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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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2017 - 20184
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Subject: Horticulture × End date: 2018 × Start date: 2016 ×
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Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Cause effect relationship and genetic divergence study in cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.]
    (Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Samastipur (Bihar), 2018) Gupta, Ramesh Kumar; Pramila
    The present investigation was carried out with twenty-seven genotypes of cowpea entitled "CAUSE-EFFECT RELATIONSHIP AND GENETIC DIVERGENCE STUDY IN COWPEA [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.]” at Vegetable Research Farm of Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Samastipur, Bihar in Randomised Block Design with three replications during Zaid-2017. The quantitative traits under study were seed germination percentage, plant height, number of branches per plant, days to first flowering, first flowering node, number of nodes on main stem, peduncle length, number of pods per cluster, days to first picking, pod length, pod diameter, average pod weight, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, test weight, pod borer infestation percentage and pod yield per plant. Statistical analysis were carried out to study Analysis of variance, Genotypic and Phenotypic coefficient of variation, Heritability, Genetic advance, Correlation coefficient analysis, Path analysis and Genetic diversity. Analysis of variance revealed highly significant differences among the genotypes for all the studied characters and also showed the presence of an ample amount of genetic variability among the genotypes. The phenotypic coefficient of variation was slightly higher than the corresponding genotypic coefficient of variation in magnitude. Indicating the role of genotype in the manifestation of these characters. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance as per cent of mean were recorded for all the traits except seed germination percentage and days to first flowering, indicating the preponderance of additive gene action suggesting that selection in an early generation will be effective. Plant height, number of branches per plant, number of nodes on main stem, number of pods per cluster, pod length, average pod weight and number of pods per plant had given positive and significant correlation comprising their positive and direct effect with pod yield per plant. Suggesting that during the course of selection these traits may be considered as prime traits for enhancing the yield in cowpea. The maximum inter-cluster distance was recorded between cluster II and V so, to have the heterotic recombinant for the seed germination percentage, days to first flowering, pod length, average pod weight, number of seeds per pod, number of pods per cluster, peduncle length, and pod diameter, for all these traits, genotypes present in these clusters may be used in crossing.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Studies on production techniques of capsicum (Capsicum annum L. var. grossum) under protected cultivation
    (Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa (Samastipur), 2017) Thakur, Ghanshyam; Singh, A. K.
    Capsicum (Capsicum annuum L. var. grossum Sendt; 2n =24) also known as Bell pepper or Sweet pepper or Green pepper or Shimla mirch. The genus capsicum belongs to the family Solanaceae which is grown in several part of the world and is believed to be native of Tropical South America. An experiment was carried out to study the effect of planting geometry and number of shoots on quality and yield of capsicum cv. Buffalo under naturally ventilated Poly house during Rabi, 2016 at Hi-Tech Horticulture, Dr. RPCAU, Pusa. There were three spacings viz., 45 cm × 30 cm (4.4 plants/m2), 45 cm × 45 cm (2.94 plants/m2) and 45 cm × 60 cm (2.22 plants/m2) and three levels of number of shoots per plant viz., two shoots, three shoots and four shoots. The experiment was laid out into Factorial randomize block design, with three replications. Among the different spacing tried, the maximum spacing 45 cm × 60 cm recorded significantly higher fruit length (9.41 cm), fruit breadth (7.26 cm), fruit weight (185.31 g), fruit volume (299.60 cc), shelf life (7.18 days), rind thickness (0.74 cm), number of fruits (18.48/plant) and fruit yield (3.38 kg/plant). The maximum fruit yield (82.13 t/ha) was recorded under spacing 45 cm × 30 cm. With regards to the number of shoots per plant, the treatment two shoots per plant recorded significantly higher fruit length (9.30cm), fruit breadth (7.03 cm), fruit weight (175.91 g) fruit volume (309.80 cc), rind thickness (0.73 cm) and shelf life (7.11 days). Whereas retaining four shoots per plant recorded significantly higher number of fruits (20.31/plant), fruit yield (3.20 kg/plant), and fruit yield (95.01 t/ha). Over all treatment combination S2 (45 cm x 45 cm) with training P3 (four shoots) levels can be adopted for higher yield with better quality of capsicum fruit as well as maximum benefit cast ratio and higher net return.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Effect of micronutrient application on growth, yield and quality of Kharif onion (Allium cepa L.)
    (Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa (Samastipur), 2017) Maurya, Pankaj Kumar; Yadav, L. M.
    Onion (Allium cepa L.), the “Queen of the Kitchen” is one of the most commercially valuable vegetables grown in India. The present production level of onion in India as well as in Bihar in not sufficient to meet out the requirement of growing population, which can possibly be increased by judicious use of macro and micro nutrients. Keeping this fact in view, the present investigation entitled “Effect of micronutrient application on growth, yield and quality of kharif onion (Allium cepa L.) was carried out during Kharif season of 2016-2017 at Kothi farm of Tirhut College of Agricultural Dholi, (Muzaffarpur), of Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa (Samastipur) in calcareous soils with ten treatments and three replication under randomize block design with the objectives to study the effect of micronutrients on growth, yield attributes, quality & shelf life of onion. To draw certain conclusion both the quantitative and qualitative plant characters were recorded and analysed. Soil application of ZnSO4 @ 50kg/ha with recommended dose of NPKS (120: 80: 100:40) recorded the maximum plant height and number of leaves per plant at 30, 45 and 60 DAT, average weight of bulb, A grade bulb, B grade bulb, marketable bulb yield, marketable bulb percent, total bulb yield, TSS, dry weight of leaves per plant, dry weight of bulbs per plant, whereas soil application of Borax @ 15 kg/ha along with recommended dose of NPKS showed maximum polar and equatorial diameter values. The lowest collar thickness at 30, 45 and 60 DAT, neck thickness, doubler bulbs, bolters, C grade bulb and minimum bulb sprouting at 7, 14 and 21 DAH were found in treatment NPKS + soil application of ZnSO4 @ 50kg/ha, whereas soil application of Borax @ 10 kg/ha along with recommended dose of NPKS gave minimum sugar contents, physiological loss in weight, bulb rotting. Overall soil application of ZnSO4 @ 50kg/ha along with recommended dose of NPKS (120: 80: 100:40) was found to be better for onion.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Genetic variability and correlation studies on growth, yield and quality of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)
    (Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa (Samastipur), 2017) Patel, Pushpam; Kumar, Udit
    A study was conducted at Vegetable Research Farm, Dr. RPCAU, Pusa, Samastipur, Bihar during rabi 2015-16 to evaluate the genotypes of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) for yield and quality. Investigation was carried out on variability, character association, path analysis and genetic divergence for morpho-physiological characters viz., Plant height at maturity, Number of primary branches per plant, Days to flower initiation, Days to fruit initiation. Days to fruit maturity at physiological stage, Diameter of fruit, Length of fruit, Number of locules per fruit, Number of fruits per plant, Average fruit weight, Fruit yield per plant, Fruit yield per hectare, Total soluble solid, Titrable acidity, Zinc content, Iron content, Lycopene content and Ascorbic acid content. 24 genotypes were grown in Randomized Block Design with three replications. Analysis of variance revealed highly significant differences among the genotypes for all the characters except iron content. The genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) and phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) were high for lycopene content, average fruit weight, number of fruits per plant, fruit yield per hectare, fruit yield per plant, titrable acidity, number of locules per fruit, number of primary branches per plant, ascorbic acid and plant height at maturity. All characters were highly heritable in broad sense except iron content. All the characters had showed high heritability coupled with high genetic advance as per cent of mean except days to flower initiation, days to fruit initiation, days to fruit maturity at physiological stage, zinc & iron content indicating the presence of additive gene effects which may be utilized for improvement through phenotypic selection for yield improvement. Character association among the yield and yield attributing traits and identify better combinations as selection criteria for developing high yielding tomato genotypes. Fruit yield per plant was positively correlated with number of primary branches per plant, fruit diameter, fruit length, number of fruits per plant, average fruit weight, total soluble solid, days to flower initiation and titrable acidity suggesting that selection based on these characters would result better genotypes with higher yield. Among them number of primary branches per plant, fruit diameter, fruit length, number of fruits per plant were highly significantly correlated with yield per plant and average fruit weight and total soluble solid significantly correlated with yield per plant. Path coefficient analysis study revealed positive direct effect for plant height at maturity, number of primary branches per plant, days to flower initiation, days to fruit maturity at physiological stage, fruit length, number of locules per fruit, number of fruits per plant, average fruit weight, total soluble solid, titrable acidity and ascorbic acid on fruit yield per plant and selection based on these 18 characters would be more reliable for yield improvement. The 24 genotypes of tomato were grouped into five clusters using Tocher method. The genotypes in cluster IV and cluster II followed by cluster III and II and cluster V and II, due to maximum inter cluster distance between them, exhibited high degree of genetic diversity and thus may be utilized under inter varietal hybridization programme (transgressive breeding) for getting high yielding recombinants. Cluster IV was suitable for number of primary branches per plant, diameter of fruit, length of fruit, average fruit weight, yield per plant and yield per hectare. Therefore, selection of parents from this cluster for these traits would be effective. Maximum contribution towards divergence was obtained by lycopene content, average fruit weight, & ascorbic acid. All together they have contributed 67%.