India will become a water stressed nation by 2020 as the average availability of water is reducing rapidly with the increasing population. Within the twin city of Hubli-Dharwad approximately 110 million l of wastewater is generated every day. The present study was done to decipher the Urban Wastewater Irrigated Agriculture around Hubli-Dharwad, Karnataka, India using the primary data obtained by semi-structured interviews, participatory rural appraisal (PRA) technique and on-farm transect walks. Along the main Hubli wastewater nallas three distinct cropping systems are apparent: vegetable production; field crops with vegetables; and agroforestry. The perceptions of the farmers that they get more yields under sewage water irrigation compared to fresh water. Unregulated and continuous irrigation with wastewater also leads to soil clogging (sewage sickness), salinization and phytotoxicity. The treatment of sewage water to remove hazardous elements dissolved in it locally through socially acceptable, economically viable and cost-effective methods to sustain agricultural production, livelihoods systems and quality environment in the peri-urban areas is needed.

For the present study, soil samples were collected from mangrove areas of Gilakaladindi and Malakayalanka of Krishna District. Soil samples were serially diluted and plated on pectin agar plates for isolation of Fungi. The isolates were identified as Penicillium citrinum RR 101(KU 613360) and Aspergillus oryzae RR 103(KU 613361) Penicillium griseofulvum RR104 (KU613362) and Aspergillus sp RR102. Qualitative assay of exo-polygalacturonase of fungal isolates was carried out by growing them on to the pectin agar plates and the zone of hydrolysis around the fungal colonies was measured after flooded with iodine solution. Aspergillus sp. RR 102 showed the maximum zone of hydrolysis (14 mm) after 192 h at 370C. Maximum Polygalacturonase enzyme activity was recorded in Aspergillus sp RR 102 (2.40 IU/ml).

An experiment was conducted during kharif 2013 on forty genotypes of soybean to study the nature and magnitude of genetic divergence using Mahalanobis’s D2 Statistics. The data were recorded on eleven important quantitative traits from the genotypes grown in randomized block design with three replications. The forty soybean genotypes were grouped into six clusters. The cluster III was the largest cluster with thirteen genotypes. Highest inter cluster distance was observed between cluster I & cluster VI followed by between V & VI and V and VI respectively. The genotypes JS 20-89 having diverse genetic base for yield contributing components (cluster VI) was identified for yield characters primary branches per plant (3.67), number of pods per plant (111.67), number of seeds per pod(2.78), number of three seeded pods per plant(95.33), harvest index (35.21) and seed yield per plant. Whereas genotypes RVS 2000-4, KDS 72, NRC 107, RVS 2002-22, RVS 2002-19, MAUS613 can be used for shorter maturity duration and plant height (cluster I) was identified for early maturity with early flowering habit and average plant height. Genotypes included in these two clusters can be utilized for future crop improvement programm.

The present study was conducted to evaluate the graded level of urea and moisture treatments to enhance the nutritive value of SCB. SCB was treated with 3.5, 4.0 and 4.5 % of urea at 40, 50 and 60 % levels of moisture in a 3×3 factorial arrangement and ensiled for a period of 21 days. Samples were analysed further proximate analysis and In vitro gas production parameters. The chemical composition of SCB treated with 3.5 % urea at 40% moisture level enhanced CP, digestibility of DM and OM and reduction in fiber fractions. IVDMD and IVOMD, ME, total volatile fatty acids, total nitrogen and ammonia levels were significantly (P<0.05) increased as compared to untreated SCB. On holistic view, treatment of SCB with 3.5% urea and 40% moisture seems to be optimum and best for ruminant production system.

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is the world’s second most important cereal crop and is becoming a model plant for cereals. It is the staple food crop for Asian countries, supplying nearly 23% of the per capita energy for six billion people worldwide. Sheath blight of rice caused by Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn is a serious threat in all rice growing countries of the world. This disease is distributed in almost all the rice growing states of India. The disease is alarming due to its intensive cultivation of modern high yielding varieties of Rice with high doses of nitrogenous fertilizers. Though the resistant varieties are the best method of management, as the major gene (s) for resistance not yet found and resistance is majorly governed by polygenes, still management of this disease is depended upon the chemicals. This study includes the In-vitro evaluation of seven new generation chemical compounds which includes mainly strobilurins and triazols for testing their efficacy against Sheath blight disease. In In-vitro study 4 fungicides screened at 5 different concentrations (10,20,40,80,160ppm) and 2 were at 0.5,1,2,4,8ppm concentrations by using poisoned food technique. Among them Tebuconazole 50% + Trifloxystrobin25%WG gave the lowest ED50 value (0.0054g/L) followed by the Hexaconazole5%SC (0.005ml/L) and Propiconazole25%EC (0.011ml/L).