Field experiments were conducted at AICRP for Dryland Agriculture, Orissa University of Agriculture & Technology, Phulbani, Odisha (India) to study the yield performance of 10 important turmeric genotypes, and the effect of five different nutrient management practices on four outstanding varieties in order to address the problem of low rhizome yield and curcumin content of the zone. Based on yield data of 10 turmeric varieties over two years (2007 and 2008) evaluated in RBD with three replications, highest rhizome yield of 21.7 t/ha was observed in Lakdong followed by Rajendra Sonia (16.0 t/ha). The second experiment was laid out in factorial design involving four varieties and five nutrient treatments with 3 replications. The yield data over five years (2009-10 to 2012-13 and 2014-15) shows Lakdong (9.14 t/ha) to be the best among varieties and lime @10% LR + 50% organic + 50% inorganic (9.15 t/ha) among nutrient treatments. Significant variety × nutrient interaction was observed with respect to rhizome yield. Highest rhizome yield was obtained from turmeric variety Lakdong with 100% organic treatment (11.1 t/ha). While two varieties, Lakdong and Phulbani Local exhibited highest yield with 100% organic treatment, performance of Rajendra Sonia was the best with 50% organic + 50% inorganic + lime @10% LR and Roma with 50% organic + 50% inorganic. Significant variation was observed among nutrient treatments of all four turmeric varieties for NPK content in shoot and rhizome. The interaction between varieties and nutrient management practices for curcumin content was significant.           

Lettuce varieties Bombilasta BBL and Italian 167 were treated with different concentrations of cadmium (0, 3, 6, 9, and 12 mg/L) in a nutrient film technique (NFT) system to study its toxicity on phytochemicals and nutrient elements. Antioxidants analysis which employed DPPH and FRAP, flavonoids, phenolic, vitamin C, malondialdehyde (MDA), and proline indicated significant effects of Cd treatment on the varieties tested. Different concentration levels of Cd lead to positive interactions in FRAP, phenolic, and MDA but no significant effect in flavonoids, vitamin C, and proline. Contents of macro- and microelements in the varieties were significantly affected with increase in the toxicity levels of Cd in all nutrient elements tested with interactions exhibited for iron, manganese, and zinc.

Lettuce varieties Bombilasta BBL and Italian 167 were treated with different concentrations of cadmium (0, 3, 6, 9, and 12 mg/L) in a nutrient film technique (NFT) system to study its toxicity on phytochemicals and nutrient elements. Antioxidants analysis which employed DPPH and FRAP, flavonoids, phenolic, vitamin C, malondialdehyde (MDA), and proline indicated significant effects of Cd treatment on the varieties tested. Different concentration levels of Cd lead to positive interactions in FRAP, phenolic, and MDA but no significant effect in flavonoids, vitamin C, and proline. Contents of macro- and microelements in the varieties were significantly affected with increase in the toxicity levels of Cd in all nutrient elements tested with interactions exhibited for iron, manganese, and zinc.

Agroforestry species Leucaena leucocephala (subabul), a multipurpose leguminous tree, is one of the most suitable species for silvipasture system. Its seeds, a good protein source to livestock, also have lot of industrial application. Subabul responds well to pollarding, a practice that helps growth of understory crops but reduces seed yield of main tree species. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of nutrient application on fruit and seed characters, seed yield, germination and vigour of pollarded subabul trees. The study was conducted on three important salvodar type subabul varieties (K8, K636 and S24) with different fruit and seed characters. Three nutrient mixtures (SSP @ 150 kg/ha + ZnSO₄ @ 20 kg/ha; CuSO₄ @ 0.25 % + Borax @ 0.15 % + KNO₃ @ 1 % in 500 l spray volume per ha and KNO₃ @ 4 kg/ha) were applied before anthesis. The nutrient treatments have enhanced fruit length and weight without affecting the fruit width. Similarly, seed characters responded positively to nutrient applications resulting in enhanced mean yield across varieties and years. The seed viability measured as germination percentage varied among varieties with maximum viability in small-seeded K 636. The application of nutrients enhanced the germination and vigour in all three varieties irrespective of the seed size. Among the nutrient mixtures, potassium nitrate @ 4 kg/ha has better effect on seed yield and its attributing characters as well as on seed quality across the varieties over the years.

An investigation was carried out during rabi season of 2013–14 at vegetable farm, College of Horticulture, Mandsaur (Gwalior) to study the effect of integrated nutrient management on growth, yield parameters and yield in French bean. The treatments comprised six nutrient levels N₁, N₂, N₃, N₄, N₅ and N₆ and three varieties viz., Arka Komal (V1), Contender (V₂) and Swarna Priya (V₃). It was noticed that application of nutrient levels and varieties had significant influence on growth, yield and yield parameters. Nutrient level N₄ [Vermicompost (10t/ha) + N (50kg/ha) + Rhizobium (15g/kg seed) + PSB (15g/kg seed) + P₂O₅ (80kg/ha) + K₂O (80kg/ha)] recorded the maximum plant height (57.92cm), fresh weight of shoot (43.70g), dry weight of shoot (11.33g), number of pod per plant (31.81), pod length (15.55cm), shelling percent (76.87%), harvest index (26.82%), seed yield per plant (17.35g) and seed yield per hectare (25.22q). The maximum days for 50 per cent flowering were taken with the application of N₆ nutrient level which was significantly higher over other nutrient levels. Among the varieties Swarna Priya (V₃) recorded the highest growth, yield parameters and yield in French bean. Earliest 50% flowering was recorded in variety Contender followed by Arka Komal.

This chapter discusses various sources of nutrients to be applied to prevent soil nutrient depletion, as well as the optimum rates, times and methods of their application. It also describes how computer models can predict site-specific nutrient requirements and balanced fertilizer rates to maximize nutrient use efficiency, increase farmers’ profits and prevent waste and potential pollution of the environment. It ends by considering the variation among cassava genetic resources in nutrient use efficiency in order to breed new varieties with greater tolerance to low soil fertility.

A field experiment was carried out in the Light village of Netrokona Sadar during the period from December 2010 toMarch 2011 to study the performance of some wheat varieties in terms of nutrient contents and their uptake. Theexperiment comprised of five varieties of wheat viz. BARI Gam 25, Shatabdi, BARI Gam 26, Prodip and Bijoy. Theexperiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with six replications. The nutrient contents and theiruptake by wheat grain and straw were significantly influenced by the varieties. The highest N, P, K, S, Ca, B and Zncontents in grain were found in the variety BARI Gam 26 and the lowest N, K, S, Ca and Mg contents were found inthe variety Shatabdi. The maximum N, P and S uptake by grain were recorded in the variety BARI Gam 26. On theother hand, the highest K and Zn uptake by grain were obtained from the variety Prodip. The minimum N, K, S, Ca,Mg and Zn uptake by grain were recorded in the variety Shatabdi. In straw, the maximum N, P, K, S, Ca and Buptake were observed in the variety BARI Gam 26 and the minimum N, K, S, Ca and B uptake were found in thevariety BARI Gam 25. On the basis of nutrient contents and their uptake, wheat variety BARI Gam 26 showed thebest performance.

The study was conducted to assess the chemical composition of the haulms of 4 dual-purpose groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) varieties and their effects on the growth and hematology of Djallonké rams. The groundnut varieties were ICGV 97049 (Obolo), ICGX SM 87057 (Yenyawoso), RMP 12 (Azivivi) and Manipinta. Rams (live weight 15.0 ± 3.0 kg) were randomly assigned to 4 sole groundnut haulm meal (GHM) treatments, with 4 rams each in an individual pen per treatment (total n = 16 rams). Samples of the groundnut haulms were milled and analyzed for crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF). The CP concentration was higher (P < 0.05) in Azivivi, Manipinta and Yenyawoso than in Obolo. The highest (P < 0.05) NDF and ADF fractions were obtained in Obolo. Whilst no significant difference was reported in total and daily dry matter (DM) intake among the varieties, CP, NDF and ADF intake all differed between Obolo and other varieties. The apparent nutrient digestibility did not differ (P > 0.05) when the Djallonké rams were fed the haulms. However, significant differences were observed in final live weight and average daily live weight gain. Rams fed the Yenyawoso variety had higher (P < 0.05) final live weight and average daily live weight gain compared with those fed Obolo and Azivivi varieties. Consumption of any of the 4 varieties of groundnut haulms by Djallonké rams did not have any harmful effect on their red and white blood cell numbers and hemoglobin concentration. The study revealed that the different varieties of groundnut haulms differ in nutrient composition and also affect the growth performance of the rams. The Yenyawoso variety may be used as a sole diet for fattening Djallonké rams.

Grain protein content (GPC) in wheat has been found to be regulated by the gene NAM-B1. Homologues to the NAM-B1 gene have been found in barley, HvNAM-1 and HvNAM-2. Previous studies have found that base mutations in the NAM-1 gene at base position 544 might have an impact on GPC. Previous studies also found that landrace of barley showed higher GPC than cultivated barley, indicating that plant improvement might have affected base mutations and therefore GPC. I wanted to study if there are any nutritional differences in Nordic barley and if those differences might correlate with haplotypes. Comparisons of barley varieties from four Nordic countries, and two varieties from the US used as low and high GPC controls, did not show any significant differences depending on their origin country and no differences regarding plant improvement status between the countries. When sequencing Nordic barley varieties, five haplotypes were found for the gene HvNAM-1, and two haplotypes for the gene HvNAM-2. A low polymorphism for both genes indicate a strong natural selection for the consensus haplotype which might be preferable for Nordic climate with a short growing season and cold temperatures. Even though it is not clear what is the cause of the low polymorphism in Nordic barley varieties, they showed a generally higher nutrient content than barley varieties of the high GPC and may be suitable for breeding for a yield with a high nutrient content.

The study was conducted to assess the chemical composition of the haulms of 4 dual-purpose groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) varieties and their effects on the growth and hematology of Djallonké rams. The groundnut varieties were ICGV 97049 (Obolo), ICGX SM 87057 (Yenyawoso), RMP 12 (Azivivi) and Manipinta. Rams (live weight 15.0 ± 3.0 kg) were randomly assigned to 4 sole groundnut haulm meal (GHM) treatments, with 4 rams each in an individual pen per treatment (total n = 16 rams). Samples of the groundnut haulms were milled and analyzed for crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF). The CP concentration was higher (P < 0.05) in Azivivi, Manipinta and Yenyawoso than in Obolo. The highest (P < 0.05) NDF and ADF fractions were obtained in Obolo. Whilst no significant difference was reported in total and daily dry matter (DM) intake among the varieties, CP, NDF and ADF intake all differed between Obolo and other varieties. The apparent nutrient digestibility did not differ (P > 0.05) when the Djallonké rams were fed the haulms. However, significant differences were observed in final live weight and average daily live weight gain. Rams fed the Yenyawoso variety had higher (P < 0.05) final live weight and average daily live weight gain compared with those fed Obolo and Azivivi varieties. Consumption of any of the 4 varieties of groundnut haulms by Djallonké rams did not have any harmful effect on their red and white blood cell numbers and hemoglobin concentration. The study revealed that the different varieties of groundnut haulms differ in nutrient composition and also affect the growth performance of the rams. The Yenyawoso variety may be used as a sole diet for fattening Djallonké rams.