Horizon e-Publishing Group (HePG): E-Journals
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Effect of establishment methods and nutrient management on soil microbial population, enzyme activity and yield of basmati rice (Oryza sativa L.)
Get PDFA field experiment was conducted at the Agricultural College and Research Institute, Madurai, Tamil Nadu during rabi 2023 and kharif 2024 to study the effect of establishment methods and nutrient management on soil microbial population, enzyme activity and yield of basmati rice (Oryza sativa L.). The experiment was laid out in a split-plot design with three establishment methods in the main plot: mechanical transplanting (M1), transplanting under saturated soil conditions (M2) and conventional transplanting (M3) and seven nutrient management practices in the subplot: ICAR blanket recommendation for basmati (S1), Soil Test Crop Response (STCR) recommendation (S2), 75 % inorganic + 25 % organic N equivalent (S3), 50 % inorganic + 50 % organic N equivalent (S4), 25 % inorganic + 75 % organic N equivalent (S5), 100 % organic N equivalent (S6) and absolute control (S7). Results revealed that M1S6 (mechanical transplanting with 100 % organic as N equivalent) recorded the higher microbial count and enzyme activity. In terms of yield, mechanical transplanting with STCR based nutrient management (M1S2) produced the highest yield, followed closely by M1S3 (mechanical transplanting with application of 75 % inorganic + 25 % organic as N equivalent), which was statistically on par with M1S2. In conclusion, although M1S2 achieved the highest yield, M1S6 emerged as the most effective for enhancing microbial population and enzyme activity, thereby promoting soil health. M1S3 offered a balanced trade-off by achieving high yield while integrating organic nutrients, emphasizing environmental sustainability and soil health. Hence, M1S3 is recommended as a practical and eco-friendly option for sustainable basmati rice cultivation, providing harmonious balance between productivity and ecological wellbeing.
Effect of physical and chemical mutagens on the growth performance of two soybean (TGX 1987-62F and TGX 1835-10E) varieties in the M1 generation
Get PDFMutational breeding is a cost-effective and time-efficient technique that enhances genetic variability in crops by inducing mutations using physical agents like gamma rays or chemical agents like sodium azide, without involving genetic engineering. The aim of the study was to analyse the effect of gamma radiation and sodium azide (SA) on the growth performance of two soybean varieties (TGX 1987-62F and TGX 1835-10E). Growth parameters included germination percentage, plant height, number of leaves per plant, number of pods per plant, days to 50 % flowering, chlorophyll content, 100-seed weight and total grain yield. The experiment included 20 treatments and was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD). Statistical analysis showed that among the two varieties, the highest rate of germination (60.0 % seedling/plot) was found in TGX 1835 (15Gy) while, 19.67 % seedling/plot was observed at 0.0.2 % SA. Average plant height (64.40 cm) was observed in TGX 1835 irradiated with 10Gy, as compared to the controls (TGX 1987: 55.46 cm and TGX 1835: 60.93 cm). Highest average leaf count in TGX 1987 was 125.67 leaves/plant, irradiated with 10Gy while, 183.33 leaves/plant, treated with 0.02 % SA. The highest total leaf area of 163.19 cm2 was recorded in TGX 1835 in M1 (mutation 1 generation) plants and 163.56 cm2, treated with 0.02 % SA. The gamma ray’s treatment at 10Gy in TGX 1835 affirmed its potential in generating highest yield in M1 plants. Future breeding programs should focus on stabilizing these mutants (M1 and subsequent generations) to develop commercially viable high-yield varieties, for food security
Evaluation of chinese potato (Plectranthus rotundifolius) germplasms under coconut-based cropping system in Tamil Nadu
Get PDFCoconut (Cocos nucifera L.), a key plantation crop in India, contributes significantly to the national economy. Despite high productivity, coconut farmers face challenges including fragmented landholdings and biotic stress, necessitating the adoption of intercropping systems to improve land use efficiency and profitability. Intercropping shade-tolerant tuber crops like Chinese potato (Plectranthus rotundifolius), particularly in the underutilized interspaces of coconut plantations, offers multiple agronomic and economic benefits. An experiment was conducted during the 2024-25 kharif season in Theni district, Tamil Nadu, to evaluate the performance of 40 Chinese potato germplasms under an 8-year-old coconut plantation. The study followed a randomized block design with three replications. Data on growth and yield parameters such as number of branches, days to flowering, tuber dimensions, tuber count and fresh tuber weight were recorded and statistically analyzed. Germplasm PKM-CP-2 exhibited superior performance in tuber length, width, number and yield (333.8 g plant-1), followed by PKM-CP-10, PKM-CP-4 and PKM-CP-8. In contrast, PKM-CP-23 consistently showed the lowest performance across several traits. The results suggest substantial genotypic variation among germplasms, with certain accessions demonstrating promising yield potential for intercropping systems. The study highlights the viability of integrating Chinese potato as a high-value secondary crop in coconut plantations, providing enhanced income opportunities for smallholder farmers and optimizing resource utilization. Further exploration of high-performing germplasms could support commercialization and diversification in coconut-based farming systems
Morphometric and phytochemical analysis of Ximenia americana L. fruits harvested from Amrabad Tiger Reserve Forest of India
Get PDFThe present investigation involved phytochemical screening of wild plum to evaluate its phytoconstituents. The fruits exhibited a total phenolic content of 1.24 mg/100 g (as gallic acid equivalent) and a total flavonoid content of 79.27 mg/100 g (as quercetin equivalent). The average fruit weight was 7.12 g, ranging from 6.55 to 7.83 g. the weights of the peel, pulp, pit and seed were 3.51 g, 1.31 g, 0.30 g and 0.92 g respectively. The average fruit length was 23.26 mm, while pulp thickness and peel thickness measured 0.21 mm and 2.40 mm respectively. Pit thickness was recorded at 0.51 mm. The equatorial, polar, apical and basal diameters of fruits were 20.72 mm, 21.52 mm, 16.83 mm and 17.92 mm respectively. The pulp color parameters included lightness (L*) value of 44.40, a* value of 22.93 and b* value of 36.91. The leaf area was calculated to be 8.99 cm², with a length of 3.28 cm and a width of 3.36 cm, resulting in a leaf length-to-width ratio of 0.97. Fruit extract concentration of 10, 30 and 50 μg showed free radical scavenging activities of 2.82 %, 4.08 % and 5.38 %. About 38 secondary metabolites were identified in methanolic extract of fruits, including phenols, alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids, lignans, terpenoids, naphthoquinones, saponins, hydrolyzable tannins and steroids. Hepato-protective and antiviral properties, as well as neuroprotective properties, were demonstrated by the methyl ester 3,4-di-o-caffeoylquinic acid, iridoid glycosides like 6-o-trans-feruloylgenipin gentiobioside, 10-(6-o-trans sinapoylglucopyranosyl) gardendiol, as well as a neo chlorogenic acid 3-caffeoyl quinic acid, respectively. Understanding these bioactive benefits highlights the potential for commercial cultivation of wild plum, moving beyond traditional wild collection to meet the requirements of the country
Spatial assessment of soil heavy metal pollution in Coimbatore, India
Get PDFHeavy metal contamination of soil is a serious risk to human health, agricultural production and the environment. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the concentration and spatial distribution of important heavy metals in the soils of Coimbatore, a fast industrializing and urbanizing area in Tamil Nadu, India. These metals include Mercury (Hg), Cadmium (Cd) and Arsenic (As). Throughout the district, 145 soil samples were gathered from peri-urban, industrial, residential and agricultural locations. Atomic absorption spectrophotometry was used to evaluate the samples and Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping and geostatistical methods were used to interpret the findings. The distribution patterns were shown using spatial interpolation techniques such as Kriging and Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW). The results showed that several heavy metal concentrations were higher than allowed by national and international norms, especially in industrial and roadside areas. In addition to being a fundamental tool for sustainable land use planning, pollution mitigation and environmental monitoring in the area, this spatial evaluation offers important insights into pollution hotspots. The results of this study highlight how soil deterioration caused by industrialization has an indirect impact on agricultural production
Genetic diversity analysis in eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) using Mahalanobis D² analysis, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Start Codon Targeted (SCoT)
Get PDFThis study evaluated morpho-molecular diversity among 34 eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) accessions using 10 morphological descriptors, 16 quantitative traits and 15 SCoT to parent selection and broadening the breeding base effectively. Mahalanobis D² analysis grouped the accessions into five clusters, with the greatest inter-cluster divergence between Clusters V and IV. PCA identified five components (eigenvalues >1) explaining 75.65 % of the total variance, with PC1 contributing 38.3 %. High-performing and genetically diverse accessions such as Kashi Uttam, Kashi Green Round, CHBR-2, BUB-18-12 and BUB-18-27 were identified through PCA biplot. SCoT markers amplified 4-10 loci/primer (mean: 6.13), all polymorphic, with SCoT-20, SCoT-13, SCoT-17 and SCoT-25 being the most informative based on PIC values. UPGMA clustering grouped accessions into three clusters (A:14, B:15, C:5), while population structure analysis identified two sub-populations (A:26, B:10). SCoT analysis revealed significant molecular variability. The lack of unique clustering across morphological and molecular data highlights the importance of integrated approaches. Crosses among divergent clusters are recommended to enhance genetic gain and cultivar development
Resource use pattern and efficiency under different irrigation sources in Balasore district of Odisha
No full textThe resource use pattern and efficiency were studied in the Balasore district of Odisha under different sources of irrigation. The major sources of irrigation identified in the area were shallow tube-well, lift irrigation and river irrigation. The major crops cultivated in the area during different seasons are paddy, groundnut and pulses. The district of Balasore was selected purposively due to its irrigation potential status and distinct phases of changes in irrigation scenarios. A total of 93 respondents were selected for the study adequately representing different farmers under different sources of irrigation by proportionate random sampling method. The primary data was collected by interview method using a well-structured questionnaire. The secondary data was collected from appropriate sources. The Cobb-Douglas production function was used to study the efficiency of resource use and estimation of the production function. The results depicted how efficiently the resources are used and the relationship of output explained by the given set of explanatory variables
Perception of the rice growers of Bhadrak district of Odisha towards hybrid rice cultivation
No full textHybrid rice is of great prominence in the modern farming era due to its potential to enhance productivity, resilience, and sustainability in rice cultivation with the given set of conditions, ultimately towards securing food security and financial progress of the farming community. Even though the folklore of its advantages is well announced in the scientific fraternity, it is of great importance to explore its presence amidst the mindsets of the farming communities who are the real intended beneficiaries of such innovations. In this context, a research study was conducted to evaluate and assess the levels of perception of rice farmers in Odisha. This study was conducted in the Bhadrak district of Odisha. 80 farmers were chosen as samples by multistage sampling in a purposive manner. Data collection was executed using a personal interview method, where perception was measured using the Likert scale with modifications. The majority of respondents had a favourable assessment of soil and climate under ecological conditions since they were judged to be acceptable for hybrid rice. Their perception regarding fertilizer, plant protection chemicals, and irrigation was also found to be positive. They expressed negative perceptions regarding rainfall patterns and temperature under ecological conditions, which were found to be unsuitable. The majority had expressed moderate levels of overall extent of perception. The majority of the respondents were middle to aged, coming from medium to large sized family, earning in the range of Rs. 93,247 to Rs. 2,56,442 annually, acquiring moderate to high levels of experience in farming activities, and demonstrating moderate extent nature in case of education, achievement motivation, risk orientation, extension participation, mass media exposure and market accessibility. Parameters like age, education, mass media exposure, and market accessibility demonstrated their significant association with overall perception, indicating the importance of leveraging these factors in initiatives to improve perceptions of hybrid rice
Evaluation of the biochemical effects and biological efficacy of Crocus sativus extract in rats with bacterial kidney infection
No full textOne major issue affecting the kidneys is bacterial nephritis. The bacterium that causes acute pyelonephritis is E. coli. According to studies, caocin and safranal are considered the most effective compounds found in saffron. They are easily penetrated through the bacterial wall because they are water-soluble, thus inhibiting their effectiveness. In addition to estimating certain elements and ions in the rats\u27 blood and examining the histological alterations, The current study attempts to confirm the effectiveness of Crocus sativus extract as an antibacterial in infected animals. In this study, rats were infected with E. coli with a dose of 1*109 (CFU) and were subsequently given an aqueous extract of the plant at a dosage of 150 mg/kg for 14 days. The results showed that significantly decrease levels of sodium and potassium in the blood serum in the animal group treated with C. sativus extract, while the results show a significant increase in the level of hemoglobin and ferritin in the blood. There was also no significant change in the level of iron in group treated with C. sativus extraction compared to the infected animals group. Damage to Bowman\u27s capsule was also evident in the histological architecture of the kidneys in the animals with bacterial infection. Renal filtration was enhanced by treatment with Crocus sativus aqueous extract, which also reduced tissue damage to the kidneys. Examined the effects of several amounts of C. sativus extract on the E. coli bacterium
Exploring the potential of organic seed treatment and foliar nutrition to achieve sustainability in pulses production
No full textLow productivity is a major challenge in organic farming and needs to be addressed to achieve sustainability. Due to their capacity to fix nitrogen, pulses require less organic fertilizer, which makes organic farming feasible. However, a 20% loss in pulse productivity under organic cultivation has been reported. Conventional farming boosts yields with energy-intensive chemical inputs but causes long-term issues like pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, reduced soil fertility and land degradation. The yield loss can be minimised by alternative inputs like bio-formulations preferably derived from farm waste and other sustainable sources. These bio-formulations often include a mixture of beneficial microorganisms, organic nutrients and natural growth-promoting substances which are cost-effective when compared to conventional inputs and help in improved nutrient absorption, enhanced plant growth and yield, disease and pest resistance, stress tolerance and enhanced soil health. There are several approaches for applying bio-formulations to plants such as foliar spray, seed treatment, soil application, drenching, mulch integration and fertigation, all of which are designed to guarantee maximum absorption and efficacy. This review explores the various organic seed treatments and foliar fertilisation using bio-formulations such as panchagavya, jeevamrutha, beejamrutha, fish fermented waste extract, seaweed extract, vermiwash and biofertilizers to improve the productivity of pulses under organic cultivation