Azarian Journal of Agriculture
Volume:6 Issue: 3, Jun 219

The research was carried out to assess the effect of vermicompost and tuber size on the changes of TSS (total soluble solids), sucrose (non-reducing sugar) content, and skin color of potato under ambient storage condition. Potato variety BARI TPS-1 was used as an experimental crop. The experiment was consisted of two factors, i.e., factor A:- Vermicompost level (Vm1-4): Vm1: 0 t ha-1 (control), Vm2: 3 t ha-1, Vm3: 6 t ha-1 and Vm4: 9 t ha-1; factor B:- Tuber size (T1-5): T1: 5-10 g, T2: 10-20 g, T3: 20-30 g, T4: 30-40 g and T5: >40 g. The research exhibited that vermicompost had a significant effect on most of the quality contributing parameters investigated under the experiment. Results exhibited that processing quality parameters increased with increasing vermicompost level irrespective of tuber size. Among the twenty (20) treatment combinations, vermicompost at the rate of 9 t ha-1 with tuber size >40 g produced the minimum total soluble solids (4.55% Brix), minimum sucrose (0.2947 mg g-1 FW) and maximum skin color (L* 67.38, a* 15.38, b* 26.60). In respect of ambient storage condition total soluble solids (TSS), sucrose slowly increased with increasing storage time up to 40 days after storage (DAS) and finally became non-suitable for both table and processing purpose; while skin color decreased with increasing storage time. Therefore, the study suggests that potato growers may use vermicompost for improving processing quality of potato varieties and can store potato up to 40 DAS at ambient storage condition.

The effects of the seed size on the spike length, the number of spikelets and grains per spike were investigated in three varieties of winter wheat under field conditions. The four-replicate experiment was set up according to the split-plot method. In order to determine observed properties, a sample of 30 spikes was drawn in the full maturity stage. The analysis of variance showed significant differences in the spike length, number of spikelets and the number of grains per spike over years of investigation in the term of the following interactions: variety × seed size, year × seed size and then varieties × year × seed size. The established variety × year interaction was also highly significant. The longest spike was recorded in 2017 with the 2.8-mm seed. The number of spikelets per spike (21.7) established in 2017 with the 2.8-mm seed size was greater than with remaining seed sizes. The variety PKB-Christina with the highest number of grains per spike (48.1) was followed by the varieties Vizija (46.3) and Pobeda (44.8). Correlations between the spike length and the grain yield (r = 0.169**), the number of spikelets and the grain yield (r = 0.094**) and the number of grain per spike and the grain yield (r = 0.136**) were low and positive. The larger seed had the longer spike which had higher numbers of spikelets and grains per spikes.

An experiment was conducted to assess the growth, productivity and profitability of direct seeded rice (DSR) under different tillage, mulching and priming practices. The experiment was laid out in three factors Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. The experiment comprises of three factors such as tillage (zero and minimum tillage), seed priming (primed and non- primed) and mulching (mulched and non-mulched) with eight treatments: Zero tillage + primed seed + mulching (T1), Zero tillage + primed seed + non-mulching (T2), Zero tillage + non-primed seed + mulching (T3), Zero tillage + non-primed seed + non-mulching (T4), Minimum tillage + primed seed + mulching (T5), Minimum tillage + primed seed + non-mulching (T6), Minimum tillage + non-primed seed + mulching (T7) and Minimum tillage + non-primed seed + mulching (T8). The phenological, growth, yield and yield attributing characters were observed in the experiment. The results revealed that T3 matured earlier (115 days) compared to other tested treatments. The maximum grain yield (3.64 t ha-1) was obtained in T5 which was supported by high number of effective grains per panicle (139 grains) with high test weight (28 g) while the lowest grain yield (2.29 t ha-1) was obtained from T1 (zero tillage, primed seed and mulching) . Similarly the highest straw yield (7.58 t ha-1) was obtained from T 5 (minimum tillage, primed seed and mulching) which is supported by higher plant height, high no. of tillers per unit area. Among different tested treatments, T5 was found superior compared to others.