J.S. Kang

Influence of Different Typ es Mycorrhizal Fungi on Crop Productivity

Mycorrhizal fungi greatly enhanced the ability of plants to take up phosphorus and other nutrients those are relatively immobile and exist in low concentration in the soil solution. Fungi can be important in the uptake of other nutrients by the host plant. Zinc nutrition is most commonly reported as being influenced by the association, although uptake of copper (Cu) , iron, N, K, Ca and Mg has been reported to be enhanced. Water uptake may be improved by mycorrhizal association, making more resistant to drought condition. Often both water and nutrient uptake are higher in drought stressed mycorrhizal plants than in non mycorrhizal plants. The fungal strands are capable of altering the water potential of plants and can only alleviate moderate drought stress and in more severe drought conditions they become ineffective.

Tillage System, Crop Residue s and Nitrogen to Improve the Productivity of Direct Seeded Rice and Transplanted Rice

Rice is grown by different techniques for higher productivity with judicious use of inputs and natural resources. Transplanting of paddy seedlings is common method of crop establishment in the irrigated rice systems of Asia but transplanting is labour intensive (30 persons/ha/day). The preparation of land for transplanting paddy (puddling) consumes about 20-40 % of the total water required for growing of crop and subsequently poses difficulties in seed bed preparation for succeeding wheat crop in rotation. It also promotes the formation of hard pan which effects rooting depth of next crop. So, in this paper discussed the different methods of establishment of rice, sowing of rice in the crop residue of wheat with different tillage systems and use of nitrogen for higher productivity of rice.

Competitive indices of bed planted wheat based intercropping systems as influenced by row orientations and different intercrops

The field experiments were conducted on bed planted wheat in a split-plot design with four replications at the Research Farm, Department of Agronomy, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana during rabi seasons of 2012–13 and 2013–14. The main plot treatments involved two orientations of sowing viz., north-south and east-west direction. Each main plot was divided into five sub-plots to allocate the intercropping system with wheat i. e. wheat+spinach, wheat+fenugreek, wheat+oats fodder, wheat+canola and wheat+linseed along with sole crops. The treatment differences were studied intensively in light of the various intercropping competitive indices. Raising the crop in east-west row orientation resulted in maximum productivity, monetary as well as intercropping advantage as compared to north-south row orientation. Among the intercropping systems, wheat+oats fodder was found to be the most effective to achieve the best land utilization, maximum productivity, monetary as well as intercropping advantage under the irrigated conditions of north India.

Nutrient uptake, nutrient availability and quality parameters of mechanically transplanted rice (Oryza sativa L.) under split doses of nitrogen

The field investigation was carried out during kharif 2011 and 2012 at Punjab Agricultural University Ludhiana to see the performance of mechanically transplanted rice (Oryza sativa L.) under split dose of nitrogen. The treatments included 100 kg N ha−1), 125 kg N ha−1) and 150 kg N ha−1) in 2 splits before last puddling (BLP) and 15 days after (N100 (N125(N150 transplanting (DAT), 3 splits (BLP, 15 and 30 DAT) and 4 splits (BLP, 15, 30 and 45 DAT) along with recommended N (125 kg ha−1) in 3 equal splits (BLP, 21 and 42 DAT) and control treatment of 0 kg N ha−1. The grain yield, nutrients (N, P, K) uptake and quality parameters of rice were observed higher with N150 in 4 splits i.e. before last puddling, 15, 30 and 45 DAT as compared to other treatments in both the years.This treatment also resulted in maximum availability of nutrients N and K in soil, which were significantly higher than other treatments during both the years. But available P was observed maximum with N150 in 4 splits, which was at par with N150 in 3 splits during 2011 but in 2012, it was at parwith N150 in 3 splits, N125 and in 4 splits. N150 in 4 splits gave significantly higher brown rice recovery, milled rice recovery and head rice recovery than N100 other treatments. These parameters increased with increase in levels of nitrogen and its split application from zero to 150 kg ha−1. However, there was non-significant effect of different levels of nitrogen and split applications on minimum cooking time, elongation ratio and cooking coefficient of grains. Water absorption ratio by grains from N150 in 4 splits was similar to in 2–3 splits and N125 in 3 splits, but was higher than other treatments. The maximum protein content (5.72–5.75%) was N150 also recorded in N150 in 4 splits. The protein content in grains increased with the split application of different nitrogen levels from 100 to 150 kg N ha−1.

Effect of ryegrass intercropping on the yield and net profit of autumn planted sugarcane

Field studies were conducted on the intercropping of ryegrass in autumn planted sugarcane on sandy loam soil at Regional Research Station (PAU), Kheri (Sangrur) during 2000–01 and 2001–02. Cane yield reduced significantly with the sowing of ryegrass as intercrop in sugarcane. However, maximum reduction in cane yield was recorded with the sowing of two rows of ryegrass where double cut was taken for green fodder. The intercropping systems as sugarcane + ryegrass single cut (1:1), sugarcane + ryegrass double cut (1:1) and sugarcane + ryegrass single cut (1:2) gave statistically higher net profit which was of Rs.13904, 4987 and 6338 per hectare more as compared to sole crop of sugarcane. The lowest net profit was observed under the sugarcane + ryegrass double cut (1:2) could be due to the higher competition with the main crop of sugarcane for inputs and natural resources as soil and water. There is need of further research work to find out the fertilizer requirement for sugarcane + ryegrass intercropping because ryegrass response to nitrogen is very high being a high yielding, fast growing and multicut grass.