The performance and profitability of three commercial broiler strains reared under farming system were investigated in this study. Day-old broiler chicks (n=156) of three different commercial strains (Hubbard classic, Cobb-500 and MPK) were assigned to three treatment groups in a completely randomized block design, each treatment replicated four times, 13 birds per replicate. The birds were reared from d1 to 35 days of age with similar housing, feeding and environmental management condition. Regarding to all parameters collected, live weight and body weight gain were higher (P0.001) in T2(Cobb-500) group, while the birds of T3 (MPK) group were the lowest. Birds of T1(Hubbard Classic) and T2 (Cobb-500) strain group consumed higher (P0.001) feeds, while the birds of T3(MPK) had the lowest feed intake. Cobb-500 broiler strain achieved superior (P0.001) FCR, while the birds of T1 (Hubbard classic) strain group had poorer FCR. Liveability of the broiler strains was unaffected by all the treatment groups. Higher net profit and lower production cost observed in T2(Cobb-500) group than those of other strains, although the difference between the treatment groups was similar. The highly significant measurements of live body weight, weight gain and better FCR values were recorded for Cobb-500 broiler strain, followed by Hubbard classic and MPK, respectively. In conclusion, Cobb-500 broiler strain is appeared to be the most economic to rear amongst the three broiler strains investigated here in response to their performance records.

The study was carried out during 2007-2008 season in the research field of Wheat Research Centre, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Dinajpur to know the effect of lime, Magnesium (Mg) and Boron (B) on yield and yield components of wheat and also their residual effect on mungbean. The geographical position of the area is between 25°62´ N, 88°63´ E and 38.20 meter above sea level. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications, both in wheat and mungbean. Treatments for wheat were (I) recommended fertilizer + Mg + B, (II) recommended fertilizer + lime + B + Mg, (III) recommended fertilizer + lime + Mg, (IV) recommended fertilizer + lime + B and (V) control (Only recommended fertilizer) and for mungbean were (I) recommended fertilizer + Mg + B, (II) 75% of recommended dose, (III) recommended fertilizer + B, (IV) recommended fertilizer + Mg and (V) control (without fertilizers). Results showed that the highest yield and yield components of wheat were recorded from recommended fertilizers + lime + B + Mg treated plot and the second highest were recorded from recommended fertilizers + lime + Mg treated plot. The lowest was recorded in control plot (only recommended fertilized). In case of mungbean the highest was found from recommended fertilizers + B treated plot, this treatment was limed in previously cultivated wheat crop and the lowest was recorded from control plot (without fertilizer).

A long term experiment was conducted to investigate the yield and quality performances of four vegetative propagated test clones of tea coded as A/8/01, A/17/22, A/22/27 and A/22/40 at Bangladesh Tea Research Institute (BTRI) farm during 1996-2010. A standard clone BT1 was considered as control. Cuttings of the test clones were collected from the selected bushes of Amo tea estates and were raised at BTRI nursery. Then saplings were put to long term yield and quality trial following Latin Square Design (LSD) with 3 replications. The green leaf was harvested at weekly interval during the plucking season starting from mid March to mid December throughout the experimental period. Yield data were recorded and analyzed statistically using MSTAT programme. Results of the experiment revealed that among the test clones A/22/40 gave the highest significant yield of 3509.1 kg ha-1 of made tea followed by BT1 (3203.69 kg ha-1 ), A/8/01 (2912.24 kg ha-1), A/17/22 (2817.76 kg ha-1) and A/22/27 (2278.78 kg ha-1) from the average of 9 years (2002-2010) at mature stage. At immature stage i.e. 1st year to 5th year after plantation yield difference was insignificant. The overall cup quality of the test clones was assessed by conventional organoleptic test. The cup quality of A/8/01, A/17/22, A/22/40 as well as the standard clone BT1 was found to be above average (AA) while the cup quality of A/22/27 was average (A). Considering the yield and quality potentials, the test clone A/22/40 has appeared quite promising to be released as a standard clone.

The insect’s world is filled with many odors. Insects use these odors to cue them in a variety of complex social behaviors, including courtship, mating, and egg laying. Scientists and pest control specialists have known about these complex communication systems for decades. The main aim of this study was to visualize the availability, trends and differences in the sources of pheromone control in agricultural growth of Bangladesh. It also concerned on constrains and present use of pheromone and their possible recommendation on behalf of Bangladesh agriculture. It concentrated on the data during last three decades (1980-2010), comprising status of pheromone use in Bangladesh agriculture and its future. Review revealed that Bangladesh has been enormously successful in increasing pheromone use in agricultural production (especially for vegetables). Understanding of the nature of pheromones and their potential for pest control along with the future prospective of pheromone technique in agriculture were stated. Since the pheromone, technologies for control of major crop pests in Bangladesh are still limited. So that this review emphasized on more attention to the authority to increase the research works and project facilities related to develop and promote pheromone techniques. It is highly recommended to increase availability of pheromone in market, more investment in research and development, introduction of newly identified pheromone for specific pest, to assist government and nongovernment organizations to work with farmers to reduce harmful insecticide use and promote pheromone tactics as one part of integrated crop management (ICM).

The effects of different hormonal concentration on shoot formation and callus induction were studied on BARI Malta-1 (Citrus sinensis). Seeds containing seed coat and without seed coat was treated by Murashige and Skoog (MS) media supplemented with 6-benzyl adenine (BA) and Kinetin (KIN). Removal of seed coat showed an early response for shoot formation. The highest (70%) shoot formation was obtained from seeds without seed coat treated with MS basal media + BA 1.0 mg/l while KIN showed no response for shoot formation in any supplemented concentration. However, in case of callus induction internodes and apical shoot tips were used as explants and 2, 4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2, 4-D) was used as callus inducing hormone. MS basal media supplemented with 2, 4-D, 2.0 mg/l showed highest (68%) callus induction.

Eight modern wheat varieties (viz., Sourav, Gourab, Shatabdi, Sufi, Bijoy, Prodip, BARI Gom-25 and BARI Gom-26) were evaluated to find out the suitable variety for optimum and late sown condition, to find out heat tolerant and heat sensitive variety and to find out the optimum sowing time for a specific variety. The experiment was conducted in the research farm of Wheat Research Center (25°38´ N, 88°41´ E and 38.20 m above sea level.), Bangladesh, under eight sowing times (viz., 8 Nov., 15 Nov., 22 Nov., 29 Nov., 6 Dec., 13 Dec., 20 Dec. and 27 Dec.). Results showed that wheat sown in November 22 to December 20 was significantly better compared to November 08, 15 and December 27, from the studied aspects of yield and yield components. Considering overall sowing performance of all genotypes Shatabdi is the best, followed by BARI Gom-26 (2nd), Sourav (3rd), Prodip (4th), Bijoy (5th), Gourab (6th), Sufi (7th) and BARI Gom-25 (least). In extremely heat stress (November 08 and December 27) condition Prodip was found to be heat sensitive genotype (yield reduction 41.18 and 28.92%), followed by BARI Gom-26 (yield reduction 41.15 and 22.73%). Both in too early and very late heat stress conditions, genotypes Sourav and BARI Gom-25 were found to be heat tolerant. In very early (November 08), variety Sourav (yield reduction 20.47%) is recommended, followed by BARI Gom-25 (yield reduction 27.91%) and in very late (December 27), Sufi is the best (yield reduction 8.60%), followed by Bijoy (yield reduction 11.05%).

Tea is a popular beverage made from the leaves of evergreen shrub or tree Camellia sinensis, under the family Theaceae. Tea plant is subjected to the attack of insects, mites, nematodes and some plant pathogenic diseases. Tea production is greatly hindered due to these maladies. About 10-15% crop loss occurred by these pests per annum. In severe cases, it would be 100%. To combat these problems different groups of pesticides have been used in the tea fields since 1960. As tea is a consumable commodity, the effect of residue of pesticides in made tea is harmful to human health. In this context, biopesticides are being considered as environmentally safe, selective, biodegradable, economical and renewable alternatives for use in IPM programmes. Biopesticides are natural plant products and may be grown by the planters with minimum cost and extracted by indigenous methods. Biopesticides are secondary metabolites, which include alkaloids, terpenoids, phenolics, and minor secondary chemicals. It is estimated that as many as 2121 plant species have been reported to posses’ pest control properties. Botanicals like neem, ghora-neem, mahogoni, karanja, adathoda, sweet flag, tobacco, derris, annona, smart weed, bar weed, datura, calotropis, bidens, lantana, chrysanthemum, artemisia, marigold, clerodendrum, wild sunflower and many others may be grown by planters with minimum expense and extracted by indigenous methods. These botanical materials can be used as an alternative to chemical pesticides. These botanical extracts will help in controlling major pests of tea such as Helopeltis, red spider mite, aphids, thrips, jassid, flushworm, termites, nematodes etc. The present note reviews the information of most widely available indigenous plants that may be used for the control of insect pests of tea as a component of IPM.

Natural enemies play an important role to control the pest population of a crop field by killing the pest directly or indirectly by parasitism. By knowing the dispersal ability of natural enemies could be effective biocontrol tool for controlling the harmful pest. Vegetated field margins have been suggested as a shelter of natural enemies. Natural enemies like ground beetle, rove beetle, parasitoid and spider dispersal ability from the field margin to inside the oilseed rape field was analyzed by doing this study. All insects were collected from the oilseed rape fields of Southern Sweden. This study showed that parasitoid abundance was higher near the field margin compare to the deep field. Distribution of ground beetle, rove beetle and spider was almost the same all over the field. Parasitoids could be effective to control the oilseed rape pest near the field margin as a biocontrol aspect whereas rove beetle, ground beetle and spider could be a used biocontrol tools for all over the field.

Effects of different hormonal concentration on multiple shoot formation of RABI Strawberry-3 were studied. Where the explants were runner tips that cultured on MS basal medium supplemented with 6-Benzyl Adenine and Kinetin. The maximum percentage 80% of shoot was obtained from Benzyl Adenine concentrations of 0.5 mg/l and 1.0 mg/l whereas Kinetin concentrations were 1.5 mg/l and 2.0 mg/l separately. More promising result was found by combining two impressive concentrations of each hormone. When MS basal media was supplemented with Kinetin 2.0mg/l + Benzyl Adenin A 0.5 mg/l, Kinetin 1.5 mg/l + Benzyl Adenine 0.5 mg/l and Kinetin 1.5 mg/l + Benzyl Adenine 1.0 mg/l respectively then 100% shoots were obtained.

To study the tick and tick borne protozoan diseases of livestock in the hilly areas of Bangladesh, an attempt was made to collect tick and blood samples from cattle, goat and gayal (Bos frontalis) from different areas of the three hill districts. In this study, two species of ticks namely, Boophilus microplus (92%) and Amblyomma testudinarium (21.6%) and two species of blood protozoa like Babesia bigemina (16.63%) and Anaplasma marginale (14.94%) were recorded. Seasonal prevalence of ticks was highest in summer (97%) in comparison to rainy (95%) and winter (86%) season. On the other hand, the seasonal prevalence of blood protozoa was highest in rainy season (45.45%) in comparison to summer (27.87%) and winter (16.55%). Again, animals aged more than 2 (two) years of age (52%) found to be more susceptible to blood protozoan diseases than animals aged between 1-2 years of age (33.97%). But none of the animals under one year of age were found to be infected with blood protozoan diseases.