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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 Effect of Poplar (Populus deltoides Bartr.) Clones on Fertility Improvement in Upland Calcareous Soil after Eleven-Year- Rotation(Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa (Samastipur), 2016) Kumar, Atul; Das, D. K.Poplar trees are becoming extremely important as fast growing species due to the increasing need for wood and decreasing productivity of the lands. The present investigation was conducted in eleven-year-old poplar (Populus deltoides Bartr.) plantations established at Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Birouli, Samastipur (Bihar) to find the effect of six promising clones (PP-5, Udai, L-52, L-49, G-48 and L-188) as one of the most important effective factors on soil properties and also to estimate the timber volume of different poplar clones. Clones were planted with 5×4 m spacing in frame of randomized block design with four replications. The soil samples were taken from 0-15 cm and 15-30 cm depth of soils under plantations of different poplar clones and from open (without trees). The results showed that the upper 0-15 cm soil in L-52 poplar clone plot had highest value (6.30 g kg-1 soil) and it was 125% more over control (open). Besides, L-49 had almost similar soil organic carbon status. Hence, the soils under these two plantations have more potentiality for sequestering organic carbon. Irrespective of the soil depths, maximum reduction in pH (0.47 unit) was noticed under the canopy of L-52 followed by L-49 (0.37 unit) and the less change was noticed under L-188 (0.16 unit). Electrical conductivities (EC) under all the poplar plantations were significantly lower as compared to open. Improvement of available macronutrients such as N, P2O5 and K2O, was recorded under all the plantations. Maximum build up was under L-52 followed by L-49 clones. Significant decrease in available S was recorded under Uday, G-48 and L-188, whereas L-52, L-49 and PP-5 poplar clones showed significant increase in available S at both the depths of the soil over open condition. Maximum improvement of available micronutrients Fe, Cu, Mn and B was recorded under L-52 followed by L-49 clones. However, available Zn declined under all the plantations at both the depth of the soil except under the clone L-52 in the surface soil when compared to open. Timber volume (m3ha-1) of the different eleven-year-old poplar clones followed the order: L-52 (271.1) > L-49 (210.0) > PP-5 (184.8) > Uday (176.6) > G-48 (139.0) > L-188 (132.9). Thus, soil fertility as reflected by soil pH, electrical conductivity, bulk density, soil organic carbon, available macronutrients (N, P and K) and micronutrients (Fe, Cu, Mn, B and S) can be improved by integration of L-52, L-49 and PP-5 clones of poplar (Populus deltoides) in silvicultural systems under upland calcareous soil condition, besides meeting the demand of wood for plywood and fuel.ThesisItem Open Access Effect of zinc fertilization on zinc transformations in upland rice under rice-wheat cropping system in calcareous soil(Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa (Samastipur), 2016) Keshari, Pankaj Kumar; Laik, RanjanThere is a need to understand the requirement of dose and frequency of Zn application in Zn deficiency prone upland calcareous soil under rice-wheat cropping system. Understanding the fate of Zn applications in different ways is also required for predicting its availability to crops. Therefore, after completion of three years, in an ongoing experiment having different combinations of three modes of Zn application (in the first year, alternate year and every year) and in four doses (2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10.0 kg ha-1) and one Zn control, the present investigation was undertaken to study during rice cultivation, 1) rice yield, growth attributes and zinc uptake, 2) changes in soil available zinc status, and 3) changes in different forms of zinc. During the fourth year, Zn was applied to rice only in the mode of every year application in 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10.0 kg ha-1 doses. The highest number of tillers m-2, number of productive tillers m-2 and number of filled grain panicle-1 were found in 7.5 kg Zn ha-1 at alternate year applied plot. These were similar to 5.0 and 10.0 kg Zn ha-1 at alternate year and 7.5 kg Zn ha-1 at every year applied plot. Root weight was highest in 7.5 kg Zn ha-1 every year applied plot which was similar to 5.0 kg Zn ha-1 applied in the same mode. The highest grain yield was found in 5.0 kg Zn ha-1 applied every year. However highest grain yield was statistically at par with 7.5 kg Zn ha-1 and 10.0 kg Zn ha-1 in initial year, 5.0 to 10.0 kg Zn ha-1 in alternate year and 2.5 to 10 in every year applications. Zn concentration in grain was highest in 10.0 kg Zn ha-1 every year applied plot (26.90 mg kg-1). However it was similar to 5.0 kg Zn ha-1 to 10.0 kg Zn ha-1 at alternate year and 2.5 kg Zn ha-1 to 7.5 kg Zn ha-1 at every year applications. Highest Agronomic Efficiency was found in 7.5 kg Zn ha-1 (101.33 kg grain/kg Zn) followed by 10 kg Zn ha-1 (71.33 kg grain/kg Zn) at initial year and 2.5 kg Zn ha-1 (64.0 kg grain/kg Zn) in alternate year Zn applications. Apparent Zn recovery efficiency varied from 1.07% in10 kg Zn ha-1 applied at every year to 3.72% in 2.5 kg Zn ha-1 applied at alternate year. The order of apparent Zn recovery efficiency was in the order of, 2.5 kg Zn, alternate year (3.72%) > 2.5 kg Zn, initial year (3.70%) > 7.5 kg Zn, every year (3.61%) > 2.5 kg Zn, every year (3.58%). DTPA-Zn concentration in post-harvest soil decreased by upto 29.67% in initial year, 35.65 % in alternate year applications while it increased upto 9.25% in 10 kg Zn ha-1 every year applications as compared to the soil of before rice establishment. Among the different Zn fractions in soil after rice harvest, the order of concentrations were: Weakly bound to organic matter-Zn (3.72 mg kg-1) > Carbonate Zn (2.03 mg kg-1) > MnO-Zn (0.56 mg kg-1) > strongly bound to organic matter-Zn (0.55 mg kg-1) > Exchangeable-Zn (0.53 mg kg-1). In the post-harvest soil, increase in total extractable Zn by changing the mode of application from initial to alternate year and from alternate to every year were 28 and 36 per cent respectively. Alternate year Zn application had 38.8 and 42.0% increase in mineral bound Zn by carbonate and manganese oxide and 18.1 and 22.6% increase in weakly and strongly organic bound Zn as compared to the initial year values. The corresponding increase in exchangeable Zn was 56%. Similarly every year application had 35.5 and 38.1% increase in mineral bound Zn by carbonate and manganese oxide and 34.8 and 45.0% increase in weakly and strongly organic bound Zn as compared to alternate year application and the corresponding increase in exchangeable Zn was 34.2%. Thus it may be concluded that, 7.5 kg ha-1 Zn dose applied initially is considered as optimum in increasing rice growth parameters, grain yield, grain Zn concentration, Zn uptake, Agronomic efficiency and Apparent Zn recovery efficiency of rice in upland calcareous soil.ThesisItem Open Access Effect of Vermicompost and Fertilizer levels on Soil Fertility, Yield and Quality of Sugarcane in Calcareous Soil of Bihar(Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa (Samastipur), 2016) Mishra, Vipul Kumar; Thakur, S. K.The present investigation was undertaken to evaluate the impact of vermicompost and fertilizer levels on sugarcane production, uptake of nutrients, quality of the cane juice and soil properties in calcareous soil. The vermicompost @ 0, 2.5, 5.0 & 7.5 t/ha and fertilizers @ 0, 50, 75 & 100% RDF were applied in sub and main plot in split plot design. Based on the results of foregoing experiment, it can be concluded that application of vermicompost @ 5.0 t ha-1 alongwith 100% RDF was found effective for enhancing the cane and sugar yield. The cane juice quality viz. brix, sucrose and purity coefficient was not affected due to application of vermicompost and fertilizers levels. Addition of different levels of vermicompost and fertilizers enhanced the soil organic carbon content of the post harvest soil which improved the physical, chemical and biological properties of soil. The higher net ret returns and B:C ratio were obtained with the application of vermicompost @ 5.0 t/ha alongwith 100% RDF. Thus, application of vermicompost @ 5.0 t/ha alongwith 100% RDF was beneficial for improving the soil fertility, cane & sugar yield and getting higher returns in calcareous soil of Bihar.ThesisItem Open Access Development of Thematic Soil Maps of Rajendra Agricultural University, Pusa Farm through Geo-informatics Technology(Rajendra Agriculrural University, Pusa (Samastipur), 2015) Praveen, Hena; Singh, M. P.A study for the ‘Development of Thematic Soil Maps of Rajendra Agricultural University, Pusa Farm through Geo-informatics Technology’ was carried out during 2014-2015. The study area lies between 250 58’54” N to 25º 59’ 28.91’’ N latitude and 850 40’25” E to 85º 41’ 27.88’’ E longitude by the side of Burhi Gandak river in Samastipur district under the North-West alluvial plain (Agro-climatic Zone-I of Bihar). 149 Samples were collected on grid basis with coordinates through GPS and thematic soil maps were prepared using TNTmips (2010) GIS software. The thematic soil maps clearly revealed the distribution of different physico-chemical characteristics and available nutrients status which were assigned appropriate classes - low, medium and high or sufficient /deficient. The maximum spatial distribution of soil texture was loamy sand (40.52%), bulk density 1.45 to 1.5 Mg m-3 (80.86%), clay content 15 to 20% (51.11%), soil pH 8.0 to 8.5 (41.84%), soil EC 0.5 to 1 dS m-1 (49.31%), organic carbon 0.50 to 0.75% (60.43%), mineralizable soil nitrogen < 250 kg ha-1 ( 86.27%) , available phosphorus 25 to 50 kg ha-1 (71.06%), potassium 125 to 300 kg ha-1 (87.71%), DTPA extractable Cu > 0.6 mg kg-1 (99.98%), DTPA extractable Mn > 3.5 mg kg-1 (99.96%), DTPA extractable Fe > 7 mg kg-1 (99.6%), DTPA extractable Zn < 0.78 mg kg-1 (66.86%), hot water extractable soil boron < 0.3 mg kg-1 (78.07 %), available sulphur < 13 mg kg-1 (80.48%) and Free CaCO3 20-30% (55.2 %). Under multi major nutrient deficient soils, low in nitrogen and potassium were in 36.74% area and low phosphorus and potassium were in 19.78% area. In multi micro nutrient deficient soils, Zn and B were deficient only in 3.24% area and at least one micronutrient deficient area was 95.98%. Nutrient Index calculated for the major nutrients nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium were 1.416, 1.893 and 1.678, respectively. Productivity Index (PI) estimated on the basis of soil texture available N, P2O5 and K2O showed spatial distribution of 90.27 % area with low PI, 9.57% area with medium PI and 0.15 % with high PI. The clay content showed significant correlation with available N, K and Cu while it was highly significant with available S and Fe. However, it had a significantly negative correlation with available B and Mn. The pH showed significant correlation with available K and Cu and highly significant correlation with available S, Fe, and Mn. EC showed highly significant correlation with available B and negatively correlated with available S whereas highly negatively correlated with available N. The organic carbon content showed significant correlation with P and highly significant correlation with available N, Fe and Cu. The free CaCo3 showed a negative correlation with available N and Mn. Available Zn had no correlation with any of the soil properties.ThesisItem Open Access Long term effect of Organic and Inorganic fertilizers application on Phosphorus transformation under Rice-Wheat cropping system in calcareous soil(Rajendra Agricultural University, Pusa (Samastipur), 2014) Sweta, Nekee; Jha, ShankarThesisItem Open Access Screening of maize varieties to zinc stress in calcareouus soil.(Rajendra Agricultural University, Pusa (Samastipur), 2014) Rupali; Kumar, VipinA field experiment was conducted during the rabi season of 2012-13 in highly calcareous sandy loam soil, deficient in available Zn (0.56 mg kg-1) at Research Farm, Rajendra Agricultural University, Pusa to study the screening of maize varieties to zinc stress in calcareous soil. The experiment was laid out in split plot design assigning Zn levels ( 0, 5 and 10 Kg Zn ha-1 ) in main and twelve maize varieties ( Shaktiman 1, Shaktiman 2, Shaktiman 3, Shaktiman 5, Laxmi, Swan, Devki, Hemant , NK 6607, Raja 909, Rasitopless and Rasi 3022) in sub plot and replicated thrice. The varieties responded differently to Zn application with respect to grain and straw as well as concentration and their uptake of zinc nutrition. The average grain yield at 5.0 and 10.0 kg Zn ha-1 were statistically at par in composite varieties, but in case of hybrid and quality protein maize 10 kg Zn ha-1 has optimum. Hence, 10.0 kg Zn ha-1 was rated as optimum level for most of the varieties, only for the composite varieties may be rated 5.0 kg Zn ha-1 level for maize production. On the basis of percent response (figure in Parenthesis) to grain yield the relative susceptibility of maize varieties to Zn stress were as follow. Shaktiman 5 > (32.9) Rasi 3022 > (27.5) Raja 909> (26.5) Rasitopless > (26.3) NK 6607 > (24.5) Shaktimn 1 > (19.9) Shaktiman 3> (17.7) Shaktiman 2> (16.9) Devki > (16.5) Laxmi > (12.3) Swan > (10.8) Hemant (10.0) The varieties giving highest magnitude of response were rated to be most inefficient and those giving least response were classified as most efficient. On the basis of Zinc efficiency index and Zinc efficiency, out of twelve maize varieties screened under zinc stress and sufficient condition the Laxmi, Swan, Devki and Hemant were found to be efficient and Raja 909, Shaktiman 5, NK 6607, Rasi 3022 and Rasitopless varieties were found to be inefficient.ThesisItem Open Access Effect of Bio-methanated Distillery effluent on soil fertility, yield and quality of sugarcane in Calciorthent(Rajendra Agricultural University, Pusa (Samastipur), 2014) Kumar, Raju; Alam, M.Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) is one of the most important cash crops grown in all tropical and subtropical countries of the world and most efficient living collector of solar energy in the form of fibre and fermentable sugars. It provides employment not only to agricultural but also to industrial labourers in the sugar factories. Productivity of sugarcane in Bihar is 56.8 tonnes per hectare. Sugar factories generate many by-products viz. bagasse, molasses, press mud and waste materials. Molasses is used in distillery industry as a raw material for the production of alcohol and distilleries discharge waste water called as spent wash. Its direct use in agricultural fields is generally not considered safe because of its high biological oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) i.e. 40,000-50,000 mg l-1 and 90,000 -100,000 mg l-1, respectively. The spent wash contains 30-35% C; 2.31% N; 0.82% P and 9.25% K. There was a remarkable reduction in BOD, COD and salinity after bio-methanization process using methane gas and utilizing methogenic bacteria. The manurial value of the effluents can profitably be used as supplement to fertilizer and organic matter. Keeping this in view present investigation was carried at the experiment was conducted at pusa farm on calcarious sandy loam soil having pH 8.15, low in organic carbon, nitrogen, phosphrous and medium in potassium in Randomiged Block Design, replicated four times to evaluate the effect of bio-methanated distillery effluent (BMDE) on soil fertility, yield and quality of sugarcane in Calciorthent. The experiment involved seven treatments integrating BMDE and levels of NPK (T1: 100% NPK, T2: 150 m3 ha-1, T3: T2 +100% NPK, T4: T2 +75% NPK, T5: T2 +50% NPK, T6: T2 +25% NPK, T7: Control). The cane yield of sugarcane was significantly increased by 53.4% over control with the application of BMDE @ 150 m3 ha-1 along with 100% RDF. However, Juice quality viz. Brix, Sucrose, Purity and CCS was not influenced with BMDE and nutrient application but BMDE @ 150 m3 ha-1 along with 100% RDF had greatly enhanced the NPK uptake by 52.22%, 67.46% and 58.23%, respectively over control. Application of BMDE @ 150 m3 ha-1 along with 100% NPK greatly reduced the bulk density and increased the porosity and infiltration rate. Maximum availability of NPK was recorded with the application of recommended dose of NPK and BMDE @ 150 m3 ha-1. Whereas, higher availability of Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu was obtained with the application of BMDE @ 150 m3 ha-1. Because BMDE is a rich source of micro nutrients and their interactions with chemical fertilizer decrease the availability of micronutrients. Similarly, soil microbial population as well as enzymatic activities were also increased under treatment T3 (150 m3ha-1 BMDE+ 100% NPK). Initial application of BMDE @ 150 m3 ha-1 along with 100% RDF was statically at par with 75% NPK dose along with 150 m3 ha-1 BMDE performed best in improving cane yield, juice quality and soil health of sugarcane. Thus initial applications BMDE @ 150 m3 ha-1 could save 25% NPK.ThesisItem Open Access Effect Of Amendments On Soil Water Relations Under Rice-Wheat Cropping System In Light Texture Soil(Rajendra Agricultural University;Samastipur, 2004) Singh, Yanendra Kumar; Rajendra PrasadThesisItem Open Access Boron Availability In Old Alluvial Soils Of Nawada District(Rajendra Agricultural University;Samastipur, 2003) Prabhat Kumar; Singh, R.R.