Department of Horticulture

The Department of Horticulture was established during the academic year 2015-16 under the Faculty of Agriculture for PG teaching in vegetable science and fruit science along with other research and extension activities vide Office Order No. 77/Registrar / RAU, Pusa; Dated. 23.06.2015, in consequent upon approval by the Academic Council vide O.O. no. 139/2014 dt. 20.09.2014 & Board of Management in its 85^th meeting held on 09.05.2015 (memo no. 359/RAU, Pusa dt. 09.05.2015).

Vision:

• Increment in area and production under horticultural crops.
• Implementation of advanced technologies for production, improvement, protection and post harvest management of various horticultural crops.
• Varietal improvement against various abiotic and biotic stresses.
• Development of climate resilient varieties/technologies.
• Timely regulation of different all the three pillars, viz., teaching, research and extension activities to cater to the needs of students, farmers and other beneficiaries.

Mandate:

• Accomplishment of good quality teaching with modern teaching tools focused on latest research and inquisitiveness of students to enable them to qualify various examinations at national and international level with flying colors.
• Execution of various experiments targeting the issues of horticultural crops growers of this region and also implementation of advanced technologies in research.
• Farm level demonstrations, advisory meetings, trainings in various forums, both offline and online to facilitate better adoption of various particulars by the targeted beneficiaries.

Objectives/Goals:

• Release of varieties addressing against problems of the region.
• Providing technical guidance to ground level problems of farmers.
• Production and distribution of quality planting materials of various horticultural plants.
• Empowering students excel in various national and international level examinations.

a) Smart Class rooms: 2

b) Adequately Equipped PG/Research Laboratories: 1

c) Hi-tech Horticulture Unit

d) Orchard and Nursery Unit

i. Varieties and technologies

 Crop Improvement:

a. Rajendra Lahsun-1 (IC635310)

• It is a high yielding variety of garlic developed through clonal selection
• The variety medium size compact white bulbs. 
• Maturity period is 135-150 days and average yield of the variety is 8-10 t/ha.
• The variety possesses moderate degree of resistance against diseases (Purple blotch and Stemphylium blight) and thrips
• Released by SVRC, Govt. of Bihar, Patna (2023).

b. Rajendra Parwal-3 (IC0640201)

• It is a high yielding variety of pointed gourd developed through clonal selection.
• Fruits are light green with 6-8cm in length and 2-3.5 cm in diameter, having an average fruit weight of 25-30g.
• Around 150-175 fruits yield per vine. The average yield variety ranges from 200-250 quintal/ha.
• Recommended by 11^th Rabi RCM, 2021.

c. Gladiolus: The gladiolus genotype “Arka Naveen” produced best results for all three years of experimentation and is recommended for commercial cultivation in state of Bihar along with standard cultural practices.

d. The department has obtained IC Number for 14 genotypes of Bacopa monnieri (Brahmi), 2 genotypes of Trichosanthes dioica (Pointed gourd) from NBPGR, New Delhi

e. Altogether different genotypes of 207 Vegetable crops, 85 Fruit Crops and Flower Crops are being maintained at Department.

 Crop Management:

• Tulsi: Standardization of planting method for Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum ): Crop planted in the first July with spacing of 40X30 cm recorded maximum fresh and dry herbage yield (160.56 and 39.90 q/ha, respectively).
• Standardization of Vegetable-Based Cropping Sequence under naturally ventilated polyhouse: Capsicum–Brinjal and Cucumber recorded maximum production and production efficiency, which was at par with cropping sequence Tomato–Okra and Cucumber. (9^th RCM, Rabi 2020)
• Development of organic production of spinach beet: Spinach beet grown organically with application of Vermicompost (3t/ha) + PSB (5kg/ha) + Azospirrilium (5kg/ha) produced best leaves yield (22.69 t/ha.) and highest benefit-cost ratio (2.18). (9^th RCM, Rabi 2020)
• Development of Integrated Nutrient Management in French bean: Aapplication of 75% NPK through inorganic + 25% N through vermicompost in French bean produced best pod yield (9.56 t/ha) and highest benefit-cost ratio (2.16). (9^th RCM, Rabi 2020)
• Development of system for Pointed gourd cultivation under naturally ventilated polyhouse: Growing of pointed gourd in polyhouse by using native pollinators was developed by keeping bee colony inside polyhouse. Among the different five varieties tested, Swarna Rekha variety recorded significantly higher fruit yield (3.45 tonnes) per 1000 m². (9th RCM, Rabi 2020)
• Enhancing nutrient Use efficiency in papaya : Based on the experimental result, in Bihar the papaya growers are recommended raised bed cultivation, following drip irrigation (80% ER at all stages) and fertigation (75% RDF), applying mulching with 100-micron UV stabilized black polyethylene. The crop should be sprayed with micronutrients (ZnSO4 (0.5%) + boric acid (0.2%) alternate months from second month for having a higher input use efficiency.
• Balanced application of nutrients in papaya: Balanced application of nutrients viz., 100% of N, P2O5 and K2O in three splits e, 50:50:25% from transplanting to flower emergence, 25:25:25% from flowering to first harvest and 25:25:50% from first harvest to end of first cropping period is recommended for obtaining higher yield with high BC ratio
• Macro-propagated plants as low-cost planting material for banana cultivation. The technology on macro-propagation of banana was recommended as an effective low-cost plant multiplication technique of banana under the agro-ecological conditions of Bihar.
• Weed management in marigold: The pre emergence application of Pendimithline @ 1.0 kg/ha followed by two hand weeding at 30 and 60 DAP recorded the highest marigold flower yield and fetched the maximum net returned.

ii. Faculty awards/ honours:

• Department of Horticulture received first prize in stall exhibit during Kisan Mela 2017.
• Udit Kumar conferred with Fellow of the Confederation of Horticulture Association of India, New Delhi-2025
• Asish Kumar Panda, Assistant Professor (Hort.) Fruit Science was awarded with Best Experiment in-Charge for the year 2023 of the ICAR-All India Coordinated Research Project in Fruits, ICAR-IIHR, Bengaluru.

iii. Student awards/achievements:

• Six M.Sc. (Ag.) Horticulture students have cleared ICAR-SRF exam in 2024.
• Six M.Sc. (Ag.) Horticulture students got block horticulture/block agriculture officer at Govt. of Bihar in 2025.
• Three M.Sc. (Ag.) Horticulture students selected as Assistant Professor/SMS at different Universities.

 iv. Research activities:

National & International projects with details of PI/ Co-PI:

 Collaborations with other organizations/Institutes:

• MoU has been signed with ICAR National Research Centre on Litchi, Muzaffarpur, to foster research and academic.

 v. Publications:

Technical Bulletins:

• Sabji ki unnat kheti 2017. Sudhir Das, Udit Kumar and S.P.Singh, RPCAU, Pusa
• Sabji utpadan ki navintam taqnik 2020. Udit Kumar and B. M. Sinha, Manohar Prasad Singh and Arun Kumar RPCAU, Pusa

 Lab Manuals:

• Prasad, K., Singh, S.P. and U. Kumar (2021) Practical Manual on Post-harvest Management and Value Addition of Fruits and Vegetables, AHT-301 (1+1), Publication Division, RPCAU, Pusa
• Kumar, U. and A. K. Singh (2020). Horticulture Training manual for Gardeners (Mali) Training, Publication Division, RPCAU, Pusa.
• Prasad, K., U. Kumar and A. K. Panda (2025) Practical Manual on Fundamentals of Horticulture, AHT-111 (2+1), Publication Division, RPCAU, Pusa

vi. Extension Activities:

Ongoing various extension activities:

• The fruit and vegetable growers, stake holders and entrepreneurs are provided technical support for commercial crop production.
• Training to Govt. officials, farmers and entrepreneurs are also conducted on different aspects of horticultural crops.

Seminars/Conferences/Workshops/Trainings/ Brainstorming sessions organized:

• Digital Training Programme on Fruit Science Research: Progress & Prospects, 2021
• Litchi Diversity Show-2023
• Litchi Diversity Show-2024
• Mango Diversity Show and Workshop on Scientific Mango Growing – 2024
• National Seminar on Litchi Diversity and GI-based Litchi Honey – 2025