Soil arthropods and earth worms were exposed to the different insecticides under field conditions for about 105 days. The observed taxa of soil arthropods consists mites, collembola symphylla, millipede, centipede, pseudoscorpion, diplura and ants in areca garden ecosystem. The aim of the study was on effects of insecticides on selected beneficial non targeted soil arthropods and earthworms. The results revealed that Chlorpyriphos 20 EC 10 l/ha were found to have negative effect on soil arthropods. Whereas, Phorate 10G 25Kg/ha and fipronil 5 SC 2.5 l/ha were cause toxic effect on earth worms. By using various chemical for controlling of areca nut root grub will cause toxic effect on the soil arthropods and earth worms in both the location Harakere and Gulukoppa. Although the application of Chlorpyriphos and Fipronil was efficient in controlling populations of areca nut white grub (Leucopholis lepidophora Bl.), as we expected, they negatively affected non-target arthropods and earth worms in the soil surface. Hence, areca growers go for integrated pest management practices.

Direct-seeded rice (DSR) is an emerging production system in Asia in the face of looming water scarcity, labor scarcity and the energy crisis. Field experiment was conducted at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana during kharif 2009 and 2010 to study the effect of establishment methods and weed control treatments on weeds, insect-pest attack, disease infestation and rice productivity. The experiment was laid out in Split Plot Design keeping five establishment methods in main plots namely direct seeding with zero till drill, modified furrow drill, conventional seed cum fertilizer drill, wet-seeding and manual transplanting and four weed control treatments in sub-plots comprising of pre-emergence application of pendimethalin 0.75 kg/ha, sequential application of pendimethalin 0.75 kg/ha and bispyribac sodium 0.025 kg/ha or azimsulfuron 0.02 kg/ha along with one weed free treatment. Weed biomass, disease incidence and grain yield did not vary significantly among different establishment methods. The maximum grain yield was recorded in weed free treatment which was statistically at par (P= 0.05) with sequential use of pendimethalin 0.75 kg/ha with bispyribac 0.025 kg or azimsulfuron 0.02 kg/ha. Post-emergence application of bispyribac 0.025 kg/ha significantly reduced disease incidence and was at par with weed free. The influence of establishment methods and weed control treatments on stem borer and leaf folder attack was not significant (P= 0.05). Thus, rice can be direct seeded with zero till drill, modified furrow drill and conventional drill with no significant effect on insect-pest complex. Weeds influenced sheath blight incidence; sequential spray of pendimethalin 0.75 kg/ha and bispyribac 0.025 kg or azimsulfuron 0.02 kg/ha, depending upon weed flora not only controlled weeds but also helped in managing the sheath blight disease of rice.

Climate Change is a global crisis. It is estimated, by the inter-governmental panel on climate change, that there will be increase in global mean temperature of about 1ºC above the present value by the year 2025 and 3ºC before the end of next century. In the present study, an attempt was made to investigate the cause of poor production of rice in 2008-09 in Navsari, Gujarat as compare to 2007-08, 09-10, 10-11 & 2011-12. Metrological data since 2003 was analyzed and compared with the data of 2008-09 and comparison was made to find the abnormality in rice crop productivity. It was found that during 2008-09, there were changes in metrological parameters (viz. rainfall, temperature, relative humidity, evaporation rate etc.) which disturbed the crop physiology indirectly affecting the yield of rice. The combined effect of rainfall and temperature was on relative humidity that created conducive atmosphere for insect and pest attacks on crops. Due to changes in temperature and relative humidity, evaporative water demands would have further aggravated the watering needs of crop. The study concludes that erratic monsoon or delayed monsoon hampers crop physiology ultimately yield due to erratic weather conditions. Further, such changes in rice growing areas could form the basis of planning and decisions on pricing, crop insurance, export and import policies of rice crop.

A field experiment was conducted during rabi season of 2013-14 and 2014 -15 in farmer’s field at model watershed, Neeralkatti village, Dharwad district of Karnataka to study the yielding ability of barley genotypes to INM and in situ moisture conservation practices. Significantly higher soil moisture was recorded in broad bed and furrow (BBF) at 0-15 and 15-30 cm depth at all the growth stages compared to flat bed. Significantly higher grain yield was obtained with genotype DWRB-73 sown on BBF with the application of RDF (50:25:0 N:P2O5:K2O kg ha-1 + 7 t ha-1 FYM) i.e. (BBF x DWRB-73 x RDF, 2122 kg ha-1) compared to rest of the interactions except it was on par with genotype DWRB-73 planted on BBF with the application of 75% N through urea + 25% N through vermicompost and recommended P through inorganics (2060 kg ha-1). Similarly higher number of productive tillers per m row length (108.5), higher spike length (11.0 cm) and more test weight (62.5 g) was significantly higher with genotype DWRB-73 sown on BBF with the application of RDF (50:25:0 N:P2O5:K2O kg ha-1 + 7 t ha-1 FYM) which was on par with application of 75% N through urea + 25% N through vermicompost and recommended P through inorganics.

The predicted 2-4°C increment in temperature by the end of the 21st Century poses a threat to rice production and it is projected that world rice production must increase by 1% annually to meet the growing demand for food that will result from population growth and economic development despite of the world's temperature increases, so an effort has been made to understand the influence of different temperature regimes on growth and yield of rice for development of suitable genotypes for predicted temperature. The present investigation was undertaken in the polycarbonate house at the Research Farm, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari, Gujarat (India) in summer 2010-11 and kharif 2011-12. Fifteen treatments, consisting of three most prevalent variety of the region viz. Jaya, Gurjari and GNR-2, and five temperature treatments regimes viz. 10 years average temperature, 5% above of 10 years average temperature, 10% above of 10 years average temperature, 5% below of 10 years average temperature and ambient temperature - open field condition, were imposed in the experiment on the basis of 10 years average fortnightly diurnal temperature during the whole crop growing season. The results showed that higher temperature regimes (5% and 10% increase over 10 years average) significantly reduced the grain yield of rice in all three varieties viz. Jaya, Gurjari and GNR-2. The yield reduction was up to the tune of 18% and 36.6% when rice crop experienced rise of only 1.3°C and 2.7°C respectively, in average daily temperature above 10 years of average temperature (Max.: 32.1°C and Min.: 21.6°C).