Pintoo Bandopadhyay

Analysis of relationship between crop growth parameters, yield and physical environment within the crop canopy of sesame (Sesamum Indicum) at different sowing dates: Untersuchung der beziehungen zwischen wachstumsparametern, ertrag und physischer umwelt im pflanzenbestand von sesam (Sesamum Indicum) bei verschiedenen aussaatterminen

Relation between crop growth parameters of sesame (Sesamum indicum) and the physical environment within the crop canopy at different sowing dates was studied during the summer seasons of 1999 and 2000. The maximum leaf growth rate (LGR) and leaf area index (LAI) was obtained from February 19 sown crop. About 34.4% variation in LGR could be explained through the variation in the physical environmental elements within the crop canopy. The LAI was depressed in the later months of sowing. The February 19 sown crop produced significantly, the highest dry matter production (DMP) in all the stages of crop growth. The regression model indicated that the crop growth rate (CGR) was adversely affected by the ambient temperature and photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) within the crop canopy. Crops sown on 19 February and 1 March produced statistically similar yields. The cultivar Rama produced higher yields than B-67 and Kanke-1. Regression models suggested that the temperature profile and PAR within the crop canopy produced 69 and 39% variation in yield, respectively.

Arsenic contamination in cropping systems under varying irrigation sources in the deltaic plain of India

ABSTRACT A field experiment was conducted in an arsenic endemic area of West Bengal, India (22°57ʹN, 89°33ʹE) in 2010–2012 to understand different prevalent cropping systems of the area as to nature of arsenic uptake by the crops and influence of different sources of irrigation water. The experiment was laid out in split plot design consisting two irrigation managements [I1: irrigation with shallow tube well (STW) and I2: irrigation from harvested pond water (PW)] in main plot and four cropping systems in sub plot were C1: pea- summer rice- cowpea, C2: potato- green gram- elephant foot yam (EFY), C3: wheat- jute- winter rice and C4: French bean- sesame- winter rice. Irrigation from PW recorded less arsenic uptake compared to STW. Arsenic uptake was minimum with French bean- sesame- winter rice (C4), followed by potato – green gram – EFY (C2). System equivalent yield was the highest with C2. The highest return was recorded with C2 and the return per dollar (USD) investment was the maximum with C1, followed by C2. Potato- green gram- EFY (C2) proved to be the better option for the farmers in arsenic contaminated area with greater yield potential, highest return per dollar investment and less arsenic uptake.