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Dr. Y. S. Parmar University of Horticulture & Forestry, Solan
Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Solan, was established on 1st December, 1985 with the objective to promote education, research and extension education in the fields of Horticulture, Forestry and allied disciplines. Late Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar, the first Chief Minister and the architect of Himachal Pradesh perceived the importance of Horticulture and Forestry to develop and improve the State economy which led to the establishment of this University. Its history lies in erstwhile Himachal Agricultural College, Solan, established in 1962 and affiliated to the Panjab University. It became one of the campuses of Agriculture Complex of Himachal Pradesh University on its formation in 1970. Consequent upon the establishment of Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya in 1978, this campus became its Horticulture Complex and finally in 1985, assumed the status of a State University, being the only University in the country engaged exclusively in teaching, research and extension in Horticulture and Forestry.
The University is located at Nauni in Solan District of Himachal Pradesh, 13 km from Solan on Solan-Rajgarh Road, at an elevation of 1300 metres above mean sea level. Solan town is situated on national highway (NH-22) and is well connected by train and bus services.
The University has four constituent colleges, out of which, two are located at the main campus Nauni, one for horticulture and the other for forestry, having 9 and 7 departments, respectively. The third College i.e., College of Horticulture & Forestry is located at Neri in Hamirpur District on Nadaun-Hamirpur state highway, about 6 Km from Hamirpur town and is well connected with bus service. The college offers three Undergraduate Degree Programmes i.e. BSc (Hons.) Horticulture, BSc (Hons.) Forestry and B. Tech. Biotechnology and MSc degree programme in a few subjects. The fourth college i.e. College of Horticulture and Forestry, Thunag (Mandi) is located at Thunag District Mandi. This college offer BSc (Hons.) Horticulture and BSc (Hons.) Forestry degree programme. In addition, there are five Regional Research Stations, 12 Satellite Stations and five Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) situated in different zones of the State.
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ThesisItem Open Access Evaluation of some introduced rootstocks for peach, plum and apricot(YSPU, 2013) Nagi, Manpreet; Krishan KumarThe present investigations entitled “Evaluation of some introduced rootstocks for peach, plum and apricot” were conducted in Department of Fruit Science, Dr Y S Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan. Eight exotic Prunusrootstocks (Cadaman, Citation, GF 31, GF 677, Ishtara, Manicot, Montclar and Rubira) along with two local seedling rootstocks viz., Wild Apricot and Wild Peach were assessed for their ability to propagate by conventional vegetative methods, their graft success with commercial scion cultivars and their tolerance to drought and cold stress conditions. Exotic rootstocks namely Montclar (39.9 %) and Rubira (25.8 %) were more amenable to propagation through IBA treated hardwood cuttings than Ishtara (13.6 %), GF 31(13.4 %), Citation (8.6 %) and Wild Peach (10.8 %). As many as three rootstocks Manicot, Cadaman and Wild Apricot did not respond to multiplication through hardwood cuttings. These rootstocks followed similar trend on propagation through softwood cuttings except the fact that the success rate was relatively lower than that achieved through hardwood cuttings. Overall, IBA treatment of 2000 ppm and 1000 ppm was found to result in maximum rooting in Montclar through hardwood (39.9 %) and softwood (26.6 %) cuttings, respectively. The success of multiplication throughstooling varied from very good (Rubira, Manicot, GF 31), good (Citation, GF 677) and low to very low in Wild Peach and Wild Apricot. Three rootstocks Montclar, Ishtara and Cadaman did not record any success in propagation through stooling. Maximum success was recorded in Rubira with nectarine cv. Snow Queen (50.0 %); in Manicot with apricot cv. Ema (43.3 %) and plum cv. Santa Rosa (50.0 %); in Montclar with plum cv. Red Beaut (43.3 %) and peach cv. July Elberta (43.3 %); in Ishtara with peach cv. July Elberta (60.0 %) and nectarine cv. Mayfire (50.0 %); in GF 31 with apricot cv. Ema (23.3 %), nectarine cv. Mayfire (40.0 %) and plum cv. Frontier (46.6 %); in Citation with peach cv. July Elberta (46.6 %); in GF 677 with plum cv. Santa Rosa (53.3 %); in Wild Peach with nectarine cv. Mayfire (53.3 %) and in Wild Apricot with apricot cv. NewCastle (43.3 %) and plum cv. Red Beaut (43.3 %). Exotic clonal rootstocks, on the whole, showed better graft success with scion cultivars than local seedlingrootstocks. Rootstocks namely Manicot, Montclar, Ishtara, Citation and Wild Apricot were observed as more drought tolerant than Rubira, GF 31, GF 677 and Wild Peach, whereas Manicot, GF 31, Ishtara and Cadaman were found to be more cold hardy than Rubira, Montclar,GF 677 and Citation.ThesisItem Open Access Effect of planting dates on growth, flowering and seed production of selected winter annuals(DYSPU, 2013) Sharma, Priyanka; Gupta, Y.C.The present investigation entitled, “Effect of planting dates on growth, flowering and seed production of selected winter annuals.” was carried out at experimental farm of the Department of Floriculture and Landscaping, Dr. Y. S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan (H.P) during 2010 and 2011. The studies were conducted on six winter annuals namely; annual chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum coronarium L.), candytuft (Iberis amara L.), godetia or satin flower (Godetia grandiflora Lindl.), helichrysum or paper flower (Helichrysum bracteatum Andr.), snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus L.), sweet william (Dianthus barbatus L.). The experiment was laid out in RBD keeping planting dates as treatments with four replications. Planting was done at an interval of 15 days starting from September 17 in both the years. Plantings dates were; September 17, October 2, October 17, November 1, November 16 and December1. Findings revealed that in case of annual chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum coronariumL.), maximum plant height (120.29 cm), plant spread (55.50 cm), number of side stems per plant (16.23), duration of flowering (41.43 days), number of flowers per stem (21.98), number of heads per plant (308), number of seeds per head (243.95), seed yield per plant (77.40 g), 1000 seed weight (1.67 g) and benefit cost ratio (14.24) were recorded when planting was done on September 17. Earliest visible flower bud formation (60.08 days), flowering (95.08 days) was also recorded September 17 planting; however head formation was earliest (158.53 days) in December 1 planting. In candytuft (Iberis amara L.) also, September 17 planting resulted in maximum plant height (34.81 cm), plant spread (33.23 cm), number of side stems per plant (6.25), duration of flowering (41.43 days), number of flower clusters per stem (15.46), number of siliquae per plant (3467.72), seed yield per plant (10.25 g), 1000 seed weight (2.18 g) and benefit cost ratio (1.62). Earliest visible flower budformation (55.43days), flowering (77.80 days) was also recorded September 17 planting; however siliqua formation was earliest(157.58 days) in December 1 planting. In case of godetia (Godetia grandifloraLindl.), maximum plant height (68.35 cm), plant spread (50.66 cm), stem length (58.38 cm), duration of flowering (33.91 days), number of flowers per stem (central and side; 110.08 and 15.74), number of capsules per plant (327.50), number of seeds per capsule (90.69), seed yield per plant (9.18 g) and benefit cost ratio (1.21) were recorded when planting was done on September 17. Earliest visible flower bud formation (121.36 days), flowering (151.53 days) and capsule formation (205.42 days) were observed in December 1 planting. In helichrysum (Helichrysum bracteatumAndr.), maximum plant height (92.88 cm), plant spread (46.00 cm), number of side stems per plant (12.35), duration of flowering (45.00 days), numberof flowers per stem (6.02), flower size (5.63 cm),number of heads per plant (65.38), number of seeds per head (534.93), seed yield per plant (24.84 g), 1000 seed weight (0.77 g) and benefit cost ratio (3.07) were recorded when planting was done on September 17. Earliest visible flower bud formation (62.28 days), flowering (100.44 days) was also recorded September17 planting; however head formation was earliest (162.01 days) in December 1 planting. In case of snapdragon (Antirrhinum majusL.), maximum plant height (91.83 cm), plant spread(36.78 cm), stem length (82.00 cm), duration of flowering (39.97 days), number of florets per stem (31.70), number of pods per stem (30.87), number of seeds per pod (390.76), seed yield per plant (8.44 g), 1000 seed weight (0.126g) and benefit cost ratio (1.59) were recorded when planting was done on September 17. Earliest visible flower bud formation (70.18 days) and flowering (107.35 days) was recorded in September 17 planting, however, earliest capsule formation (182.48 days) was observed in December 1 planting. In case of sweet william (Dianthus barbatusL.), maximum plant height (63.54 cm), plant spread (33.32 cm), stem length (56.30 cm), durationof flowering (41.98 days), number of flowers per stem (central and side; 109.42 and 27.58), number of capsules per plant (373.75), number of seeds per capsule (40.85), seed yield per plant (10.75 g) and benefit cost ratio (1.75) were recorded when planting was done on September 17. Earliest visible flower bud formation (71.15 days), flowering (99.50 days) and capsule formation (153.28 days) were observed in September 17 planting.ThesisItem Open Access Agrobacterium mediated cry 1Aa gene transfer in punica granatum L. cv. Kandhari Kabuli(DYSPU, 2013) Verma, Vipasha; Kanwar, KamleshThe present investigation aims at “Agrobacterium mediated cry 1Aa gene transfer in Punica granatum L. cv. Kandhari Kabuli”. A valuable plant regeneration and genetic transformation protocol was developed for Punica granatum L. cv. Kandhari Kabuli using both mature and juvenile explants. Regeneration from mature explants (leaf and nodal segment) procured from 8 years old selected tree and juvenile (cotyledon and hypocotyl) explants excised from 14 to 15 days old in vitro germinated seedlings ofPunica granatum L. cv. Kandhari Kabuli was carried out through indirect and direct method. Calli were initiated from mature leaf, cotyledon and hypocotyl explants. The best media for callus induction from mature (leaf) and juvenile explants were MS medium supplemented with 20.0 µM NAA + 10.0 µM BA and MS medium supplemented with 12.5 µM NAA+15.0 µM BA, respectively. The highest percentage of callus was obtained from cotyledon (84.56%) explants followed by hypocotyl (77.71%) and leaf (76.72%) explants. The calli thus obtained from mature (leaf) and juvenile (cotyledon and hypocotyl) explants showed highest differentiation on MS medium supplemented with 8.0 µM BA + 2.5 µM kinetin + 2.5 µM NAA and MS medium supplemented with 11.0 µM BA + 2.5 µM NAA. The highest percentage of direct adventitious shoot bud induction from mature explants such as leaf (42.95%) and nodal segment (57.80%) was observed on MS medium supplemented with 10.0 µM BA + 2.5 µM NAA and MS medium supplemented with 9.0 µM BA. Solid MS medium supplemented with 9.0 µM BA + 8.0 µM kinetin + 2.5 µM NAA resulted in highest per cent shoot regeneration from both cotyledon (69.60%) and hypocotyl (58.80%) explants. Cotyledon explants was found to be most responsive explants for regeneration through direct as wells as indirect method. The adventitiousshoots obtained were rooted on ½ strength MS medium containing 500 mg l -1 activated charcoal. Sixty five percent of plantlets were successfully established in earthen pots containing soil and sand (1:1). Different explants such as leaf, nodal segment, cotyledon and hypocotyl were transformed using Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain EHA105 harbouring pBinAR-1Aa plasmid carrying cry1Aa (insect resistance gene) and neomycin phoshotransferase-II (nptII) marker through both indirect and direct standardized regeneration protocols. Factors affecting transformation frequency such as age of seedlings, pre-conditioning duration, wounding of explants, immersion duration, co-cultivation duration, presence of acetosyringone and osmoprotectants (betaine HCl and proline) and pH of infection and co-cultivation medium, explants type were studied. Both age of seedlings and pre-conditioning of explants affected putative transformation frequency. Co-cultivation of all the explants (wounded mildly with needle) for 2 days after immersion in Agrobacteriumsuspension for 5 minutes was found to be optimal for transformation. Inclusion of acetosyringone (100 µM) and osmoprotectants (12 µM betaineHCl and 10 µM proline) in the infection and co-cultivation medium (adjusted at 5.8 pH) led to an increase in putative transformation frequency. By applying optimized transformation conditions, the highest putative transformation frequency of 15.12% was obtained with cotyledon explants among all the explants through indirect organogenesis. On the other hand nodal segment showed highest putative transformation frequency of 9.08% as compared to all the other three explants through direct organogenesis. Efficient selection was obtained and escapes were prevented when kanamycin was used at 50 mg l -1 concentration. The putative transgenic shoots were rooted on selective rooting medium and hardened in plastic cups containing sterilized sand. PCR analysis showed integration of cry1Aa and npt-II gene in 55% of the putative transgenic plantlets. Subsequent RT-PCR analysis showed expression of cry1Aa gene in 100% of the PCR confirmed transformed plantlets. Signature of MajorThesisItem Open Access Studies on organic nutrition in apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.)(YSPU, 2014) Shivajirao, Ghumare Vikas; Sharma, D.D.The present investigations entitled “Study of organic nutrition in apple (Malus x domestica Borkh.)” were conducted on farmers field at Theog and Rohru in Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh, during the years 2011 - 2012. Fifteen years old apple trees of cultivar Starking Delicious grown on seedling rootstock were selected on the basis of uniform vigour. The trees were planted at a spacing of 6 x 6 m and trained on modified central leader training system. The study was split into two experiments with an objective to elucidate the effect of comparison of organic and inorganic plant nutrition on fruit quality parameters, leaf and soil nutrient status in apple orchards. The first experiment was survey work of organic and inorganic apple orchards, which were statistically analyzed on two-way analysis of data to study the effect of locations and nutrition sources. The second field trial was conducted to find out the nutrition requirement of fully grown apple trees through organic manures viz. FYM, vermicompost, wood ash and neemcake in comparison to recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) held as control. Data was statistically analyzed using randomized block design (RBD) with five replications in each treatment. The variations in vegetative characteristics, fruit parameters, and leaf and soil nutrient status were studied. From first experiment, organic apple orchards and T4 [FYM (100 kg/tree) + Vermicompost (25 kg/tree) + Wood ash (8 kg/tree) + Neem cake (4 kg/tree)] treatment in second experiment gave 43 and 21 per cent reduction in yield compared to inorganic orchards and recommended dose of fertilizers, respectively. However, organic orchards and T4 treatment was most effective for producing better fruit quality in terms of TSS, fruit firmness, total sugars, reducing sugars, titratable acidity and secondary metabolites such as anthocyanins, phenols and antioxidants. In addition, significant improvements in soil physical (bulk density, soil pH, MWHC, organic carbon) and biological properties (total microbial counts) were also recorded. However, higher yield, leaf and soil nutrients status were observed under inorganic orchards and recommended dose of fertilizers during both the years of study. Therefore, it can be concluded that the use of organic manures might be useful as supplement to inorganic fertilizers and helpful in improving fruit quality and enhancing soil health with respect to physico-chemical and biological properties of the soil.ThesisItem Open Access Bioprospecting of thermophilic bacteria from hot water springs of Himachal Pradesh for laccase enzyme production(YSPU, 2015) Sharma, Ruchika; Shirkot, PoonamLaccase enzyme has acquired the status of ‘green catalyst’ as it possesses remarkable bioremediation potential along with numerous applications in effluent detoxification, degradation of textile dyes, herbicide and insecticide degradation, wine clarification, enzymatic conversion of chemical intermediates, biosensors and organic synthesis. In the present study, significantly high diversity of laccase producing bacteria from hot water springs of Himachal Pradesh was assessed. A total of 118 laccase producing thermophilic bacterial isolates were obtained from 200 hot water spring samples using TYM containing 5 mM guaiacol which were morphologically characterized. These were rescreened on the basis of their ability to oxidise tannic acid, dimethoxyphenol and syringaldazine leading to selection of 50 laccase producing thermophilic bacterial isolates, which were characterized biochemically. Eighteen thermophilic bacterial isolates exhibiting maximum laccase activity of 0.0007-0.0038 U/l were selected for further, molecular characterization using RAPD-PCR and 16S rrna gene technology. In silico analysis of 16S rrna gene sequences led to identification of these bacterial isolates and they were found to belong to genus Bacillus, Aneurinibacillus and Pseudomonas, as Bacillus licheniformis strain RSV20, Bacillus licheniformis strain RSM8, Bacillus licheniformis strain RSV10, Bacillus sonerensis strain RSM17, Bacillus sonerensis strain RSV8, Bacillus licheniformis strain RSP1, Bacillus licheniformis strain RSP2, Bacillus licheniformis strain RSP3, Bacillus licheniformis strain RSP7, Bacillus sonerensis strain RSP5, Bacillus sonerensis strain RSP11, Aneurinibacillus thermophilus strain RSP13, Bacillus aerius strain RSP4, Bacillus aerius strain RSP9, Bacillus subtilis strain RSP8, Bacillus amyloliquifacience strain RSP10, Bacillus pumilis strain RSP12 and Pseudomonas taiwanensis strain RSP6. On the basis of maximum laccase enzyme activity Bacillus licheniformis strain RSM8 was selected for production and purification of the laccase enzyme. Maximum extracellular enzyme production was achieved at 60°C, pH 9.0 and 24 hrs incubation with 5 mM guaiacol, 5 % tryptone and 3 % yeast extract in combination with nitrogen source. Crude extracellular thermolaccase enzyme preparation was purified by ammonium salt precipitation (50-90%) followed by gel filtration and ion exchange chromatography which showed 15.21 yield and 10.5 fold purification. The purified enzyme had optimal activity at pH 9.0 and 60 °C, and 16.22 μM Km value. The molecular weight of thermolaccase in the present study was found to be 72.5 kDa. However activity was inhibited by sodium azide and DTT. Bacillus licheniformis strain RSM8 as well as its enzyme preparations were investigated for their ability to decolourize dyes which are the potential contributors of water pollution. Six different synthetic dyes were decolourized RBBR (68 %), congo red (86 %), indigo carmine (73 %), brilliant blue (40 %), bromophenol blue (51 %) and aniline blue (54 %) when treated with the crude enzyme preparation of Bacillus licheniformis strain RSM8. And partially purified enzyme preparation of Bacillus licheniformis strain RSM8 showed greater decolourization of dyes comparatively RBBR (74 %), congo red (91 %), indigo carmine (80 %), brilliant blue (60 %), bromophenol blue (64 %) and aniline blue (67 %). The purified enzyme was successfully immobolized using adsorption method in calcium alginate beads with 76% immobolization percentage and immobolized laccase enzyme beads were studied for their ability to degrade dyes. The stability and reusability of the immobilized enzyme system has the potential to make the entire treatment process inexpensive. Bacillus licheniformis strain RSM8 enzyme preparations was investigated for phytotoxicity evaluation of three dyes viz., Congo red, RBBR and Indigo carmine and each of enzyme treated dyes for Phaseolus mungo and Calendula officinalis and Tagetes patula plant species respectively, under in vitro conditions and Phaseolus mungo with Congo red dye under in vivo conditions. Significant germination inhibition, a slower rate of plumule and radicle seedlings growth was observed for Congo red, RBBR and Indigo carmine dyes as compared to enzyme treated dyes. An extracellular laccase producing gene has been isolated using degenerate primer based on the copper I and II conserved site of laccase enzyme, from the hot water spring bacteria, Bacillus licheniformis strain RSM8 followed by determination of the amino acid which were translated from nucleotide sequence and encodes a polypeptide comprised of 50 amino acids showeng 97 % identity with the amino acid sequences of bacterial laccases i.e. copper oxidase [Bacillus licheniformis]. Further multiple sequence alignment using MULTALIN and structure prediction using Phyre1 & 2 revealed conserved histidine residues.ThesisItem Open Access Standardization of processing techniques for honey and honey based food products(DYSPU, 2013) Sharma, Surabhi; Vaidya, DevinaThe present studies entitled, “Standardization of processing techniques for honey and honey based food products” were conducted during 2010-12 in the department of Food Science and Technology, Dr. YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni-173 230, Solan (HP). Honey serves as a source of natural antioxidants, which are effective in reducing the risk of heart disease, cancer, immune-system decline, cataracts, different inflammatory processes etc. In honey aroma and flavour enhancer substances as well as some biological activity are unstable over time and are thermolabile so heating has an effect on the quality of honey. The standardization was done for the processing of honey using different time-temperature combinations. However, heating honey for 30 minutes at 77 0 C increased shelf life of honey for one year. The processed honey was compared with the unprocessed honey under ambient and refrigerated temperature and analysed at specific time intervals for a period of one year. It was observedthat keeping honey under refrigerated temperature increase the storage life of processed honey to one year with minimum changes in quality characteristics. The optimized processing techniques for honey were taken for processing of value added products. Among the different products like lemon RTS, mango nectar and lemon iced tea, honey was used as a sweetening agent which was compared with the sugar based products. These products had higher sensory scores with better quality characteristics and were successfully stored for a period of six months. The honey ginger tea was prepared after standardizing the concentration of ginger flakes and carboxymethyl cellulose to a level of 15per cent and 2 per cent respectively. The honey walnut filled chocolates were developed with the storage life of six months under refrigerated temperature. It can be concluded from the study that honey can be a successful replacement of table sugar in different processed food products as a nutritious sweetening agent with specific process time.ThesisItem Open Access Effect of different soilless growing media and fertigation levels on sweet pepper production under protected conditions(DYSPU, 2013) Amit Saurabh; Manish KumarVegetable crops are becoming an important alternative in diversification of agriculture and also playing a significant role in food, nutritional and health security of ever growing population in India. Many vegetables are grown in the country, which are becoming good source of nutrients with their antioxidant property and also fits well in the oriental food items. Sweet pepper belonging to family Solanaceae is one such vegetable which has attained a status of high value crop in the recent years with the import of different types of improved varieties especially colour variants. The cultivation of such varieties require more advanced techniques for their improved production and superior quality. Growing of these crops under protected conditions is one such specialized way of farming. This is also becoming useful practice in the areas where land holdings are small with mild climate. The two major agrotechniques which are largely important in greenhouse production of crops is use of suitable growing media and optimum fertigation schedule. Sweet pepper can be grown on a wide variety of soils, but its shallow and fibrous root system is sensitive to water logging and prone to attack by various soil borne diseases. However, the research work world over shows that sweet pepper can be grown successfully in soilless growing media. The other important component which influences the productivity and quality of produce in greenhouses is optimum dose of fertilization. Hence, there is an urgent need to identify a cost effective soilless growing media along with optimum fertigation level to grow capsicum under protected conditions. Keeping this in view, an experiment entitled “Effect of different Soilless growing media and fertigation levels on sweet pepper production under protected conditions” was carried out at research farm of department of vegetable science, Dr Y. S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, Himachal Pradesh during 2011 and 2012. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with fifteen treatment combinations comprising of five growing media viz. Saw dust + Vermicompost + Sand (2:1:1) + Azotobacter + Phosphate Solublizing Bacteria, Vermicompost + Sand (2:1) + Azotobacter + Phosphate Solublizing Bacteria, Spent mushroom compost + Vermicompost + Sand (2:1:1) + Azotobacter + Phosphate Solublizing Bacteria, Pine needles + Pea Husk (decomposed) + Sand (2:1) + Azotobacter + Phosphate Solublizing Bacteria and Soil: FYM: Sand 2:1:1+ Azotobacter + Phosphate Solublizing Bacteria and three fertigation levels of 150 kg NPK/ha, 200 kg NPK/ha and 250 kg NPK/ha through water soluble fertilizer. Among the fifteen modules tested, module M6 comprising of Vermicompost + Sand (2:1) + Azotobacter + Phosphate Solubilizing Bacteria with 250 kg NPK/ha gave maximum yield/plant (6.29 kg/plant), fruit weight (204.39 g), number of fruits/plant (30.50) and Benefit: cost ratio (3.64:1). This module is also statistically at par to module M5 for important quality traits and recorded ascorbic acid (144.17 mg/100g), Total Carotenoides (2.43 mg/100g) and TSS (8.45 oBrix). Further, among the different growing media, sawdust and Vermicompost based growing media were found free from the incidence of collar rot disease. Hence, for producing superior quality of capsicum with increased yield, containing Vermicompost + sand (2:1) Azotobacter +Phosphate Solublizing Bacteria with 250 kg NPK/ha of fertigation level can be recommended for greenhouse vegetable growers in the hilly regions after its validation at farmers field.ThesisItem Open Access Studies on water requirement for vegetable production in naturally ventilated polyhouse(DYSPU, 2013) Prabal Kumari; Ramesh KumarThe present investigations entitled “Studies on Water Requirement for Vegetable Production in Naturally Ventilated Polyhouse” were carried out in capsicum hybrid Bharat and lettuce genotype SOL-10944 at the Experimental Research Farm of the Department of Vegetable Science, Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, HP during the year 2010-11 and 2011-12. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design with four replications of each treatment having different level and frequency of irrigation at a spacing of 45 x 30 cm in a plot having dimensions 1.35 x 2.10 m (2.835 m2) accommodating 21 plants per plot. The treatments for capsicum comprised of three irrigation depths viz., 0.25 cm, 0.50 cm and 0.75 cm with two irrigation intervals (daily and alternate day) and a farmer practice (1-1.5 cm twice a week). For lettuce same irrigation depth was used at alternate and two day intervals were kept. In total there were seven treatments in both the crops. The observations were recorded on various horticultural, quality and soil characteristics in both the crops.The present investigations concludes that, treatment T4 (0.50 cm depth of irrigation water at an alternateday) resulted in maximum number of fruits per plant, plant height, fruit breadth, average fruit weight, harvest duration, yield per plot, total biomass production, N and K uptake in plants with maximum gross ` 71,456.00) and net income (` 60,513.42) in capsicum. Similarly in lettuce earliest marketable maturity, minimum number of non-wrapper leaves, maximum diameter, gross head weight, net head weight, yield per plot and total biomass production, carotene content, N and P uptake in plants, with maximum gross (` 21,408.00) and net income (`16,864.34) was recorded in the treatment T 4(0.50 cm of irrigation at two days interval). Hence, irrigating the capsicum and lettuce crop at 0.50 cm depth at an alternate day and two days intervals, respectively can be recommendedfor commercial cultivation in natural ventilated polyhouse after multilocation testing.ThesisItem Open Access Studies on NPK fertigation on growth, yield and quality of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) cv. Kandhari Kabuli(YSPU, 2014) Thakur, Manish; Sharma, S.D.The present investigations entitled “Studies on NPK fertigation on growth, yield and quality of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) cv. Kandhari Kabuli” were conducted during 2011 and 2012 in the Pomegranate Block of Department of Fruit Science, Dr. Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan (H.P.). The study consisted of three experiments, with variable rates of individual nutrients (N, P and K) and keeping other two constant at recommended dose. In experiment I (effect of variable N and recommended dose of P and K) treatment, T4 (75 % RD of N and RD of P and K) gave significantly higher tree growth characteristics,fruiting characteristics, physico- chemical fruit characteristics , leaf macronutrient and micronutrient over other treatments. Fertilizer use efficiency (FUE) of this treatment was also recorded better as compared to the conventional method of fertilizer application. For experiment-II (effect of variable P and recommended dose of N and K) highest tree growth parameters, highest fruiting characteristics, physico-chemical fruit characteristics, leaf macro and micro nutrient status and FUE was recorded for the treatment, T3 (50% RD of P and RD of N and K). For experiment III (effect of variable K and recommended dose of N and P) highest tree growth characteristics, fruiting characteristics, physicochemical fruit characteristics , leaf macro nutrient and micro nutrient was recorded for the treatment, T5 (100 % RD of NPK). Fertilizer use efficiency (FUE) of this treatment was also recorded better as compared to the conventional method of fertilizer application. With respect to the horizontal movement of available N, P and K in soil it was observed that under fertigation all the individual element concentrated mostly in surface soil layer i.e 0-15 cm layer followed by 15-30 cm layer and minimum under 30-45 cm soil layer. Under conventional method only N was observed to be concentrated in 15-30 cm followed by surface layer and minimum in 30-45 cm soil layer. The lateral movement of available N, P and K showed similar trend w.r.t. individual element and mostly concentrated about 10 cm away from emitter, followed by 20 and 30 cm in decreasing order irrespective of fertilizer application method.