bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development and Utilization of Bamboo Based Handicrafts through Cost Benefit Analysis
Authors:   Department of Resource Management & Consumer Science, College of Home Science, GBPUAT, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, India, Renu Ankita , Rani Sandhya ,   Department of Resource Management & Consumer Science, College of Home Science, GBPUAT, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, India, Vats Aditi ,   Department of Resource Management & Consumer Science, College of Home Science, GBPUAT, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, India, Mishra Ragini ,   Department of Human Development and Family Studies, College of Home Science, GBPUAT, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, India
Published: December 2024

Aim: This study aims to analyze the bamboo-based handicrafts developed by rural bamboo handicraft workers and the utilization of these handicrafts through a cost-benefit analysis.
Research design: The descriptive research design was chosen in order to achieve the objectives of the study.
Methodology: The present study was conducted in three villages, namely Harpur, Waini, and Gangapur of Pusa Block in Samastipur district of Bihar. From these three villages, 120 bamboo handicraft workers were selected randomly. Bamboo-based handicrafts were categorized under 4 broad categories, namely Basket, Furniture, Utility, and Miscellaneous Products, and a cost-benefit analysis was used to analyze the net profit gained by these workers in each category.
Results: The findings of the study revealed that the majority of bamboo handicraft workers were found to develop various types of bamboo-based handicrafts in each category. Under the basket category dala and duli were produced by most of the workers, ladder and charpai were mostly developed in the furniture category, fork and tray in the utility product category and basuri in miscellaneous product category. Cost-benefit analysis of these handicrafts revealed that net profits per month gained by the bamboo handicraft workers are Rs.7680, Rs.3600, Rs.1910, and Rs. 3100 in basket, furniture, utility and miscellaneous product categories, respectively, based on their production of handicrafts per month.
Conclusion: Bamboo handicraft making was the main source of income and livelihood for these workers in the study locale. On the basis of the results, it can be concluded that an average bamboo handicraft worker earned between Rs.2800 to Rs.17000 per month from the cash sales of handicrafts developed by them. This shows that bamboo handicraft products greatly contribute to the regional economy and enhance the capacity of rural workers to overcome poverty.
Assessment of Historical Spatio-Temporal Variability in Rainfall and Drought of Kalyan-Karnataka Region, Karnataka, India
Authors:   Department of Soil and Water Engineering, College of Agricultural Engineering, University of Agricultural Sciences, Raichur- 585104, India., Kambale J. B. , Umesh Barikara ,   Agriculture Extension Education Centre, Nalwar-585218, Tq: Chitapur Dt: Kalaburgi, Karnataka (State) India., Basavraja D. ,   Department of Environmental Science and Agroforestry, College of Agriculture, Bheemarayanagudi, University of Agricultural Sciences, Raichur-585104, India.
Published: December 2024

The evaluation of meteorological droughts mainly relies on rainfall data to identify patterns in
the climate and water availability, which in turn helps evaluate the risk of drought as well as its
severity . There is a drought when the amount of precipitation is below average. When this event
lasts for a long time, precipitation is unable to satisfy human demands. By using the Standardised
Precipitation Index (SPI), the present study examines the long-term geographical and temporal
variability of rainfall, its trend, and the degree of climatic dryness in the study area using SPI.
Rainfall data from 31 meteorological stations for the years 1960 to 2014 were assessed using
non-parametric techniques such as the Mann-Kendall test, Sen;s slope estimator, and the
Standardised Precipitation Index. The maps of the variation in rainfall were produced using
ArcGIS V.xx, The trend analysis of the study reveals both a positive and a negative tendency.
The study also provides information on the total annual rainfall that was recorded over the study
area for the previous 55 years. This rainfall total was regionally distributed between 656.25
ermillimeters and 842.60 millimeters. The severity of the issue and the extreme dryness were
shown by the analysis of taluk-wise precipitation data for meteorological drought. In the Kalyan
Karnataka region, the state of Karnataka;s agricultural productivity is highly dependent on
rainfall and the frequency of meteorological droughts.
Assessment of the Impact of Sulphur Levels on Soil Chemical Properties in S-de icient Sandy Loam Soil of Amritsar
Authors:   Department of Agriculture, Khalsa College Amritsar, Punjab-143002., Damini Damini , Devi Mamta ,   Department of Agriculture, Khalsa College Amritsar, Punjab-143002., Singh Manpreet ,   Department of Agriculture, Khalsa College Amritsar, Punjab-143002., Shailja Shailja ,   Department of Agriculture, Khalsa College Amritsar, Punjab-143002.
Published: December 2024

Limited understanding of how varying sulphur levels affect soil chemical properties in S-deicient sandy loam soil speciically found in Amritsar. A pot experiment was conducted on mustard cv. RLC 3 and broccoli cv. Palam Samridhi in a factorial completely randomized design with three replications. Four levels of sulphur were applied to the soil, and plants were harvested 30 and 60 days after germination. The study aimed to investigate the impact of sulphur levels on soil chemical properties. The results showed that the value of soil pH was reduced signiicantly with an increase in the S level. The highest soil pH (8.12) was recorded where no sulphur-1 was applied, whereas the least (7.65) was found in 60 mg S kg soil treatment. There was no signiicant variation in electrical conductivity and soil organic carbon during the study. Soil available sulphur increased linearly with a simultaneous increase in levels -1 -1 of sulphur resulting in a maximum value (12.75 mg kg ) at 60 mg S kg soil treatment, compared to no sulphur application (4.31 mg-1 -1 kg ). Notably, soil properties signiicantly improved with the application of 60 mg S kg soil, particularly under mustard followed by broccoli crop.
Behind the Blaze: Ecological Impact of Bark Beetles and Wildfire Dynamics in Coniferous Forests
Authors:   Division of Entomology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-110012, India., Madhuri E Vidya , J S Rupali ,   Division of Entomology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-110012, India., Kumar Hemant ,   Division of Entomology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-110012, India., Verma Sweta ,   Division of Entomology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-110012, India., N Keerthika ,   Division of Entomology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-110012, India., SP Sharan ,   Division of Agricultural Physics, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-110012, India., S Rajna ,   Division of Entomology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-110012, India., D Sagar ,   Division of Genomic Resources, ICAR- National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources, Bengaluru-560024, India.
Published: December 2024

Forests are complex ecosystems essential for human well-being and environmental
sustainability, providing timber, fuelwood, fiber, and non-wood products while combating
desertification, safeguarding watersheds, maintaining biodiversity, and sequestering carbon
dioxide. However, these ecosystems face significant threats from insect pests and diseases,
particularly bark beetles (Dendroctonus spp.), which disrupt forest health and functionality.
Bark beetles, part of the Scolytinae subfamily, attack stressed or weakened trees, leading to
economic losses and increased wildfire risks. Climate change exacerbates bark beetle
outbreaks by altering beetle physiology and forest conditions, as evidenced by the 2013
outbreak from Mexico to Alaska. Beetle-infested trees contribute to intense wildfires due to
altered fuel characteristics. Understanding the intricate interactions between bark beetles,
forest health, and wildfire dynamics is crucial for effective forest management. The
complexity of these interactions and the variability in beetle responses to environmental
stressors pose significant challenges. Additionally, gaps remain in comprehending the precise
impact of beetle outbreaks on wildfire behaviors and forest resilience. This review integrates
ecological insights, management practices, and policy frameworks to address these issues,
emphasizing the need for a holistic approach in forest management. Trees deploy physical
and chemical defenses against beetle attacks, including resin production. However,
environmental stressors like drought can weaken these defenses, enabling beetle infestations.
Symbiotic associations with fungi, mites, nematodes, and bacteria enhance beetle survival
and development. This review emphasizes the importance of addressing these interactions
and the challenges posed by climate change to ensure forest resilience and sustainability.
Effect of Cold Plasma Treatment on Storage Quality of Pearl Millet Grain and Flour
Authors:   Department of Food and Nutrition, College of Community Science, Saifabad, Rajendra nagar, Hyderabad Telangana, India., Gnananethri C. J. , Jahan Afifa ,   Department of Food and Nutrition, College of Community Science, Saifabad, Rajendra nagar, Hyderabad Telangana, India., Kuna Aparna ,   Principal Scientist & Head, MFPI - Quality Control Laboratory, PJTSAU, EEI, Hyderabad, Telangana, India., Kumar M V Nagesh ,   Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, PJTSAU, Rajendra nagar, Hyderabad, Telangana, India.
Published: December 2024

In the present study pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) PBH1625 variety (whole
grain, dehulled grain, and dehulled flour)was subjected to cold plasma exposure at 25kv for 10 mins
and 30kv for 10 mins. Subsequently, the samples were packed in low-density polyethylene (LDPE)
pouches and metalized polypropylene (MPP) stored for 90 days, and shelf life studies were
conducted. The results revealed that cold plasma exposure at 25kv for 10 mins outperformed in
controlling lipase and lipoxygenase activity at 30kv for 10 mins. On storage, MPP packaging
material outperformed LDPE in controlling moisture, acid value, free fatty acids, peroxide value,
water activity, lipase, and lipoxygenase activity in all the samples. The findings collectively indicate
that pearl millet whole grain, dehulled grain, and dehulled flour exposed to cold plasma at 25kv for
10 mins followed by packing in MPP have better shelf life and storability up to 90 days.
Effect of different pre-sowing seed treatments on seed quality of subsequent lentil (Lens culinaris M.) crops grown under rainfed conditions
Authors:   Department of Genetics & Plant Breeding, School of Agriculture, Lovely Professional University Phagwara, Punjab, India, Amir Mohammad , Singh C.B. ,   Department of Seed Science and Technology, CSAUA&T, Kanpur, UP, India, Khan Farooq Ahmad ,   Division of Basic Sciences and Humanities, FoH, SKUAST-K, Srinagar, J&K, India, Mehandi Suhel ,   Department of Genetics & Plant Breeding, School of Agriculture, Lovely Professional University Phagwara, Punjab, India, Khan Anam ,   SRM University, Barabanki, UP, India
Published: December 2024

Seed production of lentil under rainfed condition faces significant challenges that impact seed quality
and yield. Water stress and inconsistent rainfall lead to reduced germination rates and poor seedling
establishment. Nutrient deficiencies in rainfed soils further compromise seed development, resulting
in lower seed yield and vigor. Additionally, plants grown under these conditions are susceptible to
diseases and pests, exacerbating yield losses. To address these challenges, innovative techniques like
seed priming play a crucial role. The present research examined how different pre-sowing seed
treatments influence the seed germination potential of subsequent lentil crops grown under rainfed
conditions. The experiment was conducted at Oilseed Farm, CSAUA&T, Kanpur, during the Rabi
seasons of 2019-20 and 2020-21 with two lentil varieties (K-75 -V 1 and KLB303 – V 2 ) and 14 pre-
sowing seed treatments following the Split Plot Design with three replications. Pre-sowing seed
treatments were done by soaking seeds in different priming solutions for 8 hours at 25±2 0 C. Treated
seeds were sown in the field and harvested at appropriate maturity. The germination potential of
freshly harvested seeds was tested in the laboratory. The result of the experiment revealed that KLB-
303 exhibited improved seed germination attributes as compared to K-75. Seed coating with BioNPK
and drought-alleviating bacteria on hydro-primed seeds excelled in germination behavior. This
treatment resulted in peak seed viability (97.31%), significant first count (77%), and final
germination (96%), along with faster germination speed (32.31), longer seedling length (20.69 cm),
higher seedling dry weight (0.091 g), and robust vigor indices (1987.61 for index-I and 8.93 for
index-II). Nutripriming using ZnSO 4 @ 0.3% + MnSO 4 @ 0.5% also showed encouraging outcomes.
Cost-Benefit Analysis of Natural Farming vs. Chemical Fertilizers for Sustainable Marigold Production under Mid-hills of Himalayas
Authors:   Department of Floriculture and Landscape Architecture, Dr. Y S Parmar UHF, Nauni, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, India., Kaushal Nitesh , Kashyap Bharati ,   Department of Floriculture and Landscape Architecture, Dr. Y S Parmar UHF, Nauni, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, India., Kumar Manish ,   Department of Floriculture and Landscape Architecture, Dr. Y S Parmar UHF, Nauni, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, India., Shah Ali Haidar ,   Department of Floriculture and Landscape Architecture, Dr. Y S Parmar UHF, Nauni, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, India., Bhardwaj Ragini ,   Department of Floriculture and Landscape Architecture, Dr. Y S Parmar UHF, Nauni, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, India.
Published: December 2024

Natural farming, using desi-cow waste to boost soil biology, is widely adopted. Jeevamrit enhances soil health and organic carbon without heavy reliance on farmyard manure (FYM), supporting sustainable agriculture and lowering the carbon footprint. In Himachal Pradesh, lower nitrogen, optimal phosphorus and higher potassium levels reduce nutrient needs, highlighting the need for tailored farming. During this study data was collected manually which leads to errors and inconsistencies during data handling, which were addressed through rigorous data editing and verification. Our study compared Jeevamrit to chemical fertilizers on growth and yield of marigold. Jeevamrit @ 2 L/m2 via drenching in the mother block, followed by harvesting cuttings for rooting, allowed monthly plantings across seasons. Soil health improved in Jeevamrit-treated plots, leading to better marigold quality and higher marketable flowers and yields compared to RDF-treated plants. The current study indicates that plants treated with Jeevamrit @ 2 L/m2, and the plants treated with the recommended dose of fertilizers (NPK @ 30:20:20 g/m² during field preparation), plants raised from the first harvesting flush of cuttings and planted during the summer season, exhibited a comparable benefit-cost ratio i.e. 2.36 and 2.39 respectively. Nonetheless, the benefit-cost ratio was marginally higher for plants exclusively supplied with the recommended dose of fertilizers (NPK @ 30:20:20 g/m2). This study provided a detailed comparative cost and benefit analysis of natural farming (using Jeevamrit) versus chemical fertilizers (RDF) in marigold production, emphasizing the financial feasibility and seasonal impacts on yield and profitability. The outcome of the investigation suggests that plants treated with Jeevamrit (2 L/m2) can be used as an sustainable alternative to traditional fertilizers, especially for marigold production in the Himalayan region’s Mid-hills, warranting a benefit-cost analysis.
Exploring the intriguing physico-chemical traits of maize (Zea mays L) cultivated in diverse soils across Telangana, India
Authors:   Department of Soil Science & Agricultural Chemistry, College of Agriculture, Rajendranagar Hyderabad, Telangana, India, Rajashekhar Dandu , Madhavi A. ,   Institute of Soil Health Management, AICRP-STCR, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, Telangana, India, Babu P. Surendra ,   Institute of Soil Health Management, AICRP on Micronutrients (Retd.), Rajendranagar Hyderabad, Telangana, India, Ramprakash T. ,   AICRP - Weed Management, Diamond Jublee Block, Rajendranagar Hyderabad, Telangana, India, Vani K. P. ,   Department of agronomy, Agriculture college, Sircilla- 50530, India, chary D. Srinivasa ,   Department of Statistics and Mathematics, College of Agriculture, Rajendranagar Hyderabad, Telangana, India
Published: December 2024

The main occupation of Telangana, India, is agriculture. Achieving food security
requires intelligent management to increase land use productivity and production per unit area
because of the expanding population and decreasing amount of agricultural land per capita. In
this sense, assessing the productivity and fertility of the soil is a necessary step toward
sustainable agricultural development. This study assesses maize cultivation across red, black,
and alluvial soils in Telangana;s districts, using a random sampling approach to analyze soil
fertility characteristics. A total of 119 soil samples were collected from a depth of 0-15 cm
beneath maize crops grown between 2018 and 2020. These samples exhibited a pH ranging
from slightly acidic to alkaline and contained low levels of organic matter. The available
nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) in the soil varied; in red soil, they were 63-326
kg ha -1 , 20-150 kg ha -1 , and 152-736 kg ha -1 ; in black soil, they were 75-364 kg ha -1 , 40-127 kg
ha -1 , and 113-476 kg ha -1 ; and in alluvial soil, they were 50-320 kg ha -1 , 24-132 kg ha -1 , and 108-
429 kg ha-1, appropriately. The available nutrient ranges in all soils were 50-364 kg ha -1 , 20-150
kg ha -1 , and 108-736 kg ha –1 , respectively.
Functional, Bioactive, and Mineral Constituents of Germinated Brown Rice-based Gluten Free Cookies
Authors:   Division of Post Harvest Management, FoH&F, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu, Chatha-180009, India, Sood Monika , Bandral Julie D. , Gupta Neeraj , Nishu Nishu , Choudhary Ankita , Kumari Anjali , Kour Kamaldeep , Salgotra R. K. ,   Institute of Biotechnology, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu, Chatha-180009, India
Published: December 2024

Gluten- free products are indispensable for people with celiac disease because till date the
only treatment is to follow a gluten-free diet.
Besides this, nowadays, people are more interested in following a healthy diet, so they are
looking for nutritious food. The present investigation was therefore, carried out toformulate
gluten-free cookies and to assess the functional, bioactive, and mineral composition of
germinated brown rice-based cookies during storage. For the development of cookies,
germinated brown rice and oat flour were blended in the ratios of 100:00, 95:5, 90:10,
85:15, 80:20, 75:25 and 70:30 percent, respectively. The prepared cookies were packed in
aluminum laminates and stored under ambient storage conditions. The quality of nutri-bar
was assessed for its functional, bioactive, and mineral constituents at 30-day intervals until
90 days. The highest mean water absorption capacity and oil absorption capacity of 143.21
% and 120.83% have been recorded in T 7 , whereas, the highest bulk density of 0.79g/ml was
observed in T 1 . Treatment T 7 recorded a maximum total phenolic content of 69.76 mg
GAE/100g. Among minerals, the highest iron and magnesium contents have been observed in
treatment T 1 (9.74 & 150.12mg/100g, respectively) however, treatment T 7 recorded maximum
calcium and potassium contents (52.15 & 264.62mg/100g). Based on organoleptic
evaluation, the highest mean overall acceptability score of 7.67 was recorded in T 6 (75:25::
Germinated Brown rice: Oat flour) and was adjudged as superior among all the treatments
of cookies. Thus, nutritious cookies can be developed by incorporating 75 % germinated
brown rice with 20% oats. Brown rice and oats possess good nutritional properties which
could be utilized for formulation of baked goods.
Performance and impact of supplemental irrigation to rainfed Pigeonpea through Raingun
Authors:   ANGRAU-Agricultural Research Station, Acharya N.G.Ranga Agricultural University, Ananthapuramu, India., Reddy Y. Pavan Kumar , babu K. Sathish ,   ANGRAU-Agricultural Research Station, Acharya N.G.Ranga Agricultural University, Ananthapuramu, India., Reddy K. Madhusudhan Reddy ,   ANGRAU-Agricultural Research Station, Acharya N.G.Ranga Agricultural University, Ananthapuramu, India., Reddy B. Sahadeva ,   ANGRAU-Agricultural Research Station, Acharya N.G.Ranga Agricultural University, Ananthapuramu, India., Padmalatha Y. ,   ANGRAU-Agricultural Research Station, Acharya N.G.Ranga Agricultural University, Ananthapuramu, India., Jyothi V. Siva ,   ANGRAU-Agricultural Research Station, Acharya N.G.Ranga Agricultural University, Ananthapuramu, India.
Published: December 2024

In India, Pigeonpea is the second most important pulse crop and is predominantly grown under rainfed conditions.In peninsular India, particularly to Andhra Pradesh viz., Ananthapuramu district where long-duration varieties predominate experience the terminal drought during the reproductive period is the major yield-limiting factor. Inthe long duration traditional pigeonpea varieties and terminal drought coexist with the crop critical stages (Flower bud initiation, flowering, pod maturing) in rainfed areas of Andhra Pradesh are the primeimpediment for dwindled productivity. Thestate administration has initiated to combat the groundnut and sole pigeonpea crop by providing lifesaving supplementalirrigation through rain gun technology though it is uncommon for wide-spaced crops viz., pigeonpea and castor. Bountiful research work was taken up by the various R&D organizations in point to supplemental irrigation and recommended for the doubling of crop productivity. however supplemental irrigation through raingun was not reposited and there was a dire need to address the issue in a short while.
Pokkah boeng or twisted top disease – A new threat to sugarcane cultivation
Authors:   ANGRAU-Agricultural Research Station, Acharya N.G.Ranga Agricultural University, Ananthapuramu, India., Anuradha Anuradha , Meena Manisha , Kumar Rajinder , Sanghera Gulzar Singh
Published: December 2024

Pokkah boeng or twisted top disease caused by the Fusarium species complex is a fungal disease reported to cause economic losses in sugarcane crops throughout the world. Currently, the disease has become of major constraint in sugarcane production in many sugarcane-growing countries. The incidence of the disease is highly affected by epidemiological factors and the pathogen spreads through the air currents, with secondary infections occurring in irrigation water, rain splashes, and the soil. Several Fusarium species are reported to be involved in causing pokkah boeng disease, including F. verticillioides, F. sacchari, F. proliferatum, F. subglutinans and F. andiyazi. The disease causes yield losses up to 90 per cent. The traditional methods for identification of Fusarium species are based on the morphology of macroconidia, microconidia, and conidiophores but this process is tedious and needs expertise. Hence, both morphological and molecular phylogenetic analysis is important for the identification of this fungus up to species level. Management practice for this disease includes the use of healthy seed material, the use of resistant varieties, cultural practices, and fungicidal and biological control. However, the development and use of resistant varieties is the most viable and economical approach for this disease. This review summarized the various aspects of pokkah boeng disease like distribution, epidemiology, and disease management strategies.
Stage-Specific Life Table Studies of Legume Pod Borer, Maruca vitrata Fabricius (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) on Different Pulses
Authors:   Department of Agricultural Entomology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore- 641 003, Tamil Nadu, India., Sambathkumar S. , Durairaj C. ,   Imayam Institute of Agriculture and Technology, Trichy- 621 206, Tamil Nadu, India., Mohankumar S. ,   Department of Plant Biotechnology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore- 641 003, Tamil Nadu, India., Ganapathy N. ,   Department of Agricultural Entomology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore- 641 003, Tamil Nadu, India.
Published: December 2024

The legume pod borer, Marca vitrata Fabricius, is one of the major stress factors
affecting the production of many grain legumes. Their webbing nature of flowers and pods
can cause severe infestation, leading to significant yield loss. Identifying the vulnerable stage
in the life cycle of an insect pest is critical for sustainable pest management. Hence, stage-
specific life table studies of this pest was conducted in response to feeding on pulses viz.,
pigeon pea (cv. CO-RG-6), green gram (cv. CO-GG-7), black gram (cv. CO-BG-6), cowpea
(cv. CO-7), and lablab (cv. Rohini) under laboratory conditions (27.9 ± 2.2 °C, 76.6 ± 9.1%
RH). The results revealed the highest egg mortality of M. vitrata (14.0%) on black gram and the lowest (6.0%) in lablab. Among five larval instars, maximum larval mortality was
recorded at the first instar stage of black gram (13.95%), followed by green gram (7.61%) as
against 3.13% on lablab. The highest survival rate of 1.00 was recorded in the third and fifth
instar larvae on pigeon peas and the third instar larvae on black gram. The maximum trend
index of 0.91 on pigeon peas showed the highest larval survival, and the highest generation
survival on lablab (0.44) and pigeon pea (0.43) indicating the emergence of a higher number
of female moths. In perusal of different parameters, lablab was found to be a comparatively
more suitable host for the ideal growth and development of M. vitrata.
Assessing and Mapping of Salt Affected and Waterlogged Soils in Nagarjuna Sagar Left Bank Canal Command Area of Deccan Plateau Using the AVIRIS NG Hyperspectral Data
Authors:   Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, College of Agriculture Professor Jayashanker Telangana State Agricultural University, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad- 500030, India, Reddy G Kiran , Jayasree G ,   Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, College of Agriculture Professor Jayashanker Telangana State Agricultural University, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad- 500030, India, Sharma SHK ,   Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, College of Agriculture Professor Jayashanker Telangana State Agricultural University, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad- 500030, India, Neelima TL ,   Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture Professor Jayashanker Telangana State Agricultural University, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad- 500030, India, Hussain SA ,   Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture Professor Jayashanker Telangana State Agricultural University, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad- 500030, India, Triveni M ,   Department of Microbiology and Bioenergy, College of Agriculture Professor Jayashanker Telangana State Agricultural University, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad- 500030, India
Published: December 2024

By using the AVIRIS NG Hyperspectral data, analyzed the relationship between the
soil spectral reflectance and various degree of salt affectedness and waterlogged soils from
the soil sampling sites from Nagarjuna Sagar Left Bank Command area, Nalgonda district,
Telangana, India. The individual AVIRIS NG Hyperspectral image scenes were processed
with ENVI 5.3 software geocoded, and mosaicked, and the data is subjected to MNF,
performed PPI, n-D visualizer, and classification (mapping) for salt-affected and waterlogged
soils was attempted using the Spectral Angle Mapper algorithm. Out of the total classified
area normal, slightly saline-sodic, moderately saline-sodic, severely saline-sodic, and
waterlogged soils occupy 67.9, 17.0, 3.42, 7.27 and 0.04%, respectively. The Pearson
correlation studies showed that 1830, 1850, 1930, 1935, and 1940 nm wavelengths
significantly showed a negative correlation with EC, ESP, and CEC. The PCR model showed
the possibility of retrieval of EC, ESP, and CEC more accurately. The SAM classification for
AVIRIS NG showed a producer accuracy percentage of 76.4- 88.4 and a user accuracy
percentage of 77.4-87.9.
Evaluation of compatibility of various chemical fungicides with Cordyceps militaris (L.)Link
Authors:   Department of Plant Pathology, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari, Gujarat, India., S Saranya , John Priya ,   Department of Plant Pathology, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari, Gujarat, India.
Published: December 2024

Cordyceps militaris is a well-known entomopathogen currently being explored for its
mycoparasitic ability against plant pathogens. The compatibility of C. militaris was tested
against various group of fungicides at systemic (0.075%, 0.050%, 0.100% and 0.150%) and
non-systemic doses (0.25%, 0.50%, 0.75% and 1.00%) to assess whether they can
effectively coexist or be used in combination with fungicide treatments in integrated disease
management scheme. It was observed that C. militaris showed highest compatibility with
copper oxychloride with the least mycelial growth inhibition (15.34±0.53%) even at the
highest concentration (1.00%). Among systemic fungicides, azoxystrobin and metalaxyl
were found to be compatible with C. miltaris only at lower concentrations upto 0.25 per cent
and showed a 100 per cent inhibition of mycelial growth at concentration more than 0.25 per
cent whereas carbendazim was incompatible at all the tested concentrations.
Impact of storage environment and packaging materials on seed quality parameters during storage in onion seed (Allium cepa L.)
Authors:   Department of Seed Science and Technology, UAS, Dharwad, 580005, Naik Islavath Suresh , Hilli J.S. ,   Dean, College of Agriculture, Hanumanmatti, 581115, Uppar D.S. ,   Department of Seed Science and Technology, UAS, Dharwad, 580005, Patil Ramangouda V. ,   Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, UAS, Dharwad, 580005, Nawalagatti C.M. ,   Department of Crop Physiology, College of Agriculture, UAS, Dharwad, 580005
Published: December 2024

A lab experiment was conducted from April 2021-Sep 2022 at NSP, Seed unit, UAS, Dharwad. The seed quality parameters such as germination, shoot length, root length, seedling dry weight, and seedling vigor index were calculated. Onion seeds were evaluated at bimonthly intervals, and the experimental design followed was a Factorial completely randomized design (FCRD) with 3 replications and 2 factors, namely storage conditions such as ambient and cold storage,and storage containers (cloth bag, high-density polythene bag (HDPE), polythene bag (700 gauge), aluminum laminated bag, vacuum packed bag), the results revealed that the seeds stored with the treatment with vacuum packed bagand stored in cold storage gave good results at the end of 18 months of storage periodi.e.,seed germination (82.83 %), Shoot length (8.97 cm), root length (7.61 cm), seedling dry weight (21.95 mg) and seedling vigor index (1818) respectively compared to other treatments. Next to the vacuum-packed bag with cold storage, the best results were seen in the seeds stored in cold storage with the aluminum laminated bag.
Biomonitoring of Selected Heavy Metals Using House Sparrow (Passer Domesticus) Residing in Tehran, Iran
Authors:   Department of Environment, Damavand Branch, Islamic Azad University, Damavand, Iran, Esmaili Ana , Khoramnezhadian Shahrzad ,   Department of Environment, Damavand Branch, Islamic Azad University, Damavand, Iran, Shams-Esfandabad Bahman ,   Department of Environment, Arak Branch, Islamic Azad University, Arak, Iran, Asemi Saeedreza ,   Department of Environment, Damavand branch, Islamic Azad University, Damavand, Iran
Published: December 2024

he present study aimed to determine the concentration of heavy metals (lead,
cadmium and nickel) in the external and internal body tissues of house sparrow (Passer domesticus)
living in Tehran, Iran, as a biological monitoring and also to identify possible sources of these
pollutants. One of the challenges of this research was sampling and determining the population of
city sparrows. The concentration of these heavy metals (in mg/kg) was measured in feather, muscle,
blood, adipose tissue and diet samples of birds collected by systematic sampling (n = 96) from
selected parks in the north, south, west and east of the city using inductively coupled plasma optical
emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) under optimal measurement conditions. Based on the results, the
unwashed feather samples showed the highest concentration for cadmium, as Cd (449.23)> Ni
(4.12)> Pb (3.67), and the washed feather samples indicated that the highest concentration of
cadmium in the northern (456.75) and southern (449.23) regions. The concentration of lead in most
of the regions had relatively similar values, but it was higher in the northern (5.11) and southern
(3.67) regions. The highest concentration of nickel was related to the eastern (29.76) and western
(9.76) regions. The comparison of our results reveals the correlation between the concentration of
heavy metals studied in different tissues of house sparrows and the distribution of polluting sources
in Tehran in terms of traffic load, the establishment of gas stations and industrial pollution transfer
routes.To conclude, house sparrow can be used as a suitable biological indicator in determining the
distribution of changes in the concentration of some heavy metals.
Lesser-known and under-utilized ornamentals for commercial cultivation
Authors:   Department of Floriculture and Landscaping Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana (Punjab) India-141001, Chaudhary Dixit , Kashyap Bharati ,   Department of Floriculture and Landscape Architecture Dr. Y S Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan (H.P.) India-173230, Acharya Ashna ,   Department of Floriculture and Landscaping Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana (Punjab) India-141001, Singh Ranjit ,   Department of Floriculture and Landscaping Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana (Punjab) India-141001
Published: December 2024

Floriculture is a dynamic industry. What sets it apart from other agricultural sectors is the
emphasis placed on novelty as a significant characteristic which can be achieved by introducing
new flower crops that are lesser known to mankind. Some of these new-generation crops are
proteas, gingers, curcumas, kangaroo paws, guzmanias, wax flowers etc. The Proteaceae of
Southern Africa are intriguing flowers that pose an interesting example of using an
undomesticated plant to an economically viable, cultivated fresh-cut flower. Among the tropical
floriculture products, ornamental ginger and curcuma species have considerable potential for
ornamental use, in landscaping, as cut, potted flowers and foliage with a potential for a wide range
of expansion in markets. A wide range of availability of colors in anigozanthos has increased the popularity of the genus in the international flower market. Apart from the crops which can be used
as cut flowers, there are some crops like bat lilies and guzmanias which have the potential to be
used as ornamental pot plants. Some of the crops, like wax flowers, have a great deal of promise
for use as fillers in floral arrangements. Inspite of having wide-varietal wealth in terms of unique-
form, vibrant-colours and long shelf-life, these plants have yet not been popularized out of their
indigenous niche areas. The diverse agro-climatic conditions of the Indian sub-continent offer
tremendous scope for diversification of novel, lesser-known ornamental crops. However, there is
still scope for further research and improvement for various characteristics of the new crops.
Effect of microwave treatment on the extension of shelf life of Rasagolla
Authors:   Department of Livestock Products Technology (Dairy Science), Veterinary College and Research Institute, Namakkal-637 002, Tamil Nadu, India., Banupriya S. , Kumaresan G. ,   Department of Livestock Products Technology (Dairy Science), Veterinary College and Research Institute, Namakkal-637 002, Tamil Nadu, India., Kathirvelan C. ,   Department of Animal Nutrition, Veterinary College and Research Institute, Udumalpet- 642 205, Tamil Nadu, India.
Published: December 2024

Rasagolla (a sweet syrup cheese ball) most popular in the regions of South Asia,
manufactured from Channa (a precipitate obtained by heat and acid coagulation of milk). The
shelf life of Rasagolla at ambient temperature, in sugar syrup is 2 days. The mostserious
constraint for shelf life enhancement is the activity of microorganisms. A study has been
carried out to enhance the shelf life of Rasagolla by microwave treatment. Rasagolla was
prepared under aseptic conditions in the laboratory as per the standard procedure. All the
samples of Rasagolla were packed in 16 glass containers. Eight samples were tyndallized and
others were kept as control. Standard Plate Count, Coliform Count and Yeast and Mould
Count analysis were carried out in tyndallized and control Rasagolla. Sensory evaluation on a
nine-point Hedonic Scale was done for treated and untreated products stored at ambient
conditions (30 ˚C) at 0 day, 7 th , 21 st , 28 th and till they were acceptable based on organoleptic
test and consumer acceptance. It was observed that the shelf life of Rasagolla was extended
by 28 days and beyond at room temperature. The different microbial counts are also within
the permissible limit in microwave products than control. It has been concluded that the
microwave treatment process in Rasagolla is suggested to enhance the shelf life of the
product up to 15 days in room temperature.
Adoption of Recommended Practices and the Relationship Between the Profile of Trained Youth of the Arya Project About Goat Farming
Authors:   Department of Agricultural Extension and Communication, SKRAU, Bikaner- 334006, India., Choudhary Kamlesh , Gupta Shobhana ,   Department of Agricultural Extension and Communication, RVSKVV, Gwalior India., Choudhary Divya ,   Department of Agricultural Extension and Communication, SKRAU, Bikaner- 334006, India., Dadheech Vishal ,   Department of Agricultural Extension and Communication, SKRAU, Bikaner- 334006, India., Pramod Pramod ,   Department of Agriculture Extension Education, S.K.N., Agriculture University, Jobner, Jaipur, Rajasthan India.
Published: December 2024

Goat farming has a lot of potential and plays a big part in providing food and nutrition
security in rural regions. After understanding the important role that young may play, the
government has decided to launch a programme to recruit and retain them in agriculture and
related fields. Goat farming has a lot of potential and plays a big part in providing food and
nutrition security in rural regions. After understanding the important role that young may
play, the government has decided to launch a programme to recruit and retain them in
agriculture and related fields. For present study all 120 trained youth in goat farming were
selected, trained youth were selected purposively who have obtained training on goat farming
under ARYA project and 20 trainers were selected for suggestions for better run his program
of the study area. Thus, a total of 140 respondents were included in the study. It was revealed
that the majority of 53.33 percent of trained youth fall into the medium level of adoption
group, while 18.33 percent fall into the low level of adoption category for improved goat
farming practices. On the other hand, it was shown that 28.34% of trained youths had a high
level of adoption of improved goat farming practices.
Impact of Allelochemicals in Crop Protection Management: A Review
Authors:   Division of Agronomy, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Science and Technology of Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, India, Sharma Jyoti , Kumar Anil ,   Division of Agronomy, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Science and Technology of Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, India, Mahajan Amit ,   Division of Agronomy, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Science and Technology of Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, India, Puniya R. ,   Division of Agronomy, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Science and Technology of Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, India, Kumar Deepak ,   Division of Agronomy, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Science and Technology of Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, India, Kumar Vijay ,   Division of Agronomy, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Science and Technology of Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, India, Anshu Anshu ,   Division of Agronomy, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Science and Technology of Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, India, Naveena Naveena ,   Division of Agronomy, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Science and Technology of Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, India, singh Sharandeep ,   Geeta University, Naultha, Panipat, Haryana-132145, India
Published: December 2024

One of the most serious issues is biotic stress in plants produced by insect pests, which results
in production losses. Synthetic pesticides continue to play an important role in crop
protection. Yet, the environmental consequences and health risks caused by excessive or
improper use of synthetic pesticides compelled authorities to ban some dangerous ones. As a
result, there is an urgent need for unique and alternative insect pest management strategies.
Allelopathy is a naturally occurring ecological phenomenon of organism interaction that can
be used to manage weeds, insect pests, and illnesses in field crops. Allelopathy can be
utilized in field crops after rotation, using cover crops, mulching, crop smothering, and plant
extracts for natural pest management. Allelochemicals in soil are adsorbed on soil solids and
decomposed during soil movement by chemical and biological reactions. Its behavior is
influenced by soil characteristics such as soil texture, organic and inorganic matter, moisture,
and organisms, all of which have an impact on phytotoxic activity in soil. Although
allelochemicals are produced throughout the plant, root exudation is the principal source of
chemical release into the soil environment. Therefore, this review will focus on the role of
insect-pest management, factors affecting production and release of allelochemicals, their
activity and limitations in insect-pest management.
Geo informatics-based land suitability analysis of green gram (Vigna radiata L.) for Kosi region of Bihar
Authors:   Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Bhagalpur-813210, India, Alam Furquan , Vimal Binod Kumar , Kumari Ragini , Kumari Priyanka , Choudhary Saurabh Kumar ,   Department of Agronomy, Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Bhagalpur-813210, India, Kumar Piyush
Published: December 2024

Land suitability analysis is an important aspect of the agricultural land use planning, and the several approaches viz. remote sensing, geographical information system and multi-criteria decision making were used to analyze the suitable lands for cereals, millets, pulses, oilseeds, and other crops using over layed digital thematic maps of the climatic condition, topography and soil physic-chemical properties and land use pattern for particular area of interest.
Hence, with these facts, the present study was carried out to analyze the suitable lands for green gram cultivation in Thakurganj block of Kishanganj district, Bihar, and to fulfill the objective, parameters viz. elevation, slope, temperature, rainfall, soil texture, soil pH, EC, OC, and land use pattern were analyzed and mapped under RS-GIS domain. However, satellite data of Land sat 8 and the shuttle radar topographic mission (SRTM) were used to map the land use pattern, elevation, and slope. Apart from these data sets, thematic data of annual rainfall and temperature were also analysed and integrated with derived data of analyzed soil pH, EC, organic carbon, and soil texture for their conversion into inverse distance weight (IDW) based mapping process in open source QGIS software. Finally, all these thematic layers were overlaid considering the statistical evaluation of multi-criteria discision making approach to prepare the potential land suitability map for green gram. The results revealed that the pH range of the soils in the study area ranged from 4.42 to 6.67, indicating that they were acidic in nature. However, EC of the soil was found to be non-saline, organic carbon was found to be low to medium and the majority of the area was found to have a loamy soil texture. In terms of elevation and slope, the study area lies between 45–92 m above the mean sea level, and the slope range was observed as 0-3% (gentle or flat). The results revealed that out of the total geographical area only 3537 ha (9.12 %) was found to be highly suitable, followed by 15621 ha (40.28%) moderately suitable, 17584 ha (45.34%) marginally suitable and the remaining 2040 ha(5.26%) was not suitable (NS) for green gram cultivation.
Evaluation of laboratory-prepared water dispersible granules of Metarhizium rileyi (Farlow) Kepler, S.A. Rehner, and Humber against major soil pupating insect pests
Authors:   Biological Control Laboratory, Division of Entomology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-110012., Gundreddy Raja Reddy , BV Jayanth , M Shashikala , E Udaykumar , Saw Gouranga , Paul Bishwajeet
Published: December 2024

Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) exhibit formidable effectiveness that, under specific conditions, can offset the shortcomings of chemical insecticides within pest control programs. Among these EPFs, Metarhizium rileyi stands as one of the most extensively studied agents for global pest control. The study delves into the assessment of the relative virulence of M. rileyi water-dispersible granules (WDG) when deployed against distinct soil-pupating stages of lepidopteran and dipteran insects. M. rileyi WDG formulations were subjected to evaluation against various soil-pupating stages of insects, including lepidopteran and dipteran species. The results, based on dose-response relationships and LC50 values, revealed distinct levels of virulence exhibited by M. rileyi. Among the lepidopteran insects tested, M. rileyi demonstrated the highest level of virulence against H. armigera, followed by A. albistriga, A. flava, S. frugiperda, A. ipsilon, S. litura, S. obliqua, and A. janata. The LC50 values of these treatments, arranged in ascending order, were 2.01 x 107, 7.17 x 107, 1.13 x 108, 1.41 x 108, 1.54 x 108, 3.35 x 108, 3.62 x 108, and 1.00 x 109, respectively. In contrast, M. rileyi exhibited the least virulence against S. exigua, with an LC50 value of 1.35 x 109. Notably, the efficacy of M. rileyi WDG formulations was significantly lower when targeting dipteran pupae compared to lepidopteran pupae. For B. cucurbitae and B. dorsalis, the LC50 values were 7.26 x 109 and 1.29 x 1010, respectively. M. rileyi WDG demonstrated remarkable virulence when tested against the pupae of H. armigera, marking the highest level of efficacy observed. In contrast, these WDG exhibited limited efficacy when targeting dipteran pupae, such as those of B. dorsalis and B. Cucurbitae.