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An investigation was carried out at Rice Research Station, O.U.A.T., Bhubaneswar evaluating thirty-two genotypes with an objective to determine the degree of association between yield and it's component characters and their direct, indirect effects on grain yield in slender grain rice. The results from the correlation studies showed that grain yield had the highest estimates of positive correlation both at genotypic and phenotypic level with the number of effective tillers/plant (rp=0.853, rg=0.997) followed by the number of filled grains/panicle (rp =0.816, rg =0.835). Path analysis studies reported that high direct contribution to yield was manifested by the number of filled grains per panicle (0.538) followed by the number of effective tillers/plant (0.513). The number of effective tillers/plant also exhibited the highest indirect effect on grain yield via the number of filled grains per panicle (0.275). This indicated that the simultaneous selection of these characters would be fruitful for yield improvement in slender grain rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The results of a field experiment conducted at OUAT, Bhubaneswar on basmati rice varieties under system of rice intensification (SRI) showed that the application of organic manure (FYM 15.0 t ha-1) produced high grain yield (4415 kg ha-1), biomass yield (10946 kg ha-1) and NPK removal comparable to those of INM (50% RDF+7.5 ton FYM ha-1), but significantly greater than those of inorganic fertilization (RDF). Organic manuring (OM) and INM recorded higher gross return but RDF paid higher net return. OM also showed greater available NPK contents and NPK balance in soil than those of INM and RDF. The lowest available NPK contents and NPK balance were recorded RDF treated plots. Cultivar Pusa Basmati-1 performed significantly better than Geetanjali variety. Crop planted at close spacing (20×20 cm2) increased yield and NPK removal over those of wide spacing (25×25 cm2); but had no effect on available NPK contents and reverse effect on NPK balance in soil. Crop productivity, nutrient removal, nutrient content and nutrient balance in soil did not vary much with 10 and 15-day old seedling. The results suggest growing Pusa Basmati-1 at close spacing (20×20 cm2) with 10 to 15-day old single seedlings with organic manuring or INM practice for higher yield and better nutrient balance in soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The results of a field experiment conducted during the kharif season of 2007 and 2008 at OUAT, Bhubaneswar on basmati rice varieties under system of rice intensification (SRI) showed that application of organic manure (FYM 15.0 t ha-1) improved growth attributes like plant height, tillering, LAI and CGR of basmati rice varieties, increased panicle production and filled grains panicle-1, produced high grain (4.42 t ha-1 ) and straw (6.57 t ha-1 ) yields and fetched the high gross return comparable to those of INM (50% RDF+7.5 t FYM ha-1), but significantly greater than those of inorganic fertilization (RDF). However, use of RDF (60-30-30 kg N-P2O5-K2O ha-1) was more remunerative in terms of net returns and returns per rupee invested than organic manuring or INM practice due to higher cost of organic manures. The basmati rice variety Pusa Basmati-1 performed better than Geetanjali. Similarly, crop planted at close spacing (20×20 cm2) showed improved growth and increased yield and profit over those of wide spacing (25×25 cm2); but growth, yield and economics of basmati rice did not vary much between the crops planted with 10 and 15-day old seedlings. The results suggest to grow Pusa Basmati-1 at 20×20 cm2 spacing with 10 or 15-day old single seedlings under organic manuring or INM practice for better growth, higher yield and greater profit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A cris-cross review on vermicompost from agricultural wastes reveals that C-N ratio, pH, moisture content and temperature of the substrates are the most important parameters for proper vermicomposting as they determine the litter palatability in detrivorus earthworms. Feed material having C-N ratio less than 40 can be used successfully for vermicomposting. A temperature of 18 to 250C and moisture content of 40 to 60% were most congenial. Substrate treatment by bioinoculants and or addition of rock phosphate enriches the vermicompost through increase in the total nitrogen and available phosphorus and potassium content of vermicompost. Vermicompost prepared out of the mixture of crop residues amended with cow-dung in the ratio of 1:1 also exhibits higher nutrient content. Mixed culture of Eisenia foetida, Eudrilus eugeniae and Perionyx excavatus in vermicomposting shows higher multiplication rate of the worms. Cow-dung has widely been accepted as the best substrate provided its pH is below 9.5. Cereal and leguminous wastes, tree leaves and weeds are also found suitable while fresh poultry and pig manure and glyricidia stems are unsuitable. Vermicompost from obnoxious weeds like Eichhornia crassipes, Salvinia molesta, Lantana camara, Trapa sp. can be prepared with in 6 to 7 weeks with recovery of about 50 to 53%. Substrates containing 1 to 5% green leaves of leguminous trees can be suitably used for vermicomposting but poisonous plants or plants sprayed with insecticides are always fatal to the earthworms. Overall high rate of growth and reproduction of earthworms in the substrates are the best indicators of effective vermicomposting. Storage of vermicompost beyond 10 weeks decreases the microbial biomass, plant hormone concentration and enzyme activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]