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Abstract:The effect of different modes of pollination on quantitative and qualitative parameters of Egyptian clover, Trifolium alexandrinum L. was studied at Forage Section, Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, CCS, Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar during 2012 and 2013. Maximum seed setting (81.5%) was recorded in A. mellifera pollination with an 8 frame colony (BP-8F) followed by 4 frame colony (BP-4F) (75.1%), open pollination (OP) (73.8%) and 2 frame colony (BP-2F) (71.5%). Maximum seed yield (2662.3 seeds) was observed in treatment BP-8F followed by BP-4F (2373.8), OP (2316.3) and BP-2F (2235.5). Still lower yield of 2103.0 seeds was found in hand pollination (HP) treatment that was significantly higher than the without insect pollination (WIP) treatment (1114.2). Minimum 1000-seed weight was observed in WIP (2.64 g). The seed weight of BP-4F (3.30), HP (3.20), BP-2F (3.17) and OP (3.03), the heaviest seeds were recorded in BP-8F (3.62 g/1000 grains) and it was at par with the treatment BP-4F (3.30 g). Highest seed germination per cent was recorded in BP-8F (94.7) followed by OP (90.7%). Lowest germination was found in WIP (84.7%). Though some work has been done on this aspect in India but comprehensive pollination studies has not been worked out.

A field experiment has been conducted in Cotton-Wheat cropping system for three cropping cycles, wherein we evaluated a total of five treatments (Control, Sub-soiling at 1.0 m, Sub-soiling at 1.5 m, Cross sub-soiling at 1.0 m and Cross sub-soiling at 1.5 m) in complete randomized block design to find out the effect of sub-soiling on the physical properties of soil and root parameters of cotton in Indian Punjab, where heavy machinery usage in farm operations is causing soil compaction leading to ill effects. Data elucidated that any level of sub-soiling not only improved soil physical properties by reduction in bulk density but also enhanced steady state infiltration rate as compared to control. Data also revealed that root length, fresh root weight plant −1 and dry root weight plant −1 of cotton exhibited significant differences in sub-soiled plots versus control for initial two years of experimentation but trivial differences existed thereafter. Consequently, both cotton and wheat crop resulted in higher yield owing to above mentioned reasons. The field data set is made publicly available to enable critical or extended analysis.

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In an effort to estimate contribution of animal pollinators toward Indian agriculture, 211 crops (190 crops and 21 commodities) were analyzed using primary data. Production of 108 (51.2%) crops is dependent on animal pollination, 59 (28.0%) did not rely on it and for 44 (20.9%) information is not available. Among 108 crops, pollinatordependence was essential for 14 crops (6.6%, in absence 90-100% reduction in production occurs), great for 34 (16.1%), moderate for 29 (13.7%) and little for 31 (14.7%) crops. Rapeseed and mustard is the most pollinator dependent crop with an estimated economic value of pollination (EVP) of ₹19355.70 crores. Cotton, apple, citrus, guava, tomato, brinjal, chillies, okra, cumin, coriander, soybean are few of a large numbers of crops benefitted hugely by pollinators. Oilseeds greatly depend on insect pollination with 34.07% contribution to yield and resultant economic value of pollination (EVP) is estimated at ₹43993.08 crores from their total economic value (EV) of ₹ 129030.05 crores. Fruits follow with 14.82% (₹17095.45 crores) economic value mostly for 12 major fruits. Value of pollination from vegetables is ₹19498.20 crores (11.10%), fibers (mainly cotton) ₹17290.66 crores (23.39%) and condiments and spices at ₹10109.43 crores (25.47%). Huge research and information gap exists for these crops in India. Of the total value of Indian agriculture (₹ 291369.63 crores at 2012-13 prices or USD 258.27 billion), proportion of animal pollinated crops is ₹ 422827.52 crores ($ 84.57 billion), representing 32.74%. Direct contribution of insect pollination to Indian agriculture is staggering ₹112615.73 crores (USD 22.52 billion) annually, representing 8.72%, besides spill over benefits of increase in quality traits, seed production, breeding efficiency, etc. For stagnant Indian agriculture, this “micro concept” of using honey bees for planned pollination of crops has the potential “macro-economic” impact.

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The temporal abundance of different floral visitors on Egyptian clover, Trifolium alexandrinum l. and correlation with weather parameters was studied at Forage Section, Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, CCS, Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar during 2012 and 2013. The mean temporal abundance of A. dorsata was the maximum (4.90/m 2 /5 min.) followed by A. mellifera (2.69), H. armigera (2.24), Eristalinus spp. (1.59) and A. florea (1.20/m 2 /5 min.) during 2012. During 2013, A. dorsata abundance decreased to and it 3.08/m 2 /5 min. followed by A. mellifera (2.61), P. brassicae (2.03), Eristalinus spp. (1.91), Coccinella septempunctata (1.63) and A. florea (1.62/m 2 /5 min.).A. cerana abundance during 2012 was 0.30/m 2 /5 min. but became almost negligible (0.06) in 2013. Floral visitor's abundance was maximum at 1400 h (2.97/m 2 /5 min.) followed by at 1200 noon (2.66) and 1600 h (2.50) and least during the morning hours of 0600 (0.09) and 0800 h (0.42/m 2 /5 minutes). Abundance of A. mellifera and A. dorsata during 2012 had a highly significant positive correlation with wind speed (r=0.77 and 0.86) at 0800 h while the later was also correlated with maximum (negative) and minimum relative humidity at 1800 h (r=-0.89 and 0.85, respectively). Highlights •The hymenopterans floral visitors on T. alexandrinum were most abundant as compared to other floral visitors.• Apis dorsata was the most abundant floral visitor (4.90/m 2 /5 min.) followed by Apis mellifera (2.69/m 2 /5 min.), Helicoverpa armigera (2.24/m 2 /5) and Apis florea (1.20/m 2 /5).Egyptian clover, Trifolium alexandrinum L. commonly called berseem (Family Leguminaceae, sub-family Papilionaceae), owing to higher quantitative yield parameters viz., green fodder yield (85 t/ha) and multicut nature (4-6 cuts) along with qualitative parameters namely, succulency, high palatability, nutritive value (20% crude protein), digestibility (up to 65%) and continuous supply of over seven months (November to May) Egyptian clover is one of the most entomophilic crop requiring insects, especially bees for cross pollination.

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