MUBEENA P.*AND USHA C. THOMAS
AICRP on Forage Crops & Utilization
College of Agriculture, Vellayani,
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India-695 522
*(e-mail: mubeenap94@gmail.com)
(Received : 2 January 2021; Accepted : 30 March 2021)

SUMMARY

Climate change is a growing concern and its impacts are reflected in almost every sector and is mainly due to the increase in greenhouse gases. There is a leap in atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide has observed from 1930 (278 ppm) to 2018 (408 ppm) and it expected to cross 1000 ppm at the end of the century (IPCC, 2019), which is a major warning to food-fodder security and climate change in 21^st century. Fodder production systems play a major role in mitigating climate change through improving carbon sequestration, reducing methane emission per unit livestock product and reducing nitrous oxide emission. Grasslands, pastures and forage crops contribute greatly in the global carbon cycle which stocks at least 30 per cent of world soil carbon. Many strategies can be adopted to enhance the carbon sequestration in fodder production system like implementation of pasture based agro forestry practices, restoration of degraded lands and inclusion of grasses and grazing management. Supplementation of suitable fodder in diet with high digestibility and high energy and protein concentrations will reduce the total methane emission per unit livestock. Certain pastures has a capacity to release biological nitrification inhibitors from their roots, which suppress nitrifier activity and reduce soil nitrification and nitrous oxide. Thus there is a need for strategies that will enable reduced GHG emissions through sustainable intensification of forage production systems to enhance productivity, income generation, climate mitigation and ensuring food-fodder security

Key words:Carbon sequestration, enteric fermentation, methane, mitigation, adaptation

295-301

SU MON THANT*, PUMMY KUMARI, S. K. PAHUJA, JAYANTI TOKAS AND SHIKHA YASHVEER
*Other Cereal Research Session, Department of Agriculture Research, Yezin, Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar
Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar-125004 (Haryana), India
Department of Biochemistry, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar-125004 (Haryana), India
Department of Molecular Biology & Biotechnology, CCS Haryana Agricultural University,
Hisar-125004 (Haryana), India
*(e-mail : sumonthantdarrice@gmail.com)
(Received : 6 February 2021; Accepted : 15 March 2021)

SUMMARY

Knowledge about the relationship between green and dry biomass yield, grain yield, and quality traits is important for any dual-purpose sorghum development program. Thus, the objective of this study was to determine correlations and path-coefficients between green fodder yield, stover yield, grain yield and quality traits. The field experiment was conducted at Research Area of Forage Section, Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, CCS HAU, Hisar during kharif 2019 by using 30 genotypes to study the variability, heritability, genetic advance and genotypic and phenotypic correlations on the basis of nineteen agro-morphological and biochemical parameters. Analysis of variance showed highly significant variation for 19 quantitative parameters under study. Significant variation among all the genotypes was recorded for all the characters. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance was reported for green fodder yield, stover yield and protein yield. In correlation studies, it was observed that green fodder yield was found positively associated with plant height, leaf length, leaf breadth, stem diameter, stover yield, dry fodder yield, grain yield, panicle length, 100 grain weight, protein content and protein yield. HCN content was negatively correlated with green fodder yield and dry fodder yield. In path coefficient analysis, green fodder yield (0.4165), grain yield (0.7330), stover yield (0.6543), plant height (0.6983), TSS content (0.3873) had high positive direct effect on dry fodder yield. However, traits like panicle length (-1.0237), no. of tillers/plant (-0.5931), leaf breadth (-0.4657) and stem diameter (-0.4657) had shown negative direct effect on DFY.

Key words: Green fodder yield, dual purpose, grain yield, quality

302-307

DINESH DIWAN 1AND S. K. JAIN
SKN College of Agriculture (SKNAU) Jobner, Jaipur (Rajasthan) India
Plant Breeding and Genetics, Rajasthan Agricultural Research Institute (SKN Agriculture University)
Durgapura-302 018, Jaipur (Rajasthan), India
*(e-mail : skjain.pbg.coalalsot@sknau.ac.in)
(Received : 28 February 2021; Accepted : 22 March 2021)

SUMMARY

The 40 accessions of pearl millet were evaluated in randomized block design with three replications at experimental farm, SKN College of Agriculture, Jobner (Rajasthan) during Kharif 2019. The wide range of genetic distinction for yield and yield component traits was recorded in the germplasm considered under study. The first four principal components having eigen value greater than one were extracted from the mean of 10 traits in 40 accessions with 67.61% variances. A variance of 25.71, 16.87, 13.32 and 11.69 % were extracted from first, second, third and fourth principal components, respectively. Hierarchical clustering technique based on ten quantitative trait data using Ward’s method grouped 40 genotypes into five clusters with clear differentiation for different quantitative traits. Mostly accessions were not assembled into the same cluster based on their geographical origins. Based on PCA analysis, the first principal component (PC1) was the most important which accounted 25.71 % of variation with the major contributors traits biological yield per
plant, plant height, panicle length, grain yield per plant and 1000-grain weight. Based on cluster analysis, genotypes of different origin like RIB-12141, Jhukarana, H-77/833-2, G-73-107, RIB-9215, RIB-16332, Desi panchu, AICRP(PM)-21, RIB-10011, AICRP(PM)-292 were grouped in cluster I therefore, breeders can use these genotypes directly as inbred lines and also for further hybridization with low yielding clusters like cluster II and V for yield improvement in pearl millet.

Key words:Pearl millet, PCA, Diversity, germplasm, genotypes

308-314

ATMAN POONIA, D. S. PHOGAT*, VERSHA1 AND SHIVAM KUMAR
Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding
College of Agriculture
CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar (125004), India
*(e-mail : dsphogatccshau@gmail.com)
(Received : 12 March 2021; Accepted : 30 March 2021)

SUMMARY

The present study on principal component analysis was conducted with 92 genotypes of oat grown in a randomized block design with three replications at the Research Farm of Forage Section, Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, CCS HAU, Hisar during rabi 2015-16. The analyses of variance revealed highly significant differences among the genotypes for all the characters at genotypic level. Positive and significant correlations of dry matter yield were recorded with green fodder yield, plant height and seed yield. Path coefficient analysis revealed that characters green fodder yield, plant height and number of tillers/plant had positive and direct effects on dry matter yield. Genetic divergence classified genotypes into nine major clusters. The eight principal components had eigen values more than one and explained 70.01% of the total accumulated variability. The first principal component explained 12.78 % of the total variation followed by the second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth with 10.86, 9.81, 8.34, 8.08, 7.20, 6.89 and 6.04%, respectively

Key words:: Principal components, multivariate, genetic divergence, fodder yield, oat

315-319

PRIYANKA. S. PATEL, N. B. PATEL, R. A. GAMI*, K. G. KUGASHIYA AND P. R. PATEL
Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, CPCA, S. D. Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar (Gujarat)
Sorghum Research Station, S. D. Agricultural University, Deesa-385 535 (Gujarat)
Department of Seed technology, S. D. Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar (Gujarat)
Pulses Research Station, S. D. Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar (Gujarat)
*(e-mail : ramangami@gmail.com)
(Received : 9 March 2021; Accepted : 31 March 2021)

SUMMARY

The present investigation was carried out to study gene action and combining ability in
sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]. The experimental material consisted of six parents (including check GJ 43 and CSV 32F (forage)) and their 15 half-diallel crosses. The seeds of 15 F₁ hybrids were produced during summer 2019 at Sorghum Research Station, S. D. Agricultural University, Deesa, by manual emasculation and crossing. The seeds of parental lines were maintained through selfing. The analysis of variance for combining ability results revealed that mean sum of squares due to general combining ability were found highly significant for all the traits except the number of leaves per plant. In comparison, the specific combining ability effects were found significant for all the traits. Parents’ gca effects explicated that the parents CSV 21F and UTFS 91 were perfect general combiner for both green fodder yield per plant and dry fodder yield per plant. The patent Malwan found perfect general combiner for plant height (cm), leaf: stem ratio and Brix value. The parent GFS 4 perfect general combiner for days to flowering, days to maturity and protein content. A perusal of data of sca effects implied that the cross combinations GFS 4 × UTFS 9, Malwan × GJ 43 and PSVGS 313 × UTFS 91 recorded the highest sca effects, which were also highest in per se performance which involved poor × good, poor × average, average × good parents combination, respectively.

Key words: L×T analysis, gene action, combining ability, green fodder and grain yield

320-324

YOGENDER KUMAR* AND K. D. SEHRAWAT
Wheat and Barley Section,
Department of Genetics & Plant Breeding
CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar-125004 (Haryana), India
*(e-mail : yogenderkgulia@gmail.com)
(Received : 10 December 2021; Accepted : 5 March 2021)

SUMMARY

In order to elucidate the per se performance and selection strategies for development of high yielding varieties and/ or promising genotypes under organic condition, 12 varieties of barley were grown and evaluated for 10 metric traits during rabi 2015-16 at Experimental Area of Wheat and Barley Section of Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar. The analysis of variance indicated high significance of mean sum of squares due to treatments for all the traits studied. Three varieties viz., BH 946, BH 902 and DWRB 101 produced higher grain yield and also showed better performance for several other yield components. These genotypes can be used in barley improvement programme and will be helpful in breaking the yield plateau under organic field condition. Moderate to high heritability coupled with high genetic advance was revealed by grains per spike, grain yield per plot, peduncle length, spike length and plant height. Correlation analysis indicated highest significant positive correlation of grain yield per plot with biological yield per plot, followed by harvest index and days to maturity at both genotypic and phenotypic levels. Among all the traits, biological yield per plot, harvest index, spike length and peduncle length reflected positive direct effect on grain yield per plot. Therefore, to obtain high yield, one should consider these traits in barley breeding programme.

Key words:Barley, per se performance, genetic variability, organic condition

325-331

AMANDEEP*, RAHUL KAPOOR AND GURPREET SINGH
Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics,
Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana-141004 (Punjab), India
Regional Research Station, Faridkot-151203 (Punjab), India
*(e-mail : amandeep-pbg@pau.edu)
(Received : 9 February 2021; Accepted 30 March 2021)

SUMMARY

The present study was conducted with 25 exotic germplasm accessions along with three
checks at Forage Research Farm, Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Punjab Agricultural
University, Ludhiana during Rabi season 2019-2020. The objective of the study was to determine
the extent of correlation among green fodder yield with contributing traits and their effects. The high value of phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) and genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) was observed for number of leaves followed by green fodder yield and number of tillers. High heritability was estimated for percent crude protein content (99.68%), number of leaves (97.84%) and acid detergent fiber (97.09%). Higher genetic advance was observed for number of leaves (98.70%) and green fodder yield (79.38%). Traits like plant height (0.533), leaf length (0.416) and leaf width (0.292) had positive and significant correlation with green fodder yield. Positive and direct effect of plant height (0.942) and number of leaves (0.218) on green fodder yield. The results suggest that traits like plant height, leaf length and leaf width are the main fodder yield components. So, selection for these traits should be practised in future breeding programme for improving the green fodder yield in oats.

Key words:Oats, Association studies, Heritability, Genetic advance, Path analysis

332-336

ARETH KIBARAZA*, AXAY BHUKER, V. S. MOR AND S. S. JAKAHR
Tanzania Official Seed Certification Institute (TOSCI)
Department of Seed Science & Technology
CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar-125004
*(e-mail : areth.kb@gmail.com)
(Received : 11 January 2021; Accepted : 26 March 2021)

SUMMARY

The study was conducted to assess seed priming effect on enzyme activities of five maize hybrids of Public and Private seeds sectors viz., PMH-1,
IIMRNH 2015-3, IIMRNH 2015-4, P3396 and DKC 9144 during 2018-19 at laboratories of Department of Seed Science & Technology, CCS, Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar. The seeds were primed with KH₂PO₄ (2.0%), KNO3 (1.0%), GA₃ (50ppm) and hydration with water followed by dressing with vitavax power @ 2.5g/kg seed for 17 hours
at room temperature and then dried to original moisture content for 24 hours at 40°C temperature. The results revealed that all priming treatments for 17 hours reduced Dehydrogenase, Catalase, Superoxide dismutase, Peroxidase activities which indicates negative effect on seed quality of maize hybrids. Hence, priming method for maize hybrids need to be standardized. Priming with KH₂PO₄ (2.0%) and KNO₃ (1.0 %) was found most effective where improvement was more over other treatments. Maximum Dehydrogenase (0.173) and Superoxide dismutase (0.623) activity was recorded in unprimed seeds while maximum Catalase activity (0.417) was recorded in seeds primed with KH₂PO₄ (2.0%) and maximum Peroxidase activities (2.574) was recorded in seeds hydrated in tap water. Among the hybrids, DKC 9144 recorded superiority over other hybrids by registering maximum enzymic activities viz., Dehydrogenase activity (0.210), Superoxide dismutase (0.717), Peroxidase (0.2791) and minimum electrical conductivity (87.8), so this hybrid can be used in further breeding programmes.

Key words:Maize, Priming, Dehydrogenase, Catalase, Superoxide dismutase, Peroxidase

337-342

MAKHAN MAJOKA*, V. P. S. PANGHAL AND D. S. DUHAN
Department of Vegetable Science,
CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar-125 004 (Haryana), India
*(e-mail : makhanmajoka@gmail.com)
(Received : 21 February 2021; Accepted : 25 March 2021)

SUMMARY

The present experiment was conducted at Seed Research Area, Department of Vegetable Science, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar (Haryana) in rainy seasons during 2017-18 and 2018-19. The objective of the investigation was to study the effect of nipping and plant spacing on growth, seed yield and quality parameters of cowpea. The experiment was comprised four treatments of nipping (no nipping, nipping at initiation of tendril, nipping at one week after initiation of tendril, nipping at two weeks after initiation of tendril formation stages) and four spacings (60×20 cm, 45x20cm, 30×20 cm and 30×30 cm) was laid out in Randomized Block Design with three replications. Among all treatments, nipping at initiation of tendril formation stage with spacing of 60×20 cm significantly enhance all growth, yield and quality parameters of cowpea seed crop (except plant height) and followed by nipping at one week after initiation of tendril formation stage with spacing of 45×20 cm.

Key words: Cowpea, nipping, spacing, tendril, seed production

343-347

BITTU RAM*, SATBIR SINGH JAKHAR, AXAY BHUKER, SATPAL AND H. S. SAHARAN
Department of Seed Science and Technology,
Forage Section, Department of Genetics & Plant Breeding,
Department of Plant Pathology
CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar-125004 (Haryana), India
*(e-mail : bittunaigal14@gmail.com)
(Received : 14 March 2021; Accepted : 30 March 2021)

SUMMARY

The present investigation was carried out at Department of Seed Science and Technology, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar to assess the effect of fungicides treatments and storage containers on seed quality and storability in sorghum. The seeds of forage sorghum variety HJ 541 were treated with seventeen different fungicides and stored in three containers viz. cloth bag, polythene bag and metal box. All the treatment combinations were evaluated for seed quality parameters viz. germination, shoot length, root length, seedling dry weight, vigour indices (I and II) and seed mycoflora percentage. All the treatments showed better performance as compared to untreated control. The fungicide carboxin + thiram (2 g/kg of seed) performed better than others and among containers polythene bag was proved better followed by metal box for storability at ambient condition. Seed quality parameters found decreased and seed mycoflora increased with the passage of time in all the containers and treatments with the progress of storage period.

Key words:Forage sorghum, fungicides, container, seed quality and storability

348-355

RAJAN KATOCH*, APOORVA, ANKUR TRIPATHI AND N. V. MANOJ
Biochemistry Laboratory,
Department of Crop Improvement, CSKHPKV, Palampur-176 062 (H. P.), India
*(e-mail : rajankatoch@yahoo.com)
(Received : 10 February 2021; Accepted : 30 March 2021)

SUMMARY

To improve quality and digestibility of maize stover for meeting the nutritional requirements of livestock, it was subjected to different pretreatments. Treatment of maize stover with sodium chloride (2%) resulted improvement in CP content (18.43%) and in vitro dry matter digestibility (16.80%). The decrease in ADF (7.35%) and cellulose content (3.40%) was also observed after the treatment. Pre-treatment of stover with calcium hydroxide revealed increase in total carbohydrate and ash content of stover. The calcium hydroxide treatment was also effective in lowering the NDF (8.80%) and ADL content (55.30%) of stover. Treatment with ammonia resulted significant reduction in silica (52.63%), total phenolic (67.70%), simple phenolic (66.90%) and total tannins content (68.60%). Maize stover inoculated with Pseudomonas fluorescens revealed increase in CP content (49.10%) and decrease in ADF (5.40%), cellulose (1.60%) and simple phenolic (59.40%) contents. Treatment
with Trichoderma viride resulted 27.70% increase in total carbohydrate content of stover. Highest reduction in silica content (47.40%) was recorded with Saccharomyces cerevisae treatment. Inoculation of Trichoderma harzianum lowered the NDF (5.79%), hemicellulose (16.50%), total phenols (34.40%) and total tannins (18.90%) content of stover. This treatment was also effective in improving stover digestibility up to 17.84%. The study indicated that treatment of maize stover either with alkali or inoculation with Pseudomonas fluorescens and Trichoderma harzianum are effective for improving nutritional quality of maize stover.

Key words:: Maize stover, nutritive quality, delignification, digestibility, chemical and biological treatments

356-362

MEENA SEWHAG, SHWETA, SURESH KUMAR, ROHTAS KUMAR, J. TOKAS, NEELAM, UMA DEVI AND SATPAL
Department of Agronomy, Department of Soil Science, Department of Biochemistry,
CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar-125004 (Haryana), India
*(e-mail : meenasewhag@gmail.com)
(Received : 16 December 2020; Accepted : 27 March 2021)

SUMMARY

Nitrogen and phosphorus are the nutrient that most frequently limits yield and plays an important role in quality of forage crops. To investigate the effect of varying nitrogen and phosphorus levels on growth, yield and quality of spring fodder maize (Zea mays L.), a field study was conducted during spring 2019 at Agronomy Research Farm, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar located at 29°16’N latitude and 75°7’E longitude at an elevation of 215.2 m above the mean sea level in northwest part of India. The soil of the experimental field was sandy loam in texture, neutral in reaction, low in organic carbon and available nitrogen, medium in available phosphorus and high in available potassium. The experiment was laid out in FRBD design with four nitrogen levels (0, 50, 75 and 100kg N/ha) and four phosphorus levels (0, 15, 30 and 45 kg P₂O₅/ha) replicated thrice. Overall results depicted that growth parameters, yield attributes and yield of fodder maize in spring season increased with the increase in nitrogen and phosphorus levels upto 100 kg N/ha and 45 kg P₂O₅/ha, respectively. With the application of nitrogen @ 50, 75 and 100 kg N/ha there was 27.86, 49.50 and 64.50 per cent increase, respectively, in green fodder yield over the control (no nitrogen). Application of increasing
level of nitrogen and phosphorus increased the soil available nitrogen and phosphorus status over control. Application of 100 kg N ha-1 and 45 kg P₂O₅/ha recorded highest crude protein (%) and crude protein yield of fodder maize, however, the crude protein recorded at 50, 75 and 100 kg N/ha was statistically at par with each other. Synergistic effect of N and P was observed on green fodder and dry matter yield.

Key words:Fodder maize, green fodder yield, nitrogen, phosphorus and spring season

363-367

SEVA NAYAK DHEERAVATHU*, TEJVEER SINGH, A. RADHAKRISHNA, REETU, RAHUL GAJGHATE, S. R. KANTWA AND BHARGAVI H. A.
ICAR- Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute,
Jhansi-284 003 (Uttar Pradesh), India
*(e-mail : sevanayak2005@gmail.com)
(Received : 11 March 2021; Accepted : 31 March 2021)

SUMMARY

In the present investigation, four berseem varieties viz., Wardan, BB2, BB3 and JBSC-1 were tested for their relative salt tolerance to increasing levels of salinity in the combinations of salts which nearly exist in the natural salt affected soils in India. Seeds were germinated in petri dishes and were exposed to four salinity [(4,8,12 and 16EC (dS m-1)] levels. The germination percentage, shoots and root length, fresh and dry weight of seedling were recorded. The results revealed that the effect of salt levels on these parameters was significant (p< .05). Higher loss of germination percentage was found in BB2 at different levels of salinity than in JBSC-1. It was inferred that salinity stress significantly decreased germination and growth parameters of seedlings of four berseem varieties; however, varieties JBSC-1 and Wardan were found relatively tolerant to salinity than BB2.

Key words: Salinity, berseem, germination percentage, shoot length and seed viability indices

368-373

NAVEEN KUMAR*, SATPAL AND NEERAJ KHAROR
Forage Section, Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding
CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar-125 004 (Haryana)
*(e-mail : nknaveenroyal@gmail.com)
(Received : 28 February 2021; Accepted : 30 March 2021)

SUMMARY

An experiment was conducted during rabi season, 2018-19 at Forage Research Farm Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar (Haryana) to study the effect of N levels on yield and quality of promising entries of oat. The experiment consisted of 40 treatment combinations viz., 10 promising entries (Seven entries i.e. SKO-229, HFO607, HFO-525, JO-05-7, OL-1869-1, OL-1861, OL-1862 + 2 national checks i.e. Kent and OS-6 + 1 zonal Check i.e. OL-125 (North West Zone) of single cut fodder oat and four nitrogen levels (30, 60, 90, and 120 kg N/ha). Results showed that growth parameters, green fodder and dry matter yield were recorded highest with entry JO-05-7. However, crude protein content was recorded highest with entry HFO 607 and OL-125 (9.42 %) which was statistically at par with JO-05-7. While, crude protein yield was recorded highest with entry JO-05-7 (16.6 q/ha) which was significantly higher than rest of entries. Maximum net returns and B: C ratio was fetched with entry JO-05-7 followed by OL-1861. Growth parameters, green fodder and dry matter yield were recorded highest with 120 kg N/ha which
were statistically at par with 90 kg N/ha. Furthermore, crude protein content and crude protein yield were also recorded highest with 120 kg N/ha (9.08 % and 14.1 q/ha, respectively) which were statistically at par with 90 kg N/ha. Maximum net returns and B: C ratio was recorded with 120 kg N/ha followed by lower levels of nitrogen.

Key words: Single cut, Oat, Entries, Fodder, Nitrogen levels

374-378

LOKESH KUMAR JAT*, HARPHOOL SINGH, INDU BALA SETHI, NIRANJAN KUMAR BAROD, HANSRAM MALI AND SURESH KUMAR
Agricultural Research Station
(SKN Agriculture University, Jobner – Jaipur), Navgaon-301025, District – Alwar (Rajasthan), India
Krishi Vigyan Kendra (SKN Agriculture University, Jobner – Jaipur),
Navgaon, Alwar-301025 (Rajasthan), India
*(e-mail : ljatlkjat.soils@sknau.ac.in)
(Received : 10 March 2021; Accepted : 30 March 2021)

SUMMARY

Field experiments were conducted at Agriculture Farm, A.R.S., Navgaon, Alwar during two consecutive seasons viz., Kharif 2019 and Rabi 2019-20 to evaluate the effect of biochar and fertilizer’s on cluster bean and it’s residual effect on wheat. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with 7 treatments and three replications. The results revealed that the application of 100% RDF + 15q biochar in cluster bean recorded highest in all growth and yield parameters in both crops. In cluster bean, the maximum grain (14.72 q/ha) and straw yield (36.31 q/ha) were recorded under the treatment 100% RDF + 15q biochar, which were 17.26 & 11.67% higher over 100% NPK alone in grain and straw yield, respectively. The residual effect of treatments also observed significant in wheat, the maximum grain (42.60 q/ha) and straw (63.80 q/ha) were recorded where 100% RDF + 15q biochar
treatment applied in previous crop, which were 10.46 & 10.13% higher over 100% NPK alone in grain and straw yield, respectively. On the other hand the lowest values of grain and straw yield were obtained from control treatment. Similar trend was also recorded in plant height, 1000 grain weight in both crops. Similarly, the direct and residual effect of biochar on N,P,K content in grains and straw as well as total uptake were also recorded higher with the application of 100% RDF + 15q biochar in cluster bean.

Key words: Cluster bean, wheat, growth, yield, biochar, RDF, nutrients content, uptake

379-384