An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of different planting geometry and fertilizer levels on performance of yield and economics of compact cotton genotypes during kharif 2014-15 and 2015-16 at University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad. Interaction effect between cotton genotypes, spacing and fertilizer levels were found to be significant for seed cotton yield, yield parameters and economics. The treatment combination of RAH-274 sown at spacing of 45x10 cm with the application of 100:50:50 kg NPK ha-1 recorded significantly higher seed cotton yield (3668 kg ha-1) as compared to other treatments. It was found on par with genotypes RAH-99 and DSC-1351 (3575 and 3497 kg ha-1, respectively) at same spacing and fertilizer level. The above said treatments were recorded significantly higher gross returns (₹.154049, 150150 and 146860 ha-1, respectively), net returns (₹. 94911, 100701 and 97411 ha-1, respectively) and benefit: cost ratio (3.12, 3.04 2.97, respectively) over remaining treatments.

Twenty-eight pigeonpea hybrids resulting from 8 × 8 diallel mating design excluding reciprocal were evaluated in randomized block design with three replications for twelve different characters to study the magnitude of heterosis. The heterosis over mid parent, better parent and standard check were ranged from-38.05 to 33.02 per cent, -54.05 to 27.61 per cent and -48.50 to 13.75 per cent respectively, for seed yield per plant. Three cross combinations viz., UPAS-120 × GT-103, BSMR-853 × Banas and BSMR-853 × GT-1 showed significant and desirable heterosis for seed yield per plant over mid parent and two hybrids viz., BSMR-853 ×Banas and BSMR-853 × GT-1 showed significant and desirable heterosis for seed yield per plant over better parent. The best hybrids with significant positive heterosis over standard check were ICPL-87119 × GT-103 (13.75) and ICPL-87119 × AGT-2 (13.48). The best crosses selected on the basis of perse performance and heterosis for seed yield per plant were ICPL-87119 × GT-103 and ICPL-87119 × AGT-2 which could be utilized for their large-scale testing and general adaptability.

India is the largest producer and consumer of milk in spite of less productivity in comparison to advanced countries. These days’ consumers are more aware and showing more interest for A2 milk over A1 milk. Indian desi cow breed more specifically Gir Cow has A2 type beta casein; considered in A2 milk categories milk which is good for health due to its easy digestibility. In this context, a study has been put forth in three major Tier II cities of Gujarat, i.e. Ahmedabad, Vadodara and Surat purposively by considering their locational advantage, connectivity and cosmopolitan culture. Consumption pattern and consumer behaviour were two important objective of this study which were handled through chi square test and Garrett ranking technique. Fifty consumers from each district have been studied purposively who consumed Gir milk only. This study concludes that Gir milk consumption depends on both internal (push) factors and external (pull) factors. Increase in family members or higher family structure increase the milk consumption where as consumers prefer nutrition in milk to price of the product.

Eighteen rice genotypes were screened under field condition for different morphological traits and yield component i.e. chlorophyll content, days to 50% flowering, plant height, flag leaf area, tiller number per plant, panicle length, biological yield, number of panicle per plant, number of spikelet per panicle, number of filled and unfilled grainper panicle, 100 seed weight, grain yield per plant, root length, root biomass and root volume. Five tolerance indices for grain yield per plant i.e. TOL, SSI, MP, GMP and STI were also studied in the present investigation. The soil of salt affected experimental field, in which the genotypes were evaluated for their tolerance to salinity in the present study, was classified as sodic soil (pH 9.62, EC 0.37 dSm-1, SAR 9.86 and ESP 12.70). The experiment was carried out in randomized block design (RBD) with three replications in kharif season of 2013. The result was compared with the experiment done in normal soil condition (pH 7.74, EC 0.41 dSm-1, SAR 11.32 and ESP 14.32). All the morphological characters show significant reduction in various growths attributes of rice genotypes under salt stress. However, the extent of growth reduction under salt stress was specific and dependent on genotypes. Salt-sensitive genotype IR64 showed more percent reduction over control (% ROC) in compared to tolerant genotypes. The least % ROC for all the plant attributes was recorded by tolerant check CSR36. Tolerance indices MP, GMP and STI were found to be positively and significantly correlated with grain yield under both normal and stress condition.

Powdery mildew is a serious fungal disease of ornamental crops especially rose and it can plant stand, flower quality and yield. In this study, we have evaluated the efficacy of Bupirimate 25% EC for its efficacy against powdery mildew of rose. Bupirimate25% ECwas used at a concentration of 2, 4, and 6 ml/L with Carbendazim 50% WP1 g/ plant in 2 L for comparison at 7days interval for two seasons. Bupirimate 25% EC at 4ml/L and 6ml/L reduced disease incidence and resulted in higher yield compared to Bupirimate 25% EC 2 ml/L and Carbendazim 50% WP@ 1g/L. Bupirimate25% EC at any concentration didn’t show any phyto-toxicity on rose plants.