Seed yield increase in Niger crop in to relation to honeybee and other pollinators

Abstract

Niger (Guizotia abyssinica Cass) is an important minor oilseed crop of hilly and tribal regions and it is used for oil as well as for various other purposes only by the tribal people. Therefore, a systematic study was arranged to document about the increase in the seed yield of niger crop in relation to honeybees (Aphis mellifera), as a pollinator in niger crop with paired plot technique at the Niger Research Station (NRS) at Navsari Agricultural University (NAU) and at farmer’s field, Vanarasi, Navsari, Gujarat (India) and also studied its relation in terms of cost benefit ratio (CB). The trial was conducted at Niger Research Station (NRS), Vanarasi for 3 years (2013- 14, 2014-15 and 2015-16) and also at farmer's field to ascertain the role and involvement of honey bees (Aphis mellifera) in swelling the seed yield of niger crop (due to pollination) and its effect on income due to increase in the niger seed yield. Significant differences were observed for number of capitula/plant, number of seeds/capitula, 1000 seed weight and seed yield in both the location for the consecutive 3 years. However, the seed yield and gross returns were considerably higher in first location of T1 Natural plot/ open pollinated with beehive (Aphis mellifera) in all the 3 years data with the maximum seed yield with the gross return was obtained in this treatment.