A two year experiment was conducted at the BCKV with four mungbean varieties (Pant Mung-5, Bireswar, RMG-62 and Sukumar) sown under three dates (15 th February, 1 st and 15 th March) in a split plot design where dates of sowing and varieties were allotted to main and sub plot treatments respectively with three replications. PAR was recorded with the help of line quantum sensor. Dry matter accumulation, yield attributes and yield were measured. Canonical correlation and correspondence analysis showed that absorbed PAR during 32 to 46 days after emergence (DAE) increased dry matter, pod and seed yield. PAR use efficiency (PARUE) of mungbean ranged from 0.75 to 0.88 g MJ -1 for seed yield. PARUE for dry matter production was maximum during 39 to 46 DAE. According to PARUE and heat use efficiency, Pant Mung-5 should be sown within 1 st March in this zone. Growing degree day requirement gradually increased with delayed sowing.

Temperature change with concomitant change in canopy temperature influences crop growth and productivity. A three year (2005-06 to 2007-08) experiment was carried on wheat varieties PBW 343, HD 2733, HW 2045, PB 533 and K9107 in subplot treatments sown on three dates of 18 th November, 3 rd and 18 th December in main-plot treatments in a split-plot design with three replications. Canopy temperature was measured at CRI, tillering, flowering and milking and stress degree day index was computed. Late sown crop experienced highest canopy temperature, varieties of K 9107 and HW 2045 recorded lowest and highest respectively. Canopy temperature and stress degree day index significantly and negatively correlated to dry matter accumulation in leaf, stem and ear at different phenophases. Grain yield reduce significantly with the delay in sowing. Canopy temperature at 11.30h during CRI, tillering or flowering stages significantly and negatively affected grain yield.

Aim: The present study was conducted for identifying sowing windows and cultivars of green gram in spring – summer and rainy seasons depending on light interception pattern and photo synthetically active radiation use efficiency (PARUE) in the lower Gangetic Plains of Eastern India. Methodology: Five green gram varieties (V1, V2, V3, V4 and V5) were sown on four dates (D1, D2, D3 and D4) in the spring –summer season starting from 15th February and on three dates (D1, D2 and D3) in the rainy season, starting from 20th August at interval of 10 days. Cumulative intercepted PAR (CIPAR), PARUE for above ground biomass and green gram seed and the seed yield were measured. The experiments were conducted under strip –plot design. Results: Results showed that CIPAR increased gradually in both the seasons under different dates of sowing. The mean PARUE for above ground biomass were 3.97, 4.58, 3.18 and 2.64 gMJ-1 for D1, D2, D3 and D4 sowings during spring – summer season. In rainy season the same was declined from 8.67 to 3.73 g MJ-1 with the delay in sowing. Maximum seed yield was obtained under D2 and V3 in the spring –summer and under D1 and V5 in the rainy season. The mean PARUE for seed yield were 0.65 and 0.64 g MJ-1 and 0.40 and 0.42 g MJ-1 in the spring summer seasons of 2011 and 2012 respectively. In the rainy season the maximum PARUE were 0.91 and 0.55 g MJ-1 under D1 for two experimental years. Conclusion: Depending on PARUE Pant Mung – 5 and Mehashould be sown during 3rd week of February and August in this zone.

Field experiments were conducted on green gram during spring-summer seasons of 2011 and 2012 with four dates of sowing and five varieties arranged in a strip-plot design to study the aerodynamic characteristics of green gram at BCKV, Kalyani, West Bengal. Micro-cup anemometers were placed at 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5 m above the crop canopy on a wooden mast. The zero-plane displacement (d), roughness length (Z0) and drag coefficient (Cd) were found to increase with crop age but the effect of dates of sowing was not prominent except at the final stage of growth. For a LAI value of 1.5, “d” values was 0.254 m and the “Cd” value was 0.015. Both the “Cd” and “d” increased with plant height and LAI. The “d” and “Z0” had significant positive correlation with the total dry matter and crop growth rate irrespective of dates of sowing.

Potato is one of the main staple foods in West Bengal, where it ranks second in production after Uttar Pradesh. There is lots of variation in productivity of the crop. It is due to climatic variability which causes widespread disease infection in potato crop. The shifting of onset and withdrawal of monsoons has also proved to be a barrier in the productivity of the crop. The farmers are habituated to plant the crop within 15th of November; however this is being disrupted because of the shifting of withdrawal of monsoons. Potato is a thermo sensitive crop. The crop growth rate of potato is significantly affected by cumulative maximum and minimum temperatures. Leaf area index significantly decreased with the increase in cumulative maximum and minimum temperatures. Rainfall and relative humidity are two crucial factors that determine the incidence of late blight in potato, the most devastating disease in Bengal. Rainfall increased productivity by lowering soil temperature and reducing hydrolysis of starch respiratory losses from tubers.