Background: 6-benzyl aminopurine (BAP) is a dominant regulation in minitubers formation. BAP treatment enhances both Crop quantity and quality parameter like days to emergence, number of shoots, shoot length, root length, number of stolons, number of minitubers, potato shape index and fresh weight of minitubers. The purpose of this study was to optimise the effect of different concentrations of BAP on potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) minitubers in a net house and in field. 
 
Methods: The present investigation, effect of BAP different concentration on potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) microtubers and minitubers were done at Central Potato Research Institute Campus, Modipuram, Meerut during 2012-13 and 2013-14. This experiment design was split plot with five replications and three treatments. In vitro BAP treatments for microtuber growth parameters included three doses (0.75 mg/l, 1.5 mg/l and 2.25 mg/l). BAP treated microtubers were planted in net house, again in next season BAP treated minitubers were planted in field. Growth and yield parameters were recorded. 
 
Result: The concentration of BAP (1.5 mg/l) led to decrease in all parameters as compared to BAP at (2.25 mg/l) treatments in both the varieties. Same result was also observed in field.

Effect of 6-Benzyl Aminopurine Different Concentration on Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Minitubers in Net House and in Field

<div>Background: Black Bengal goat is one of the important goat breeds of India. Cryopreservation of semen and artificial insemination are effective techniques for improving goat breeding programs. Various biochemical and functional changes that occur during freezing-thawing process results in poor post thaw sperm recovery. Supplementation of antioxidants to the extender has been reported to have positive effects on semen cryopreservation in various species. The present study was undertaken to assess the effect of antioxidants butylated hydroxyl toluene (BHT), &alpha; tocopherol on post thaw in vitro sperm characters, lipid peroxide level and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity during cryo&shy;preservation of Black Bengal buck semen.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: Semen was collected from bucks by artificial vagina, antioxidant BHT was added to the Tris egg yolk extender @ 0, 1 and 2 mM/ml in control group (BHTC), treatment group 1 (BHTT1) and treatment group 2 (BHTT2), respectively. Similarly, tocopherol was added @ 0, 1 and 2 mg/ml in control group (TFC), in treatment group 1 (TFT1) and treatment group 2 (TFT2), respectively. Each antioxidant was tested with 20 semen ejaculates. Semen samples were frozen in liquid nitrogen and post freeze-thaw in vitro sperm characters, malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration and SOD activity were measured.&nbsp; 
 
Result: Post thaw sperm motility, functional membrane integrity and viable count were significantly (P&lt;0.05) higher in the BHT and &alpha; tocopherol supplemented groups than control groups. Significantly (P&lt;0.05) higher acrosome intact cells were recovered in BHTT1, BHTT2 and TFT2 groups than the control and TFT1 groups. Further, BHT supplemented groups had significantly lower level of MDA than the control, while the supplementation of &alpha; tocopherol could not control the generation of MDA. Post thaw SOD activity was found significantly lower in the antioxidant treated groups than their respective controls. It is concluded that supplementation of BHT and &alpha; tocopherol were found to be more promising in conserving in vitro sperm characters from cryo-damages during freezing of Black Bengal bucks semen.</div>

<div>Effect of Butylated Hydroxytoluene and Tocopherol Supplementation on In vitro Sperm Characters during Cryopreservation of Black Bengal Buck Semen</div>

Background: A field trial was carried out during the Navarai season (Jan - Apr) of 2025 at the wetland Farm of SRM College of Agricultural Sciences, located in Baburayanpettai, Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu, India to assess the effect of integrated weed management strategies in drum-seeded rice. 
 
Methods: The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) consisting of ten treatments with three replications. The treatments comprised combinations of Bensulfuron methyl + Pretilachlor (PE), Trifamone + Ethoxysulfuron (EPoE), Florpyrauxifen-benzyl + Cyhalofop-butyl (POE), in combination of hand weeding and power weeding. 
 
Result: Findings indicated that applying PE Bensulfuron methyl + Pretilachlor (660 g/ha) followed by POE Florpyrauxifen-benzyl + Cyhalofop-butyl (150 g/ha) significantly reduced weed density, enhancing weed control efficiency and growth parameters like plant height, tiller count and panicle characteristics and also resulted in the highest straw yield (7215 kg/ha) and grain yield (5,550 kg/ha). The research concludes that employing combination of pre and post emergence herbicides represents a viable approach for effective weed control and enhanced productivity in drum-seeded rice. 
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Assessment of Weed Dynamics and Crop Response Through Integrated Weed Management Strategies in Drum Seeded Rice

Background: Weeds compete with plants for resources during cultivation and the control of weeds during the critical period of crop-weed competition is crucial to avoid yield loss ranging from 50%-90% in black gram. The first 4-5 weeks are critical for black gram crop-weed competition. The composition of weed flora, the duration of crop-weed competition and its intensity significantly impact yield losses in black gram cultivation. Therefore, the current study aims to evaluate weed management practices in rabi black gram, with a focus on identifying herbicides that enhance weed control, increase productivity and profitability. 
 
Methods: A field experiment was conducted during the rabi season of 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 consecutively at Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar. The field experiment comprised of eight treatments on different herbicide applications as T1- Fenoxaprop-p-ethyl @ 65 g a.i. ha-1, T2- Quizalofop-p-ethyl @ 50 g a.i. ha-1, T3-Cyhalofop-butyl @ 75 g a.i. ha-1, T4-Pendimethalin @ 750 g a.i. ha-1, T5- Oxyflourfen @ 50 g a.i. ha-1, T6- Tembotrione @ 120 g a.i. ha-1, T7- Weed check (control) and T8- Weed free, which was laid under randomised block design. Collected samples were analyzed in the field and laboratory for crop-weed competition, herbicide phytotoxicity and yield attributes. 
 
Result: The results revealed that weed-free treatment recorded the lowest weed population (5.27-5.45), weed dry weight (1.35g-2.20 g) and lowest weed index (0.00%) at all growth stages followed by pendimethalin (PE) application. Among yield attributes, weed-free treatment recorded the highest plant height (cm) which was at par with pendimethalin (PE) followed by cyhalofop-butyl (PoE) application. The magnitude of seed yield was increased under weed-free (1035.46 kg ha-1) and pendimethalin (PE) and cyhalofop-butyl (PoE) applications by 53.62% and 48.40%, respectively over the weedy check. Application of tembotrione recorded the highest herbicide phytotoxicity (5.3-7.6) over the rest of the treatments. It can be concluded that the application of pendimethalin 30 EC 750 g ha-1 as PE at 2 DAS followed by cyhalofop-butyl 10 EC 75 g ha-1 can be advisable for better weed control, lower herbicide phytotoxicity and higher yield.

Bio-Efficacy of Pre-and Post-Emergence Herbicides on Growth, Productivity, Nodulation of Black Gram (Vigna mungo L.) under Coastal Plain of Odisha

<div>Background: Greengram crop is grown round the year as a catch crop in different cropping systems of the uplands of the Krishna Zone of Andhra Pradesh. The practice of application of pre emergence herbicide like pendimethalin is very popular with the farmers for the control of weeds in the uplands, both in kharif and rabi seasons. Further spraying of a selective post emergence herbicide is also practiced by farmers. However, some of the weeds of kharif viz., Phyllanthus maderaspatensis and rabi viz., Chrozophora rottleri could not be controlled with these herbicides due to their late emergence or due to development of partial resistance to these herbicides. Certain new pre (PE) and post emergence (PoE) herbicides viz., pendimethalin 30% + imazethapyr 2%, acifluorfen sodium 16.5% + clodinafop propargyl 8%, fomesafen 11.1% + fluazifop -p-butyl 11.1%, are recommended in crops like soybean and groundnut.&nbsp; However, there is need to test these herbicides available in market for their suitability to control the weeds in greengram.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: A field experiment was carried out at Regional Agricultural Research Station, Lam, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, with an objective to evaluate selected PE and PoE herbicide mixtures in greengram managing the major weeds of greengram grown in vertisols of Krishna Zone of Andhra Pradesh during Kharif and rabi seasons of 2018 under upland conditions. 
 
Result: Among the two PE herbicides tested on greengram, pendimethalin 30% + imazethapyr 2% @ 0.75 + 0.05 kg/ha was found to be more effective in reducing the weed density and dry matter compared with pendimethalin 30% @ 0.75 kg/ha. The PoE herbicide mixtures tested viz., fomesafen 11.1% + fluazifop -p-butyl 11.1% @111g/ha, propaquizafop 2.5% + imazethapyr 3.75% @ 50+75 g/ha&nbsp; &nbsp;were on par with imazethapyr 10% @ 50g/ha in controlling the weed population without having any adverse affect on the growth and yield of greengram during kharif and rabi.</div>

Evaluation of Pre and Post Emergence Herbicides in Greengram (Vigna radiata L.) during Kharif and Rabi Seasons in the Uplands of Krishna Zone of Andhra Pradesh

Background: Uncontrolled weed growth reported to reduce rice yields by 33 to 45%, while manual weeding is labor-intensive, time-consuming and costly. Pre-emergence herbicides prevent weed establishment and post-emergence herbicides target established weeds, offering effective and less costly weed control. However, an integrated approach to weed management is crucial to ensure long-term agricultural sustainability and minimize environmental impacts and weed resistance development. 
&nbsp; 
Methods: An experiment was conducted at Post Graduate Research farm, M.S. Swaminathan School of Agriculture, Centurion University, Paralakhemundi, Odisha during the kharif season of 2023 in randomized block design with fourteen treatments viz., Pyrazosulfuron ethyl 10% WP @ 200 g/ha at 1-3 DAT(T1), Bispyribac sodium 10%SC @ 250 ml/ha at 25 DAT(T2), Penoxsulam 21.7%SC @ 166 ml/ha at 25 DAT (T3), Metsulfuron methyl 10% + Chlorimuron ethyl 10%WP @ 4 g/ha at 25 DAT (T4), Florpyrauxifen-benzyl 1.31% + Penoxsulam 2.1% @2027ml/ha at 25 DAT (T5), Pyrazosulfuron followed by Bispyribac sodium at 25 DAT (T6), Pyrazosulfuron followed by Penoxsulam at 25 DAT (T7), Pyrazosulfuron followed by Florpyrauxifen-benzyl + Penoxsulam 25 DAT (T8), Pyrazosulfuron followed by Metsulfuron methyl 10%+ Chlorimuron ethyl 10% 25 DAT (T9), Triafamone20%+ Ethoxysulfuron 10% WG@ 225 g/ha at 20 DAT (T10), Pyriftalid 31.0% + Bensulfuron methyl15.7% @375ml/ha 20 DAT (T11), Pyrazosulfuron followed by one hand weeding at 25 DAT (T12), Hand weeding twice at 25 and 45 DAT (T13) and Weedy check (T14) which were replicated thrice. 
&nbsp; 
Result: At 30 and 60 DAT, the total weed density and dry weight was significantly low in hand weeding twice at 25 and 45 DAT over all other treatments. At 30 DAT, the weed control efficiency was higher in the treatment Hand weeding twice at 25 and 45 DAT (T13) followed by T8&nbsp;and T12&nbsp;where the efficiency was more than 90%. At 30 DAT, the dry matter was significantly higher with T13&nbsp;and T8 over all other treatments.The grain yield observed with T13&nbsp;was on par with that of T8&nbsp;and T10&nbsp;and significantly superior over all other treatments. For getting higher yield and net returns in transplanted rice, application of T8, T10, or T13&nbsp;is recommended for transplanted rice during kharif season. This paper is aligned with UN SDG 14.

Pre and Post Emergence Herbicides Influence on Productivity of Transplanted Rice

<div>Background: Weed management is one of the most important agronomic constraints leading to severe losses in the cropping system. Intercropping has several advantages to mitigate the losses faced by monocropping in addition to which if there is a proper control of weeds then the advantages of the intercropping system can be multiplied. 
 
Methods: An investigation was conducted on medium black clayey soils at Junagadh during kharif 2019-20 and 2020-21 in randomized block design with 10 treatments replicated thrice, to evaluate the effect of different weed management options on the growth and yield of groundnut + pigeonpea relay intercropping. The treatments were: pendimethalin 0.9 kg ha-1 as PE fb interculture and hand weeding at 45 DAS (T1), pendimethalin 0.45 kg ha-1 + oxyfluorfen 0.09 kg ha-1 as PE fb interculture and hand weeding at 45 DAS (T2), interculture and hand weeding at 15 DAS fb sodium acifluorfen 16.5% + clodinafop propargyl 8% (ready mix) 1 kg ha-1 at 45 DAS as POE (T3), interculture and hand weeding at 15 DAS fb quizalofop p ethyl 40 g ha-1 at 45 DAS as POE (T4),&nbsp; interculture and hand weeding at 15 DAS fb propaquizafop 70 g ha-1 at 45 DAS as POE (T5), pendimethalin 0.9 kg ha-1 as PE fb sodium acifluorfen 16.5% + clodinafop propargyl 8% (ready mix) 1 kg ha-1 at 45 DAS as POE (T6), pendimethalin 0.9 kg ha-1 as a PE fb quizalofop p ethyl 40 g ha-1 at 45 DAS as POE (T7), pendimethalin 0.9 kg as ha-1 PE fb propaquizafop 70 g ha-1 at 45 DAS as POE (T8), weed free (T9) and unweeded control (T10). 
 
Result: The results of the experiment revealed that weed free registered significantly higher plant height, number of branches, dry matter per plant and&nbsp; number of root nodules per plant in groundnut and pigeonpea and was statistically on par with to intercultureand hand weeding at 15 DAS fb sodium acifluorfen 16.5% + clodinafop propargyl 8% (ready&nbsp; mix) 1 kg ha-1 at 45 DAS as PoE, pendimethalin 0.9 kg ha-1 as PE fb sodium acifluorfen 16.5% + clodinafop propargyl 8% (ready mix) 1 kg ha-1 at 45 DAS as PoE. The data on yield attributes and yield of both the crops depicted that significantly superior results were obtained with weed free treatment, which was statistically at par with intercultureand hand weeding at 15 DAS fb sodium acifluorfen 16.5% + clodinafop propargyl 8% (Ready mix) 1 kg ha-1 at 45 DAS as PoE and pendimethalin 0.9 kg ha-1 as PE fb sodium acifluorfen 16.5% + clodinafop propargyl 8% (Ready mix) 1 kg ha-1 at 45 DAS as PoE. While in case of groundnut equivalent pod and haulm yields, statistically superior yields were registered with weed free treatment, which was statistically at par with intercultureand hand weeding at 15 DAS fb sodium acifluorfen 16.5% + clodinafop propargyl 8% (Ready mix) 1 kg ha-1 at 45 DAS as PoE.</div>

Productivity of Groundnut + Pigeonpea Relay Intercropping System as Influenced by Weed Management Options

Background: Generally, farmers cultivate clusterbean [Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub] on rainfed area but seldom adopt weed control practices in it. It becomes very difficult and uneconomical to maintain weed free environment throughout crop period in the field under rainfed conditions. Therefore, the current study was aimed to find an effective weed control practice in clusterbean under rainfed conditions. 
 
Methods: Effect of weed management practices of clusterbean with T1: Pendimethalin @ 1 litre/ha (PE), T2: Imazethapyr @ 0.1 kg/ha at 20 days (POE), T3: Stale bed technology, T4: One hand weeding at 20 DAS (days after sowing), T5: Two hand weedings at 20 and 40 DAS, T6: Imazethapyr @ 0.1 kg/ha at 20 days + hand weeding at 40 DAS, T7:&nbsp; Pendimethalin @ 1 litre/ha (PE) + hand weeding 35 DAS, T8: Pendimethalin @ 1 litre /ha (PE) + imazethapyr 0.1 kg/ha at 30 DAS and T9: Weedy check were investigated under rainfed conditions. 
 
Result: Weed control efficiencies of imazethapyr @ 0.1 kg/ha at 20 days + hand weeding at 40 DAS (T6), pendimethalin @ 1 litre/ha + hand weeding at 40 DAS (T7) and pendimethalin @ 1 litre/ha (PE) + imazethapyr @ 0.1 kg/ha at 20 days (PoE) (T8) were statistically similar. Imazethapyr @ 0.1 kg/ha at 20 days (PoE) + one hand weedings at 40 DAS recorded higher growth characters viz., plant height, dry matter and yield attributing characters viz., number of branches, number of pods/plant and seed index than other treatments. The highest seed yield was recorded in imazethapyr @ 0.1 kg/ha at 20 days (PoE) + one hand weedings at 40 DAS (422 kg/ha), being statistically at par with pendimethalin @ 1 litre/ha (PE) + one hand weedings at 40 DAS (390 kg/ha) and pendimethalin @ 1 litre/ha (PE) + imazethapyr @ 0.1 kg/ha at 20 days (PoE) (392 kg/ha) which was significantly higher than other treatments. Imazethapyr @ 0.1 kg/ha at 20 days (PoE) + one hand weedings at 40 DAS recorded 27.9 and 33.9 per cent higher seed yield than imazethapyr @ 0.1 kg/ha at 20 days (PoE) and one hand weedings at 40 DAS, respectively. The net returns and benefit-cost ratio were maximum for imazethapyr @ 0.1 kg/ha at 20 days (PoE) + hand weeding at 40 DAS (T6). It is inferred that imazethapyr @ 0.1 kg/ha at 20 days (PoE) + one hand weedings at 40 DAS was found the most effective and economic approach for weed control in clusterbean under rainfed conditions.

Evaluation of Different Weed Management Strategies in Clusterbean [Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub] under&nbsp;Rainfed Conditions of Punjab

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 style="text-align: justify;">A field experiment was undertaken to evaluate the performance of different weed control treatments in cluster bean during kharif, 2015 in RBD with three replications. Treatment of weed free check was found best by recording highest values of yield attributes, seed (20.97 q/ha), stover (65.68q/ha) with maximum weed control efficiency at successive stages. Among different herbicides treatments, Imazethapyr + Imazamox @ 40 g/ha (PoE) at 20 DAS showed highest values of yield attributes, seed yield (19.59 q/ ha), stover yield (63.83 q/ ha), WCE (91.84, at 60 DAS) and minimum WI (6.0). In monetary terms significantly highest net return (Rs.86883 /ha) were obtained from weed free check, followed by imazethapyr + imazamox @ 40 g/ha (PoE) at 20 DAS (Rs.85398 / ha) and imazethapyr @ 75 g/ha (PoE), at 20 DAS (84394 Rs./ha). The maximum B:C ratio of 6.57 was recorded with treatment imazethapyr @ 75 g/ha (PoE), followed by imazethapyr+ imazamox @ 40 g/ha (PoE) 6.37.</div>