A field experiment was conducted in the farmers' field at Kalinarayanpur, Nadia, West Bengal to visualize the effect of integrated nutrient management and integration of makhana (Euryale ferox Salisb.) - cum - fish culture on soil and water characteristics in wetland ecosystem during two consecutive period of pre to post-monsoon season under new alluvial zone of West Bengal. The experiment was laid out in a split plot design having four levels of integrated nutrient management (N1 - Control; N2 - 3 t FYM + 1 t neem oilcake ha-1; N3 - 3 t FYM + 1 t neem oilcake ha-1 + N : P2O5 : K2O @ 20 : 30 : 20 kg ha-1 + spraying of Zn (Chelamin) at 20, 40 and 60 DAT of makhana and N4 - 3 t FYM + 1 t neem oilcake + N : P2O5 : K2O @ 20 : 30 : 20 kg ha-1 + spraying of Zn (Chelamin) at 20, 40 and 60 DAT of makhana + fish-feed) as main plot and five farming systems (F1 - Sole makhana; F2 - Sole live-fishes and F3 - Sole carp fishes @ 6,000 fingerlings ha-1; F4 - Makhana + live-fishes and F5 - Makhana + carp fishes @ 4,500 fingerlings ha-1) as sub-plot treatments with four replications. From the results it reveal that the physico-chemical properties of pond-bottom soil as well as water chrematistics were significantly improved by the integrated nutrient management practices and farming systems as well, except EC. Maximum values of all the soil fertility parameters (organic carbon, organic matter, available N, P and K) and water characterization (pH, BOD, COD, CO3-, HCO3-, NO3-N, SO4-S and Cl-, respectively) were observed in N4 treatment (both plants and fishes received optimum and balance form of organic and inorganic sources of nutrients including fish-feed and spray materials applied at regular intervals) and might be due to the relatively higher accumulation of organic matter by the decomposition of plant residues and residual effect of fertilizers, while, lowest values were exhibited with N1 treatment (control).

An experiment was carried out during kharif 2008-09 at CRC, GBPUA&T, Pantnagar to assess the nature and genetic parameters in interspecific families of pigeonpea derived from a cross between C. scarabaeoides × C. cajan and their utilization to develop superior genotypes. The high estimates (>15%) of GCV and PCV recorded for seed yield per plant number of pods per plant, 100-seed weight, pod length, number of primary branches per plant and seeds per pod, indicated the presence of adequate genetic variation among the genotypes and suitability of these traits for further improvement by selection. The characters, like 100-seed weight, plant height, Number of pods per plant and seed yield per plant showed high heritability estimates coupled with high genetic advances indicating that these traits are under the control of additive gene action and phenotypic selection for their improvement may be effective. The estimates of correlation coefficients showed positive significant association of seed yield per plant with number of pods per plant, plant height, and 100-seed weight, primary branches per plant and pod length, while it was negatively associated with days to 50% flowering. Path analysis revealed that that number of pods per plant had highest positive direct effect on seed yield per plant followed by plant height and 100-seed weight. Number of primary branches per plant exhibited high positive indirect effect through pods per plant and plant height.

A field experiment was carried out during the rainy season (kharif) of 2005, 2006 and 2007 at ARS, Beechwal, Bikaner to study the effect of different agronomical practices on amelioration of drought stress in pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) under hyper arid region of Western Rajasthan. All the agronomical practices increase the grain yield significantly over the control plots. The highest grain and straw yield was recorded under the treatment (T-9) sowing of pearl millet at 60 cm row spacing with ridge and furrow after in cultural operations (i.e. 30 days after sowing). Similarly on pool basis the highest plant height, total tillers, effective tillers, green leaf of plant and percent moisture content in leaf, gross return and B:C ratio was recorded under the treatment sowing of pearl millet at 60 cm row spacing with ridge and furrow after intercultural operations (at 30 days after sowing ) as compare to control plots. This treatment was closely followed by the treatment removal of alternate rows at pre flowering stage of pearl millet (T-6). Whereas lowest plant height, effective tillers , number of green leaves, percent moisture content, grain and straw yield, gross return, net return and B:C ratio was recorded under the control plot where no agronomical management was applied.

Studies were conducted on genetic diversity among selected local land race for economic traits in rice. Based on D2 values, 100 genotypes were grouped into 9 clusters. The intra cluster distance varied from 4.403 in cluster I to a maximum distance of 28.517 in cluster II. This reveals the presence of diverse genotypes within different clusters. The inter cluster D2 values also ranged widely with minimum value of 10.22 between cluster VI and cluster V and maximum value of 42.407 between cluster III and cluster VII indicating high diversity among the genotypes. Based on the overall score across 13 traits, the cluster VI first rank followed by cluster II and III indicating presence of most promising genotypes in them and can be extensively used for further breeding programme to generate new material.

A case study was carried out to evaluate soil suitability for rice and wheat in soils of Chavella mandal of Ranga Reddy district in Andhra Pradesh using limitation method. The soil properties were correlated with crop suitability criteria and relatively better soils were identified for frame work development. The soils belong to Alfisols, Inceptisols and Entisols soil order. Texture, depth, drainage and slope are the major limitations for rice and wheat. The suitability classes can be improved if the correctable limitations (Soil fertility characteristics) are altered through soil amelioration measures. According to the proposed criteria (frame work), P8 is highly suitable P1, P3, P4, P5, P6 and P7 are moderately suitable and P2 is marginally suitable for rice, Whereas P3 and P6 are highly suitable and P1, P2, P4, P5, P7 and P8 are moderately suitable for wheat.

A field experiment was conducted during winter and rainy seasons of 2004-05 and 2005-06 at CCS HAU Rice Research Station, Kaul (Kaithal). The experiment consisted of combinations of six sources of organic manures viz.; no organic manure, FYM @ 15 t/ha, vermicompost N100, vermicompost N150, vermicompost N200 and vermicompost N250 and five fertilizer levels viz.; no chemical fertilizer, 25, 50, 75% recommended dose of nitrogen and 100% recommended dose of fertilizer (N-150, P2O5 60, ZnSO4-25 kg/ha). The studies revealed that grain yield of wheat increased significantly with each increasing dose of vermicompost up to N200 and N250, over control. Vermicompost N250, N200 and N150 were significantly superior to FYM and vermicompost N100. Nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium uptake increased with the increasing rates of vermicompost. Grain yield was also increased significantly with successive increase in nitrogen and fertilizer levels during both years. NPK uptake was found to be increased significantly with each increase in nitrogen and fertilizers level. Increasing rates of vermicompost and fertilizers resulted into more availability of NPK in soil except K availability, which decreased significantly with increase in nitrogen and fertilizer levels. Higher doses of vermicompost resulted into more availability of nutrients in soil after the harvest of wheat crop than FYM. Application of organic manure and fertilizers left residual effect on succeeding rice crop and it was observed that grain, straw and biological yields of rice were higher at higher levels of vermicompost as compared to its lower levels and FYM. Yield of rice increased significantly with each successive increase in nitrogen and fertilizer levels applied to wheat crop.

Alternative material for controlling of the fourth instar larvae of cotton leafworm, Spodoptera littoralis (Boisduval) was used alone and in combination with some insecticides. Silica as a new material in pest control was used alone and combined with chlorpyrifos, imidacloprid and chlorantraniliprole. The results showed that chlorantraniliprole was the most toxic against S. littoralis larvae than other. The LC50 of chlorantraniliprole was 0.17 ml/l compared with 1.26 g/l, 1.0 ml/l and 0.22 g/l for silica, chlorpyrifos and imidacloprid, respectively. When silica was combined with one - fifth of the field rate of the tested pesticides, the percent of mortalities for chlorpyrifos silica mixture against the 4th instar larvae of S. littoralis was increased to 96.7, 76.7 and 33.3 % with the first, second and third concentrations, respectively. The percents of mortalities for imidacloprid (one - fifth of the field rate) silica mixture and chlorantraniliprole (one - fifth of the field rate) silica mixture were decreased slightly, compared to imidacloprid and chlorantraniliprole alone. It was 78.3 and 85.5 %, 48.3 and 56.7%; and 21.7 and 28.3% for the first, second and third concentrations, respectively, compared to 76.7 and 93.3%, 51.7 and 68.3%; and 33.3 and 36, respectively. These results suggested that silica as a low cost material was moderately toxic against the 4th instar larvae of S. littoralis (43.3%) when treated alone and it can be used in combination with the tested pesticides to activate the pesticides toxicity, reduce the pest control costs and reduce the pesticides hazards.

Various organic amendments such as neem cake, mustard cake, farm yard manure and poultry manure were evaluated against root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) in eggplant. Application of mustard cake as a soil amendment resulted in the lowest root gall index, although plant mortality was observed with higher doses of mustard cake. Organic amendments such as neem cake, farm yard manure and poultry manure had no practical significance in managing root-knot nematode in eggplant because they were unable to reduce root galling. Subsequent nethouse experiments confirmed that the lowest root gall index was recorded with the highest dose (1.25 t/ha) of mustard cake as an amendment. Even the lowest dose of mustard cake (0.50 t/ha) application resulted in a root gall index of about 4. Hence, mustard oil cake can be used in managing M. incognita in eggplant under nethouse conditions in Punjab.

An experiment was conducted during 2009-10 to know the influence of polymers, chemicals and packaging on seed storability of cotton at Seed Technology Research Unit, National Seed Project, University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK, Bangaluru. The results revealed that seeds which were coated with Polykote @ 3 ml/kg + Vitavax 200 @ 2ml/kg treated and stored in polythene bag (400 gauge) recorded better seed quality parameter viz., lower moisture content (7.65%), germination (73.67%), field emergence (74%) and seed health (Nil) where as control in cloth bag recorded moisture content (8.93%), germination (60.00%), field emergence (62.33 %) and seed health (6.67%) at the end of storage period.

The present investigation on studies on phenotypic characteristics of goats maintained in Arvi tahsil of Wardha district of Maharashtra State was undertaken to characterize the goats on the basis of physical and qualitative traits, A survey was carried out by selection of 120 goat keepers from ten villages of Arvi tahsil. Total 459 male and 1041 female goats were selected randomly from 795 male and 1387 female goats of different groups. Finding of this investigation indicated that the goats maintained in Arvi tahsil are of medium sized with predominantly brown mixed with white or black in colour, convex forehead, straight horns in backward direction, pendulous ear and medium tail absence of wattles and beared in majority cases. Average body weight (kg), body length (cm), chest girth (cm) and height (cm) were 44.80+0.30, 73.12+0.10, 74.76+0.08, and 75.07+0.12 in male goats and 34.12+0.29, 71.04+0.20, 73.90.+0.20 and 74.04+0.20 in female goats, respectively.