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A field experiment was conducted on sandy loam soil at Crop Research Centre of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture & Technology, Meerut, U.P. during kharif (July –October), 2019 in randomised block design with three replications. The study comprised of ten different statistical treatments for weed management practices in transplanted rice and various observations were recorded during the crop growth period. The results indicated that the application of Pretilachlor (750 g a.i/ha) at 3 DAT + Penoxsulam (22 g a.i/ha) at 20 DAT significantly reduced the weed population and dry weight over weedy check. The highest plant height, number of tillers (m-2), dry matter accumulation, leaf area index, panicle length, filled grains, unfilled grains, higher protein content, 1000-grain weight and grain yield (38.80 q ha-1), were recorded with the application of Pretilachlor (750 g a.i/ha) at 3 DAT + Penoxsulam (22 g a.i/ha) at 20 DAT, which established itssuperiority over rest of the herbicidal treatments. Among weed management treatments, Pretilachlor (750 g a.i/ha) at 3 DAT + Penoxsulam (22 g a.i/ha) at 20 DAT (T8) found excellent to control weed population and increase growth parameter, yield attributes and crop productivity.

The investigation entitled “Study of relationship between compaction level (bulk density) and chemical properties of different textured soil” was carried out using various research materials and analytical techniques during 2017-18 at department laboratory of Soil Science at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Meerut, UP, India. Results of study reveals that levels of compaction does not affects pH and EC significantly however soil OC was affected significantly. More impact was found in organic carbon as compare to pH and EC. Effect of compaction on amount of OC in different textured soil indicates that more organic carbon was found in sandy clay loam soil followed by sandy loam and minimum in loamy sand at same degree of compaction. A strong negative correlation of bulk density with pH (r = - 0.912, -0.943 and -0.943) EC (r = - 0.988, -0.991 and -0.992) and OC% (r = - 0.993, -0.985 and -0.989) for loamy sand, sandy loam and sandy clay loam soil, respectively was observed. The available macro nutrients (N, P and K) of soil decreased significantly with an increase in the level of compaction. A strong negative correlation of bulk density with available N (r = - 0.993, -0.995 and -0.992), available P (r = -0.985, -0.983 and -0.980) and available K (r = -0.925, -0.979 and -0.984) for loamy sand, sandy loam and sandy clay loam soil, respectively was found. Unlike available macro nutrient, the micro nutrient of soil also decreased with an increase in the level of compaction. A strong negative correlation between bulk density and available micronutrients Zinc r = - 0.925, -0.944 and -0.929 and Iron r = -0.981, -0.974 and -0.931 for loamy sand, sandy loam and sandy clay loam soil, respectively was also recorded.

A field experiment was conducted on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) during Rabi season of 2005-06 at Crop Research Center of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Modipuram, Meerut. The experiment was aimed to evaluate the effect of different nitrogen scheduling and LCC based nitrogen scheduling in wheat. The experiment comprised of ten treatments was laid out in Randomized Block Design, with three replications. The major treatments were, control (where no nitrogen was applied ), 50 % N in basal+25 % N at CRI + 25 % at tillering stage, 25 % N in basal + 25 % N at CRI + 25 % N at tillering + 25 % N at jointing stage, 37.5 % N in basal + 25 % at CRI + 37.5 % N at tillering stage, 50 % N at CRI + 50 % N at tillering stage, 50 % N at CRI + 25 % N at tillering + 25 % N at jointing stage, 50 N in basal + 25% N at tillering + 25% N at jointing stage, 25% N in basal + 37.5% N at CRI + 37.5 % N at tillering, 25% N in basal + 50% N at CRI + 25% N at tillering stage, and nitrogen applied on LCC (Leaf colour chart) based. In different nitrogen scheduling treatments, LCC based nitrogen scheduling treatment was found most efficient than recommended and other nitrogen scheduling treatments in terms of increased wheat yield and nitrogen use efficiency. Application of 25% N in basal + 50% N at CRI + 25% N at tillering stage was also found superior than other treatments, increased these parameters, but it was inferior to the LCC based nitrogen scheduling treatment. AE N and RE N also improved due to LCC based nitrogen application. LCC based nitrogen scheduling practice also reduces the over application of nitrogen which can be susceptible to different losses including leaching, ammonium volatilization and runoff.

Surface and subsurface soil samples of Muzaffarnagar district were collected to characterize their chemical properties and accordingly to develop optimum land use plan to realize maximum agricultural productivity. The pH value of study area varied from 6.02 to 8.39 and 6.35 to 8.50 for surface and sub surface, respectively, electrical conductivity from 0.069 to 0.390 and 0.073 to 1.10 dSm-1, organic matter content 7.241 to 15.221 and 3.695 to 10.179 g kg-1, available nitrogen (N) 131.53 to 348.97 and 99.32 to 217.44 kg ha-1, Phosphorus (P) 15.67 to 52.61 and 11.17 to 45.40 P2O5 kg ha-1, potassium (K) 79.16 to 436.8 and 47.04 to 399.84 K2O kg ha-1for surface (0-15 cm ) and subsurface soil (15-30 cm). Cationic micronutrients Zn, Cu, Fe and Mn varied from 1.636 to 6.164, 1.024 to 4.282, 0.672 to 5.802 and 0.332 to 2.652, and 113.13 to 11.232, 10.33 to 79.326, 10.272 to 38.572 and 29.578 to 77.882 mg kg-1 in surface (0 -15 cm) and subsurface soil (15-30 cm) respectively. As per soil nutrient index (SNI), the soils of study area were found in low fertility category for nitrogen and medium with respect to phosphorus and potassium. A positive and significant correlation of NPK and micronutrients was found with organic matter content while significant and negative correlations exist between micronutrients and soil pH. Key word: Soil fertility, organic matter, NPK, micronutrients, surface soil, soil nutrient index.

To assess the soil health of Crop Research Centre of SVPUAT, Meerut soil samples from 0–15 cm depth were collected, processed and analyzed for various physical, chemical and biological properties viz., bulk density, infiltration rate, aggregate stability, pH, available P, K, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn and OC (%) during 2013–14. Study indicates that soils of study area are sandy clay and clay loam in texture with low to medium in health. Scoring function graph of the properties was developed for the rating of individual indicators, following the work of Andrews et al. (2004). Overall soil health was judged by averaging the rating of all studied indicators. The individual indicator rating for bulk density, infiltration rate, aggregate stability, pH, available P, K, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn and OC (%) were 85, 83, 83, 24, 97, 40, 90, 0, 77, 0 and 56, respectively for sandy clay soil and 97, 35, 76, 20, 97, 79, 45, 0, 63, 0 and 87, respectively for clay loam soil. For sandy clay soil out of 11indicators studied 6 (bulk density, infiltration rate, aggregate stability, available P, Zn and Fe) showed high score, 2 (available K and OC %) showed medium and rest of the 3 (pH, available Mn and Cu) scored low while for clay loam soil 5 indicators (bulk density, aggregate stability, available P, K, and OC) were found highly rated, 3 (infiltration rate, available Fe and Zn) medium and 3 (pH, available Mn, Cu) low. However, overall quality score of both the soil was medium and low (57 and 54 out of 100, respectively). Hence, on the basis of study, it can be concluded that soils of CRC are low to medium in health. However infiltration, pH and toxicity of Mn and Cu in soil invite special attention to manage the sustainable productivity.