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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 Microsatellite markers based assessment of genetic diversity and construction of heterotic groups in maize(Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa (Samastipur), 2016) Punya; Sharma, V. K.A study was undertaken to elucidate the nature and extent of differentiation and divergence among eighteen inbred lines of maize and to separate them into heterotic groups based on the analysis of targeted microsatellite sites. Experimental materials of the present study comprised fifteen inbred lines, three testers and forty five single cross experimental hybrids, which were evaluated in randomized block design with three replications under rabi and kharif seasons. Statistical analyses to derive inferences regarding divergence pattern of parental lines and heterosis manifestation in experimental hybrids were carried out using the data recorded on days to tasseling, days to silking, days to brown husk, plant height, ear height, ear length, number of kernels per ear and grain yield per plant. Numerical taxonomic approach of classification using these eight quantitative characters of agronomic importance based average taxonomic distance was done to discriminate the inbred lines into different clusters. Inbred lines were also raised in pots for extraction of genomic DNA from the young seedlings. Amplification of the genomic DNA was carried out using a panel of twenty eight microsatellite sites specific primer pairs covering all the chromosomes existing in the genome. Microsatellites based allelic diversity data were utilized for classification and formation of heterotic groups of the inbred lines. Analysis of variance revealed the existence of significant differences among the inbred lines and hybrids for all the characters recorded under both the seasons. Mean performance of parents and hybrids significantly varied for the eight quantitative characters under study. Among the inbred lines, CML467 recorded significantly higher grain yield per plant followed by tester CML165, which was statistically at par to inbred lines LM13, HKI586, CML465, HKI162 and HKI323B over the environments. Sixteen crosses recorded significantly higher mean performance and significantly positive heterosis for grain yield per plant. Among these sixteen crosses, the highest yielding cross HKI162 × CML161 was statistically at par to five crosses, namely, CML468 × CML161, CML471 ×CML161, HKI323B × CML161, CML469 × CML165 and CML471 × CML165 for grain yield per plant. Taxonomic distance based cluster analysis revealed ample genetic diversity among inbred lines, which occupied different clusters during rabi and kharif season and across the seasons. The results indicated a close correspondence with respect to clustering pattern of inbred lines during rabi and kharif seasons. A perusal of dendrogram generated on the basis of eight quantitative traits indicated that the inbred lines CML467, CML470 and DH2012 were relatively more diverse from the remaining inbred lines under evaluation. Altogether 296 allelic variants were detected amongst amplified products generated with 28 primer pairs. A total of 49 loci were assigned to 28 primer pairs with an average of 6.04 alleles per locus The number of alleles ranged from 6 in the cases of umc1136, phi072 and umc1179 to 16 in case of phi053 with a range between 56 to 352 bp. Considering the number of alleles generated by different primer pairs in conjunction with the level of polymorphism, the primers umc1297, phi053, umc1266, phi093, bnlg118, phi034, phi115, phi065 and phi084 appeared to be more informative primers. Among the inbred lines under molecular characterization, CML163 and CML467 appeared as the most diverse genotypes. A remarkably higher level of genetic polymorphism was revealed by the use of 28 microsatellite markers. Both quantitative and molecular data based cluster analyses revealed that inbred lines CML 468 and CML469 are closely related to each other. Remarkably greater extent of similarity was also noticed between inbred lines HKI323B and HKI586. All the three testers, namely, CML161, CML165 and CML163, were included in same cluster in both the cases and seemed to be closely related. However cluster analysis using quantitative characters and microsatellite markers based data did not exhibit a complete correspondence. Parental genetic distance based on quantitative data or genetic similarity based on molecular data did not exhibit significant association with grain yield heterosis in hybrids. Results clearly indicated that a high grain yield is not always obtained from hybrids that have high parental genetic distance value, but generally from those with moderate to high genetic distance. A comparative assessment of heterotic groups formed by using microsatellite markers based genetic similarity, hybrid index value and hybrid mean value, indicated that CML471 and CML115 or HKI323B and HKI586 or DH2012 and LM13 belonged to same heterotic group in all the cases. The distribution pattern of the entries into different heterotic groups formed on the basis of hybrid index value and hybrid mean value corresponded with the microsatellite markers based heterotic groups to the extent of 75% and 67% in the first heterotic group, 40% and 29% in the second heterotic group and 33% and 40% in the third heterotic group, respectively. Overall coincidences of inbred lines in heterotic groups formed on the basis of microsatellite markers with the hybrid index value and hybrid mean value based heterotic groups were considerably higher. Results, therefore, indicated that microsatellite markers may be effectively and efficiently utilized to assign the inbred lines to heterotic groups for grain yield and to establish heterotic groups of maize inbred lines.ThesisItem Open Access Influence of Mulching on Productivity and Water-use Efficiency of Maize - Maize Cropping System(DR. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa (Samastipur), 2016) Amandu, Lomoro Phillip Modi; Kumar, VinodA field experiment was conducted at Irrigation Water Management Research field, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Bihar during rabi and kharif seasons of 2013-14 and 2014-15 to find out the “Influence of mulching on crop productivity and water-use efficiency of maize-maize cropping system”. The soil of experimental site was Entisol, sandy loam with pH 8.2, low in organic carbon (0.44%), available N (218.22 kg/ha), available P2O5 (18.18 kg/ha), and medium in available K2O (158.27 kg/ha). The experiment was laid out in a split plot design with 20 treatment combinations in three replications. Four moisture regimes in main plots, viz. 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1.0 IW/CPE ratios and five mulches in sub-plots, viz. 5 and 10 t/ha each of sugarcane trash and maize stover and no mulch were used. The results revealed that growth parameters like plant height, dry weight production, yield attributes like number of rows per cob, number of grains per cob and 100- grain weight, yields of grain, stover and stone, soil organic carbon, total N, P & K uptake by the corps, gross and net returns were found to be maximum with moisture regime 1.0 IW/CPE ratio and were significantly superior over 0.4 IW/CPE ratio but were at par with 0.8 IW/CPE ratio. Leaf area index, number of cobs per plant, harvest index, weed population, weed dry weight, pH, EC and available N, P & K in soil were not influenced by moisture regime in rabi maize. Moisture regime did not influence all the parameters in kharif maize. Water-use efficiency and water productivity were influenced significantly due to moisture regime. The maximum water-use efficiency and water productivity were observed with 0.4 IW/CPE ratio in rabi maize while there was non-significant difference in Water-use efficiency and water productivity due to moisture regime in kharif maize. Moisture regime of 0.8 IW/CPE ratio recorded the maximum B: C ratio in rabi maize but was at par with 1.0 and 0.6 IW/CPE ratios while there was non-significant difference in B: C ratio due to moisture regime in kharif maize. Growth parameters like plant height, dry weight production, leaf area index, yield attributes like number of rows per cob, number of grains per cob and 100- grain weight, yields of grain, stover and stone, water-use efficiency, water productivity, soil organic carbon, available N, P & K, total N, P & K uptake, gross and net returns, and B: C ratio were found to be the maximum with maize stover @ 10 t/ha but were significantly superior over no mulch in rabi and kharif maize. Number of cobs per plant, harvest index, pH and EC were not influenced significantly due to mulching in rabi and kharif maize. Weed population and weed dry weight recorded the minimum with maize stover @ 10 t/ha while the maximum with no mulch in rabi and kharif maize. Grain yield was found to be highly significant and positively correlated with all yield attributes and was non-significant and negatively correlated with weed population and weed dry weight in rabi and kharif maize.ThesisItem Open Access Socio-economic upliftment through Dairy Enterprise: A study of WDCS members of Barauni Dairy in Bihar(DR. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa (Samastipur), 2016) Shweta; Singh, Ashok KumarPeople of rural India face lot of hardship to have a day’s square meal. Majority of them are occupied in agriculture, animal husbandry, and other ancillary activities. Income of agriculture activity has been as erratic as monsoon. Hence, rural people were forced to think of generating additional source of revenue. Since people are less literate and possess limited skills, the hunt for alternate income is constrained to few occupations. Therefore, majority of them chose rearing of milking cattle and selling its milk as a source for second income. Keeping cattle is like a diversification from the existing agriculture in which rural women are largely involved. These rural women besides doing hard household chores also undertake taxing effort to keep the cattle. They supply the produced milk to the well-established cooperative dairies working successfully on the “Anand” pattern. Operation Flood accorded the highest priority to ensuring a year-round and dependable market at remunerative prices for rural producers of milk. Indeed, Operation flood was originally conceived as a marketing project. The producer price of milk in most of Operation Flood areas is determined by the state government concerned and is set at a level that is considered remunerative to the milk producers. The Anand pattern emphasized keeping cattle in the hinterland and transporting cattle as well as fodder to the cities. Thus, the system had strong comparative advantage. The country produces only five percent of the total quantity of milk and this amount is too inadequate to meet the demand. As a result, many dairy cooperatives have been formed to meet local demand and to develop dairy industry. It has been noticed that for small farmers, livestock population is a family operation and most of the livestock management is carried out by women. Operation flood has played an important role in generating employment for women. With 3.5 million milk suppliers, it is reasonable to assume that 5 per cent represented by women who were able to stay at home rather than go out for work. This withdrawal of women from the labour force will have created an additional 1, 75000 labouring jobs, predominantly for the very poor as per the assessment report of the World Bank in 1998. Since, agriculture is considered as the backbone of India’s economy with animal husbandry as the subsidiary occupation hence dairy sector provides primary source of livelihood for more than 70 per cent of Indian rural households. The livestock contributes 4.7 percent to national GDP and 27 per cent to agricultural GDP of India (GoI, 2006). India currently has about 15.1 million farmers under the ambit of 1,55,634 village level dairy cooperative societies which are federated into about 160 milk unions and 22 state dairy cooperatives, dairy federations (GoI, 2014a). Dairy sector has been instrumental in bringing about socio-economic transformation, while the agriculture by products gives feed and fodder whereas cattle provides manure, draught power for various agricultural operations. India rank first among the world’s milk producing nations, achieving an annual output of 132.43 million tonnes of milk during the years 2012-13 as compared to 127.9 million tonnes in 2011-12 recording a growth of 3.5 per cent. The per capita availability of milk has reached a level 296.5 g/day during the year 2012-13, which is more than the world average of 296 g/day. Women’s participation in dairy farming is considered as an important tool in reducing the poverty and enhancing quality of life , because they accounts for 93 per cent of the total employment in dairy production in India (Belurkar et al., 2003). The Bihar State Co-operative Milk Producers’ federation Ltd. (COMFED) was established in 1983 as the implementing agency of operational flood programme of dairy development on “Anand” pattern in Bihar. Dr. Rajendra Prasad Dugdhv Utpadak Sahkari Sangh Limited (DMRU) popularly known as Barauni Dairy is the largest milk union in the Eastern part of India. Sixth May, 1992 was the day when Barauni Dairy was handed over by Bihar State Cooperative Milk producers’ Federation Limited to the management of Milk Union. At present COMFED has approx. 7.5 lakh members through 13,681 Dairy Cooperative Societies (DCS) and out that 1196 are Women Dairy Cooperative Societies (WDCS). Barauni dairy has outreach in all 18 blocks of Begusarai district through its DCS but out of that WDCS is only available in 13 blocks of the district with 12,396 women members. This study of WDCS members of Barauni dairy in Bihar was designed and planned with following objectives. • To assess the socio-economic and personal characteristics of members of WDCS of Barauni Dairy • To ascertain the extent of knowledge and their satisfaction in dairy related activities • To examine the extent of socio-economic upliftment among the members of WDCS on account of dairy enterprise • To ascertain the impact on quality of life through dairy enterprise • To explore the constraints as perceived by the members of WDCS about their dairy enterprise and also suggest the strategies for their greater involvement in dairy enterprise In this study Bachhawara and Bhagwanpur blocks of Begusarai district have been selected on the basis of having maximum number of WDCS. Further, total six WDCS, three from each block, were selected with the help of random sampling procedure. Finally, 35 members from each WDCS comprising a total of 210 members of WDCS of Barauni dairy were taken as the sample of study. During the study independent variables were age, education, type of family, type of house, social participation, caste, occupation, total annual income, land holding, enterprise satisfaction, herd size, fodder availability, method used for judging milk quality, milk production, consumption and sale, length of association with dairy co-operatives, average monthly income from milk, reason for choosing dairy enterprise, and technical training availed for dairying. The socio-economic upliftment and impact on quality of life served as the dependent variables in the course of study. The results demonstrate that the maximum respondents belonged in the group which includes; 45.2 per cent from middle age group, 53.0 per cent were found to be illiterate, 56.2 per cent belonged to extended/joint family, 48.6 per cent had their pucca house, 63.3 per cent belonged to backward castes, 81.0 percent of women members were found to have the popular combination of agriculture operation and livestock while 47.1 per cent of selected respondents belonged to medium group of annual income. In addition approx. 86.0 per cent respondents had less than 1 ha land, 59.0 per cent women members were found to be highly satisfied with dairy enterprise, 74.7 per cent of respondents had up to 2 milch animals in their possession, and farm and cooperative society was the major source of feed and fodder among WDCS members. In the sense of enterprise satisfaction about 59.0 per cent members of different WDCS were found to be highly satisfied with their dairy enterprise and 4.0 per cent were moderately satisfied and 37.0 per cent were somewhat satisfied. The results indicated that dairy enterprise has helped the rural women in reducing the domestic violence and poverty while it brought improvement in their social, recreational, educational and economic well-being and consequently enhanced their quality of life. During the study, social upliftment index was considered as dependent variable where as age, education, type of family, type of house, caste, occupation, income and land under farming possession were taken as independent variable; linear regression between independent variable and social upliftment index of WDCS members revealed that the co-efficient of determinants (R2) is 0.4489, indicating that the adopted model is quite fit for analysis and explains 45 per cent of variations in socio-economic status of members WDCS. The co-efficient of age is negative (-0.0042) but significant at 1 per cent level of probability. Hence, it may be said that younger members of the WDCS command higher level of social order and got more social mobility than older one. Income level and income from dairy were emerged as significant determinants for social upliftment. The co-efficient of income level and income from dairy were found positive and statistically significant at 1 per cent level of probability, indicating that these two variables are affecting significantly to social upliftment of members of WDCS. During the regression analysis co-efficient of caste was fond negative (-0.0604) but it is significant at 5 per cent level of probability, indicating the higher caste in social hierarchy command higher social upliftment among members of WDCS. Co-efficient of occupation is positive (0.0549) and significant at 10 per cent level of probability, indicating that women members with agriculture as main occupation command higher social status than members with occupation as labour, artisan etc. The variables such as; education level, type of house, land possession and type of family were failed to exert any significant influence on social upliftment parameters of women members of WDCS. For economic upliftment among WDCS members; a linear regression model was adopted for identifying important socio-economic variable which affect the upliftment of income among women members. For this purpose, economic index was taken as dependent variable and age, education, type of family, type of house, caste, occupation and income level and land ownership was again considered as independent variables. Co-efficient of determinants had the value of R2= 0.4355, indicating that 45 per cent of variation in income index was explained by variable included in the study. It was expected also because in qualitative variable, the R2does not cross more than .50 hence the model is quite fit to our study. The co-efficient of age is negative (-0.0033) but significant at 1 per cent level of probability which clearly indicated that the income level of women was inversely related to age of women. The younger women were likely to command higher economic status than aged women. Dairying women earning higher income than non-dairy source. Impact on quality of life have independent variables like age, education, type of family occupation, land ownership status and number of dairy animals owned. The findings through ordered logistic regression suggested that variable like education, type of family and occupation were emerged as significant and positive variables affecting the quality of life among the members of WDCS. Highly educated women of joint family with agriculture and dairy as main occupation were likely to had better quality of life as compared to low educated and nuclear family members of WDCS. However, the co-efficient of ownership of number of dairy animals and land possession status were found negative and non-significant. From the study, it can be concluded that farm women have understood the importance of dairy farming as means of socio-economic upliftment with regards to knowledge level it clearly indicated that there is need to motivate dairy farm women to have better acquaintance with dairy farming practices in their own interest. Thus, proper functioning of micro enterprises develops capacity as well as empowered women to improve their socio-economic status.ThesisItem Open Access Genetic Diversity Assessment In Relation To Submergence Tolerance In Rice Using Microsatellite Markers(DR. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa (Samastipur), 2016) Prakash, Nilmani; Kumar, MithileshA study was undertaken to initially characterize and evaluate 184 submergence tolerance related varieties of rice, but 38 were taken for further analysis in the present study for five submergence related characters. To investigate the SSR marker based polymorphism for characterization and differentiation, nineteen rice varieties were selected on the basis of maximum plant percent survival to estimate the extent of genetic diversity among these rice varieties using morphological characters and SSR markers. The experimental materials were evaluated in randomized complete block design with four replications at the research farm of Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa during Kharif, 2014-15. Using standard formula for calculation of different submergence related traits in rice observations were recorded. The materials were also grown in pots for extraction of genomic DNA from the young seedlings and then targeted amplification of the genomic DNA using a panel of thirty four SSR primer pairs covering especially the chromosome 9 of rice. All molecular studies were conducted in the Rice Molecular Breeding Laboratory, Deptt. of PBG at Pusa. The statistical methods and parameters used for deriving inference were analysis of variance, range, mean values, coefficient of variation, taxonomic distance and similarity coefficient based dendrogram and numerical taxonomic analysis of divergence. High heritability values were observed for all the five submergence related characters percent plant survival, tolerance score, leaf senescence, total shoot elongation and relative shoot elongation. Considerable extent of variability existed for the values of genetic advance expressed as per cent of mean was observed to be high for all five characters relative shoot elongation, per cent plant survival, total shoot elongation, leaf senescence and tolerance score. By considering mean performance in conjunction with clustering pattern of entries based on quantitative attributes, hybridization involving CR 1009 with AnhHsungSeln (CI 1), Karnal Local and Suraha with Swarna, Jadhan and HsungTeing with Moroberekan, FR 13B and S-150 with Paiam, Zobgui and Rom Runtik with IR-36, Kala Bunde with AI Chih AI K Who 2, Swarna Sub-1 with Lunishreeappeared as superior combinations for their further utilization in genetic enhancement programme. A panel of thirty four primers generated 410 allelic variants ranging from four in the cases of RM 23843 to twenty seven in the cases of RM 23662. Altogether 410 allelic variants were detected at 42 SSR loci with an average of 9.76 alleles per locus. Out of 410 alleles, 177 were shared and 233 were unique alleles. The primer pairs RM 8300, RM 23901, RM 23958, RM 215, RM 257, RM 316 and RM 23662 generated amplified products due to amplification of more than one locus. In general, the SSR loci with di-nucleotide repeat motifs tended to detect greater number of alleles than the locus with tri-nucleotide, tetra-nucleotide or penta-nucleotide repeat sequence. The marker with a GA or AG repeat motif showed greater variability than marker with a CT or TG or TA repeat motif among the loci with perfect di-nucleotide repeat motifs. The number of unique allelic variants per primer ranged from 0 out of 5 amplified products in the case of SC 3 to 13 out of 15 amplified products in the case of RM 23901. The primer pairs RM 23901, RM 910, RM 23770, RM 23928, RM 23958, RM 24103 RM 23662, RM 23915 and RM 24005 generated considerably greater percentage of unique alleles. Considering the number of alleles in conjunction with the level of polymorphism detected, the primers RM 23662, RM 23958, RM 257, RM 23901, RM 8300, RM 215, RM 23928, RM 23915, RM 24005, RM 23902, RM 23679, RM 8303, RM 23770 and RM 23788 appeared to be more informative primers. Occurrence of null alleles for a particular repeat locus was noticed with primer pairs RM 23843, RM 23902, RM 23922, RM 24103, and RM 23865 in some of the varieties. The total repeat count of the di-nucleotide SSR loci seemed to be associated with the number of alleles, revealing that the larger the repeat number involved in the SSR locus, the larger was the number of identified alleles. Presence of stutter bands was detected generally for di-nucleotide SSR motif amplified by primer pairs RM 8303, RM 23770, RM 23805, RM 23831, RM 8300, RM 23901, RM 23915, RM 23917, RM 23922, RM 23928, RM 23958, RM 23996, RM 24103, RM 105, RM 215, RM 316, RM 23662, RM 24013, RM 910, RM 7175, ART 5, SC3, Sub 1BC2 and RM 23865 with generation of minor products. Among the rice varieties evaluated in the present study, AnhHsung Seln (CI 1) and HsungTeing exhibited maximum similarity in the divergence analysis using quantitative characters as well as SSR markers. Analysis of divergence pattern based on SSR markers allowed differentiation and classification of rice varieties into eight clusters. Use of SSR markers appeared more efficient in achieving unique and unambiguous characterization and differentiation of varieties used in the present study.The SSR analysis also revealed unique or variety specific allele, which could be useful as DNA fingerprints in the identification and preservation of rice varieties.ThesisItem Open Access Multi factorial strategy for the management of thrips (Thrips tabaci Lindeaman) on onion in Bihar.(Rajendra Agricultural University, Pusa (Samastipur), 2016) Satyanarayana, Paidi; Singh, P. P.Population fluctuation of thrips (Thrips tabaci Lindeman) in relation to abiotic factors on onion was studied. In order to develop strategies for its management through crop resistance/host evasion, agronomic manipulation in dates of planting, use of different source of nutrients as well as levels of potassic fertilizers, foliar spray of synthetic insecticides, botanicals and bio-pesticides and certain eco-friendly pest control tactics, a series of field experiments were conducted during two successive rabicrop seasons viz., 2013-14 and 2014-15. The field trials were conducted at the research farm Tirhut College of Agriculture, Dholi, Muzaffarpur (Bihar). Results pertaining to different aspects of the present study viz., determination of the effects of different genotypes on growth and development aspects of this insects, trend of population buildup in relation to meteorological parameters, management of T. tabaci on onion through plant resistance, agronomic manipulation in dates of planting, use of different source of nutrients as well as levels of potassic fertilizers, foliar spray of synthetic insecticides, botanicals and bio-pesticides against T. tabaci on onion have bean abstracted below. The activity of thrips on onion was gradually increased from 6th standard week of February and with maximum thrips population (69.77/plant) was recorded during 14th standard week of April when the corresponding maximum, minimum temperature, relative humidity at 07 and 14 hrs during the period were 33.5, 18.5 0C 92.0 and 56.7 percent. The thrips population started declining gradually from 15th standard week to 17th standard week, respectively and became almost untraceable after 17nd standard week. The maximum temperature and minimum temperature showed highly positive correlation with thrips population (r=0.687 and r=0.496, respectively) while relative humidity at 07 and 14 hrs showed highly significant negative effect on thrips population (r=-0.638 and -0.729, respectively). The effect of rainfall showed significant negative effect on thrips population (r=-0.506). However, regression equation or analysis clearly indicated that the maximum and minimum temperature, relative humidity at 7 A.M, 2 P.M and rainfall together contributed 71.00 per cent towards the changes in thrips population on onion crop. The prediction equations indicated that increase in 1 per cent temperature increased the thrips population by 6.027 per plant on onion. However, increase in 1 per cent increase in minimum temperature decreased the thrips population by 4.720 thrips per plant. Similarly increase in 1 per cent morning relative humidity and afternoon relative humidity decreased the thrips population by -0.720 and -1.266. In the case of rainfall, increases 1 percent rainfall decreased the thrips population by -1.465. Among the thirty onion genotypes evaluated under natural field condition and compared on the basis of mean number of thrips per plant, OSR-1381 suffered least due to thrips (16.65/plant) while six genotypes viz., OSR-1357, ASRO-1271, ORS-1362, ORS-1372, ASRO-1238 and ASRO-1273 recorded lower number of thrips (18.25-22.29/plant) which were statistically at par to OSR-1381. On the other hand BSRO-1236 suffered most by recording highest thrips population (56.99/plant) followed by BSRO-1149 (54.40/plant), BSRO-1153 (55.49/plant) and BSRO-1146 (56.63/plant) and majority of them were intermediate in their reaction by registering mean thrips population ranging between 23.94 to 51.97 per plant including the local check i.e. Agrifound Light Red (50.71/plant). Only two genotype viz., OSR-1381 and OSR-1357 were identified as resistant (R) while twenty two of them viz., ASRO-1271, ORS-1362, OSR-1372, ASRO-1238, ASRO-1273, OSR-1359, ASRO-1279, ASRO-1207, ASRO-1222, ASRO-1224, ASRO-1275, ASRO-1230, BSRO-1143, ASRO-1203, ASRO-1220, OSR-1367, ASRO-1201, BSRO-1229, ASRO-1217, OSR-1344, BSRO-1151 and BSRO-1275 showed moderately resistant reaction to T. tabaci. Six genotypes viz., BSRO-1156, BSRO-1149, BSRO-1153, BSRO-1146, BSRO-1236 and Agrifound Light Red (C) were identified as susceptible (S) against T. tabaci. OSR-1381 and OSR-1357 showed wider leaf angle (430 and 43.80) having prostrate leaves, plant height (49.17 and 50.03 cm) with higher number of leaves (10.40 and 9.76 leaves/plant) resulting maximum neck thickness (1.07 and 1.05 cm), polar diameter (4.90 and 4.84 cm), equatorial (5.16 and 5.04 cm) harbouring less number of thrips (16.65 and 18.25 thrips/plant) showed resistant reaction against thrips resulting higher bulb yield (250.11 and 244.40 q/ha, respectively). The onion crop planted earlier till 15th December suffered lesser and delayed planting afterwards ensured deteriorate plant stand against T. tabaci. The crop planted on first date (15th November), second date (1st December) and third date (15th December) recorded mean thrips population ranging from 26.82 to 34.07 per plant while the same improved drastically with delay in planting date beyond the third date which ranged from 39.12 to 48.42 thrips per plant. The crop planted on sixth date of planting was found severe pest attack. From yield point of view first date (15th November) proved to be the most suitable date of planting followed by 1st December, among all date of plantings. Early planting of onion crop during 1st fortnight of November recorded maximum polar diameter (4.77 cm), maximum equatorial diameter (4.87 cm) and maximum neck thickness (1.93 cm) with highest bulb yield (182.98 q/ha) at lowest thrips population (26.82 thrips/plant). Soil application of 50 per cent dose of N in inorganic form at two equally split dose first at the time of planting followed by top dressing at 40 days after planting + 50 per cent N from vermicompost + RD of P2O5 (80 kg/ha) + K2O (150 kg/ha) when applied in soil before planting proved highly advantageous for suppressing pest activity (26.54 thrips/plant), accelerating plant growth with plant height (51.88), highest number of leaves (9.90/plant), maximum polar diameter (4.95 cm), maximum equatorial diameter (5.10 cm), maximum neck thickness (9.71 cm) and ultimately ensuring better harvest (184.08 q/ha). The highest benefit cost ratio (5.76:1) was recorded with recommended dose of N (120 kg/ha) in inorganic form + RD of P2O5 (80 kg/ha) alongwith higher dose of K2O (150 kg/ha) followed by 50 per cent dose of N from inorganic source + 50 per cent N from vermicompost + RD of P2O5 (80 kg/ha) + K2O (150 kg/ha) 3.85:1 proved most profitable than that in any other treatments. Among the different treatments RD of N from vermicompost (6000 kg/ha) + RD of P2O5 (80 kg/ha)without application of K2O rather resulted in losses while remaining treatments were found to be economical. Foliar spray of synthetic insecticides fipronil 5SC (@0.01%) when applied thrice at fortnightly interval starting from 30 days after planting stage afforded maximum protection to onion crop. There were reduction in thrips (8.24/plant) with highest bulb yield (238.60 q/ha) as compared to individual insecticides. The treatment was followed by Imidacloprid 17.5 SL (0.03%), Indoxacarb 15.8 EC (0.01%) and Profenophos 50 EC (0.01%) while spinosad (45 SC) @ 0.1%, Beauveria bassiana @ 0.4%, neem oil @ 1% and NSKE @ 5% were found to be less effective than fipronil 5SC (@0.01%) but significantly superior than untreated control. The investment in foliar application of profenofos 50 EC (43.73:1), fipronil 5SC (30.78:1), imidacloprid 17.5 SL (27.24:1), neem oil @1% (21.22:1), NSKE @5% (21.22:1), Beauveria bassiana @0.4% (8.14:1), Indoxacarb 15.8 EC (7.21:1) and spinosad 45 SC (1.99:1) proved profitable at their test doses.ThesisItem Open Access Influence of moisture regimes on system profitability, water productivity and soil health under rice based cropping systems(Rajendra Agricultural University, Pusa (Samastipur), 2016) Kumari, Rinki; Nandan, RaviA field experiment was conducted at Research Farm of Rajendra Agricultural University Pusa during 2012-2013 to 2013-2014. The soil of experimental site was Entisol, sandy loam with pH 8.6, low in organic carbon (0.44 %), available N (150.52 kg/ha), available P2O5 (18.33 kg/ha) and medium in available K2O (158.20 kg/ha). The experiment was laid out in split plot design with 15 treatment combinations in three replications. The treatments were 5 cropping sequences in main plots i.e. rice-potato-groundnut, rice-potato-cowpea (green pods), rice-potato-greengram, rice-maize+potato-sesbania (green manure), rice-maize+garden pea (green pods) and 3 moisture regimes in sub-pots i.e. 0.8, 1.0 and 1.2 IW/CPE ratios for rabi and zaid crops. The depth of each irrigation was 6 cm. Rice was grown under system of intensification (SRI) in all the cropping sequences. The rice crop was irrigated at 3 days after disappearance of ponded water (DAD) with 3 cm depth. The total effective rainfall received during 2012-13 and 2013-14 was 61.3 cm and 52.4 cm, respectively. The maximum rice equivalent yield (REY) of 281.12 q/ha was recorded under rice-maize+potato-sesbania (green manure) cropping sequence however, was statistically at par with rice-potato-groundnut cropping sequence and both were significantly superior over rest of the cropping sequences. Significantly higher REY was registered at 1.2 IW/CPE ratio (256.96 q/ha) as compared to moisture regime of 0.8 IW/CPE ratio but was statistically at par with 1.0 IW/CPE ratio. Maximum production efficiency (PE) of 88.08 kg/ha/day was recorded with rice-potato-groundnut sequence which was found significantly superior over other cropping sequences except to that of rice-maize+potato-sesbania (green manure) cropping sequence (83.42 kg/ha/day). Maximum PE of 82.67 kg/ha/day was noticed at 0.8 IW/CPE ratio which was comparable with 1.0 IW/CPE ratio (80.26 kg/ha/day) but was significantly superior over 1.2 IW/CPE ratio. Rice-maize+potato-sesbania (green manure) cropping sequence occupied the field for longer period with land use efficiency (LUE) of 92.32 per cent while moisture regimes did not influence the LUE. Water-use efficiency (WUE) and water productivity were exhibited the highest value in rice-maize+potato-sesbania (green manure) cropping sequence (229.64 kg/ha-cm and ` 18.84/m3, respectively). No significant differences in WUE and water productivity were observed due to different moisture regimes. Rice-maize+potato-sesbania (green manure) cropping sequence generated maximum gross returns (` 366915/ha) and net returns (` 230300/ha) while rice-maize+garden pea cropping sequence showed the highest B: C ratio (3.05) however, under different moisture regimes the highest gross returns (` 335724/ha), net returns (` 214530/ha) and B: C ratio (1.87) were recorded at 1.2 IW/CPE ratio. Rice-maize+potato-sesbania (green manure) cropping sequence recorded significantly highest total uptake of N (371.63 kg/ha), P (93.70 kg/ha), K (330.74 kg/ha) while the lowest was due to rice-potato-greengram cropping sequence under different moisture regimes. IW/CPE ratio of 1.2 recorded the highest total NPK uptake of 342.05, 74.63, 259.71 kg/ha and the lowest uptake was recorded with 0.8 IW/CPE ratio. There was non-significant variation in pH and EC in all the cropping sequences and moisture regimes. Organic carbon in soil was found significantly highest in rice-maize+potato-sesbania (green manure) cropping sequence (0.56 %) and at moisture regimes of 0.8 IW/CPE ratio (0.52 %). Rice-maize+potato-sesbania (green manure) cropping sequence and moisture regimes at 0.8 IW/CPE ratio registered maximum available N, P2O5, K2O (272.32, 35.24, 187.56 kg/ha, respectively) and (195.86, 30.87, 185.73 kg/ha) respectively as compared to other treatments at the end of second year of investigation.