Phosphamidon [2-chloro-2-diethylcarbamoyl-1-methylvinyldimethyl phosphate], is a broad spectrum, non-cumulative systemic organophosphorus pesticide widely used in agriculture. The potential harmful effect on soil microbial biomass and its activity was accessed in the vertisol soil under controlled laboratory conditions. We examined the effect of recommended (RD) and double the recommended doses (2RD) of phosphamidon on soil respiration, microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and fluorescein diacetate (FDA) hydrolyzing activity. The incubation study was carried out at 60 % of maximum water holding capacity of the soil sample at 28±2 °C for a period of 42 days. Our results indicated that MBC in soil increase significantly with time up to 14 days for all the treatment doses indicating adoption of microbes to use the pesticides as carbon or energy source. Thereafter, the value decline and reach the lowest 37% of the control on 42 days. There was no significant change in FDA and soil respiration, which increase with the period of incubation, but the value of pesticide treated where less compared to that of control. Our results provide the first evidence that Phosphamidon differentially affected the soil microbial community through inhibiting fungal and bacterial populations.

The investigation was conducted to document and understand the foraging behaviour and diversity of major insect pollinators on Bael (Aegle marmelos Correa., Family- Rutacae) during 2014 at Main Experimental Station, Department of Horticulture, Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology, Kumarganj, Faizabad (U.P.). The major floral visitors were from Hymenoptera order, comprising of six species from four families and this was followed by three species from Lepidoptera and one species from Diptera. Apis dorsata and Eupeodes corolae were the most dominant foragers with mean number of visit of 3.15 and 0.43/panicle/5 minutes, respectively. Other species included Apis mellifera F., unidentified Apis spp., Xylocopa pubescens, Polistes hebraeus, Eupeodes corolae and Anaphaeis aurota. Peak activities of polleniferous and nectariferous insect foragers was recorded between 6 AM-8 AM and 10 AM- 12 Noon respectively. The study established the role of pollinators in Bael fruit set and hence conserving natural populations or augmenting them through placing honey bee colonies could realize maximum fruit set in bael.

Tillage is one of the basic agro-technical operations in agriculture because of its influence on soil properties, environment and crop growth. Since, continuous soil tillage strongly influences the soil physico-chemical and biological environment, hence, it is important to follow appropriate tillage practices that avoid the degradation of soil structure, maintain crop yield as well as ecosystem stability. Conventional mode of tillage associated with soil compaction, reduced soil organic matter and soil microbial diversity. Repeated tillage leads to sub-soil compaction, which is associated with the reduced beneficial use of water and nutrient recovery by crop plants. Recently, conservation agriculture (CA) based crop management practices involving lesser soil disturbance, soil cover and cost-effective cropping sequences found to be useful in lowering the production cost besides providing environmental services in terms of lower carbon emission and improved soil health. So, there is a need for adoption of the conservation agriculture in India for harnessing crop production profitability and making soil more productive with more environmental and social benefits. The literature about the performance of maize (Zea mays L.) under conservation tillage practices viz. zero tillage, permanent bed planting and reduced tillage are reviewed in this paper.

A study was conducted on KVK instructional farm Sehore (M.P)during 2009-10 (Kharif) to evaluate the production potential, Land equivalent ratio, production efficiency, Relative crowding co-efficient and Economic viability of among inter cropping combination viz. Soybean, Green gram, Black gram + Maize and Pigeon pea with ratio (4:2). The grain yield was found higher 40.9 q/ha under sole Maize fallowed by sole soybean 17.6 q/ha than all inter cropping combination. But total system productivity was found highest under Soybean + Maize (4:2) combination (2720 kg/ha) followed by Soybean + Pigeon pea (4:2) 2310 kg /ha than other inter cropping combinations. Inter cropping of soybean with maize in 4:2 ratio gave maximum monetary advantage, income equivalent ratio, production efficiency and cost benefit ratio 35900, 22700, 359 and 1:2.9 respectively than other combinations. This treatment accounted maximum land equivalent ratio (1:1.4). Product of Relative crowding co-efficient K>4.2 which proved the most efficient system. Because the negative value of RCC indicates strong competitiveness of crop, while the positive value of RCC indicates, weak competitiveness of crop. Thus maize and pigeon pea crop was found dominant companion to intercrop of soybean along with enhanced economic viability and sustainable productivity in Sehore district of Madhya Pradesh.

Integrated management of the orchard through intercropping vegetable crops and application of vermicompost or/and mustard cake is an effective approach to achieve high economic yield. This investigation was carried out to determine a suitable combination of inorganic fertilizers and vermicompost or/and mustard cake for intercropping Elephant Foot Yam (Suran) in Indian Goose Berry (Aonla) orchard. Greater reduction of soil pH (from 8.02 to 7.12) and maximum increase in organic matter (0.62% to 0.71%) was observed with T9. T8 (Aonla + Suran + 25% N2 from Mustard cake + 25% N2 from Vermicompost + 50% N2 from Urea), T9 (Aonla + Suran + 100% N2 from Vermicompost) and T10 (Aonla + Suran + 100% N2 from Mustard cake) were reported to be equally effective in improving available Nitrogen (197.86, 197.91 and 197.71 Kg/ha, respectively), available Phosphorus (25.58, 25.63 and 25.22 Kg/ha, respectively) and available Potassium (291.35, 292.45 and 290.41 kg/ha, respectively) in soil after 2 years of intercropping. However, significantly highest yield (62.31 q/ha) was reported in T8 which was at par with other integrated treatments.