Gujarat state is categorized as one of the minor pulse producing state in India. In recent time, this state is in limelight because of high growth rate in agriculture. Pulse crops conditions in all major pulse producing state become stagnated and minor pulse producing states is having real potential in pulse development programme that's why this particular study was undertaken to compare the performance of pulse crops at state level in high growth period and across the earlier periods. Time series data for a period of fifty-two years from the year 1960-61 to 2010-11 were used. Performance of crop was analyzed by decade wise i.e. period-I to period-V and overall period with the help of statistical techniques like Average, Growth Rate, Cuddy-Della Valle Instability Index and Decomposition Model. Results showed that, Pulse area in state was considerably increased. In recent years, area under Pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) and other pulses was decreased and chickpea area was increased. Pigeon pea and other pulse crops i.e. green gram (Vigna radiata) and black gram (Vigna mungo) have recorded phenomenal growth during the year 1970-1980. Chickpea (Cicer arietinum) crop performed better during high growth period of Gujarat, compared to other pulse crops. Period – III i.e. 1981 to 1990 was recorded as anti-pulse decade in which productivity of all the major pluses was hampered. Pigeon pea crop was more stable compared to other pulse crops in the state. Area expansion was a major reason for increase in production of Pigeon pea and chickpea in the state. The Production of green gram and black gram was increased because of improvement in the yield and its interaction with area.

Nitrogen (N) nourishment in legumes is essential for achieving greater productivity as biological nitrogen fixation by nodules in these crops ceases towards maturity. This study was conducted to elucidate the response of chickpea to foliar application of N through urea at different growth stages under irrigated conditions of Punjab, India. Plant nodule numbers, nodule dry weight and leghaemoglobin content increased significantly with foliar spray of 2% urea at different growth stages of crop over unsprayed control. Chlorophyll kinetics and highest quantum efficiency of Photosystem II was recorded with foliar spray of 2% urea at pod initiation stage. Yield attributes such as pods/plant improved significantly with 2% foliar spray of urea at different growth stages over no spray treatment. Foliar spray of urea (2%) at pod initiation stage recorded significantly higher grain yield thereby recorded highest gross returns, net returns and benefit cost ratio over unsprayed control.

The experiment was conducted to study the genetic variability for yield, quality traits and micronutrients concentration in 76 Triticum aestivum, 22 Triticum durum and two Triticum dicoccum wheat genotypes. Among the all traits, number of tillers per meter length, sedimentation value and copper content exhibited high estimates of genotypic and phenotypic coefficient of variation and high broad sense heritability which suggested that these traits would respond to selection owing to their high genetic variability and transmissibility. Maximum genetic advance as per cent of mean was recorded for number of tillers per meter length, spike length, 1000 grain weight and grain yield per plot with high value of heritability. The heritability in broad sense and genetic advance over mean were high for quality traits like sedimentation value, copper, zinc, manganese and magnesium. Hence, these genotypes are the better source for micronutrients. Therefore these genotypes should be utilized in further breeding program for developing superior high yielding varieties with better quality to achieve nutritional security.

The present investigation was undertaken to determine the lethal concentration and lethal time of entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana against the two spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae. Higher mortality percentage was observed in Direct Spray Bioassay for eggs, larvae, nymphs and adults as compared to Treated Food Bioassay. Mortality data fitted well to the probit mode as indicated by the small χ2 values. The LC50 values in direct spray bioassay were 3.0×105, 1.4×106, 0.4×107 and 0.3×108 conidia ml-1 for eggs, larvae, nymphs and adults, respectively. The same values in treated food bioassay were 1.3×108, 5.1×109, 1.0×1010 and 2.6×1011 conidia ml-1. This suggested that eggs and larvae were more susceptible to B. bassiana treatment than nymphs and adults of T. urticae. The LT50 values for eggs, larvae, nymphs and adults were 108.52, 52.12, 75.74 and 122.43 h, respectively in Direct Spray Bioassay and 155.09, 81.55, 86.13 and 141.53 h, respectively in Treated Food Bioassay. Lower LT50 values were obtained for larvae, followed by nymphs and adults. Direct Spray Bioassay is preferred over treated Food Bioassay on the basis of lower LC50 and LT50 values for T. urticae life stages.

The present study examined the prospects of guar (Cyamposis tetragomoloba L.) crop production in India. To achieve the stipulated objectives of study, secondary data were collected. The study revealed that Rajasthan was the major guar producing state followed by Gujarat, Haryana and Punjab. The study also elucidates that area under guar crop which was 2903 thousand hectares with production of 90 thousand metric tonnes (MT) of guar during 2001-02 and area increased to 3448 thousand hectare with production of 2218 thousand MT during the year 2011-12. The production of Guar in India has seen wide variations during the recent past ranging from 659 to 2415 thousand tonnes due to the over dependence of the crop on monsoon precipitation over the period of study. The overall growth of 1.32, 9.83 and 8.21 per cent per annum was calculated for area, production and yield of guar bean in India, respectively from the year 2000-01 to 2014-15. Major quantities of guar products were exported to different countries like USA, Germany and China during the last ten years with the growth rate of 20.50, -2.75 and 15.70 per cent per annum, respectively. During the year 2012-13, export increased to 244.83 thousand MT particularly for these three countries against total export of 408.57 thousand MT with a growth rate of 14.52 per cent per annum. Lastly, it was inferred that to make guar farming more remunerative, Government initiatives such as to ensure farmers by assured prices, marketing facilities for guar crop and farmer awareness camps should be conducted.