An experiment was conducted at the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, R/S Sagordi farm, Barisal to evaluate the effectiveness of NPK briquette on rice in tidal flooded soil condition during Boro season, 2010. NPK briquettes of size 2.4 g and 3.4 g were compared with urea super granules (USG) and prilled urea (PU), each supplemented with PKS. The results showed that NPK briquettes, USG and PU produced statistically similar grain yield. N-treated plots (briquettes, USG and PU) gave significantly higher grain yield than N control. The highest grain yield (7.47 t ha -1 ) was observed in NPK briquette (2.4 g × 2) followed by PU. There was no significant difference between N control and absolute control plots in respect of yield indicating that N was the only yield limiting factor under that condition. The NPK briquettes showed higher agronomic efficiency than PU and USG. The small size briquettes (2.4 g) could save 33 kg N ha -1 compared to recommended PU. There was no residual effect of NPK briquettes on soil chemical properties. The NPK briquettes were found beneficial to the farmers in tidal ecosystem.

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A pot-culture experiment was conducted in open-field conditions with highly cultivated locally transplanted (T) aman rice (Oryza sativa L.) named BR-22 in arsenic (As)-amended soil (0, 1.0, 5.0, 10.0, 20.0, 30.0, 40.0 and 50.0 mg kg -1 As) of Bangladesh to see the effect of As on the growth, yield and metal uptake of rice. Arsenic was applied to soil in the form of sodium arsenate (Na 2 HAsO 4 ). Arsenic affected the plant height, tiller and panicle numbers, grain and straw yield of T-aman rice significantly (P B 0.05). The grain As uptake of T-aman rice was found to increase with increase of As in soil and a high grain As uptake was observed in the treatments of 30-50 mg kg -1 As-containing soil. These levels exceed the food hygiene concentration limit of 1.0 mg kg -1 As. However, the straw As uptake varied significantly (P B 0.05) from a low concentration of As in soil (5 mg kg -1 ) and the highest uptake was noticed in 20 mg kg -1 As treatment.

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An experiment was carried out in Plant Tissue Culture Laboratory, Department of Crop Botany, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh to investigate the effect of banana extract on micropropagation of  <i>Dendrobium</i> sp. var. Sonia orchid through PLBs. The experiment was conducted during July 2012 to October 2013. Half-Murashige and Skoog (1/2MS) medium were used as basal medium and the medium was supplemented with banana extract at 12.5, 25, 50, 100, and 200 ml L-1 with a control, where no banana extract was supplemented. The cultures were done in 100 ml conical flasks and maintain at 25°C with 30µ mol m-2 S-1 lighting provided by florescent tubes for 16 hours per day. Banana extract showed significant effect on growth and development of PLBs. Among the treatments, 100 ml L-1 banana extract enhanced new PLBs regeneration from explanted PLBs and growth and development of PLBs. Present research indicated that nutrient requirement for PLBs multiplication and plantlets growth of  Dendrobium orchid is quantitatively different in vitro. Finally, 100 ml L-1 and 25 ml L-1 of banana extract may be recommended as supplement into 1/2MS medium for PLBs multiplication and plantlet regeneration, respectively in vitro.The Agriculturists 2015; 13(1) 101-108