on biochemical changes in Maize (Zea mays L.) Seedlings during induced drought stress(AAU, Anand, 2013) AHIRE, SHAILESH VAMANRAO; TALATI, J. G.Investigations were carried out at Department of Biochemistry, B. A. College of Agriculture, Anand Agricultural University, Anand to study the biochemical and physiological characterizations of two maize genotypes (resistant and susceptible) procured from Main Maize Research Station, Godhra and benzyladanine treatment given to seed followed by artificial drought at 15 days after sowing. Various biochemical and physiological parameters, isozymes study, protein analysis through SDS-PAGE and SSR analysis were analyzed. Biochemical analysis was carried out for moisture, total carbohydrates, total soluble sugars, reducing sugars, true protein, total chlorophylls, proline and free amino acids and various isozymes viz., peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase, protein characterization through electrophoresis and SSR. Total chlorophylls, true protein and moisture content were decreased while total carbohydrates, total soluble sugars, reducing sugars, proline and free amino acids content were increased in both the genotypes due to drought stress. Application of BA (25 ppm) could be increased in all biochemical and physiological parameters for improved biochemical content in both genotypes. The moisture content was found minimum in resistant over susceptible genotype, however rest of the parameters were found higher in resistant as compared to susceptible genotype' in all the treatments. Due to drought stress length and weight of root, shoot were decreased in maize seedhngs of both the genotypes. However, resistant genotype showed better performance in higher root-shoot length and weight than susceptible genotype under drought stress conditions, through treatment benzyladenine was higher root-shoot length and weight in resistant and susceptible genotypes, which might be useful for biochemical study of resistant and susceptible genotypes under drought stress. SDS PAGE maize protein revealed the presence of maximum number of bands in susceptible genotype over resistant. Presence of bands with Rm value 0.26, 0.35, 0.46 and 0.48 only in 25 ppm BA soaked seed treatment, while 0.28 and 0.49 in 25 ppm BA + 10 % PEG treatment in resistant genotype. However, presence of bands with Rm value 0.53 in 10 % PEG treatment, while 0.58 and 0.63 observed in 25 ppm BA + 20 % PEG treatment in susceptible genotype. Based on banding pattern, the result suggested that protein banding profiling could be observed in resistant and susceptible genotypes. Different enzyme activities viz.,(peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase) and their isozyme differs in both the genotypes at different treatments and showed significant differences and provide useful information of resistant and susceptible changes in maize seedlings and for further isozymes studies at 15 DAS, benzyladenine showed better performance in POX and PPO activity in maize seedlings. Isozyme electrophoresis of peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase were found to be differentiation for resistant and susceptible maize seedlings. For SSR analysis, total 4 primers were screened. Genetic variation was observed by resistant (CM-500) and susceptible (GYC-9327) genotype. Therefore specific gene presence or absence observed in resistant and susceptible maize seedlings, while resistant and susceptible genotypes found polymorphic allele. On the basis of present studies it could be concluded that, biochemical and physiological parameters, isozyme activities and electrophoresis SDS-PAGE and SSR offer potentially simple, rapid and reliable techniques for biochemical study in resistant and susceptible maize seedlings and chemical treatment of benzyladenine was superior observed in maize seedlings.ThesisItem Open Access GENERATION MEAN ANALYSIS IN INDIAN MUSTARD [Brassica juncea (L.) Czern and Coss](AAU, Anand, 2013) PRAJAPATI, SOHILKUMAR KANUBHAI; Patel, J. N.Mustard is one of the most important edible oilseed crops of world and India as well. The present investigation was carried out at Agronomy farm, Bansilal Amrutlal College of Agriculture, Anand Agricultural University, Anand during the year 2012-13 to estimate gene effect in respect to detail account of its parameters, heterosis and inbreeding depression, heritability and expected genetic advance for seed yield and its components. The experimental material consisted of four families (Laxmi x IC 399797, GM 1 x Vardan, IC 491446 x GM 2 and PM 67 x Varuna) developed from eight parents, each family comprised of six generations as P1, P2, F1, F2, B1 and B2. Compact Family Block Design was used with three replications for evaluation of experimental material. The analysis of variance for families comparison revealed significant variation among families for most of the characters except number of secondary branches per plant. Whereas, among generations within family comparison, analysis of variance revealed significant differences among different generations for most of the characters except days to maturity (family VI), number of secondary branches per plant (family I, IV), number of siliqua per plant (family IV), average siliqua length (family III), number of seeds per siliqua (family III), seed yield per plant (family IV) and oil content (family I and III). Thus, sufficient variability was observed within material study. The scaling tests indicated the presence of epistasis for all the characters in different crosses except plant height and days to maturity in crosses I and II; number of primary branches per plant in crosses I, II and IV; length of main branch in cross IV; average siliquae length and number of seeds per siliquae in crosses I and II. The estimates of gene effect with family I (Laxmi x IC 399797) revealed importance of additive (d) gene effect for days to 50% flowering, number of primary branches and number of seeds per siliqua; dominance (h) gene effect was found to be important for plant height, days to maturity and average siliqua length; additive (d) and real epistasis (j) were found to be important for oil content; greater importance of dominance (d) and dominance epistasis (1) components of gene effects was observed for tests weight, seed yield per plant and protein content. With family II (GM 1 x Vardan) the estimates of gene effect revealed importance of different gene effect with different characters as; only additive gene effect for number of primary branches per plant; dominance (h) gene effect for plant height, average siliqua length, number of siliquae per plant and number of seeds per siliqua; greater magnitude of dominance (h) gene effect followed by dominance epistasis (1) for number of secondary branches per plant, seed yield per plant, test weight and oil content; and importance of additive (d) and real epistasis (j) for days to maturity and length of main branches. In family III (IC 491446 x GM 2), importance of only additive gene effect was observed for days to maturity and oil content; greater magnitude of dominance (d) and pseudo dominance (1) gene effects noticed for days to 50% flowering, plant height, number of secondary branches per plant, test weight; additive (d) and real epistasis (j) gene effects were found to be important for number of primary branches per plant, number of siliquae per plant and seed yield per plant; while only dominance (h) gene effect preponded for length of main branch and average length of siliquae. Whereas, with family IV (PM 67 x Varuna) ,the estimates of gene effect suggested importance of only additive (d) gene effect for length of main branch, number of siliqua par plant and seed yield per plant; only dominance (h) gene effect was found to be important for number of primary branches per plant; additive (d) and real epistasis (j) was found significant for days to flowering; greater importance of dominance (d) as well as dominance epistasis (1) gene effects were observed for days to maturity, average length of siliquae, number of seeds per siliquae and test weight. For seed yield and other developmental characters, cross GM 1 x Vardan depicted significant and positive estimates of RH as well as HB, and it had significant and positive estimates of RH as well as HB for plant height, number of siliqua per plant and average siliqua length. All four crosses depicted significant and negative estimates of heterobeltiosis for number of seeds per siliqua which is an important yield contributing character, thereby restricting utilization of their heterotic effects for increasing seed yield. Crosses Laxmi x IC 399797 and GM 1 x Vardan depicted significant and positive estimates of heterobeltiosis and relative heterosis for average siliqua length which is desired to impart bold seed size; though both the crosses, Laxmi x IC 399797 and PM 67 x Varuna exhibited significant and negative RH for number of seeds per siliqua, length of main branch, days to 50% flowering and test weight; the cross PM 67 x Varuna had significant estimates of inbreeding depression in desired direction for number of siliqua per plant and average siliqua length. High heritability with high genetic advance revealed importance of additive gene effect for seed yield per plant in all four families. However, for almost all the yield contributing characters importance of both additive and non-additive components of gene effect was reflected through high to moderate estimates of heritability coupled with moderate to low estimates of expected genetic advance with all crosses. In general, involvement of both additive and non-additive gene effects with moderate to high heritability estimates coupled with moderate/high expected genetic advance as per cent of mean for most of the characters suggested that cyclic method of breeding such as reciprocal recurrent selection would be most effective to stabilize additive genes, to improve population mean and also to generate as well as to retain variability over selection cycles.ThesisItem Open Access EVALUATION OF DIFFERENT SOURCES OF SILICON ON YIELD AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF MAIZE (Zea Mays L.)(AAU, Anand, 2013) PRAJAPATI, DHARMESHKUMAR T.; PATEL, K. C.A pot house study was conducted on maize in net house of the Department of Agricultural Chemistry and Soil Science, B. A. College of Agriculture, AAU, Anand. Bulk sample was collected from Agronomy farm and six kilograms of soil was taken in each polythene lined earthen pot and treated with four levels of organics viz., FYM @ 2.5 and 5.0 t ha-1 and enriched FYM with paddy straw @ 2.5 and 5.0 t ha-1 and four levels of calcium silicate i.e. 0.0, 0.2, 0.3 and 0.4 t ha-1. The recommended dose of N and P was applied in the form of urea and di-ammonium phosphate (DAP), respectively and mixed properly. The experiment was planned in a factorial completely randomized design with three repetitions. The shoot samples were analyzed for N, P, S, Ca, Mg and Si content. The uptake of elements was also computed using standard formula. The soil samples were analyzed for different parameters like soil pH, EC, organic carbon, available P, S and Si and exchangeable Ca and Mg content in soil at the harvest of maize. The FYM application at F5.0 level significantly increased green and dry shoot weight of maize over F2.5 level. Similarly application of enriched FYM with PS+FYM @ 5.0 t ha-1 also gave significantly higher yield than FYM 2.5 t ha-1. The improvement in green and dry shoot weight due to FYM5.0, PS+FYM2.5 as PS+FYM5.0 was to the tune of 3.6, 5.49 and 7.92 per cent over FYM2.5 level. The green and dry shoot weight of maize was also significantly increased with increasing levels of calcium silicate (source of silicon) up to CSi0.30 and latter two levels (CSi0.30 and CSi0.40) were at par. The increase in dry shoot weight was 4.50, 8.70 and 11.11 per cent due to respective level over control (CSi0.0). The FYM and PS + FYM application @ 5.0 t ha-1 significantly improved N content of maize shoot over respective lower level. The highest value of N (1.973 %) was found at PS+FYM5.0 level. Similarly application of enriched FYM with PS @ 5.0 t ha-1 also significantly increased P and S content over PS+FYM2.5 level. The highest P (0.406 %) and S (0.407 %) content of maize shoot was recorded at FYM5.0 and PS + FYM5.0 level, respectively. The P and S content was increased from 0.344 to 0.443 % and 0.348 to 0.401 % due to different levels of calcium silicate. The highest P and S content was 0.443 % and 0.401 % recorded at CSi0.40 level. The interaction between all the treatment combinations of FYM, PS + FYM and CSi had significantly increased P content of maize shoot over control (FYM2.5 x CSi0.0) except FYM2.5 x CSi2.0 combination. The highest content of P (0.47 %) was found at FYM5.0xCSio.40 level.ThesisItem Open Access AN ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF PRODUCTION AND MARKETING OF CAULIFLOWER (BRASSICA OLERACEAE VAR. BOTRYTIS.) IN MIDDLE GUJARAT(AAU, Anand, 2013) PATEL, PALAKBEN HASMUKHBHAI; Pundir, R. S.The present investigation was undertaken with a view to study the cost and return, resource use efficiency, marketing cost and price spread and constraints in production and marketing of cauliflower in middle Gujarat. A multistage random sampling design was used for selecting the sample. The study covered 4 talukas, 12 villages and 120 cauliflower growers (27 marginal, 38 small, 29 medium and 26 large) from Anand and Kheda districts. For studying price spread in marketing, 5 functionaries from each category of cauliflower marketing were randomly selected from Anand and Kheda markets. The major analytical tools employed for the study were tabular analysis, cost concept, production function analysis (using SPSS software) and price spread. Results of the study indicated that average cost of cultivation (Cost C2) of cauliflower per hectare was ₹73232.95. It was highest ₹114511.4 on medium farms and lowest ₹72622.81 on large farms. On an average. Cost A (paid out cost) formed 72.46 per cent, while Cost B accounted for 86.07 per cent of total cost. Out of total cost (Cost C2), human labour cost was ranked first with 15.81 per cent of the total cost followed by fertilizer cost (12.51 per cent), manure and cakes (11.29 per cent), sapling charges (9.86 per cent), rental value of own land (9.27 per cent), managerial costs (9.09 per cent), tractor charges (8.45 per cent), irrigation charges (7.93 per cent), plant protection chemical (6.57 per cent), interest on fixed capital (4.33 per cent) and bullock labour (2.71 per cent) on overall basis. Thus, these major items of expenditure contributed 97.82 per cent of total cost. The average yield of cauliflower per hectare was 333.13 quintals on sample farms which realized ₹ 118994.93, ₹ 66361.70, ₹ 56477.47 and ₹ 56250.72 as gross income, farm business income, family labour income and farm investment income, respectively. The net profit per hectare over Cost C2 was ₹46366.49. It varied from ₹14939.69 on marginal farms to ₹ 54405.55 on large farms. The overall input-output ratio on Cost C2 was about 1:1.64 and it was highest on large farms (1:1.75) and lowest on marginal farms (1:1.20). Looking to the cost, return and input-output ratio, it is concluded that cauliflower cultivation was profitable vegetables crop in Middle Gujarat condition. In order to find out the efficiency of resources used by cauliflower growers, Cobb Douglas production function was employed; taking gross income as dependent variable. This analysis indicates that only cost of bullock labour, plant protection chemical and irrigation were found highly significant influence on the yield. The value of co-efficient of multiple determinations (R2) was 0.96 which showed that 96 per cent variation in the yield was accounted for the independent variables included in the function. The sum of regression co-efficient was (1.071) indicating increasing return to scale therefore more rational use of the inputs leading to get higher returns. As cauliflower is a market oriented crop, on an average about 93 per cent of production was marketed, while negligible portion was utilized for other purposes. The producer to wholesaler-cum-commission agent to retailer to consumer was the major marketing channel as more that 50 per cent of cauliflower moved through this route. The total cost in marketing of cauliflower per quintal was ₹ 337.85 which was 43.19 per cent of the consumers' rupee. Amongst it the highest marketing cost was observed in retailers which accounted for as (₹129.25) followed by wholesaler-cumcommission agent (₹70.63) and growers (₹19.35) per quintal. Results also indicated that commission was the major marketing cost possessed by wholesaler-cum-commission agent while retailer possessed damage cost. The margins in cauliflower marketing amounted to ₹ 224.99 per quintal which was 28.76 per cent of consumers' rupee. The producer's share in consumer's rupee was 43.19 per cent. The marketing efficiency was lower than unity (0.77). The major production, marketing and economic constraints faced by the cauliflower growers were non availability of fertilizer and labour in time, lack of irrigation facility, fluctuation in market price and long distance market. Further, they also faced the problems of high cost of fertilizers, planting material and pesticides.ThesisItem Open Access EFFECT OF DIFFERENT ORGANIC MANURES AND FERTILIZERS ON YIELD AND QUALITY OF VERNONIA (KALIJIRI); [Vernonia anthelmintica (L.) WILLD.] DURING RABI SEASON UNDER MIDDLE GUJARAT CONDITIONS(AAU, Anand, 2013) Raysingbhai, Malivad Rakeshkumar; Patel, D. H.The field experiment was conducted at Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research Farm, Anand Agricultural University, Anand, Gujarat during the rabi season of the year 2011-12 to study the "Effect of different organic manures and fertilizers on yield and quality of Vemonia (Kalijiri); [Vernonia anthelmintica (L.) Willd.] under middle Gujarat conditions". The soils of the experimental plot was loamy sand in texture. The soil was low in available nitrogen, medium in available phosphorous and high in available potash. The experiment was laid out in Randomized block Design with four replications. The treatments comprised of two chemical fertilizer treatments viz., T2: (60-40-0 NPK kg ha-1); T3: (90-40-0 NPK kg ha- 1), five organic manurial treatments viz., T4 : (FYM @ 10 t ha-1;) T5: (Vermicompost @ 2 t ha-1) and Te : (Castor cake @ 2 t ha-1) T7 : (Neem cake @ 2 t ha-1) and one treatment of biofertilizer Ts: (Azatobactor 2 litres ha-1 at sowing (soil application with irrigation water) + FYM @ 5 t ha-1). These treatments were compared with control (T1). Overall there were eight treatments tried. Results revealed that plant population at 20 DAS and plant breadth at initiation of flowering and maturity stage of vernonia were nonsignificant due to different organic manures and fertilizers. Treatment T3 (90-40-0 NPK kg ha-1) recorded significantly higher value for plant height at initiation of flowering and maturity while treatment T1 (control) recorded significantly lower value for plant height at initiation of flowering and maturity. Results indicated that days to 50% flowering and niaturity were significant due to different organic manures and fertilizers. Treatment T1 (control) required significantly the minimum days to 50% flowering and maturity. Treatment T5 (Vermicompost @ 2 t ha-1) required significantly the maximum days to 50% flowering and maturity. Results revealed that no. of branches plant-1 at maturity stage were non-significant due to different organic manures and fertilizers. Treatment T4 (FYM @ 10 t ha-1) recorded significantly higher value for no. of umbels plant -1 and being at par with treatments T5 (vermicompost @ 2 t ha-1), T6 (castor cake @ 2 t ha-1), T7 (Neem cake @ 2 ha-1) and Ta (Azatobactor 2 L ha-1 at sowing (soil application) + FYM @ 5 t ha-1), respectively. Treatment T1 (control) recorded significantly lower value for no. of umbels plant -1. Treatment T4 (FYM @ 10 t ha-1) recorded significantly higher value no. of seeds umbel-i and being at par with treatments T5 (vermicompost @ 21 ha-1), Te (castor cake @ 21 ha-1) and T7 (Neem cake @ 2 t ha-1), respectively. Treatment T1 (control) recorded significantly lower value for no. of seeds umbel-1. Application of FYM @ 10 t ha-1 (T4) showed significantly higher seed yield (1404 kg ha-1) which was remained at par with application of vermicompost @ 2 t ha-1 (T5), castor cake @ 2 t ha-1 (Te) and neem cake @ 2 t ha-1 (T7). Significantly the lowest seed yield (847 kg ha-1) was noticed under treatment absolute control (Ti). Application of castor cake @ 2 t ha-1 (Te) showed significantly higher straw yield (3414 kg ha-1) which was remained at par with application of FYM @ 10 t ha-1 (T4), vermicompost @ 2 t ha-1 (T5) and neem cake @ 2 t ha-1 (T7). Significantly lower straw yield was recorded under treatment T1 (2832 kg ha-1) which was remained at par with treatment T2 (1211 kg ha-1). Results indicated that significantly higher oil content (%) in seed was observed under control treatment T1 (20.95 %) and which was remained at par with treatment T7 (Neem cake @ 2 t ha-1). Significantly lower oil content was observed under Vermicompost @ 2 t ha-1 treatment Ts (17.60 %). Significantly higher N content in seed observed under treatment T3 (1.60 %) and which was remained at par with treatment T2 (1.56 %). Significantly lower seed N content was observed in treatment T1 (1.35 %). The results revealed that P and K content due to different organic manures and fertilizers were non-significant. Results indicated that the influence of different organic manures and fertilizers on soil nutrients viz., EC, pH., available N., P2O5., and K2O status indicated that there existed non-significant difference. Significantly higher O.C. % was observed under the treatment Te (0.65 %) which was remained at par with treatments T7 (0.62%), T6 (0.62%), T4 (0.60%), Ts (0.56%) and T2 (0.54%). Significantly lower O.C. % was observed under the treatment T1 (0.43 %). From the econoniical point of view the treatment FYM @ 10 t ha-1 recorded the highest net realization (78759 ha-1), followed by Azatobactor 2 lit. ha-1 at sowing (soil application) + FYM @ 5 t ha-1 (69349 ha-1) and 60-40-0 NPK kg ha-1 (67181 ha-1). In the light of results obtained from present investigation, it is concluded that for securing higher seed yield and net realization of medicinal crop vernonia through either application of FYM @ 10 t ha-1 or vermicompost @ 2 t ha-1 or castor cake 2 tones ha-1 or neem cake @ 2 t ha-1 to be applied one week before sowing under middle Gujarat conditions.ThesisItem Open Access ATTITUDE OF THE FARMERS TOWARDS SOIL HEALTH CARD PROGRAMME(Anand Agricultural University, Anand, 2013) NALIN G. PATEL; Dr. J. K. PatelSoil is one of the elements required for farming as it provides nutrients to the plant. Healthy soil containing all the elements for growth and development of crop and on the other hand soil deprived of one or more elements either reduces production or degrades quality of crops. Proportion and quantity of macro and micro nutrients refers to the soil health. As far as agriculture production is concerned, soil health plays a vital role in ensuring sustainable production with optimizing the utilization of fertilizers and reducing its wastage. To avoid deterioration of soil in long run and visualizing the importance of balance nutrient in crop production, government of Gujarat commenced soil health card programmeThesisItem Open Access “Effect of benzyladenine on biochemical changes in Maize (Zea mays L.) Seedlings during induced drought stress(Anand Agricultural University, Anand, 2013) S.V.Ahire; Dr. J. G. TalatiInvestigations were carried out at Department of Biochemistry, B. A. College of Agriculture, Anand Agricultural University, Anand to study the biochemical and physiological characterizations of two maize genotypes (resistant and susceptible) procured from Main Maize Research Station, Godhra and benzyladanine treatment given to seed followed by artificial drought at 15 days after sowing. Various biochemical and physiological parameters, isozymes study, protein analysis through SDS-PAGE and SSR analysis were analyzed. Biochemical analysis was carried out for moisture, total carbohydrates, total soluble sugars, reducing sugars, true protein, total chlorophylls, proline and free amino acids and various isozymes viz., peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase, protein characterization through electrophoresis and SSR. Total chlorophylls, true protein and moisture content were decreased while total carbohydrates, total soluble sugars,ThesisItem Open Access MONITORING POSTPARTUM REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE IN GIR COWS THROUGH CLINICAL DIAGNOSIS, BLOOD PROFILE AND HORMONAL THERAPY”(Anand Agricultural University, Anand, 2013) AMMU RAMAKRISHNAN; Dr. A.J. DhamiThe present study was carried out at Livestock Research Station of the University on 24 Gir cows of 2nd to 4th parity. The chief objectives were: to monitor the early postpartum period (0-90 days) clinically and through plasma profile of progesterone, metabolites and macro-micro minerals at 10 days intervals; to evaluate the efficacy of estrus induction and synchronization protocols (CIDR, Ovsynch and Cosynch) on day 90 postpartum for enhancing the reproductive efficiency of anestrous and subestrous cows (6 animals in each group), keeping 6 normal cyclic animals as control, and its effect on above profile till day 40 post-AI, and to compare plasma profiles of conceived and nonconceived cows at first AI. The time required for expulsion of fetal membranes, weight of expelled