Effects of vermicompost, fertilizer and mulch on plant growth, nodulation and pod yield of French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

B.K. Singh, K.A. Pathak, A.K. Verma, V.K. Verma and B.C. Deka

Vegetable Crops Research Bulletin 74: 153-165, 2011

E-mail: bksinghkushinagar@yahoo.co.in

Abstract

Integration of vermicompost and organic mulch as elements of vegetable production system sustain soil fertility and crop productivity. A field experiment was conducted with the objective to investigate the effects of vermicompost, NPK fertilizer and organic mulch on crop growth, nodulation and pod yield of French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L) with an ultimate aim of optimizing water and nutrient requirement in mild-tropical climate during dry season. The shoot growth traits, namely shoot length, number of primary branches, shoot fresh weight and shoot dry weight were increased by 28-63 % through application of N P₂O₅ K₂O 8:13:10 kg/ha + vermicompost 3.75 t/ha and by 5-50 % in organic mulching treatments. Application of vermicompost reduced nodule fresh weight and nodule dry weight by 44.9 and 44.5 %, respectively. Likewise, corresponding nodule number, nodule fresh weight and nodule dry weight were reduced by 8.6, 11.1 and 14.1 % with organic mulching. Poor nodulations might be due to reduced oxygenation of the soils under vermicompost and organic mulch which is ultimately impeding the nitrogenase activity and biological nitrogen fixation. Mulching of French bean with dried grasses and crop residues are also led to higher single pod weight, pod length, pod weight/ plant and pod yield by 10.9, 12.8, 20.1 and 20.2 %, respectively. Present study shows that application of N P₂O₅ K₂O fertilizer 8-15:13-25:10-20 kg/ha, vermicompost 2.50-3.75 t/ha, 4 cm thick mulch of dried crop residues and 50 % irrigation is the most suitable and sustainable strategy to improve plant growth, pod formation and pod yield of French bean, and soil health of mild-tropical climate during dry season. 

Key words: French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), mulching, vermicompost, nodulation, pod yield, split plot design (SPD).

Gene action of economic traits in brinjal (Solanum melongena L.)

V Prasad, V K Dwivedi, A A Deshpande and B K Singh

Vegetable Science 37 (1): 97-99, 2010

 Twenty eight cross combinations along with their eight parents were transplanted in randomized block design to generate information on genetic architecture of economic traits in brinjal. The significance of additive and dominance genetic variance suggested that both these gene actions were important in the expression of characters. Dominance genetic variance was greater than additive genetic variance for all traits except fruit length, fruit breadth and average fruit weight, which could be exploited through heterosis breeding, nevertheless fruit size and weight could be improved through hybridization followed by selection. The positive sign of F and more than one value of KD/ KR ratio for plant height at last picking, number of primary branches per plant, days to first fruit picking, fruit setting flowers, fruit length, fruit breadth, yield of marketable fruits per plant and average fruit weight suggested the greater scope of improvement through heterosis breeding.

Key words: Diallel, genetic component, eggplant and quantitative traits. 

Variability and character association in elephant foot yam [Amarphophallus paeoniifoliusm (Dennst) Nicolson].

S Kumar, P K Singh, K Kumar and B K Singh

Journal of Root Crops 36 (1): 105-110, 2010.

ABSTRACT

Analysis of eleven horticultural and quality traits among 35 collections of elephant foot yam revealed the presence of adequate variability which could be harnessed for developing cultivars with high yield potential. Based on individual corm weight, corm yield, dry matter and starch content the following collection such as NDA-35, NDA-9, NDA-5, NDA-14, NDA-4 and NDA-10 were identified as promising for cultivation. The phenotypic and genotypic coefficients of variation were high for number of cormel, weight of individual corm, yield, size of cormel and size of individual corm. Moderate to high heritability was evident for all the traits and was accompanied with high genetic advance for weight of individual corm, size of cormel, yield, size of individual corm, number of cormel which suggests the role of additive gene action and thus a high genetic gain is expected from selection of these traits. Moreover, high heritability along with moderate genetic advance for starch content, plant height, canopy spread and stem girth reveals the presence of additive and non-additive gene action simultaneously. The starch content, plant height, weight of individual corm, size of individual corm, stem girth, canopy spread and dry matter were the most important yield contributing traits based on correlation study. Among them, dry matter, starch content, size of individual corm and plant height showed major effect upon yield as a consequence of direct effect and provides most effective selection indices for improvement of elephant foot yam.

Keywords: Elephant foot yam, variability, heritability, correlation and path coefficient. 

Cabbage genotypes with higher carotenoids and ascorbic acid

B.K. Singh, S.R. Sharma, Chandra Prakash, R.N. Barwal and M.R. Dhiman

ICAR News: A Science and Technology Newsletter 16 (1): 13, 2010
E-mail: bksinghkushinagar@yahoo.co.in

There were reports of heritable variants of cabbage for carotenoids (vit.-A precursor) and ascorbic acid (vit.-C) contents. Bio-fortifying cabbage with high contents of carotenoids and ascorbic acid in good agronomic background can help in alleviating vitamins related deficiencies like cataract and scurvy, widespread among 57% of the children below six years of age. Cabbage genotypes, 26 indigenous and 10 exotic lines, maintained at Katrain were evaluated. Samples were taken at a fresh marketable stage and those frozen immediately in liquid nitrogen, and the ones stored at –80°C, and were analysed for carotenoids and ascorbic acid contents. Genotypes found with high carotenoids (>900 μg/100g fresh head weight) were Red Cabbage, KIRC 1-1, KIRC 2, C 6 KIRC 1A, EC 490162 and MR 1. And most promising genotypes for high ascorbic acid content (>45 mg/100g fresh head weight) were C 3, C 2, C 4, Pusa Mukta, C 8, C 6 (all savoy types), CMS 3 and EC 490162. It also indicated that inclusion of savoy-type genotypes in the breeding programmes would be beneficial to improve ascorbic acid content of cabbage heads.

Nodulation characteristics, nodule nitrogen, and carbon dioxide fixation in pigeon pea as affected by nitrogen

Bhupinder Singh and Binod Kumar Singh

International Journal of Vegetable Science, 17: 274–282, 2011

Abstract

The legume pigeon pea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] is an important rainfed crop in many areas of the world. Production can be reduced when high nitrogen is present and symbiotic activity is low. A field experiment was conducted to determine the effects of nitrogen rate on nodulation, nodule carbon, and nitrogen fixation in 40 pigeon pea genotypes. Nitrogen was applied as urea at 40 (N40) and 120 kg·ha−1 of N (N120). Shoot biomass, root nodulation, amounts of nitrogen and carbon fixed, nitrate reductase activity in roots and nodules, and nitrite content in roots and nodules were determined. Genotype, N rate, and the interaction affected results. The genotypes Pusa-2001 and Sel-90306-11-4 had the most nodule mass at N40. Nitrogen rate did not affect nodule nitrogen-fixing effectiveness. Genotype Pusa-2001 had higher biomass at N120. Genotype Sel-90306-11-4 had high phosphoenol pyruvate carboxylase activity even at

N120; which likely reduces host carbon dependence for nodule nitrogen function and improves carbon diversion to the reproductive sink. At N40 ‘Sel-24’ formed large nodules with effective nitrogen fixation, which was impaired at N120. ‘RG-01-69N’ had lower numbers of nodules, nodule mass, and nitrogen fixation but more shoot biomass than the majority of the pigeon pea lines. N-response of pigeon pea was evident for nodule N2 fixation. Genotypes with improved nodule CO2 fixation may lead to increased yield and quality in monocropped and intercropped pigeon pea.

Key words: Cajanus cajan, Nitrate reductase, Nitrogenase activity, Phosphoenol pyruvate

carboxylase activity, India.

Genetic variability for antioxidants and horticultural traits of cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata L.)

B. K. Singh, S.R. Sharma, P. Kalia and B. Singh

Indian Journal of Horticulture 68 (1): 51-55, 2011
E-mail: bksinghkushinagar@yahoo.co.in

ABSTRACT

Significant differences for antioxidant content and horticultural traits among 36 diverse genotypes of cabbage revealed the presence of sufficient variability which could be exploited for developing nutritionally and antioxidant rich cabbage cultivars. The phenotypic and genotypic coefficients of variation were high for carotenoids, stalk length, head compactness, gross plant weight, net head weight, dry matter, core length, plant height and equatorial diameter, and low for days to 50% maturity, number of non-wrapper leaves, frame spread and ascorbic acid. The expressions of all the studied traits except ascorbic acid, harvest index and head compactness were less influenced by environment, as evident from meager differences between respective PCV and GCV. Moderate to high heritability was evident for all the traits and was accompanied with high genetic advance for carotenoids, dry matter, plant height, gross plant weight, net head weight, stalk length, equatorial diameter, core length and head compactness which show the presence of additive gene action. On the other hand, low genetic advance observed for ascorbic acid, number of non-wrapper leaves, head shape index, days to 50% maturity and harvest index reflected the predominance of non-additive gene action.

Key words: Carotenoid, ascorbic acid, dry matter, cabbage, quality breeding

The genetic variability, inheritance and inter-relationships of ascorbic acid, β-carotene, phenol and anthocyanin content in strawberry (Fragaria×ananassa Duch.)

Akath Singh, B.K. Singh, B.C. Deka, S.K. Sanwal, R.K. Patel, M.R. Verma

Scientia Horticulturae 129: 86–90, 2011
E-mail: bksinghkushinagar@yahoo.co.in

Abstract

Strawberry (Fragaria×ananassa Duch.) is rich source of dietary antioxidants, minerals and nutrients. Dietary antioxidants have been known as beneficial for enhancing the fitness, preventing certain diseases and even mitigating the effects of ageing. The objectives of the present study were to determine variability and inheritance of antioxidants, to identify antioxidant rich and productive genotypes, and to suggest suitable breeding approaches. The genotypes, namely Ofra, Chandler, Festival and Camarosa showed higher concentrations of dietary antioxidants and therefore could be useful in future breeding. Results indicate that the effect of the genotypes on antioxidant contents is stronger than that of the environment. The high heritability (>80%) and low genetic advance as percentage of mean (<40%) for ascorbic acid and β-carotene contents could be improved by heterosis breeding. However, selection and hybridization would be effective tools to enhance the phenols and anthocyanin content, and yield potential as these traits showed high heritability (>80%) and high genetic advance as percentage of mean (>40%). Positive direct effect on fruit yield was highest for phenol content (0.609) which is also fairly close to its correlation coefficient (0.765) indicating that a direct selection based on phenol content would be most effective and that the phenol content could be used as a reliable biochemical marker to identify the productive genotypes having higher amounts of dietary antioxidants. The information could also be used for developing antioxidant rich cultivars, i.e. ‘Breeding Strawberry for High Antioxidants’.

Key words: Fragaria ananassa, Quality breeding, Heritability, Correlation, Variability, Vitamin