An Open Access International Peer Reviewed Quarterly High significant variations were observed for all the traits studied under present investigation. Considering parameters, high phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) and genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) were observed for the number of effective tillers per plant, grain yield per plant, plant height followed by days to 50% flowering. Heritability in broad sense was higher in all of the characters studied under present investigation. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance as percent of mean was observed in plant height, days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, number of spikelets per panicle and number of grains per panicle, indicated that these characters under additive gene control and selection for improvement might be effective. Both at the phenotypic and genotypic level, grain yield per plant had significant and positive association with plant height, panicle length,number of filled grains per panicle and number of spikelets per panicle but had significant negative association with number of effective tillers per plant and 1000-grain weight. Number of spikelets per panicle had the maximum positive and direct effect followed by days to maturity, plant height, spikelet fertility and 1000-grain weight. Based on mean performance and various genetic parameters attributes, advance line namely, MC-34-1-10-6-1-26 was observed to be promising because it is of short duration, and yielded significantly higher than the short duration check RCM-8. Promising culture would be recommended for double cropping in the valley region of the state.

One hundred and twenty germplasm of ricebean [Vigna umbellata (Thunb) Ohwi and Ohashi] were evaluated during 2015-16 and 2016-17 to study the yield related traits in ricebean in the mid-altitudes of Meghalaya. Luxuriant ricebean growth with a wide spectrum of variability for plant height, number of branches per plant, days to flowering, number of pods per plant and 100 seed weight was observed. The genotypic variance was moderate to high for the said characters which resulted in moderate to high heritability and genetic advance values. Grain yield/plant was positively and significantly correlated with number of clusters per plant, number of pods per plant and 100 seed weight. Moderateto high heritability and the genetic advance of these plant characters vis-a-vis their positive association and direct positive effect on grain yield/plant suggested for their consideration during selection of high yielding genotypes. All the tested ricebean genotypes could be grouped into seven distinct clusters. An analysis of the percentage contributionof individual characters towards genetic diversity revealed that 100-seed weight and days to 80% maturity, days to 50% flowering were the major characters contributing to genetic diversity in ricebean. Based on the results we found genotype CHAK HAWAI-2 may be used as parent for developing long pod with bold seed cultivar. Genotype ChakHawai-31 may be used as parent for developing high yielding genotypes. Genotype BKSB-23 had less bold seed but, high yield and may be used as parent for developing small seed and high yielding variety.

Northeastern Himalayan Region (NEHR) of India having frail landscape with unique climate, high rainfall with orography led wide spatio-temporal variation, often occurrence of droughts, terminal heat and high cloud covers causes antagonistic relationship with solar radiation. Growing of low yielding traditional genotypes susceptible to abiotic stresses including low radiation-use efficiency further decreased the productivity (<1.5 t/ha) of rainfed maize (Zea mays L.) in this region. The region needs improved genotypes to overcome these shortfalls. In present study, a field experiment was conducted during 2012 and 2013 to evaluate the performance of 15 improved genotypes and compared with popular traditional genotypes for physiological indices, radiation-use efficiency and finally, correlated with productivity. Results revealed that amongst the improved genotypes, hybrids Vivek QPM 9 followed by Prakash recorded significantly (P<0.05) higher physiological attributes and grain yield (4 860-5 055 kg/ha), which was two folds higher than the local genotype Chakhaochujak (hill) (2 081-2 113 kg/ha). Similarly, few other hybrids (HQPM 7, BIO 9681, PMH 1, PMH 4 and HM 4) also recorded significantly (P<0.05) higher (48 to 126%) grain yield over local genotypes. Estimated radiation-use efficiency indices (pheno- and helio-thermal, heat use efficiency) were significantly (P<0.05) higher in hybrids compared to local genotypes. Exploring improved genotypes suitable to rainfed hilly ecosystem, thus, promises improvement of maize productivity vis-à-vis food and livelihood security in the NEHR of India and other similar agro-ecological regions.

Under rainfed condition (650 mm/annum) of India drought of unpredictable intensity and duration is a prevailing feature. Appropriate intercropping combinations and management practices for sustaining crop productivity in such situations needs to be worked out, where monoculture is prevailing. Objectives were to examine the effect of transpiration suppressants and nutrients on sustaining productivity, profitability of pearlmillet/pigeonpea intercropping for realizing maximum nutrients and moisture use efficiency in moisture scarce conditions. Though there was a reduction in yield of component crops under intercropping greatly so for pigeon pea, higher Pearlmillet Equivalent Yield (PEY), land equivalent ratio (LER) value, economics (net returns and B:C ratio) was achieved higher in pearlmillet/pigeonpea intercropping system as compared to their sole cropping. Nutrients and apparent rain water use efficiency (ARUE) was also higher in same cropping system. The yield response of the transpiration suppressants was observed only in limited soil moisture conditions (2009). However, with respect to yield advantage indices, the effect of transpiration suppressants was comparable to control. Over the period of time, 50 kg N + 17.2 kg P ha -1 recorded higher crop performance ratio, ARUE, agronomic and physiological efficiency of N and P over other fertility treatments.

A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of organic nutrient on soil properties. During rabi season of 2016-17 at Organic Farm (F block), Aspee College of Horticulture and Forestry Research Station, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari Gujarat. The experiment was laid out in a Factorial Randomizes Block Design, comprising fifteen treatment combinations. The results indicated that significantly higher organic carbon content (1.22 %), available Nitrogen (229.52 kgN/ha), phosphorus, P2O5 (106.51 kgP/ha), potassium, K2O (599.60 kgK/ha) and Zinc (0.61 mgZn/kg) were found with the treatment O1 (100 % Nadep compost) and at par with O2 whereas, treatment O2 (75 % Nadep compost) registered significantly higher DTPA-Fe (15.35 mgFe/kg) and Manganese (17.27 mgMn/kg). No significant effect of different levels of Nadep compost was observed on pH, electric conductivity (EC), copper, DTPA-Cu and soil physical properties. Application of liquid organic manure failed to generate any significant effect on soil physic-chemical properties.