<div style="text-align: justify;">A field experiment was conducted at Agricultural College Farm, Bapatla during kharif, 2013, to find out the ideal spacing in mesta crop grown for seed purpose, with four spacing viz., 30 cm &times; 10 cm, 20 cm &times; 10 cm, 15 cm &times; 15 cm and 15 cm &times; 10 cm, growth parameters viz., the plant height, number of branches per plant yield parameters viz., number of seeds per capsule and 1000 seed weight were not altered significantly due to different spacing tried. Significantly superior values for dry matter accumulation, crop growth rate, stalk yield and number of days to reach 50 % flowering were noticed with closer spacing of 15 cm &times; 10 cm than the remaining tried. Significantly higher relative growth rate and more number of capsules per plant was found at a wider spacing of 30 cm &times; 10 cm, which was however, on a par with 15 cm &times;15 cm and 20 cm &times; 10 cm, where as the number of capsules per plant were found statistically same with 15 cm &times; 15 cm. Roselle sown at a closer spacing 15 cm &times; 10 cm produced maximum seed yield, which was however, found parity with 20 cm &times; 10 cm.</div>

Ideal spacing in mesta (<em>Hibiscus sabdariffa</em>. L) grown for seed purpose

<div style="text-align: justify;">Assessment of macronutrient status of soils under five major cropping systems namely, rainfed mango/cashew orchards, rainfed groundnut/mesta cropping, irrigated rice followed by pulses, irrigated rice followed by maize and irrigated sugarcane in Thotapalli irrigation project ayacut area of north coastal Andhra Pradesh was carried out. &nbsp;A total of 125 random soil samples were collected from five different cropping systems from five villages of five Tehsils (mandals) namely, Cheeprupalli, Therlam (both tehsils from Vizianagarm district), Ranasthalam, Regidiamadalavalasa and Laveru (from Srikakulam district). The results of the study revealed that the soil organic carbon (OC), available nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and sulphur (S) contents of the irrigated land was higher than adjacent rainfed upland, however the exchangeable calcium and magnesium were higher in rainfed uplands and relatively lower in irrigated cropping systems. Significant positive correlation was noticed between percent clay content with available N (r = 0.311**), available P<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub> (r = 0.232*), available K<sub>2</sub>O (r = 0.473**), available Sulphur (r = 0.249*), likewise organic carbon content also positively correlated with available N (r = 0.456**), available P<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub> (r = O.578**), available K<sub>2</sub>O (r = 0.211*) and available sulphur (r = 0.298*), while available phosphorous, was negatively correlated with soil pH, EC and CaCO<sub>3</sub> contents. The variations in soil properties and nutrient status among cropping systems indicate need for employing integrated and soil test based nutrient management in sustainable manner.</div>

<div style="text-align: justify;">Available macronutrient status of soils in various cropping systems of Thotapalli irrigation project ayacut of North coastal Andhra Pradesh</div>

Ideal spacing in mesta (Hibiscus sabdariffa. L) grown for seed purpose

Available macronutrient status of soils in various cropping systems of Thotapalli irrigation project ayacut of North coastal Andhra Pradesh