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Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) is one of the principle crops of India and is widely grown throughout the year in various parts of the country. The brinjal hybrids are high yielding and more responsive to fertilizer application. Generally, major nutrients viz., N, P and K are supplied to the crop through soil application. At present, water soluble fertilizers with different ratios of N, P and K having high solubility have been introduced and are found to be highly effective for foliar application. Hence, field investigation was carried out to study the effect of water soluble fertilizers on yield and quality parameters of brinjal hybrids due to application of various levels of water soluble fertilizer in the University Orchard, Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar. Foliar feeding of water soluble fertilizer NPK (19:19:19) at 0.5 per cent and 1% along with 100 and 75 per cent recommended dose of NPK (200:150:100 kg ha-1) with 5 and 7 sprays, each starting from 30 DAT at 10 days interval, formed twenty treatments in two hybrids. The experimental plots were laid out in Randomized Block Design and replicated thrice. The observations on various yield and quality parameters were recorded and subjected to statistical analysis. The results obtained showed that among the two different concentrations of foliar applied nutrients, 7 sprays of 1% NPK (19:19:19) along with 100 per cent recommended dose of fertilizer (200:150:100 kg ha-1) recorded the earlier days to 50% flowering, highest number flowers per plant, fruit girth, fruit weight, yield per plant and yield per hectare. The highest quality parameters were also recorded in the same treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An assortment of 10 winter wheat cultivars was tested for specific effects on weed suppression. Furthermore cultivar specific effects of weed infestation and weed control measures on the crop yield were investigated. Two trial series conducted from 2005 to 2010 demonstrated a wide cultivar specific range of shading capacity and weed suppression. Light penetration and the dry matter of the model weed Sinapis alba were highly correlated (r = 0.87) in trial series A (2005-2007). Consequently, the weed dry matter in the less competitive cultivar Dekan was 5 times higher compared to the weak competitor Cubus. Mechanical weed control by harrowing reduced ears density of all cultivars tested in trial series A. These reductions were significantly higher in the cultivars Bussard and Pegassos compared to the other cultivars. Since the weed infestation was low and negative crop effects by harrowing could be compensated by a higher number of kernels/ear, the yield effects were the same for all cultivars. Contrary to the hypothesis, a cultivar specific yield response by harrowing could not be assessed. Higher competition effects by sowing the model weed Sinapis alba could be realised in trial series B (2008-20120). Consequently, the control measures (a) harrowing (b) 50% herbicide (c) 100% herbicide resulted in significantly higher crop yields ranging from 1.23 t*ha-1 (harrowing) to 2.08 t*ha-1 (100% herbicide). The yield reduction caused by the model weed was not the same for all cultivars and was lower for the cultivars Cubus and Limes (6% and 7%) compared to Boomer (15%). Thus, weed tolerance could be identified as a cultivar specific trait. There were significant interactions between cultivar and weed control measures: The yield increase (relative to model weed) was 5% for Bussard, which was much lower compared to the treatment effects on the cultivar Impression (11%). The hypothesis that yield effects by mechanical and chemical weed control may be affected by the wheat cultivar, could be confirmed. These yield effects by trend increased while the competitiveness of the cultivar decreased.

This influence of various rootstocks on the yield and grape composition of Sauvignon Blanc was examined. The yield on rootstock 41B/72 was 1 kg/vine or more higher than on rootstocks SO4 cl. 31, Riparia cl. 1 and Kober 5BB. The vines grafted on the Börner rootstock gave the highest weight of 100 berries (241 g). The highest seed weight of 100 berries (6.9 g) was found on rootstock 196/17 Cl, while the lowest one was on the Riparia cl. 1 (5.6 g). There was a strong, positive correlation (r = 0.91) between the berry and seed weights of vines on rootstock 41B/72 (2003). The total acidity content and the relationship between tartaric and malic acids were affected more by the weather conditions than by the rootstock. Relatively strong correlations between the grape yield and total soluble solids (r = -0.89), and between grape yield and total acidity (r = 0.76) were found in the grape juice on rootstock 41B/72 (in 2002).

The studies demonstrate the effect of early weed control on maize yields compared to late weed control with corresponding herbicide control strategies. Maize yield with a late weed control strategy was 10 % lower compared to a strategy controlling weeds early based on ten field trials. Interestingly the thousand-grainweight (TGW) seems not to be affected significantly but the number of grains per cob were identified as major responsible factor for yield decrease. To explain these field effects, glasshouse test were undertaken to simulate the competitive weed effects. Specific methods allowed to grow maize plants to the yield stage even in the glasshouse under representative conditions. The field observations were confirmed clearly. The early yield parameters like number of grains per cob were mainly affected by the timing of weed control treatments (early vs. late), while the parameter grain rows per cob was more sensible than the number of grains per row. The TGW remained basically consistent. As a follow-up experiment, maize plants were grown under glasshouse conditions and as well grown to the yield stage. This time, subsamples were taken and the cob formation at very early stages was investigated destructively to follow the development of the cob formation. Ovules and rows were counted on 'mini cobs' (cobs with a size of 4 mm were harvested) under the binocular. Clearly, weed competition had an impact on the induction of the number of ovules early on and at the end impacted on the yield in ripe cobs.

Irrigation water is scarce and expensive resource constraining crop production in arid and semi-arid region of India. Most producers’ aims to maximize yield per unit of water applied but it requires a better understanding of crop response to various levels of water stress. A field experiment was conducted during 2009–2011 to investigate the effect of deficit irrigation through drip irrigation; phosphorus solubilizing bacterial (PSB) inoculation and chloromequat chloride (cycocel) spray on seed cotton yield and water productivity (WP) of cotton. Experimental treatments comprised of three drip irrigation levels designated as 1.0 ETc (full irrigation as control), 0.8 ETc and 0.6 ETc (regular deficit irrigation) which receive 80% and 60% of the 1.0 ETc irrigation, were kept in main plots. The factorial combination of PSB inoculation and cycocel spray were included as good management practices (GMP) in sub-plots. A furrow irrigation treatment was also kept as absolute control. The result reveals that drip irrigation in cotton at 1.0 ETc significantly increased mean seed cotton yield by 33.5% and saved 30% irrigation water as compared to furrow irrigation which recorded 1859 kg ha −1 seed cotton yield with 582 mm irrigation water. Deficit irrigation at 0.8 ETc caused 17% water savings with only 6.4% reduction in yield as compared to 1.0 ETc. PSB inoculation and/or cycocel spray significantly increased number of bolls plant −1 , boll weight and seed cotton weight plant −1 over control. The interaction effect of deficit irrigation and GMP was significant on seed cotton yield and water productivity. Therefore, deficit irrigation at 0.8Etc along with PSB inoculation and cycocel spray should be considered as useful tool for water saving and higher yield in arid and semi-arid regions where irrigation water supplies are limited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This influence of various rootstocks on the yield and grape composition of Sauvignon Blanc was examined. The yield on rootstock 41B/72 was 1 kg/vine or more higher than on rootstocks SO4 cl. 31, Riparia cl. 1 and Kober 5BB. The vines grafted on the Börner rootstock gave the highest weight of 100 berries (241 g). The highest seed weight of 100 berries (6.9 g) was found on rootstock 196/17 Cl, while the lowest one was on the Riparia cl. 1 (5.6 g). There was a strong, positive correlation (r = 0.91) between the berry and seed weights of vines on rootstock 41B/72 (2003). The total acidity content and the relationship between tartaric and malic acids were affected more by the weather conditions than by the rootstock. Relatively strong correlations between the grape yield and total soluble solids (r = -0.89), and between grape yield and total acidity (r = 0.76) were found in the grape juice on rootstock 41B/72 (in 2002). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]