Efforts of more than one decade of Cluster Promotion Programme (CPP) implementation at Madakasira has yielded marked improvement in the development of Bivoltine sericulture and production of gradable bivoltine raw silk. It was noticed that DFLs distribution was recorded 0.58 lakh in 2008-09, 1.40 lakh (2009-10), 1.43 (2010-11), 1.82 (2011-12), 2.25 (2012-13), 3.55 (2013-14) 4.83 (2014-15), 6.92 (2015-16), 10.06 (2016-17), 15.82 (2017-18) and 16.02 lakh in 2018-19, respectively with a pounding increase of DFLs distribution as against the bench mark level brushing of 0.42 lakh DFLs before 2008. Growth rate of DFLs distribution was ranged from 94.79 to 138.7% in case of target and 38.1 to 3714.3% over bench mark. Similar trend was noticed with regard to number of DFLs harvested among the farmers. CPP implementation under the cluster also prejudiced the cocoon yield per 100 DFLs ranging from 61.67 to 73.55 kg during the CPP period (2008-2018) resulting in 40.16 to 67.16% increase as compared to bench mark yield (44.0%). Due to CPP implementation under Madakasira during the CPP period a total of 64.26 lakh DFLs were distributed as against 55.10 lakh target generating 618.73MT raw silk among 24,000 sericulturists. The average market rate too increased significantly ranging from Rs. 279.00-506.00 with 24.0-124.9% increase. Further the Bivoltine sericulture practice has not only transformed the living standards of sericulturists but also refining their socio economic standards. Bivoltine sericulture practice offered the farming community in clearing their long standing monitory dues, civilizing their children education standards, increasing immovable properties and increasing the horizontal growth of sericulture and procure sophisticated gadgets.

B. Vijaya Naidu

Regional Sericultural Research Station, Central Silk Board (CSB), Ananthapur, Andhra Pradesh (515 001), India

P. Sudhakar^*

Regional Sericultural Research Station, Central Silk Board (CSB), Ananthapur, Andhra Pradesh (515 001), India

K.P. Kiran Kumar

Regional Sericultural Research Station, Central Silk Board (CSB), Ananthapur, Andhra Pradesh (515 001), India

Pankaj Tewary

Central Sericultural Research and Training Institute (CSRTI), CSB, Mysore, Karnataka (570 008), India

Globally, mangroves are one of the most productive and threatened ecosystems situated within the intertidal zones of tropics and subtropics. Mangrove ecosystem of India is unique with the highest record of biodiversity, gifted with the mangrove genetic bliss at Bhitarkanika, and wildlife threatened species in the Sundarbans. They act as a guardian of juvenile stock and important source of livelihood for coastal communities and protect from storm surges and tsunami. Mangroves are also a great source for carbon sinks and sequester the high amount of CO₂. Mangrove ecosystems are vulnerable to various anthropogenic actions such as industry, agriculture, solid waste dumping, aquaculture ponds, construction of buildings and infrastructures. In recent years, the conservation of mangrove reserves and habitats has assumed great significance in developing countries. This article deals with the present status of mangroves biodiversity, conservation and management strategies for restoration of these fragile ecosystems.

Udai Ram Gurjar^*

ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Mumbai, Maharashtra (400 061), India

Suman Takar

Fisheries College and Research Institute, Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu (628 008), India

Khemraj Bunkar

ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Mumbai, Maharashtra (400 061), India

Vikas Pathak

ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Mumbai, Maharashtra (400 061), India

Jaspreet Singh

ICAR-Research Complex for Eastern Region, Patna, Bihar (800 014), India

The freshly collected mulberry leaves were smeared with solutions of nanoparticles of riboflavin a vitamin (B₂) in different concentrations. The enriched leaves were air dried. The fifth instar larvae of mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori L. were fed with enriched leaves thrice a day. Feeding parameters, food conversion efficiency, growth and economic characters were studied and recorded. Supplementation of nanoparticles of vitamin B₂ showed a positive impact and significantly enhanced the growth of the larvae (28.985%), silk gland weight (111.392%) and silk yield (194.44%) when compared to control. So vitamin B₂ nanoparticles can be used as a fortification agent for improving the silk production.

M. Kamala^*

Dept. of Zoology, Government Arts College (Autonomous), Karur, Tamil Nadu (639 005), India

A. Karthikeyan

Dept. of Zoology, Government Arts College (Autonomous), Karur, Tamil Nadu (639 005), India

The crop production of our country has increased manifold since the sixties by using improved agricultural technology like seeds, fertilizers, agricultural pesticides. At present, special importance is given to gene-technology, hybrid seeds and tissue culture, etc. for crop production. There is a limit to crop production through the use of agricultural technology. Increasing food production for a changing population is a difficult question for today's world. To cope up with such emerging problems use of hormones in crop production are showing very good results.

Joy Kumar Dey^*

Krishi Vigyan Kendra-Sepahijala, Central Agricultural University (Imphal), Latiacherra, Sepahijala, Tripura (799 103), India

Airdeep Debbarma

Krishi Vigyan Kendra-Sepahijala, Central Agricultural University (Imphal), Latiacherra, Sepahijala, Tripura (799 103), India

Shatabhisa Sarkar

Krishi Vigyan Kendra-Sepahijala, Central Agricultural University (Imphal), Latiacherra, Sepahijala, Tripura (799 103), India

Climate changes are rapidly occurring due to anthropogenic activities. Human activities contribute to global warming by increasing greenhouse gases which are the main factors of extreme climate change. This change increases competition between weeds and crops. Most troublesome weeds are responsive to grow with increasing CO₂ gas then crop. Also, high atmospheric temperature helps to reduce uptake of herbicide due to more diffusion and rapidly dry droplets. There is an inevitable need to study how changing climate conditions are affecting crop-weed competition, weed life and herbicide effectiveness in order to create adaptation and mitigation plans for changing climatic scenario. The overall objective of this article is to portray smart weed management approaches under climate change scenario resulting high productivity of crops and more returns for farmers alongwith an effective maintenance of the weeds.

Suhrid Teli^*

Dept. of Agronomy, College of Agriculture Tripura, Lembucherra, West Tripura (799 210), India

Abhijit Saha

Dept. of Agronomy, College of Agriculture Tripura, Lembucherra, West Tripura (799 210), India

Bobilan Debbarma

Dept. of Agronomy, College of Agriculture Tripura, Lembucherra, West Tripura (799 210), India

Plant growth promoting-rhizobacteria (PGPR) contributes a significant part in crop health improvement including pest management. It also protects plants from parasitic nematodes damage by exhibiting biocontrol activity besides improving the growth of plants by supplying nutrients, producing phytohormones and inducing modification of plants metabolisms. PGPR decreases or inhibits the hatching of nematode juveniles and suppresses the nematodes development and reproduction by exhibiting various mechanisms such as hyperparasitism, antibiotic synthesis or antibiosis, substrate competition, synthesis of lytic enzymes and induction of resistance in plants. Hence, PGPR could be an efficient biological protective agent that protects agricultural and horticultural crop plants from the infestation of parasitic nematodes.

Selvaraj Anandakumar^*

Dept. of Agricultural Microbiology, CCM, TNAU, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu (641 003), India

Gothandaraman Rajadurai

Dept. of Plant Biotechnology, CPMB, TNAU, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu (641 003), India

In India population increases rapidly day-by-day, therefore food demand also increases. Traditional farming is insufficient to meet these demands. Thus, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (drones) were introduced, enabling Weed Management in less time, efficient use of herbicide and pesticide to bring sustainability to the environment and their resources. One of the most detrimental biotic variables in agriculture, weeds significantly reduces yields across the globe. Weed patches from crop fields can be identified by using drone sensors. Drone camera sensors can optimize weed in relation to leaf density, chlorophyll concentration and other plant canopy characteristics. The article emphasizes weed detection and management by the use of potential sensors of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (drones) technology for better agriculture output.

Bobilan Debbarma^*

Dept. of Agronomy, College of Agriculture Tripura, Lembucherra, West Tripura (799 210), India

Abhijit Saha

Dept. of Agronomy, College of Agriculture Tripura, Lembucherra, West Tripura (799 210), India

Suhrid Teli

Dept. of Agronomy, College of Agriculture Tripura, Lembucherra, West Tripura (799 210), India

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a widely employed pest management biocontrol agent in the agriculture and forestry ecosystem. In nature, this gram-positive bacterium is found in soil that produces spore-crystal inclusion bodies. This gram-positive bacterium produces a broad spectrum of insecticidal proteins, which are found to be extremely toxic to different groups of insect pests. Bt toxin genes are very selective and specific to pests; they are not toxic to other than the target organisms such as human, animals, and birds, and they are safer for the environment. The Bt toxin is often employed in organic farming as an insecticide spray to manage insect pests. Additionally, it is one of the sources for the insecticidal genes deployed to genetically modify food crops so that they can naturally impart resistance against numerous insect pests.

Gothandaraman Rajadurai^*

Dept. of Plant Biotechnology, CPMB&B, TNAU, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu (641 003), India

Selvaraj Anandakumar

Dept. of Crop Physiology, CCM, TNAU, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu (641 003), India

Rajasekaran Raghu

Dept. of Plant Biotechnology, CPMB&B, TNAU, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu (641 003), India

The fungus has various type of association with spider. They can be pathogenic or symbiotic or commensal in relationship to spiders they live on. In the current study the diversity of fungi in association with Nephila pilipes spider were recorded. The fungi were isolated from its legs and saliva. The microscopic and macroscopic characters were obtained. The measurements of hyphae, conidia and conidiophore were recorded. The fungal growth was more on legs compared to saliva. The legs of the adult spider carried more fungi than saliva as they are associated with soil, carrying microflora on their legs. Further the four different fungus isolated as Aspergillus, Penicillium, Trichoderma and Cladosporium. The penicillium colony had abundant growth, aspergillus had moderate growth and Cladosporium had less growth compared to Trichoderma.

Jalajakshi, S.^*

Dept. of Genetics, Vijaya College, Basavanagudi, Bengaluru, Karnataka (560 004), India

Anagha, J.

Dept. of Genetics, Vijaya College, Basavanagudi, Bengaluru, Karnataka (560 004), India

Buwaneshwari, S.

Dept. of Genetics, Vijaya College, Basavanagudi, Bengaluru, Karnataka (560 004), India

Kalpana, R.

Dept. of Genetics, Vijaya College, Basavanagudi, Bengaluru, Karnataka (560 004), India

Poojitha, P.L.

Dept. of Genetics, Vijaya College, Basavanagudi, Bengaluru, Karnataka (560 004), India

Sowmya Murthy

Dept. of Genetics, Vijaya College, Basavanagudi, Bengaluru, Karnataka (560 004), India

The tea mosquito bug (Hemiptera: Miridae) is the recognized pest of fruits and plantations across the world. In India, three species viz. Helopeltis antonii, H. bradyi and H. theivora are dominant among different species and found attacking a wide range of crops. Several alternate host plants of the tea mosquito bug have been recorded, especially in Africa and Asia. The nymphs and adults of the tea mosquito bug suck the sap from leaves, buds and shoots, which results in heavy crop losses. The pest is posing a serious challenge in domestic and overseas trades. For better management decisions, it is very much important to know about pest status, bionomics, distribution, host range, etc. The focus on the management of tea mosquito bug has to emphasize from chemical to traditional, indigenous technical knowledge and integrated pest management using the accessible resources to reduce the resistance development and limit the residual effects. This review highlights the significant works conducted on tea mosquito bug with detailed management strategies. The information on current status, host preference, incidence and early detection of this pest are discussed.

Sankarganesh, E.^*

Plant Biosecurity Division, National Institute of Plant Health Management (NIPHM), Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, Telangana (500 030), India

Lavanya Sravani, B.

Dept. of Agricultural Entomology, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya (BCKV), Mohanpur, West Bengal (741 252), India

Rajeshwaran, B.

Dept. of Agricultural Entomology, Kerala Agricultural University (KAU), Vellayani, Kerala (695 522), India

Mounika, M.N.

Dept. of Agricultural Entomology, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya (BCKV), Mohanpur, West Bengal (741 252), India

Turmeric, Curcuma longa L. is an important commercial spice crop cultivated in Meghalaya covering 2,649 ha area with 16,497 MT productions. However, the turmeric cultivation is severely affected by leaf spot disease limiting its yield. So, the present study was conducted to identify the pathogen associated with leaf spot disease of turmeric as well as to check the efficiency of bacterial endophytes in managing the disease. Based on the morphological and cultural studies, six isolates of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides were identified as the causal organism of leaf spot disease of turmeric. The isolates on PDA medium produced white to grey fluffy (raised/ flat) cottony culture with serrated margin. All the isolates produced dark brown acervuli and globular conidia with oil globules inside. Five bacterial endophytes viz., BE 1, BE 222, M1W1, NGB21 and SVC 11 were tested against C. gloeosporioides by using dual culture assay. They were able to inhibit the mycelial growth of C. gloeosporioides in the range of 35.82-68.11%. The highest percent inhibition in dual culture assay was recorded in the isolate NGB 21 (68.11%) followed by isolate BE1 (59.89%).

Madhusmita Mahanta^*

School of Crop Protection, College of Post Graduate Studies in Agricultural Sciences, Central Agricultural University (Imphal), Umiam, Meghalaya (793 103), India

T. Rajesh

School of Crop Protection, College of Post Graduate Studies in Agricultural Sciences, Central Agricultural University (Imphal), Umiam, Meghalaya (793 103), India

Pranab Dutta

School of Crop Protection, College of Post Graduate Studies in Agricultural Sciences, Central Agricultural University (Imphal), Umiam, Meghalaya (793 103), India

Eight different diets were compared for maximum production of entomopathogenic nematode infected Galleria cadavers with cheaper/ low cost in the laboratory. Among eight artificial diet composition tried, low grade milk powder 100 g, low grade glycerin 100 ml, honey 100 ml, corn flour 200 g, wheat bran 100 g, wheat flour 100 g and yeast 50 g produced almost maximum Galleria larvae with EPN infected cadavers and EPN infective juveniles (IJs) with cheaper cost while, the diet containing, ragi powder 100 g instead of milk powder, honey 100 ml, high grade glycerin 100 ml, corn flour 200 g, wheat bran 100 g, wheat flour 100 g and yeast 50 g produced least number of EPN infected Galleria cadavers and EPN IJs. Among the diet compositions, sugar solution 100 ml instead of honey along with other ingredients used, did not emerge or produce larvae from the Galleria eggs.

P. Thiyagarajan^*

Indian Cardamom Research Institute, Spices Board India, Myladumpara, Idukki, Kerala (685 553), India

M. Varna

Indian Cardamom Research Institute, Spices Board India, Myladumpara, Idukki, Kerala (685 553), India

M.A. Ansar Ali

Indian Cardamom Research Institute, Spices Board India, Myladumpara, Idukki, Kerala (685 553), India

A.B. Rema Shree

Indian Cardamom Research Institute, Spices Board India, Myladumpara, Idukki, Kerala (685 553), India

Two field experiments were conducted during kharif, and rabi to evaluate the efficacy of carbosulfan 6G against the rice stem borer in the eastern farm of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru College of Agriculture and Research Institute (PAJANCOA & RI), Karaikal. During kharif, a least percent dead heart was recorded in the treatments viz., Carbosulfan 6G (FMC-PY) @ 20.8 kg ha^-1 followed by Carbosulfan 6G (FMC-PY) @ 16.7 kg ha^-1 and Carbosulfan 6G (Sheriff) @ 16.7 kg ha^-1 ranging from 1.45-1.88 and 3.22-3.88 percent dead heart at 14 and 21 days after the first application respectively. A lower percent white ear of 3.85 and 7.18 was recorded in Carbosulfan 6G (FMC-PY) @ 20.8 kg ha^-1 treatment which is on par with the treatments like Carbosulfan 6G (FMC-PY) @ 16.7 kg ha^-1 (4.67 and 7.36) and Carbosulfan 6G (Sheriff) @ 16.7 kg ha^-1 (4.79 and 8.12) at grain filling and at harvest stage respectively. During rabi, a least percent dead heart was recorded in the treatments viz., Carbosulfan 6G (FMC-PY) @ 20.8 kg ha^-1 followed by Carbosulfan 6G (FMC-PY) @ 16.7 kg ha^-1 and Carbosulfan 6G (Sheriff) @ 16.7 kg ha^-1 ranging from 2.16-2.67 and 4.20-4.72 percent dead heart at 14 and 21 days after the first application respectively while a least percent white ear of 2.89 and 5.74 was recorded in Carbosulfan 6G (FMC-PY) @ 20.8 kg ha^-1 treatment which is on par with the treatments like Carbosulfan 6G (FMC-PY) @ 16.7 kg ha^-1 (3.70 and 6.48) and Carbosulfan 6G (Sheriff) @ 16.7 kg ha^-1 (3.92 and 7.45) at grain filling and at harvest stage respectively. From the results of the field experiments, it was found that, the Carbosulfan 6G (FMC-PY) @ 16.7 kg ha^-1 as broadcast application in rice can be recommended for effective control of stem borer, S. incertulas.

K. Kumar*

Dept. of Agricultural Entomology, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru College of Agriculture and Research Institute, Serumavilangai, Nedungadu, Karaikal, Puducherry (609 603), India

M. Kandibane

Dept. of Agricultural Entomology, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru College of Agriculture and Research Institute, Serumavilangai, Nedungadu, Karaikal, Puducherry (609 603), India

Eri silkworm, Samia cynthia ricini Boisduval is polyphagous feeding on several plant species. The influence of feed on growth of an animal is evident from literature. Eri larva has biting and chewing type of mouthparts comprising of a pair of mandibles, Labrum and the labio-maxillary complex. The size of these mouthparts increases with larval age. In an experiment conducted to study the influence of host on morphometric changes in mouthparts of Eri silkworm, the local castor variety with greenish petiole found to have significant influence on the length and width of mandibles (0.0803 and 0.0675 cm, respectively), labrum (0.0543 and 0.0735 cm, respectively) and labio-maxillary complex (0.1007 and 0.1145 cm, respectively). Further, there was a sudden increase in the size of mouthparts during fourth instar (85 × 67% gain in mandibles, 95 × 73% gains in LMC and 124 × 58% gain in labrum) irrespective of the host.

Vinoda K.S.^*

ICAR-Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Chintamani, Karnataka (563 125), India

Narayanaswamy K.C.

Dept. of Sericulture, GKVK, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka (560 065), India

Shashidhar K.S.

AICRP-MULLARP, Central Agricultural University, Imphal, Manipur (795 004), India

Reddy D.N.R.

Dept. of Sericulture, GKVK, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka (560 065), India

The citrus leaf miner (CLM), scientifically known as Phyllocnistis citrella Stainton and belonging to the Gracillaridae family, is a significant nuisance for citrus nurseries and the tender leaves of young citrus plants. Damage caused by the larvae is conspicuous especially on the young foliage during initial phase of development and the management of the pest is highly critical. The present studies were carried out at ICAR-Central Citrus Research Institute, Nagpur during 2013 to 2015 to document the species composition of bioagents (parasitoids and predators), their incidence levels and species richness/ diversity in citrus ecosystems with reference to citrus leaf miner. During the study, we documented individuals from two classes, four orders and six families of insects. Class Insecta was dominant followed by Arachnida. Among the six families, Eulophidae and Coccinellidae were the most dominant bioagent groups for parasitoid and predator, respectively. Relative abundance of the bioagents of P. citrella revealed that C. phyllocnistoides was the predominant one and constituted 30% of total bioagents collected followed by Cirrospilus sp. (including C. quadristriatus, C. ingenuus) (25%), E. brevicornis (15%) and S. striatipes (9%). Coccinellids constituted about 3%; whereas, chrysopid predator, M. desjardinsi and spider species constituted 13% and 7%, respectively of the total bioagent collection. Understanding of the bioagent complex in citrus ecosystem will help us to identify the promising ones for biological control as well as guide us the bioagent active frame to avoid pesticide sprays to sustain them naturally in the ecosystem.

Anjitha George^*

ICAR-Indian Institute of Seed Science, Regional Station, GKVK Campus, Bangalore, Karnataka (560 065), India

The current research was carried out at the ICAR-Research Complex for the North Eastern Hill Region (NEH) in Umiam, Meghalaya to investigate the diversity and abundance of insect pollinators of cucurbits at mid-hills of Meghalaya. Ridge gourd, sponge guard, pumpkin, teasel gourd, chow-chow, bottle guard and cucumber were taken as a target crop to observe the data on diversity and abundance. Total twenty-five (25) pollinators were observed in different cucurbits belongs to order Hymenoptera, Diptera and Lepidoptera which represents that mid-hills of Meghalaya have rich pollinator fauna. Out of 25 insect pollinators 3 pollinators identified from ridge gourd, 6 from sponge gourd, 4 from pumpkin, 3 from bottle gourd, 4 from cucumber, 3 from chow-chow and 2 from teasel gourd. Efficient pollinator was nominated on the basis of their abundance. During investigation it was found that bumble bee emerged as the most abundant pollinator in ridge gourd, pumpkin and sponge gourd. In sponge gourd carpenter bee also showed almost equal abundance. Indian honey bee abundance was high in cucumber and in chow-chow. Among collected pollinators, hymenopterans were the abundant with 80% relative abundance. It is clear from the recorded observation that native bees are equally contributing in pollination service so conservation of these bees is also a demand of nature. Activity time period of pollinators on flowers guided the farmers to avoid pesticide spray during particular time period.

Rachna Pande^*

Division of Crop Protection, ICAR-Central Institute for Cotton Research, Nagpur, Maharashtra (441 108), India

V.K. Verma

Division of Horticulture, ICAR-Research Complex for NEH Region, Umroi Road, Umiam, Meghalaya (793 103), India

Four larval mutants namely Knobbed, Zebra, pere and Ursa of the silkworm, Bombyx mori L. were selected for the present investigation. The digestive juice and haemolymph were collected from fifth instar larvae (day 1 to day 6) and the samples were subjected to spectrophotometric analysis for estimation of amylase activity. The recorded O.D. values (at 525 nm) were converted into maltose released (µmoles ml^-1). The results of the present study clearly indicate that the amylase activity gets enhanced with the increase in number of feedings along with the advancement of age during 5^th instar larval stage (day 1 to 6). Based on the results obtained, Zebra performed better followed by Knobbed than the other two larval mutants under study. The larvae fed with V₁ variety performed better than those batches fed with S₃₆ variety of mulberry in both the samples. Of the two samples, amylase activity recorded higher in digestive juice than haemolymph in all the four larval mutants under study.

M. Devamani

Dept. of Studies in Sericulture Science, University of Mysore, Manasagangothri, Mysuru, Karnataka (570 006), India

R.S. Umakanth^*

Dept. of Studies in Sericulture Science, University of Mysore, Manasagangothri, Mysuru, Karnataka (570 006), India

Application of nanotechnology in agriculture especially in the form of nano agrochemicals is increasing nowadays. Agrochemicals such as fertilizers, soil amendments, soil conditioners, pesticides and plant growth promoting hormones have both pros and cons. To overcome the constraints of conventional agrochemicals researchers are focusing on nano agrochemicals. Apart from the high potential and effectiveness these chemicals also have some threats to the human health, environment and ecological balances. With proper assessment of risks associated to these nano agrochemicals threats can be minimised and the potential of nanotechnology in agriculture can be explored to the greater extent. After assessment the risks could be managed by applying three thumb rules as risk prevention, risk mitigation and risk communication. In depth research is required to explore the potential of nanotechnology in agriculture.

Mahendra Prasad

Crop Production Division, ICAR-Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh (284 003), India

Sonu Kumar Mahawer^*

Crop Production Division, ICAR-Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh (284 003), India

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal (AM) fungi colonize more than 80% of plants on land in which grasses are known to have higher endomycorrhizal colonization. AM fungi are a common group of symbiotic fungi in the order, Glomale of Division, Zygomycota. These fungi are known to benefit growth through increased nutrient uptake especially phosphorus. In this study, a total of 21 grass species collected from the Asan river basin, Mussoorie hills, Dehradun, Uttarakhand were screened for AM fungal root colonization and their mycorrhizal diversity. Traditional method of sieving and decanting was used for isolating mycorrhizal spores whereas for studying colonization rapid staining and clearing method was used. The highest root colonization (95±2.9) and AM spore count (234±3.56) were observed in Phalaris minor whereas Saccharum spontaneum exhibited least colonization (30±0.53) and AM spore count (46.7±14.5), respectively. The Andropogoneae (Sorghum tribe) was observed to be the most diverse tribe in association with endomycorrhizal fungi among the studied grasses. This study confirms that the grass species are highly colonized and dependent on endomycorrhizal association. The diversity and colonization patterns of endotrophic mycorrhizal fungi are described in details in this research paper. The AM fungal association with grass species provides new vistas and insight on the functioning of any grass ecosystem and also helps in harnessing the benefits of AM fungi through their usage in waste and abundant land reclamation programmes.

Megha

Forest Pathology Discipline, Forest Protection Division, Forest Research Institute (Indian Council Forestry Research & Education, Autonomous Council under Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India), Dehradun, Uttarakhand (248 006), India

Vipin Parkash^*

Forest Pathology Discipline, Forest Protection Division, Forest Research Institute (Indian Council Forestry Research & Education, Autonomous Council under Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India), Dehradun, Uttarakhand (248 006), India

Ramesh Chhetri

Kali Gandaki Polytechnic Institute, CTEVT, Ghiring - 1, Tanahun, Gandaki Province (33900), Nepal

Akshita Gaur

Forest Pathology Discipline, Forest Protection Division, Forest Research Institute (Indian Council Forestry Research & Education, Autonomous Council under Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India), Dehradun, Uttarakhand (248 006), India

Rahul Agnihotri

Forest Pathology Discipline, Forest Protection Division, Forest Research Institute (Indian Council Forestry Research & Education, Autonomous Council under Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India), Dehradun, Uttarakhand (248 006), India

Spot blotch caused by Bipolaris sorokiniana results substantial yield losses (15-80%) in an Indian subcontinent. Wheat varietal improvement through breeding followed by evaluation of elite germplasms against a particular disease is crucial method to manage diseases. Fifty diverse wheat genotypes and two susceptible checks viz., Sonalika and Nepal 297 were evaluated under artificial epiphytotic condition against spot blotch at NWRP, Bhairahawa, Nepal in 2017-18 and 2018-19. Evaluation was based on partial resistance components viz., lesion sizes, lesion types (chlorotic/ necrotic), lesion characteristics (sporulating/ non-sporulating) and area under disease progress curve (AUDPC) and morphological traits viz. lesion mimic, leaf angle, leaf tip necrosis and plant height. Statistical analysis revealed that genotypes with smaller lesion size (<1 cm), small dark brown to black lesions with or without chlorosis/ necrosis and non sporulating lesions had lower AUDPC (<225). Similarly genotypes with erect to semi erect leaf (leaf angle 1-2), medium to high leaf tip necrosis (2-4), low percentage of lesion mimic (0-22.5%) were found resistant (AUDPC<225) to moderately resistant (AUDPC value 226-315). Moreover AUDPC showed strong and positive correlation with lesion sizes (0.76), lesion types (0.84) and lesion characteristics (0.54). Twenty genotypes were found resistant (AUDPC<225), could be used as new resistance sources in breeding program. However genotypes viz., KACHU/BECARD//WBLL1*2/BRAMBLING/3/ATTILA*2/PBW65//MURGA, FRET2*2/SHAMA//TNMU/3/FRET2*2/SHAMA/4/UP2338*2/KKTS*2//YANAC/5/FRET2*2/SHAMA//PARUS/3/FRET2*2/KUKUNA, KACHU#1//PI610750/SASIA/3/KACHU/4/MUU#1//PBW343*2/KUKUNA/3/MUU/5/KACHU#1//PI610750/SASIA/3/KACHU, BORL14//KFA/2*KACHU and KFA/2*KACHU//QUELEA were found excellent based on partial resistance components and morphological traits. These genotypes could be further evaluated for yield potential in multi environment and better performing genotypes could be released as resistant varieties for spot blotch.

Shiwarttan Kumar Gupt^*

National Wheat Research Program (NWRP), Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC), Bhairahawa, Rupandehi (32900), Nepal

Khem Raj Pant

National Wheat Research Program (NWRP), Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC), Bhairahawa, Rupandehi (32900), Nepal

Roshan Basnet

National Wheat Research Program (NWRP), Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC), Bhairahawa, Rupandehi (32900), Nepal

Sustainable food production for a rapidly growing human population is one of the major challenges faced by the agriculture sector globally. Plant pests and pathogens cause significant reductions in crop production, with estimated global losses of 20-40% year^-1, resulting in an increased use of environmentally toxic pesticides & fertilizers. The growing numbers of studies in nanotechnology are producing novel applications in many fields of science, especially in plant biotechnology and agriculture. Nanomaterials (NMs) have been used in breakdown of pollutants and reported worldwide for several different environmental applications. They play an important role in agriculture as nano-fertilizers and nano-pesticides, prepared by many methods such as physical, green synthesis or chemical synthesis methods. Green synthesis involves use of biological resources as microorganisms or plant extracts and doesn’t permit the use of any toxic chemicals, hence less bio-hazardous. Rate of reduction of metal ions using phytosynthesis has been observed to be much faster than microbial synthesis. Thus, it is considered as an accessible alternative for large scale production of nanomaterials, without use of chemicals. Phytosynthesized nanomaterials show excellent antibacterial effects, antifungal effects and anti-pest activity. Ocimum sanctum, Azadiracta indica, Paederia foetida, etc. had been successfully reported to be used in synthesis of many NMs of silver, gold, zinc, etc. Botanical nanomaterials offer considerable potential for increasing agricultural productivity and protection while reducing negative impacts on the environment and human health simultaneously.

Anwesha Sharma^*

School of Crop Protection, College of Post Graduate Studies in Agricultural Sciences, Central Agricultural University (Imphal), Umiam, Meghalaya (793 103), India

Pranab Dutta

School of Crop Protection, College of Post Graduate Studies in Agricultural Sciences, Central Agricultural University (Imphal), Umiam, Meghalaya (793 103), India

Madhusmita Mahanta

School of Crop Protection, College of Post Graduate Studies in Agricultural Sciences, Central Agricultural University (Imphal), Umiam, Meghalaya (793 103), India

Arti Kumari

School of Crop Protection, College of Post Graduate Studies in Agricultural Sciences, Central Agricultural University (Imphal), Umiam, Meghalaya (793 103), India

Alinaj Yasin

School of Crop Protection, College of Post Graduate Studies in Agricultural Sciences, Central Agricultural University (Imphal), Umiam, Meghalaya (793 103), India

Two separate experiments were conducted in the field to examine the effectiveness of clothianidin 50 WDG against thrips and mealybugs that were infesting grapevines. The findings highlighted that applying clothianidin 50 WDG @ 1000 g ha^-1 proved highly efficient in curbing the population of the sucking pests, outperforming lower doses of the compound. Following two rounds of soil drenching spaced 14 days apart, there was an average reduction of 76.63% for thrips and 78.09% for mealybugs. Other concentrations of clothianidin 50 WDG (600, 500 and 400 g ha^-1) demonstrated significant reductions in the populations of thrips and mealybugs, exhibiting a similar level of efficacy as the standard check (Methomyl 40 SP and Buprofezin 25 SC) in all field experiments. Notably, no signs of harm to the grapevine were observed at any of the tested doses. Clothianidin 50 WDG @ 1000 g ha^-1 resulted in the highest grape yield, producing 14.25 and 8.94 kg vine^-1 at Madhampatti and Kalampalayam, respectively. Throughout the clothianidin 50 WDG treatment plots, the presence of natural enemies was noted and their activity remained unaffected, indicating no adverse impact on the natural enemy population.

S. Sumaiya Parveen^*

Dept. of Agriculture, Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu (641 114), India

An experiment was conducted to study the influence of weather parameters on trap catches of Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) in redgram Cajanus cajan (L.) ecosystem during kharif 2017 at experimental farm of NPRC, Vamban and farmer’s field at Vadakaddu with green colour funnel pheromone traps containing Heli lure. The highest catch (98 moths/ 5 traps) was recorded on January 2^nd SMW at Vamban and on 52^nd SMW of December at Vadakaddu. In both the locations lowest catch of 20 moths/ 5 traps and 30 moths/ 5 traps were recorded on 35^th SMW. The moth catches had highly significant negative correlation with maximum temperature (r = -0.79^**), (r = -0.79^**), minimum temperature (r = -0.66^**), (r = -0.68^**), wind speed (r = -0.71^**), (r = -0.73^**), rainfall (r = -0.54^**), (r = -0.51^**), rainy days (r = - 0.54^**), (r = -0.52^**) and sunshine hours (r = - 0.44^**), (r = -0.42^**) at Vamban and Vadakaddu, respectively. But there was highly significant positive correlation with relative humidity (r = 0.78^**) and (r = 0.76^**) at Vamban and Vadakaddu, respectively. The regression analysis resulted with an R² value of 0.791, which indicates that 79.1% catches depends on all the weather parameters at Vamban and R² value of 0.829 indicating that 82.9% of catches depends on all the weather parameters at Vadakaddu.

S. Lekha Priyanka^*

Dept. of Agricultural Entomology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu (641 003), India

V.R. Saminathan

Dept. of Agricultural Entomology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu (641 003), India

N. Manivannan

Dept. of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu (641 003), India

V. Ambethgar

Dept. of Agricultural Entomology, Anbil Dharmalingam Agricultural College and Research Institute, Trichy, Tamil Nadu (620 009), India

U. Pirithiraj

Dept. of Agricultural Entomology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu (641 003), India

Clusterbean, scientifically referred to as Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub., commonly encounters the challenge of root rot, also known as black root rot, instigated by Rhizoctonia solani, particularly in the kharif season. In fields where neither seed treatment nor soil application of Trichoderma viride were employed, the disease incidence ranged between 18.83 to 25.3%. In contrast, in demonstrated plots during the 2016 and 2017 seasons, where the seeds were treated @ 5 g kg^-1 and the soil was treated @ 2.5 kg ha^-1, mixed with 250-300 kg FYM and thoroughly incorporated into the field before sowing, the root rot incidence decreased significantly to 9.91 to 10.5%. Comparatively, the disease control rate of the demonstrated approach over the farmers' standard practices was recorded at 53.85%, resulting in a maximum average yield of 13.9 q ha^-1. Additionally, the economic gross return and cost-benefit ratio were notably higher in the demonstrated approach (T₂) @ Rs. 56,295.00 ha^-1 and 3.76, respectively; while in the case of the farmers' practice (T₂), it was Rs. 42,120.00 and 3.35.

Sunil Kumar^*

Krishi Vigyan Kendra (ICAR-DRMR), Gunta-Bansur, Alwar, Rajasthan (301 402), India

Pankaj Sharma

ICAR-Directorate of Rapeseed-Mustard Research, Sewar, Bharatpur, Rajasthan (321 303), India

Sushil Kumar Sharma

Krishi Vigyan Kendra (ICAR-DRMR), Gunta-Bansur, Alwar, Rajasthan (301 402), India

P.K. Rai

ICAR-Directorate of Rapeseed-Mustard Research, Sewar, Bharatpur, Rajasthan (321 303), India

During a one-year study from January, 2018 to January, 2019 at the Horticultural Research Station, Thadiyankudisai, Tamil Nadu, a combined count of 550 individuals of Platygastroidea species were documented under two family platygastridae (1 species) and scelionidae (9 species). Among the species diversity comprised of Telenomus sp. (52.0%) followed by Scelio sp. (11.4%), Calliscelio sp. (9.1%), Sparasion sp. (6.9%), Idris sp. (5.8%) and Baryconus sp. (4.0%). The least population was recorded in Tritelia sp. (2.2%). Researches on seasonal abundance exposed that the winter season exhibited the highest species population at 32.55%, with the South West Monsoon (SWM) following closely at 30.36%, while the North East Monsoon (NEM) period recorded the lowest species count at 16.54%. The prevalence of insect pests poses a significant challenge to achieving optimal yields in horticultural crops. Consequently, the examination of Platygastroidea species diversity assumes a pivotal role in the success of biological control strategies.

K.R. Manikandan^*

Dept. of Agricultural Entomology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu (641 003), India

M. Muthuswami

Dept. of Agricultural Entomology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu (641 003), India

N. Chitra

Dept. of Agricultural Entomology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu (641 003), India

M. Ananthan

Directorate of Open and Distance Learning, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu (641 003), India

Pests and diseases cause 20-40% of crops to be wiped out annually. Currently existing plant disease management strategies solely employ harmful pesticides, which are harmful for the environment and for people. When it comes to decreasing toxicity, extending the shelf life and making poorly water-soluble pesticides more soluble, nanotechnology is a blessing that may have a favorable effect on the environment. The fundamental unit of nanotechnology, nanoparticles, can be used in phytopathology to manage plant diseases in a variety of ways. They can be used as RNA-interference molecules, pesticide nanocarriers, or protectants. Furthermore, beyond their role as carriers for genetic material, probes and agrichemicals, nanoparticles hold potential as tailored biosensors, serving as diagnostic instruments. These days, biological organisms are a novel source for nanoparticle manufacturing. The nano-bioformulations are made up of the biological systems used to synthesize nanoparticles. Because of their exceptional efficiency and affordability, the adoption of plant extracts or microbial enzymes for the biosynthesis of nano-formulations is rapidly gaining momentum within the realm of nano-bioformulations. Owing to their tiny size (1-100 nm), an environmental risk assessment is necessary, especially when it comes to ingestion as food or feed. Agricultural applications have seen the commercialization of exiguous nanoparticle-based solutions, despite the numerous potential benefits linked to their use. Therefore, this demands nanotechnology be applied in farmer's fields to fill the voids in scientific research.

Pranab Dutta

School of Crop Protection, College of Post Graduate Studies in Agricultural Sciences, Central Agricultural University (Imphal), Umiam, Meghalaya (793 103), India

Alinaj Yasin^*

School of Crop Protection, College of Post Graduate Studies in Agricultural Sciences, Central Agricultural University (Imphal), Umiam, Meghalaya (793 103), India

Arti Kumari

School of Crop Protection, College of Post Graduate Studies in Agricultural Sciences, Central Agricultural University (Imphal), Umiam, Meghalaya (793 103), India

Madhusmita Mahanta

School of Crop Protection, College of Post Graduate Studies in Agricultural Sciences, Central Agricultural University (Imphal), Umiam, Meghalaya (793 103), India

Anwesha Sharma

School of Crop Protection, College of Post Graduate Studies in Agricultural Sciences, Central Agricultural University (Imphal), Umiam, Meghalaya (793 103), India

Microbial control is one of the potential alternatives of chemical pesticides for plant disease management. Microbes like fungus, bacteria, virus, nematode etc. as bio-agent is widely exploited during the last two decades. However, inconsistency in their field performance is a matter of great concern and proving to be a major bottleneck in their large-scale application. These agents are capable of replicating in the environment, but require certain frequent manipulations to get activated/ multiplied after its application. Formulation for easy field application is its major requirement for optimization of its efficacy, stability and ease of application. Formulation is available in the form of water dispersible powder, granule, emulsion, etc. with carriers, diluents and surface-active agents, according to need of a final consumer product. Amongst different application methods seed treatment is found to be the best method in combating disease management as it protect the crop from both seed and soil borne pathogen.

Pranab Dutta^*

College of Agriculture, Central Agricultural University (Imphal), Kyrdemkulai, Ri Bhoi Meghalaya (793 105), India

Madhusmita Mahanta

College of Post Graduate Studies in Agricultural Sciences, Central Agricultural University (Imphal), Umiam, Meghalaya (793 103), India

Samaritan Dutta

ADAC&RI, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Navalurkottapattu, Tamil Nadu (620 027), India

This study intends to evaluate the influence of microflora in various types of banana fruits on moisture content and health risks related to bacterial growth at different fruit ages. Over four weeks, 120 banana fruit samples were gathered from three marketplaces in Kano State, Nigeria and dissected for pH, moisture content and microbiota. These three samples were then dissected to perform tests on pH, moisture content and microbiota. Some were subject to a moisture content that ranged from 77.22% to 80.29% and the samples' pH values ranged from 4.60 to 5.10. The fungal counts displayed a range spanning from 1.40×10⁶ to 3.30×10⁶ cfu ml^-1, while the bacterial counts exhibited a broader spectrum, fluctuating between 3.80×10⁶ and 7.30×10⁶ cfu ml^-1. The bacteria identified in the samples were Proteus vulgaris, Bacillus sp., Xanthomonas campestris, Corynebacterium xerosis, Pseudomonas sp., Erwinia carotovora, Dickeya parasidiaca and Ralstonia solanacearum. The fungal isolates included Aspergillus niger, Fusarium sp., Alternaria sp., Mucor sp., Cordana johnsonii, Chrysonilia sp., Cladosporium sp., Doratomyces microspores, Rhizopus stolonifer and Colletotrichum musae. Fungi and bacteria detected in these samples prove their significant contribution causing the deterioration after harvest. This results in post-harvest diseases which consequently lead to the decline in the fruit's quantity and quality. Apart from the diminished commercial value of this kind of fruit, it can also pose chemical dregs, a health hazard to human beings. The knowledge gained from this research may facilitate the development of strategies for controlling banana fruit spoilage, resulting in improved product quality before consumption.

Mustapha Abdulsalam^*

Dept. of Microbiology, Skyline University Nigeria, Kano (700103), Nigeria

Olaitan Lateefat Salam

Dept. of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg (PMB 100), Sweden

Maimuna Sidi Muhammad

Dept. of Microbiology, Skyline University Nigeria, Kano (700103), Nigeria

Sarah Natour

Dept. of Microbiology, Skyline University Nigeria, Kano (700103), Nigeria

Maryam Murtala Garba

Dept. of Microbiology, Skyline University Nigeria, Kano (700103), Nigeria

Suleiman Fatima Annu

Dept. of Microbiology, Skyline University Nigeria, Kano (700103), Nigeria

It is beyond any reasonable doubt that rice (Oryza sativa L.) ranks first among its counterparts cereal food crops in the world, being unmatched in both worldwide demand and economic significance. Serving as a staple food to about two-thirds of the world population, the cultivation of this crop faces various constraints due to numerous infections, among which rice blast stands out as a significant issue affecting rice production in Jigawa state, Nigeria. In order to avert the reported situation, an in-vitro experiment was conducted using five selected fungicides through food poisoning technique at 10,000, 1,000 and 100 ppm. Results of in-vitro test showed that among the five tested fungicides, Mancozeb and Hexaconazole appeared to have higher fungicidal activity against M. oryzae by completely inhibiting the fungal growth at 1,000 and 10,000 ppm of Z-force (Mancozeb) and the growth was restricted at 10,000 ppm of Hexacal (50 g Hexaconazole litre^-1). The fungal mycelium's expansion of M. oryzae at 10,000 ppm of Dress-force (Imidacloprid 20% + Metalaxyl-M 20% + Tebuconazole 2% WS) was 9.33 mm, Seed care (Imidacloprid 10% + Thiram 10% WS) was 14.67 mm and for the Blast force (Isoprothiolane 40% WP) was 16.00 mm. The plates used as control exhibited the most extensive mycelial growth of the tested pathogen (measuring 59.33 mm). This connotes that of the five fungicides tested, Mancozeb and Hexaconazole could best be used for the eradication of M. oryzae infection on rice pending further research.

Zafar, S.

Dept. of Biological Sciences, Yusuf Maitama Sule University, Kano (PMB 3099), Nigeria

Hadiza, M.M.

Dept. of Plant Biology, Federal University, Dutse (PMB 7156), Nigeria

Mustapha, T.^*

Dept. of Plant Biology, Federal University, Dutse (PMB 7156), Nigeria

Kutama, A.S.

Dept. of Plant Biology, Federal University, Dutse (PMB 7156), Nigeria

The repellency potential of Euphorbia balsamifera Aiton, Lawsonia inermis L. and Mitracarpus hirtus (L.) DC against Sitophilus zeamais was assessed at 30±2 °C and 70±5% R.H. The botanicals were applied as chloroform extracts at the rate of 6.25, 12.50, 25.00, 50.00 and 100.00 mg ml^-1 per 20 g sorghum grains. Percent repellency of the botanicals against S. zeamais was taken at 1 and 24 hour after exposure (HAE). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was conducted for examination and identification of olfactory antennal sensilla of the weevil. This was enhanced by the aforementioned repellency test with antennal distal flagellomere of the weevils excised. The SEM showed that sensilla chaetica (SC), sensilla trichoidea (ST) and sensilla basiconica (SB) were the types of antennal sensilla of S. zeamais identified. Results from repellency tests conducted revealed that ST and SB were the olfactory sensilla located on the last distal flagellomere of the weevils. It was also found that the botanicals had promising repellent activity against S. zeamais and might be used in the protection of stored sorghum grains.

Suleiman, M.^*

Dept. of Biology, Umaru Musa Yar’adua University, Katsina (PMB 2218), Nigeria

Halliru, M.

Dept. of Biology, Umaru Musa Yar’adua University, Katsina (PMB 2218), Nigeria

Sani, I.

Dept. of Biology, Umaru Musa Yar’adua University, Katsina (PMB 2218), Nigeria

Yusuf, M.A.

Dept. of Biology, Umaru Musa Yar’adua University, Katsina (PMB 2218), Nigeria

Abdullahi, K.B.

Dept. of Biology, Umaru Musa Yar’adua University, Katsina (PMB 2218), Nigeria

Salinity stress and Rhizoctonia solani pose significant threats to global rice production; however, their interactive effects on rice plants remain underexplored. This study aimed to determine the combined effects of different salt (NaCl) levels and R. solani (Kuhn) infection on selected growth and yield attributes of O. sativa. Faro44, Faro52 and Jamila rice varieties were subjected to varying NaCl concentrations and R. solani infection under screen house conditions, utilizing a Completely Randomized Block Design (CRBD) and Two-Way ANOVA was employed for data analysis. The results revealed that higher NaCl concentrations and R. solani infection retarded plant height, with the number of tillers and leaves being significantly affected. The lowest mean values occurred at a salinity level of 8 dS m^-1; whereas highest values occurred at 4 dS m^-1 and 6 dS m^-1. The 100 seed weight varied depending on the NaCl concentration, with the lowest seed weight observed at 8 dS m^-1 and 6 dS m^-1 in Faro44 and the highest seed weight observed at 4 dS m^-1. The grain length was found to be at its minimum when exposed to 8 dS m^-1, while grain diameter exhibited its smallest size at 8 dS m^-1 of salt levels. Variations in NaCl concentrations significantly influenced the number of panicles and length of panicles (NP and LP), and number of grains panicle^-1. The lowest values were recorded at 8 dS m^-1, whereas the highest values were observed at 0 dS m^-1 and 2 dS m^-1. The study found that, in rice plants infected by R. solani, growth and yield are further diminished under saline conditions, emphasizing the complex interaction between abiotic and biotic stressors in rice.

Mustapha, T.^*

Dept. of Plant Biology, Federal University, Dutse (PMB 7156), Nigeria

Kutama, A.S.

Dept. of Plant Biology, Federal University, Dutse (PMB 7156), Nigeria

Auyo, M.I.

Dept. of Plant Biology, Federal University, Dutse (PMB 7156), Nigeria

Dangora, I.I.

Dept. of Plant Biology, Federal University, Dutse (PMB 7156), Nigeria

Fumaria parviflora, commonly known as "small-flowered fumitory," is a ubiquitous weed found in various regions across the globe. Despite being considered a nuisance in farming areas, the plant possesses numerous therapeutic benefits acknowledged in conventional medical systems. Its extracts have shown promise in treating digestive disorders, respiratory ailments and skin conditions due to their anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. Efforts to harness its medicinal potential could lead to the development of innovative treatments while addressing concerns related to its invasive nature. This review aims to gather and evaluate the body of research on the medicinal, phytochemical and pharmacological attributes of Fumaria parviflora. Phytochemical analyses have revealed the presence of diverse bioactive compounds in F. parviflora, including alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, terpenoids and essential oils. These phytoconstituents exhibit various biological activities such as anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective and anticancer effects. Despite the considerable therapeutic potential demonstrated by F. parviflora, further research is necessary to elucidate its action mechanisms, pharmacokinetics and safety profiles. Moreover, clinical trials are required to validate the effectiveness and security of F. parviflora-based human interventions. Harnessing the medicinal potential of natural products holds significant promise for the development of novel therapeutic agents across various ailments. Natural products, derived from plants, marine organisms, fungi and microorganisms, have been a rich source of pharmacologically active compounds for centuries. These compounds often possess unique chemical structures and biological activities that make them valuable candidates for drug discovery and development.

Nitesh Kumar

Dept. of Biosciences, Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh (171 005), India

Ruchika Devi^*

Dept. of Biosciences, Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh (171 005), India

Pratibha

Dept. of Biosciences, Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh (171 005), India

Satish Kumar

Dept. of Biosciences, Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh (171 005), India

Saurav

Dept. of Biosciences, Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh (171 005), India

Mamta Singh Pathania

Shoolini Institute of Life Sciences and Business Management, Solan, Himachal Pradesh (173 212), India

Anita Kumari

Dept. of Botany, G.B. Pant Memorial Govt. College, Rampur Bushahr, Himachal Pradesh (172 001), India

Under edaphic fluctuation, the current study explains the phytosociological characteristics and weed distribution patterns in transplanted rice crops. Present work was done in Jhargram block, West Bengal, during kharif season 2022 and 2023. For every weed species, analytical quantitative characters were determined, such as relative density, relative dominance and important value index. There were 15 (6 grassy, 6 BLWs, 3 sedge), 14 (4 grassy,6 BLWs, 4 sedge), 16 (5 grassy, 8 BLWs, 3 sedge) and 11 (3 grassy, 5 BLWs, 3 sedge) weeds species found in Jhargram, Binpur I and Binpur II and Nayagram block of Jhargram district, respectively. Observation showed that, the relative density of single plant species at Jhargram Block, Cynodon dactylon was the predominant grassy weed; however, relative density of BLWs (Broad Leaved Weeds) and sedges, more seen with Euphorbia hirta, Amaranthus spinosus and Cyperus sp., respectively. Importance Value Index (IVI) more reported with Cynodon dactylon for grasses, Ludwigia parviflora and Euphorbia hirta for BLWs and Cyperus difformis for sedges. In Binpur I, Cynodon dactylon for grasses, Ludwigia parviflora for BLWs and Cyperus rotundus for sedges, were the predominant weed species with highest IVI. In Binpur II, block, more IVI found with Paspalum scorbiculatum for grasses, Euphorbia hirta and Ludwigia parviflora for BLWs and Cyperus rotundus for sedges. In Nayagram, block, relative abundance was observed more with Echinochloa colona, Hydrolea zeylanica and Cyperus rotundus for grasses, BLWs and sedges, respectively. More number of BLWs was observed throughout the observation followed by grasses in case of Jhargram, Binpur I and sedges in Binpur II and Nayagram block. This baseline information become very imperative for future research as well as for farming community to choose right kind of competitive crops and cropping pattern in the red-latertic zone.

Dhiman Mukherjee^*

Regional Research Station (Red & Laterite Zone), Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Jhargram, West Bengal (721 507), India

Golam Moinuddin

Regional Research Station (Red & Laterite Zone), Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Jhargram, West Bengal (721 507), India

Subhendu Jash

Regional Research Station (Red & Laterite Zone), Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Jhargram, West Bengal (721 507), India

Bioethanol is a prospective alternative to nonrenewable energy sources and this study aimed to produce bioethanol from waste paper using a pre-treatment technique. Freshly fermented palm wine was analyzed using standard microbiological techniques to identify the microorganisms used in the study. The pre-treatment process utilized sulphuric acid and sodium hydroxide at varying concentrations (5%, 10%, 25%, 40% and 50%). The substrates had glucose concentrations ranging from 0.2 to 0.9 ppm and the peak yield was recorded at 10% sulphuric acid pretreatment. Bioethanol was produced through fractional distillation and sugar fermentation with Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The viability of bioethanol production using waste paper has been demonstrated as a sustainable method of waste management and a potential solution to energy shortages, particularly in developing countries.

Mustapha Abdulsalam^*

Dept. of Microbiology, Skyline University Nigeria, Kano (700 103), Nigeria

Suleiman Muhammed Mustapha

Dept. of Biological Sciences, Summit University, Offa, Kwara (PMB 4412), Nigeria

Ajibade Abdulbasit Bolaji

Dept. of Microbiology, University of Ilorin, Ilorin (PMB 1515), Nigeria

Ganiyat Omotayo Ibrahim

Dept. of Chemistry, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham (NG14 BY), England (UK)

An intensive research was carried out during 2018-2022 at the Regional Sericultural Research Station, Salem, Tamil Nadu. The research focused on assessing the significance of micronutrients and their effects on the growth, moisture content, yield parameters and nutrient composition of mulberry leaves. The combined results indicated that treatments T₂ and T₃ exhibited higher larval weight, shell weight, rendita and denier, with values of 42.90 g, 0.42 g, 6.14 kg and 2.33 d, respectively. Treatment T₅ also showed promising results, with larval weight of 42 g, shell weight of 0.38 g, rendita of 6.2 kg and denier of 2.65 d. In terms of single cocoon weight, treatment T₃ had the highest value of 1.88 g, closely followed by T₂ with 1.86 g. Regarding shell ratio and silk filament length, T₂ exhibited higher values (22.58% and 1103 m) compared to T₃ (22.55% and 1099 m). Among the five crops studied, the fourth crop demonstrated the best results when treated with T₂ and T₃. These treatments resulted in higher larval weight (51.37 g and 51.6 g), cocoon weight (2.2 g and 2.3 g), shell weight (0.56 g and 0.55 g), shell ratio (25% and 24.67%), pupal weight (1.65 g and 1.71 g), silk filament length (1416 m and 1412 m), rendita (6 kg) and denier (2.46 d and 2.79 d) respectively.

M. Devamani^*

Centre for Higher Studies in Botany and Sericulture (Periyar University), Vaikkalpattarai, Salem, Tamil Nadu (636 017), India

N. Dahira Beevi

Centre for Higher Studies in Botany and Sericulture (Periyar University), Vaikkalpattarai, Salem, Tamil Nadu (636 017), India

A. Mohan

Kandaswami Kandar's College, Velur, Namakkal, Tamil Nadu (638 182), India

Guava (Psidium guajava L.), is one of the most important fruit crops cultivated widely in tropical region of the world and considered as ‘poor man’s apple’ or ‘the apple of tropics’ due to its low cost of production and high nutritional value. Pruning is one of the most ancient horticultural practices which regulate the tree size and shape to achieve a desired architecture of the canopy and also to reduce the vegetative growth by removing unproductive branches of the tree. Guava is an evergreen tropical fruit crop and rarely pruned in our country to regulate the canopy for better yield and quality of fruits despite that guava responds to pruning. Fertigation (application of fertilizer solution with drip irrigation) has the potential for the right combination of water and nutrient which make it available at the root zone, satisfying the plant requirements. These inputs are the key factors for high yield and quality. Fertigation saves fertilizer as it permits applied fertilizer in required quantities at a time matching with the plants nutrient requirement. Besides, it is considered as eco-friendly which avoids leaching and also saves atmospheric pollution.

A. Mahadevan^*

Citrus Research Station, Sankarankovil, Thirunellvelli, Tamil Nadu (627 860), India

The present study entitled “Evaluation of pheromone traps for the management of pod borer, Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) in Redgram [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] ecosystem” was carried out to study the influence of trap height on catches of H. armigera in redgram ecosystem during kharif 2017 at experimental farm of NPRC, Vamban and farmer’s field at Vadakaddu. Funnel traps were more effective compared to delta traps and green funnel traps placed at a height of one feet below the crop canopy (95.4 moths / 5 traps) and at the level of crop canopy (94.8 moths / 5 traps) performed well compared to traps placed at two feet below the crop canopy (73 moths / 5 traps), one feet above the crop canopy (59 moths / 5 traps) and two feet above the crop canopy (55 moths / 5 traps).

S. Lekha Priyanka^*

Dept. of Agricultural Entomology, ADAC&RI, TNAU, Trichy, Tamil Nadu (620 009), India

V. R. Saminathan

Dept. of Agricultural Entomology, NPRC, TNAU, Vamban, Tamil Nadu (622 303), India

S. Sithanantham

Sun Agro Bio–Tech Research Center, Chennai, Tamil Nadu (600 116), India

V. Ambethgar

Dept. of Agricultural Entomology, JSACAT, TNAU, Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu (606 108), India

N. Manivannan

Dept. of Plant Breeding and Genetics, NPRC, TNAU, Vamban, Tamil Nadu (622 303), India

Agricultural sector is regarded as the key component of the economies of many developing nations, including India. Globally, agriculture accounts for a large share of GDP; it employs a significant proportion of the labour force, represents a major source of foreign exchange earnings, supplies bulk of basic food and provides subsistence and other income to the agriculture dependant growing population in the world. However, the country is facing decline in growth in agriculture relative to other sectors. The agricultural sector grew at a rate of 2.7%, relative to about 10% growth in both the service and industry sector, in the recent times. Agricultural incomes are lower and the rate of growth is slower than incomes in other sectors. This has resulted in persistence of unacceptable levels of hunger, poverty and malnutrition among large section of India’s population. The strong linkages that agriculture has with other economic sectors representing both forward and backward linkages provide significant stimulus for growth and income generation. It is therefore obvious that significant progress in promoting economic growth, reducing poverty and enhancing food security cannot be achieved without developing a sound, effective and vibrant agriculture system that pays concurrent attention to the human potential and productive capacity of the agriculture sector. These in turn will ensure enhanced contribution of agriculture to the overall economic and social development.

Chandan Singh Ahirwar^*

School of Agriculture, ITM University, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh (474 001), India

Ravindra Nath

School of Agriculture, ITM University, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh (474 001), India

The composite soil samples received from the various cluster sericulture farmer mulberry gardens (2067) of Karnataka state were subjected for their physical and chemical analysis for measuring their nutrient status. It was noticed that 52% soils characterised as clay loamy, 28% red loamy, 12% black cotton and only 8% soils were red lateritic in nature. Soil pH was recorded in the range of 6.10-7.96 with 7.03 average pH. Among them 59% soils comprised with desired pH (6.5 to 7.5%), 21% with high pH (>7.5) and 20% recorded with low pH (<6.5). Soluble salt content (EC) of the mulberry soils ranged from 0.11 to 0.90 with a mean value of 0.69 dS m^-1. All most all the soils of the state (99%) recorded with desired levels of EC (<1.0 dS m^-2) indicating ideal for mulberry. Organic Carbon (OC) was ranged from 0.12-1.06 with a mean value of 0.64%. Out of the soils 74% recorded with low OC (<0.65%) followed by 24% desired (0.65-1.0%) and 2% in rich OC (>1.0%) indicating that soils received were deficient in OC. The macronutrients (N, P & K) presence and distribution revealed that, available Nitrogen (N) registered in 116.4-349.8 with 212.3 kg ha^-1 average content. Similarly 76% soils registered with low level of available nitrogen (<250 kg ha^-1), 23% in medium (250-500 kg ha^-1) whereas 1% with high N (>500 kg ha^-1). Phosphorous (P) in the range of 3.69-103.9 with an average value of 30.1 kg ha^-1. However the distribution of available P is in the ratio of 36:34:30 of high (P>25 kg ha^-1), low (P<15 kg ha^-1) and desired levels of P (15-25 kg ha^-1), respectively. Potassium (K) content was ranged in 181.7-905.4 with a mean value of 521.7 kg ha^-1. The K distribution was high (>240 kg ha^-1) in 42% soils followed by 40% in desired level (120-240 kg ha^-1) and 18% soils recorded with lower quantities of available K (<120 kg ha^-1). The micronutrients such as available Sulphur (S) and Boron (B) present in the range of 10.50-117.30 and 0.08-2.87 with a mean value of 63.90 & 1.48 ppm ha^-1, respectively. Sulphur distribution was noticed that 71% soils registered rich in S (>15 ppm), 21% medium (10-15 ppm ha^-1) and 15% soils represent deprived levels of S (<10 ppm). Boron was found medium level (0.5-1.0 ppm ha^-1) in 48% soils followed by 30% with low level B (<0.5 ppm ha^-1) and 22% soils with high amount of B (>1.0 ppm ha^-1). Based on the above findings suitable soil amelioration prescriptions were served in the form of ‘Soil Health Cards’ for correcting their mulberry gardens to minimise the cost of production thereby achieving quality mulberry leaf production for the development of Bivoltine sericulture.

P. Sudhakar^*

Regional Sericultural Research Station, Central Silk Board (CSB), Ananthapur, Andhra Pradesh (515 001), India

V. Sobhana

Central Sericultural Research and Training Institute, Central Silk Board, Mysuru, Karnataka (570 008), India

M.R. Swamy Gowda

Regional Sericultural Research Station, Central Silk Board, Kodathi, Bangaluru, Karnataka (560 035), India

Sibayan Sen

Central Sericultural Research and Training Institute, Central Silk Board, Mysuru, Karnataka (570 008), India

M.V. Sneha

Central Sericultural Research and Training Institute, Central Silk Board, Mysuru, Karnataka (570 008), India

V. Sivaprasad

Central Sericultural Research and Training Institute, Central Silk Board, Mysuru, Karnataka (570 008), India

Aquaculture production has increased steadily in recent years and is the fastest growing food production sector and has become a valuable component of national development and poverty reduction plans in many areas of the world. Increased fish production is being achieved by the expansion of land and water under culture and the use of more intensive and modern farming technologies that involve higher usage of inputs such as water, feed, fertilizer and chemicals. As a result, aquaculture is now considered as a potential polluter of the aquatic environment. In this context, Bioremediation is most cost effective and environmental friendly treatment option for many environmental pollutants. Bioremediation consists of using living organisms (bacteria, fungi, actinomycetes, cyanobacteria and to a lesser extent, plants) to reduce or eliminate toxic pollutants. Wastes produced in aquaculture farms differ in quality and quantity of components depending on the species farmed and the farming practices adopted. The current approach to improving water quality in aquaculture is the application of microbes/enzymes to the ponds known as 'bioremediation'. When macro and micro organisms and/or their products are used as additives to improve water quality, they are referred to as bioremediators or bioremediating agents. The newest attempt being made to improve water quality in aquaculture is the application of probiotics and enzymes to the ponds is known as bioremediation, which involves manipulation of microorganisms in ponds to enhance mineralization of organic matter and get rid of undesirable waste compounds.

Debtanu Barman^*

Aqua Doctor Solutions, Kolkata, West Bengal (700 032), India

We are living in the era of expeditiously increasing population and industrialization and water is used in almost all industrial sectors such as food, pharmaceutical, metallurgy, chemical, textile industry and leather industry etc. which produces different kind of effluent. There are several methods used for removing pollutants from wastewater, among them the adsorption method is best as it removes diverse species of pollutants. Textile effluent is one of the major problems for aquatic as well as human life, contains several kinds of dyes, chemicals & hazardous substances that needs to be removed before further use. If the effluent is discharged into the environment without any treatment process, it will cause serious issues related to environmental as well human health. In various waste water treatment plants that are used for treating wastewater through adsorption, cellulosic, lignin based carbon materials, chemically or biologically activated carbonaceous of different biomass origin are used as adsorbent. This paper reviews the possibility of Okara (soyabean milk waste), being a cellulosic biomass and shows some adsorption capacity, as a low-cost adsorbent for treatment of the waste water generated from the textile industries.

Sarthak Saxena

Division of Biological Sciences and Engineering, Netaji Subhas University of Technology, Delhi (110 078), India

Sumit Rai^*

Centre for Environmental Assessment and Climate Change, G.B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment, Kosi-Katarmal, Almora, Uttarakhand (263 643), India

The CCAM (GFDL) RCM simulated daily maximum/minimum temperature and rainfall data for the base line period (1970-2005) and future scenario (2006-2070) for the IPCC SRES rcp 4.5 for 4 grid points (50km×50km) falling in Aji basin were bias corrected using Probability Distribution Mapping adopting Gaussian and Gamma distribution respectively. The warming trend of annual average of daily minimum and maximum temperature from 1970-2005 to 2006-2070 was found increased from 0.027°C year^-1 to 0.04°C year^-1 and 0.027°C year^-1 to 0.025°C year^-1 respectively. The rainfall, runoff and groundwater recharge in the basin were found in statistically stable trend in Aji basin. The best probability distribution was used for estimating each water balance component. The crop water requirements during winter, summer and monsoon season may increase/decrease by the tune of 6.4%, -0.3% and 1.5% during winter, summer and monsoon season respectively in the future as compared to the past, due to climate change impacts. The monsoon seasonal rainfall will be decreased in the future due to climate change impacts. However, the extreme rainfall (100 year return period) event will be increased in the future by the tune of 39%. Similarly, the runoff will be decreased in the future but the extreme event (100 year return period) of runoff will be increased by the tune of 87.5%. The extremity (100 year return period) in the crop evapotranspiration and ground water recharge may be decreased by -5.7% and -5.8% respectively.

Prasang H. Rank^*

College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh, Gujarat (362 001), India

P.B. Vekariya

College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh, Gujarat (362 001), India

H.D. Rank

College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh, Gujarat (362 001), India

A field experiment was conducted during Kharif, 2018 to evaluate the efficacy of different insecticides against blister beetle, Mylabris pustulata (Thunberg) in pigeon pea. Among the seven treatments tested, Flubendiamide 480SC @ 30 g a.i ha^-1 was found to be effective and recorded 2.67 and 3.56 numbers plant^-1, respectively at 3 and 7 DAT after first spray followed by the treatment Indoxacarb 15.8SC @ 73 g a.i ha^-1 which recorded 2.78 and 3.56 numbers plant^-1. The third treatment proved to be effective was Deltamethrin 2.8EC @ 12.5 g a.i ha^-1 with the population of 3.22 and 3.78 numbers plant^-1. The similar trend of efficacy was noticed even after the second spray also. The order of efficacy of treatments in the population reduction of blister beetles was Flubendiamide 480SC @ 30 g a.i ha^-1 > indoxacarb 15.8SC @ 73 g a.i ha^-1 > Deltamethrin 2.8EC @ 12.5 g a.i ha^-1 > Cypermethrin 25EC @ 25 g a.i ha^-1 > Lambda cyhalothrin 5EC @ 25 g a.i ha^-1 > NSKE 5%. As that of results on the efficacy of insecticides, the reduction per cent in the blister beetle population also follows the similar trend of different treatments tested. This effectiveness also reflected in the highest grain yield of 1140.20 kg ha^-1 in Flubendiamide 480SC @ 30 g a.i ha^-1 with a yield increase of 36.47% over untreated check. This was followed by indoxacarb 15.8SC @ 73 g a.i ha^-1 (1102.3 kg ha^-1) > Deltamethrin 2.8EC @ 12.5 g a.i ha^-1 (1072.0 kg ha^-1) > Cypermethrin 25EC @ 25 g a.i ha^-1 (996.4 kg ha^-1) > Lambda cyhalothrin 5EC @ 25 g a.i ha^-1 (991.7 kg ha^-1) > NSKE 5% (951.70 kg ha^-1).

P. Thilagam^*

Dept. of Agricultural Entomology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Agricultural Research Station, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India

D. Dinakaran

Dept. of Plant Pathology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Agricultural Research Station, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India

A. Gopikrishnan

Dept. of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Agricultural Research Station, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India

Efficient utilisation of bio-wastes could be an important strategy for meeting the growing demand of nutrients and improving the soil health and crop productivity in north-eastern India, where there is abundant availability of bio-wastes (such as crop residues, weed biomass, forest litter, animal dung etc.), and use of chemical fertilisers is traditionally minimal. Production of weed biomass in north-eastern India is estimated to be in the range of 5-20 t ha^-1. Around 9 Mt of crop residues are produced annually in the region. Considering even half of these residues to be available and 40% loss of nutrients contained therein, the potentially available crop residues can add up to 10,000 tonnes of N, 2,000 tonnes of P₂O₅ and 35,000 tonnes of K₂O to soil. Around 15 Mt of animals’ dung produced annually can also supply substantial amount of nutrients. Additionally, these bio-wastes can improve soil organic carbon, moisture retention capacity, buffering capacity and many other desirable attributes of soil quality. These bio-wastes can also be utilised for production of quality organic manure in a short period of 50-80 days using earthworms and cellulose decomposing microorganisms, either alone or in combination. On the whole, efficient utilisation of the available bio-wastes has great potential to improve the soil health and crop productivity, and therefore needs to be promoted on priority basis. This will also help in mitigating the likely impacts of climate change on soil health and crop productivity in north eastern India.

Manoj Kumar^*

ICAR-Research Complex for Eastern Region, RCM, Darbhanga, Bihar (846 005), India

D.J. Rajkhowa

ICAR-Research Complex for NEH Region, Nagaland Centre, Nagaland (797 106), India

Kaberi Mahanta

Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, Assam (785 013), India

B.C. Verma

Central Rainfed Upland Rice Research Station (ICAR NRRI), Hazaribagh, Jharkhand (825 301), India

B.U. Choudhury

ICAR-Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya (793 103), India

K.K. Rao

ICAR-Research Complex for Eastern Region, Patna, Bihar (800 014), India

Kirti Saurabh

ICAR-Research Complex for Eastern Region, Patna, Bihar (800 014), India

Rajiv Rakshit

Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Bhagalpur, Bihar (813 210), India

Organic farming is one of the broad spectrum methods of production that ensures environmental safety and restricts the synthetic input use. They are the key component for sustainable agriculture. Vegetables are the vital source in Indian Diet for nutrition. But, in recent decades the use of chemicals had created problem to both human and environment. Thus a need arises to go back for organic farming. The primary goal of the organic vegetable production is to optimize health and productivity of the interdependent communities of plant, soil, people and animals. Organic vegetable production for its quality generates a higher income to the farmers. Varied climatic conditions in India and wide soil types had created a huge scope for organic vegetable production to a greater extend. This article details the organic vegetable production.

T. Ilakiya^*

Dept. of Vegetable Science, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu (641 003), India

E. Parameswari

Dept. of Environmental Sciences, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu (641 003), India

V. Davamani

Dept. of Environmental Sciences, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu (641 003), India

G. Yazhini

Dept. of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu (641 003), India

A field study was conducted to evaluate the effects of supplementation of area specific mineral mixture (ASMM) on the production and reproductive performance of cows. 16 animals of both crossbred and desi cows each were evaluated for production and reproduction performances. In all treatment groups (n=8), ASMM was supplemented @ 50 g cow^-1 day^-1 and @ 30 g cow^-1 day^-1 to crossbred and desi cows respectively. The control groups (n=8) of each experiment were without ASMM supplementation. In case of productive performance, milk production and milk composition parameters were studied for a period of 90 days of lactation where as dissolution of common reproductive disorders were screened for reproductive performance. Average daily milk yield in the crossbred cows supplemented with ASMM on 90^th day and 120^th day were 7.72 ± 0.19 L cow^-1 and 7.52 ± 0.12 L cow^-1 in contrast to 5.96 ± 0.14 L cow^-1 and 5.63 ± 0.21 L cow^-1 in the control group. Similarly average daily milk yield in the desi cows supplemented with ASMM on 90^th day and 120^th day were 4.17 ± 0.09 L cow^-1 and 3.70 ± 0.08 L cow^-1 in contrast to 3.06 ± 0.03 L cow^-1 and 2.92 ± 0.04 L cow^-1 in the control group. No significant supplemental effects on the milk composition parameters in all the groups were found. First postpartum estrus and number of AI per conception were lesser but conception rates were higher in both crossbred and desi treatment groups compared to respective control groups. It can be concluded that continuous supplementation of area specific mineral mixture enhanced the productive and reproductive efficiency of both crossbred and desi cows.

Kaushik Pal^*

North 24 Parganas Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Ashokenagar, Haripur, North 24 Parganas, West Bengal (743 223), India

Chinmoy Maji

North 24 Parganas Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Ashokenagar, Haripur, North 24 Parganas, West Bengal (743 223), India

Manas Kumar Das

Jalpaiguri Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Panbari, Jalpaiguri, West Bengal (735 219), India

Soma Banerjee

North 24 Parganas Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Ashokenagar, Haripur, North 24 Parganas, West Bengal (743 223), India

Sukanta Saren

North 24 Parganas Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Ashokenagar, Haripur, North 24 Parganas, West Bengal (743 223), India

Babulal Tudu

North 24 Parganas Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Ashokenagar, Haripur, North 24 Parganas, West Bengal (743 223), India

Enteric methane emission from ruminant livestock reduces the efficiency of feed energy utilization and contributes to global warming. An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of sunflower (SFL) oil supplementation on methanogenesis, volatile fatty acids composition and feed fermentation pattern by in vitro gas production (IVGP) test. SFL oil was examined at three concentrations (0, 0.4 and 0.8 ml/ 30 ml buffered rumen fluid). In vitro incubation was carried out with sorghum hay (200 ± 5 mg) as substrate in 100 ml calibrated glass syringes following standard IVGP protocol. Addition of SFL oil resulted in increase (p < 0.05) in total gas production and decrease (p < 0.05) in methane concentration in head space gas, irrespective of level of inclusion. Linear decrease (p < 0.001) in feed degradability was evident with increasing doses of oil. Acetate production decreased (p < 0.05) without affecting propionate, however, butyrate production increased (p < 0.05) with addition of oil, irrespective of doses. The ratio of acetate to propionate was reduced (p < 0.01) with addition of oils. It is concluded that sunflower oil supplementation exerted inhibitory effects on methane production; however, dry matter degradability was also reduced. Further studies need to be carried out with lower dose levels for their practical application in animal feeding practices.

Avijit Dey^*

Division of Animal Nutrition and Feed Technology, ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Buffaloes, Hisar, Haryana (125 001), India

S.S. Paul

Division of Animal Nutrition and Feed Technology, ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Buffaloes, Hisar, Haryana (125 001), India

P.C. Lailer

Division of Animal Nutrition and Feed Technology, ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Buffaloes, Hisar, Haryana (125 001), India

S.S. Dahiya

Division of Animal Nutrition and Feed Technology, ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Buffaloes, Hisar, Haryana (125 001), India

Soil quality assessment is very important aspect in determining long term sustainability; however it is governed by different physico-chemical and bio-chemical parameters. These are interrelated among them and controlled by different management practices like tillage, water, organic and inorganic source of nutrients etc. Among the different soil parameters, it was considered that soil biochemical parameters provide rapid and accurate estimates on soil quality and its evaluation require understanding of biochemical and microbiological soil properties. Among the several biochemical and microbiological properties, soil organic carbon fractions, microbial biomass and soil enzymes activities may be considered as an important property which governed soil health or quality. Soil organic carbon fractions includes total organic carbon, soil organic carbon (oxidizable carbon), labile carbon etc., microbial biomass and enzymes activities include content of microbial biomass carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and activities of different enzymes like dehydrogenase, acid and alkaline phosphatase, Urease, β-glucosidase, Aryl sulphatase, etc. It is established and proved that, nutrient management practices (application of fertilizers and manures) marked significant effect on SOC fractions and soil enzymes activities. In most of cases, the application of organic sources of nutrients as well as integrated nutrient management resulted in significant improvement in the soil biochemical properties, however, microbial properties like microbial biomass carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and enzymes activities are very sensitive to nutrient management options compared to soil organic carbon fractions.

L.G. Mawlong

ICAR-Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya (793 103), India

B.C. Verma^*

Central Rainfed Upland Rice Research Station (CRURRS), ICAR-NRRI, Hazaribagh, Jharkhand (825 301), India

Manoj Kumar

ICAR-Research Complex for Eastern Region, RCM, Darbhanga, Bihar (846 005), India

D. Thakuria

College of Post Graduate Studies, CAU, Umiam, Meghalaya (793 103), India

Rajesh Kumar

ICAR-Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya (793 103), India

Biofuels and chemicals can be produced from the lignocellulosic biomass would be promising platform in the upcoming decades. The maize cob is selected as lignocellulosic biomass to synthesis chemicals. The maize cob treated with meagre concentration of dilute sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄) dehydrated with Tetrahydrofuran (THF) co-solvent and water in the ratio of 1:1 results with furfural formation. The maize cob sample acid catalysed dehydration process at 1, 2.5, 5 and 10% dilute H₂SO₄ is substantial for sugar compounds production, these compounds can be further fermented to produce liquid fuels viz., bioethanol, biobutanol in an efficient manner. The  maize cob treated with 0.25, 0.5 and 0.75% of dilute H₂SO₄ dehydrated with THF co-solvent and water (1:1) results with furfural formation and highest concentration was found in 0.5% acid catalyzed. The furfurals obtained can be downstream processed to recover and can be used as fuel precursor.

Sriramajayam, S.^*

Dept. of Renewable Energy Engineering, Agricultural Engineering College and Research Institute, TNAU, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu (641 003), India

J. Gitanjali

Dept. of Renewable Energy Engineering, Agricultural Engineering College and Research Institute, TNAU, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu (641 003), India

K. Chandrakumar

Dept. of Renewable Energy Engineering, Agricultural Engineering College and Research Institute, TNAU, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu (641 003), India

Rice crop is threatened by more than 50 diseases which may appear at any growth stage of the plants. Grain discolouration is an emerging disease of paddy, reported from different countries of the world and is gradually becoming a serious problem. Out of numerous reasons for grain discolouration, association of microbes is important one. It affects the qualitative and quantitative traits such as germination ability, seed health, seed quality, seed morphology and ultimately it results into yield penalty. It is a complex disease exhibiting various symptoms depending on season, locality, variety and pathogens involved. To mitigate this serious malady, precise identification of pathogen is necessary. An integrated management strategy involving better utilization of genetic resources, use of improved agricultural practices, seed treatment with chemicals or biological agents are need to be under taken to manage this malady.

B. Khamari^*

Institute of Agricultural Science, Siksha-o-Anusandhan (Deemed to be University), Bhubaneswar, Odisha (751 008), India

India has an agrarian economy. It needs an improved and newer group of biopesticides as the continuous use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides has resulted in pests outbreak and increased environmental pollution. In order to maintain sustainability and food security, an ecofriendly and sustainable strategy like use of natural enemies and microbes for managing these insects-pests is highly envisaged. Metarrhizum anisopliae (green muscardine fungus) have found effective in controlling these insect pests. Due to its mycoinsecticidal properties and easy applicability, various agricultural crops can be benefitted.

Charul Verma^*

Dept. of Plant Pathology, Dr. YSP University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, Himachal Pradesh (173 230), India

Sushil Kashyap

Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Bastar, Chattisgarh (494 005), India

Springs have historically been considered as a lifeline for urban and rural population living in hilly region for domestic and agricultural needs. Niti Aayog reported that there are 5 million springs across India, of which nearly 3 million are in the IHR alone. In recent times, it is observed that drying up or decline in spring discharge is more frequent due to anthropogenic activities and changing climatic regime. In addition to quantity issues, spring water quality was also reported to be declining due to anthropogenic development in spring recharge areas and therefore spring water needs to be treated before using for domestic purposes. Considering the magnitude of problem, spring conservation and management programme is on national agenda. In present study, we touched upon the spring water quality issue, where status of physico-chemical properties of 16 spring sources of Mohal khad watershed were studied.

Vaibhav E. Gosavi^*

G. B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment and Sustainable Development, Himachal Regional Centre, Mohal - Kullu, Himachal Pradesh (175 126), India

Rajat

G. B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment and Sustainable Development, Himachal Regional Centre, Mohal - Kullu, Himachal Pradesh (175 126), India

With the increase in global warming the occurrence of overcast, rainy sky and low light intensity has become a prevalent problem. It is now known that low light stress affects every aspect of vegetative growth (plant height, tiller number, root growth, stoma regulation and chlorophyll development), photosynthesis, dry matter accumulation and partition, and yield and quality of rice. The best approach to overcome this kind of problem is to bred for cultivars with low light intensity tolerance. Thus, it is imperative to understand the underlying mechanism for screening low light intensity tolerant cultivars.

Prajjal Dey^*

Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT), Bhubaneswar, Odisha (751 003), India

Selukash Parida

Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT), Bhubaneswar, Odisha (751 003), India

Joy Kumar Dey

Institute of agriculture, Visva-Bharati, Sriniketan, West Bengal (731236), India

Darshan Panda

ICAR-National Rice Research Institute, Cuttack, Odisha (753 006), India

Zinc (Zn) deficiency is a well-documented problem in food crops, causing decreased crop yields, nutritional quality. It has been estimated that about 50 per cent of cereal cultivated soils of India are deficient in zinc to support high crop yields. There is a synergistic effect between applied zinc in rice because Zn is very dependent on the size of plant available Zn pools in soil, in most parts of cereal growing areas, soils have less availability of Zn to plant roots. Till-date, the focus was on balanced application of N, P, K. But of late, it has been realized that deficiency of many secondary and micronutrients can also further limit the productivity of the many field crops. In India, first reported zinc deficiency in lowland rice.  Thereafter, it has recognized as a wide spread and important nutritional problem throughout the rice- growing world. Zn plays role in synthesis of plant growth substances and enzyme systems and is essential for promoting certain metabolic reactions. It is necessary for production of chlorophyll and carbohydrates. Zinc deficiency affects stem elongation, auxin activities and protein synthesis.

Jhutan Debnath

Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya , Pundibari, Cooch Behar, West Bengal (736 165), India

Joy Kumar Dey^*

Institute of agriculture, Visva-Bharati, Sriniketan, West Bengal (731 236), India

Prajjal Dey

Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneshwar, Odisha (751 003), India

Nature holds various cryptic wonders in itself. Discovery of Yarsagumbais such an example, which has positively affected livelihood of thousands in the regions where it is found and also its beneficiaries. Popularly known ‘Himalayan Viagra’ claims to have solutions for various medical problems. With increase in demand and hence price, we are seeing distressed situation among people in these localities. Cases of robbery, murder are becoming usual and overharvesting of the fungus has posed ecological threats. Despite its ancient importance, there are less scientific studies. Hence, it is the high time to take such initiative to know the nature of fungus and caterpillar association for its mass production in-vitro or in-vivo, thus curbing the gold rush and ecological threats.

Ankesh Kumar Sharma^*

B.A. College of Agriculture, Anand Agricultural University, Anand, Gujarat (388 110), India

Gyaneshwar Jha

B.A. College of Agriculture, Anand Agricultural University, Anand, Gujarat (388 110), India

Prajjal Dey

Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneshwar, Odisha (751 003), India

Animal husbandry combined with several agricultural farming proved to be beneficial and economically viable venture. Similarly, mulberry (Morus alba L.) a perennial plant is cultivated as seasonal plant synchronizing 5 harvests in a year exclusively cultivated for feeding silkworm (Bombyx mori L.). A total of 60-70 MT of leaf or more than 100 MT of biomass will be harvested annually from one hectare of mulberry garden and used for silkworm rearing. Almost 50% of the harvested biomass will be leftover as waste during the process of harvesting mulberry shoots and feeding of silkworm. Further, after the harvest of mulberry garden around 25-30% of the thin branches and leftover unsuitable mulberry biomass will remain in the garden. All these waste mulberry material is most suitable for the cattle and sheep feeding. On interaction with farmers have expressed the increase of milk yield to a tune of twofold compared to the weed gracing cattle. In the present study an attempt was made to study the impact of feeding the leftover mulberry biomass to the animal husbandry among the sericulture farmers.

P. Sudhakar^*

Regional Sericultural Research Station, Central Silk Board (CSB), Ananthapur, Andhra Pradesh (515 001) India

B. Vijaya Naidu

Regional Sericultural Research Station, Central Silk Board (CSB), Ananthapur, Andhra Pradesh (515 001) India

K.P. Kiran Kumar

Regional Sericultural Research Station, Central Silk Board (CSB), Ananthapur, Andhra Pradesh (515 001) India

Pankaj Tewary

Central Sericultural Research and Training Institute (CSRTI), CSB, Mysore, Karnataka (570 008), India

Heavy metals are generally defined as metals with relatively high densities, atomic weights, or atomic numbers. A density of more than 5 g/cm³ is sometimes quoted as a commonly used criterion and is used in the body of this article. Heavy metals affects morpho- physiological and biochemical processes in the plants. Chromium, arsenic, cadmium, mercury, and lead have the greatest potential to cause harm on account of their extensive use, the toxicity of some of their combined or elemental forms, and their widespread distribution in the environment. Application of agro-based chemical fertilizers and pesticides with high heavy metals content should be avoided to keep high quality soils for sustainable use in the reservoir watershed and to prevent human and livestock health hazards and induce agricultural plant productivity.

Selukash Parida^*

Dept. of Plant Physiology, Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, (OUAT), Bhubaneswar, Odisha (751 003), India

Prajjal Dey

Dept. of Plant Physiology, Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, (OUAT), Bhubaneswar, Odisha (751 003), India

Joy Kumar Dey

Dept. of Agronomy, Institute of Agriculture, Visva-Bharati, Sriniketan, West Bengal (731 236), India

Microalgae-based sequestration systems is more versatile and high energy efficient method for CO₂ sequestration with respect to economic perspective and time consuming. Microalgae are more photosynthetically efficient and are able to mitigate CO₂ from 10 to 50 times higher than terrestrial plants. They can utilise CO₂ emissions from power plants and other industrial sources for their growth in a CO₂ biosequestration process. Typically, 1 kg of microalgal biomass synthesis requires about 1.8 kg of CO₂. Microbial carbon capture cells (MCCs) used in the production of algae were proved to be an effective technology for CO₂ emission reduction with simultaneous voltage output without aeration. This article focuses on different techniques for culturing of microalgae, carbon reserve capacity of microalgae and recent advancement in production of algae for CO₂ sequestration.

Dhayanath, M.

Division of Aquatic Environment and Health Management, ICAR-CIFE, Mumbai, Maharashtra (400 061), India

Abisha Juliet Mary S.J.

Division of Aquatic Environment and Health Management, ICAR-CIFE, Mumbai, Maharashtra (400 061), India

Tapas Paul^*

Division of Aquatic Environment and Health Management, ICAR-CIFE, Mumbai, Maharashtra (400 061), India

Bran is a milling byproduct of rice. Rice bran is underutilized due to lipolytic enzyme mediated rancidity and its subsequent associated nutritional loss. Bran layer can serve as a source of novel lipolytic enzymes (lipase, esterase, lipoxygenase) which can be purified in order to exploit its catalytic property for industrial application and value addition to the underutilized rice bran layer. To do so traditional bran stabilization has to be avoided in order to safeguard both the nutritional properties and novel lipolytic enzymes. Instead of using bran as only cattle feed or consumable oil extraction, proteomics analysis can be performed to explore the superior usability of enzyme mediated commercial product development which can also serve as an alternative to microbial lipolytic enzymes.

Udit Nandan Mishra^*

Dept. of Biochemistry and Agricultural Chemistry, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, Assam (785 013), India

Ranjan Kandali

Dept. of Biochemistry and Agricultural Chemistry, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, Assam (785 013), India

As millions of indigenous people are dependent on shifting cultivation practice, with majority households for subsistence living. In Tripura more than 10 percent of tribal families are dependent on Jhum cultivation for their livelihood. Jhum cultivation practice have some positive and negative effect. In jhum cultivation, Burning and slashing method is followed to control of weeds, soil-borne pathogens and other diseases of crops in those areas.

Gayatri Deb^*

Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Dhalai, Tripura (799 278), India

Bichitra Debbarma

Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Dhalai, Tripura (799 278), India

Pradip Kumar Das

Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Dhalai, Tripura (799 278), India

Soma Deb

Palli Siksha Bhavana, Visva-Bharati, West Bengal (731 204), India

Bioassay or Biological assay means the measurement of the effect of insecticides on living organisms. The three advantages of bioassay in storage entomology are analyzation of amount of an insecticide, efficiency of new toxicants or formulations and comparison of susceptibility of species or strains within a given species. All involve a quantitative relation between dosage and response which is best expressed by the log dosage-probit (1d-p) line. The slope of this line is a measure of the heterogeneity of the population used with respect to the toxicant. An intermediate heterogeneity is usually preferable. Contact between test insects and toxicant is very difficult to standardize. Many procedures and devices have been used for this purpose.

Debjyoti Chakraborty^*

Assam Agricultural University Department of Entomology, Jorhat, Assam (785 013), India

Abhinandan Yadav

Assam Agricultural University Department of Entomology, Jorhat, Assam (785 013), India

Path analysis is a form of multiple regression-statistical analysis used to evaluate causal models by examining the relationships between a dependent variable and two or more independent variables.Using this method, one can estimate both the magnitude and significance of causal connections between variables. In statistics, path analysis is used to describe the directed dependencies among a set of variables. This includes models equivalent to any form of multiple regression analysis, factor analysis, canonical correlation analysis, discriminant analysis, as well as more general families of models in the multivariate analysis of variance and covariance analyses (MANOVA, ANOVA, ANCOVA).

Subrat K. Mahapatra^*

College of Agriculture, Odisha University of Agriculture & Technology, Bhubaneswar, Odisha (751 003), India

Abhiram Dash

College of Agriculture, Odisha University of Agriculture & Technology, Bhubaneswar, Odisha (751 003), India

Jayashankar Pradhan

IRRI-OUAT Collaborative Research Project,OUAT,Bhubaneswar, Odisha (751 003), India

Irrigation is the method in which a controlled amount of water is supplied to plants at regular intervals for agriculture. It is used to assist in the growing of agricultural crops, maintenance of landscapes, and re-vegetation of disturbed soils in dry areas and during periods of inadequate rainfall. About 70 percent of population of India lives in villages. Due to unavailability of canal irrigation in the country, most of the farmers of different parts depend on rainy season. Hence, we can say that if the monsoon fails agriculture also fail. At farm level, irrigation efficiency is on average 50 percent with traditional irrigation techniques, such as the basin and furrow systems, but it could reach 70-90 percent when modern pressurized techniques are used. Finally the involvement and participation of farmers must be improved at all levels of management. Hence there is also a need for implementing programs on education, training and extension.

Rohitashav Nagar^*

Dept. of Agronomy, School of Agricultural Sciences, Career Point University, Kota, Rajasthan (324 005), India

Monika Karnawat

Dept. of Agronomy, School of Agricultural Sciences, Career Point University, Kota, Rajasthan (324 005), India

Deepak Nagar

Dept. of Agronomy, School of Agricultural Sciences, Career Point University, Kota, Rajasthan (324 005), India

S.K. Trivedi

Dept. of Agronomy, School of Agricultural Sciences, Career Point University, Kota, Rajasthan (324 005), India

Farmers of Sikkim generally don’t know how the soil health can be improved. This study was conducted during the period of 2014-19. After distributing the inputs under Tribal Sub Plan (ICAR-TSP) project to tribal farmers in Sikkim the impact assessment was carried out. It was found that application of recommended dose of all the soil inputs increased nutrient use efficiency upto 8.7-12.4%, CEC upto 19.4-27.2%, soil organic carbon 2.4-5.1%, soil pH 18.5-32.3%, and crop productivity upto 18.6-27.4% along with increases in grain yields upto 10.5-14.7% in major crops of Sikkim (maize, rice, mustard, soybean, pulses). The net income (excluding cost of production) of the maize growing farmers were increased 57% (Rs. 37,000 to 58,090); rice growing farmers increased 37% (Rs. 25,000 to 34,250); pulses and oilseed growing farmers were increase 62% (Rs. 45,000 to 72,900) after adopting the use of different organic soil inputs.

Shaon Kumar Das^*

ICAR-Research Complex for NEH Region, Sikkim Centre, Tadong, Gangtok, Sikkim (737 102), India

R.K. Avasthe

ICAR-Research Complex for NEH Region, Sikkim Centre, Tadong, Gangtok, Sikkim (737 102), India

H. Kalita

ICAR-Research Complex for NEH Region, Sikkim Centre, Tadong, Gangtok, Sikkim (737 102), India

Ashish Yadav

ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Sikkim Centre, Tadong, Gangtok, Sikkim (737 102), India

R. Gopi

ICAR-Research Complex for NEH Region, Sikkim Centre, Tadong, Gangtok, Sikkim (737 102), India

A geographical area of land that drains or “sheds” rainfall and snowmelt into a specific waterbody is called watershed. Any human action aimed at ensuring the sustainable use of watershed resources without adversely affecting land and water bases is termed as watershed management. Each and every one of us live in a unique watershed, with interrelated natural processes that impact our lives. The changing climate scenario and scanty water resources compel us to rethink about the approaches towards uniform distribution of clean drinking water and also supply of irrigation water for agricultural practices emphasising on collection of runoff water (water harvesting), designing water conservation structures like bunds, water ways, diversion works and implementing approaches to curb different means of water losses. The understanding of land capability is equally important to increase the land use efficiency and productivity of a watershed for the generation of a highly productive, resource-efficient and sustainable watershed structure.

Ananya Chakraborty^*

Dept. of Agronomy, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur, Nadia, West Bengal (741 252), India

Sritama Biswas

Dept. of Agronomy, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur, Nadia, West Bengal (741 252), India

Pintoo Bandopadhyay

Dept. of Agronomy, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur, Nadia, West Bengal (741 252), India

Mulberry, the sole food plant of silkworm, Bombyx mori (Linnaeus) is invaded by various polyphagous pests, causing economic loss in sericulture. Native predators in the plant ecosystem play a vital role in checking the pest infestation. In the present study, population dynamics, phenology of the arthropod predators of Paracoccus marginatus Williams and Granara de Willink and Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green) infesting mulberry in four sericulture practicing districts (Murshidabad, Nadia, Birbhum and Malda) of West Bengal was studied. A diverse assemblage of alternate hosts and arthropod natural enemies were found associated with mealybugs infesting mulberry in the Indo gangetic plains of West Bengal. About 53 plant species acted as alternate hosts in the adjoining plots of mulberry gardens and profoundly influenced the population dynamics of mealybug pests and its associated predators and allowed migration rapidly from alternate hosts to mulberry as soon as the new flushes appeared after pruning. Sixteen predator species, were found consistently associated with mealybugs during the study. They are Brumoides suturalis (F), Coccinella septempunctata L., Jauravia pallidula Motschulsky, Menochilus sexmaculatus (F), Nephus regularis Sicard, Nephus sp. nr. roepkei de Fluiter., Nephus bipunctatus Kugelann, Scymnus bourdilloni Kapur, Scymnus coccivora Ayyar, Scymnus nubilus Mulsant, Scymnus pallidicollis Mulsant, Scymnus pyrocheilus Mulsant, Spalgis epius (Westwood), Mallada desjardinsi (Navas) and one anthocorid bug. Apart from these arthropods, one new species of Scymnus Kugelann, Scymnus (Pullus) latifolius Poorani sp. nov, was collected and reported for the first time. The predatory potential of the new predator was studied and amenability of the predator for mass multiplication in laboratory conditions opened avenues for its use as a potential biocontrol agent for checking mealybug pests in various agroecosystems.

Lalitha, N.^*

Eri silkworm Seed Production Centre, Central Silk Board, Bangara, Guwahati, Assam, INDIA & Central Sericultural Research and Training Institute, Berhampore, West Bengal, INDIA

M.V. Santhakumar

Central Sericultural Research and Training Institute, Berhampore, West Bengal, INDIA

H. Chatterjee

Palli Siksha Bhavana, Visva-Bharathi University, Santiniketan, West Bengal, INDIA

J. Poorani

National Research Centre for Banana, ICAR, Trichy, Tamil Nadu, INDIA

S. Nirmal Kumar

Central Sericultural Research and Training Institute, Berhampore, West Bengal, INDIA

Eri silkworm rearing is legacy and age-old tradition, besides a source of livelihood for farmers in the North Eastern India. The eri silkworm Samia ricini (Donovan) is a multivoltine, domesticated insect that can be reared indoors on diverse host plants. Recently, government sponsored schemes have boosted expansion of eri silkworm rearing in many non-traditional eri rearing states besides North East India. Assam, being the home tract of Eri silkworm offers optimum climatic conditions for seed cocoon rearing and production of disease free layings. However, the impending climate change due to global warming poses one of the biggest threat to Ericulture. Temperature shifts in the summer and winter season with altered rainfall patterns influences the host plant maintenance and eri silkworm rearing extensively. A wide range of adverse impacts are experienced in eri silkworm seed production sector due to increasing temperature, heat stress and other changes in weather parameters. The present review paper addresses the issues and prospects of eri silkworm seed production in Assam with respect to the impending climate change and suggests the possibilities to explore avenues to mitigate the global warming effects.

Lalitha, N.^*

Eri Silkworm Seed Production Centre, Central Silk Board, Ministry of Textiles, Guwahati, Assam, INDIA

B.B. Singha

P2 Basic Seed Farm, Central Silk Board, Ministry of Textiles, Guwahati, Assam, INDIA

B. Das

Muga Silkworm Seed Organization, Central Silk Board, Ministry of Textiles, Guwahati, Assam, INDIA

B. Choudhury

Muga Silkworm Seed Organization, Central Silk Board, Ministry of Textiles, Guwahati, Assam, INDIA

Soil moisture patterns from emitters are important for the design and management of drip irrigation systems. The soil moisture distribution pattern around an emitter depends on depth of lateral placement, emitter spacing, duration and frequency of water application, soil physical and hydraulic properties. This experiment was carried out at Agricultural Research Station, Bhavanisagar. Soil moisture measurements were carried out using soil moisture meter after irrigation at different horizontal and vertical distance (0, 15, 30 and 45 cm). The results indicated that the soil moisture distribution within the soil profile under subsurface drip was to great extent affected by the distance between drippers and variations in discharge. It was also found that, soil moisture distribution varied with variation of lateral location from the soil surface. Soil moisture movement was found to be higher at lower depth of laterals placed at 15 and 30 cm depth.The gradual increment in the moisture content around the dripper was found at the surface layer and vertical layer with increasing the measuring time up to 2 hr at 15 and 30 cm lateral depth. The measurements of soil water content at 2hr indicated that the lower soil layer was the one with higher moisture content at 30 cm depth of placement of lateral irrespective of discharge. Dripper spacing of 30 cm with dripper discharge of 2LPH at 30 cm depth of placement of lateral was found to be higher in soil moisture content of more than 27.2 per cent than of that under 15 cm.

Thiyagarajan, G.^*

Water Technology Centre, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore - 641 003, Tamil Nadu, INDIA

M. Manikandan

Agricultural Engineering College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Kumulur - 621 712, Tamil Nadu, INDIA

M. Nagarajan

Agricultural Engineering College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Kumulur - 621 712, Tamil Nadu, INDIA

S.K. Natarajan

Department of Agronomy, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore - 641 003, Tamil Nadu, INDIA

Aquaculture is one of the fastest growing industry and grows at a pace of 1.1% rate per year. In recent times, current global climatic condition does not allow horizontal expansion of this industry anymore. To further increase the aquaculture production, requirement of a robust technology is evident. Recirculatory Aquaculture System (RAS) allows increasing the fish production by many folds using limited resources. Water conservation, biosecurity and high production are key features of this technology. The major challenges seem to be affecting this industry includes poor management, lack of knowledge about the technology, high investment and occurrence of diseases and pathogens. Several researches are being carried out to improve technical aspect in recirculating loop, efficient use of system by-products and finding an alternative source of energy. Recent advancement in RAS such as denitrification reactors, sludge thickening technologies and ozone treatments results in minimal use of water, waste discharge and energy use. With greater knowledge about the system and understanding the interaction between its components, this technology has the potential to bring revolution in aquaculture sector.  

Nilav Aich

Department of Fisheries, Government of Tripura, Tripura, INDIA

Suman Nama

ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Mumbai-400061, INDIA

Abhilipsa Biswal

ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Mumbai-400061, INDIA

Tapas Paul^*

ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Mumbai-400061, INDIA

Clupisoma garua (Hamilton, 1822) commonly known as ‘garuabachcha’ under the order Siluriformes and family Schilbeidae, a potamodromous species, demersal habitat and found both fresh as well as brackish water. The species is mainly distributed in Asian countries like Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Nepal and found mainly large freshwater bodies. The species are categorized as Least Concern (LC) by IUCN but kept as Vulnerable (Vu) category by the CAMP and CAFF reports. It is anomini-carnivore species and feeds on insects, molluscs, crustaceans and small fishes in wild conditions. The species have both food and ornamental values and the medium-size individual also treated as game fish in India. Through the species is said to be widely distributed but threatened in some localities like southern West Bengal, due to overfishing andanthropogenic activities.In the present review, we have tried to give detail information of ‘garuabachcha’, which will be useful to know the species, its potential importance and suitable conservation measures may carry out accordingly.

Dibakar Bhakta^*

ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Regional Center, B-12, Hans Society, Harney Road, Vadodara-390 022, Gujarat, INDIA

Sonia

ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Regional Center, B-12, Hans Society, Harney Road, Vadodara-390 022, Gujarat, INDIA

Enhancing Groundnut Productivity through Integrated Nutrient Management and Liming - A Review

Majority of soils in Tripura are strongly acidic having a pH range of 5.1-5.5. Groundnut, an oilseed crop, can grow well in coarse-textured soils which facilitate the better growth and development of groundnut pods. The low soil pH is associated with a number of soil chemical and biological properties that manifest themselves as the components of the acid soil syndrome. There are some specific problems which are associated with acid soils e.g., aluminum, iron and manganese toxicity; molybdenum deficiency; failures in legume nodulation; increase in plant disease, and calcium and magnesium deficiency. These conditions may adversely affect groundnut growth. Liming is an important proposition to combat soil acidity, however, everywhere this approach does not prove economical and most of the time it is out of the reach of resource poor farmers. Thus, judicious application of lime and integrated nutrient management (combinations of bio-fertilizer, greeen manuring, organic manure and chemical fertilizer) can be practiced to formulate an integrated programme for acid soil management which will be eco-friendly and economically feasible tool to conquer productivity barrier and to attain sustainable groundnut production in acid soils of Tripura.

D. Dey^*

Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Palli Siksha Bhavana (Institute of Agriculture), Visva-Bharati, Sriniketan 731236, Birbhum, West Bengal, INDIA

M.C. Kundu

Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Palli Siksha Bhavana (Institute of Agriculture), Visva-Bharati, Sriniketan 731236, Birbhum, West Bengal, INDIA

D. Sen

Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Lembuchera-799210, West Tripura, INDIA

Marine fisheries is recognized as a sunrise sector and the prospects of foreign exchange earnings and employability is attracting more and more people into active fishing and allied sectors.. Fisheries resources are nutritional security, besides livelihood support and gainful employment. All over the world, more than 30 million fishers and fish farmers and their families gain their livelihoods from fisheries. Globally, fish provide about 16 per cent of the animal protein consumed by humans, and are a valuable source of minerals and essential fatty acids. Marine fisheries are very important sectors of India. It provides employment to millions of people and contributes to food security of the country. With a coastline of 8,118 km, an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of 2.02 million sq km, and with extensive resources, fisheries play a vital role. This article represents initial reviews on the status, challenges, distribution, research and sustainable management of marine fisheries in India.

Suman Takar^*

Fisheries College and Research Institute, Thoothukudi - 628 008, Tamil Nadu, INDIA

Udai Ram Gurjar

ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Mumbai - 400 061, Maharashtra, INDIA

Electronisation and mechanization in communication systems have provided an opportunity to access the information rapidly, accurately and repeatedly. To reach the unreach modern electronic gadgets and systems have been introduced to cope-up the requirements. Information has an immense value in our society. Its large scale dissemination through highly preferred communication media constitutes one of the most striking developments of present era. Organic farming has an important scope in hilly rural areas of J&K. In order to increase the organic crops production in hilly areas, it is necessary that the organic farmers of hilly areas should adopt the scientific organic farming technologies. In order to know the media preferences of organic farmers residing in hilly areas, the present study was conducted in hilly district Reasi of Jammu and Kashmir which was selected purposively. A sample of 150 trained organic farmers was selected purposively. A list of different sources of organic farming information was prepared and farmers were asked to indicate their preferences on a three point scale. It was found that Extension Personnel of KVK and Extension Personnel of State Deptt. of Agri. were highly preferred by the organic farmers.

Banarsi Lal^*

KVK, Tanda, Reasi (SKUAST-Jammu)-182301, INDIA

Vikas Tandon

Division of Biotechnology, SKUAST-Jammu, J&K, INDIA

The present research work was carried out at two distinct locations (Research Field and Farmer’s Field). The Research Field, Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya and Farmer’s Field Village - Jatwa, Panagar Block of district Jabalpur Madhya Pradesh during two cropping season of rice i.e. Kharif of 2015 and 2016. Light trap was used for the taxonomic documentation Coleopteran phototactic insect fauna. Total 34 species of order Coleoptera belongs to 8 families were collected from rice ecosystem. Family Carabidae was the dominating family among the all 8 families. 34 species were collected at Farmer’s Field while 29 species at Research Field.

Anil Kurmi

Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Jabalpur (M.P.), INDIA

R. Pachori

Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Jabalpur (M.P.), INDIA

A.K. Bhowmick

Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Jabalpur (M.P.), INDIA

A.K. Sharma

Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Jabalpur (M.P.), INDIA

H.L. Sharma

Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Jabalpur (M.P.), INDIA

Brajesh K. Namdev^*

Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Jabalpur (M.P.), INDIA

Gujarat is the second largest cotton producing state of India. In Gujarat state Saurashtra region is also has major area under cotton crop. However, it is interesting to note that cotton, which occupies only five per cent of the total cultivable land consume more than 55 per cent of the pesticides used. Present study was carried out to know the knowledge level of Bt. cotton growers about integrated pest management practices in Rajkot district of Saurashtra region with one-fifty Bt. cotton growers. Finally, fifty-two statements were produced towards cotton growers for measuring his knowledge about IPM practices. Majority (66.00 per cent) of Bt. cotton growers were from medium knowledge followed by high level of knowledge about integrated pest management practices in Bt. Cotton. In case of association between knowledge level of Bt. cotton growers and their personal, socio economic characteristic, out of seven socio-economic characteristics, age was negative and significant associated with the knowledge of Bt. cotton growers. While size of land holding was non-significant related with knowledge, remaining all characteristics like, education, annual income, cotton yield index, training received, extension participation and scientific orientation were positive and significant association with the knowledge of Bt. cotton growers. Therefore, due weightage given to the above positive and significant related characteristic of cotton growers to achieve higher knowledge about IPM practices and better management of pest resulting higher income of cotton growers.

Jadav N.B.^*

Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Junagadh Agricultural University, Pipalia (Dhoraji), Rajkot-II, Gujarat, INDIA

Sharma P.S.

Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Junagadh Agricultural University, Pipalia (Dhoraji), Rajkot-II, Gujarat, INDIA

Undhad S.V.

Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Junagadh Agricultural University, Pipalia (Dhoraji), Rajkot-II, Gujarat, INDIA

Rodents are major vertebrate pests belongs to order Rodentia and class Mammalia. About 40% of all mammal species are rodents (2,277 species).They have emerged as a major pest due to their high damage potential and tendency to damage major crops at field level and in storage in India. Analysis of the reviews on pre-harvest losses indicates a range of 5-15% damage to major cereal crops and higher damages are noticed in endemic areas. Also about 2.5% damage is caused by rodents in post- harvest system. Rodents also gained importance due to their outbreaks in endemic areas and potential vector to cause and transmit zoonotic diseases such as plague and leptospirosis. The lesser bandicoot, Bandicota bengalensis, is predominant in irrigated crops throughout the country. The Indiang erbil, Tetara indica, soft-furred field rat, Millardia meltada, and field mouse, Mus booduga, are widespread in both irrigated dryland and dryland crops in the country, except in the north-eastern states. Farmers are facing huge problems due to rodent damage to their agricultural and horticultural crops for food and hoarding. The use of rodenticides is the common approach to manage rodent menace, but rodenticide coupled with many cultural practices like clean cultivation, proper soil tillage and crop scheduling, had given long-lasting results. Currently, problems occur due to increased intensive cropping with expansion of irrigated areas, changing agricultural practices resulting in higher breeding and damages by lesser bandicoot rats, increased coconut cultivation without proper spacing, cultivation of oilpalm in rodent-endemic areas, and natural calamities like flash floods and drought spells followed by heavy rains etc. Integrated rodent management is the available option to manage rodent damages.

Mariadoss A.^*

National Institute of Plant Health Management (NIPHM), Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Govt. of India, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad - 500 030, INDIA

J. Alice

National Institute of Plant Health Management (NIPHM), Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Govt. of India, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad - 500 030, INDIA

A. Chakraborty

Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Khowai, Tripura - 799207, INDIA

Extraction of vitamin E from soymeal (the product obtained after oil extraction) was carried out using six different solvents viz., Methanol, n-hexane, 2-Methyltetrahydrofuran, Methanol:n-hexane:2-MeTHF (80:10:10), 0.1 N H₂SO₄ followed by ethanol extraction and Petroleum ether: ethanol (2:1.6) and two spectrophotometric methods: Bathophenanthroline and Ammonium Phosphor Molybdate (APM) methods. The results showed significantly higher yield of Vit-E (7.5 gm/100gm) with a recovery percentage of 83.3% when extracted using 0.1N sulfuric acid treatment followed by ethanol. These values were further validated by HPLC quantification. Whereas bathophenanthroline method was found more suitable method to quantify Vit-E extracted from oil samples using non polar solvents (data not shown). Thus, our study helps to select the suitable solvents for the extraction of Vit-E and the selection of solvents depends on the type of the sample (oil or powder form). Further our study also revealed that, methods for the estimation of Vit-E should be carefully selected as the extraction of Vit-E is related to the type of solvents (polar and non-polar) used.

Navita Bansal

Division of Biochemistry, IARI, New Delhi-110012, INDIA

Rama Prashat, G.

Division of Genetics, IARI, New Delhi-110012, INDIA

Vanchinathan S.

Division of Genetics, IARI, New Delhi-110012, INDIA

Vinutha T.

Division of Biochemistry, IARI, New Delhi-110012, INDIA

Shelly Praveen^*

Division of Biochemistry, IARI, New Delhi-110012, INDIA

A survey was conducted for the occurrence of community diazotrophic populations, namely, Azospirillum, Pseudomonas sp. and Bacillus sp. from the rhizosphere of lowland rice was conducted at different locations of Tamil Nadu. The survey revealed the ubiquitous occurance of diazotrophs in rice rhizosphere where the occurance Azospirillum brasilence was found to be at higher level followed by Pseudomonas sp. and Bacillus sp. A total numper 84 diazotrophic strains, namely 28 no. of Azospirillum, 28 no. of Pseudomonas sp. and 28 no. of Bacillus sp. were isolated. The results of the present study also revealed a marked variation in the community population of Azospirillum, Pseudomonas and Bacillus in the locations of Tamilnadu, observed. A range of 0.89 per cent to 1.41 per cent of Azospirillum, 1.12 per cent to 2.50 per cent of Pseudomonas and 0.51 per cent to 0.97 per cent of Bacillus to the total bacterial population was observed in the survey.

Kalaiarasu S.^*

Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar - 608002, Tamil Nadu, INDIA

P. Manikandan

Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar - 608002, Tamil Nadu, INDIA

Acquaintance of the exact water loss through actual evapotranspiration is necessary for sustainable development and environmentally sound water management to avoid the underestimation or overestimation of crop water consumption. An accurate estimation of crop evapotranspiration is important for better irrigation scheduling and water management. An attempt has been made to estimate actual evapotranspiration (ET_a) at different growth stage of Bt. cotton under silver black plastic mulch, biodegradable plastic mulch, wheat straw mulch and no mulch condition using soil moisture sensor and it was compared with crop evapotranspiration (ET_c) estimated using Penman- Monteith and Pan Evaporation method. Results revealed that Pan evaporation and Penmen Monteith approach over estimated cumulative ET_c under by 46.11%, 45.84%, 39.33%, 56.10% and 22.89%, 22.50%, 13.19%, 39.42% than sensor based ET_c under silver black plastic mulch, biodegradable plastic mulch, wheat straw mulch and control respectively at initial stage of Bt. cotton which was followed by development stage, mid stage and end stage of Bt. cotton. Sensor based approach estimated lower cumulative ET_c at all growth stage than Penmen Monteith method and Pan ET_c approach.

G.V. Prajapati^*

Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh, Gujrat, INDIA

R. Subbaiah

College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, AAU, Godhra, Gujrat, INDIA

A.N. Kunapra

College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, AAU, Godhra, Gujrat, INDIA

N.S. Vithlani

Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh, Gujrat, INDIA

A.M. Paghdal

Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh, Gujrat, INDIA

H.Y. Maheta

Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh, Gujrat, INDIA

H.H. Mashru

Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh, Gujrat, INDIA

H.R. Vadar

Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh, Gujrat, INDIA

R.J. Patel

Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh, Gujrat, INDIA

J.M. Modhvadia

Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh, Gujrat, INDIA

White grubs are the pests of economically important crops like sugarcane, groundnut, potato, arecanut, etc. and are distributed widely across the country. Studies have been taken up to document the predominant white grub species in major cropped area and their distribution in different regions of the country. The five years study revealed high species diversity of white grubs with varied distribution. This paper presents major 30 predominant species documented in various crops across different states.

Kolla Sreedevi^*

Division of Germplasm Collection and Characterization, ICAR-National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources, H.A. Farm Post, Hebbal, Bellary Road, Bengaluru - 560 024, Karnataka, INDIA

Chittoor district which occupies first position in Mulberry sericulture in Andhra Pradesh is in the Rayalaseema region where the temperature goes up to 47^oC in summer months. Inspite of water scarcity and low rainfall in the recent past, mulberry cocoon production sustained due to quality silkworm seed. NSSO has 20 SSPCs managed by well qualified scientists to create a new record in the seed production year after year. Bivoltine Double Hybrid Silkworm Seed have contributed for the sustenance and higher returns to the sericulturists. Grainage performance with the recovery of Dfls above NSSO norms as per the quality standards of ISO-9001:2015 has enhanced the returns from sericulture. The Bivoltine seed production by NSSO is appreciable as reflected in the Compounded Annual Growth rate (CAGR) of 17.21% for the past 5 years. The Bivoltine Dfls production by NSSO was 195.45 lakhs during 2013-14, 251.57 lakhs during 2014-15, 309.70 lakhs during 2015-16, 342.77 lakhs during 2016-17 and 314.32 lakhs during 2017-18 which clearly shows the continual improvement in production. The Egg recovery per 1 kg of Seed cocoon was well above the norms set for NSSO (65gms) in the grainages for the period from 2013-14 to 2017-18 which clearly defines the efficient utilization and management of Seed cocoons which has made the Bivoltine production economically sustainable. Present study was conducted in Chittoor cluster in Andhra Pradesh in 10 mandals i.e. Chittoor, Penumuru, Bangarupalem, Thavanampalle, Irala, Gudipala, Puthalapattu, G.D. Nellore, Pakala and Palasamudram. The paper deals with 5 years comparative data in Bivoltine Double Hybrid NSSO source Dfls brushing, Dfls harvesting, Average yield and Silk productivity since 2013-14 to 2017-18 in Chittoor cluster which shows continual improvement. The study reveals that the Dfls brushing was 82175 during 2013-14 which was increased to 110000 during 2014-15, 160400 during 2015-16, 249000 during 2016-17 and 443000 during 2017-18. Seed Cocoons harvested was 54.727 MT with an Average yield of 67.400 in 2013-14, 76.802 MT with an average yield of 69.820 in 2014-15, 102.988 MT with an average yield of 71.150 in 2015-16, 184.190 MT with an Average yield of 73.970 in 2016-17 and 313.400 MT with an Average yield of 75.900 in 2017-18. The study shows that quality Bivoltine Double hybrid NSSO source Dfls has enhanced the productivity and popularized the Bivoltine production in Chittoor district.

Deepa P.^*

Silkworm Seed Production Centre, National Silkworm Seed Organization, Central Silk Board, Madanapalle - 517325, Andhra Pradesh, INDIA

V. Harlapur

National Silkworm Seed Organization, Central Silk Board, Madiwala, Bangalore - 560068, Karnataka, INDIA

R.K. Mishra

National Silkworm Seed Organization, Central Silk Board, Madiwala, Bangalore - 560068, Karnataka, INDIA

The field experiment was conducted to refine the fertiliser prescription equation for hybrid maize on an Inceptisol (Periyenackampalayam soil series- Vertic ustropept), conducted at farmer’s holding of Allapalayam village, Annur block, Coimbatore District of Tamil Nadu in Western Zone of Tamil Nadu during Rabi 2015-16. Inceptisol. The soil of experimental field was sandy clay loam with alkaline pH and non-saline in nature. The soil was low in organic carbon and available N, medium in available P and high in available K. The available Zn, Cu, Fe, and Mn were in sufficient status. Basic parameters were calculated from the data generated from the field experiment. Using the basic parameters, crop nutrient requirement per quintal of grain production, contribution of soil available nutrients, contribution of fertilizer nutrients and contribution of farm yard manure were worked out. It was found that hybrid maize requires 1.76, 0.58 and 1.62 kg of N, P₂O₅ and K₂O per quintal of grain produced. Using the basic parameters, fertiliser prescription equations were developed based on integrated plant nutrition system (IPNS). It was estimated that, application of FYM @ 12.5 t ha^-1 with 28% moisture, 0.53%, 0.26% and 0.50% of N, P and K, respectively along with NPK fertilizers, the extent of saving inorganic fertiliser for hybrid maize was 40, 20 and 30 kg of fertiliser N, P₂O₅ and K₂O, respectively. So, that integrated use of organic manure and chemical fertilizers is beneficial in improving crop yield and uptake by maize hybrid. Thus to maintain consistent soil fertility with high rate of productivity soil test based fertiliser recommendation along with integrated nutrient management will benefit the farmer in saving of fertilizer and sustaining soil health.

Sivaranjani C.^*

Directorate of Natural Resource Management, Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore (640003), INDIA

K.M. Sellamuthu

Horticultural College and Research institute, Periyakulam, Tamil Nadu (625604), INDIA

R. Santhi

Directorate of Natural Resource Management, Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore (640003), INDIA

S. Maragatham

Directorate of Natural Resource Management, Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore (640003), INDIA

Field experiment was conducted at Central Sericultural Research and Training Institute, Berhampore- 742 101 during 2016 to study the effect of fertilizer dose and split application of fertilizer on growth, yield and nutrient use efficiency of mulberry leaves. The treatments comprised of four levels of fertilizer (75, 100, 125 & 150% RDF), two types of split application (2 splits: 15^th & 45^th day after pruning and 3 splits: 15^th, 30^th & 45^th day after pruning). A control plot of 100% RDF with one time application of fertilizer on 15^th day after pruning was also maintained. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with three replications. Recommended dose of fertilizer was used at 67.2:36: 22.4 kg NPK ha^-1 crop^-1. The required nutrient as per treatments were applied through Urea, DAP and MOP. The experimentation was done under existing S-1635 mulberry garden with 2'×2' spacing. The results revealed that mulberry showed positive response to fertilizer levels and split application of fertilizer. Growth and yield attributes were significantly higher under 125% RDF with 2 split application and this was on par with 150% RDF with in both 2 split and 3 split applications. Significantly higher leaf yield of 506.40 g/plant (14.07 t ha^-1 crop^-1) was registered under fertilizer dose at 125% RDF with 2 splits. Total soluble protein (mg/g of fresh green weight) was 31.82% higher in 125% RDF with 2 splits than control. Nutrient use efficiency (NUE) was markedly decreased with higher fertilizer dose (i.e. 150% RDF) than lower fertilizer dose (75% RDF). The results indicated that 11.10% higher NUE was registered under 125% RDF with 2 splits compared to control. From the above study, it could be concluded that application of 84:45:25 kg NPK ha^-1crop^-1 in 2 split was found to be a suitable technology for achieving higher mulberry leaf yield with enhanced fertilizer use efficiency. However, split application of fertilizer could reduce total nitrate emissions from mulberry field due to better nutrient use efficiency and this could one of the climate change mitigation option.

Mahesh R.^*

Central Sericultural Research and Training Institute, Central Silk Board, Berhampore, West Bengal-742 101, INDIA

Hirom Premjit Meitei

Central Sericultural Research and Training Institute, Central Silk Board, Berhampore, West Bengal-742 101, INDIA

Debashish Chakravarty

Central Sericultural Research and Training Institute, Central Silk Board, Berhampore, West Bengal-742 101, INDIA

V. Sivaprasad

Central Sericultural Research and Training Institute, Central Silk Board, Berhampore, West Bengal-742 101, INDIA

Tobacco caterpillar, Spodoptera litura F. is the key pest of tobacco nurseries and it is one of the major problems in successful production of healthy tobacco seedlings required to realise optimum yield and quality tobacco leaf. Insecticides chlorfenapyr 10 SC @ 0.01%, metaflumizone 22 SC @ 0.04%, spinosad 48 SC 0.01% and IGRs novoluron 10 EC @ 0.01% & lufenuron 5 EC @ 0.006% were evaluated against S. litura in tobacco seed beds in a replicated experiment in comparison with emamectin benzoate 5 SG @ 0.0025% and untreated control for two seasons. Emamectin benzoate 0.0025% recorded least seedling damage followed by chlorfenapyr 10 SC @ 0.01%. The seedling damage in the treatments of emamectin benzoate and chlorfenapyr was on á par with each other. The studies on persistent residual toxicity of the insecticides showed cent per cent mortality up to 8 days in emamectin benzoate @ 0.0025% and 6 DAS in chlorfenapyr @ 0.01%. The period of persistency was 20 days in emamectin benzoate and 16 days in chlorfenapyr treatment. The mean persistent toxicity and persistent toxicity index were 62.84 & 1256.80 for emamectin benzoate 5 SG @ 0.0025% and 71.95 & 1151.20 for chlorfenapyr 10 SC @ 0.01%. Chlorfenapyr 10 SC @ 0.01% can be used for management of S. litura in tobacco seed beds along with emamectin benzoate 5 SG @ 0.0025%.

U. Sreedhar^*

ICAR-Central Tobacco Research Institute, Rajahmundry - 533 105, Andhra Pradesh, INDIA

To cater the demand for rapidly growing population, Indian agriculture was mainly based on synthetic based modern agriculture. In-spite of drastic positive change, this chemical-based agriculture was highly criticized from environmental point of view. Organic farming, low external input and sustainable agriculture (LEISA), Bio-Based Farming System (BBFS), bio-dynamic farming etc. are some of the practices having same objectives being practiced in developed and developing countries, recognized as the best alternatives to conventional chemical farming. The growing demand for non-chemical agriculture are in top priority for maintaining soil fertility as well as soil health for sustainable agricultural production. Farmers practicing organic farming are facing constraints during conversion from chemical base to non-chemical agriculture: like non-availability of readymade input output markets, absence of skill, awareness, price premium etc. The idea of this present study has been conceived with the objectives of building authentic database regarding demographic profile of the farmers, practicing bio-based farming system and constraints they are facing while practicing this in South West Bengal. Randomly selected two districts of south West Bengal, from which, two blocks also have been randomly selected. Two villages have been purposively selected and then 50 farmers from each village (total 100 farmers) have been selected from those two blocks. Results showed seventeen constrains and while ranking those constraints - ‘Lacking of Price advantage’ and ‘Lower profitability’ have scored the maximum reflecting the maximum constraints as faced by the BBFS practicing farmers. More study is needed for generalization of these constraints of bio-based farming.

Debabrata Giri^*

Agricultural Economics Dept., Palli Siksha Bhavana, Visva-Bharati and Agricultural Training Centre / State Agricultural Management & Extension Training Institute, Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Narendrapur, Kolkata - 700103, West Bengal, INDIA

Bidhan Chandra Roy

Agricultural Economics Dept., Palli Siksha Bhavana, Visva-Bharati and Agricultural Training Centre / State Agricultural Management & Extension Training Institute, Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Narendrapur, Kolkata - 700103, West Bengal, INDIA

Debashis Sarkar

Agricultural Economics Dept., Palli Siksha Bhavana, Visva-Bharati and Agricultural Training Centre / State Agricultural Management & Extension Training Institute, Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Narendrapur, Kolkata - 700103, West Bengal, INDIA

Sourendranath Das

Agricultural Training Centre / State Agricultural Management & Extension Training Institute, Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Narendrapur, Kolkata - 700103, West Bengal, INDIA

Cluster Promotion Programme (CPP) was implemented during 2008-2019 under XI & XII five year plans to generate gradable Bivoltine raw silk and project India as a potential Bivoltine silk producer in the international scenario. Kalyandurg has become one of the clusters selected for implementing the CPP out of 17 clusters selected to implement CPP in Andhra Pradesh. CPP was implemented in Kalyandurg during 2010-19 and distributed 28.51 lakh of DFLs against the target of 24.75 lakh with a significant achievement of 121.44%. During the CPP implemented period, 26.80 lakh DFLs were harvested, produced 1397.7MT of cocoons and contributed in generation of 275.85MT graded Bivoltine raw silk. Bivoltine DFLs brushing was raised progressively from the bench mark level (25000) to 59600 (2010-11), 63300 (2011-12), 69925 (2012-13), 133025 (2013-14), 246945 (2014-15), 327895 (2015-16), 540625 (2016-17), 653100 (2017-18) and 756400 (2018-19) DFLs with a percentage of achievement as against the given annual target was recorded as 119%, 106%, 108%, 133%, 165%, 109%, 150%, 102% and 101% respectively. Cocoon yield kg/100 DFLs was also recorded significant level of increase ranging from 61 kgs (2010-11) to 76 kgs (2018-19) per 100 DFLs whereas, bench mark yield was 45 kg/100 DFLs. Bivoltine cocoons generated by the Kalyandurg cluster farmers fetched higher market prices which ranged from Rs. 288/kg to Rs. 482.0/kg with average rate of RS. 347/kg while benchmark rate was Rs. 223. For the horizontal development of sericulture around 1857 acres of new mulberry plantation was undertaken among 1453 farmers followed by the organization of 157 extension & communication programmes (ECPs) and 41 Farmers Skill Trainings (FSTs) and sensitised 6,632 sericultural farming communities on various improved technologies for further accelerating the Bivoltine sericulture development under the cluster. The improvement in all aspects indicates the success of CPP in Kalyandurg during 2010-19 is nothing but intensive adoption of integrated technologies in cluster approach.

K.P. Kiran Kumar^*

Regional Sericultural Research Station, Central Silk Board (CSB), Ananthapur-515 001, Andhra Pradesh, INDIA

B. Vijaya Naidu

Regional Sericultural Research Station, Central Silk Board (CSB), Ananthapur-515 001, Andhra Pradesh, INDIA

P. Sudhakar

Regional Sericultural Research Station, Central Silk Board (CSB), Ananthapur-515 001, Andhra Pradesh, INDIA

I. Vijaya Kumar

Department of Sericulture, Kalyandurg, Ananthapur District, Govt. of Andhra Pradesh, INDIA

R.S. Teotia

Central Sericultural Research and Training Institute (CSRTI), CSB, Mysore-570 008, Karnataka, INDIA

Domestic waste water or grey water is commonly available source among waste water in every household. The influence of this water on mulberry leaf quality was experimented at College of Sericulture, Chintamani by using hostel waste water with primary sedimentation and the supernatant water collected was pumped into another storage tank and utilised for irrigation of mulberry garden. The experiment was set up in RCBD with 7 different treatments varying (recommended dose of Fertilizer) RDF under three replications and compared with borewell water irrigation and 100% RDF. The experiment showed clear significant differences among the treatments on the elemental composition of leaf. It has shown that good amount of nutrients accumulated in the leaf that was grown under Domestic Waste Water (DWW) along with 75% RDF applied to the soil compared to other treatments and also the control. All the three primary nutrients (N, P, K), secondary nutrients (Ca, Mg, S) and four micronutrients (Zn, Cu, Fe and Mn) showed similar trend. The study has thrown light that in low fertile soil (Zone 5-eastern dry) the above recommendation holds well. This reduces the excess accumulation of nutrients in the soil and thus toxicity can be avoided. The bioassay study was also done using the same mulberry leaf to confirm its utility for rearing. Here Effective rate of rearing and Defective cocoon percent showed the difference among the treatments. Complete 100% RDF along with DWW has shown some negative effect on these parameters. Hence looking into the leaf quality and rearing parameters 75% RDF with DWW proved to be recommendable and 50% RDF with domestic waste water for medium fertile soil.

Bharathi V.P.^*

College of Sericulture, Chintamani, UAS(B), Karnataka, INDIA

Naveen D.V.

College of Sericulture, Chintamani, UAS(B), Karnataka, INDIA

C S. Kallimani

College of Sericulture, Chintamani, UAS(B), Karnataka, INDIA

Pallavi

College of Sericulture, Chintamani, UAS(B), Karnataka, INDIA

Ramakrishna Naika

College of Sericulture, Chintamani, UAS(B), Karnataka, INDIA

Cluster Promotion Programme (CPP) was implemented during 2008-2019 under XI & XII five year plans to generate gradable Bivoltine raw silk and project India as a potential Bivoltine silk producer in the international scenario. Kalyandurg has become one of the clusters selected for implementing the CPP out of 17 clusters choose to implement CPP in Andhra Pradesh. CPP was implemented in Kalyandurg during 2010-19 and distributed 28.51 lakh of DFLs against the target of 24.75 lakh with a significant achievement of 121.44%. During the CPP implemented period, 26.80 lakh DFLs were harvested, produced 1397.7 MT of cocoons and contributed in generation of 275.85 MT graded Bivoltine raw silk. Cocoon yield/ 100 DFLs was enhanced from 45 kg (benchmark level) to 68.11 kg and fletched Rs. 395 average market price per kg cocoons. Further, as a part of cluster promotion programme, several scheduled caste and scheduled tribe farmers were approached and encouraged to take up Bivoltine sericulture to uplift their socio economic conditions. Chovitivanka Thanda (C. V. Thanda) of Kambaduru mandal under Kalyandurg Cluster, Anantapur District, Andhra Pradesh, where only 50 Sugali (ST) families live in and they were approached and made efforts to take up sericulture. Smt. Alivalamma, G. Rama Naik and Ch. Rama Naik are Scheduled Tribe farmers and suffered with losses due to the cultivation of various agricultural, vegetable and horticultural crops. They were struggling for their survival and they were planning to go to urban areas to pull the days as daily waged labourers. Under this situation, CPP was implemented by giving subsidies in all aspects of sericulture in the year 2017. They established gardens, rearing houses, infrastructure facilities and harvested yield of more than 80 Kgs/100 DFLs and earned more than Rs. 1 lakh in the first crop itself in all cases and their life has been transformed, uplifted their socio-economic conditions and brought glitters in their lives. They became role models for the other farmers, 15 new farmers have come forward and established sericulture from the same village and they are also in the same path of profitable sericulture. The village so called C.V. Thanda have become Seri Thanda with the development of Bivoltine sericulture under CPP.

K.P. Kiran Kumar^*

Regional Sericultural Research Station, Central Silk Board (CSB), Ananthapur-515 001, Andhra Pradesh, INDIA

P. Sudhakar

Regional Sericultural Research Station, Central Silk Board (CSB), Ananthapur-515 001, Andhra Pradesh, INDIA

B. Vijaya Naidu

Regional Sericultural Research Station, Central Silk Board (CSB), Ananthapur-515 001, Andhra Pradesh, INDIA

R.S. Teotia

Central Sericultural Research and Training Institute (CSRTI), CSB, Mysore-570 008, Karnataka, INDIA

Manipur being a sericulture state, produces all the four traded silkworms viz. Eri, Mulberry, Muga and Tasar with a total production of 615.45 MT. Silkworm pupa which contributes 70% of cocoon biomass is a seri-waste. However, seri-waste, both spent and unspent pupae are complete nutritional package rich in protein (~41%), micro nutrients such as Iron (111 mg/ 100 gm), Magnesium (622 mg/ 100 gm), Calcium (~30.51 mg/ 100 gm) and also posses antioxidant property (IC 50%, 68μg/ml, eri pupae). The state have immense scope for aquaculture development but availability of fish feed is a limiting factor. Feed cost covers 60-80% of the total production of which protein cost accounts 15%. Therefore, efficacy of three different feed formulations (T1, T2 & T3) incorporated with defatted silkworm pupae waste (DSPW) at 25%, 50% and 75% respectively replacing Mustard oil cake (MOC) were evaluated including conventional feed as control on carp fingerlings (Labeo rohita). T3 showed significant effective growth rate indicating more than double the size (36.60 ± 0.56 gm) then the initial day (16.66 ± 0.56 gm) at the end of 90 days. Relative Growth Rate (RGR) of different formulated feeds indicated approximate increase of 45-50% with respect to the proportion of DSPW incorporation. Hence, fish feed of DSPW as protein supplement revealed double the relative growth rate compare to control feed. Low cost fish feed formulation with locally available materials are more cheaper than the conventional protein feed sources such as groundnut cake, fish meal and soybean meal, which do not permit profit maximization in aquaculture ventures. Hence, silk industry waste can be an alternative low-cost protein supplement for effective fish feed formulation in the state.

Tourangbam Shantibala^*

College of Horticulture and Forestry, Pasighat, Central Agricultural University, Imphal, INDIA

Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development, Imphal, Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, Takyelpat, Manipur, INDIA

Gusheinzed Waikhom

Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development, Imphal, Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, Takyelpat, Manipur, INDIA

Gusheinzed Waikhom

Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development, Imphal, Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, Takyelpat, Manipur, INDIA

K. Mamocha Singh

College of Agriculture, Iroisemba, Central Agricultural University, Imphal, INDIA

B.N. Hazarika

College of Horticulture and Forestry, Pasighat, Central Agricultural University, Imphal, INDIA

Ecofriendly dyeing efficacy of cotton fabric with the pigments of mulberry fruits and its antibacterial functionality were investigated. The pure extract, ethanol and aqueous extracts were tested for their dye ability. The colour values referred in terms of L, a and b indicated purple to red colour of the pigment. The crude extract of fruits shown inhibitory zone against Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli in well diffusion assay. The cotton fabric dyed with fruit extract had fastness to light, UV and also thermal stability. The results of this research indicated a potential commercial application of the mulberry fruit in textile technology.

Menaka S.

Department of Agricultural Entomology, Adhiparasakthi Agricultural College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, INDIA

Vijila K.^*

Department Agricultural Microbiology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, INDIA

An investigation was undertaken at Horticultural Research Station, Mahanandi, Kurnool Dist. Andhra Pradesh during 2008-2009 to study the performance of five tomato varieties under polyhouse condition. The study consisted of five tomato varieties laid out in Randomized Block Design with four replications. All the five varieties of tomato were planted under naturally ventilated polyhouse. Results revealed that significantly longer plant (116.50 cm), stem diameter (6.60 cm), number of primary (4.51), secondary (13.51), tertiary (11.25) branches, spread of the plant along the row (101.50 cm) and across the row (92.24 cm) were recorded maximum in cultivar skakthiman (V₂). Early days to flowering (35.83), minimum duration to 50 per cent flowering (58.67 days) and higher flower count per plant (63.75), maximum weight of the fruit (74.85 g), longer length of the fruit (13.10 cm), diameter of the fruit (18.21 cm) and fruit yield (47.59 t/ha) were recorded in cultivar shakthiman (V₂).

Raja Naik, M.^*

College of Horticulture (Dr.YSRHU), Anantharajupeta - 516 105, Y.S.R Dist., Andhra Pradesh, INDIA

D. Sreedhar

Horticulture Research Station (Dr.YSRHU), Anantharajupeta - 516 105, Y.S.R Dist., Andhra Pradesh, INDIA

M. Tagore Naik

Horticulture Research Station (Dr.YSRHU), Mahanandi, Kurnool Dist. Andhra Pradesh, INDIA

Cashew is an evergreen tree grown mainly in the tropical regions. Origin of cashew is believed to be the North East region of Brazil. Cashew has spread to different parts of the world by the activities of Portuguese colonials, Spanish sailors and the birds like bats. Currently, cashew has attained the status of an important tree nut crop in the world. Historically, India, Brazil and African countries dominated cashew production and trade. After 2006, Vietnam became the world leader in cashew with a significant increase in cashew production and earnings from export. In the cashew cultivation area, Côte d’Ivoire stands first with 26% and India stands second with 17% area of global cashew. Vietnam earns foreign exchange worth the US$ 2 billion which is nearly three times that of India’s earnings of US$ 0.7 billion. Global per capita consumption of cashew kernels has risen by about 47%. Cashew production in India can be increased with a multipronged approach involving area expansion, increasing crop productivity and processing efficiency. To address these issues associated with lower production various research and extension effort apart from government initiatives on area expansion have been taken up in India.

Siddanna Savadi^*

ICAR-Directorate of Cashew Research, Puttur- 574 202, Dakshina Kannada, Karnataka, INDIA

B.M. Muralidhara

ICAR-Directorate of Cashew Research, Puttur- 574 202, Dakshina Kannada, Karnataka, INDIA

M.G. Nayak

ICAR-Directorate of Cashew Research, Puttur- 574 202, Dakshina Kannada, Karnataka, INDIA

The present study analyses the River Basin Delineation and Hydrological Response Units (HRUs) Analysis using Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) Model. Delineation of Rajasthan, India considering delineation of the River Basin plays a significant role in watercourse planning. The study focused to demonstrate the applicability of SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) - a model of residential scale to forecast the effect over a period of land, soil and water changes. Since hydrological models are essential tools for understanding the hydrological activity of river basins, hence are used for the management of the river basin. These models are capable of simulating the effect of various systems for soil and water conservation. Under this study the delineations of river basin was carried out by ArcGIS 10.2.1. Post delineation the land use map, the soil class map and the slope class map were superimposed to complete the river basin HRUs analysis on the delineated river basin map. The output of the study may help in water resource planning in the basin and to undertake appropriate preventive actions in areas that are vulnerable to erosion.

Jalgaonkar B.R.^*

Department of Soil and Water Engineering, CTAE (MPUAT), Udaipur, Rajasthan, INDIA

Mahesh Kothari

Department of Soil and Water Engineering, CTAE (MPUAT), Udaipur, Rajasthan, INDIA

H.K. Mittal

Department of Soil and Water Engineering, CTAE (MPUAT), Udaipur, Rajasthan, INDIA

P.K. Singh

Department of Soil and Water Engineering, CTAE (MPUAT), Udaipur, Rajasthan, INDIA

Site quality (SQ) is maximum timber a site can produce in a given year. Site quality evaluation is important tool for plantation management. Site factors decide the productivity of that site which varies with species. Though there are many direct and indirect methods for site quality evaluation, having their own advantages and limitations. Site index is most commonly and widely used in even aged forest. Intercept method has been used to determine site quality of young stands. For mixed and uneven-aged forests where determination of the age is quite subjective due to false annual growth site form method is used. RSI is new method of site quality evaluation based on self-thinning law. Site quality classification based on vegetational approach is found suitable in low latitudes. As productivity mainly derived by climate and soil environmental approach is also used. All the methods examined are reasonably accurate if applied to restricted areas. A carefully derived SI is the most accurate indirect method of SQ measurement. In this paper we will discuss various method for site quality measurement.

Chichaghare A.R.^*

Department of Silviculture and Agroforestry, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur-680656, INDIA

Sreejith M.

Department of Silviculture and Agroforestry, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur-680656, INDIA

Vijayalakshmi K.P.

Department of Silviculture and Agroforestry, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur-680656, INDIA

Food security is one of the most critical issue for humanity as well as agricultural production. The threats analysed were environmental degradation, climate change and diseases and pests of animals and plants. Transboundary diseases contribute substantially in pest and disease-induced global food loss which is approximately 1/3^rd of annual food production. Some of Important transboundary diseases & pests are Brown Streak virus, banana bunchy top disease, greening disease of citrus, Powdery rust of coffee, Soybean downy mildew, Blue mold of tobacco, rust of maize, locusts, armyworm, fruit flies, cassava diseases and wheat rusts are among the most destructive transboundary plant pests and diseases. So as a protective measure, a country must have suitable contingency plans to respond quickly to high threat diseases. This could only be achieved by timely application of scientific technology for rapid response.

Jayashree Bhattacharjee^*

Dept. of Agriculture, Govt. of Tripura, Tripura, India

Debashre Bhattacharjee

Dept. of Agriculture, Govt. of Tripura, Tripura, India

Ipsita Samal

Division of Entomology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi (110 012), India

Decision making and farmers participation in adoption of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a crucial tool. Agro Ecosystem Analysis (AESA) is an approach, which can be employed by extension functionaries and farmers to analyze the field situations and monitor the population of pests, defenders, soil conditions, plant health and the influence of climatic factors to make informed decisions for growing a healthy crop. Thus IPM is acting as an interdisciplinary approach, that starts from monitoring to decision making for a successful outcome.

Ipsita Samal^*

Division of Entomology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi (110 012), India

Jayashree Bhattacharjee

Dept. of Agriculture, Govt. of Tripura, Tripura, India

Debashre Bhattacharjee

Dept. of Agriculture, Govt. of Tripura, Tripura, India

Development of the agriculture sector in India focused primarily on raising agricultural output and improving food security. On the contrary, farmers’ income also remained low in relation to income of those working in non-farm sector. During early 1980, farm income per cultivator was just 34% of income of a non-agricultural worker. The potentiality of high value crops (HVC) to double farmers’ income over the cultivation of staple crops can clearly be understood with a statistical comparison. A number of schemes have been promoted by Govt. of India during the last years. Science that optimizes on the inputs, helps to reduce costs, makes the production more competitive and mitigates any inflationary pressure should be undertaken.

Debmala Mukherjee

Dept. of Vegetable Science, Faculty of Horticulture, BCKV, Nadia, West Bengal (741 252), India

Tridip Bhattacharjee^*

College of Agriculture, Tripura, Lembucherra, Tripura (799 210), India

Subhrajyoti Chatterjee

Dept. of Vegetable Science, Faculty of Horticulture, BCKV, Nadia, West Bengal (741 252), India

P.K. Maurya

Dept. of Vegetable Science, Faculty of Horticulture, BCKV, Nadia, West Bengal (741 252), India

S. Banarjee

Dept. of Vegetable Science, Faculty of Horticulture, BCKV, Nadia, West Bengal (741 252), India

Thingreingam Irenaeus K.S.

College of Agriculture, Tripura, Lembucherra, Tripura (799 210), India

Arup Chattopadhyay

Dept. of Vegetable Science, Faculty of Horticulture, BCKV, Nadia, West Bengal (741 252), India

Crop pest includes insects, pathogens and weeds which are one of the most crucial factors that cause yield loss to a greater extent.The negative impact of climate change on agriculture must be discussed under the light of its effect on crop pests. Climate change indirectly affects the pest dynamics by altering their ecology. Population dynamics, life cycle, geographic range, physiology of the pests depends on temperature, rainfall, relative humidity, radiation, carbon-di-oxide concentration, soil moisture etc. The host-pest-environment relationship is influenced by the changes in weather, soil and crop factors which are subjected to alteration due to the climate change.

Argha Ghosh^*

Dept. of Agricultural Meteorology and Physics, Bidhan Chandra KrishiViswavidyalaya, Mohanpur, West Bengal (741 252), India

Of about 1350 species of orchids, belonging to 186 genera reported from India; Northeast India sustains the highest number with about 856 species. Amongst them, 34 species of orchids are identified among the threatened plants of India and as many as endemic to different states of this region. Out of the eight orchid habitat regions in India, the two most important areas namely; the Eastern Himalayas and the North Eastern Region fall within the political boundaries of North Eastern Region. Terrestrial orchids are located in humus rich moist earth under tree shades in North Western India. Western Ghats harbour the small flowered orchids. Native endangered and rare orchid species are used as genetic resources for unique germplasms, crop improvement program and herbal medicines.

L.C. De^*

ICAR-NRC for Orchids, Pakyong, Sikkim (737 106), India

The broccoli is a member of ‘Cole Crop group’ closely related to cabbage, cauliflower, kale and mustard. It is botanical classified as a variety of Brassica oleracea species, grown during cool-season for its green flowering head. The word broccoli comes from Italian word broccolo, which means ‘flowering crest of a cabbage”. Broccoli has large flower heads, usually green in color, arranged in a tree-like structure on branches sprouting from a thick, edible stalk. Broccoli is a high-quality vegetable for fresh use and is one of the most popular frozen vegetables. Itis highly nutritious crop containing high amount of vitamins (A and C) and minerals (K, P, Ca and Fe). Moreover, it also contains thiamine, riboflavin and niacin. Broccoli is the richest source of protein among cole crops. A high intake of broccoli has been found to reduce the risk of cancer (as it contains glucoraphanin compound) and also prevents heart disease. A number of these compounds are produced by plants in response to environmental stress or pathogen infection, providing a potential explanation of why concentrations of these compounds might be higher in plants grown in organic systems without application of pesticides.

Chandan Singh Ahirwar^*

School of Agriculture, ITM University, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh (474 001), India

Ravindra Nath

School of Agriculture, ITM University, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh (474 001), India

In this present investigation, F₄ progenies of three cross combinations of bitter gourd namely, P₁ × P₄ (MC105 × Pant karela-2), P₂ × P₄ (TCR471 × Pant karela-2), P₃ × P₆ (BBGS-09-1 × Arka Harit) and their respective parents P₁ (MC105), P₂ (TCR471), P₃ (BBGS-09-1), P₄ (Pant karela-2), and P₅ (Arka Harit) were used to analyze the biochemical properties such as total soluble solids, protein content, ascorbic acid content, iron content, momordicine content and total chlorophyll content. The experiment with three cross combination was laid out in a randomized block design. The experiment revealed that the TSS was maximum in progeny P₂ × P₄ (2.52 ºbrix) while it was minimum in P₁ × P₄ (2.38 ºbrix). The maximum protein content (1.78%) was recorded in P₂ × P₄ while it was minimum (1.70%) in P₁ × P₄. The maximum ascorbic acid content (103.50 mg-100 g^-1), iron content (2 mg kg^-1), momordicine content (1.98 mg-g^-1) and total chlorophyll content (0.43 mg-100 g^-1) was recorded in progeny P₁ × P₄.

Sathish M.^*

Horticultural College and Research Institute, TNAU, Periyakulam, Theni, Tamil Nadu (625 604), India

Lakshmanan V.

Horticultural College and Research Institute, TNAU, Periyakulam, Theni, Tamil Nadu (625 604), India

Juliet Hepziba S.

Horticultural College and Research Institute, TNAU, Periyakulam, Theni, Tamil Nadu (625 604), India

Balakumbahan R.

Horticultural College and Research Institute, TNAU, Periyakulam, Theni, Tamil Nadu (625 604), India

Y.M. Mahadev Prasad

Horticultural College and Research Institute, TNAU, Periyakulam, Theni, Tamil Nadu (625 604), India

Rose is one of the important commercial flower crop grown throughout the tropics and warm temperate regions of the world and often referred as the “queen of flower crops”. Thrips are the most destructive insect pest on rose causes 90% yield loss. Aphids are also considered as a major pest on rose but occur sporadically. Scale insects attack the stems of roses growing in damp, shady places. Spider mites cause damage by puncturing rose leaves with their slender, pointed mouthparts, sucking the chlorophyll containing fluids from leaf cells. They are the important pests of field grown roses.

T. Sathyan

Dept. of Agricultural Entomology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu (641 003), India

K. Elanchezhyan^*

Dept. of Agricultural Entomolgy, Agricultural College and Research Institute, TNAU, Killikulam, Vallanadu, Tamil Nadu (628 252), India

K.R. Manikandan

Dept. of Agricultural Entomology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu (641 003), India

One of the most important process occurring in the ecosystem is nutrient recycling, which describes the use, movement and recycling of nutrients in the environment involving both living and non-living components using biological, chemical and geological process. For economic and environmental reasons, it is essential that nutrient cycling is used more efficiently in the farm. To achieve this goal, reduction in long-distance nutrient flows, as well as promoting true on-farm recycling is required in which nutrients return in the form of crop residue or manure to the fields from which they came. There are a number of strategies to help farmers reach the goal of better nutrient cycling. However, there are potentially large flows of nutrients onto and off of farms. The inflow occurs as commercial and organic fertilizers and amendments as well as animal feeds are imported onto the farm and in manures and composts brought from off the farm. Exports are mainly in the form of crops and animal products. In general, larger amounts of nutrients are exported off the farm in vegetation (grains, forages, vegetables, etc.) than in animal products. Nutrient flows are of great concern because as nutrient levels decline, the soil rapidly degrades. Nutrient recycling can be done by effective utilization of straw, weed and other biomass, crop residues. Even fallow period can help nutrient recycling as well as maintenance of soil fertility. Crops producing more biomass if utilized well are more beneficial for effective nutrient recycling.

Debasish Borah^*

Krishi Vigyan Kendra Udalguri, Assam Agricultural University, Lalpool, BTAD, Udalguri, Assam (784 514), India

Sarat Sekhar Bora

Krishi Vigyan Kendra Udalguri, Assam Agricultural University, Lalpool, BTAD, Udalguri, Assam (784 514), India

Codex Alimentarius is a collection of international standards of foods, codes of practice, methodologies and other recommendations that are related to foods, food production and safety. It was developed and maintains by Codex Alimentarius Commission and was set up by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United States joined by the World Health Organization in June 1962. All kind of foods which are intended for human consumption are covered by Codex Alimentarius. The main aim of the commission is to maintain international standards of quality and consumer economic interest and to maintain fair trade practices in a fair ways. With this goal, different sectors have been worked under the control of Codex Alimentarius Commission. In near future, it is expected that various developing countries will involves and will upgrade the traditional committee structure into a newly designed codex committees. This upcoming newly designed committee will bring more and more achievement in the twenty-first century.

Shantanu Das^*

ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, Pusa Campus, New Delhi (110 012), India

Soumitra Sankar Das

Dept. of Agricultural Statistics & Computer Application, RAC, BAU, Kanke, Jharkhand (834 006), India

Samik Chowdhury

ICAR-Research Complex for NEH Region, Mizoram Centre, Kolasib, Mizoram (796 081), India

The present research was aimed to estimate the spatial variability of soil organic carbon and their sequestration potential in the part of Bishwanaath, Chariali district of Assam. The sample was collected from marked sample points representing variability of soil type and crops grown. The collected samples were analysed for Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) and further SOC sequestration potential was derived based on this analysed SOC and CSP interpolation method deriving data in unsampled point. Geostatistical method viz., ordinary Kriging was employed for the detailed spatial distribution of SOC, CSP and interpolation map of SOC and CSP were generated. From the generated map it was revealed that SOC was lowest at the western part of study sites whereas the CSP is lowest at two spot where intensive cultivation of rice were practised since long time resulting comparatively less SOC build-up in the soil system. The remaining part of domain district were of medium to higher CSP potential. This difference in spatial variability in SOC and CSP might be due to the variation in soil physical properties specially bulk density of the respective soil sites. The Nugget to Sill ratio was quite high in CSP that indicating the management factor plays a very important role in soil carbon sequestration potential.

Jitendra Kumar

ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil Science (IISS), Nabi Bagh, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh (462 038), India

Nirmal De^*

Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh (221 005), India

Pallab Kumar Sarma

Bishwanath College of Agriculture, Assam Agriculture University, Chariali, Sonitpur, Assam (784 176), India

Cleistogamy is a mode of reproduction which promotes self-pollination as the flower remains closed even after anthesis. This system avoids contamination of foreign pollen to outcross the clesitogamous flower. In nature, under suboptimal environmental condition, few plant species produce cleistogamous flower which requires fewer resources to reproduction. Three different types of cleistogamy occur in plants namely dimorphic cleistogamy, induced cleistogamy, and complete cleistogamy. This kind of sexual reproduction maintains the locally adopted gene complex and homogeneity of the genes in the population. This system of reproduction helps in achieving the genetic purity of any species. This system can be transferred to other species to exploit the cleistogamous nature of reproduction.

A. Manivannan^*

ICAR-Central Institute for Cotton Research, Regional Station, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu (641 003), India

Butterflies are one of the most amazing and magnificent elements of bio-diversity. They are most beautiful and attractive than most other insects and have fascinated human imagination and creativity. There are about 18,000 species of butterflies in the world. They serve as important plant pollinators in the local environment, and help pollinate hundreds of economically important plant crops. They are indicators of a healthy environment and healthy ecosystems. Conserving butterflies will improve our whole environment for wildlife and enrich the lives of people now and in the future.

K. Elanchezhyan^*

Dept. of Agricultural Entomolgy, Agricultural College and Research Institute, TNAU, Killikulam, Vallanadu, Tamil Nadu (628 252), India

T. Sathyan

Dept. of Agricultural Entomology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu (641 003), India

K.R. Manikandan

Dept. of Agricultural Entomology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu (641 003), India

A field experiment was carried out at the farm of Horticulture section, College of Agriculture, Nagpur during the years 2016-17 and 2017-18 in Factorial randomized block design to find out the most suitable dose of nitrogen and phosphorus for increasing seed yield and obtaining better quality seed of China aster with nine treatment combinations and three replications. The treatments comprised of three levels of nitrogen viz., 150, 187.5 and 225 kg ha^-1 and three levels of phosphorus viz., 50, 62.5 and 75 kg ha^-1. The results revealed that, significantly maximum flowers plant^-1, seeds flower^-1, germination % of seed, seed yield plant^-1 and ha^-1 and test weight of seed were registered with the individual treatments of 225 kg nitrogen and 75 kg phosphorus ha^-1. However, the treatment combination of 225 kg nitrogen + 62.5 kg phosphorus ha^-1 was found to be the best treatment as compared to others for obtaining maximum seed yield and good quality seed in China aster.

Neha Chopde^*

College of Agriculture, Gadchiroli, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola, Maharashtra (442 605), India

Ommala Kuchanwar

College of Agriculture, Nagpur, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola, Maharashtra (440 001), India

V.U. Raut

College of Agriculture, Nagpur, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola, Maharashtra (440 001), India

M.M. Wakode

College of Agriculture, Gadchiroli, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola, Maharashtra (442 605), India

V.P. Satar

College of Agriculture, Gadchiroli, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola, Maharashtra (442 605), India

Future contracts are legal agreements that are standardized to buy or sell a commodity or stock at a future date but on a predetermined speciied price in the present. It is basically a mechanism to protect the investors from future price risk or price luctuaion. It uses the techniques of hedging and speculaion to do the same. For determining the right set of prices the analysts use diferent techniques to study the trend and seasonal variaions based on certain characterisics that will help the investors in long run. The analysis thus done is of two types, viz., Fundamental Analysis and Technical Analysis. This aricle reviews the two types of analysis and the techniques used under them thereof.

Suvangi Rath^*

Dept. of Agricultural Economics, College of Agriculture, OUAT, Bhubaneswar, Odisha (751 003), India

Pinaki Samal

AVAS, M.V.U., Pipili, Puri, Odisha (752 104), India

Jeebanjyoti Behera

Dept. of Extension Education, College of Agriculture, OUAT, Bhubaneswar, Odisha (751 003), India

An experiment to study the effect of graded level of N and P on growth and yield of calendula was carried out at Horticulture Section, College of Agriculture, Nagpur, during October 2018 to march 2019 with sixteen treatment combinations in factorial randomized block design. The treatments comprised of four levels of nitrogen 50, 75, 100, 125 kg ha^-1 and phosphorus 0, 25, 50 and 75 kg ha^-1 applied as per the treatments. The results of present investigation revealed that, application of 100 kg ha^-1 nitrogen and 50 kg ha^-1 phosphorus produced significantly maximum stem diameter and plant spread with respect to growth parameter, minimum days for first flower bud initiation, days for opening of first flower from bud initiation, days for 50% flowering with respect to flowering parameters and number of flowers plant^-1, flower yield q ha^-1 and dry matter plant yield q ha^-1 with respect to yield parameters which were at par with the results obtained with the application of 125 kg ha^-1 nitrogen and 50 kg ha^-1 phosphorus. The interaction effects revealed that, they were significant in respect number of flowers plant^-1 and flower yield q ha^-1. For these parameters, the best treatment combination was 100 kg N kg ha^-1 + 50 P kg ha^-1. It was followed by 125 N kg ha^-1 + 50 P kg ha^-1.

Ommala D. Kuchanwar^*

Dept. of Soil Science & Agricultural Chemistry, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Nagpur, Maharashtra (440 001), India

Ruchika S. Nagmote

Dept. of Soil Science & Agricultural Chemistry, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Nagpur, Maharashtra (440 001), India

Neha K. Chopde

Dept. of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, Sonapur, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Gadchiroli, Maharashtra (442 605), India

Shanti Patil

Dept. of Botany, College of Agriculture, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Nagpur, Maharashtra (440 001), India

Padmaja H. Kausadikar

Dept. of Soil Science & Agricultural Chemistry, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Nagpur, Maharashtra (440 001), India

P.A. Panghate

Dept. of Soil Science & Agricultural Chemistry, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Nagpur, Maharashtra (440 001), India

The global pandemic of Covid-19 that originated in the Wuhan province of China has stretched its arms in the enire world afecing each and every sector of the economy. This has led to a fall in the world economy especially in developing countries like India. India with its apt governance has however tried its best to combat this crisis with a country wide lockdown to prevent the health implicaions. But agriculture being the backbone of the country and the GDP has been impacted in a negaive way with huge disrupions in the supply chain and cropping decisions for upcoming agricultural seasons. All these have a negaive implicaion on the farming community that is and will be undergoing heavy inancial and mental losses.

Prangya Paramita Sahoo^*

Dept. of Agricultural Economics, College of Agriculture, OUAT, Bhubaneswar, Odisha (751 003), India

Suvangi Rath

Dept. of Agricultural Economics, College of Agriculture, OUAT, Bhubaneswar, Odisha (751 003), India

The present study was undertaken to investigate “Dynamics of Organic Residue Decomposition and Mineralization of Nutrients in Soil” during the year 2018-19 at Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry Section, College of Agriculture, Nagpur. The experiment was laid out in completely randomized design (CRD) with nine treatments replicated thrice. The treatments were absolute control in T₁, cowdung mixture in T₂, paddy straw in T₃, wheat straw in T₄, sugarcane trash in T₅, gliricidia lopping in T₆, subabul leaves in T₇, soybean stalks in T₈, greengram stalks in T₉. Subabul leaves mixture (T₇) recorded maximum ammoniacal nitrogen and nitrate nitrogen throughout experimentation. Gliricidia lopping mixture ranked 1^st by recording maximum P mineralization for 30, 60 (7.33 mg kg^-1), 90 (7.55 mg kg^-1) and 120 (7.45 mg kg^-1) days of experimentation. Sulphur mineralization was also found highest in T₆ by application of gliricidia lopping mixture during experimentation. Hence, for fast decomposition and nutrient mineralization legume residue is more efficient than cereal or other organic residue.

Padmaja H. Kausadikar^*

SSAC Section, College of Agriculture, Nagpur, Maharashtra (440 010), India

Jagriti Patel

SSAC Section, College of Agriculture, Nagpur, Maharashtra (440 010), India

Ommala D. Kuchanwar

SSAC Section, College of Agriculture, Nagpur, Maharashtra (440 010), India

Shilpa Rananavare

SSAC Section, College of Agriculture, Nagpur, Maharashtra (440 010), India

Nishigandha Mairan

SSAC Section, College of Agriculture, Nagpur, Maharashtra (440 010), India

Field experiments conducted in sugarcane revealed that scheduling irrigation through drip daily at 80 percent of pan evaporation (PE) registered the highest cane yield (168.2 t ha^-1) in main of cv. CO 86032 which was followed by 60 and 40 percent drip irrigation (148.5 and 140.9 t ha^-1 respectively) and were significantly superior over surface method of irrigation at 0.75 IW/CPE ratio (126.2 t ha^-1). In the ratoon crop, drip irrigation treatments at 40, 60 and 80 percent level of pan evaporation produced comparable cane yields (124.4, 131.7 and 128.9 t ha^-1 respectively). Highest water use efficiency was observed in 40% PE treatment for both main crop and ratoon (150.3 and 146.8 kg ha mm^-1 respectively). Nitrogen levels did not show any marked difference on cane yield and application of 175 kg N ha^-1 as fertigation was found to be optimum and economical.

G. Thiyagarajan^*

Water Technology Centre, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu (641 003), India

M. Manikandan

Agricultural Engineering College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Kumulur, Tamil Nadu (621 712), India

Soil ferility is key concern to improve crop producivity in poor nutrient status soils. Addiion of chemical ferilizers, organic residues, FYM, bioferilizers and green manuring etc are the main component of integrated nutrient management to improve soil health and crop yield. Most of chemical ferilizers are applied on the basis of soil test values. These values are categorized in low, medium and high classes, which is having short fall during applicaion and afected crop yield potenial of soils. In this regards, categorizaion of ferility in nine classes will provide more accuracy of chemical ferilizer applicaion during crop growth instead of exising three. Improved classes may help for judicious applicaion of ferilizers, which is mostly imported from African countries, China and US etc. Sustainable crop producion with raional applicaion of chemical ferilizers is a need of today and tomorrow agriculture.

Rajendiran, S.^*

ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bengaluru, Karnataka (560 089), India

M.L. Dotaniya

ICAR-Directorate of Rapeseed-Mustard Research, Sewar, Bharatpur, Rajasthan (321 303), India

M. Vassanda Coumar

ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil Science, Nabibagh, Berasia Road, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh (462 038), India

An exploratory study was conducted to review the secondary extension activities conducted by fisheries discipline under Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), South Tripura. Primary objective of a Krishi Vigyan Kendra is to frontline extension through assessment or refinement of technology (On Farm Trials, OFTs), Frontline Demonstrations (FLDs) and conducting training programmes for farmers, rural youths, and extension personnel. Conducting other extension activities which include a wide range of extension events is another mandated activity of KVK. This paper attempted to review the performance conducted in terms of other extension activities than OFT, FLD and Training in fisheries by KVK South Tripura from 2007-08 to 2019-20. The Study identified three categories of extension activities viz., individual, group and mass communication-based events and made the trend analysis of a number of extension activities carried out under each category. It was observed that the number of most of the activities were gradually increased over the years from 2007-08 to 2019-20. Time series pattern didn’t show a similar trend for different types of extension activities over the last 13 years. Few activities were conducted in substantial numbers, whereas a number of activities for few extension events required to be explored for possibilities. There is a lot of scope and potential usefulness for conducting such events under other extension activities on fisheries at KVK, South Tripura.

Biswajit Debnath^*

Krishi Vigyan Kendra, South Tripura, Manpathar, BC Manu, Tripura (799 144), India

The antibacterial activities of the extract of Musa paradisiaca L. were evaluated against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, E. coli. Ethanolic extract (MPE) of Musa paradisiaca L. were obtained by standard methods. The antibacterial activity was assayed using agar well diffusion method. The MPE exhibited antibacterial effects with inhibiting zones ranging from 3.09 ± 0.01 mm to 8.53 ± 0.01 mm. The extract showed appreciable quantity of total phenol (Gallic acid equivalent) of 23.12 Mg GAE g^-1. The higher phenolic content of MPE may be responsible for its antibacterial activity. This study shows that useful bioactives component that can be used in food processing industries.

B. Deepa^*

Dept. of Biochemistry, D. G. Government Arts College for Women, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Tamil Nadu (609 001), India

Dept. of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar, Tamil Nadu (608 002), India

T. Sivakumar

Dept. of Botany, Thiru A. Govindasamy Govt. Arts College, Tindivanam, Tamil Nadu (604 307), India

Dept. of Botany, Annamalai Nagar, Tamil Nadu (608 002), India

Bees are essential for pollination of many fruit crops. Bees and other pollinators can be harmed by some pesticides used to manage insects, mites and diseases in cross pollinated crops. Growers can reduce pesticide risk to bees through these approaches: Develop and implement a pollination contract with your beekeeper. Use integrated pest management (IPM) to reduce the need for sprays. Avoid pesticide sprays during crop bloom. Apply pesticides after sunset or before sunrise, or when air temperature is below 50 °F. Select the least toxic pesticides and formulations when possible. Reduce drift onto areas outside crop fields. Remove lowering weeds from crops. Provide bee-friendly habitat away from crops.

D.N. Kambrekar^*

Dept. of Agricultural Entomology, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, Karnataka (580 005), India

India has great potential to produce high quality fruits of different kinds and to export them to other countries but its marketability is still limited to local market. This is due to the delicate nature of fruits, poor handling practices and inadequate storage facilities. The storage life and quality of fruits after harvesting depend on packaging material and storage environment of fruits. Use of proper packaging and cushioning materials help a great extent to enhance shelf life of fruits. In nowadays competitive environment the role of package has changed due to increasing self-service and changing consumer’s lifestyle. Firm’s interest in package as a tool of sales promotion is growing increasingly. Package becomes an ultimate selling proposition stimulating impulsive buying behaviour, increasing market share and reducing promotional costs. Package attracts consumer’s attention to particular brand, enhances its image, and influences consumer’s perceptions about product.

Vaishnavi G. Magar^*

College of Agriculture Dongarshelki Tanda, Udgir, Latur, Maharashtra (413 517), India

CIRC-Cattle BLAD Diagnostic Kit is a user-friendly, economical, rapid and specific diagnostic assay for detection of Bovine Leukocyte Adhesion Deficiency (BLAD), a common genetic disorder in breeding bulls/ buffaloes prior to semen collection and its utilization for breeding purposes.

Rafeeque Rahman Alyethodi

ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Cattle, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh (250 001), India

Rajib Deb^*

ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Cattle, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh (250 001), India

Umesh Singh

ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Cattle, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh (250 001), India

Sushil Kumar

ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Cattle, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh (250 001), India

Rani Alex

ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Cattle, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh (250 001), India

Sheetal Sharma

ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Cattle, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh (250 001), India

Gyanendra Singh Sengar

ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Cattle, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh (250 001), India

B. Prakash

ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Cattle, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh (250 001), India

The organic manures are the backbone of pesticide free food products and also the same is the culprit to transmit the antibiotics to food chain. The maximum concentrations of Oxytetracycline (OTC), Enrofloxacin (ENRO) and Chlorotetracycline (CTC) in poultry litter were 183 mg kg^-1, 83 mg kg^-1 and 726 mg kg^-1, respectively and 72 mg kg^-1, 52 mg kg^-1 and 133 mg kg^-1 in cowdung, respectively. During the composting process period, the antibiotics viz., OTC, ENRO, CTC were noticed in decreasing trend. The matured poultry manure recorded the OTC, ENRO and CTC concentration of 22, 18 and 162 mg kg^-1, respectively whereas the vermicompost recorded the OTC, ENRO and CTC concentration of 12, 10 and 32 mg kg^-1, respectively. From the present investigation, the poultry manure recorded more quantity of antibiotics viz., OTC, ENRO and CTC. It is also concluded that the composting process had significant reduction of antibiotic concentration compared to raw materials.

V. Davamani^*

Dept. of Environmental Sciences, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu (641 003), India

E. Parameswari

Dept. of Environmental Sciences, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu (641 003), India

M. Deepasri

Dept. of Environmental Sciences, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu (641 003), India

Cucumber is quite popular vegetable crop in Tripura as well as all over India. One kilogram of cucumber fetches average Rs. 50-60/- per kg in the local markets. Besides, cucumber is an excellent crop used for salad purpose or other occasion because of its high seasonal value. Value increased upto Rs. 70-80 /kg on seasonal occasion. Furthermore, cucumber cultivation demands less fertilization and irrigation requires 2-3 times. The remarkable success achieved by Shri. Uttam Debnath in cucumber cultivation made him a role model for the fellow farmers to emulate and succeed in west naogao, Jirania. Nearby 20-25 farmers are taking advices from Shri Debnath to cultivate their lands into successful cucumber cultivation for their socio-economical upliftment.

Debashre Bhattacharjee^*

ATMA (Old Agartala Block), Agartala, Tripura (799 205), India

Anindita Guha

ATMA (Old Agartala Block), Agartala, Tripura (799 205), India

In most of the countries, agricultural systems are the backbone of main economic sectors contributing to political stability. In a country, like India, whose economy is largely dependent on agriculture produce and exports, any such malicious attack can grossly destabilise the socio-economic structure. In many countries food price are kept very low due to production efficiencies and disease controls. So, the concept of ‘‘Agro-terrorism” or agricultural terrorism starts to assume vital importance since a disease outbreak in an agricultural system could lose billions of dollars, cause poor production efficiency, drive higher food prices, exports of valuable commodities will be stop, and so create economical instability. What is really needed is to treat the agro-terrorism menace at par with that of other kinds of terror and evolve a well-conceived strategy to deal with it. For this, anti-agro-terrorism models from other countries can be studied and adapted to the Indian situation. Such an effort is worth it even if the threat perception ceases to exist. A constant surveillance against pests and diseases of crops and animals will help combat even natural epidemics that often take a heavy toll on crop and livestock output.

Jayashree Bhattacharjee^*

Dept. of Agriculture, Govt. of Tripura, Tripura, India

Debashre Bhattacharjee

Dept. of Agriculture, Govt. of Tripura, Tripura, India

Ipsita Samal

ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Division of Entomology, New Delhi (110 001), India

The alleviation of soil physical constraints limiting crop production is considered important to increase agricultural production and sustaining the productivity of soils. The major soil physical constraints include high soil permeability, soil surface crusting, sub-surface mechanical impedance, and soil hardening. Studies indicated that the management of highly permeable soils such as by compaction increased yields of various crops. Soil surface crusting could be managed by the application of FYM on seed lines at the rate of 4 t/ha. Application of tank silt has improved the physical properties of soil like reduces the bulk density and improved the water holding capacity of the soil.

M. Yuvaraj^*

Agricultural College and Research Institute, Vazhavachanure, Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu (606 753), India

Black pepper is most important spice of the world and called as "King of Spices”. Several insect and non insect pests cause yield loss in this crop. Among them, Pollu beetle, top shoot borer, marginal leaf gall thrips, scales, mealy bugs and nematodes are worthy to note. These pests can be well efficiently managed by following integrated management tactics viz., field sanitation, cultural, biological and chemical methods.

T. Sathyan^*

Dept. of Agricultural Entomology, CPPS, TNAU, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu (641 003), India

K. Elanchezhyan

Dept. of Agricultural Entomology, AC&RI, Killikulam, Tamil Nadu (628 252), India

N. Murugesan

Dept. of Agricultural Entomology, AC&RI, Killikulam, Tamil Nadu (628 252), India

Rice is one of the important cereals of the world particularly in Asian countries and forms staple diet for more than 50 per cent of the population. Brown plant hopper is one of the major culprits for huge economic crop losses of rice. The BPH infestation occurred in all rice growing areas of Asian countries and cause huge yield losses by destruction of the crop. Integrated management of BPH should be followed by combining the availability of resources and economics of farmers. Surveillance and monitoring are the prime strategies to make effective management operations.

K. Elanchezhyan^*

Dept. of Agricultural Entomolgy, Agricultural College and Research Institute, TNAU, Killikulam, Vallanadu, Tamil Nadu (628 252), India

T. Sathyan

Dept. of Agricultural Entomology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu (641 003), India

K.R. Manikandan

Dept. of Agricultural Entomology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu (641 003), India

All spiders are predatory eight-legged creatures that have organs to spin silk at the back ends of their bodies. They are the largest part of the Arachnid family, a group that also includes scorpions and ticks. There are about 40,000 known species of spiders. Most spiders use a web to catch their prey, which are usually insects.The most characteristic feature of spiders is their ability to produce silken threads. Applications and uses of spider silk in various fields especially medical, industrial, and armed services is increasing day by day.

K. Elanchezhyan^*

Dept. of Agricultural Entomolgy, Agricultural College and Research Institute, TNAU, Killikulam, Vallanadu, Tamil Nadu (628 252), India

T. Sathyan

Dept. of Agricultural Entomology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu (641 003), India

K.R. Manikandan

Dept. of Agricultural Entomology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu (641 003), India

The present investigation was carried out to characterize and assess the treated paper mill effluent from the Seshasayee Papers and Boards (SPB) Pvt. Ltd., for physico-chemical and biological properties. Treated paper mill effluent samples were collected from SPB, Pallipalayam, Namakkal District of Tamil Nadu and were analyzed in the Department of Environmental Sciences, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore. The paper mill effluent collected from SPB, Pallipalayam was light brown in colour. The effluent was found to be neutral in reaction with a pH of 7.87. It recorded an EC of 1.19 dS m^-1. The effluent had considerable amount of cations like calcium (46.67 mg L^-1), magnesium (19.6 mg L^-1), sodium (101.70 mg L^-1) and potassium (15.99 mg L^-1) along with anions like chloride (127.03 mg L^-1), bicarbonate (201.3 mg L^-1) and sulphate (88.88 mg L^-1), respectively. The BOD and COD values of treated effluent were 17 and 39 mg L^-1, respectively. The paper mill effluent supported a considerable amount of microbial population.

V. Davamani^*

Dept. of Environmental Sciences, TNAU, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu (641 003), India

E. Parameswari

Dept. of Environmental Sciences, TNAU, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu (641 003), India

M. Deepasri

Dept. of Environmental Sciences, TNAU, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu (641 003), India

S. Paul Sebastian

Dept. of Environmental Sciences, TNAU, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu (641 003), India

T. Ilakia

Dept. of Vegetable Sciences, TNAU, Coimbatore,Tamil Nadu (641 003), India

Crop residues are left over of the plant parts in the field after harvest of the crop.  Crop residues are natural resources which can be recycled for meeting the nutrient requirement of succeeding crops. Crop residues contain significant quantities of plant nutrients and their judicious application will improve the physical, chemical and biological properties of soil. Crop residues can be incorporated into soil with suitable machinery and this can improve soil health. Retention on soil surface can conserve as soil moisture, temperature and control weed emergence. Residue decomposition in soil substantially increase the soil organic carbon and other nutrients.

Harish Shenoy^*

Dept. of Agronomy, Livestock Research and Information Centre (Amrithmahal), Karnataka Veterinary Animal and Fisheries Sciences University, Konehalli, Tiptur, Karnataka (572 201), India

Current study aimed to Botanical features, applications in traditional medicinal plants, used to treat and prevent many types of diseases and systematically review publications indicating the viability of traditional medicinal plants. The leaves, fruits, seeds and bark of medicinal plants are used in traditional medicine to treat disorders affecting many systems, including blood circulation, the immune system, the heart, and digestive, respiratory, genetic, musculoskeletal, and conjunctive systems. Some herbal plants are used as pleasant spices, flavors, dyes, and preservatives food etc. Virtually every part of the plant has its own medicinal properties. Various types of phytochemicals found in medicinal plants play a key role in many types of diseases and are also used to produce medicines. The plant has various functions such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, ant-diabetic, antibiotic, hemolytic properties that are widely used by indigenous peoples around the world. The folk medicinal plant uses of 12 herbal species belonging to various families are reported in this review article.

Thirumal Sivakumar^*

Dept. of Botany, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar, Tamil Nadu (608 002), India

Dept. of Botany, Thiru A. Govindasamy Govt. Arts College, Tindivanam, Tamil Nadu (604 307), India

Deepa Balasubramanian

Dept. of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar, Tamil Nadu (608 002), India

Dharmapuram Gnanmbigai Govt. Arts College for Women, Mayiladuthurai, Tamil Nadu (609 001), India

Change in climate directly effects on the agricultural ecosystem that results in changing agricultural climatic elements such as temperature, precipitation and sunlight. The impacts of climate change on global food system, nutrition and health will depend on a variety of environmental factors. Due to continuously increasing global temperature, the negative impact of climate change on agricultural crops includes reduction in crop quality and quantity. The increasing population demands more food which resulted intensive agricultural practices like the use of pesticides, livestock generation, extensive use of water resources. The high anthropogenic activities result, degradation of natural resources. Now, it is the need of the hour to strengthen our capacities to combat these constant environmental changes with integration of knowledge from, ancestors, communities and scientific innovations. Technological innovations to meet the local needs of food and nutrition with best practices for producing, preserving and preparing healthy foods.

Anjali Tiwari

G.B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment (GBP-NIHE), Kosi-Katarmal, Almora, Uttarakhand (263 643), India

Kapil Kesarwani^*

G.B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment (GBP-NIHE), Kosi-Katarmal, Almora, Uttarakhand (263 643), India

Tapan Ghosh

G.B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment (GBP-NIHE), Kosi-Katarmal, Almora, Uttarakhand (263 643), India

Sumit Rai^*

G.B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment (GBP-NIHE), Kosi-Katarmal, Almora, Uttarakhand (263 643), India

Osteobrama cotio (Hamilton, 1822) is known ‘Cotio’ a tropical, benthopelagic, freshwater species under the family Cyprinidae. It is distributed in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Nepal in Asia, and its presence in Mayanmar is questionable. As per IUCN Red List Status, it is categorized as Least Concern (LC), but the species categorized as Endangered (EN) in Bangladesh. In India, O. cotio is distributed in Assam (Brahmaputra drainage), Bihar, Manipur (Barak-Brahmaputra drainage), Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and can grow to a maximum length of 15.0 cm. In the juvenile stages it is mainly fed on phytoplankton, and in growing and adult stages on zooplankton, insects, and detritus. The species is monsoon spawners and breeds during the month of May-July. Being a small indigenous fish, it provides nutritional supplements to a large section of economically backward populations. In this prelude, the present review is aimed to provide detailed information on O. cotio that might be useful to know the species, its potential importance, and suitable conservation measures that may be carried out accordingly.

Dibakar Bhakta^*

ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Barrackpore, Kolkata, West Bengal (700 120) India

Livestock sector plays an important role in the national economy and in the socio-economic development of the country. Green fodder provides nutrients for milch animals at cheaper cost. In spite of its importance, in the country, green fodder production has not been given proper place in the cropping pattern in providing proper nutrition to livestock. In view of this, a study was undertaken to analyse the nutrient deficiencies in feed and fodder management systems in peri-urban and rural areas of Belgaum district. Total 160 respondents of 8 villages in peri-urban and rural areas were interviewed by administering the standardised interview schedule. The availability of digestible crude protein rural areas was only 0.474 kg/head/day leading to a percentage deficiency of 36.8. In rural areas the availability of total digestible nutrients was only 2.06 kg/head/day and the same was 3.86 kg/head/day in peri-urban areas. The deficiency of total digestible nutrients was observed in both rural (81.42%) and peri-urban areas (75.89). Considerable percentage deficiency was observed in total digestible nutrients of feeds and fodder fed to livestock in rural (93.06%) and peri-urban areas (73.71%).

Pushpa P.^*

University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkot, Karnataka (587 104), India

Jayalaxmi Pawar

University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkot, Karnataka (587 104), India

Chandan K.

University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkot, Karnataka (587 104), India

Ramesh A.P.

University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkot, Karnataka (587 104), India

In the present article reviews novel discoveries associated within the phytochemical analysis and antioxidant activity of piper species. Black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) regard as the "King of spices" is a broadly utilized spice that convenes its own flavor to foods and augmented the flavor of other ingredients. Piper nigram has been extensively investigated for its bioactive phytochemicals. Piper species are essential herbal plants utilized in the traditional medicinal plants. They are traditionally used to treat abdominal pain, rheumatism, diarrhea and other common infections, the effectiveness of which is stated by their bioactive compounds. Current scientific research has established that many of these spices, which are known to have specific pharmacological properties, contain active compounds. The result has been an increase in the requirement for herbal medicines globally, which has led to the realization of advanced new medicines. Most communities in growing countries are deeply involved in the use of medicinal plants owing to the alarming rates of poverty, so this requires scientific support, particularly in reducing their effectiveness in treating such diseases. In their pure compounds or standardized plant extracts, they offer unlimited opportunities for new pharmaceuticals as they are unparalleled in compensating for their chemical diversity. The vitality of natural products is related to the effects of various phytochemicals such as tannins, terpenoids, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, saponins.

Thiyagarajan Gnanasundaram^*

Dept. of Botany, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar, Tamil Nadu (608 002), India

Thirumal Sivakumar

Dept. of Botany, Thiru A. Govindasamy Govt. Arts College, Tindivanam, Tamil Nadu (604 307), India

Ecological Engineering (EE), a sustainable pest management tool is a modified tritrophic interaction, which enhance the natural enemies of pests and modify the crop micro environment has been emphasized in recent times due to lesser adversities. This approach relies on use of cultural techniques to bring out habitat manipulation by altering plant composition and enhance biological control by manipulating the third trophic level.  It is emphasized more on ecological knowledge rather than on high technology approaches such as synthetic pesticides and genetically engineered crops. Thus, in the era of IPM this tool can be used for the pest management purposes to obtain highest profit without hampering the environment.

Ipsita Samal^*

Division of Entomology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi (110 012), India

Jayashree Bhattacharjee

Department of Agriculture, Govt. of Tripura, Tripura, India

Debashre Bhattacharjee

Department of Agriculture, Govt. of Tripura, Tripura, India

In agriculture, pest management is an important task wherein appropriate principles have to be necessarily deployed. Farmers greatly depend on synthetic insecticides for pest management. For successful chemical pest control, knowledge on insect identification, symptomatology, selection of insecticides, application methodologies etc. are prerequisite. Farmers should have ideas on these aspects to get hold of better plant protection with minimum expenses.

T. Sathyan^*

Dept. of Agricultural Entomology, CPPS, TNAU, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu (641 003), India

K. Elanchezhyan

Dept. of Agricultural Entomology, AC&RI, Killikulam, Vallanadu, Tamil Nadu (628 252), India

N. Murugesan

Dept. of Agricultural Entomology, AC&RI, Killikulam, Vallanadu, Tamil Nadu (628 252), India

Excessive and ever increasing population is the growing concern from last few years and it is creating major pressure in Agriculture sector of our country. Meeting the adequate food requirement of the huge population is necessary, but due to several adverse factors, production systems are facing many problems. Limited arable land resources, excessive use of chemical fertilizers, land degradation, cultivation with poor quality seeds, lack of proper seed replacement, are some of the major concerns for which not only the production of food materials in sufficient quantity is being affected but also the quality seed production is getting invaded badly. Quality seed is a vital input for crop production. It is the cheapest input and the key to progress towards the development of sustainable agriculture. Response of different inputs and final crop output depends to a large extent on the seed material used for sowing purpose. Thus, for better production, profit and sustainability, use of genetically and physiologically pure, vigorous, climate adaptive and less disease pest prone seeds are required in one hand along with good seed replacement rate, qualitative seed stock, proper seed certification etc. are very much crucial to unfold the potential yield performance of species and varieties and hence, the article is emphasized on the quality seed production in agriculture.

Ramyajit Mondal^*

Dept. of Agronomy, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur, Nadia, West Bengal (741 252), India

Saumi Goswami

Dept. of Agronomy, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur, Nadia, West Bengal (741 252), India

As there is a several fold increase in the world population, there must be change in food system for the supply of enough nutrition. The malnutrition problem (hidden hunger) have topped up and affected larger percentage of population globally. Microgreens are the distinct group of vegetable that are identified as a source to overcome the problem of malnutrition. Microgreens are the tiny version of edible young greens with abundant nutrition in them. There are more than 80-100 identified crop varieties that are grown as microgreens. The cultivation aspects of microgreens are easier and are grown for house hold purpose to commercial marketing. The nutrition aspects are higher in microgreens compared to that of matured ones. This article details the aspect of microgreen production and its role to counter the problem of malnutrition.

T. Ilakiya^*

Dept. of Vegetable Sciences, TNAU, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu (641 003), India

E. Parameswari

Dept. of Environmental Sciences, TNAU, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu (641 003), India

V. Davamani

Dept. of Environmental Sciences, TNAU, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu (641 003), India

E. Prakash

Dept. of Vegetable Sciences, TNAU, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu (641 003), India

Small cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) the queen of spices enjoys a unique position in the international spice market. It is often named as the third most expensive spice in the world after cinnamon and clove. The cardamom plants firstly came into existence in the monsoon forests of Western Ghats in southern India as wild herbs. Hot and humid environment prevailing under evergreen rain forests of the Western Ghats is ideal for this crop. In order to raise a cardamom plantation, seedlings or suckers of high yielding varieties are used. Superior quality produce achieved by good cultivation practices and scientific post-harvest management. Proper management of the plantation is the most important factor for successful cultivation of the small cardamom.

Navya Vishweshwar Bhat

Dept. of Fruit Science and Horticulture Technology, OUAT, Bhubaneswar (751 003), India

Pavankumar Goudar^*

Dept. of Agronomy, COA, Pasighat, CAU, Imphal, Manipur (791 102), India

The use of mobile technologies as a tool of intervention in agriculture is becoming increasingly popular. Smartphone penetration enhances the multi-dimensional positive impact on sustainable poverty reduction and identifies accessibility as the main challenge in harnessing the full potential in agricultural space. Different elements affected the agriculture development; however, the most essential bottlenecks are lack of instant information and drudgery involved in farming practices. To conquer these issues, agriculture should be made more alluring and done smartly. Corona virus (COVID 19) Lockdown harms Agriculture Sector in India, as farmers are unable to get the latest information regarding various agricultural issues, market Status & other relevant information related to the agriculture & allied sector, smartphone apps act an important tool for agricultural information dissemination during this period. There are varieties of mobile applications, utilized over the globe for different segments, including farming, but in our country, the usage is still is limited. In India, there are enormous opportunities for utilizing smartphones as a part of agribusiness improvement. Its utilization is vital for quick growth and easy access to information to Indian agriculturists, farmers, and growers.

Subrat Kumar Mahapatra^*

College of Agriculture, Odisha University of Agriculture & Technology (OUAT), Bhubaneswar, Odisha (751 003), India

Role of Conservation Agriculture in improving Soil Health

Maintenance of soil health at its optimum level is essential for sustainable crop production and rational use of natural resources without jeopardizing their quality. In recent years, many agricultural scientists across the world have recommended conservation agriculture as a solution to overcome the adverse effects of conventional tillage practices on soil health. Conservation agriculture aims to conserve, improve and make more efficient use of natural resources through integrated management of available soil, water and biological resources combined with external inputs. It contributes to environmental conservation as well as to enhanced and sustained agricultural production. Conservation agriculture is mainly an integration of three crop management practices, viz. minimum or no-tillage, permanent retention of crop residue and crop rotation.

V. Arunkumar^*

Agricultural College and Research Institute, Vazhavachanur, Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu (606 753), India

M. Yuvaraj

Agricultural College and Research Institute, Vazhavachanur, Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu (606 753), India

Globally, the productivity varies in a great margin and is under threat from genetic erosion and the alarming increase in population led to an immense burden on agriculture. The advent of several key domestication genes alongside the development of trending technologies for accurate manipulation of several target genes simultaneously renders de novo domestication a roadmap towards new era of crop improvement.

Bichhinna Maitri Rout

Division of Vegetable Science, ICAR-IARI, New Delhi (110 012), India

Dinesh Nagar^*

Division of Fruit Science, RARI, Jaipur, Rajasthan (302 018), India

To accommodate the large global population and to combat with the alarming climate change and scarcity of water, the modern day farming demands new and improved methods, technologies and solutions for modern agricultural fields to enhance productivity. Consequently, the need for automation and intelligent decision making is becoming more important to accomplish this mission. This article outlines the recent applications of wireless sensor networks (WSN’s) in precision agriculture research to improve agricultural quality including the provision of adequate nutrients for crops and the wastage of pesticides for the effective control of weeds, pests, and diseases. An intelligent and smart WSN system can collect and process large amount of data from the beginning of the monitoring and manage air quality, soil conditions, to weather situations and in many other applications such as military, health care, industrial this technology is also applicable. These approaches may also increase the number of opportunities for processing Internet of Things (IoT) data.

Ekta Joshi^*

Dept. of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, RVSKVV, Gwalior, MP (474 002), India

Deep Singh Sasode

Dept. of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, RVSKVV, Gwalior, MP (474 002), India

Neelam Singh

Dept. of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, RVSKVV, Gwalior, MP (474 002), India

Namrata Chouhan

Dept. of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, RVSKVV, Gwalior, MP (474 002), India

Chickpea infected with various diseases in all growth stages. The pathogens viz., fungi, bacteria, viruses, nematodes and mycoplasma that affect chickpea, which cause severe economic losses globally. Therefore, possible management options are vital to simplify the problem.

M. Suganyadevi^*

Agricultural College and Research Institute, Vazhavachanur, Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu (606 753), India

M. Pandiyan

Agricultural College and Research Institute, Vazhavachanur, Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu (606 753), India

R. Sasmitha

Agricultural College and Research Institute, Vazhavachanur, Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu (606 753), India

M. Sivaji

Agricultural College and Research Institute, Vazhavachanur, Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu (606 753), India

T. Tilagavathi

Agricultural College and Research Institute, Vazhavachanur, Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu (606 753), India

M. Yuvaraj

Agricultural College and Research Institute, Vazhavachanur, Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu (606 753), India

Soil and water conservation measures which includes both agronomical as well as mechanical measures play a key role in resource conservation of dry land agriculture. Use of agronomic measures in the drylands, with the conclusion that agronomic measures contribute a lot for enhancing production in drylands. However timeliness and preciseness in performing the operations in the field should be taken care of. No doubt these agronomic measures contributes a lot for the dryland production. However the timeliness of the operation and preciseness with which these operations perform will yield a better results in case of drylands. Agronomic methods are used in inter-bunded areas, and mechanical measures compliment to help boost the crop yields in the rainfed drylands. Agronomical measures will be mainly adopted in the inter-bunded areas, mainly in the croplands. In the croplands, these mechanical measures compliment the agronomical measures in boosting the crop yield from the drylands.

M. Jayalakshmi^*

Krishi Vigyan Kendra Banavasi, Kurnool, Acharya N.G. Ranga Agriculture University, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh (522 034), India

G. PrasadBabu

Krishi Vigyan Kendra Banavasi, Kurnool, Acharya N.G. Ranga Agriculture University, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh (522 034), India

Pesticides are those that kills the insect and pest that causes tremendous effects in cultivation of the crop. Pesticides as a whole includes fungicides, insecticides, rodenticides, herbicides, nematicides, molluscicides and others. Pesticide usage on the crop species has both positive and negative effects. Though pesticides kills the target pest, the excessive usage would lead to the biodiversity destruction. Many animals, aquatic organisms and birds are under the serious threat for their survival due to the harmful nature of the pesticides. The global stability and environmental sustainability is of a great question mark now-a-days. Hence the environment protection must of serious concern. This article deals about the impact of pesticides on environment.

E. Parameswari^*

Dept. of Environmental Sciences, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Tamil Nadu (641 003), India

V. Davamani

Dept. of Environmental Sciences, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Tamil Nadu (641 003), India

T. Ilakiya

Dept. of Vegetable Sciences, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Tamil Nadu (641003), India

S. Arulmani

Bannari Amman Institute of Technology, Sathiamangalam, Tamil Nadu (638 401), India

V. Prithiv Raj

Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Gujarat (385 505), India

Water hyacinth is a noxious weed threatening the aquatic life tremendously. Conventional remediation pose a serious problem as it releases poisonous gases and carries heavy metals. Hence it must be eradicated in an environment friendly manner. Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) has expanded great interest for the process of hydrochar production. It pave an excellent path to convert it into a carbon rich hydrochar. The carbonization of biomass is not only limited to pure carbohydrates but also includes lignocellulosic biomass. Such precursors, require special reactions because of their complex breakdown process when compared to hemicelluloses and lignin. The water hyacinth hydrochar can be efficiently used in various fields like biorefinery, biosorption, capacitors and energy production.

E. Parameswari^*

Dept. of Environmental Sciences, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu (641 003), India

V. Davamani

Dept. of Environmental Sciences, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu (641 003), India

R. Kalaiarasi

Dept. of Environmental Sciences, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu (641 003), India

T. Ilakiya

Dept. of Vegetable Sciences, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu (641 003), India

S. Arulmani

Bannari Amman Institute of Technology, Sathiamangalam, Tamil Nadu (638 401), India

V. Prithiv Raj

Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Gujarat (385 506), India

Under the current scenario, healthy plants are of primary concern in the world. Maintaining proper plant health is essential surpassing various challenges like changing climatic conditions, various biotic and abiotic stresses and negative impacts of various pollutants. UNs have declared 2020 as the international year of plant health with various objectives such as, massive awareness among public on global, regional and national levels, protection of the environment and facilitation of economic and trade development, promotion and strengthening of global, regional and national plant health efforts in light of increasing trade and increasing global, regional and national resources for plant health policies.

S. Routray^*

Dept. of Agricultural Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture, Sri Sri University, Cuttack, Odisha (754 006), India

Insect pests are the major constraints in enhancing rice productivity, besides diseases and weeds. They cause 20-30 per cent losses every year. More than hundred species of the insects have been reported attacking the rice crop and 20 of them can cause serious economic loss. Rice stem borers have acquired the status of regular insect pests of rice in most of the rice grown area in the state. Five species in families, crambidae and noctuidae of Lepidoptera have been reported as important stem borer pests of the rice in India. Of these, yellow stem borer, Scirpophaga incertulas is the dominant species across the country. It can be effectively managed by adopting IPM practices including cultural, mechanical, biological and chemical control.

K. Elanchezhyan^*

Dept. of Agricultural Entomology, Agricultural College and Research Institute, TNAU, Killikulam, Vallanadu Tamil Nadu (628 252), India

T. Sathyan

Dept. of Agricultural Entomology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore Tamil Nadu (641 003), India

K.R. Manikandan

Dept. of Agricultural Entomology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore Tamil Nadu (641 003), India

Adoption of integrated crop management practices in rice can improve the yields substantially. Demonstrations conducted in the farmers field of selected cluster villages of coastal Karnataka for a period of two years indicated that the adoption of integrated crop management practices in rice recorded an yield of 53.6 q/ha compared to farmers practice (40.95 q/ha) an increase by 31.6% over a period of two years. There was additional net returns gain by Rs. 24,316/- in demonstration plots compared to check.

Harish Shenoy^*

Dept. of Agronomy, Livestock Research and Information Centre (Amrithmahal), Karnataka Veterinary Animal and Fisheries Sciences University, Konehalli, Tiptur, Karnataka (572 201), India

E-Agriculture targets on the improvement of farming and rural advancement through improved information and communication processes. More precisely, e-Agriculture includes the conceptualization, design, development, evaluation and application of innovative approaches to use information and communication technologies (ICTs), with a prime focus on agriculture. E-Agriculture is a moderately new term and we completely anticipate that its scope to change and develop as our comprehension of the area develops. Indian Agriculture adds to 18.6 percent of India's GDP, and around 59 percent Indians get their livelihood from the agriculture sector. Private division activities like contract farming have marketed the Indian agrarian sector. To empower community individuals to exchange opinions, experiences, good practices and resources coupled with e-Agriculture, and to confirm that the information made is adequately shared and utilized worldwide. Moreover, there are some favourable and downside which reside in each technology.

R. Prabhu^*

School of Post Graduate Studies (SPGS), Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu (641 003), India

M. Uma Gowri

Centre for Agricultural and Rural Development Studies (CARDS), Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu (641 003), India

Today the world population is increasing and climate change are the major challenges of food security. Scientist are searching the convenient and modern techniques for crop production. A new era of omics like genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics has a role to accelerate the biotechnology work in future. The genomics has role in increasing the genomic resources, utility, diversity, yield and other agronomic traits. The application of genomics with next generation sequencing can change the molecular plant breeding and will accordingly allow to be achieved with precision.

Dalpat Lal^*

Dept. of Agriculture, Jagan Nath University, Jaipur, Rajasthan (303 901), India

Precision farming is a feasible approach for sustainable agriculture. Precision farming makes use of remote sensing to macro-control of GPS to locate precisely ground position and of GIS to store ground information. It precisely establishes various operations, such as the best tillage, application of fertilizer, sowing, irrigation, harvesting etc., and turns traditional extensive production to intensive production according to space variable data. Precision farming not only may utilize fully resources, reduce investment, decrease pollution of the environment and get the most of social and economic efficiency, but also makes farm products, the same as industry, become controllable, and be produced in standards and batches. The use of inputs (fertilizers and pesticides) based on the right quantity, at the right time, and in the right place. This type of management is commonly known as “Site-Specific Management”. The productivity gains in global food supply have increasingly relied on expansion of irrigation schemes over recent decades, with more than a third of the world's food now requiring irrigation for production. However, precision farming has been confined to developed countries. Land tenure system, smaller farm size and crop diversity have limited the scope of precision farming in India. However, there is a wide scope for precision farming in irrigated/ commercial/ fruit and vegetable crops/ high value crops. It is apparent that there is a tremendous scope for precision farming in India as well and it is necessary to develop database of agriculture resources, which will act as decision support system at the farm.

Sunil^*

Dept. of Agronomy, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, Haryana (125 004), India

Paras

Dept. of Genetics & Plant Breeding, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, Haryana (125 004), India

Deepak Loura

Dept. of Agronomy, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, Haryana (125 004), India

Akshit

Dept. of Agronomy, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, Haryana (125 004), India

Sushil Kumar

Dept. of Agronomy, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, Haryana (125 004), India

Shalu

Dept. of Agronomy, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, Haryana (125 004), India

Incubation study was carried out in the Laboratory of Department of Agricultural Chemistry and Soil Science, C.P. College of Agriculture, S.D. Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar. Treatments comprising of three levels of moisture regimes, three levels of P of two P carriers, two levels of FYM and five incubation intervals were evaluated under completely randomized design (with factorial concept) with three replications. Available P₂O₅ content in soil was increased significantly with application of FYM @ 10 t ha^-1 with 2.68 mg P/ 100 g soil and maintenance of moisture at 25% available water capacity was found significantly higher as compared to without FYM. Available P₂O₅ increased up to 3^rd DAI then decreased with respect to phosphorus availability in loamy sand. Under the different forms of phosphorus, maintenance of moisture at 100% available water capacity, FYM @ 10 t ha^-1 and P 2.68 mg P/ 100 g soil increased the inorganic-P and total-P up to 14^th DAI.

Kashyap N. Patel^*

Centre for Research on Integrated Farming Systems, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar, Gujarat (385 506), India

Ericulture is mainly confined to North-Eastern region of India accounting nearly 98% of eri silk produced in the country. Eri silkworm is polyphagous in habit and acclimatized to hardy climatic zones of dry lands. The availability of food plants in various states of the country has opened new vistas for the development of ericulture. An attempt has been made to work out the bio-energetics of selected eco-races of eri silkworm in relation to castor varieties. Total food consumption and digestion differed significantly among the castor hybrid/ variety and eco-races of eri silkworm. Highest total food consumption was registered when Borduar eco-race of eri silkworm was reared on the leaf of DCH-177 hybrid both on fresh and dry weight basis. Further, significantly higher mean consumption index and approximate digestibility were observed when Borduar eco-race of eri silkworm was reared on the leaves of DCH-177 castor hybrid on fresh weight basis, while it was significantly more in DCH-177 × Khanapara on dry weight basis. Mean growth rate was differed statistically between the castor hybrid/ variety and eco-races of eri silkworm and significantly more growth with DCH-177 × Borduar on fresh weight basis and DCH-177 × Mendipathar on dry weight basis.

Pallavi^*

College of Sericulture, Chintamani, University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Bangalore, Karnataka (560 065), India

Sannappa B.

DOS in Sericulture Sciences, University of Mysore, Mysuru, Karnataka (570 005), India

Ramakrishna Naika

College of Sericulture, Chintamani, University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Bangalore, Karnataka (560 065), India

Bharathi V.P.

College of Sericulture, Chintamani, University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Bangalore, Karnataka (560 065), India

A field experiment was conducted in the field of Seed Technology Research Unit, MPKV, Rahuri during rabi season 2014-15 for the study of the effect of normal and late sowing, last cutting regimes and nutritional sprays at the time of flowering on the seed yield and quality attributes of Berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum L.). It was observed that the yield attributing characters viz., number of flowers plant^-1 (41), number of seeds flower^-1 (52), seed yield plot^-1 (226 g), seed yield ha^-1 (1.34 q) and days to 50% flowering (116) were significantly superior at normal sowing time i.e. 15^th October, and with the last cut 10 days before normal last cut i.e. 18^th Feb. and nutritional sprays of KNO₃ @ 2% and Borax @ 100 ppm (separate spray) at the reproductive stage over the other treatment combinations. Similarly, seed quality parameters viz., germination (94.00%) was significantly superior in the same treatment combination. For higher seed yield and quality seed production in Maharashtra sowing at normal sowing time i.e. 15^th October last cut 10 days before normal last cut i.e. 18^th Feb. and nutritional sprays of KNO₃ @ 2% and Borax @ 100 ppm (separate spray) at the reproductive stage.

Avinash Karjule^*

Seed Technology Research Unit, MPKV, Rahuri, Ahmednagar, Maharashtra (413 722), India

Vijay Shelar

Seed Technology Research Unit, MPKV, Rahuri, Ahmednagar, Maharashtra (413 722), India

This study was carried out to assess the comparative cost structure and profitability of paddy cultivation under different level of mechanization in Cauvery command area of Karnataka. 120 respondents were selected randomly and the sample respondents were post-stratified based on the level of farm mechanization. The results revealed that, the cost of cultivation of paddy in the study areas was lower in case of farmers harvesting and threshing using combine harvester (Rs. 75,583.00 ha^-1), followed by harvesting manually and threshing mechanically (Rs. 76,239.00 ha^-1), harvesting and threshing manually (Rs. 78,125.00 ha^-1), respectively. The farmers using combine harvester for harvesting realized increase in net returns in paddy cultivation. The mechanization index in paddy was about 10-40 percent in study area based on the level of farm mechanization. The results clearly depicted the importance of the farm mechanization in realizing additional profit to the farmers.

Satishkumar, M.^*

Dept. of Agricultural Economics, College of Agriculture, Bheemarayanagudi, University of Agriculture Science - Raichur, Karnataka (585 287), India

K.B. Umesh

Dept. of Agricultural Economics, GKVK, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, Karnataka (560 065), India

The remote sensing technique has been used for diverse applications in agriculture. An array of continuous narrow wavebands in the hyperspectral remote sensing provide an understanding of the subtle changes in biochemical and biophysical attributes of crops and their different physiological processes. Hyperspectral remote sensing has also been used in discrimination of crops and their cultivars, assessing abiotic and biotic stresses, quantitative estimation of crop nutrient status and soil health. Knowledge of biotic and abiotic conditions over large areas bears the potential to reduce agricultural losses in terms of productivity. Therefore, this article aims to present an overview of the quantification of different biotic and abiotic stress by remote sensing techniques and focuses on future directions for researchers.

Jitendra Kumar^*

ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil Science, Nabibagh, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh (462 038), India

Ananta Vashisth

ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Pusa, New Delhi, Delhi (110 012), India

Nishant K. Sinha

ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil Science, Nabibagh, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh (462 038), India

M. Mohanty

ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil Science, Nabibagh, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh (462 038), India

Alka Rani

ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil Science, Nabibagh, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh (462 038), India

R.S. Chaudhary

ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil Science, Nabibagh, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh (462 038), India

Mobile phones play a major role to aid the farmers in promoting production activities. Tamil Nadu is a prime state in India witnessed huge volume of subscribers of mobile agro services from public advisories and also private advisories. Public mobile advisory system in the biggest service provider in Tamil Nadu where the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) and the state department of agriculture are two big monsters providing advisories to the farmers through SMS. The study was conducted in Annur and Kinthukadavu blocks of Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu with a sample of 200 farmers subscribing the SMS based agro advisories. The study revealed that little more than two-third of the respondents (67.50%) were using ordinary mobiles. Majority of the respondents (74.00%) expressed that the technical input on advance warning of weather risks was adequate, With regard to the inadequate services, cent percent of the respondents had expressed that the information on cold storage networks and transportation were inadequate. Most of the respondents (87.00%) expressed that they received relevant of messages on plant protection, With regard to non relevancy of the messages, cent percent of the respondents pointed out messages on cold storage networks and transportation. An overwhelming majority of the respondents (95.50%) had expressed that they received timely messages on advance warning of weather risks, with regard to the untimely messages, advisories on cold storage networks and transportation (100.00%). Cent percent of the respondents’ preferred only text based messages.

Prabha D.^*

Dept. of Agricultural Extension and Rural Sociology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu (641 003), India

Arunachalam R.

Dept. of Agricultural Extension and Rural Sociology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu (641 003), India

The present investigation was carried out during kharif season 2017-18 at North Pulinpur area under Khowai district, Tripura (23°52.836′ N, latitude of 91°35.275′ E, longitude, and 940 m above sea level). North Pulinpur is one of the drought prone areas of Khowai district, Tripura. The area falls under the subtropical hill zone, and the climate is humid. An average annual rainfall ranges from 2050-2550 mm. The soil of the experimental field was sandy loam in texture acidic in reaction with a soil pH of 4.5-5.8 and medium in fertility status with low water holding capacity. Rice field surveyed covering 435 fields of four villages (V-I, II, III and IV) the number of respective field was 102, 141, 75 and 117, respectively. Weeds indicated there were 42 species belonging to 20 families of which 22 species were broad-leaved, 10 grasses, 7 sedges and 3 aquatics. Species diversity ranking of weed community for the villages were Village-II>Village-III>Village-I>Village-IV. Based on Sorenson’s Index of Similarity of the S value is 87.67-102.77%. The highest S value of 102.77% was between Village-I and Village-III, while the lowest value of 87.67% between Village-II and Village-IV. The higher S value indicated that species composition between villages was closely similar and the lower S value indicated species compositions in both villages were diverse. Out of 42 weed species, six species namely Oryza sativa (Weedy rice) followed by Echinochloa crus-galli, Leptochloa chinensis, Cynodon dactylon, Ludwigia hyssopifolia, Fimbristylis milacea were most abundant in all villages with a greater proportion of severe infestation (score of 5:41-50% weed cover).

Lord Litan Debbarma^*

Krishi Vigyan Kendra - Khowai, Divyodaya, Chebri, Khowai, Tripura (799 207), India

Dipankar Dey

Krishi Vigyan Kendra - Khowai, Divyodaya, Chebri, Khowai, Tripura (799 207), India

Dipak Nath

Central Agricultural University, Imphal, Manipur (795 004), India

Conservation Agriculture (CA) is a climate change adaptation measure being advanced for small-scale farmers. It is touted as a sustainable adaptation practice that can improve profitability in minimal cultivating areas. Conservation agriculture, in light of no-till, permanent soil cover and their harvest residues and crop rotation, is a productive framework to secure the soil against disintegration and to improve organic matter levels. Conservation Agriculture has just added to the feasible escalation of farming in a several developed and developing regions of the world by improving soil quality and efficiency yet diminishing the level of inputs (power, labour, fertilizers, agrochemicals, and water) required. Following 10 years of reception of conservation agriculture, soil organic matter expanded and the utilization proficiency of inputs expanded likewise. The better use effectiveness of the conservation agriculture frameworks came about because of the consolidated impact of more noteworthy land profitability (25%) and a decrease of energy inputs because of less power and fertilizers required.

Neelam Singh^*

Dept. of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, RVSKVV, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh (474 002), India

Ekta Joshi

Dept. of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, RVSKVV, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh (474 002), India

Deep Singh Sasode

Dept. of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, RVSKVV, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh (474 002), India

Namrata Chouhan

Dept. of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, RVSKVV, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh (474 002), India

As we all know if we consume much of carbohydrate rich food, it may increase the sugar (glucose) levels in our blood which in turn may cause severe damage to our health. In this case Insulin, a hormone synthesized from beta cells of islets of Langerhans comes into play by regulating the glucose levels in our body through Insulin signaling pathways where Insulin acts as a ligand molecule by binding to its two receptor subunits i.e. alpha & beta respectively where insulin binds to the later subunit by autophosphorylation and as a result of this tyrosine molecules becomes the attachment point for other proteins such as IRS-1 (insulin receptor substrates). Phosphorylation in the IRS1 or IRS2 initialtes the PI3k/AKT and Ras-Raf-MEK-MAPK signaling pathway. Our article deals in detail on how insulin regulates the glucose level by various signaling pathway.

Debanjana Saha^*

Dept. of Biotechnology, Centurion University of Technology and Management, Jatni, Bhubaneshwar, Odisha (752 050), India

Diptanu Datta

Dept. of Plant pathology, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneshwar, Odisha (751 003), India

Genotoxicity is a word in genetics defined as a destructive effect on a cell's genetic material (DNA & RNA) affecting its integrity. Genotoxins are mutagens; they can cause mutations. In genetics, genotoxicity describes the property of chemical agents that damages the genetic information within a cell causing mutations, which may lead to cancer. While genotoxicity is often confused with mutagenicity, all mutagens are genotoxic, whereas not all genotoxic substances are mutagenic. The alteration can have direct or indirect effects on the DNA: the induction of mutations, mistimed event activation, and direct DNA damage leading to mutations. The permanent, heritable changes can affect either somatic cells of the organism or germ cells to be passed on to future generations, the alteration can have direct or indirect effects on the DNA: the induction of mutations, mistimed event activation, and direct DNA damage leading to mutations. The permanent, heritable changes can affect either somatic cells of the organism or germ cells to be passed on to future generations.

Chandan Singh Ahirwar^*

School of Agriculture, ITM University, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh (474 001), India

Ravindra Nath

School of Agriculture, ITM University, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh (474 001), India

Increasing consumption of food, feed, fuel and to meet global food security needs for the rapidly growing human population, raise the necessity to breed high yielding crops that can adapt to the future climate changes, particularly in developing countries. To solve these global challenges, novel approaches are required to identify quantitative phenotypes and to explain the genetic basis of agriculturally important traits. These advances will facilitate the screening of germplasm with high performance characteristics in resource limited environments. High-throughput phenotyping platforms have also been developed that capture phenotype data from plants in a non-destructive manner. In this review, we discuss recent developments of high throughput plant phenotyping infrastructure including imaging techniques and corresponding principles for phenotype data analysis. Phenomics is a way of speeding up phenotyping with the help of high-tech imaging systems and computing power. It has been a practice in plant breeding for selecting the best genotype after studying phenotypic expression in different environmental conditions and also using them in hybridization programs, to develop new improved genotypes.

Md. Ramjan^*