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Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa

In the imperial Gazetteer of India 1878, Pusa was recorded as a government estate of about 1350 acres in Darbhanba. It was acquired by East India Company for running a stud farm to supply better breed of horses mainly for the army. Frequent incidence of glanders disease (swelling of glands), mostly affecting the valuable imported bloodstock made the civil veterinary department to shift the entire stock out of Pusa. A British tobacco concern Beg Sutherland & co. got the estate on lease but it also left in 1897 abandoning the government estate of Pusa. Lord Mayo, The Viceroy and Governor General, had been repeatedly trying to get through his proposal for setting up a directorate general of Agriculture that would take care of the soil and its productivity, formulate newer techniques of cultivation, improve the quality of seeds and livestock and also arrange for imparting agricultural education. The government of India had invited a British expert. Dr. J. A. Voelcker who had submitted as report on the development of Indian agriculture. As a follow-up action, three experts in different fields were appointed for the first time during 1885 to 1895 namely, agricultural chemist (Dr. J. W. Leafer), cryptogamic botanist (Dr. R. A. Butler) and entomologist (Dr. H. Maxwell Lefroy) with headquarters at Dehradun (U.P.) in the forest Research Institute complex. Surprisingly, until now Pusa, which was destined to become the centre of agricultural revolution in the country, was lying as before an abandoned government estate. In 1898. Lord Curzon took over as the viceroy. A widely traveled person and an administrator, he salvaged out the earlier proposal and got London’s approval for the appointment of the inspector General of Agriculture to which the first incumbent Mr. J. Mollison (Dy. Director of Agriculture, Bombay) joined in 1901 with headquarters at Nagpur The then government of Bengal had mooted in 1902 a proposal to the centre for setting up a model cattle farm for improving the dilapidated condition of the livestock at Pusa estate where plenty of land, water and feed would be available, and with Mr. Mollison’s support this was accepted in principle. Around Pusa, there were many British planters and also an indigo research centre Dalsing Sarai (near Pusa). Mr. Mollison’s visits to this mini British kingdom and his strong recommendations. In favour of Pusa as the most ideal place for the Bengal government project obviously caught the attention for the viceroy.

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2013 - 20162
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Subject: Agricultural Entomology × End date: 2016 × Start date: 2010 ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Multi factorial strategy for the management of thrips (Thrips tabaci Lindeaman) on onion in Bihar.
    (Rajendra Agricultural University, Pusa (Samastipur), 2016) Satyanarayana, Paidi; Singh, P. P.
    Population fluctuation of thrips (Thrips tabaci Lindeman) in relation to abiotic factors on onion was studied. In order to develop strategies for its management through crop resistance/host evasion, agronomic manipulation in dates of planting, use of different source of nutrients as well as levels of potassic fertilizers, foliar spray of synthetic insecticides, botanicals and bio-pesticides and certain eco-friendly pest control tactics, a series of field experiments were conducted during two successive rabicrop seasons viz., 2013-14 and 2014-15. The field trials were conducted at the research farm Tirhut College of Agriculture, Dholi, Muzaffarpur (Bihar). Results pertaining to different aspects of the present study viz., determination of the effects of different genotypes on growth and development aspects of this insects, trend of population buildup in relation to meteorological parameters, management of T. tabaci on onion through plant resistance, agronomic manipulation in dates of planting, use of different source of nutrients as well as levels of potassic fertilizers, foliar spray of synthetic insecticides, botanicals and bio-pesticides against T. tabaci on onion have bean abstracted below. The activity of thrips on onion was gradually increased from 6th standard week of February and with maximum thrips population (69.77/plant) was recorded during 14th standard week of April when the corresponding maximum, minimum temperature, relative humidity at 07 and 14 hrs during the period were 33.5, 18.5 0C 92.0 and 56.7 percent. The thrips population started declining gradually from 15th standard week to 17th standard week, respectively and became almost untraceable after 17nd standard week. The maximum temperature and minimum temperature showed highly positive correlation with thrips population (r=0.687 and r=0.496, respectively) while relative humidity at 07 and 14 hrs showed highly significant negative effect on thrips population (r=-0.638 and -0.729, respectively). The effect of rainfall showed significant negative effect on thrips population (r=-0.506). However, regression equation or analysis clearly indicated that the maximum and minimum temperature, relative humidity at 7 A.M, 2   P.M and rainfall together contributed 71.00 per cent towards the changes in thrips population on onion crop. The prediction equations indicated that increase in 1 per cent temperature increased the thrips population by 6.027 per plant on onion. However, increase in 1 per cent increase in minimum temperature decreased the thrips population by 4.720 thrips per plant. Similarly increase in 1 per cent morning relative humidity and afternoon relative humidity decreased the thrips population by -0.720 and -1.266. In the case of rainfall, increases 1 percent rainfall decreased the thrips population by -1.465. Among the thirty onion genotypes evaluated under natural field condition and compared on the basis of mean number of thrips per plant, OSR-1381 suffered least due to thrips (16.65/plant) while six genotypes viz., OSR-1357, ASRO-1271, ORS-1362, ORS-1372, ASRO-1238 and ASRO-1273 recorded lower number of thrips (18.25-22.29/plant) which were statistically at par to OSR-1381. On the other hand BSRO-1236 suffered most by recording highest thrips population (56.99/plant) followed by BSRO-1149 (54.40/plant), BSRO-1153 (55.49/plant) and BSRO-1146 (56.63/plant) and majority of them were intermediate in their reaction by registering mean thrips population ranging between 23.94 to 51.97 per plant including the local check i.e. Agrifound Light Red (50.71/plant). Only two genotype viz., OSR-1381 and OSR-1357 were identified as resistant (R) while twenty two of them viz., ASRO-1271, ORS-1362, OSR-1372, ASRO-1238, ASRO-1273, OSR-1359, ASRO-1279, ASRO-1207, ASRO-1222, ASRO-1224, ASRO-1275, ASRO-1230, BSRO-1143, ASRO-1203, ASRO-1220, OSR-1367, ASRO-1201, BSRO-1229, ASRO-1217, OSR-1344, BSRO-1151 and BSRO-1275 showed moderately resistant reaction to T. tabaci. Six genotypes viz., BSRO-1156, BSRO-1149, BSRO-1153, BSRO-1146, BSRO-1236 and Agrifound Light Red (C) were identified as susceptible (S) against T. tabaci. OSR-1381 and OSR-1357 showed wider leaf angle (430 and 43.80) having prostrate leaves, plant height (49.17 and 50.03 cm) with higher number of leaves (10.40 and 9.76 leaves/plant) resulting maximum neck thickness (1.07 and 1.05 cm), polar diameter (4.90 and 4.84 cm), equatorial (5.16 and 5.04 cm) harbouring less number of thrips (16.65 and 18.25 thrips/plant) showed resistant reaction against thrips resulting higher bulb yield (250.11 and 244.40 q/ha, respectively). The onion crop planted earlier till 15th December suffered lesser and delayed planting afterwards ensured deteriorate plant stand against T. tabaci. The crop planted on first date (15th November), second date (1st December) and third date (15th December)   recorded mean thrips population ranging from 26.82 to 34.07 per plant while the same improved drastically with delay in planting date beyond the third date which ranged from 39.12 to 48.42 thrips per plant. The crop planted on sixth date of planting was found severe pest attack. From yield point of view first date (15th November) proved to be the most suitable date of planting followed by 1st December, among all date of plantings. Early planting of onion crop during 1st fortnight of November recorded maximum polar diameter (4.77 cm), maximum equatorial diameter (4.87 cm) and maximum neck thickness (1.93 cm) with highest bulb yield (182.98 q/ha) at lowest thrips population (26.82 thrips/plant). Soil application of 50 per cent dose of N in inorganic form at two equally split dose first at the time of planting followed by top dressing at 40 days after planting + 50 per cent N from vermicompost + RD of P2O5 (80 kg/ha) + K2O (150 kg/ha) when applied in soil before planting proved highly advantageous for suppressing pest activity (26.54 thrips/plant), accelerating plant growth with plant height (51.88), highest number of leaves (9.90/plant), maximum polar diameter (4.95 cm), maximum equatorial diameter (5.10 cm), maximum neck thickness (9.71 cm) and ultimately ensuring better harvest (184.08 q/ha). The highest benefit cost ratio (5.76:1) was recorded with recommended dose of N (120 kg/ha) in inorganic form + RD of P2O5 (80 kg/ha) alongwith higher dose of K2O (150 kg/ha) followed by 50 per cent dose of N from inorganic source + 50 per cent N from vermicompost + RD of P2O5 (80 kg/ha) + K2O (150 kg/ha) 3.85:1 proved most profitable than that in any other treatments. Among the different treatments RD of N from vermicompost (6000 kg/ha) + RD of P2O5 (80 kg/ha)without application of K2O rather resulted in losses while remaining treatments were found to be economical. Foliar spray of synthetic insecticides fipronil 5SC (@0.01%) when applied thrice at fortnightly interval starting from 30 days after planting stage afforded maximum protection to onion crop. There were reduction in thrips (8.24/plant) with highest bulb yield (238.60 q/ha) as compared to individual insecticides. The treatment was followed by Imidacloprid 17.5 SL (0.03%), Indoxacarb 15.8 EC (0.01%) and Profenophos 50 EC (0.01%) while spinosad (45 SC) @ 0.1%, Beauveria bassiana @ 0.4%, neem oil @ 1% and NSKE @ 5% were found to be less effective than fipronil 5SC (@0.01%) but significantly superior than untreated control. The investment in foliar application of profenofos 50 EC (43.73:1), fipronil 5SC (30.78:1), imidacloprid 17.5 SL (27.24:1),   neem oil @1% (21.22:1), NSKE @5% (21.22:1), Beauveria bassiana @0.4% (8.14:1), Indoxacarb 15.8 EC (7.21:1) and spinosad 45 SC (1.99:1) proved profitable at their test doses.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Bio-rational management of major pests of Litchi (Litchi chinensis L.)
    (DRAPCAU, Pusa (Samastipur), 2013) Ranjan, rajeev; Ray, Ranjit