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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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ThesisItem Open Access Nutrient and weed management for improving productivity of aromatic rice(DRPCAU, Pusa, Samastipur, 2018) Kumari, Shashimala; Nandan, RaviA field experiment was planned and conducted during kharif season of 2017 at the research farm of RPCAU, Pusa, Samastipur (Bihar) to investigate the “Nutrient and weed management for improving productivity of aromatic rice’’. The experiment was laid out in split-plot design and was replicated thrice. The treatments comprised three nutrient levels viz. (i) 100% RDF (120-60-40 NPK kg/ha) (ii) 75% RDF+ FYM 5t/ha (iii) 50% RDF + FYM 10t/ha in main - plot and six weed control treatments viz. (i) Brown manuring (ii) Bispyribac-sodium@ 25g/ha (iii) Chlorimuron ethyl+Metsulfuron methyl (Almix) @ 4g/ha at 20 DAT (iv) Pyrazosulfuron @ 25g/ha PoE (v) Weed free and (vi) Weedy check in sub-plot. Rice variety Rajendra Bhagwati was transplanted on 21.07.2017. Treatment N1(100% RDF 120-60-40 NPK kg/ha) recorded maximum in growth, yield attributes and grain yield. And among weed management practices, treatment W5 (weed free) recorded the maximum value at all the growth stages and yield attributes as well as grain yield of rice. Weed population and weed dry matter were found maximum in N3 (50% RDF+ FYM 10t/ha). Among the weed management practices, minimum values were recorded in W5 (weed free). Weed control efficiency and weed index was maximum in W5 (weed free) and W6 (weedy check) respectively. Maximum net returns, gross returns and B: C ratio were recorded in N1 (100% RDF 120-60-40NPK kg/ha) under nutrient management practices. And among weed management practices, maximum value of net returns and B: C ratio were recorded under W2 (Bispyribac-sodium @ 25g/ha). However, a maximum gross return was obtained in W5 (weed free). Thus it may be summed up that the nutrient level 100% RDF (120-60-40 NPK kg/ha) is superior to 75% RDF+ FYM 5t/ha and 50% RDF + FYM 10t/ha. Secondly, high cost involved in manual weeding makes herbicidal treatments more viable proposition. Bispyribac-sodium @ 25g/ha is most effective herbicidal treatments for transplanted aromatic rice.ThesisItem Open Access Study on growth and yield of soybean [Glycine max (L.)] under nutrient and weed management(Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Samastipur, 2018) Raj, Rakesh Kumar; Sinha, K. K.A field experiment was planned and conducted during kharif season of 2016 at Tirhut College of Agriculture, farm Dholi, (Muzaffarpur) to study on growth and yield of soybean [Glycine max (L.)] under nutrient and weed management. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with 20 treatment combinations of five nutrient levels [Control (F1), RDF- N: P2O5: K2O (30: 60: 40 Kg/ha) (F2), 50% RDF + FYM @ 5 t/ha (F3), 50% RDF + VC @ 2.5 t/ha (F4) and 50% RDF + FYM @ 2.5 t/ha + VC @ 1.25 t/ha (F5)] in main plots and four weed management practices [Control (W1), Hand weeding twice at 25 and 45 DAS (W2), Pendimethalin @ 1.0 kg/ha as PE + one hand weeding at 40 DAS (W3), Pendimethalin @ 1.0 kg/ha as PE and Imazethapyr @ 55 g/ha as PoE at 25 DAS (W4)] in sub-plots with three replication. The crop variety JS-335 was sown on 3.07.2016 and harvesting was done on 15.10.2016. Observations on various growth parameters, yield attributes and yield were recorded. Studies on weed count, weed dry matter accumulation, weed control efficiency and weed index were made and finally the economics of different treatments were worked out. Nutrient levels significantly influenced all the growth parameter, yield attributes and yield of soybean. Plant height, number of leaves per plant, leaf area index and dry matter accumulation per plant were recorded to have significantly higher values with the application of 50% RDF + FYM @ 2.5 t/ha + VC @ 1.25 t/ha and 50% RDF +FYM @ 5 t/ha. Likewise application of 50 % RDF + FYM @ 2.5 t/ha + VC @ 1.25 t/ha and 50% RDF + FYM @ 5 t/ha was the best to get the maximum yield attributes and grain and straw yield of soybean crop. Hand weeding twice at 25 and 45 DAS and pendimethalin @ 1.0 kg a.i/ha + one hand weeding at 40 DAS increased all the growth parameters, yield attributes and yield over rest of treatments. Grain yield of soybean obtained under 50% RDF + FYM @ 2.5 t/ha + VC @ 1.25 t/ha (16.94 q/ha) and 50% RDF + FYM @ 5 t/ha (16.28 q/ha) exhibited almost equal productivity and proved significantly superior over 50% RDF + VC @ 2.5 t/ha (15.50 q/ha), RDF- N: P2O5: K2O (30: 60: 40 Kg/ha) (13.86 q/ha) and control (9.44 q/ha). Crop response to weed management was also significant. Hand weeding twice at 25 and 45 DAS recorded maximum grain yield (16.71 q/ha) being statistically at par with pendimethalin @ 1.0 kg/ha as PE + one hand weeding at 40 DAS (16.26 q/ha) and pendimethalin @ 1.0 kg/ha as PE and Imazethapyr @ 55 g/ha as PoE at 25 DAS (15.86 q/ha) all of these were significantly superior to control (8.79 q/ha). Gross return was significantly higher under 50 % RDF + FYM @ 2.5 t/ha + VC @ 1.25 t/ha ( 67880/ha) and 50% RDF + FYM @ 5 t/ha ( 65213/ha) where as application of 50% RDF + FYM @ 5 t/ha recorded maximum net return and benefit : cost ratio ( 40225 and 1.60, respectively) being statistically at par with 50 % RDF + FYM @ 2.5 t/ha + VC @ 1.25 t/ha ( 39641 and 1.41, respectively) and both exhibited their significant superiority over the remaining treatments. Gross return and net return was significantly higher under hand weeding twice at 25 and 45 DAS ( 66932 and 36573, respectively), pendimethalin @ 1.0 kg a.i/ha + one hand weeding at 40 DAS ( 65190 and 38071, respectively) and pendimethalin @ 1.0 kg/ha as PE and Imazethapyr @ 55 g/ha as PoE at 25 DAS ( 63576 and 39870) where as benefit-cost ratio (1.70) was higher under pendimethalin @ 1.0 kg/ha as PE and Imazethapyr @ 55 g/ha as PoE at 25 DAS.ThesisItem Open Access Integrated Weed Management in Dry Direct Seeded Rice (Oryza sativa L.)(Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Samastipur, 2018) Bhargaw, Piyush Kumar; Roy, D. K.A field experiment was conducted during kharif season of 2017 at the research farm of Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Samastipur, Bihar to study the“Integrated Weed Management in Dry Direct Seeded Rice (Oryza sativa L.)”. The experiment was conducted in Randomized Block Design having 10 treatments. T1 -Pendimethalin @ 1 kg/ha at 0-2 DAS fb Bispyribac-Na @ 25 g/ha at 20 DAS, T2 - Pendimethalin @ 1 kg/ha at 0-2 DAS fb two hand weedings at 20 & 40 DAS, T3 - Stale seedbed using Glyphosate @ 1 kg/ha at 10 DBS fb Bispyribac-Na @ 25 g/ha at 20 DAS, T4 - Stale seedbed using Glyphosate @ 1 kg/ha at 10 DBS fb Pendimethalin @ 1 kg/ha at 0-2 DAS fb Bispyribac Na @ 25 g/ha at 20 DAS, T5 - Mulch @ 5 t/ha (By wheat straw) fb Bispyribac-Na @ 25 g/ha at 20 DAS fb one hand weeding at 40 DAS, T6 - Stale seedbed using Glyphosate @ 1 kg/ha at 10 DBS fb Mulch @ 5 t/ha (By wheat straw) fb Bispyribac-Na @ 25 g/ha at 20 DAS, T7 - Pendimethalin @ 1 kg/ha at 0-2 DAS &Sesbania co-culture fb 2,4-D Na salt @ 0.5 kg/ha at 20 DAS fb one hand weeding at 40 DAS, T8 - Pendimethalin @ 1 kg/ha at 0-2 DAS fb 2,4-D Na salt @ 0.5 kg/ha at 20 DAS fb one hand weeding at 40 DAS, T9 - Weed free (By hand weedings at 20, 40 & 60 DAS) and T10 - Weedy check with three replications. The rice variety used was Rajendra Bhagwati. All the weed management practices both hand weeding or herbicidal treatments had reflective effect on growth and yield attributes as well as the ultimate yield as reflected in their superiority over the weedy check. Hand weedings at 20, 40 and 60 DAS was found significantly superior over all the integrated weed management practices. Amongst herbicidal treatments Pendimethalin @ 1 kg/ha at 0-2 DAS fb two hand weedings at 20 and 40 DAS was superior to rest of herbicidal treatments which wasstatistically at par with treatment Stale seedbed using Glyphosate @ 1 kg/ha at 10 DBS fb Pendimethalin @ 1 kg/ha at 0-2 DAS fb Bispyribac Na @ 25 g/ha at 20 DAS,Mulch @ 5 t/ha (By wheat straw) fb Bispyribac-Na @ 25 g/ha at 20 DAS fb one hand weeding at 40 DAS and Pendimethalin @ 1 kg/ha at 0-2 DAS fb 2,4-D Na salt @ 0.5 kg/ha at 20 DAS fb one hand weeding at 40 DAS, recorded top advert in almost all the crop growth stages and yield attributing characters and also in the yield of grain. The results affecting to weed population, weed dry weight and nutrient uptake by crop and weeds separately were a close consideration of growth and yield pattern whereas hand weeding which was significantly superior to all the treatments. Amongst herbicidal treatments, Pendimethalin @ 1 kg/ha at 0-2 DAS fb two hand weedings at 20 & 40 DAS was superior to rest of all herbicidal treatments. The highest weed control efficiency (76.26%) and the lowest weed index (3.71%) was found significantly superior in treatment Pendimethalin @ 1 kg/ha at 0-2 DAS fb two hand weedings at 20 & 40 DAS. Protein content in grain was similar in all the treatments except the weedy check in which it was significantly lower. The most evident part of the results rested in its economic studies, where in all the herbicidal treatments either pre-emergence applications or combination of pre and post emergence applications got higher net return and scored better B:C ratio. Pendimethalin @ 1 kg/ha at 0-2 DAS fb 2,4-D Na salt @ 0.5 kg/ha at 20 DAS fb one hand weeding at 40 DAS (`32,244/ha) retained the highest net return which was statistically at par with Pendimethalin @ 1 kg/ha at 0-2 DAS fb two hand weedings at 20 and 40 DAS (`31,997/ha), Weed free (`31,080/ha), Stale seedbed using Glyphosate @ 1 kg/ha at 10 DBS fb Pendimethalin @ 1 kg/ha at 0-2 DAS fb Bispyribac Na @ 25 g/ha at 20 DAS (`30,482/ha) and Pendimethalin @ 1 kg/ha at 0-2 DAS fb Bispyribac-Na @ 25 g/ha at 20 DAS (`30,229/ha). As against these treatments, the net return realized by weedy check was lowest (`12,777/ha). The B:C ratio further broadened the gap between manual weeding and herbicidal applications. The highest B:C ratio of 1.0 was recorded from pre-emergence application of Pendimethalin @ 1 kg/ha at 0-2 DAS fb Bispyribac-Na @ 25 g/ha at 20 DAS which was statistically at par with Pendimethalin @ 1 kg/ha at 0-2 DAS fb 2,4-D Na salt @ 0.5 kg/ha at 20 DAS fb one hand weeding at 40 DAS (0.97), Stale seedbed using Glyphosate @ 1 kg/ha at 10 DBS fb Pendimethalin @ 1 kg/ha at 0-2 DAS fb Bispyribac Na @ 25 g/ha at 20 DAS (0.94) and stale seedbed using Glyphosate @ 1 kg/ha at 10 DBS fb Bispyribac-Na @ 25 g/ha at 20 DAS (0.90).ThesisItem Open Access Effect of Irrigation Management and Crop Establishment Methods on Performance of rice(Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Samastipur, 2018) Shabana; Kumar, VinodA field experiment was conducted during kharif season of 2017 in split plot design with three replications at Crop Research Centre, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Bihar to investigate the “Effect of irrigation management and crop establishment methods on performance of rice”. The treatments consisted of three irrigation management i.e. I1-Continuous submergence throughout crop growth, I2-Saturation maintenance upto PI and (5±2cm) after PI and I3- Alternate wetting and drying (5 cm irrigation at 3 DADPW) upto PI and (5±2cm) after PI and four methods of establishment i.e. E1- Normal transplanting, E2- Direct wet seeding on puddled soil, E3- Direct dry seeding and E4- Broadcasting on un-puddled soil. The test cultivar was Abhishek. The soil of experimental plot was sandy loam in texture, alkaline in reaction (pH-8.5), low in available N (154 kg/ha), P2O5 (19.21 kg/ha) and K2O (121.00 kg/ha). The result showed that growth and yield attributes like plant height, number of tillers/m2, LAI, dry matter production (g/m2), crop growth rate (g/m2/day), number of panicles/m2, panicle length, number of grains/panicle, test weight, grain and straw yields, harvest index, total K uptake by crop, water productivity, gross returns, net returns and B: C ratio were not influenced by irrigation management but N and P uptake by the crop were maximum with I1 which was significantly superior to I3 while water use efficiency was found to be maximum with I3 and was significantly superior to I1, which was statistically at par with I2. Growth and yield attributes like plant height and number of tillers/m2 at 60, 90 DAS and at harvest, LAI at 60 & 90 DAS, dry matter production at 60, 90 DAS and at harvest, crop growth rate at 30-60, 60-90 DAS and 90 DAS-at harvest, number of panicles/m2, panicle length, number of grains/panicle, grain yield, straw yield, N, P and K uptake by crop, WUE, water productivity, gross returns and net returns were recorded maximum with E1 treatment of crop establishment methods which was significantly superior to E2, E3 and E4 except number of tillers/m2 at 60, 90 DAS and at harvest and number of panicles /m2 were statistically at par with E2 treatment and E3 while straw yield was statistically at par with E2 treatment only. Plant height at 30 DAS, number of tillers/m2 at 30 DAS, dry matter production at 30 DAS, crop growth rate at 0-30 DAS, test weight, harvest index, B: C ratio were not influenced significantly due to different crop establishment methods.ThesisItem Open Access Effect of plant geometry and weed management on weed dynamics and yield of summer mungbean (Vigna radiata L.)(Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa (Samastipur), 2018) Kumar, Randhir; pandey, I. B.A field experiment was conducted during summer season of 2017 at research farm of Tirhut College of Agriculture, Dholi (Muzaffarpur) to study the “Effect of plant geometry and weed management on weed dynamics and yield of summer mungbean (Vigna radiata L.)”. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design and replicated thrice. The treatment comprised, three plant geometry i.e.,20 x 10 cm, 25 x 10 cm and 30 x 10 cm and five weed management practices i.e.,weedy check, hand weeding at 15 and 30 DAS, Pendimethalin 0.75 kg/ha (pre-emergence), Quizalofop-ethyl 60 g/ha at 15 DAS and Imazethapyr 60 g/ha at 15 DAS. Significantly higher plant height and crop growth rate were recorded at closer row spacing of 20 × 10 cm than wider row spacing at harvest. However, higher dry matter accumulation/plant, number and dry weight of nodules per plant and number of pods/plant were significantly higher at wider row spacing of 30 × 10 cmover closer row spacings. Number of pods per plant, pod length and test weight were not significantly influenced by plant geometry. Among weed management practices, hand weeding twice recorded significantly higher plant height, dry matter production/plant, crop growth rate, number and dry weight of nodules/plant, pod/plant, grains/pod and pod length than Quizalofop-ethyl and Pendimethalin Closer row spacing of 20 × 10 cm recorded significantly higher grain yield but was found at par with row spacing of 25 × 10 cm and significantly higher over wider row spacing of 30 × 10 cm. Similarly closer row spacing of 20 × 10 cm also recorded significantly higher straw yield than wider row spacings. Hand weeding twice although produced higher grain yield but was at par with Imazethaypr and significantly surpassed over Quizalofop-ethyl and Pendimethalin. Harvest index was unaffected by plant geometry and weed management practices. Closer row spacing reduced weed count and weed dry biomass than wider row spacing but could not reach to the level of significance. Imazethaypr was found equally effective for reducing the weed count and weed density than hand weeding twice closely follwed by Quizalofop-ethyl. Significantly higher NPK-uptake by the crop and lower NPK-depletion by weeds were recorded under closer row spacing of 20 × 10 cm than wider row spacings. Similarly, hand weeding twice recoded significantly higher NPK uptake by crop and lowered NPK-depletion by weeds than chemical weeding except K- uptake.Protein content in grain was not significantly influenced by planting geometry and weed management practices. Closer row spacing of 20 × 10 cm recorded significantly higher gross returns, net returns and B: C ratio than wider row spacing of 25 × 10 cm and 30 × 10 cm. Among the weed management practices, hand weeding twice recorded significantly higher gross returns while the highest net return and B: C ratio were associated with Imazethapyr.ThesisItem Open Access Effect of organic and inorganic source of nutrients on potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)(Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa (Samastipur), 2018) Pandit, Ashok; Dwivedi, D. K.A field experiment was conducted during the Rabi season of year 2017-18 on potato with variety Kufri Ashoka to test the RDF levels (0, 50, 75, 100, 125, 150%) with two organic manures (vermicompost 5 t/ha and mustard oil cake 2.5 t/ha) at Research farm of Tirhut college of Agriculture Dholi, Muzaffarpur Bihar. The soil of experimental plot was Entisol, sandy loam in texture under low available in N, P and K with pH 8.3. the experiment was carried out in randomized block design (RBD) and replicated thrice. All growth and yield parameter like per cent emergence, plant height, number of shoots per plant, number of leaves per plant, dry matter accumulation, bulking rate of tubers, yield attributes and yield were significantly influenced by the levels of RDF along with combination of vermicompost and mustard oil cake. Among all treatments, treatment T11 - 150% RDF + 5.0 t/ha vermicompost recorded higher growth, yield attributes, tuber yield, N, P and K content, total uptake of nutrients by crop, available N, P2O5 and K2O, organic carbon, organic matter content and economic returns which was significantly superior than T1 - absolute control, T2 - 100% RDF, T3 - 50% RDF + 5.0 t/ha vermicompost , T4- 50% RDF + 2.5 t/ha mustard oil cake, T5 - 75% RDF + 5.0 t/ha vermicompost and T6 - 75% RDF + 2.5 t/ha mustard oil cake was T7 - 100% RDF + 5.0 t/ha vermicompost, T8 - 100% RDF + 2.5 t/ha mustard oil cake, T9 - 125% RDF + 5.0 t/ha vermicompost, T10 -125% RDF + 2.5 t/ha mustard oil cake and T12 - 150% RDF + 2.5 t/ha mustard oil cake. Significantly higher gross return and net returns was obtained under treatment T11 - 150% RDF + 5.0 t/ha vermicompost and was at par with treatments, T7, T8, T9, T10, T12. .However maximum B: C ratio was obtained under treatment T2 - 100% RDF alone. This was due to lower cost of inorganic RDF treatments as compared to integrated nutrients application.ThesisItem Open Access Effect of fertilizer levels and weed management practices on growth and yield of hybrid rice(Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa (Samastipur), 2018) Nagarjuna, Polagani; Singh, R. S.A field experiment entitled “Effect of fertilizer levels and weed management practices on growth and yield of hybrid rice” was conducted during the kharif season of 2017 at the Research Farm, TCA, Dholi, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Samastipur (BIHAR). The experiment was laid out in split-plot design with twelve treatments. The main plot comprised four different weed management practices i.e. W1 (Bispyribac-sodium @ 25 g/ha at 20 DAT), W2 (Bispyribac-sodium @ 25 g/ha + Pyrazosulfuron @ 25 g/ha at 20 DAT), W3 (Hand weeding twice at 20 and 40 DAT) and W4 (Weedy check), and under the sub-plot there were three fertilizer levels i.e. F1 (100 % RDF), F2 (125 % RDF) and F3 (150 % RDF), which were replicated thrice. Rice hybrid “ARIZE-6444” was taken as the test variety. The soil of the experimental plot was sandy loam in texture with pH 8.2, EC 0.56 dsm-1, low in organic carbon (0.39 %), available nitrogen (207.3 kg/ha), phosphorus (16.5 kg/ha) and potassium (132.8 kg/ha). The results showed that growth parameters i.e. plant height (112.78 cm), number of tillers/m2 (317.22), plant dry matter (1291.80 g/m2), and crop growth rate (3.45, 15.15, 18.19, 6.27 g/m2/day from 0-30 DAT to 90 DAT-at harvest) and yield parameters i.e. number of panicle (213.05/m2), length of panicle (29.30 cm), number of spikelets/panicle (224.16) and test weight (22.82 g) recorded highest with W3which was found statistically at par with W2 and significantly superior over rest of the treatments. Among fertilizer levels, growth parameters i.e. plant height (112.67 cm), number of tillers/m2 (315.83), plant dry matter (1180.49 g/m2) and crop growth rate (3.10 and 14.80 g/m2/day from 0-30 DAT to 30-60 DAT) and yield parameters i.e. number of panicle (208.33/m2), length of panicle (28.91 cm), number of spikelets/panicle (229.52) and test weight (22.77 g) highest were recorded with F3 which was found statistically at par with F2 and significantly superior over F1. Weed control efficiency was significantly influenced by different weed management practices, the maximum WCE was recorded with W3 (71.32 % at harvest) which was significantly superior over W2 (59.66 % at harvest) and W1 (38.50 % at harvest). Nutrient uptake by crop was recorded highest under W3 (152.85: 45.79: 187.13 - N: P: K kg/ha) in case of main plot and F3 (130.52: 40.40: 164.49 – N: P: K kg/ha) in case of sub-plot, and nutrient removal by weeds, were observed highest under weedy check (23.55: 10.61: 34.02 kg/ha - N: P: K kg/ha) in case of main plot and F3 (10.65: 4.84: 15.59 kg/ha - N: P: K kg/ha) in case of sub-plot. Grain yield (62.35 q/ha) and straw yield (88.00 q/ha)) were significantly higher under W3 as compared to W1 and W4 but it was found at par with W2 (60.23 q/ha), (85.03 q/ha), respectively. Among fertilizer levels, under F3, grain (55.73 q/ha) and straw yield (78.36 q/ha) recorded were significantly superior over F1 level but was found statistically at par with F2 (53.21 q/ha) and (75.19 q/ha), respectively. Net returns were recorded highest with W2 (76,292 Rs/ha) which was significantly superior over W3 (70,087 Rs/ha), W1 (58,591 Rs/ha) and weedy check (28,054 Rs/ha). Among different fertilizer level treatments, maximum net returns were found under F3 (64,512 Rs/ha) as compared to F2 (61,120 Rs/ha) and F1 (49,136 Rs/ha) but it was statistically at par with F2. Among different weed management practices, the highest B: C ratio was found with W2 (1.98) and it was superior over W1 (1.56), W3 (1.44) & W4 (0.77). Among fertilizer levels, B: C ratio was recorded highest with F3 (1.54) but it was found statistically at par with F2 (1.51) and both the fertilizer levels (F2& F3) showed significantly higher value of B: C ratio than F1 (1.26).ThesisItem Open Access Effect of different levels of potassium on performance of Kharif maize (Zea mays L.)(Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa (Samastipur), 2018) Hussain, Mohd. Zakir; Kumar, MritunjayThe present experiment entitled “Effect of different levels of potassium on performance of Kharif maize (Zea mays L.)” was carried out at the Crop Research Centre of Tirhut College of Agriculture, Dholi under Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Samastipur, Bihar during Kharif 2017. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with four replication taking variety ‘Pioneer-3377’ as a test crop. The soil of the experimental field was sandy loam in texture, calcareous in nature with pH 8.2 and low in organic carbon (0.44%). The soil contained 210, 16.32 and 122 kg ha-1 available N, P2O5 and K2O, respectively. The treatment comprised of nine treatments viz., RD of N and P + no K (T1), RD of N and P + 30 kg K ha-1 (T2), RD of N and P + 60 kg K ha-1 (T3), RD of N and P + 90 kg K ha-1 (T4), RD of N and P + 120 kg K ha-1 (T5), RD of N and P + 150 kg K ha-1 (T6), T2 + 5 t FYM ha-1 (T7), T3 + 5 t FYM ha-1 (T8), T4 + 5 t FYM ha-1 (T9). Different treatments had significant influence on growth, yield and yield attributes of maize. Plant height, number of leaves, dry matter accumulation, yield and yield attributes i.e., number of cobs plant-1, length of cobs, girth of cobs, number of grains cob-1 and test weight were significantly influenced by different treatments. The plant population recorded at different stages of growth was found to be non significant due to different treatments. Experimental results indicated that treatment T9 (T4 + 5 t FYM ha-1) produced higher plant population at all the stages of growth which were responsible for higher yield. Treatment T9 (T4 + 5 t FYM ha-1) recorded higher plant height, number of leaves, dry matter accumulation at all the growth stages. There was no significant difference on 50% tasseling and silking. Similarly, there was no marked effect of different treatments on number of cobs plant-1, length of cobs, girth of cobs and test weight. However, number of grains cob-1 was found significantly higher in treatment T9 (T4 + 5 t FYM ha-1). Grain yield, stover yield and stone yield were significantly influenced by different treatments. The maximum grain yield (63.19 q ha-1), stover yield (101.61 q ha-1) and stone yield (14.61 q ha-1) were recorded under treatment T9 (T4 + 5 t FYM ha-1). N and P content of grain and stover were non-significant due to different treatments. However, significantly higher K content of grain and stover was recorded with treatment T9 (T4 + 5 t FYM ha-1). Significantly higher N, P & K uptake of grain and stover were recorded under T9 (T4 + 5 t FYM ha-1) as compared to other treatments. Economics of different treatments clearly indicated that by virtue of higher grain yield, treatment T9 (T4 + 5 t FYM ha-1) exhibited a gross returns, net returns and B: C ratio of ₹ 90,046 ha-1, ₹ 47,987 ha-1 and 1.14, respectively.ThesisItem Open Access Influence of plant growth regulators on growth, yield and quality of sugarcane(Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa (Samastipur), 2018) Upadhaya, Bharati; Kumar, NavnitA field experiment was conducted at Sugarcane Research Institute, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Bihar during spring season of 2017-18, to study the influence of plant growth regulators on growth, yield and quality of sugarcane. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design, replicated thrice with ten different treatments. The soil of the experimental field was sandy loam in texture, calcareous in nature (28.5% CaCO3) with pH 8.2 and organic carbon (0.41%). The soil contained 220, 28.3 and 141.5 kg/ha available N, P2O5 and K2O, respectively. The treatment comprised of ten treatments viz., conventional planting/farmers practice (T1), planting of setts after overnight soaking in water (T2), planting of setts after overnight soaking in cattle dung, cattle urine and water slurry in 1: 2: 5 ratios (T3), planting of setts after overnight soaking in 50 ppm ethrel solution (T4), planting of setts after overnight soaking in 100 ppm ethrel solution (T5), T1 + GA3 spray @ 35 ppm at 90, 120 & 150 DAP (T6), T2 + GA3 spray @ 35 ppm at 90, 120 & 150 DAP (T7),T3 + GA3 spray @ 35 ppm at 90, 120 & 150 DAP (T8), T4 + GA3 spray @ 35 ppm at 90, 120 & 150 DAP (T9) and T5 + GA3 spray @ 35 ppm at 90, 120 & 150 DAP (T10). Different treatments had significant influence on growth, yield and quality parameters of sugarcane. Higher germination count was recorded in planting of setts after overnight soaking in 50 ppm ethrel solution (T4) followed by T4 + GA3 spray @ 35 ppm at 90, 120 & 150 DAP (T9) and T5 + GA3 spray @ 35 ppm at 90, 120 & 150 DAP (T10). The plant population recorded at different stages of growth was found to be significantly affected with different treatments. Experimental results indicated that treatment T9 (T4 + GA3 spray @ 35 ppm at 90, 120 & 150 DAP) produced higher plant population at all the stages of growth which were responsible for higher number of millable canes at harvest. Treatment T9 (T4 + GA3 spray @ 35 ppm at 90, 120 & 150 DAP) recorded higher leaf area index and plant height at 210 and 240 DAP.Similarly, treatment T9 (T4 + GA3 spray @ 35 ppm at 90, 120 & 150 DAP) recorded significantly higher length of internode (13.4 cm). Experimental results further revealed that, there was an increasing trend in dry matter accumulation and root dry weight in treatment T8 (T3 + GA3 spray @ 35 ppm at 90, 120 & 150 DAP) upto grand growth stage and found non-significant at 210 DAP.There was no significant difference on cane diameter, number of nodes/cane, single cane weight and cane: top ratio due to different treatments. Similarly, there was no marked effect of different treatments on brix, pol, purity and CCS per cent but produced significant effect on juice recovery. However, treatment T9showed comparatively higher values in all these parameters. Juice recovery per cent was found significantly higher in treatment T9 (T4 + GA3 spray @ 35 ppm at 90, 120 & 150 DAP). Planting of sugarcane after overnight soaking in 50 ppm ethrel solution followed by GA3 spray @ 35 ppm at 90, 120 & 150 DAP produced significantly higher cane and sugar yield of 101.8 t/ha and 12.40 t/ha, respectively. Increase in sugar yield exhibited almost similar trend as the yield of cane under different treatments. Economics of different treatments clearly indicated that by virtue of higher cane yield, treatment T9 (T4 + GA3 spray @ 35 ppm at 90, 120 & 150 DAP) exhibited a gross returns, net returns and B:C ratio of ` 2,95,220/ha, ` 1,67,988/ha and 1.32, respectively.On the basis of productivity and economics, it can be concluded that, planting of setts after overnight soaking in 50 ppm ethrel solution with or without GA3 spray @ 35 ppm at 90, 120 & 150 DAPfound to be the best proposition to improve the growth parameters, yield and quality of sugarcane under Bihar condition.