No abstract

Studies were conducted over two years to evaluate the effect of seed soaking with biodigested slurry, zinc sulphate, Azospirillum, phosphobacteria and phytohormone in rice. The result of pot culture study showed that seed soaking in a combination of biodigested slurry, Azospirillum, phosphobacteria, zinc sulphate and phytohormone improved seedling characteristics such as plumule length, radicle length, biomass and seedling vigour. The N uptake increased by 11.8% at seedling stage (30th day). Soaking of seeds in a combination of nutrients enhanced the growth and yield attributes. Seed soaking in this combination of nutrients increased the grain yield by 8.8 % over unsoaked seeds. Uptake of N, P and K also enhanced by various soaking treatments. Uptake of zinc was not influenced by soaking treatments. The study indicated that seed soaking in a combination of organic, inorganic nutrient and biofertilizers is a good pre-sowing technique for rice.

Investigations were carried out during March to June 1991 to evaluate the effect of seed coating with organic, inorganic nutrients and biofertilizers on yield attributes and yield of soybean under three environments with different soil types viz., clay loam, sandy clay loam and sandy loam. Seed coating with bio‐digested slurry 50 per cent, superphosphate 2 per cent, Bradyrhizobium 2 per cent, and Phosphobacteria 2 per cent (w/w of seed) increased the number of filled pods and grain yield by 29.6 and 37.2 per cent, respectively over the uncoated. There was a significant increase in the test weight of grains due to seed coating with Phosphobacteria. Environment with clay loam soil was found to be highly responsive to seed coatings.

With a view to study the effect of intercropping and plant geometries in peanut cv. VRI‐1, a held experiment was conducted at Area Agronomic Centre, Tamil Nadu Co‐operative Oilseeds Growers' Federation Limited, Neyveli, India during winter season 1989, (November 89–April 90) under irrigated condition. Three intercrops viz., pigeonpea, sunflower and finger millet were tested at two plant geometries viz., paired rows of 40/20 cm and 45/15 cm. The study indicated that pigeonpea was compatible with peanut and their combination resulted in higher peanut kernel equivalent yield and higher profit. Sunflower and finger millet depressed the base crop yield and found to be unsuitable for intercropping in peanut. Base crop yield was not influenced by the plant geometries.

Field experiments were conducted to study the effect of vermicompost on growth and yield of soybean (Glycine max L.) cv. CO1 at Annamalai University Experimental Farm, Annamiali Nagar. Locally, freely and easily available agricultural wastes like sugarcane trash and coirpith were used for compost preparation using earthworm (Euridilus eugeniae) and they were compared with well decomposed farm yard manure application. Enriched organic manure was prepared using 750 kg organic manure ha and the entire quantity of P,O, (80 kg ha), 30 days prior to application. There were twelve treatments comprising of three organic sources viz. well decomposed FYM, coirpith vermicompost and sugarcane trash vermicompost at four levels viz. 12.5 t ha', 10.0 t ha'', 7.5 t ha and 750 kg hat in enriched form. It was observed that when compared to FYM application at different levels, the growth character, yield attributes and yield of soyben were favourably influenced by the application of vermicompost at different levels. Higher growth, nodulation and yield values were recorded when vermicomposts were applied at 12.5 t ha and 750 kg ha' in enriched form.