Horizon e-Publishing Group (HePG): E-Journals
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Productivity of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) genotypes in response to varying sowing time and row spacing under Punjab conditions
Full text linkFennel, known as \u27Saunf\u27 and belonging to the Apiaceae family, is primarily cultivated in Gujarat and Rajasthan, contributing over 90 % of India\u27s fennel production. Fennel is mainly grown as a winter spice crop. A field experiment was conducted at the School of Organic Farming, Punjab Agriculture University, Ludhiana during the rabi seasons of 2020-21 and 2021-22 to evaluate the productivity of fennel genotypes under varying sowing times and row spacing. The experiment was laid out in split plot design comprising three fennel varieties (Ajmer Fennel-1, Ajmer Fennel-2 and Local), 2 sowing dates (November 1st and November 15th) and 2 row spacing (45 cm and 60 cm) with 3 replications. The variety ‘Ajmer Fennel- 2’ (AF 2) recorded significantly higher branches and umbels per plant, while having a shorter plant height compared to ‘Ajmer Fennel-1’ (AF 1) and a local variety. The variety AF 2 also produced higher seed yields by 19.1 and 37.9 % than AF 1 and the local variety in 2020-21 and 13.6 and 44.4 % in 2021 -22, respectively. The sowing of fennel on November 1st resulted in higher plant height, number of branches and seed yield as compared to November 15th sown fennel. Further, the sowing with row to row spacing of 45 cm recorded higher plant height, branches as compared to wider sown rows of fennel (60 cm), which contributed to higher seed yield during both the years. Thus, \u27Ajmer Fennel-2\u27 sown on November 1st with 45 cm row spacing performed best under Punjab conditions
Rice straw biostimulants: Phytochemicals and effects on maize growth and tomato yield
Full text linkBiostimulants offer sustainable alternatives to enhance plant growth, resilience and crop yield, especially in organic farming. This study aimed to develop a nutrient-enriched biostimulant from rice straw, a widely available agricultural by-product, often burned, leading to environmental pollution. Rice straw was collected, processed and extracted using cow urine and deionized water (1:50). The extracts underwent phytochemical analysis via GC-MS and LC-MS, identifying bioactive compounds such as fatty acids, sterols, phenols and flavonoids. Elemental analysis confirmed the presence of key nutrients and trace elements, including potassium and magnesium, essential for plant growth. In-vitro assays on maize (CO6 hybrid) evaluated the biostimulant’s efficacy, showing a 12 % increase in germination and a 25 % improvement in seedling vigor at optimal cow urine extract concentrations (CE) (25 %). Root length and shoot biomass also exhibited significant improvements. Field experiments on tomato cultivar (Madhan hybrid) compared the effects of the rice straw-based biostimulant with panchagavya, a traditional organic preparation, alongside controls including cow urine and water. The findings revealed that the rice straw-derived biostimulant markedly improved fruit yield by 22 % compared to the control. This enhancement exceeded that of panchagavya, which achieved a 17 % increase in fruit yield. These results underscore the superior efficacy of the rice straw-based treatment, especially those extracted with cow urine, in enhancing crop productivity, reducing reliance on synthetic agrochemicals and promoting environmentally sustainable agricultural practices
Synergistic role of rootstock and grafting in boosting growth, yield, and quality of cucumber cultivation
Full text linkCucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) is a widely grown and highly valued cucurbitaceous vegetable crop, commanding premium prices in the vegetable market. However, intensive cultivation and monocropping practices have led to significant challenges in cucumber production, particularly in greenhouses, due to root-knot nematode and soil-borne diseases. Grafting has emerged as an alternative approach to boost abiotic stress tolerance and mitigate root diseases caused by soil-borne pathogens, thereby improving crop productivity. A study was conducted during 2023-2024 on the farmer’s field to explore the interactive effects of various grafting techniques by grafting a hybrid cucumber scion onto various local rootstocks. The experiment evaluated the performance of the hybrid cucumber scion Emistar, grafted onto four rootstocks: fig-leaf gourd (Cucurbita ficifolia), pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo), ash gourd (Benincasa hispida), and bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria). Two grafting techniques-hole insertion and splice grafting, were tested using different scion-rootstock combinations. The study evaluated growth, yield, and fruit quality under controlled environmental conditions. The results indicated that the pumpkin rootstock outperformed the other rootstocks, particularly when grafted using the hole insertion techniques. This combination achieved the earliest flowering (26.33 days), longest plant growth (455.77 cm), and highest fruit yield (8.07 Kg). In contrast, splice grafting on bottle gourd resulted in slower growth and lower yields. Additionally, hole insertion grafting on pumpkin produced superior fruit characteristics, including the longest fruits (16.43 cm), largest diameter (9.1 cm), highest fruit weight (147.24 g), and the highest total soluble solids (TSS) content (2.85ºBrix). Correlation and principal component analysis (PCA) highlighted strong positive relationships between yield and growth traits, emphasizing the superiority of the pumpkin rootstock for cucumber grafting. The study showed vigorous rootstocks like pumpkin can significantly enhance cucumber growth and yield through improved nutrient uptake, hormone translocation, and optimized grafting techniques
Nutrient nexus: Linking soil, plants, animals and humans
Full text linkThe complex interrelationships between soil, plants, animals, and humans form the nutrient nexus, where the health and well-being of each component are intricately linked. This article comprehensively explores the dynamics of nutrients through this continuum, emphasizing the vital role of nutrient management in ensuring food security, sustainable agriculture, and a balanced ecosystem. It delves into the importance of nutrients at various levels, investigating case studies that illustrate the correlation between soil nutrient availability, plant uptake, animal nutrition, and human health. The article also examines government initiatives, nutrient management practices, and strategies like dietary diversification, biofortification, food fortification, and supplementation to combat nutrient deficiencies. The integration of traditional knowledge with modern scientific advancements advocates for a holistic approach to nutrientmanagement, considering local resources, cultural practices, and environmental conditions. Ultimately, the article highlights the necessity of efficient nutrient management not only for ensuring food security but also for preserving the delicate balance of our planet\u27s ecosystems for future generations
A comprehensive review of farmers producer organizations in India: Historical evolution, current status and future policy challenges
Full text linkAgriculture plays an important role in India but faces various challenges. A large number of farmers in India have small and marginal holdings of less than two hectares, which is linked to the increasing fragmentation of land. Many institutional policies aim to improve the farmer’s livelihoods to mitigate the disadvantages of land fragmentation. These measures include the formation of Primary Agricultural Cooperative Society (PACS), Self-Help Group (SHG), Joint Liability Group (JLG) and Common Interest Group (CIG). However, there are limitations to these initiatives, as they often provide considerably more managerial control and influence to local powerful individual. In response, Farmers Producer Organizations (FPOs) have emerged as pivotal entities aimed at integrating smallholders into mainstream markets. India has over 10,000 FPOs, benefiting 4 million farmers and increasing income by 20-25%. But 70% face sustainability challenges. Policy initiatives, such as NABARD’s Rs.6,865 crore schemes, an aim to address these issues. This paper considered the Scopus database using the Boolean keyword "Farmer" AND "Producer organization" and identified articles were shortlisted after screening using PRISMA framework. While previous studies have offered insights into various aspects of FPOs, there remains a significant lack of cohesive analysis integrating historical trends, current challenges and future policy directions. This study identifies key factors influencing FPO system, including governance mechanisms, market linkages and capacity-building initiatives. The review highlights current challenges and opportunities within the FPO system, suggesting policy recommendations for future development. The findings offer valuable insights into the transformative potential of FPOs and inform strategic policy recommendations to ensure their sustainability in India\u27s agricultural sector
Discriminant analysis of agricultural input dealer’s perceptions in fertilizer and secondary nutrient brands
Full text linkAgri-input dealers play an intermediary role between fertilizer manufacturers and farmers, serving as a crucial link in the agricultural value chain. This study investigates the perceptions of agri-input dealers regarding various fertilizer and secondary nutrient brands and develops a perceptual map to visualize their market positioning. Discriminant analysis is used as a method for categorizing entities into distinct groups. This analytical approach differentiates two or more collections of objects or individuals based on their specific characteristics. Perceptual mapping, on the other hand, is an attribute-centric strategy employed by brand managers to understand customer perceptions of their brands compared to rival brands. This study aims to explore how dealers associate various agriculture input companies with key factors influencing brand preferences, such as product quality, pricing, brand reputation, credit availability, profit margin and marketing support. By understanding dealers\u27 perspectives, fertilizer manufacturers can gain valuable insights into their brand positioning, identify areas for improvement and develop strategies to enhance their market share and customer satisfaction within the agri-input dealer channel. Notable distinctions were observed in this study, particularly in terms of product quality and pricing
Sustainable fodder crop-feed integration practices: Impact on dairy farm economics and agricultural diversity
Full text linkThe study aimed to identify factors influencing feed purchase among dairy farmers in Tamil Nadu. The study highlights the crucial relationship between fodder crop cultivation and dairy farming economics. Local fodder crops like Hybrid Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum), Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) and Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) play a vital role in supplementing commercial cattle feed, potentially reducing feed costs by 15-20 %. Integrating sustainable fodder cultivation practices with commercial feed usage presents opportunities for improving dairy farm profitability while promoting agricultural diversity. A survey was conducted among 200 dairy farmers in the districts of Ariyalur and Perambalur to gain a deeper understanding of that consumer buying behaviour, cost of production, benefit-cost ratio, factors influence buying behaviour and constraints faced by the farmers while purchasing and using cattle feed, such as the fact that specific feeds are improperly prepared, that costs are prohibitively high and that obtaining credit to pay for feeds is difficult. Key determinants of feed choice include product-related factors, marketing, economic factors, distribution, farm and milk production, labour and Government support. It is concluded that producers, distributors and legislators have insightful information about how to raise feed quality, accessibility and affordability while also boosting the financial viability and sustainability of Tamil Nadus’ dairy industry
Unveiling key adaptation strategies: A systematic review of climate variability’s impact on agriculture
Full text linkThis review aims to comprehensively analyze the variability of climate in agriculture and theadaptive behaviour of farmers in response to climate change, synthesizing existing knowledge andexamining measures for mitigate climate fluctuations. To achieve this, a systematic literaturereview (SLR) was conducted using the Scopus database, covering the past eleven years. A total of177 articles were identified through a methodological application of the Preferred Reporting Itemsfor Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) framework. While these studies encompass abroad geographical scope, the selection was deliberately constrained by a small sample size toexclude regions lacking conflicting evidence, ensuring relevance and high-quality information, astandard practice in systematic reviews within this field. This study hypothesizes that adaptivestrategies, such as climate-smart agriculture and early warning systems, significantly reducefarmers’ vulnerability under climate change. Key findings indicates that practices like conservationtillage, agroforestry, and other climate-resilient approaches enhances agricultural sustainability andresilience. The results highlight the urgent need for further investigation and policy incentives toencourage adaptive behaviour and provide food security in the presence of climatic variability.Thus, the conclusion of these findings encourages the widespread uptake of climate-smart practicescoupled with early warning mechanisms to reduce climatic risks effectively
Optimization of planting methods and seed coating for enhanced rice seed yield and quality in mechanized farming
Full text linkThe demand for rice is predicted to rise by over 200 million tons by 2050 due to the rapidly growing population. India needs to step up its rice production because of the burgeoning population and decreasing land and other resources. Existing lower yield in rice caused by improper planting methods, particularly related to transplanting. This research was conducted to understand the effect of planting methods with coated and uncoated seeds to maximize seed yield and quality of rice. A field was raised in a randomized block design (RBD) on different treatments as coated and uncoated seeds with methods of sowings such as drone sowing, drum sowing, machine transplanting and manual transplanting with three replications. The observation on the number of hills m-2, number of tillers m-2, number of productive tillers m 2, number of grains panicle-1, 1000-grain weight, rice yield m-2 and quality indicators were gathered. The result indicates the maximum seed yield and productive tillers per hill recorded in drone seeding with coated seeds (59.71 q ha-1 and 31.75, respectively) whereas uncoated manual transplanting recorded 51.68 q ha-1 and 25.0 numbers, respectively in rice variety CO 55. Further, results on seed quality parameters revealed that machine transplanting yields higher production with the best seed quality compared to the seeds from drone sowing. It is concluded that drone sowing and machine transplanting are superior in seed yield and quality than conventional manual transplanting. Further research on enhancing the seed productivity through drone sowing on seeding density, population maintenance and productive tiller enhancement can be done
Two decades of spice trade among SAFTA nations - Is it really aromatic for India?
Full text linkRegional Trade Agreements (RTAs) are the foundation of the multilateral trading mechanism and act as a path to boost trade, enhance market access and strengthen relations with economies across the globe. The growing number of trade agreements between countries and within regions reflects a global momentum towards economic openness and creating more dynamic and competitive market environments. This study employs the gravity model with panel data from 2002 to 2020 to examine the trade effects, including trade creation and trade diversion of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on the spices trading between India and SAARC member countries under the South Asian Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA). The analysis shows a trade creation effect of SAFTA in the fixed effect (FE) model. The results also suggest that the spice trade could help in improving the Indian economy with SAFTA. India being the major spice exporter to the world nations and SAARC countries, has the relative trade advantage in spice trade with members of SAARC nations. Globally, India can use the advantage of exporting spices for higher value rather than for high volume proportional to the distance, which is a proxy for the trade costs