Aims: The study was aimed to observe “Effect of foliar application of Zinc on growth and yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum)”. Study Design: The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD). Place and Duration of Study: The field experiment was conducted at the research fields of School of Agriculture, Department of Agronomy, Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar (Punjab) during rabi season in the year 2021-2022. Methodology: The experiment was conducted with eight treatments and three replicationswere T₁- Absolute Control, T₂- RDF (Chemical Control) 120:60:40 NPK, T₃- RDF 120:60:40 NPK + Zinc (Spray @ 15 DAYS 0.5% ), T₄- 75% RDF + Zinc (Spray @ 15 DAYS 0.5% ), T₅- RDF 120:60:40 NPK + Zinc (Spray @ 15 DAYS 0.5% + 30 DAYS 0.5% ), T₆- 75% RDF + Zinc (Spray @ 15 DAYS 0.5% + 30 DAYS 0.5% ), T₇- RDF 120:60:40 NPK + Zinc ( Spray @ 15 DAYS 0.5% + 30 DAYS 0.5% + 60 DAYS 0.5%), T₈- 75% RDF + Zinc (Spray @ 15 DAYS 0.5% + 30 DAYS 0.5% + 60 DAYS 0.5%). Results: The results showed that the foliar application of Zinc at different stages, along with recommended dose of fertilizer had a positive effect on plant height, number of leaves per plant, Chlorophyll by SPAD value and grain yield of crop. It was reported that at harvest, the highest values of growth parameters like plant height (cm) were recorded in T₇ (97.07cm), number of leaves per plant was in T₇ (11.03), Chlorophyll by SPAD value was in T₅ (37.37) and grain yield was in T₇ (61.70 q/ha) which were significantly higher over control treatments where we did not applied Zinc. Conclusion: It can be concluded that along with RDF, foliar application of Zinc has positive effects on growth and development of plant as well as helps in increasing the yield of the crop as compared to the no foliar application Zinc. Along with this, it has also been found that foliar application of Zinc should be done in splits ie. at15 days intervals at crucial stages of crop which helps in maximum absorption of nutrients that ultimately affects the yield of the crop . Since the Zinc fertilizers like Zinc sulfate is a cheap and easily available fertilizer, it could find wider acceptability among farmers.

Background: The research on potash management in North East India aims to enhance agronomic performance of black rice in organic habitats through SRI-based potassium management, promoting sustainable agriculture, food security and biodiversity. It underscores the crop’s cultural, nutritional and economic importance while offering farmers sustainable production strategies. Methods: To assess the effects of potash management strategies on organic black rice under system of rice intensification (SRI), a field experiment was carried out at Research Farm of Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, during the kharif seasons of 2019 and 2020. The experiment included twelve distinct treatments with three replications, each arranged in a randomized block design. Result: The morpho- physiolo, phenological and insect pest resistance were notably influenced by different organic potash management practices under system of rice intensification. From the result it was found that the highest leaf area duration, no of tillers, AGR for dry matter (g day-1 plant-1), CGR) for dry matter (g m-2 day-1), Phenological attributes, with application of RDK through banana pseudo stem vermicompost with combination of mustard oil cake + 20 kg ha-1) T8. In case of AGR for plant height (cm plant-1 day-1) was more in T6 (RDK through azolla incorporation + mustard oil cake + 20 kg ha-1). Early flowering and maturity were recorded in treatment T8 with application of RDK through banana pseudo stem vermicompost along with 20 kg ha-1 mustard oil cake. The incidence of insect pest was also observed low under treatment T8 i.e., application of RDK through banana pseudo stem vermicompost + with mustard oil cake + 20 kg ha-1) and highest pest incidence was found under T1 (Control).

Purpose The individual benefits of Salicylic acid (SA) and Silicon (Si) on plant growth have been studied independently but there is limited research exploring the interactive effects of SA and Si on plant growth. Therefore, the objective of this current study is to evaluate the combined impact of SA and Si on the growth, chlorophyll content, and yield of maize. Method The effect of foliar application of Si and SA was estimated in maize in the year 2021–2022. Treatments were of two levels of varieties i.e., V₁:PMH13 and V₂:TA5084 and four levels of foliar application of Si and SA along with RDF i.e., T₁:RDF (Control), T₂:RDF + Salicylic acid (150ppm), T₃:RDF + Silicon (40ppm) and T₄:RDF + Salicylic acid (150ppm) + Silicon (40ppm) replicated thrice laying out in a randomized block design with a factorial arrangement (FRBD). Results T₄recorded higher chlorophyll content (15.64 mg g_− 1 FW) and growth in seedling tray experiment. It also had the highest plant height, leaf area index (LAI), total dry matter (TDM), and SPAD values in field trial. This resulted in a significant increase in grain yield (39.97%) compared to T₁. Additionally, T₃ and T₄, which received silicon foliar application, had the least insect infestation during early crop stages compared to T₁. Conclusion The results showed that application of Si would have increased synthesis of structural components in plant cells and enhanced resistance to environmental stresses and SA induced System Acquired Resistance (SAR) and promoted nutrient uptake. The results were further verified by principal component analysis (PCA).

Background: Nutrient management and cropping sequence are two important factors which affect productivity and profitability of crop. Profitability is one the important part of the successful crop production. Soybean fixes atmospheric nitrogen in soil and partially fulfills the nitrogen requirement of succeeding crops. There is a need for a suitable substitute crop or cropping systems after soybean to improve the soil fertility and productivity to maximize the profitability. The plains of Maharashtra are well suited for onion and potato cultivation. There is scope for increasing the area, production and productivity of onion and potato crop. Majority of farmers in Maharashtra following soybean-wheat and soybean-chickpea crop sequence while in present investigation soybean is grown in sequence with vegetable crop such as onion and potato which could help to increase profitability through higher net return and B: C ratio. Methods: The experiment was laid out in split plot design with three replications. Six combinations of two crop sequences (soybean-onion and soybean-potato) and three levels of nutrient management viz., 50% RDF+FYM 5 t ha-1+ biofertilizer (N1), 75 % RDF+ FYM 5 t ha-1+ biofertilizer (N2) and 100 % RDF+ FYM 5 t ha-1+ biofertilizer (N3) were the main plot treatments in kharif season replicated three times in randomized block design. During rabi season each main plot treatment of nutrient management level was split into three sub plot treatments with three levels of recommended dose of fertilizer viz., 75% RDF (F1), 100% RDF (F2) and 125% RDF (F3) to rabi season crops resulting in eighteen treatment combinations replicated three times in split plot design. The data pertaining to growth characteristics, yield characteristics, economics of soybean (kharif) and onion or potato (rabi) was collected at regular interval in 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20 at Agronomy Farm, Dr. PDKV, Akola which was analyzed statistically in SPD (split plot design). Result: Soybean-onion crop sequence registered higher profitability in terms of GMR, NMR and B: C in comparison with soybean - potato crop sequence. Soybean crop supplied with 100% RDN+ 5 t FYM ha-1 + Biofertilizer (Rhizobium japonicum+ PSB+ Tricoderma viridi) recorded highest GMR, NMR and B:C ratio over lower levels of treatments in all year experimentation. Rabi crops treated with 125% RDF recorded GMR, NMR and B:C ratio over lower levels of treatments in all years of experimentation.