Based on location specific soil analysis and fertilizer recommendation, the Institute has introduced soil health services to farmers in two upazilas of Mymensingh and Sherpur districts. The aim of the service is to obtain maximum yield by maintaining soil fertility and saving the cultivable land from degradation due to imbalance use of chemical fertilizers. The services have already started giving benefit to the farmers.

   Application of radiation processed sewage sludge reduces the use of chemical fertilizers, replenishes soil organic matter content of the cultivable land and improves soil fertility and preserves the environment. Application of 400 kg/ha sewage sludge produced identical yield obtained from 100 kg nitrogen/ha from urea. This practice also increases the crop yield.

   This is recommended for growing wheat with minimum tillage practice immediately after the harvest of T. aman rice. Seeds can be sown by opening a furrow with a country plough in between two rice rows immediately before or after harvest. It reduces the turn around time between two crops and wheat can be grown with residual soil moisture, thus, reducing the cost of cultivation. Growing one more crop in a mono crop area gives this practice an additional income.

   This management practice has been developed for utilization of fallow saline land for wheat cultivation. Timely planting immediately after harvest and careful management can prevent the land from quicker drying. Planting of wheat seeds should be done immediately when 'Jo' condition of land arrives. Farmers could get additional income by growing wheat in a barren land in saline zone.

   Application of half the dose of nitrogen fertilizer (as urea super granule) would give higher grain yield and thus, reduced the cost of N-fertilizer. Moreover, pollution due to application of nitrogen fertilizer is reduced.

   Press mud is a potential source of phosphatic fertilizer. Application of decomposed press mud @ 1200 kg/ha (equivalent of 200 kg TSP) at the time of land preparation for rice and sugarcane cultivation saves money and use of P fertilizer. Moreover, it increases the organic matter content of soil and thus, improves the soil physio-chemical properties.

   This practice recommends 50% of the total recommended dose of phosphatic fertilizer in an area where continuous cropping patterns are followed with wheat -T. aus-T. aman rice. In the second crop T. aus rice, no P-fertilizer is needed while 50% of recommended dose of P fertilizer may be applied in the third crop.

   Cropping intensity could be increased across the saline area of Feni following the cropping pattern with early maturing Aman rice (BR-33)  Binasarisha-3 or Binasarisha-4 Fallow/summer mungbean (Binamoog-2 or Binamoog-5).

   Mixing of mungbean seeds @ 1 kg with 10 ml oil of sesame or groundnut/ mustard/castor/coconut/palm could protect the treated seeds from the attack of pulse beetle for about 5-6 months. The technique is cheap and environment friendly.

   The sugacane variety ISD-21 is tolerant to waterlogged conditions, which is recommended for cultivation in those areas where waterlogging exists for about 60 days.

   Binasail is a low input T. aman rice variety that does not require any supplemental irrigation at Mymensingh and Jamalpur areas. However, depending on natural precipitation, one irrigation may be given to grow this variety at Rangpur and Ishurdi areas.

   BINA has developed a low cost irrigation channel with the pre-cast forcement. Construction cost is half compared to brick-made channel. There will be no water loss during irrigation from the low cost ferrocement channel.

   This is the preventive measure to control diseases of winter mungbean and mustard. The date of sowing is very important, which should be followed strickly as mentioned bellow in the greater Mymensingh area:

Crop	Reduce disease severity	Date of sowing	Region
Winter mungbean (Binamoog-1)	Cercospora leaf spot	10-15 September 25-3. September	Mymensingh Ishurdi
Chickpea (Hyposola)	Foot and root rot, Wilt and stem rot	1-7 December	Mymensingh
Mustard (Safal and Agrani)	Alternaria blight	15-25 December	Mymensingh

   It has been observed arsenic contamination above recommended limit in shallow tubewells water at Gosta Uttar Para of Dapunia Union under Mymensingh Sadar Upazilla, Mymensingh district. A research project was initiated to solve the problem. Soil and water samples at the time of boring was collected and arsenic source layer was detected. After that, deeper boring continued upto 250-270 feet depth having sand layer without arsenic source. Tara shallow tubewell was installed. Analytical procedures as explained must be used to install shallow tubewell in arsenic contaminated area to lift arsenic free water.

   Farmers' reasons for cultivating local varieties of T. aman rice at Gurpur upazila of Mymensingh district were identified which were; (1) high level of stagnant water due to moderately low land and poor drainage facilities in certain areas of the locality (14.69% area), (2) lack of adequate water due to high land in some other areas (9.17% area), (3) Late transplanting due to occurrence of flood (8.76% area), (4) less water holding capacity due to sany soil (8.58% area), (5) low cost of cultivation (3.91% area), (6) good taste (3.35% area), (7) deep water (3.30% area), high straw production (0.63% area), early maturity (0.59% area), observation for adoption (0.48% area), and lack of seedlings of MV (0.11%), Based on ,, above information farmers' need based extension could be done.

   Some of the factors played a very significant role in contributing to communication effectiveness. These factors were: (1) suitability of messages, (2) profitability of messages, (3) receivers' credit received, (4) print media use, (5) communicatiors' credibility, (6) electronic media use and (7) receivers' family size. All of these above factors except receiver' family size contributed positiverly and significantly to the communication effectiveness. Receivers' family size contributed negatively to the communication effectiveness. Hence, it can be inferred that the communication Effectiveness in relation MV of T. aman rice production programme in the Gouripur upazila of Mymensingh district and for similar other areas is the function of independent factors captioned above. These factors could be called as keys tothe success of any communication / extension effort.

   With a view to get round fruit supply a model of homestead gardening was developed. This model was designed based on fruiting and harvesting period of different fruits available in the country. It was observed that about 12 fruit plants with regular bearing habit and fruiting in diversified season can supply year round fruit for family consumption. These are Plum, Coconut, Papaya, Guava, Banana, Pumelo, Lemon, Sapota, Carambola, Hog-Plum, Jackfruit, and Litchi.

   Comparative economic study on Binasail, Pajam and Nizersail cultivation reveal that profitablity of Binasail is closer to Pajam and 1.76 times higher than that of Nizersail. Pajam is not suitable for late transplanting whereas Binasail and Nizersail are suitable for late transplanting. Due to some unavoidable constraint farmers have to cultivate local T. aman varieties. In that case cultivation of Binasail replacing other local varieties, farmers may get 1.76 times higher economic return.