Pumpkin crop can be improved by exploitation of heterosis. This study was carried out during three different seasons, Kharif, 2015 (E 1 ), Rabi 2015-16 (E 2 ) and summer-season, 2016 (E 3 ) in Eastern Uttar Pradesh, India. The objective was to find out the magnitude of heterobeltiosis, economic heterosis and suitable cross-combination for higher quality fruit yield in pumpkin. Fifteen F 1 hybrids were developed through diallel mating design of six parental lines excluding reciprocals. The evolution of hybrids revealed significant heterobeltiosis as well as economic heterosis for all the traits in all three seasons independently (E 1 , E 2 and E 3 ) and combined. Crosses P 1 × P 5 , P 4 × P 6 and P 1 × P 2 may be exploited as commercial hybrids for profitable yield in pumpkin. Significant heterobeltiosis and economic heterosis indicates the importance of heterosis breeding for the developing high yield hybrids.
Restoration of soil fertility of arable land is a great challenge in the developing and populous countries like India. The country witnessed the benefits Green Revolution Technologies (GRTs) in boosting of grain yield and the after effect of GRTs during past few decades in terms of deterioration of soil fertility and land degradation, loss of soil flora and fauna, genetic erosion, ecological unbalance, yield plateauing and associated insecurity in livelihood of the farmers. Now maintenance of soil fertility and sustainability of agriculture production are of important concerns. Green manuring can play an important role in this regard as it showed versatile impacts like improvement of soil physico-chemical and biological properties and fertility, nutrient supply to succeeding crops, checking erosion and plant protection. The previous research activities on various aspects of green manures were reviewed here in favour of evergreen agriculture for the future.
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