Achievements of the Vegetable Science Department

1. Standardization of fertigation and mulching practices in tomato

In a trial on standardization of fertigation and mulching practices in tomato variety PKM 1, the treatment combination, mulching with black polythene along with the application of 100% of recommended dose (150:100:50kg /ha) in the form of Urea + Phosphoric acid + Potassium sulphate recorded the  highest number of fruits per plant (32.7), single fruit weight (62.3 g) and yield (6.40 kg / plant) compared to the soil application of fertilizers without mulching (control) (16.03 fruits /plant, 37.15 g of fruit weight and 4.05 kg fruit yield /plant).

2. Weed management in tomato

            In an experiment on pre- and post-emergence herbicides on control of weeds in tomato variety PKM 1, application of Oxyfluorfen 0.25 kg a.i ha^-1 (PE) + Hand weeding on 30 DAT recorded better control of weeds and higher Weed Control Efficiency and significantly higher fruit yield (20.6 kg/ha), which was at par with Oxyfluorfen 0.25 kg a.i ha^-1 (PE) +Metribuzin 0.15 kg a.i ha^-1 on 30 DAT (19.8 kg/ha). The benefit cost ratio was higher under the treatment of Oxyfluorfen 0.25 kg a.i ha^-1 (PE) + Metribuzin 0.15 kg a.i ha^-1 on 30 DAT (3.39) compared to the control.

3. Off-season production in moringa

              For off season production of Moringa, sowing of moringa seeds on 15^th May along with soil application of nitrobenzene @ 0.5% at 60 days after sowing resulted in the increased plant height (4.16m), early days for appearance of flowering panicles (88.10), higher number of pods / tree (37.5), increased pod set per cent (4.4) and pod yield / ha (8.58t/ha) compared with control (2.89 m, 104 days, 8.47 pods, 2.97 % pod set and 49 t/ha respectively). The fruits could be harvested during the month of Oct- Nov. The BC ratio was also high (5.13) as against the BC ratio in control (0.95).

4. High density planting and fertigation in moringa

              In moringa, high density planting at a spacing of 1.5 x1.0 m along with the application of 135:23:45g of NPK / pit registered the highest over-all pod yield per ha (146.76 t/ha) compared to control.

5. Intercropping systems in annual moringa

              In an experiment on intercropping systems in annual moringa PKM 1, growing of chillies or bhendi in the interspace of annual moringa during the first half year and vegetable cowpea after the harvest of chillies or bhendi as intercrop in additive series during second season increased the productivity and profitability of the cropping system than the sole cropping of annual moringa.

6. Improving the leaf yield of moringa through biostimulants

            Application of humic acid @ 2 ml/lit + vermiwash @ 4% + sea weed extract @ 4% at
10 days after each harvest recorded the highest dry leaf yield of 18.24 t/ha and the highest cost benefit ratio (1:2.45) along with recommended dose (270:45:90 kg NPK/ha) of fertilizers.

7. Organic seed production in tomato

In an experiment on organic seed production in tomato cv. PKM 1, the soil application of poultry manure 7.0 t/ha as basal dose recorded the maximum number of fruits/plant (30.7), fruit yield (1.1kg/plant) and seed yield (0.68 g/plant) compared to control (seed yield 0.54 g/plant).  The seed quality was good with a germination of 99% and vigour index of 1385 compared to control, which recorded germination of 96% and vigour index of 1283.

8. Quality improvement of brinjal seeds by priming

Brinjal PKM-1 seeds treated with 200 ppm of KH₂PO₄ for 12 hours increased the seed quality with the maximum germination (78%), root length (6.9cm), shoot length (6.1cm), dry matter production (1.7 mg/ seedling) and vigour index followed by treatment with 150 ppm KNO₃ compared to untreated control.