The competitive behaviors of maize–squash intercropping at different planting systems were studied at Regional Agricultural Research Station, Hathazari, Chittagong, Bangladesh during the Rabi season of 2016–17 to find out the suitable planting arrangement of maize–squash intercropping for maximum productivity and economic return. There were seven treatments i.e. T1= sole maize, T2= 1 row maize (100%) + 1 row squash (6 plants/row), T3= maize paired row (100%) + 1 row squash (5 plants/row), T4= maize paired row (100%) + 1 row squash (4 plants/row), T5= maize paired row (100%) + 2 row squash (5 plants/row), T6= maize paired row (100%) + 2 row squash (4 plants/row) and T7= sole squash. Results revealed that the Maize Equivalent Yield (MEY) was highest (18.39 t/ha) in T5treatment, where Maize paired row (100%) + 2 row squash (5 plants/row) was consummated. The highest Land Equivalent Ratio (LER) 1.62 was found in T5 treatment. Benefit-Cost Ratio (BCR) was also the highest (3.29) in T5 treatment. Maize paired row (100%) and two rows of squash (5 plants /row) was the suitable row arrangement of the intercrops for judicious use of land consisting optimum populations of the component crops to produce more yield and economic profitJ. Bangladesh Agril. Univ. 16(1): 23-26, April 2018

An experiment was carried out at the Agronomy Field Laboratory, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh during June to December, 2013 to investigate the response of some short duration aman rice varieties to date of transplanting. The experiment consisted of three transplanting dates viz. 26 July, 5 August and 15 August and seven short duration T. aman rice varieties viz. BRRI dhan33, BRRI dhan39, BRRI dhan49, BRRI dhan56, BRRI dhan57, BRRI hybrid dhan4 and Binadhan-7. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with three replications. Transplanting dates were allocated into the main plot and varieties into the sub plot. Results indicate that Binadhan-7 produced the highest grain yield (4.90 t ha -1 ), straw yield (5.58 t ha -1 ), biological yield (10.44 t ha -1 ), and harvest index (47.10%). Lowest grain yield (3.27 t ha -1 ), straw yield (3.96 t ha -1 ) and biological yield (7.20 t ha -1 ) were produced by BRRI dhan57. BRRI dhan49 had taken the longest field duration (120 DAT) while BRRI dhan57 had taken the shortest field duration (88 DAT). Plant height (119.12 cm), number of total tillers m -2 (276.40), number of effective tillers m -2 (260.02), number of grains panicle -1 (109.19), grain yield (4.75 t ha -1 ), straw yield (5.22 t ha -1 ), biological yield (9.97 t ha -1 ) and harvest index (47.64%) were highest on 26 July transplanting; decreased on 5 August transplanting and drastically declined on 15 August transplanting. The present study concludes that the highest yield for short duration T. aman rice cultivation could be possible by Binadhan-7 transplanting on 26 July.

Jhum is a customary farming which is very important for the livelihood of the alpine people of Bangladesh. Total productivity of the traditional practice of jhum cultivation is very low. The study was conducted to identify the yield gap between improved and local practices in Bandarban district of Bangladesh during March to September; 2017.The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with ten replications. Improved jhum practice produced the higher yields of rice (3113kg/ha), seed cotton (456 kg/ha), sesame (478 kg/ha) and maize (627 kg/ha) than traditional local jhum. Rice Equivalent Yield (REY) was also higher (40.23%) in improved jhum (6786.8kg/ha) than local jhum (4339.8 kg/ha). Improved jhum’s rate of returns (2.15) was higher than traditional jhum’s rate of returns (1.56). Improved practice in jhum cultivation increased yield and it was economically profitable over traditional practice.J. Bangladesh Agril. Univ. 16(2): 193-197, August 2018

Poor seedling establishment and seedling mortality is the major barrier to optimum stand establishment in dry direct seeded boro rice. Experiments were carried out at the Agronomy Field Laboratory, Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), Mymensingh, Bangladesh during January to June 2013 to study the effect of Trichoderma and fungicide application on seedling establishment and yield performance of dry direct seeded Boro rice. The experiment comprised ten treatment combinations of Trichoderma and fungicides viz. seed treatment with Trichoderma (M1), seed treatment with Trichoderma+spraying of Thiovit (M2), seed treatment with Trichoderma + spraying of Propiconazole (M3), seed treatment with Trichoderma + spraying of Thiovit and Propiconazole (M4), spraying of Thiovit (M 5), spraying of Propiconazole (M6), seed treatment with Thiovit + spraying of Propiconazole (M7), seed treatment with Propiconazole + spraying of Thiovit (M8), spraying of mixture of Thiovit and Propiconazole (M9), and control (no fungicide or Trichoderma ) (M10).The experiments used Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Experiment revealed that seed treatment with Trichoderma harzianum followed by spraying of Thiovit gave the highest yield of rice. The study concludes that Trichoderma and then application of sulphur fungicide at 20 days after sowing could be practiced for ensuring high seedling establishment and yield of rice under dry direct seeded system in boro season.