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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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20201
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Subject: Entomology × Author: Longkumer, I Yimjenjang × Start date: 2020 × Thesis Type: Ph.D ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Population dynamics and management of major insect pests of rice in relation to prevailing climaticfactors
    (DRPCAU, Pusa, 2020) Longkumer, I Yimjenjang; Misra, A. K.
    The survey conducted during Kharif 2018 and 2019 to assess the population dynamics of five insect pests of rice in relation to prevailing climatic conditions showed that the peak incidence of stem borer was recorded at 35th standard week (1st September) with a mean incidence of 9.26 and 8.96 per cent dead heart in both the years respectively whereas, white earhead recorded the peak incidence of 9.98 and 9.28 per cent during 42nd (20th October) standard week in both the years respectively. The highest activity of rice leaf folder was recorded at 34th standard week (25th August) and 36th standard week (8th september) with a mean incidence of 8.39 and 9.81 % leaf damage during Kharif, 2018 and 2019 respectively. Incase of whorl maggot the highest incidence was recorded during 38th standard week (22nd september) when the minimum temperature was 24.4°C, maximum temperature 31.8°C and relative humidity morning 91% and the highest incidence during Kharif, 2019 was recorded at 40th standard week (6th October). The highest per cent silver shoot of 7.36 and 7.83 was recorded during 35th standard week (1st September) in both the years. Similarly, the highest incidence of 7.09 and 6.82 per cent damage grains caused by gundhi bug was recorded at 45th standard week and 44th standard week during Kharif, 2018 and 2019 respectively. The impact of IPM components as compared to farmer’s practices revealed that the incidence of stem borer recorded 15 DAT to 113 DAT varied widely ranging from 1.17 to 5.42 per cent in IPM module whereas, in farmer’s practices the incidence varied from 4.88 to 6.95 during Kharif, 2018. Incase of the incidence of leaf damage from 15 DAT to 113 DAT ranged from 2.94 to 7.94 per cent incidence of leaf damage as compared to 6.61 to 10.06 per cent leaf damage in farmers practices. Similarly, it was evident that the incidence of stem borer recorded at 15 DAT up to 113 DAT varied widely ranging from 0.98 to 6.12 per cent in IPM module whereas, in farmer’s practices the incidence varied from 6.51 to 10.19 during Kharif, 2019. The data on effect of IPM technologies as against farmer’s practices presented shows that the incidence of leaf damage recorded from 15 DAT to 113 DAT ranged from 2.46 to 6.26 per cent incidence of leaf damage as compared to 6.94 to 9.97 per cent leaf damage in farmers practices. The biodiversity of natural enemies was assessed from 30 days after transplanting (DAT) till harvest of the rice crop. The survey results during Kharif 2018 and 2019 showed that 37 species from 17 families belonging to 6 insect orders and 13 species of spiders from 12 genera under 8 families constituted the fauna of natural enemies in rice ecosystem. Spiders, Coccinellids, damselflies and dragonflies were noticed in the rice field from the first observation. The relative effectiveness for new insecticides was evaluated against rice stem borer, rice leaffolder and white back plant hopper. The lowest per cent mean stem borer incidence of 5.43 was recorded with the application of Fipronil 5 SC @75gha-1 whereas, leaf damage caused by Cnaphalocrocis medinalis was lowest in Imidacloprid 17.8 SL @300/ha treated plot with a mean incidence of 3.62 per cent. The lowest per cent population of Sogatella furcifera (6.18) was recorded in the plots treated with Imidacloprid 17.8 SL @300/ha. The relative efficacy of various essential oils was also evaluated against insect pest complex of rice. Among the essential oils tested against lepidopterous insect-pests of rice viz., rice stem borer and rice leaf folder, Camphor oil @1000 ml/ha recorded the lowest incidence of 8.90 and 9.19 per cent. However, Neemazal @1000 ml/ha proved to be superior over other essential oils in reducing the population green leaf hopper, white backed hopper and hispa with a mean population of 6.77, 6.50 and 8.05 per cent. Similarly, Neemazal @1000 recorded the lowest incidence of 9.27 per cent silver shoot caused by gall midge and 7.17 per cent leaf damage caused by whorl maggot.