There has been a significant increase in the demand of groundwater for agriculture, domestic and industrial uses. This has caused over exploitation of groundwater in some areas causing excessive lowering of water levels, sea water intrusion in coastal aquifers and upcoming of saline water in inland areas. To overcome from these problems the ground water draft pattern has been studied in the Patapur micro-watershed, which is located in Raichur district [semi-arid region].In the micro-watershed the main source of irrigation has been supplied from the tube wells. The necessary data[discharge of the tube well (lit/s), irrigation period (hr), irrigation interval (days), number of irrigation, crop details, soil types etc]required for the groundwater investigation was collected from the owners of the tube wells. Parallelly, the groundwater fluctuations during pre-monsoon, monsoon and post-monsoon for 2013-2014 were also measured [3-4 m during the month of June and July]. The total groundwater draft during the investigation period was 228,858.50 m3. From the study it was concluded that,t he micro-watershed prevailed with semi arid agro climatic condition needs groundwater protection to set sustained yield of rain fed crop intermittently.

A field experiment was conducted during 2005-06 to 2006-07 at Varanasi to find out the effect of three residue management practices viz. R1 (Residue Removal), R2 (Residue Retention alone), R3 (Residue Retention with Trichoderma) and four weed management treatments viz. W1 (Control), W2 (Hand weeding at 30 & 45 DAS), W3 (Isoproturon +2,4-D (1.0+0.5 ha-1 at 30 DAS), W4 (Fenoxaprop 120 g a.i. ha-1 fb Metsulfuron 4g a.i. ha-1) on weeds and productivity of zero-till wheat (Triticum aestivum L. emend Fiori & Poal) in rice-wheat cropping system during the winter (rabi) season. Weeds in weedy check caused 20.32 and 25.82% reduction in grain yield of wheat, respectively. Wheat grown under rice wheat cropping system with residue retention with Trichoderma application produced 6.8 and 8.2 % higher grain and 7.3 and 6.2 % straw yield over residue retention alone.

A field experiment was conducted during Kharif season of July 2013 & 2014 at crop research farm SHIATS Allahabad to study the effect of inorganic fertilizer and wheat residue on nutritional content and economics in basmati rice. Treatments were arranged using factorial R.B.D with three replications. The result revealed that increasing level of NPK fertilizer and crop residue significantly increases nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and protein content in grain. Besides these, treatment also found more remunerative in terms of net return and benefit cost ratio

Spawn is an essential component of mushroom production and it has a big effect on the sporophores production. During the mushroom session, production of quality spawn in minimum days and availability for planting beds of mushroom is a big challenge for mushroom growers. The present study was conducted with the aim to find out the most favorable sugar for the improvement of spawn quality and production in minimum days and its effect on yield and growth of Oyster mushroom (Pleurotus djamor). In the present Studyfive different sugars viz. Dextrose, Maltose, Starch, Sucrose and Glucose were mixed as a supplement with wheat grain for spawn production and effects of its spawn on the yield of sporophores and growth of Pleurotus djamor were also observed. The results obtained during the present investigation, in the spawn production maximum mycelial growth (98.00 mm) was found in glucose on 20th days and the mycelium was thick then others while in case of sporophores production maximum yield (613.33g/Kg of dry substrate with 61.33% B.E.) and minimum days for first harvesting (23.00 days) were observed in glucose spawn. Based on the results obtained, for production of Pleurotus djamor spawn and sporophores yield, glucose would be recommended most effective sugar for spawn and sporophores production useas supplement in Wheat grain.

Mushroom is a popular nutrient and protein-rich food of the world. Oyster mushroom is the second most popular mushroom after button mushroom all over the world. Growing medium of the mushroom is generally known as substrate. Substrate is the base of mushroom cultivation same as soil for crops. The present study was conducted with the aim to find out the most suitable substrate for the cultivation of Oyster mushroom (Pleurotus djamor). In the present experiment Wheat straw, Paddy straw, and Chickpea straw were used alone and also in a combination of each other with 1:1 ratio(w/w) for the cultivation of Pleurotus djamor. The results obtained during the present experiment, maximum yield (440.00g/kg of dry substrate with 44.00% B.E.), minimum days for spawn run (23.00 days), minimum days for first harvesting (30.00 days),maximum days for cropping period (61.00 days), highest pileus length and width (9.0 cm and 9.67cm) were observed at wheat straw while highest number of fruiting body (17.00) and highest number of lob (46.00) was observed in wheat straw + paddy straw. Based on the results obtained, Wheat straw would be recommended as most suitable substrate for the cultivation of Pleurotus djamor.

The present study aimed to examine the growth and instability in area, production, productivity and export of groundnut from India as well as export competitiveness of different importing countries for groundnut. It is based on secondary data, which confined for the period 2004-05 to 2013-14. The results of the study revealed that the negative growth rate in area under groundnut was found at national level while production and productivity registered non significant positive growth rate whereas export registered a positive and significant growth rate. The instability in export as well as in area, production and productivity at country level were low. The Nominal Protection Coefficient (NPCs) indicated that groundnut was found to be moderately competitive during the whole study period to all importing countries except Pakistan to which it was less competitive. Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Pakistan, Thailand and Ukraine served as the major importers of groundnut from India.

India holds the forth position in the world in producing Papaya (56, 39,000 metric tons in 2014). The production has lowers not increased in proportion in the area because of severe infection of PRSV which causes 60 to 100 present losses in the field. Which is responsible for not only reduced in production also quality of fruit is deteriorated and market value has been lowered. The export of papaya and its related products has been stopped because of PRSV infection. So, the present investigation was carried out to confirm presence of virus in infected sample without any advanced technology and skilled techniques with short period of time. There are ample of techniques were developed still but they are supported with sophisticated instrumentation and costly chemicals and these are having hazardous effect on workers. So in these work the presence of virus was tested by using indicator plant i.e. live plant samples of summer squash. Zucchini (summer squash) which is indicator plant of PRSV used for the bio-assay. After infection of virus to the four leaf seedlings it was found that after manual infection in controlled house inoculated plants shows symptoms like dark green spots accumulated on leaf surface after one week. In this way within a week, we can confirm presence of virus in a seedling material which is major carrier of PRSV from nursery to field.

A field experiment was conducted during kharif 2014 at ZARS, V. C. Farm, Mandya. The soil of the experimental site was red sandy loam with medium available NPK status. Experiment was laid out in RCBD with factorial concept replicated thrice. There were 12 treatment combinations involving 3 varieties (BAIF Bajra-1, AVKB-19 and GFB-1), two cuttings (Single cut at 45 DAS for green fodder and later for grain purpose and two cuts for green fodder at 45 DAS and at 40 days after first cut and later for grain purpose) and two nitrogen levels (100 and 150 kg ha-1). The results revealed that, the variety BAIF Bajra-1 recorded significantly higher grain and stover yield (8.95 and 62.66 q ha-1) compared to GFB-1 and AVKB-19. Single cut for green fodder followed by harvest for grain purpose has recorded significantly higher grain and stover yield (9.70 and 67.89 q ha-1) compared to two cuts for green fodder followed by harvest for grain purpose. Application of 150 kg nitrogen ha-1 has recorded significantly higher grain and stover yield (8.81 and 61.68 q ha-1) and superior over 100 kg nitrogen ha-1 (6.67 and 46.66 q ha-1). The variety BAIF Bajra-1 with single cut for green fodder followed by harvest for grain purpose along with application of nitrogen 150 kg ha-1 recorded significantly higher grain and stover yield (13.84 and 96.86 q ha-1). The variety BAIF Bajra-1 recorded significantly higher earhead length, earhead weight and earhead girth (37.24 cm, 18.93 g and 5.68 cm, respectively) compared to the variety GFB-1 (20.14 cm, 11.69 g and 5.67 cm, respectively) and AVKB-19 (19.15 cm, 8.66 g and 4.56 cm, respectively).

India is an agriculture based country and majority of the farmers in the country are small and marginal farmers. These farmers face the problems of seeds, fertilizers, pesticides and all inputs. Major problem is marketing there produce, an increase of intermediaries. In order to overcome this problem the study is conducted to know the problems and benefits to the farmers by forming the FPOs. The Study was conducted on the basis of both qualitative and quantitative methods, the results found were Organic farming is not practiced in the locality, no regular and authentic source of information to the farmers regarding market prices. The farmers generally rely on their own past experiences and information provided by fellow farmers. The benefits after forming as FPO’s were per hectare production improved by 10 per cent by the end of the study. Minimum 20 per cent rise in net income of the FPO farmers.

A survey on biodiversity of coccinellids in different ecosystems of Sardarkrushingar indicated the presence of 15 different coccinellid species belonging to 6 different sub families. Cheilomenes sexmaculatus Fabricius was found to be the predominant species. Majority of the species belonged to sub family Coccinellinae representing 40% of the total species collected, followed by Chilocorinae (20%) and Epilachinae (20%). The forest ecosystem contained diverse group of coccinellids, as 5 out of 6 subfamilies were found. Agro ecosystem was recorded with maximum species richness followed by horticulture and forest ecosystem. Based on the Shannon index values, coccinellids shared highest diversity during December, in agro ecosystem, November in horticulture and forest ecosystem of the study area. The diversity of coccinellids was comparatively low during April, June and July in agro ecosystem. In horticulture ecosystem, the least population was recorded during May and July whereas in forest ecosystem during February to September.