The present study was conducted in the Soil Science Field Laboratory at Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh during November 2014 to April 2015 to study the effect of moringa leaf extract on growth and yield of maize. The experiment comprised of five treatments viz., T1 (control), T2 (water sprayed at every 2 weeks, starting from 2 weeks after emergence), T3 (moringa leaf extract sprayed at 2 weeks after emergence), T4 (moringa leaf extract sprayed at 2 and 4 weeks after emergence) and T5 (moringa leaf extract sprayed at 2 weeks after emergence and at every 2 weeks thereafter). The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with 3 replications. Application of moringa leaf extract at 2 weeks after emergence and at every 2 weeks thereafter (T5) significantly increased growth parameters like plant height, shoot length, fresh weight and dry weight of shoot, and yield components like number of grains cob-1, 100-grain weight, grain weight plant-1. The highest grain yield (9.2 t ha-1), stover yield (10.1 t ha-1) and harvest index (48%) were obtained from T5 while the lowest grain yield (6.3 t ha-1), stover yield (8.6 t ha-1) and harvest index (42%) were found in the treatments where no moringa leaf extract was used (T1 or T2). From the results it can be concluded that moringa leaf extract should be applied for better growth and yield performance of maize in Old Brahmaputra Floodplain soil of Bangladesh.Progressive Agriculture 27 (2): 136-143, 2016

Proper soil fertility management is one of the prime importance in an endeavor to increase crop productivity. Hence, an experiment was conducted at the Soil Science Field Laboratory, BAU, Mymensingh during Aman season of 2017 to investigate the growth and yield performance and rice quality under different fertilizer management. The experiment was laid out in a split plot design with two varieties i.e. (V1) BRRI dhan56 and (V2) BRRI dhan71 in the main plots and four fertilizer treatments such as T1 (Control), T2 (soil test based fertilization), T3 (farmers practice) and T4 (soil test based fertilization and 5 t/ha cowdung) in the subplots with three replications. Results found that, T4 treatment produced the highest grain and straw yield in both varieties. The highest N, P, K, S content (%) and uptake (kgha-1) in both grain and straw were also recorded in T4 treatment. BRRI dhan71 performed better than BRRI dhan56 in terms of yield, nutrient content and uptake. From the combinations of variety x treatment, V2T4 (BRRI dhan71 x Soil test based fertilization and 5 t/ha cowdung) was the best for maintaining rice yield and quality. Therefore, this combination could be recommended with some farmer’s field trials for sustainable rice production without declining soil fertility. Environ. Sci. & Natural Resources, 12(1&2): 109-115, 2019

Wheat blast (Magnaporthe oryzae Triticum) in Bangladesh and South America is recognized as one major limiting factor of wheat production. Its control using chemical pesticides raises concerns about food safety and pesticide resistance, which have dictated the need for alternative blast management approach, nutrient supplementation could be an ecofriendly alternative. Experiments were carried out under confined net house condition for two consecutive cropping seasons. Single doses of the nutrients (Si, B and Zn) were incorporated during soil preparation. Plants of the wheat blast susceptible variety BARI Gom-26 were inoculated with spores (1 x 107 spores ml-1) of Magnaporthe oryzae Triticum at blast vulnerable pre-heading stage of 52 days age. Typical wheat blast symptoms of spike bleaching from top to downward appeared on sight 14 days after inoculation i.e., 66 days age of the crop. Incidence and severity of blast bleaching of spike were scored for four times starting from 68 days age @ three day’s interval. None of the nutrients could stop the incidence of blast on wheat; however, some nutrients reduced the blast incidence significantly. Solo application of Si, B and Zn or combination of two caused significant reduction of spike bleaching. With the mixed application of Si, B and Zn, > 47% reduction of wheat blast severity was obtained. The results revealed that the soil application of silicon, zinc and boron had a synergistic effect on the intensity of blast disease of wheat. Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. Tech. 11(2): 76-84, Dec 2021

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