The present investigation was conducted at research plot of the Department of Plant Protection, am Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Naini, Prayagraj, 211007, Uttar Pradesh, India. The observations recorded at successive stages of plant growth were statistically analyzed for interpretation of results. The effect of seed rates on incidence of damping-off was studied at three seed rates and found that the incidence of damping-off increased progressively with increase in the seed rates but dry neem leaves checked the decrease in disease incidence. The effect of different treatments on incidence of damping-off of seedlings was studied. Of these, soil application of Dry Neem Leaves showed better results in managing damping-off both in field.

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum) is an important pulse crop of Chamarajanagar district next to horsegram, greengram and blackgram. The productivity of chickpea in district is (328 kg/ha) very less as compared to state (718 kg/ha) and national average (859 kg/ha). To establish the production potential of crop the cluster front line demonstration (CFLD) is a good tool. To increase the production and productivity of chickpea the ICAR-Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Chamarajanagar district has conducted 225 (90 ha) demonstrations on chickpea during 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20 on chickpea in three villages. The critical inputs were identified in existing production technology through farmers meeting and group discussions with the farmers. The study revealed that the demonstrated technology recorded a mean yield of 13.22 q/ha which was 25.82 % higher than farmers’ practice (10.50 q/ha). The yield parameters viz., no. of pods/plant and 100 seed weight were also higher in demonstration plot than farmers practise. Average extension gap, technology gap and technology index were found 1.77 q/ha, 4.78 q/ha and 26.55% respectively. Higher mean gross and net returns and Benefit: Cost ratio of Rs. 57575/ha, Rs.30298/ha and 2.13 was obtained with improved technologies in comparison to farmers’ practices (Rs.45788/ha, Rs.19396/ha and 1.73). Seed treatment of seeds with trichoderma and Integrated pest and disease management has reduced the incidence of wilt (4.60%), no. of larvae per m row (1.67) and no. of damaged pods per plant (4.27) as compared to local check (14.1%, 6.50 and 16.8). Therefore, there is a need to disseminate the improved technologies among the farmers with effective extension methods like training and demonstrations. The farmers should be encouraged to adopt the recommended package of practices for realizing higher returns.

Nutrient deficiencies have become one of the major constraints in sustaining crop production in the Himalayan ecosystem, particularly in Kumaon Himalayas which are highly prone for severe erosion and land degradation. Hence, study was conducted to assess the soil fertility status of Kumaon Himalayan region in grid-based analysis of surface soil samples collected by using systematic sampling methodology using GPS points. The soils of this region were predominantly gravely loamy sand to sandy loam in texture with medium to slightly acidic in reaction (61 %) and high in organic carbon content. Soil fertility assessment showed the soils of Kumaon hills region, majority of soils are low in available P (52%), medium in available K (79%), low in available sulphur (64%) content. The DTPA extractable micronutrients such as Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu content were varied from medium to high, relatively high in available zinc (52%), copper (88 %) and adequate in of available iron and magnesium content. So, soils will respond to application of fertilizers containing phosphorus, sulphur, zinc and manures. The maps of various nutrient elements clearly indicated the specific locales, where deficiency of nutrients constrained crop production Soil fertility maps generated in GIS will serve as a base line for predicting the deficiencies. Delineation of site-specific soil nutrient status, multi-nutrient (NPK) analysis suggested that balance fertilization based on soil tests need to be followed for higher productivity and would be of high significance to manage soil health, to help the farmers to make more informed decisions to increase the productivity and to improve their livelihood security.

Many legumes form tripartite symbiotic associations with rhizobia and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi; but still Rhizobium and phosphobacteria are commonly applied bioinoculants in pulse production. In order to study the tripartite association effect of Rhizobium and AM fungi, both pot culture and field experiment was conducted with two different bioinoculant formulations, viz., the existing carrier based and new water soluble powder formulations to enhance the nodulation, nitrogen fixation and yield in redgram. Both in pot culture and field experiment, Rhizobium alone inoculated treatments recorded highest number of nodules/ plant as 7.4 and 10.1 nodules /plant respectively followed by coinoculation with AM fungi. Combined application of Rhizobium with both the formulations of AM fungi recorded the highest grain yield (1362 kg/ha) and performed on par with each other followed by Rhizobium alone inoculated treatments. Similarly, irrespective of the bioinoculants and formulations, all the inoculated treatments recorded increased available N and P content than uninoculated control.

A bench scale model of Lab trials with 10 different combinations of Press-mud and other materials (FYM, sewage, spent wash, Leafy trash and green tops) were taken to find out pattern of distribution of different microorganisms responsible for Biogas production. Bacterial colonies observed in slurry at initial, 7th and 14th day were Rhizobium spp., Azatobactor spp., Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aurigunosa, Klebsilla pneumoniae, E. coli, Vibro cholera, Yarsinia enterocolitica, Micrococcus, Flovobacterium megningosepticum, Clostridium perfringens and Streptococcus lactis. The bacterial strain obtained after 14th day were Methanothrix soehngenii, Clostridium perfringens, Methanobacterium sp., Methanosaricina spp., Methanobrevibacter spp., and Bacillus licheniformis but fungal colony were absent after 14th day of trail. The fungal colonies observed till 14th day were Rhizopus, Penicillium chrysogenum, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatous, Microsporum spp., Rhizocktonia solani, Saccharomyces spp., Fusarium spp. Thus, over all analysis indicated that there were only bacterial strains which play an important role in biogas production in utilizing the industrial waste i.e. press mud with different combination for production of biogas. The best results were seen in 80:20 combination i.e., T1 which was composed of 80% press mud and 20% FYM and observed by maximum filling of biogas in balloon made it bigger in size than the other combinations.