Alkalinity is one of the main limiting factors of seed germination in alkaline soils. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Na2CO3 levels (0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 mM) on seed germination, seed reserve utilization and seedling vigour of three local bitter vetch cultivars (Buinzahra, Shahreza and Tarom). The results indicated that increasing Na2CO3 concentrations caused a decrease in germination percentage (GP), germination rate (GR), seedling length, seedling dry weight (SLDW) and seed reserve utilization efficiency (SRUE). The rate of reduction in shoot length in comparison with the control in different concentrations of Na2CO3 was detected from Buinzahra as 30-92%, Shahreza 39-97% and Tarom 13-83%. Decrease in root length was more than shoot length in all the cultivars at each Na2CO3 level, as compared to the control. The weight of mobilized seed reserve (WMSR) and seed reserve depletion percentage (SRDP) decreased with increasing Na2CO3 levels up to 10 mM in Buinzahra and Tarom cultivars and up to 15 mM in Shahreza. WMSR and SRDP then rapidly raised with higher alkalinity levels. These results suggest that reduction of seed germination and decline in seedling dry weight in response to alkalinity stress is a consequence of decline in seed reserve utilization efficiency. 
&nbsp;

Effects of Na2CO3 on seed germination, seed reserve utilization&nbsp;and seedling growth in bitter vetch (Vicia ervilia L.)

<div>Background: Direct seeded rice is very much prone for weed infestation in eastern Uttar Pradesh. The aim of this trial is to find out appropriate option for improving rice 
growth and yields besides increasing nutrient uptake. 
 
Methods: A field investigation was conducted during the Kharif season of 2014 and 2015 at Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. Rice variety MTU-7029 was sown with Sesbania and sunhemp cover crop bispyribac Na 25 g ha-1 + azimsulfuron 30 g ha-1 at 15 DAS and 2, 4 -D 0.5 kg ha-1 at 30 DAS were applied to find out best weed control practice for enhancing growth, yields and nutrient uptake in direct seeded rice. 
 
Result: Sesbania cover crop fb bispyribac 25 g ha-1 + azimsulfuron 30 g ha-1 at 15 DAS markedly improved plant height, dry matter accumulation, leaf area index, chlorophyll content. Consequently, Sesbania cover crop fb bispyribac 25 g ha-1 + azimsulfuron 30 g ha-1 at 15 DAS influenced statistically grain and straw yields. Sesbania cover crop fb bispyribac 25 g ha-1 + azimsulfuron 30 g ha-1 at 15 DAS recorded significantly lower nutrients (NPK and Zn) depletion by weeds and higher nutrients (NPK and Zn) uptake as compared to hand weeding at 15 and 35 DAS in rice.</div>

Impact of Mulch, Cover Crop and Herbicides on Growth, Yield and Nutrient Uptake in Direct Seeded Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

<div style="text-align:justify">Background: In India, rice covers largest area under cultivation. Among the biotic stresses weeds pose serious threat to rice if not controlled in its critical crop-weed competition period, reducing yield by 50%, in case of transplanted rice. The experiment was carried out to evaluate effectiveness of different herbicides and its combination with mechanical weed control methods in checking weed population in transplanted rice so as to maintain sustained production. 
 
Methods: The experiment was carried out in lower Gangetic plain zone during kharif season of 2018. It was laid out in randomized block design with seven treatments replicated thrice. The treatments were&nbsp; pretilachlor 50% EC@ 1500 ml ha-1 (0-4 DAT), butachlor 50% EC @ 4000 ml ha-1 (0-4 DAT), bispyribac Na 10% SC @ 200 ml ha-1 (Post-emergence), Sesbania intercrop @ 25 kg ha-1 up to 30 DAT followed by mechanical incorporation followed by 1 hand weeding @ 50 DAT, pretilachlor 50% EC @ 1500 ml ha-1 (0-4 DAT) followed by bispyribac Na 10% SC @ 2000 ml ha-1 (25 DAT), two hand weedings at 25 DAT and 50 DAT and untreated control. 
 
Result: Cyperus rotundus, Cyperus difformis, Alternanthera philoxeroides, Ludwigia octovalvis, Echinochloa colona, Fimbristyslis sp. were the dominating weed species as per experimental findings. Among all treatments two hand weedings at 25 DAT and 50 DAT significantly reduced the total weed density (no.m-2) while total weed biomass (g m-2) as was found to be lowest in treatment of pretilachlor 50% EC @ 1500 ml ha-1 (0-4 DAT) followed by bispyribac Na 10% SC @ 2000 ml ha-1 (25 DAT). Highest growth characteristics in rice was observed in treatment of two hand weedings at 25 DAT and 50 DAT. Pre- emergence and post-emergence application of pretilachlor and bispyribac sodium, respectively, was successful in achieving highest yield attributes, yield (4.12 t ha-1) and economic return (Rs. 47438 ha-1).</div>

Response of Rice (Oryza sativa L.) to Weed Management Methods in the Lower Gangetic Plain Zone

<div style="text-align: justify;">The experiment was conducted to explore salt tolerance potential of Urochondra setulosa and Sporobolus marginatus (collected from the extreme saline habitat of Rann of Kutch, Gujarat, India) and Leptochloa fusca (from RRS, CSSRI, Lucknow, India). The phytoremediation potential of these halophytes was quantified in terms of reduction in soil EC and pH. It was observed that mean soil pH values reduced from 9.5 to 9.13 and 10.0 to 9.51 whereas mean ECe values decreased from 30 to 19.7, 40 to 28.9 and 50 to 36.47, respectively at the harvest stage. In addition, the tolerance potential of these grasses towards salinity and sodicity was also explored through gas exchange attributes, K+/Na+ and biomass production etc. L. fusca and S. marginatus produced higher biomass under sodic condition while in U. setulosa it increased under salinity stress. Under sodic condition, L. fusca showed less reduction and maintained higher K+/Na+ in their leaf tissues. Based on these various indicators of stress tolerance, the three halophytes could be categorised as salt tolerant or alkaline stress tolerant.</div>

<div style="text-align: justify;">Salt tolerance potential of halophytic grasses &ndash; Phyto-remediation and Physiological perspectives</div>

An experiment was conducted to study the impact of seed soaking with plant growth regulators (gibberellic acid, indole acetic acid, kinetin, salicylic acid and ascorbic acid) and nutrients (potassium chloride and calcium chloride) on mung bean (Vigna radiata L.) variety Co (Gg) 8 under salt stress condition. The seed and seedling growth under normal and saline (150 mM NaCl) conditions were studied to determine their usefulness in increasing relative salt tolerance by using PGRs and nutrients. Under salt stress, seedling characters were significantly affected compared to normal condition. Seed treatments with gibberellic acid (1mM), salicylic acid (2 mM), ascorbic acid (50 ppm) and kinetin (50 ppm) drastically increased the morphological and biochemical parameters of seedling under saline conditions. All pre-soaking seed treatments increased the germination percentage, shoot and root length, vigour index and stress tolerance index over control. Among the treatments, gibberellic acid, salicylic acid and ascorbic acid showed their supremacy compared to other treatments. Na+ / K+ ratio was decreased by gibberellic acid, CaCl2 (0.5%) and KCl (1%) treatments. It is concluded that treatments with hormones and nutrients have reduced the severity of the salinity effect and the amelioration was observed in all the treatments compare to control. Gibberellic acid and salicylic acid and ascorbic acid showed best results on seedling growth and biochemical characters whereas seed soaking with gibberellic acid, CaCl2 (0.5%) and KCl (1%) were showed its effect on decreased Na+ / K+ ratio under present experimental material and saline conditions.

Impact of PGRS and nutrients pre-soaking on seed germination&nbsp;and seedling characters of mung bean under salt stress

A pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of different RSC waters and zinc fertilization on soil properties, yield and nutrient ratios of fenugreek on loamy sand soil. The experiment comprising 12 treatment combinations replicated three times was laid out in completely randomized block design with four levels of RSC water (control, 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5 mmol L-1) and three levels of Zn (0, 10 and 20 mg ZnSO4 ha-1 soil). Results revealed that under 7.5 mmol L-1 RSC of irrigation water, the ECe, content of different fractions of soil Zn and available soil Zn was decreased significantly, while pH and ESP of soil increased significantly. The seed and straw yield of crop, P/Zn in straw and Ca/Mg ratios of seed and straw decreased significantly with all levels of RSC of irrigation water. While, Na/K, Na + K/Ca and Na/Ca ratio of seed and straw increased significantly. P/Zn and Fe/Zn ratios of seed also increased significantly. The increasing level of zinc significantly increased the seed and straw yield of crop, Ca/Mg ratio of seed and straw. While P/Zn, Zn/Fe, Na/K, Na + K/Ca and Na/Ca ratios of seed and straw decreased significantly.

Effect of different RSC waters and zinc fertilization on&nbsp;nutrient ratios of fenugreek&nbsp;

Background: The field experiment was conducted at the Anbil Dharmalingam Agricultural College and Research Institute, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu during rabi, 2022-2023 to study the influence of spacing and weed management practices on growth characters, nutrient removal by weeds and nutrient uptake of direct seeded rice (DSR).&nbsp; 
 
Methods: The field experiment was laid out in split plot design with three replications. The main plots were spacing of 20 &times; 15 cm, 20 &times; 20 cm and 25 &times; 25 cm. Sub plots were assigned with weed management practices viz., pyrazosulfuron ethyl 10% WP at 20 g a.i ha-1 on 3 DAS as PE + bispyribac sodium 10% SC at 25 g a.i ha-1 on 20 DAS as PoE, Pyrazosulfuron ethyl 10% WP at 20 g&nbsp; a.i ha-1 on&nbsp; 3 DAS as PE + Cono weeding on 20 DAS + hand weeding (HW) on 40 DAS, Pyrazosulfuron ethyl 10% WP at 20 g a.i ha-1 on 3 DAS as PE + Cono weeding on 20 DAS and 40 DAS, Pyrazosulfuron ethyl 10% WP at 20 g a.i ha-1 on 3 DAS as PE + Bispyribac sodium 10% SC at 25 g a.i ha-1 on 20 DAS as PoE + Cono weeding on 40 DAS, Pyrazosulfuron ethyl 10% WP at 20 g a.i ha-1 on 3 DAS as PE + Bispyribac sodium 10% SC at 25 g a.i ha-1 on 20 DAS as PoE + Hand weeding on 40 DAS, Hand weeding at 20 and 40 DAS and unweeded control.&nbsp; 
 
Result: The results indicated that the highest growth attributes, higher nutrient uptake of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium under DSR and were significantly improved by spacing 20 &times; 20 cm along with pyrazosulfuron ethyl 10% WP at 20 g a.i&nbsp; ha-1 on 3 DAS as PE + Bispyribac sodium 10% SC at 25 g a.i ha-1 on 20 DAS as PoE + Cono weeding on 40 DAS. This was on par with pyrazosulfuron ethyl 10% WP at 20 g a.i ha-1 on 3 DAS as PE + Bispyribac sodium 10% SC at 25 g&nbsp; a.i ha-1 on 20 DAS as PoE + Hand weeding on 40 DAS and hand weeding on 20 and 40 DAS. Similarly lower nutrient removal by weeds were registered under 20 &times; 15 cm spacing along with pyrazosulfuron ethyl 10% WP at 20 g a.i ha-1 on 3 DAS as PE + Bispyribac sodium 10% SC at 25 g a.i ha-1 on 20 DAS as PoE + cono weeding on 40 DAS. The interaction of spacing 20 &times; 20 cm and pyrazosulfuron ethyl 10% WP at 20 g a.i ha-1 on 3 DAS&nbsp; as PE + Bispyribac sodium 10% SC at 25 g a.i ha-1 on 20 DAS as PoE + Cono weeding on 40 DAS significantly increased the growth attributes such as plant height, dry matter production and total numbers of tillers and significantly lowered the nutrient removal by weeds.&nbsp;

Influence of Spacing and Weed Management Practices on the Growth Characters, Nutrient Removal of Weeds and Nutrient Uptake of Direct Seeded Rice

<div>Background: Finger millet production and productivity is lowering in India due to the growth of different weed species. Weeds are the prime yield limiting biotic constraints in finger millet. Therefore, the present investigation has been carried out to find out the suitable weed management practices on the performance of finger millet. 
 
Methods: In this regard, a field experiment was carried out during Kharif, 2018 at Anbil Dharmalingam Agricultural College and Research Institute, Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu, India to evaluate the different weed management practices for transplanted finger millet under sodic soil. The experiment comprised of ten weed management practices with different herbicidal treatments viz., pre emergence (PE) application of pendimethalin at 750 g/ha, oxyfluorfen at&nbsp;50 g/ha, bensulfuron methyl at 60 g/ha + pretilachlor at 600 g/ha, early post emergence (EPOE) application of bispyribac sodium at 25 g/ha, PE pendimethalin at 750 g/ha fb EPOE bispyribac sodium at 25 g/ha, PE oxyfluorfen at 50 g/ha fb EPOE bispyribac sodium at 25 g/ha, PE bensulfuron methyl at 60 g/ha + pretilachlor at 600 g/ha fb EPOE bispyribac sodium at 25 g/ha, PE oxyfluorfen at 50 g/ha fb hand weeding (HW) at 30 DAT, HW at 15 and 30 DAT and unweeded control (UWC) in transplanted finger millet.&nbsp; 
 
Result: The results revealed that lower nutrient removal by weeds, higher nutrient uptake by crop and yield parameters viz., productive tillers/m2, earhead weight and total grains/earhead were registered in application of PE bensulfuron methyl at 60 g/ha + pretilachlor at 600 g/ha fb EPOE bispyribac sodium at 25 g/ha. The highest grain and straw yields were also registered in application of PE bensulfuron methyl at 60 g/ha + pretilachlor at 600 g/ha fb EPOE bispyribac sodium at 25 g/ha and it was on par with hand weeding at 15 and 30 DAT.</div>

Influence of Weed Management Practices on Nutrient Removal and Performance of Transplanted Finger Millet (Eleusine coracana L.)

Background: Now a days chemical control measures alone develops resistance in different weed species. Integrative weed management techniques are more effective and sustainable than chemical management. Based on these facts, a field experiment was conducted during kharif, 2019 and 2020 at Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya to investigate the impact of integrative weed management treatments on growth attributes, yield attributes, yield, weed indices and economics of paddy.

Methods: The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with four replications. In each replication, five integrated weed management treatments were done namely, pretilachlor + paddy weeder (P1), pyrazosulfuron followed by metsulfuron methyl + chlorimuron ethyl (P2), bispyribac sodium + paddy weeder (P3), completely no weed (P4) and No treatment (P5).

Result: Among the chemical and integrative weed control options, bispyribac sodium + paddy weeder i.e., treatment P3 showed significantly better results than others in case of all the growth attributes and yield attributes except 1000-grain weight. Significantly higher grain yield than all other treatments were recorded in treatment P4 i.e., complete weed free (6.68 t ha-1) followed by treatment P3 i.e., bispyribac sodium + paddy weeder (6.54 t ha-1). Among all the treatments, weed indices like weed control index (80.17, 72.30 and 82.51% at 30, 45 and 60 DAT, respectively) and weed control efficiency (76.48, 79.01 and 80.79% at 30, 45 and 60 DAT, respectively) showed highest results on all the dates whereas weed persistence index at 90 DAT (0.91) and weed index (2.10%) were calculated lowest in treatment P3 i.e., bispyribac sodium + paddy weeder after treatment P4 i.e., completely no weed treatment. This study also indicated rice treated with P4 i.e., weed free showed highest gross return (₹116700 ha-1) and rice treated with P3 i.e., bispyribac sodium at 15 DAT + paddy weeder at 30 DAT showed highest net return (₹59269 ha-1) and benefit:cost (2.07).

Effect of Different Integrative Weed Management Tactics on Paddy (Oryza sativa L.) during kharif in terai Region of West Bengal

This study was conducted to find out the macro and micro-mineral profile of different feedstuffs and blood mineral profile of bovines in different physiological stages under farm condition in Mathura. Mineral analysis of feeds showed deficiency of Ca, P, Cu and Zn in wheat straw and Na in berseem. The cereal grains were deficient in Ca, Na, Cu and Mn. Maize and sorghum fodders were deficient in Na and Mn content than recommended critical level. Wheat straw, wheat grain, barley grain and mustered cake were deficient in Cu and all feeds contained excess of Fe. Plasma levels of macro (Ca, P and Na) and trace (Fe, Zn, Mn) minerals were above the recommended critical level except Cu. So it may be concluded that supplementation of Cu in the diet of farm animals containing high Fe feed ingredients is important for proper growth and production.

Effects of Na₂CO₃ on seed germination, seed reserve utilization and seedling growth in bitter vetch (Vicia ervilia L.)

Impact of Mulch, Cover Crop and Herbicides on Growth, Yield and Nutrient Uptake in Direct Seeded Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Response of Rice (Oryza sativa L.) to Weed Management Methods in the Lower Gangetic Plain Zone

Salt tolerance potential of halophytic grasses – Phyto-remediation and Physiological perspectives

Impact of PGRS and nutrients pre-soaking on seed germination and seedling characters of mung bean under salt stress

Effect of different RSC waters and zinc fertilization on nutrient ratios of fenugreek

Influence of Spacing and Weed Management Practices on the Growth Characters, Nutrient Removal of Weeds and Nutrient Uptake of Direct Seeded Rice

Influence of Weed Management Practices on Nutrient Removal and Performance of Transplanted Finger Millet (Eleusine coracana L.)

Effect of Different Integrative Weed Management Tactics on Paddy (Oryza sativa L.) during kharif in terai Region of West Bengal

Macro and micro-mineral profile of feeds, fodders and blood of livestock under farm condition in Mathura district of India