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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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Author: K M, Nithyashree × End date: 2019 × Start date: 2017 × Type: Thesis ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Seasonal incidence of top borer Scirpophaga excerptalis (Walker) and efficacy of newer insecticides for its management
    (Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Samastipur (Bihar), 2019) K M, Nithyashree; Chand, Hari
    Results of the experiments conducted to study the seasonal incidence of sugarcane top borer Scirpophaga excerptalis (Walker) and efficacy of newer insecticides for its management in sugarcane variety BO-154 are presented. The field experiments were carried out at Pusa Farm, Sugarcane Research Institute, RPCAU, Pusa during 2018. The pest population was observed throughout the experimental period, i.e. March – December, 2018. Maximum larval and pupal population was recorded during the 2nd fortnight of June and it declined subsequently reaching at its minimum during November - December. The larval and pupal population showed significant and positive correlation with maximum and minimum temperatures and the values of „r‟ were 0.934** and 0.829**; and 0.793** and 0.707**, respectively. Maximum RH showed a negative and non-significant correlation with larval population and values of „r‟ was -0.041NS while minimum RH and rainfall both showed a positive but non-significant correlation with larval population and values of „r‟ were 0.306NS and 0.286NS. Minimum RH and rainfall both showed a positive but non-significant correlation with pupal population and values of „r‟ were 0.210NS and 0.181NS, respectively. The lowest 4.87% infestation was observed in the month of December when the maximum and minimum temperature ranged from 23.070C to 25.740C and 7.850C to 10.020C, respectively, with RH at 0700hrs and 1400hrs ranged from 81.20 to 52.93 and 83.13 to 57.80 per cent, respectively and rainfall recorded was 0.00 mm. The highest 13.87% infestation was observed in the month of June with corresponding weather parameters, i.e. maximum and minimum temperature ranged from 35.890C to 36.170C and 26.900C to 25.740C, respectively, with RH at 0700hrs and 1400hrs ranged from 81.46 to 82.13 and 59.80 to 61.00 per cent, respectively and rainfall recorded was 5.60 to 38.80 mm. Maximum parasitisation of top borer larvae by Cotesia flavipes was observed during 2nd fortnight of December (49.62%) while it was lowest in 2nd fortnight of June (10.50%). The correlation between parasitisation and maximum and minimum temperatures were negative and significant and the values of „r‟ were -0.860** and -0.737**, respectively. However, RH and rainfall exhibited non-significant correlation with parasitisation. The data pertaining to damage intensity of S. excerptalis clearly indicated that an increase in the damage intensity by the pest adversely affects the cane both qualitatively and quantitatively in terms of juice quantity, cane weight, bagasse weight, sucrose (%) and CCS percentage. The top borer incidence decreased significantly in all newer insecticidal treatments as compared to control. Among the treatments, T1 (rynaxpyr) was found most effective in terms of cane infestation, single cane weight and yield; however, remaining treatments were also significantly superior over control. The experimental plots treated with T1 also yielded superior canes in terms of brix, pol percentage as well as CCS (%). The incremental benefit-cost ratio in terms of Rs./ha varied with respect to average yield obtained in various insecticidal treatments and the treatments T1 (rynaxpyr 18.5 Sc% @ 17g a.i./ha) gave highest IBCR (9.43:1) followed by T3 (fipronil 5% SC @ 75g a.i./ha) (IBCR – 6.57:1).