An experiment on  the effect of varied pruning intensities on apple cultivar Starking Delicious was conducted in four different locations viz Sarsari, Seobag, Nagni and Boshadhar of Kullu district  during 2008-09 and 2009-10 on twenty year old Starking Delicious apple, raised on seedling rootstock  spaced at 6 x 6 m apart.  There were five pruning intensities which were replicated in four different locations. The plant growth increased with the increase in severity of pruning, conversely fruit yield decreased with the increased in pruning severity. Maximum shoot extension growth (53.20 and 55.50 cm) was found under heavily pruned trees during both the years. The highest fruit set (28.20 and 21.20 %) and yield (14.81 and 11.56 t/ha) was recorded under treatment (T2) ¼ heading back and thinning out which was closely followed by ½ heading back and thinning out (T3) through out the study period. Fruit weight, diameter and total soluble solids also increased with the increase in pruning intensities. Different pruning intensities exerted the significant effect on the fruit weight and diameter however, non significant difference was observed on fruit firmness, acidity and reducing sugars of apple.

EFFECT OF VARIED PRUNING INTENSITIES ON THE GROWTH, YIELD  AND FRUIT QUALITY OF STARKING DELICIOUS APPLE UNDER  MID HILL CONDITIONS OF HIMACHAL PRADESH, India

<div style="text-align: justify;">The present investigation was carried out during 2016-2017 with the objective of observing the effect of the tested systems of pruning on vegetative, fruiting, yield and quality traits of capsicum varieties. The experiment was laid out in a factorial randomized block design with four replications and nine treatments with Indra, Bachata and Inspiration cultivars of capsicum pruned with three intensities i.e. two shoots, four shoots and un-pruned (control). The results showed that the two stem pruning treatment significantly affected the plant growth and flowering characteristics in terms of plant height (194.75cm), number of days to first flower (20.25 days) in cv. Indra. Same cultivar when left un-pruned recorded more number of fruits per plant (23.64 fruits), but &nbsp;fruit yield per plant (4.14kg) was observed in four stem pruning treatment in Indra cultivar of capsicum than other cultivars tried.&nbsp;</div>

Effect of pruning systems on growth and yield traits of greenhouse grown bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L. var. grossum)

<div>Influence of photoperiod and light intensity on Bambusicola thoracicus was studied, whereby One Hundred birds were distributed into 5 treatment groups viz. A1, A2, B1, B2 and C. The birds in group A1 were treated with light intensity of 80 luxes/8 hours during growing period and 240 luxes/16 hours during laying period, group A2 with light intensity 20 luxes/8 hours during growing period and 60 luxes/16 hours during laying period. Birds in group B1 were provided photoperiod of 5 luxes/16 hours during growing and 15 luxes/20 hours during laying period, while in group B2 photoperiod of 5 luxes/12 hours during growing and 15 luxes/18 hours during laying period was provided. Group C was kept as control group. Results indicated average body weight of group A1, A2, B1, B2 and C, 196.25; 192.24; 186.98; 190.00 and 190.44g/b respectively, feed intake 202.13; 211.98; 230.11; 212.25 and 207.11g/b respectively. The FCR was recorded best in group A1, while carcass weight (99.57g), dressing percentage (52.02%) and egg length &nbsp;(33.11mm) was found higher in group A2. Average egg production percent was higher in group B1 (70.24), egg width in A1 (24.89) respectively. Study concludes that the Bambusicola thoracicus reared under 80 luxes light intensity for 8hrs per day during growing period and 240 luxes light intensity for 16hrs per day in laying period showed better FCR and feed intake, however egg production was observed better when birds were provided 5 luxes for 16hrs photoperiod during growing and 15 luxes for 20hrs photoperiod during laying period.</div>

<div>Production of Bambusicola thoracicus under the Influence of Light Intensity and Photoperiod</div>

<div>Background:&nbsp;Indigofera tinctoria plays the role of a natural dye source that produces indigo color and contains the secondary metabolite indican which is highly responsive to light intensity. This study aims to examine the critical period for the formation of the secondary metabolite indican on light intensity. 
 
Methods: The method used was a completely randomized block design with a split-plot design. The study consisted of 2 treatment factors, namely: length of shade (main plot) and light intensity (subplot). The length of shade included 5 levels, namely early growth phase (up to 1 month after planting), mid-growth phase (up to 2 months after planting), maximum growth phase (up to 3 months after planting), 1 month before harvest and 2 months before harvest. Light intensity had 3 levels, namely 50% light intensity (38,464.3 lux), 25% (19,232.15 lux) and 10% (7,692.86 lux). 
 
Result: The combination of duration of shade and light intensity affected the growth, yield and content of secondary metabolites (indican) in Indigofera tinctoria. The highest number of leaves, plant fresh weight and biomass was found in the combination of shade in the early growth phase (up to 1 month after planting) with 50% light intensity. The highest indican production was found in the mid-growth shading (up to 2 months after planting) with 10% light intensity, which was 843.33 ppm. The critical period of shade to increase indican production along with the number of leaves was the mid-growth phase (up to 2 months after planting).</div>

The Critical Period of Production of the Secondary Metabolite Indican in (Indigofera tinctoria L.) on Light Intensity

The present study was carried out to compare the growth performance and carcass yield of broiler chickens reared in semi-intensive and conventional systems (Ross 308, n=120). Chickens were raised in a pen on wooden shavings for 21 days. On day 21 of age, chicks were assigned to 2 treatments (indoor treatment and semi-intensive treatment). The experiment was conducted at until 6 weeks of age. Production system has a significant effect on wing (P&lt;0.05) and heart weight (P&lt;0.01), but has no any effect on final body weight, hot or cold carcass weight, thigh, breast, back and neck, gizzard, liver and abdominal fat weights (P&gt;0.05). &nbsp;The final body weight, hot and cold carcass weight, thigh, wings and heart weights were affected by sex of birds (p&lt;0.05) while breast, back, liver, gizzard and abdominal fat were not affected by sex (P&gt;0.05). The nutrient level of carcass parts was not influenced by production system or sex (P&gt;0.05). In our study, breast of birds reared under semi-intensive system had significantly lower &lsquo;L&rsquo; (P&lt;0.05), higher &lsquo;a&rsquo; statistically different (P&lt;0.01); while &lsquo;b&rsquo; value was significantly (P&lt;0.01) higher in skin of semi-intensive reared birds.

Effects of a semi-intensive raising system on growth performance, carcass traits and meat quality of broiler chicks

<div>Background: An intensive cropping system involving legume and vegetable crops not only highly productive and profitable but should also be stable over time and maintains soil health in present scenario. So, keeping this point in view the present investigation was carried out to evaluate the productivity, profitability and sustainability of legume entailing different ultra high intensity rice based cropping system models under irrigated sub-tropics.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: The field experiment was conducted at Research Farm, SKUAST-Jammu, Main Campus, Chatha for two consecutive years from kharif 2019 to summer season of 2021. The experiment consisting of five legume entailing rice based cropping system models of cropping intensity varying from 300-600% viz. T1: Rice (Basmati-370) - Wheat (HD-3086) - Cowpea (Lobia Super-60) having 300% cropping intensity, T2: Rice (Basmati-564) - Potato (Kufri Badshah) - Wheat (Raj-3765) - Mixed fodder (Maize+Cowpea+Charri in 2:2:1 ratio) having 400% cropping intensity, T3: Rice (SJR-129) - Knol khol (G-40) - Potato (Kufri Sindhuri) - Green gram (IPM 02-3) having 400% cropping intensity, T4: Rice (Pusa-1121) - Radish (CR-45) - Green onion (Nasik Red) - French bean (Anupama) - Okra (Seli special) having 500% cropping intensity in relay cropping from fourth crop onwards and T5: Rice (IET-1410) - Fenugreek (JF-07) - Knol khol (G-40) - Green onion (Nasik Red) - Dry onion (Selection-1) - Black gram (Pant U-19) having 600% cropping intensity in relay cropping from third crop onwards was laid out in a randomized block design with four replications. 
 
Result: The results obtained under two years research study revealed that treatment T4 recorded significantly highest basmati-370 rice equivalent system productivity followed by treatment T5. Further, treatment T4 also recorded highest system cost of cultivation, system gross returns and system net returns. System soil fertility status in terms of available NPK after completion of second crop cycle was significantly affected. Among different cropping systems, significantly higher available nitrogen and phosphorus were recorded in treatment T5 system which was at par with treatment T4.</div>

Performance of Diversified Legume Entailing Ultra High Intensity Rice based Cropping System Models for Higher Productivity, Profitability and Sustainability

<div>Background: White Pekin ducks can be reared under intensive rearing system for meat and egg production. Depending upon the availability, duck farmers use different types of cereals for feeding their ducks. Therefore, a study was conducted to find out the performance of White Pekin ducks during mid phase of layingfed on wheat and/or broken rice based diets under intensive rearing system.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: White Pekin laying ducks (45; 41 weeks old) were divided into three groups. Three types of diets without (BR-0) and with broken rice (BR), replacing 50 (BR-50) and 100 (BR-100) per cent of wheat were prepared and offered randomly to the above three groups till the ducks attained 52 weeks of age under standard feeding and management practices.&nbsp; 
 
Result: The total egg production (dozen) and duck day egg production (DDEP) % were higher in BR-50 group (4.51 and 64.44) than the BR-100 group (3.85 and 55.00); however, both were similar to BR-0 group (4.09 and 58.49). The total feed intake (12.55-13.80, kg) and feed conversion ratio (feed consumed in kg per dozen eggs produced) (2.93-3.31) were similar among the groups. The cost (Rs.) per egg was lower in BR-50 group (7.79) than the BR-0 group (8.32) and BR-100 group (8.71). The egg weight in BR-50 group (76.61 g) was higher than the BR-0 group (75.42 g); however, both were similar with BR-100 group (76.19 g). There was no significant difference in the egg shape index (68.22-69.69), albumen index (0.13-0.14) and yolk index (0.42-0.44) among the groups. The However, the Haugh unit in BR-100 groups (87.32) was lower than BR-0 group (89.90); but both were similar with BR-50 group (89.56). There were no significant differences in the percentage of albumen (55.09-55.71), yolk (31.75-32.38) and shell (12.45-12.63) among the groups. Similarly, the shell thickness with membrane (0.50-0.52, mm) and without membrane (0.43-0.44, mm) were also similar among the groups. It can be concluded that White Pekin ducks can be raised on wheat and/or broken rice-based diets during mid phase of laying under intensive rearing system; however, mixture of wheat and broken rice in equal ratio increased the performance and was economical.</div>

Performance of White Pekin Ducks Fed Wheat or Broken Rice based Diets during Mid Phase of Laying under Intensive Rearing System

<div style="text-align: justify;">Background: The experiment was conducted at farmer&rsquo;s field to study the growth response and efficiency of feed conversion of Assam local goats under different systems of management. Methods: Twenty goats of one month of age were randomly selected in village Lachima of Nalbari district, Assam. The goats were randomly divided in two groups comprising of ten kids in each group viz, T0 (Control) where goats were reared under extensive system of management with traditional grazing and browsing and T1 (Experimental) where goats were reared under intensive system of management with ad lib. concentrate and fodder feeding.&nbsp; Conclusion: The average initial and final body weight of the goats during the experimental periods in T0 and T1 groups were recorded as 2.90&plusmn;0.03 kg and 2.89&plusmn;0.04 kg and 10.36&plusmn;0.26 kg and 16.05&plusmn;0.53 kg respectively with highly significant difference (P&lt;0.01) from 3rd week of the experiment till the end of the experiment. The overall changes in body measurement showed highly significant difference between the groups. The feed conversion efficiency on DM basis was recorded as 3.49 in the treatment group. Due to significantly higher growth rate in the intensive management system, it assures higher income in small holders&rsquo; goat production system.</div>

<div style="text-align: justify;">Growth Response of Assam Local Goats under Intensive Farming</div>

Background: Cotton, a perennial crop, can greatly benefit from pruning, which assists in rejuvenating aged plants and enhancing yields comparable to those of the primary crop. However, research on pruning (ratooning) cotton remains limited. In this study, we investigated the effects of pruning and drip fertigation on yield and yield characteristics of ELS cotton CO14.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: The study was conducted in a farmer&#39;s field in Nallur village, Bhavanisagar block, Erode district, Tamil Nadu, India, using a split-plot design replicated thrice. Main plots received fertigation treatments (M1-75% NPK, M2-100% NPK, M3-125% NPK, M4-STCR), while subplots were designated for different pruning techniques (S1-15 cm, S2-30 cm, S3-45 cm). 
 
Result: Findings showed that drip fertigation with M3-125% NPK resulted in highest plant height (109.35 and 113.06), LAI (4.06 and 4.02), higher counts of sympodial branches plant-1 (19.73 and14.46), squares plant-1 (128.00 and108.27), bolls plant-1 (59.44 and 45.98), boll setting percentage (46.66 and 42.51), yield (28.56 and 19.34 q/ha) and HI (0.46 and 0.43) in main crop and pruned crop. Concerning pruning techniques, cotton pruned at S3-45 cm height exhibited significantly greater counts of sympodial branches plant-1 (13.76), squares plant-1 (103.44), flowers plant-1 (16.66), bolls plant-1 (36.88), boll setting percentage (35.35), yield (16.87 q/ha) and HI (0.40). Interaction analysis between main and subplot treatments revealed that 125% fertigation with 45 cm pruning height led to significantly higher counts of sympodial branches plant-1 (15.60) and flowers plant-1 (18.58). Thus, it is recommended to implement fertigation at 125% NPK+pruning at a 45 cm cut height to attain superior yields and yield characteristics.

Optimizing Growth and Yield of Cotton: Exploring Pruning and Drip Fertigation Techniques on ELS Cotton CO14

<div>Background: The study on the effect of varied plant density with different pruning levels on growth and flower yield in Jasminum sambac (L.) was carried out at the Department of Floriculture and Landscape Architecture, TNAU, Coimbatore during 2021-2022.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: The experiment was laid out in Factorial Randomized Block Design (FRBD) with eight treatment combinations and replicated thrice. The treatments comprised of T1&nbsp; (D1P1)- Control = One plant pit-1 + one pruning year-1, T2 (D1P2) = One plant pit-1 + two prunings year-1, T3 (D2P1) = Two plants pit-1 + one pruning year-1, T4 (D2P2) = Two plants pit-1 + two prunings year-1, T5 (D3P1) = Three plants pit-1 + one pruning year-1, T6 (D3P2) = Three plants pit-1 + two prunings year-1, T7 (D4P1) = Four plants pit-1 + one pruning year-1, T8 (D4P2) = Four plants pit-1 + two prunings year-1 respectively. Pruning treatments were imposed on one year after planting of J. sambac (L.) a new clone (nine budded clone) which is prolific and high yielder. Most of the growth and yield parameters were significantly influenced by increased plant densities and pruning levels.&nbsp; 
 
Result: Considering the growth and flowering traits in Jasmine, the pooled data indicated that the treatment T6 (D3P2) i.e. three plants pit-1 + two prunings year-1 was found superior for growth and flowering parameters namely plant height (84.47 cm), canopy spread (0.350 m2), number of primary branches plant-1 (16.27), number of secondary branches plant-1 (36.73), number of cymes plant-1 (1989.7), number of nine budded cymes plant-1 (911.0), number of flower buds plant-1 (2875.0), flower yield plant-1 (730.3 g) and flower yield ha-1 (5071.0 kg) whereas, lowest yield (3241.5 kg/ha) was observed in T1 (D1P1) i.e. one plant pit-1 + one pruning year-1. But the parameter on days taken for first harvest of flower buds, number of flower buds cyme-1 and weight of hundred flower buds was found to be non-significant. The results might be due to increased plant density combined with alteration in pruning have enhanced not only speedy plant growth and vast canopy spread but also other yield attributing parameters such as increased number of cymes with nine buds per hectare which in turn might have resulted in higher flower production when compared to conventional planting.&nbsp;</div>