No abstract

Introduction: Seaweed extract, an organic bio-stimulant has emerged as a promising tool for increasing crop growth and yield without affecting soil health and environment. Aim: i) To study the efficacy of seaweed extract on growth and yield of boro rice ii) To evaluate the nutrients uptake and residual soil fertility under different treatments iii)To assess the economic viability of using the bio-stimulants in rice production. Study Design:  Seven treatments were laid out inrandomized block design with three replications. Place and Duration of the Study: Boro seasons of 2016-17 and 2017-18 at Instructional Farm of BCKV, Nadia, under new alluvial zone of West Bengal. Methods: Field experiment was carried out in boro (summer) rice (cv. Satabdi) with seven treatments viz., T1-100% RDF (120:60:60 kg/ha N, P2O5 and K2O), T2-100% RDF+ biozyme liquid @ 2.5ml/l of water (seed soaking), T3-100% RDF + biozyme liquid @ 10ml/l of water (root dipping), T4- 100% RDF+ biozyme granule @15 kg/ha (soil application at 15 and 45 DAT)+ liquid @ 625 ml/ha (foliar spray at 15 and 45 DAT), T5-75% RDF + biozyme liquid, T6-75% RDF+ biozyme granule+ liquid  and T7-75% RDF+ amaze-X granule @ 10kg/ha at 45 DAT + biozymegranule + liquid. Results: Results revealed that the maximum grain yield (4.88 t/ ha) was obtained under T7 followed by T4 and T6, however, the net return (Rs.25576/ha) and benefit-cost ratio (1.51) of T6 treatment gave maximum. Conclusion: It may be concluded that T7 treatment performed best in terms of growth and yield of Boro rice but T6 treatment gave the highest B:C ratio and net income which is supposed to be more economical to the small and marginal farmers. Therefore, integrated use of 75% RDF and biozyme soil & foliar application can be recommended for boro rice under new alluvial zone of West Bengal.

A field experiment was redacted at Instructional Farm, BCKV, West Bengal, India during kharif (rainy) season of 2018 to evaluate the efficacy of seaweed extracts on growth, yield and economics of rice. The experiment was framed in RBD comprising 7 treatments (T1-100% RDF, T2 -100% RDF + Biozyme granule @15 kg/ha, T3 -100% RDF +Amaze-x granule @ 10 kg/ha, T4 -75% RDF + Biozyme granule @ 15kg/ha, T5 -75% RDF +Amaze-x granule @ 10 kg/ha, T6 -75% RDF + Biozyme granule @ 15 kg/ha + Proventus DS legacy spray @ 625ml/ha, T7 -75% RDF +Amaze-x granule @10 kg/ha + Proventus DS legacy spray @ 625ml/ha), replicated thrice. Experimental findings revealed that highest growth and yield attributes of rice were observed under application of 75% RDF +Amaze-x granule @ 10 kg/ha + Proventus DS legacy spray @ 625 ml/ha (T7). Maximum grain (3.90 t/ha) and straw (5.94 t/ha) yields of rice and high nutrient uptake (N: 91.45 kg/ha, P2O5: 11.49 kg/ha and K2O: 190.74 kg/ha) were also ensured under treatment T7. However, 75% RDF + Biozyme granule @ 15 kg/ha + Proventus DS legacy spray @ 625ml/ha (T6) remained as second best option after T7. Further, high economic viability was exhibited by both the treatment T6 (BCR: 1.59) and T7 (BCR: 1.58). Therefore, application of 75% RDF and Proventus DS legacy spray @ 625ml/ha along with either Biozyme granule @ 15 kg/ha or Amaze-x granule @ 10 kg/ha can be recommended for achieving best growth, yield and economics of kharif rice.

Field experiment was conducted at Central Research Farm of Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyala, Gayespur, West Bengal during winter seasons of 2011-12 and 2012-13 to assess the comparative effectiveness of drip and conventional surface irrigation with and without mulch on growth and yield of broccoli. The experiment was laid out in split-plot design replicated thrice. Main plot treatments consist of four levels of irrigation such as surface irrigation with IW/CPE 1.0 and three drip irrigation at 1.0, 0.8 and 0.6 ETc (crop-evapotranspiration), and three mulch levels like no mulch, black polythene mulch and paddy straw mulch @ 5t/ha in sub-plots. The results showed that drip irrigation at 0.8 ETc showed significantly higher (P = 0.05) plant height (45.69 cm), no of leaves plant-1 (17.66), leaf size index (743.99 cm2), plant spread (89.94 cm), curd diameter (14.43 cm) and marketable curd yield (17.82 t ha-1) of broccoli, which was at par with drip at 1.0 ETc. Minimum growth and yield was obtained with drip irrigation at 0.6 ETc in both the years. Similarly, significantly the highest (P = 0.05) plant variables and curd yield was obtained with use of black polythene mulch over paddy straw and no mulch treatments. However, drip irrigation at 0.6 ETc registered maximum water use efficiency of 117.31kg ha-mm-1 and water saving of 38.43%. The interaction effect showed that drip irrigation at 0.8 ETc along with black polythene mulch produced significantly higher marketable curd yield. The experimental findings can be recommended for growing high value crop broccoli with water saving drip irrigation at ETc 0.8 along with plastic mulch technology in the water scarce regions of West Bengal.

No abstract