Vol. 10, Special Issue 5 (2021)

Author(s):
SD Patil, DV Kusalkar, KD Bhoite, HM Patil, SR Pardeshi and KM Sonawane

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 ascertain the role and involvement of honey bees (Aphis mellifera) in increasing the seed yield of niger crop (due to pollination) and its effect on income due to increase in the niger seed yield. The experiment was conducted at Zonal Agriculture Research Station, Igatpuri Dist. Nashik, Maharashtra during kharif, 2020. Significant differences were observed for number of seeds/capitula, 1000 seed weight and seed yield. The treatment with natural plot uncovered/ open pollinated with one bee hive of Apis mellifera recorded significantly highest yield of 326 kg/ha, test weight 3.68 g and number of seed 17.20/ capitula as compared to treatment with net Covered plot with one bee hive of Apis mellifera which recorded the yield of 287 kg/ha, test weight 3.66 g and number of seed 11.60/ capitula. The treatment with control-net covered plot without bee hive (insect/ bee pollinator) recorded lowest yield of 92 kg/ha, test weight 3.24 g and number of seed 2.10/capitula. The gross monetary return (Rs. 48900/-) and net income (Rs. 27600) were found maximum in treatment with natural plot uncovered/ open pollinated with one bee hive of Apis mellifera and maximum benefit cost ratio of 2.83 was recorded in same treatment.