An experiment on evaluation of cluster bean genotypes was conducted at the department of vegetable crops, Horticultural College and Research Institute, Periyakulam. Fifty genotypes of gum type of cluster bean from NBPGR, Regional Station Jodhpur, two varieties viz., Thar Bhadavi and the check variety Pusa Navbahar were collected for the study. The collected fifty two (Ct - 1 to Ct - 52) genotypes were evaluated for their growth, yield and gum content for three seasons from November 2013 to February 2015. The data collected from the 52 genotypes. The three seasons data were pooled and statistically analysed. From the above study it is concluded that the variety Pusa Navbahar (Ct – 52 check variety) recorded highest total fruit yield per plant, fruit length, number of seeds per fruit and seed yield per plant than other genotypes taken for evaluation. The same genotype Ct - 52 also recorded the highest guar gum content of 13.44 per cent followed by 12.94 per cent in Ct – 39 and the lowest gum yield of 5.79 per cent was observed in Ct - 47.

Field experiments were conducted to study the effect of foliar spray and fertilizer levels on growth and yield of vegetable cowpea (PKM 1) during kharif season of the years 2015 and 2016 at Western block, Horticultural College and Research Institute, Periyakulam. Results revealed that in general vegetable cowpea responded well to the increased dose of fertilizers along with foliar spraying of 2 % DAP and pulse wonder during flowering and pod formation stages. Application of 125 % RDF along with 2 % DAP spray at flowering and pod formation stages recorded significantly higher plant height (59.3 cm), more number of branches per plant (10.8), increased root bio mass per plant (0.85 g) and shoot bio mass per plant (7.8 g) and more number of flowers per plant (58) resulted in increased green pod yield of 17.40 t /ha as compared to 100 % RDF. Lowest yield and economics was recorded with 75 % RDF. Application of 125 % RDF along with 2 % DAP spray at flowering and pod formation stages recorded higher net returns and BC ratio of Rs.117120/-and 3.06 respectively followed by 125 % RDF + Pulse wonder @ 5 kg ha -1 at flowering. The available nutrient status of the post harvest soil sample viz., N (287 kg/ha), P (10.6 kg/ha) and K (217 kg/ha) also increased significantly with the application of 125 % RDF along with 2 % DAP spray at flowering and pod formation stages.

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Direct wet seeded rice is eminent due to low energy and cost required for the cultivation. The only disadvantage is difficulty to manage weeds due to which farmers rely mostly on herbicides for the effective management. Herbicides are bioactive compounds which will affect the soil microflora by its ecotoxicological behaviour. Hence, in this study herbicides such as pendimethalin, pretilachlor + pyrazosulfuron ethyl (tank mix) as pre-emergence and bispyribac sodium + ethoxy sulfuron (tank mix), penoxsulam + cyhalofop butyl (ready mix), trifamone + ethoxy sulfuron (ready mix), bispyribac sodium as post emergence herbicides in their regular dosage were evaluated for their impact on soil microbial population viz; bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes. The results revealed that these herbicides affected the microbial population during the initial days but later the population was regained at 55 DAS which indicates the reduction in toxicity level of the applied herbicides.