Aquatic insect population in irrigated rice fields of Coimbatore was studied during early Samba and late Thaladi on 2018-2019. The collected aquatic insects represented six insect orders, Hemiptera, Coleoptera, Diptera, Odonata, Collembola and Ephemeraptera. Application of butachlor @ 1.25 kg/ha on 35 DAT reduced the aquatic faunal abundance especially the Hemiptera and Collembola. Application of cartap hydrochloride @ 50 SP 400g/acre on 65 days after transplanting resulted in increased population abundance of Hemipter while the remaining faunal population abundance was drastically reduced especially Collembola which failed to survive after the application of the insecticide.

North Pulinpur, a water stress village with 100 per cent tribal farmers is under Khowai district of Tripura, India. Paddy is the major crop of the village and they used to grow it in kharif season. Average Paddy Productivity was very low(3.2 ton/ha) in that particular village. Unavailability of irrigated water forced the farmers towards practice of Jhumming .Considering this, some integrated crop management practices in paddy were disseminated during the year 2018-19 by KVK, Khowai in collaboration with ICAR research complex for NEH region Tripura Centre under the project NICRA funded by CRIDA, Hyderabad. The results indicated that significant increase in productivity of paddy was observed in the ICM demonstrated plots whereas doubling of farmers income could also possible in the demonstrated plots due to the high price obtained with seed production. Moreover many of the tribal farmers were awarded for their significant contribution in adopting and disseminating the technology.

ITK is systematic body of knowledge possessed by the local people through experiments, gathering of many experiences and ultimate understanding of environment in a given culture. Most of the ITKs, have scientific base. We are in a serious need of blending ITKs with modern technologies to maintain sustainable agriculture. This study focused on documenting ITKs in varagu and examining the rationality. A total of 11 ITKs were documented from 40 age old and experienced farmers. Documentation was done through personal interview and Focus Group Discussion with farmers. Rationality was analyzed through secondary sources and confirmed with scientists of specialized area.

Chemical degradation of agricultural land sometime is a result of faulty irrigation water management besides being an inherent problem in several parts of the country. Such degradation may manifest in the formation of salinity, sodicity, acidity and toxic environment in the crop root zone. The result is loss is a reduction or loss of production. The water table could be maintained practically at desired level, during both monsoon and summer seasons using a unique drainage system i.e. Controlled drainage-Subirrigation system synonymously controlled and reversible drainage system or simply water table management. The scope of this paper is to discuss about the drain spacing related CD-SI system. Steady state Hooghoudt equation was used for the design of drainage spacing and similarly Moody and Ernst equation with convergence analysis was used for subirrigation mode spacing. The spacing arrived for controlled drainage mode was 27 m to that of subirrigation was 10.05 m respectively. Considering the feasibility of operation of both controlled drainage and subirrigation, the spacing of 10.05 m could be recommended for CD-SI system.

Trait association studies were done among forty five genotypes of marigold for ten vegetative and three reproductive traits. At phenotypic and genotypic level, there was highly significant positive correlation between numbers of leaves with number of secondary branches per plant, plant spread, seed ripening duration and leaf biomass, whereas at environmental level, highly significant positive correlation was seen in number of leaves per plant with leaf biomass and flower yield per plant. Number of secondary branched per plant showed highly significant positive correlation with plant spread and leaf biomass; plant spread with leaf biomass, flower yield and seed yield per plant; and flower yield per plant with seed yield per plant. Similar trend of association was observed between days taken to seed ripening with leaf biomass and flower yield per plant. Diverting from the results of phenotypic and genotypic levels at environmental level, highly significant positive correlation was observed between number of leaves with leaf biomass and flower yield per plant and between average fresh and dry weight of leaf, whereas positive significant correlations were seen in between average fresh weight of leaf and seed yield per plant and in between flower yield per plant and seed yield per plant.

Banana occupies an area of 8500 ha as pure crop as well as intercrop /mixed crop in coconut /rubber/spice based cropping systems in Kanyakumari district. The low production and profitability are mainly due to inefficient farming practices, nutritional imbalances and rampant pest and disease problems. Pseudostem weevil is gaining importance as a serious pest causing heavy losses to the growers. The present study on demonstration of management practices for banana Pseudostem weevil was conducted by ICAR- Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Thirupathisaram in Kharif season during 2016-17 in 10 farmers’ fields of Kanyakumari district in an area of 4 ha. The following technologies viz. Pseudo-stem injection with Monocrotophos 36WSC @ 4 ml (1:7 ratio) and application of Beauvaria bassiana @ 25g on the pseudostem of banana (pseudostem trap @100/ha) were demonstrated for the management of pseudo stem weevil in banana. The results revealed that farmers practice recorded 23.36 percent weevil incidence whereas the demo plots recorded only 10 percent incidence of Pseudostem weevil which is 57.19 percent reduction over farmers practice. Higher yield of 635 q/ha was recorded in demo plots which is 14.82 percent increase over the farmers practice (553q/ha). Adoption of integrated pest management technologies in banana along with other improved production technologies could substantially increase the income as well as improve the livelihood of farming community.

An experiment was conducted at Horticulture Research Station, Dr Y. S. R. Horticultural University (Dr YSRHU), Venkataramannagudem, Andhra Pradesh, India during kharif season, 2018, to investigate the interrelationship of yield related characters and extent of their contribution to fruit yield in okra. Correlation analysis revealed that internodal length of main stem (rg=0.859, rp=0.315), number of nodes per plant (rg=0.352, rp=0.226) and average fruit weight (rg=0.992, rp=0.390) registered a positive and significant correlation at both phenotypic and genotypic levels with fruit yield per plant, signifying the importance of these traits in selection for yield. Path coefficient analysis revealed that number of primary branches per plant (0.795), number of nodes per plant (0.594), fruit length (0.765), fruit girth (1.106), leaf chlorophyll content (1.533) and mucilage content (0.352) exerted a high positive direct effect on fruit yield per plant.

Morpho-physiological parameters play an important role in determining the yield in pigeonpea under normal as well as stress conditions. The objective of the study was to identify the SSR markers linked with the morpho-physiologycal traits in F3 generation of pigeonpea. Plant height, Stalk weight, number of branches, pod length, pod width, SCMR, stem girth and seed yield were the morpho-physiological traits measured under this study. Around 100 SSR markers were employed to screen 188 F3 lines. Seven markers were found to be linked to various traits measured in the mapping population of pigeonpea. Hence these markers may be useful in marker assisted selection breeding programme.

Drought is one of the major abiotic stresses limiting tomato productivity and progress in development of drought tolerant tomato varieties is slow due to complex nature of tolerance mechanisms. Genetic engineering seems to be a viable approach for genetic manipulation of drought tolerance related traits in tomato. The present study was aimed at developing drought tolerant tomato (PKM 1) plants exhibiting enhanced expression of EcNAC67 (a transcription factor controlling drought/salinity tolerance in finger millet) through genetic engineering. Seeds of PKM 1 tomato were germinated on MS medium and 7 - 9 days old cotyledonary leaves were used as explants for co-cultivation with Agrobacterium harboring a plant transformation vector pCAMBIA1300 engineered with EcNAC67. Co-cultivated explants were subjected to selection on media containing Hygromycin (10 mg/L) and putative transgenic plants were regenerated on MS+B5 media containing Zeatin at 1 mg/L concentration. Regenerated shoots were transferred to rooting media containing IBA (1 mg/L) and rooted plants were hardened and transferred to greenhouse for establishment. Putative transgenic (T0) tomato plants were screened through PCR analysis using EcNAC67 specific primers which confirmed the presence of transgene.

Adverse effect on soil health and environment has created a worrying situation. A situation has resulted which urgently demands an environmentally safe, sustainable and simultaneously, economically viable production system. Farmers were cultivating vegetables from the beginning when they started their farming independently. Farmers were growing bitter gourd as 2 crops per year without crop rotation. Government extension officers, seed dealers and fellow farmers were major source of information to decide about seed purchase. The farmers were reported that more dosage and a greater number of sprays were necessary to have effective pest control. Private dealers are playing major role in selecting choice of the variety, pesticide name, quantity and frequency of application. Farmers used to remove infested plants. Farmers aware of bio pesticide/bio-control agents, intercropping, crop rotation, trap crop, neem oil application etc. Farmers interested in controlling pest by other than chemical method. All farmers were willing to adopt other alternatives measure than the pesticides after explaining health effect of pesticides exposure and residue.

A field experiment was carried out at Kalliyoor panchayat to determine the persistence and dissipation of the insecticide mixture thiamethoxam 12.6% + lambda cyhalothrin 9.5% ZC @ 33+15.75 g a.i ha-1 in tomato. The mean initial deposit of thiamethoxam and lambda cyhalothrin were 0.07 and 0.06 mg kg-1 and both reached the limit of quantification three days after spraying with half –lives 4.05 and 3.42 days respectively. Risk assessment studies using the dissipation data ensured the safety of the insecticide mixture sprayed product to the consumer. The residue analysis was carried out by LC- MS/MS and GC-ECD.

To study the effect of coffee pulp effluent irrigation on yield and yield attributing characters of banana ratoon crop, a field investigation was carried out during 2007 and 2008 at Kollibylu, Mudigere, Chikmagalur District. Alternate irrigation with lime treated coffee pulp effluent and fresh water with microbial culture recorded maximum mean bunch weight (69.6 t ha-1) which was on par with fresh water irrigation (67.4 t ha-1) followed by alternate irrigation with lime treated coffee pulp effluent and fresh water without microbial culture (67.1 t ha-1), 1:1 ratio irrigation with lime treated coffee pulp effluent and fresh water with microbial culture (66.2 t ha-1), 1:1 ratio irrigation with lime treated coffee pulp effluent and fresh water without microbial culture (65.6 t ha-1) and lime treated coffee pulp effluent irrigation with microbial culture (62.6 t ha-1). The lowest mean bunch weight was recorded in raw coffee pulp effluent irrigation without microbial culture (37.6 t ha-1).

An experiment was conducted to evaluate paddy straw and other locally available substrates for production of straw mushroom (Volvariella volvacea) in Odisha under semi-compost method. Paddy straw (uncrumpled / hand threshed / bundled), when semi-composted, sustained significantly higher mushroom yield (15.63% BE) compared to the yield (11.50 % BE) obtained from its un-decomposed state in traditional method of cultivation. When other wastes such as cotton waste, banana leaves and water hyacinth were mixed with un-crumpled straw, the biological efficiency increased further (16.06 -19.29 % BE). Paddy straw mixed with cotton waste (3:1, w/w) sustained the highest yield potential (19.29 % BE). It was also recorded that semi composted crumpled/ cattle threshed paddy straw (12.0 % BE) was statistically at par with the non-composted uncrupmled/ hand threshed paddy straw (11.50 % BE) in supporting the mushroom yield. The results can be highly rewarding considering that these were traditionally been poor mushroom substrates and there is a rising accumulation of cut pieces of straw due to the increasing use of combined harvester in paddy crop in recent times.

Forty two potassium (K) solubilizing bacterial (KSB) isolates were isolated from banana rhizosphere soils of Western and Northern Maharashtra, India. Among all three bacterial isolates have been found promising solubilizers of potassium mineral (Mica). The amount of potassium released from muscovite mica by the isolate KSB 49 (239.75 mgl-1) at 8 days after incubation, recorded the highest potassium solubilization followed by KSB 43 (228.25 mgl-1) than commercially used KSB (CKSB1, F. aurantia) (221.25 mgl-1) and control showed 42.81 mgl-1. Based on the cultural, morphological and biochemical tests, these three isolates were identified as Pseudomonas spp. Among all KSB isolates and commercially used KSB strain (CKSB 1), KSB 49 was showed highest zone of solubilization of potassium from K2SO4 and KCl 27.03 mm and 25.00 mm, respectively. Use of low grade, locally available soil mineral such as mica, may be efficiently used with potassium solubilizing bacteria as biofertilizers that can replace chemical fertilizers thus reducing the cost of crop production.

The agriculture sectors are the largest sector to provide employment to rural women. In recent years, most of the policy attention has been drawn by the phenomenon of increasing feminization of agriculture. It is the phenomenon where the roles of men and women are unbalanced whether at household or community level. The increasing proportion of farm work in India undertaken by women – a phenomenon commonly referred to as the feminization of agriculture has a deep and wide-ranging impact on agricultural productivity. The drift towards the increased number of women participations in agricultural production appears to be associated with a variety of factors, such as male rural out migration, the growing number of households headed by women and the development labour-intensive cash crops. The actual reasons for feminization of agriculture are poverty and farmer suicide, restricted mobility of women, male labour out migration, mechanization of agriculture, agrarian distress and shift of men to casual work, male labour out-migration. Major constraints faced by women are access to land, water, credit and other agricultural inputs, technology, new practices and extension services and education. Without establishing gender equality, development of a nation cannot take place. In order to ensure mainstreaming of women in agriculture sector government has taken several measures. Providing access to education, extension services, information, land, credit facilities, resources, modern technologies and other relevant agricultural innovations will entice many women to agricultural productions and will help to reduce poverty among women farmers.

An experiment was conducted for three years during 2013-14 to 2015-16 on clay soil to investigate the effects of rate and frequency of micronutrients application on drip irrigated banana. There were three rates of micronutrients (M1: 25, M2: 50 and M3: 75 g plant-1) and two application frequency (S1: full dose at 10 days after planting (DAP) and S2: half dose at 10 DAP and half at 40 DAP) treatments laid out in factorial randomized block design with four replications along with two control plots. The banana growth, yield attributes and yield recorded were higher with 75 g plant-1 micronutrients mixture application in two equal splits. The combination M3S2 recorded higher 25.38 kg average bunch weight. There was improvement in quality parameters of banana fruit viz., TSS (20.82 0Bx), acidity (0.37%) and non-reducing (1.83%), reducing sugar (25.73%) under M3S2 combination.

The Resource conservation technology (RCT) is an important component for sustainability of natural resources as well as the strategic tool for food security and higher productivity. A frontline demonstration was carried out at the farmers’ field involving 26 farmers with the surface seeding technology following RCT protocols on toria (Brassica campestris var. toria) utilizing residual soil moisture at the rice-based cropping system of Dakshin Dinajpur district under old alluvial zone of West Bengal during rabi 2017-18 and 2018-19. The productivity levels in the farmers’ field were quite high (1036.28 and 1052.40 kg ha-1 during two years) and encouraging compared to the traditional practice by the farmers with conventional tillage (845.51 and 856.35 kg ha-1 during two years). Decreasing tendency of technology gap as well as technology index have also been observed on progression of study. The return per rupee of the investment was higher where surface seeding technology was applied (1.94) compared to the conventional practice (1.45). The results obtained in the demonstration indicated the feasibility of the technology in the farmers’ field.

Rice is a semi aquatic plant being an important staple food crop in Asia and it occupies the enviable prime place among the food crops after wheat. Human consumption accounts 85 percent of total production for rice and it deserves a special status among cereals as world’s most important wetland crop. In India, rice is grown in an area of 43.97 million hectare with a production and productivity of 104.32 million tonnes and 2372 kg ha-1, respectively. The increasing shortage of water resources accelerates the development and adoption of aerobic rice system. Aerobic rice is a production system where in rice is grown in well-drained, non- puddled and non saturated soils. The yields that can be obtained here range from 4.5 to 6.5 t ha-1. Adoption of micro irrigation might help in increasing the irrigated area, productivity of crops and water use efficiency. Drip fertigation can be given at various intervals like once a day or once in every two days or even once a week, depending on type of soil and crop. Fertigation interval significantly influenced the growth and yield attributes in aerobic rice due to maintenance of adequate soil moisture by frequent irrigation and nutrient supply match with crop growth demand along with good soil aeration throughout crop growth period. In drip fertigation system the yield increment was up to 61.84 percent as that of surface irrigation with soil application of fertilizers. Scheduling of drip fertigation in right time is optimum for getting maximum yield in direct seeded drip irrigated aerobic hybrid rice.

A field experiment was conducted during the year of 2016–17 and 2017–18 at research farm of Navsari agricultural University, Navsari to study the effect of NPK levels and weed management practices on of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.). The crop fertilized with 125% RDF (F3) being at par with 100 % RDF (F2) resulted in the highest cane yield and number of millable canes than lower fertility level mainly because of remarkable improvement in individual cane, cane weight, cane girth, cane length, tillering and lower mortality. The dose of 125% RDF was found economically more sound, as it generated the highest gross realization (₹ 392423/ha) and net realization (₹ 277802/ha) with B:C ratio of 2.42. Among the weed-management practices, Three HW at 30, 60 & 90 DAP + Two IC at 45 & 90 DAP (W2) proved efficient in controlling the weed population and dry-matter production at all the growth stages, as evident by the highest weed control efficiency followed by treatment W5. All the growth and yield attributes were witnessed higher under treatment W2 (Three HW at 30, 60 & 90 DAP + Two IC at 45 & 90 DAP) and higher sugarcane equivalent yield (121.4 t/ha) was observed under the treatment W5 (Pendimethalin 1.0 kg/ha as pre-emergence + Gram as an intercrop) followed by treatment W2 (113.7 t/ha). The highest gross realization (₹ 425013/ha), net-realization (₹ 309579/ha) and B:C ratio (2.68) was obtained with the treatment W5 (Pendimethalin 1.0 kg/ha as pre-emergence + gram as an intercrop) followed by treatment W2 and W6. While, the lowest gross realization (₹ 274363/ha), net realization (₹ 174416/ha) and B:C ratio (1.75) was obtained under W1 (Weedy check) treatment.

A new variety of pigeonpea LRG 52, released by ANGRAU in the year 2015 was introduced in the district by KVK Darsi, which comes to maturity 15-20 days early (160 days) than the long duration variety LRG 41 (180 days) which is in vogue in the district. KVK, Darsi, assessed the performance of LRG 52 over LRG 41 in cluster FLDs in 50 acres each from 2016-17 to 2018-19. LRG 52 has shown advantage over LRG 41 in terms of yield attributes, yield and wilt tolerance. Yield of LRG 52 was 16.0 q ha-1 with net returns and C: B ratio of 40475 Rs ha-1 and 1:2.5, respectively. Whereas, LRG 41 recorded yield of 12.0 q ha-1 with net returns and C: B ratio of 28000 Rs ha-1 and 1:2.0, respectively.