<div>Background: Potato (Solanum tuberosum) popularly known as &lsquo;The King of Vegetables&rsquo;, has emerged as fourth most important food crop in the world after rice, wheat and maize. Indian vegetables basket is incomplete without potato as its, dry matter, edible energy and edible protein makes it nutritionally superior as well as staple food throughout the world. 
 
Methods: The experiment during 2016-2018 was laid out in factorial randomized complete block design with three replications to study the effect of bed size on the yield and size of the tuber under different irrigation methods.&nbsp; 
 
Result: Maximum yield was obtained in 60cm bed (narrow bed size) whereas in irrigation system drip produced maximum yield. All quality parameters did not influence due to sowing method and irrigation system but chip recovery was more in drip irrigation than furrow system. Maximum yield through interaction was found in drip irrigated 105 cm triple row bed. Around 45-50 per cent water was saved through drip irrigation as compared to furrow irrigation. However, maximum benefit cost ratio was obtained in furrow irrigated 60cm bed size.</div>

<div>Influence of Bed Size and Irrigation Methods on Potato (Solanum tuberosum)</div>

Background: Agricultural crop diversification is an important stress relieving option for economic growth of the farming community. Integration of pulses in crop rotation helps in&nbsp;sustainability enhancing overall productivity and profitability of&nbsp;the cropping system. Broad bean (Vicia faba L.) is one of the important pulse crop of Manipur grown in the cool season. 
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Methods: The Present investigation was carried out at Central Agricultural University, Imphal during the kharif and rabi season of 2021-22 and 2022-23. The kharif rice experiment was laid out in randomized block design with 8 treatments as main plot replicated three times. During rabi season each main plot treatment was split into three sub plot treatments with three levels of recommended dose of fertilizers to broad bean resulting in twenty four treatment combinations replicated three times in split plot design. 
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Result: Residual effect of 100% RDF + Azolla + Azospirillum + Neem powder (N5) applied to previous kharif rice crop recorded significantly higher yield attributes, seed and stover yields and economic of&nbsp;&nbsp; broad bean. Among the levels of RDF directly applied to rabi broad bean, application of 100% RDF (F2) resulted in higher values of yield attributes, seed and stover yields and economic of broad bean.

Effect of Different Levels of Fertilizer and Residual Effect of INM on Yields and Economic of Broad bean under Black Aromatic Rice-Broad bean Cropping Sequence

Background: The global rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a serious threat to public health, emphasizing the urgent need for accurate, rapid and efficient detection methods. Conventional approaches for detecting AMR genes typically involve bacterial isolation followed by DNA extraction-procedures that are time-consuming, involve multiple steps and are not well-suited for routine screening. This study aimed to optimize a direct PCR method for the detection of AMR genes and to apply the standardized protocol for screening these genes in various sample types. 
 
Methods: A total of 150 samples (50 samples from each category) were collected from Chennai district, Tamil Nadu, India. The bacteria was isolated following standard protocols, DNA was extracted and PCR amplication was done to detect the presence of AMR genes. In the Direct PCR Master, PCR amplification was done directly from samples without the need for prior DNA extraction.&nbsp; 
 
Result: Escherichia coli was most prevalent in cloacal samples, followed by chicken meat and water, whereas Staphylococcus aureus was predominantly found in chicken meat, followed by water and cloacal samples. Regardless of the source, the genes tetA, sul1 and blaOXA-1 were consistently detected in E. coli, while tetA, sul1 and qnrA were most prevalent in S. aureus isolates. When comparing conventional culture dependent method with the direct PCR method, the latter showed a high concordance rate (&gt;76%) with the culture-dependent method, demonstrating strong sensitivity and specificity for most target genes. Additionally, the direct PCR approach offers several advantages, including reduced risk of contamination, a simplified workflow and shorter turnaround times. These benefits make it a promising alternative for rapid detection of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes, especially in resource-limited settings or during outbreak situations.

Rapid Detection of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Genes by Direct PCR Method: A Comparative Study with Culture-dependent Method

<div>Background: With the unparalleled growth in area and production, soybean has established itself as a leading oilseed crop of India. The crop is mainly grown under rainfed conditions, and the distribution of rainfall plays an important role in yield realization. The changed landform management with broad-bed furrow seed drill is gaining popularity as the system helps in in situ moisture conservation and draining out excess rainwater. A field experiment was conducted at Regional Sugarcane and Rice Research Station, Rudrur. The yield advantage by adoption of broad-bed and furrow (BBF) method over flat bed was 7.06%. Seed rate of 50 kg ha-1&nbsp;recorded significantly higher mean seed yield of 2804 kg ha-1 over 75, 38, 20 kg ha-1. The total benefit from adoption of BBF method recorded net returns of ₹ 53,233 ha-1&nbsp;and B:C ratio of 2.58 over flatbed planting. Seed rate of 50 kg seed ha-1 recorded the highest net returns and B:C ratio this was followed by 75 kg ha-1 seed rate. 
 
Methods: A field experiment was conducted for three years (2017-19) at Regional Sugarcane and Rice Research Station, Rudrur, situated at an altitude of 286.3 m above mean sea level at 18&deg;49&rsquo;41&quot; N latitude and 78&deg;56&rsquo; 45&quot; E longitude. Indeterminate variety of soybean ASB 22 was selected. The experimental plots (6m &times; 6m= 36m2) were laid out with split plot design with three replications. Main&nbsp; plot treatments were methods of planting: M1- Flat bed, M2- Broad bed and Furrow, and sub plot treatments were : seed rates; S1- 75 kg ha-1 (30 &times; 10 cm), S2- 50 kg ha-1 (30 &times; 15 cm),&nbsp; S3- 38 kg ha-1 (30 &times; 20 cm),&nbsp; S4- 20 kg ha-1 (30 &times; 30 cm). 
 
Result: The grain yields, water productivity, harvest index and economics of soybeans under BBF method of planting (in-situ water conservation) and flatbed practices were studied. BBF method increased seasonal soil water storage by 5.37%, 5.78% and 6.20% respectively compared with flatbed planting for 2017, 2018 and 2019 respectively. Seed rate of 50 kg ha-1 recorded significantly higher mean seed yield of 2804 kg ha-1 over 75, 38, 20 kg ha-1. The yield advantage by adopting seed rate of 50 kg ha-1 was 16.08%, 56.02% and 67.6% over 75, 38 and 20 kg ha-1 respectively. The total benefit from adoption of BBF method recorded net returns of ₹&nbsp;53,233 ha-1 and B:C ratio of 2.58 over flatbed planting. Seed rate of 50 kg ha-1 recorded the highest net returns and B:C ratio this was followed by 75 kg ha-1. Broad bed and furrow method of planting and optimum seed rate in soybean will enhance the soybean productivity.</div>

Enhancement of Soybean (Glycine max L.)&nbsp;Productivity through Sowing Methods and Seed Rates in Telangana State

<div>Background: Pulse require less water than other crops. It plays a significant role in combating soil erosion and degradation. Pulses are the main sources of dietary protein in the vegetarian diet in our country. They preserve soil fertility by biological nitrogen fixation in the soil, as well as being a rich source of protein and thus play a vital role in sustainable agriculture. In Tamil Nadu, the Cauvery Delta Zone (CDZ) has a total land area of 1.45 million ha which is equivalent to 11% of the state area and this zone is the potential zone for pulse cultivation. The cultivation of blackgram faces many problems like water logging and inadequate aeration, which affect the growth and yield in flatbed conditionsadversely. Further the major causes of poor productivity and soil fertility are imbalanced application of nutrients. Hence there is a need to evaluate the appropriate land configuration and nutrient management methods. 
 
Methods: The field experiment was performed at Soil and Water Management Research Institute, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, during the summer seasons of 2018 and 2019 in split plot design with four replications. In main plot three land configuration methods viz., broadcasting seeds and forming ridges (30 cm width), broad bed (100 cm width), flatbed and in sub plot three nutrient management methods viz., control (S1), recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) (S2), RDF+biofertilizers (S3) in a plot size of 40 m2. In all the land configuration methods 30 cm row spacing is adopted. Line sowing is followed in broad bed (M2) and flat bed method (M3). In broadcasting seeds and forming ridges (M1) the seeds will be broadcasted after land preparation and ridges (30 cm) will be formed with ridge former. Uniform seed rate is adopted in all the methods. 
 
Result: Sowing of blackgram in broad beds along with 100% RDF + biofertilizers was found to be superior over flat bed and broadcasting seeds and forming ridges by producing higher grain yield and B:C ratio and achieved the higher productivity and profitability.</div>

​Effect of Land Configuration and Nutrient Management Methods on Growth and Yield of Blackgram (Vigna mungo)

<div>Background: Adequate tillage checks and delays the emergence of weeds and provides a more favourable environment for early crop establishment. Slow growth of crop plant provides favourable environment for emergence of weeds. Cultural as well as mechanical practices such as hand weeding and intercultural are effective but unavailability of labour and continuous rainfall in rainy season does not permit for timely management of weeds Chemical weed control is effective weed management option which provides effective control of weeds. It is well known that weeds are ubiquitous but their presence in cropped area particularly in rainy season crops like clusterbean act as major limiting factor in achieving high potential yield. The current study aimed to study the impact of crop establishment methods and weed control practices on productivity and profitability of clusterbean.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: A field experiment was carried out to find out suitable method of crop establishment methods and weed management practices in clusterbean during kharif seasons of 2018, 2019 and 2020. The experiment was conducted in spilt plot design with three replications. The treatments were four crop establishment methods viz., conventional sowing, zero tillage sowing, broad bed sowing, zero tillage sowing with mulch as main plots and four weed control practices viz., weedy check, pendimethalin+imazethapyr 1000 g ha-1, T3- Imazethapyr 40 g ha-1, T4-Imazethapyr+imazamox 40 g ha-1 as sub plot treatments . 
 
Result: The broad bed sowing of clusterbean along with pre-emergence application of&nbsp; pendimethalin+ imazethapyr 1000 g ha-1 was found effective to achieve higher productivity and farm profitability.</div>

Effect of Crop Establishment Methods and Weed Management Practices on Productivity and Profitability of Clusterbean under Semi-arid Region of Rajasthan

<div style="text-align: justify;">To investigate the effect of planting methods and irrigation levels on irrigation water productivity and onion (Allium cepa L.) yield, a field experiment was conducted on sandy loam soil at the Research Farm of Department of Soil Science, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana during rabi 2011-12. Three planting methods tested include drip irrigated beds, furrow irrigated beds and flat flood irrigation. In drip irrigated beds and furrow irrigated beds three onion rows were planted on 55 cm wide beds at a spacing of 15 cm from row to row. Three levels of irrigation water were tested i.e. IW/PAN-E ratio of 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5 in drip irrigated onions and 1.2, 1.6 and 2.0 in both bed furrow and flat flood methods of irrigation. The results of the experiment indicated that in drip irrigated beds by applying same quantity and 50 per cent of water as of flat flood irrigation, the yield was increased by 43 and 25 per cent, respectively. Irrespective of irrigation levels, highest onion yield (32.5 t ha-1) was recorded under drip irrigated beds followed by furrow irrigated beds (28.5 t ha-1) and least under flat flood irrigation method (25.0 t ha-1). The onion yield increases with the increase in irrigation level in all the planting methods. The highest irrigation water productivity was observed under drip irrigated beds (1.26 t ha-1 cm) followed by furrow irrigated beds (0.84 t ha-1 cm) and least under flat flood irrigation (0.48 t ha-1 cm) with equivalent IW/PAN-E ratios. Bigger size onions (40 mm and 50 mm) were observed under drip irrigated beds followed by furrow irrigated beds and smallest size bulbs under flat flood method of irrigation. The results revealed that drip irrigation could successfully be used for onion production with significant water saving and higher production. &nbsp;</div>

Effect of planting methods and irrigation levels on water productivity of onion (Allium cepa L.)

<div style="text-align: justify;">An experiment was carried out to find out suitable method of planting and weed management in green gram grown during the kharif season of 2014 and 2015. The density of E. colona and C. rotundus was significantly reduced in raised bed planting method. Significant reduction in total dry weight of weeds was obtained in raised bed planting method as compared to conventional and zero till planting method. Maximum weed control efficiency was found in raised bed planting method. Significantly more number of seeds pod-1 were observed in raised bed planting method as compared to conventional and zero till planting method. Seed yield and straw yield were found maximum in raised bed planting method during both years of study and were statistically at par in conventional and zero till planting method. Harvest index was not influenced by planting methods. Phytotoxicity on crop due to different herbicides was similar under different planting methods. Among different weed management treatments, HW at 15 and 30 DAS was found most effective in reducing density and dry weight of weeds during crop growing period except at 15 DAS (where weeding was done after taking observation). Maximum weed control efficiency was observed in HW (15 &amp; 30 DAS). Weedy check treatment resulted in minimum while weed free treatment resulted in maximum number of seeds pod-1. Among the treatments having herbicide application, post emergence application of Imazethapyr @ 100 g ha-1 resulted in maximum seed and stover yield.&nbsp;</div>

Effect of planting methods and weed management practices on yield of green gram {Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek}, weed dynamics vis a vis phytotoxicity in green gram

<div>Background: Nitrogen fertilizer is imperative for rice and wheat growth and dry matter yield as compare to other macronutrients. Nitrogen is also added in high amount in every one of rice and wheat cultivation method. Effective uptake of added nitrogen by crops from soil supports in increasing crop growth and dry matter yield. Best N fertilizer utilization is indispensable for improving crop growth and to decrease environmental pollution.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: A comparison of the utility of nitrogen fertilizer usage by plants in wheat and rice crops grown on beds and flat land was planned in the current investigation. Beds were manufactured with bed planter machine. The plant samples were collected, dried and digested with acid for mineral nutrients analysis after harvesting the crops. 
 
Result: The results showed that the addition of N fertilizer (80 kg / ha) to the bed produced at par yield (4.51 t / ha) as obtained by an addition of 120 kg N / ha in flat sowing. Planting of rice on bed plus furrow and adding N (100 kg / ha) to the prescribed dosage of N (150 kg / ha) in flat sowing produced at par yield. It concludes that by planting crops on beds without loss in yield, higher use of N fertilizer in crops can be minimized. Thus, bed planting strategies effectively and indirectly minimize nitrous oxide emissions from applied nitrogen fertilizers in wheat and rice crop fields through increasing the usage of added N fertilizer through plants.</div>

<div>Bed Planting Techniques Improved Crop Yield by Efficient use of Added Nitrogen Fertilizer</div>

<div style="text-align: justify;">A field experiment was conducted at Regional Research Station, Karnal, CCS Haryana Agricultural University during spring 2017 to study on different planting method and nitrogen level on growth parameter and nitrogen use efficiency of sugarcane. The experiment was conducted in split plot design with three replications. The treatments comprises of four methods of planting viz. conventional planting at 75 cm (M1), half ridge open furrow irrigation planting at 75 cm (M2), wide bed and furrow paired row planting (M3) and wider planting (M4) at 120 cm and six different nitrogen levels viz. control (N1), 75 (N2), 100 (N3), 125 (N4), 150 (N5), 175 kg N ha-1 (N6). Germination count was significantly affected by planting methods at 30 and 45 DAP, however, it was found to be non significant among nitrogen levels. Neither the planting methods nor the nitrogen levels had any significant effect on nutrient use efficiency, brix, pol, juice purity and commercial cane sugar. Significantly higher sugar yield (11.9 t/ha) was recorded in wide bed and furrow paired row planting which was 22.7, 8.2, and 6.3 per cent higher than conventional, wider planting and half ridge open furrow method, respectively. Lower sugar yield (9.7 t/ha) was recorded in conventional method. Among nitrogen levels, sugar yield increases with successive increase in nitrogen application upto recommended dose of 150 kg N/ha.</div>

<div style="text-align: justify;">Growth, Nutrient Use Efficiency and Quality of Spring Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) under Different Planting Method and Nitrogen Level</div>