Luffa sponge gourd (Luffa aegyptiaca Mill.; also L. cylindrica) is a major cucurbit crop, affected by the physical dormancy, which is caused by the hardness of the seed coat. In the present study, luffa seeds were treated with H2SO4 and hot water. This experiment is conduct as seeds of sponge gourd were socked in hot water (100oC) for 2, 5, 10 and 15 minutes durations and in various concentration of H2SO4 (0.5, 1 and 2%) for 1, 3 and 5 minutes durations in each concentration along with control. The highest germination percentage (92.33 ±0.8) was recorded with hot water treatment for 2 min. H2SO4 Treatment had no effect in breaking physical dormancy, but it showed variability in the germination of sponge gourd. But it can not be considered as an effective method.

Leaf area measurement is a key parameter for physiological, agronomical, and ecological studies. India has covered the 38 percent geographical area of the arid and semi-arid region. This region is very rich in plants biodiversity. In this work the medicinal plants of semi-arid region was selected for the linear model development for the leaf area. In the present study different sizes of healthy leaves of Balanites aegyptiaca and Gymnosporia montana were collected and the fresh and dry weights, water content, chlorophyll content, and leaf area were measured. Further, the dry weight and water content were considered for the development of the linear model for these plant species which showed a highly statistically significant relationship with leaf area. It was observed that fresh and dry weights, water content gradually increased with leaf size. The best correlation was represented by regression coefficient R2 and correlation coefficient r. The results concluded that dry and fresh weights and water content either one, can be selected as a parameter for developing the linear model for leaf area in both these plants. The probable role of these parameters with leaf size and their application in the herbal formulation is discussed.

Fungi belonging to the genus Trichoderma possess a tremendous antagonism in managing the pathogens causing various diseases in crops. The rate of mycelial growth and the number of spores of antagonists have a direct impact on the control of phytopathogens. Six Trichoderma strains developed at Tea Research Association, North Bengal Regional Research and Development Centre, Nagrakata were evaluated for their rate of mycelial growth and sporulation under laboratory conditions through test tube and Petriplate culture methods. Investigations revealed that all the isolates were fast-growing, they started to grow after 6 hours of inoculation on an artificial medium (Potato dextrose agar). Isolates exhibited small variation in their growth rate, initiation of conidiation, and color of conidia. The mycelial growth rate of isolate KBN-24 and KBN-34 was very fast, however, it was slower in isolate KBN-29 and KBN-32. They produced light yellow, light green, and dark green conidia. Diffusion of yellow pigment was also noticed in isolate KBN-33. The earliest conidiation was observed in isolate KBN-33. Isolate KBN-32 and KBN-24 could produce conidia after 72 hours, however; isolate KBN-34, KBN-29 and KBN-35 produced after 96 hours of inoculation. In Petri plates, isolates produced dull-white, light cream, and white-colored mycelia and also showed variations in the number of concentric rings of conidia. Three isolates were found to be fast-growing and covered the entire surface area of the plate within 72 hours. All the isolates produced 78.6 to 310.7 × 108/ mL conidia after a month of inoculation indicating their suitability as promising antagonists.

A field experiment conducted during five consecutive rabi seasons (2016-17 to 2020-21) at research farm of R.K. (P.G.) College, Shamli (U.P.), with three replications under split-split plot design. FYM levels (0, 5, 10 t FYM/ ha) were taken as main plot, three N levels (40, 80, 120 kg N/ ha) as sub plot and four biofertilizer treatments (Control, Azotobactor, Azospirillum, Azotobactor + Azospirillum) as sub-sub plot. 10 t FYM/ ha resulted decrease in bulk density from 1.23 Mg/M3 to 1.18 Mg/M3. Highest WHC (0.35 Kg/Kg soil), organic carbon (0.91%), CEC {10.59 Cmol (P+)/ Kg soil} and available N (225.3 Kg N/ ha) noticed with 10 t FYM/ ha. The plots receiving 10 t FYM/ ha maintained 24.78, 24.76, 54.61 and 67.56 percent higher effective tillers, grain yield per spike, biological and grain yield/ ha, respectively. The plants with 120 kg N/ ha, produced 31.83 % higher biomass and 31.46 % higher grain yield over 40 kg N/ ha. Highest protein content (13.25%) and protein yield (785.72 kg protein/ ha) was registered with 10 t/ ha FYM. Inoculation with Azotobactor + Azospirillum had 7.06 % higher protein in their grains over uninoculated control. Application of 10 ton FYM/ ha resulted 46.35 and 24.56 % higher net return over 0 ton and 5 ton FYM/ ha, respectively. Highest gross return (` 112091/ ha), net return (` 76343/ ha), output: input (3.14) and benefit: cost ratio (2.14) was analyzed with 120 kg N/ ha. Azotobactor + Azospirillum resulted, 34.85% higher net return over no inoculation.

The present study compares the agricultural practices of the people living in and around the Loktak lake, Manipur before and after the commissioning of Ithai barrage. The study was conducted in five villages namely Nongmaikhong, Phoubakchao, Laphupat Tera, Karang and Ithing which are located in and around the lake using research schedule, household survey and focus group interviews. Before the commissioning of the Ithai barrage people were found to practiced traditional methods of agricultural practices and modern methods of agricultural practices were found to practiced after its commissioning. In the modern practices of agriculture the tools and the methods used in traditional agriculture were found replaced by some modern tools and methods. It was observed that the traditional agricultural practices does not cause any harm to the surrounding environment or human health as compared to modern agriculture practices. The study also noted that the traditional methods of agriculture are still practiced in the villages by some people. The traditional knowledge of the communities used in agriculture need to be documented, revived or conserved which will help in the conservation of not only the surrounding environment but also for maintaining healthy human body. As compared to modern agricultural practices the traditional practices was also found cheap.

Nanoparticles are a particle with at least one dimensions in nano range (1-100 nm). Nowadays, more than 1000 consumer products are available on the market. However, researchers have developed nanoparticles as nanofertilizers and nanopesticides due to largest share of conventional bulk products in the field of agriculture. These nanomaterials are prepared through top down and bottom-up approaches. Despite of several advantages due to its small size, high porosity, high specific surface area and less required application dose, few researchers indicates its harmful effects in certain cases due to bioaccumulation. The farmers may suffer most due to application of nano based fertilizers and pesticides in long term. Therefore, proper guidelines with proper protective measures should be followed during application of nanoparticles particularly nanofertilizers and nanopesticides in the field conditions.

Irrigating crops based on evapotranspiration deficit and irrigating after a particular time interval provide scope for optimizing irrigation. Studying the effect of different irrigation frequency on water productivity, is important to develop irrigation schedules under micro irrigation. In this study, effect of different spacing between drip lateral (45 cm and 60 cm) and irrigation frequency (One, Two, Three and Four days) on onion crop (Allium cepa L.) under drip irrigation system during kharif season 2018 in micro plots (2 m × 2 m) filled with sandy loam soil was evaluated. Irrigation was applied using drip irrigation for different irrigation frequency using same volume. During the experiment different observations like soil physical and chemical properties, different growth and yield parameter were recorded. Highest water productivity (10.1 kg/m3) and total bulb yield (169.4 q/ha) was observed in two days irrigation frequency with 45 cm lateral spacing. Available moisture depth (cm) in the root zone (0-60 cm) at 90 DAT, for one day irrigation interval with 45 cm lateral spacing was 11.6 cm at the middle of two laterals which was 9.4 % higher than with 60 cm lateral spacing where available moisture was 10.6 cm. More distantly placed laterals may show poor water distribution and with a few of plants at the midpoint between the rows being water stressed. Studying the effect of different irrigation frequency and design parameter like lateral spacing hence becomes important to develop irrigation schedules and practices that can be used for better irrigation water management.

Water conservation is a wide spread topic for research and discussion. Rajasthan is a dry state with a large arid and semi-arid area. Groundwater levels in region is increasing day by day due to overexploitation and lack of groundwater recharge measures. Precipitation in western Rajasthan is very low out of which maximum are wasted due to run off and infiltration. So, water conservation with storage structures are a solution to meet water demand of area. For water conservation there are many storage and conservation storage are used since a long time. Among these storage Tanka, Nada and Nadi are common structures used in western Rajasthan. Other than these traditional storage systems now-a-days roof rain water harvesting system is also popular due to its various advantages. Objectives of study are determination of different water conservation techniques in Rajasthan and there advantages with economic estimations of roof rain water harvesting system (RRWHS). We also discussed detailed analysis of conservation and restoration measures for traditional storage structures.

The field experiment was conducted at the Research Farm of Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar during the Rabi season of 2015-16. The experiment consisted of twenty treatment combinations comprising four wheat varieties i.e. KRL 210, WH 1105, HD 3086 and DBW 88 as main plots of treatment and five nitrogen levels i.e. 0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 kg N ha-1 as sub-plots treatment, were tested in a split-plot design with three replications. The growth parameters i.e. dry matter accumulation, number of tillers meter-1 row length and leaf area index, grain yield and straw yield were recorded significantly higher in the wheat variety WH 1105. However, it was at par with varieties HD 3086 and DBW 88 for dry matter accumulation and leaf area index. Whereas, plant height was recorded significantly higher in the wheat variety HD 3086. The incremental N levels significantly increased for plant height, dry matter accumulation, number of tillers meter-1 row length, LAI grain yield, straw yield and harvest index up to 150 kg N ha-1 but was at par with 200 kg N ha-1.

Trees have been used for centuries for fodder globally. Tree foliage is substantial source of feed for livestock. As in many other regions of the world, farmers in the Himalaya region depend largely on this for sustaining their livestock during winter and summer season for almost half of the year. Himalayas are remote and inaccessible; people’s dependency relies mainly on forests resources to fulfill livelihood services. Fodder availability in hill villages of Uttarakhand Himalayan region is insufficient and a part of it is supplemented through lopping of tree foliage. The dependency is very high (>70%) during the period, beginning from October to February. Owing to changing climatic conditions, a farmer’s preference for a particular tree species is also variable, according to the low, mid and high hill regions depending on where he lives. For the present study, a Questionnaire survey was conducted in different districts of Kumaon and Garhwal region of Uttarakhand.

Present investigation was carried out for three years (2017-2018, 2018-2019 and 2019-2020) at Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India to find out effect of various gamma doses i.e., 20 Gy, 30 Gy, 40 Gy and 50 Gy along with control (untreated plants) in nine gladiolus varieties such as Gulal, Jyotsna, Mohini, Pusa Kiran, Pusa Srijana, Pusa Vidushi, Swarnima, Pusa Shubham and Urvashi. Lower dose of gamma (20 Gy) registered late withering of last floret, maximum length of spike and water uptake on 3rd day in vase during 1st year and 2nd year. Maximum length of 5th floret was observed with 20 Gy during 1st year and it was maximum with 40 Gy during 2nd year. Among varieties, late withering of 5th floret was registered with cv. Jyotsna and maximum water uptake on 3rd day was recorded with cv. Pusa Shubham. Late withering of 5th floret was obtained with 30 Gy in field condition and in vase it was maximum with 20 Gy gamma dose. Various morphological abnormalities and deformities were observed at higher gamma doses (40 and 50 Gy) in all three years of experimentation. Anomalous change in flower shape, size and colour was identified in irradiated plants when compared to parents.

The tea mosquito bug is one of a major pest in tea. The promising and effective insecticides are limited for the control of TMB and repeated use of similar pesticides for a prolonged period leads to the development of resistance in TMB. In this view, a study was done on finding new and effective pesticides for the control of TMB. Overall fifteen synthetic insecticides were evaluated with 50 treatments against TMB under laboratory conditions. Based on the laboratory evaluation, the effective insecticides were selected for further field evaluation from 2020 to 2021 in Valparai, Coimbatore. TMB reduction percentage, yield analysis and phytotoxicity studies were undertaken during the study period. In the laboratory, seven treatments achieved 100% adult mortality on TMB after 24 hours of application. From the field evaluations, four treatments Viz., Beta-cyfluthrin + Imidacloprid @ 625 mL/ha, Sulfoxaflor @ 250 g/ha, Tolfenpyrad @ 1000 ml/ha and Flupyradifurone 1000 ml/ha were showed 87, 84, 83 and 83% of TMB reduction respectively over the control. Similarly, the above-mentioned treatments also achieved 140, 201, 220 and 208% of increased yield, respectively over the control. From the study, new pesticides produced superior results in the reduction of TMB percentage as well as increase the crop yield.

Pesticides are a critical input in agriculture and have become a social need since they help to maintain food production and combat vector-borne diseases. In India, pesticide usage is 0.27 kg ha-1, however non-compliance with waiting periods and pre-marketing treatment of food products has resulted in a huge residue problem in food products, which has hampered international trade. MRLs are established based on supervised agronomic field trials and toxicological research with the parent chemical and its primary metabolite. Food commodities are regulated in India by the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act (PFA) of 1954 (now the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA) of 2006), the insecticide act of 1968, and the Codex Alimentarius Commission, the Joint FAO/WHO Meeting on Pesticide Residues (JMPR), and the Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues (CCPR), among others. Other countries have their own agencies in charge of pesticide regulation and setting MRLs. MRL values for 213 pesticides have been set in India through 2021. The European Union, the United States, and Japan are India’s main agricultural trading partners. Because developed countries are more concerned about food safety, they implement stringent regulatory measures that can operate as trade barriers. As a result, numerous Indian and other developing-country export shipments have been denied. The issues frequently occur as a result of the large variance in food quality requirements that exporters must achieve in home and international markets. Due to a lack of financial resources and knowledge, developing countries are unable to meet these requirements. To lessen the challenges encountered in international trade, appropriate agricultural practises must be promoted, as well as international collaboration on food safety standards harmonisation.

Human population is increasing at an alarming rate, so also the need for food production which necessitates clearing up new lands for cultivation. For most farmers, because of the existing land tenure system, manage to cultivate their existing farmlands most times in mixed cropping. Cassava farmers engage in piecemeal harvesting ultimately to make room for cultivation of other crop but the underlying reasons for doing this is as a result of longer time it takes for Cassava roots to achieve marketable root size and the problem of bush fires that affect their farms during the long stay of the crop on the farm in a bit to attain maturity. Hence, the need to provide farmers with cassava genotypes that bulks early so that they can be sure of reasonable marketable root sizes before the usual maturing time. This study evaluated cassava genotypes at different harvesting months of 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after planting (MAP) to evaluate their bulking rate at different agroecology of Mokwa and Ubiaja. Data were collected on Fresh Storage Root Yield (FSRY), Harvest Index (HI), and Dry Matter (DM) content. This study show that location was not significant on the fresh root yield and fresh root yield either decreases or increases after 3 months after planting (MAP) until 12MAP where it had the highest size. The genotypes with highest root yield across the months (IKN120036 and IBA090581) showed discontinuity in their root yield during their growth stage and the onset of rainfall reduces dry matter accumulation. Genotypes IBA090525, IBA070593, IBA141092, IKN120016 and IKN120036 maintained higher root yield at 6MAP when there was no rainfall than at 9MAP when there was rainfall. Root yield generally reduces at the onset of rainfall with corresponding reduction in dry matter. There was variability among the genotypes for yield related traits as fresh storage root yield (FSRY), harvest index (HI), and dry matter (DM) were significant at P<0.001, P<0.001 and P<0.01 respectively and MAP was significant for FSRY and DM. Early bulking may not necessarily be high yielding as shown in the study but may be exploited via selection and breeding for higher yields and this is because cassava genotypes vary in terms of dry matter accumulation at different months with environment (location) and dry matter accumulation reduced at 9MAP during the onset of rainfall while rainfall was higher in Ubiaja with higher root yield.

In the field of agriculture in India, an automatic poultry farm is a device that allows efficient use of resources in a poultry farm. In India, a significant portion of the population depends heavily on primary industries for revenue. Either of them, a poultry farm or the poultry industry is a primary source of income for many families. The poultry industry is essential to India’s food supply. The production of automatic poultry farm feeding machines may be needed to expand this industry in India’s rural areas. In today’s system, a poultry farm needs manpower. The chickens are fed manually by manpower. This automated feeding device solves the manpower shortage while also lowering manpower costs. This automated feeding system can be used in both large and small poultry farms, as well as the agricultural sector. Food is fed into a food jar or feeder by this method. This device also uses an automated Fogger system to keep the farm temperature consistent. This automated fogging device can also be used to keep the room at a constant temperature. This automated fogging device can also be used to keep the Livestock Farm’s air at a comfortable temperature. This device is simple to use and affordable. Small poultry farms in India can use it. It can be controlled using an Android phone.