Silicon is considered an agronomically essential element for sustainable rice production (Savant et al. 1997a) and reported that adequate supply of Si increased the number of panicles, the number of grains per panicle, the percentage ripening and the light-receiving posture of rice plants and also improved the availability and utilization of P by rice plants. Si is absorbed as PAS by rice plants in far larger quantities than the macro nutrients, 108 % greater than nitrogen uptake. A rice crop producing a yield of 5000 kg ha-1 removes 230-470 kg Si ha-1 and it has the potential to raise the optimum rate of N (Elawad and Green 1979). It develops resistance and/or tolerance to abiotic stresses and could tolerate Fe, Al and Mn toxicities, and the increased mechanical strength of the culm helps reduce crop lodging (Takahashi 1995).

Direct seeded rice (DSR) cultivation has received considerable attention due to its economic and labor-saving benefits. However, inadequate nutrient availability, particularly micronutrients, remains a significant constraint in achieving optimal crop growth and yield in direct seeded rice system. This research paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the impact of iron and zinc fertilization on yield, productivity and nutritional quality of direct seeded rice. This experiment was conducted at Experimental Farm, Regional Research Station, Anand Agricultural University, Anand, Gujarat, during kharif season of the year 2022 with twelve treatments of iron and zinc fertilization strategies viz. nutripriming, foliar application and soil drenching which were replicated thrice in randomized block design (RBD). In the treatments of nutripriming, seed were soaked in 0.5% solutions of iron sulphate and zinc sulphate individually and also in combination for 12 hrs. In other treatments, solutions of 0.5% concentration of iron sulphate and zinc sulphate were applied through foliar application at 30 and 50 DAS and soil drenching. Soil drenching was done by adding nutrient solutions (0.5% of iron sulphate and zinc sulphate each) directly on the rice sown lines of the plots. Findings demonstrate that targeted application of micronutrients (Fe and Zn) significantly enhanced the DSR performance in form of growth parameters, yield attributes, yield and nutrient content of grain and straw. Among all the treatments, (T5) nutripriming of direct seeded rice with 0.5% iron sulphate plus 0.5% zinc sulphate for 12 hours before sowing along with recommended dose of fertilizers has been found best in terms of plant height, panicles per m2, yield and Fe and Zn content in seed and straw of rice.

A field experiment was conducted at the Regional Research Station, Anand Agricultural University, Anand to evaluate the effect of various spacing and genotypes on physiological growth indices of french bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) during Rabi seasons of 2019-20 and 2020-21. The experiment consisted of twenty-two treatment combinations comprised of two levels of spacing [S1: 30 x 10 cm and S2: 45 x 10 cm] and eleven levels of genotypes [G1: SKAUSJ-WB 185, S2: Tripura Rajma-1, G3: Phule Rajma, G4: Phule Suyash, G5: RKR 1011-1, G6: RKR 1033, G7: GR-1, G8: Varun, G9: HPR-35, G10: IPR-98-3-1 and G11: Swarna Safal (ICAR Ranchi)]. The results revealed that 45 x 10 cm spacing recorded significantly higher physiological growth indices in french bean. While among the various genotypes tested, the significantly higher physiological growth indices were obtained in Swarna Safal genotype of french bean and it also remained at par with Phule Rajma and GR-1 genotypes at 30 DAS, 60 DAS and at harvest.

The study entitled, “Influence of nano nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer on yield and nutrient content of maize (Zea mays L.)” was undertaken by conducting a laboratory experiment of synthesis and characterization of nitrogen and phosphorus nano-fertilizer and a field experiment at Regional Research Station, Anand Agricultural University, Anand (Gujarat) during summer and kharif seasons of the year 2021. The field experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design comprising fourteen treatments of T1[Control(No NPK)], T2[100% RDF (150 N-60 P-0 K kg ha-1)], T3[75% RDF + Nano N and P through foliar application (1000 ppm)], T4[75% RDF + Nano N and P through foliar application (2000 ppm)], T5[75% RDF + Nano N and P through foliar application (3000 ppm)], T6[50% RDF + Nano N and P through foliar application (1000 ppm)], T7[50% RDF + Nano N and P through foliar application (2000 ppm)], T8[50 % RDF + Nano N and P through foliar application (3000 ppm)], T9 [25% RDF + Nano N and P through foliar application (1000 ppm)] and T10[25% RDF. + Nano N and P through foliar application (2000 ppm)], T11[25% RDF + Nano N and P through foliar application (3000 ppm)], T12[ Seed treatment Nano N and P + Nano N and P through foliar application (1000 ppm)], T13[ Seed treatment Nano N and P + Nano N and P through foliar application (2000 ppm)], T14[ Seed treatment Nano N and P + Nano N and P through foliar application (3000 ppm)]. In case of seed treatment with nitrogen and phosphorus NPs, seeds were soaked in nitrogen and phosphorus NPs suspension of 1000 ppm for 2 hours. The foliar application was made during crop growth period with three sprays at 15, 30 and 60 DAS of the crop. The treatments were tested against the control. Signficantly higher grain yield, straw yield, nitrogen and phosphorus content in maize was recorded was achieved under application of T4- 75% RDF + Nano N and P through foliar application (2000 ppm) during both seasons.

A field experiment was carried out at the Regional Research Station, Anand Agricultural University, Anand to access the effect of various spacing and genotypes on yield attributes and yields of french bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) during Rabi seasons of 2019-20 and 2020-21. The experiment consists of twenty-two treatment combinations comprised of two levels of spacing [S1: 30 x 10 cm and S2: 45 x 10 cm] and eleven levels of genotypes [G1: SKAUSJ-WB 185, S2: Tripura Rajma-1, G3: Phule Rajma, G4: Phule Suyash, G5: RKR 1011-1, G6: RKR 1033, G7: GR-1, G8: Varun, G9: HPR-35, G10: IPR-98- 3-1 and G11: Swarna Safal (ICAR Ranchi)]. The results revealed that 45 x 10 cm spacing recorded significantly higher yield attributes and yields of french bean. While among the various genotypes tested, the significantly higher yield attributes and yields were obtained in Swarna Safal genotype of french bean and it also remained at par with Phule Rajma and GR-1 genotypes.