A field experiment was carried out to evaluate eleven insecticides against Helicoverpa armigera on wheat. The results on the relative efficacy of different treatments against Helicoverpa armigera after two sprays showed that all the treatments were significantly superior over untreated control. Minimum H. armigera larval population was recorded in the treatment with spinosad 73g a.i./ha (0.02 larva/ ear head), however, it was at par with bifenthrin 80g a.i./ha (0.06 larva/ ear head) and flubendiamide 50g a.i./ha (0.10 larva/ ear head).

The present research work was conducted to study possible seasonal variations in the antioxidant status of Surti goats during summer and winter under an intensive production system. Eight adult clinical healthy female Surti goats were used. The meteorological variables like temperature and relative humidity were recorded on daily basis at 7.30 a.m. and 2.30 p.m. during the experimental period. At the same time, meteorological data for a decade (2004 – 2014) were collected for the estimation of temperature humidity index (THI). Blood samples were collected from the Surti goats at a weekly basis for the estimation of antioxidant status. The levels of Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Lipid peroxidase (LPO) and Glutathione peroxidase (GPx) significantly higher during summer than winter season and a positive correlation of these values with THI was found. However, antioxidants remained one fold higher in summer season as compared in winter. Antioxidant status of animal was more vulnerable in summer than in winter season. Levels of SOD, LPO and GPx were higher during summer than winter season, possibly indicating that animals were under stress during summer, although a well ventilated barn was provided.

Two hundred fifty two recombinant inbred lines (RILs) generated from recombination between microsperma and macrosperma and their parents were evaluated at RAK College of Agriculture, Sehore during rabi 2011-12 and 2012-13. Out of 252 RILs, 92 (36.5%) RILs were identified as pea-shaped seed. These pea-shaped RILs showed wide variations in qualitative traits such as plant growth habit (semi-erect 10RILs; semi-spreading 32; spreading 46 & prostrate 4), flower colour (pink 65; white 25; blue 2), seed surface (smooth 75; rough 17), seed colour (brown 39; yellow 30; orange 5; creamy-white 18). These 92pea-shaped RILs were grouped into 15 clusters {clusters I (6 RILs), II (2), III (6),IV (6), V (17), VI (1), VII (9), VIII (10), IX (6), X (5), XI (8), XII (7), XIII (1), XV (5), XVI (3)}confirming their genetic diversity and distinctness in quantitative traits. The spectrum of variations in pea-shaped RILs was beyond expectation was due to recombination and segregation due to high parental diversity. These RILs will be used for development of high yielding and marketable pea-shaped chickpea varieties.

An investigation was carried out at ICAR Research complex Tripura Centre, Lembucherra during, 2014-15 to evaluate the efficacy of organics (vermicompost and Farm yard manure) with or without Azotobacter on the soil fertility and yield of cauliflower. The experiment consisted of 10 treatments i.e.,T-1(Azotobacter), T-2 (Vermicompost @ 2t ha-1), T-3 (FYM @ 2t ha-1), T-4 ( Azotobacter + VC @1t ha-1), T-5 (Azotobacter + VC @ 2t ha-1), T-6 (Azotobacter + VC @ 3t ha-1), T-7 (Azotobacter + FYM @ 1t ha-1),T-8 (Azotobacter + FYM @ 2t ha-1) T-9 (Azotobacter + FYM @ 3t ha-1) T-10 (control). Vermicompost and FYM were applied @ 1,2 and 3t/ha-1 with or without Azotobacter @ 4kg ha-1 in Randomized Block Design with three replications using cauliflower as test crop. Results revealed that available nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium (NPK) and organic carbon content of the soil after the harvest of cauliflower was significantly enhanced as compared to that of control. Amongst the different sources of organic matter, vermicompost @3 t ha-1 with Azotobacter gave higher uptake of NPK in comparison with FYM at the level of 3t ha-1 with Azotobacter. The highest yield was recorded in treatment of vermicompost @3t ha-1 with Azotobacter which was closely followed by Vermicompost @ 2t ha-1 plus Azotobacter.

A pot experiment was conducted to identify the resistant source to root-knot nematode, M. incognita. A total of eighteen cultivars viz., Prabha, Roma, Rajapuri, CLI-21, Allepey, CLI-325, CLI-327, Cudappa, Co-2, Pule Swaroop, Bidar Local, GSR-2, Salem, Suroma, Co-1, Tekkurpet, Prathibha and Krishna were screened against root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita. Among the eighteen cultivars screened, none of the cultivars were found resistant to root-knot nematode, M. incognita. The cultivars Cudappa & CLI-325 were found to be moderately resistant with gall index of 3. The Salem &Suroma varieties were found highly susceptible to root-knot nematode with the gall index of 5. The other remaining varieties viz., Prabha, Roma, Rajapuri, CLI-21, Allepey, CLI-327, Co-2, Pule Swaroop, Bidar Local, GSR-2, Co-1, Tekkurpet, Prathibha and Krishna were found to be susceptible to root-knot nematode, M. incognita with the gall index of 4.