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A study was conducted to screen out the low-temperature tolerant Boro rice seedlings from November 2012 to January 2013 for facing the upcoming rice production challenge in Northwest Bangladesh. The experimental time was characterized by a prevailing low environmental temperature of below 15°C. Five rice cultivars (V1: BR-2; V2: BR-16; V3: Pariza; V4: Minicate; V5: BRRI dhan 50) were selected for the study. The leaf proline, chlorophyll content and total carotenoid content were investigated. The V2 (BR-16) seedling synthesized the higher leaf proline (1.228 g·g-1) at a low temperature than those of other tested cultivars. Again, the highest amount of chlorophyll-a (3.957 g·g-1), chlorophyll-b (2.118 g·g-1), chlorophyll-a/b ratio (3.6754 mg·g-1) and total chlorophyll (5.051 g·g-1) was measured in V2 (BR-16). The maximum total carotenoid (1.213 g·g-1) was also observed in V2. In this experiment, the V2 (BR-16) showed comparatively better potentiality to survive at low temperatures (below 15°C) than other varieties.

An experiment was conducted at Nagari union in Kaligonj Upazila of Gazipur district to determine the impact of Integrated Pest Management practices on tomato cultivation. Data were collected by using pre-designed interview schedule from 1st March to 5th August, 2014. The results of the study showed that in the study area farmers cultivated tomato in 14.6% of their land and there are eight IPM practices which are generally used by the farmers in their tomato fields. Regarding the overall adoption of IPM practices in tomato cultivation, 65.0% respondent farmers were in medium to high adoption category. The IPM Practice Use Index (IPUI) was found significantly higher in case of IPM adopters than in case of IPM non-adopters. But “use of pheromone trap”, “setting up the bamboo stick in the field” and “cultivation and use of green manure” were ranked as 1st, 2nd and 3rd, respectively in case of IPM adopters whereas “setting up bamboo stick in field”, “cultivation and using green manure” and “use quality and resistant seeds” obtained 1st, 2nd and 3rd rank, respectively in case of IPM non-adopters. The average infestation of insect and disease was found significantly lower in the fields of IPM adopter (9.7%) than IPM non-adopter (11.8%). The average frequency of chemical use in the season was also significantly lower in the fields of IPM adopter (2.14 times) than IPM non-adopter (3.44 times). The marketable yield was found significantly higher in the fields of IPM adopter (51.34 t/ha) than in the fields of IPM non-adopter (42.24 t/ha). The average gross return was also significantly higher in case of IPM adopter (526,143 taka/ha) than IPM non-adopter (472,647 taka/ha). The Benefit-Cost Ratio (BCR) of IPM adopter (2.41) was also found significantly higher than the BCR of IPM non-adopter (1.44).