This study evaluates the effect of different soilless growing media on physiological properties of media and growth parameters of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) under Polyhouse conditions during 2024 at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Meerut, U.P. The experiment was carried out in completely randomized design (CRD) with 3 replications comprising 10 treatment combinations. The media tested include cocopeat, biochar, rice husk, and their various combinations. Physiological parameters assessed were water holding capacity (WHC), pH, and bulk density, while plant growth was evaluated based on vine length, number of leaves, days to first female flower appearance, and root and shoot fresh weight. The results showed that media combination significantly influenced all physiological and growth parameters. Among different media combination T8 with 12.5% cocopeat+12.5% Biochar+75% rice husk recorded the highest vine length (273.91 cm), leaf number (54.00), and root-shoot biomass(109.50g) as well as the earliest female flower appearance (25.17 DAS). Cocopeat alone (T1) exhibited the highest water holding capacity (64.49%) but had limitations in aeration indicated by low bulk density values (0.090 Mg/m3). (T2) Biochar (100%) treatments recorded higher pH values (8.77). The study concludes that balanced media formulations enhance root environment and plant physiological responses conducive to vigorous growth in protected cucumber cultivation.
Akshat Gupta, S. Lodhi, M. Singh et al.· Annales Horticulturae· 0 citations
The study focused on evaluating 48 different tomato genotypes for 13 morphological traits to estimate the genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance at the Horticulture Research Centre of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology in Meerut, following randomized complete block design with three replications during two consecutive Rabi seasons (October 2022 and April 2024). The results of analysis of variance revealed that for all quantitative features included for both the season, analysis of variance indicated highly significant variations among genotypes. The phenotypic and genotypic coefficient of variation ranged from 4.92% to 16.42% and 4.23%to12.93% respectively. Higher PCV compared to GCV observed for all traits revealed that the influence of environment on traits. High heritability estimates obtained for day to first fruit set, days to first fruit maturity, plant height, days to first fruit harvesting, days taken germination, number of fruits per plant, fruit yield(t/ha), fruit length, fruit yield (kg/plant), fruit yield (kg/plot), High Genetic Advance for number of primary branch, plant height, fruit length, days to first fruit set. High heritability coupled with High Genetic Advance Observed for day to first fruit set, plant height, days to first fruit set, fruit length. As yield is the most important dependent trait, day to first fruit set, plant height, days to first fruit set, fruit length can be selected as selection parameters for further crop improvement programs.
