No abstract

The field experiment was carried out at the research farm of Horticulture Garden, Bihar Agricultural College, Sabour, Bhagalpur during 2014-15 for assessment of genetic variability among different genotypes of cape gooseberry in India. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design with three replications having twelve genotypes. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences among genotypes for all the traits studies which suggesting sufficient variability for yield and quality parameters. The overall values of phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) were higher than those of genetic coefficient of variation (GCV). Higher magnitude of GCV and PCV were recorded for fruit per plant percent (33.30 and 36.61) followed by fruit diameter, fruit weight and flowers per branch. The maximum GCV (33.30) and PCV (36.61) were recorded in fruits/plant respectively. The high values of GCV are the indication of excess variability among the genotypes and thus the scope for crop improvement depends on the selection of superior parents for crossing to get better parents for hybridization. In present study, the magnitude of heritability ranged from 37% to 98% indicating that these traits are controlled by additive gene action which is very useful in selection. The traits like plant girth, plant height, inter nodal length, appearance of 50% of flowering, bud break to full bloom, number of flowers per branch, number of fruits set per branch, duration of fruit set to maturity, fruit weight, fruit diameter and number of fruits per plant with high GCV, PCV, heritability and genetic advance as percentage of mean, indicating that these characters are under additive gene effects and more reliable for effective selection.

The field experiment was conducted during 2013-14 to study the effects of fertigation on the phenology and physiological status of Citrus sinensis cv. Mosambi. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with seven fertigation level, viz. T1- 120% of RDF; T2- 100% of RDF; T3- 80% of RDF; T4- 60% of RDF; T5- 40% of RDF; T6- Full dose in basal with drip irrigation and T7- Full dose in basal without drip irrigation and each treatment were replicated three times. Results obtained showed that increase in plant height (36.75 cm), trunk girth (4.67 cm), canopy volume (1.83 m3), leaf area index (5.51) and growth of current season shoot (9.42 cm2) of the plant were more responsive to higher dose of fertigation i.e. T1 followed by T2. The treatment effect was not marked on reproductive growth as expressed in terms of bud emergence, full bloom, fruit set and duration of bud emergence to maturity. The tree physiological parameters viz. total chlorophyll (2.65 mg/g), net photosynthesis rate (6.83 μmol CO2 /m2/sec), stomatal conductance (0.18 mol/m2/sec) and leaf area (31.9 cm2) were also higher under treatment receiving higher dose of fertigation i.e. T1. Therefore, on the basis of results obtained, treatment 120% RDF found superior in maintaining pheno-physiological status of mosambi plant under high density planting.

The present experiment was conducted to study the response of naphthalene acetic acid NAA and integrated nutrient management on yield and yield attributes as well as and economics of chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) with four levels of NAA (0 ppm, 25 ppm, 50 ppm and 75 ppm) and five levels of vermicompost (VC) along with RDF (V0-100% Recommended dose of fertilizer i.e. 120:60:60 Kg N P K /ha ), V1-100% N through Vermicompost, V2-75% N through VC + 25% (RDF), V3-50% N through VC + 50% (RDF) , V4-25% N through VC + 75% (RDF), having 20 treatment combinations. The results revealed that the combine application of 50 ppm NAA and 100% N through vermicomposti.e. P2V1 performed well in respect of fruit length (8.73 cm), fruit diameter (1.46 cm) and fruit weight (2.91 g) while the application of NAA 50 ppm + 50% N through vermicompost along with 50% RDF i.e. P2V3 gave significantly (P=0.05) maximum number of fruits/plant (73.86) and fruit yield per hectare (121.20 q) with higher gross income (Rs.2,66,640.00/ ha), net profit (Rs.1,98,946.00/ ha) and benefit - cost ratio (2.94). Therefore, it can be concluded that the combine effect of NAA 50 ppm along with 50 % N through vermicompost +50% inorganic fertilizers (RDF) gave better result regarding growth and yield attributes and also generated maximum gross income, net return and B:C ratio while the next best treatment was application of NAA 75 ppm along with 25 % N through vermicompost + 75 % inorganic fertilizers (RDF).

to find out the most effective combination of NPK fertigation with foliar applications on economic performance of peach during two successive years i.e., 2015 and 2016 in five and six years old peach cv. Shan-e-Punjab. Based on recommended dose of fertilizer (420:240:300g NPK/tree/year) for conventional method, nine treatments were formulated and studied. The obtained results indicate that the maximum yield (10.61 t/ha) was recorded with T 8 . Similarly, the total expenditure cost (Rs. 107530.31), gross income (Rs. 530500.00) and net income (Rs. 422969.69) per hectare were found higher under treatments T 8 , whereas, it was found to be lowest under control (T 9 ). Among all the treatments, the benefit: cost ratio was found highest (3.93) under T 8 , followed by 3.26 in T 4 , however, it was found lowest (1.21) in T 9 . Thus, from economic point of view, fertigation dose of 75% RDN + 0.5% Ferrous sulfate + 0.2% Borax (T 8 ) was found to be most suitable in Tarai conditions of Uttarakhand.