Horizon e-Publishing Group (HePG): E-Journals
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Strengthening drought management through institutional partnerships in Tamil Nadu
Get PDFTamil Nadu, with its distinctive climatic conditions and significant reliance on monsoon rainfall, frequent grapples with drought. Effective drought management in the state relies on the collaborative efforts of diverse institutions, including government institutions, public-private partnerships, non-governmental organizations and research institutions. This review evaluates the strategies implemented by these entities-such as water resource optimization, agricultural interventions, the promotion of drought-resistant crop varieties and the implementation of sustainable farming practices. It further assesses the policy frameworks, institutional responsibilities and cooperative actions that shape drought management initiatives. Through a comprehensive analysis of institutional responses to water scarcity in Tamil Nadu, this review provides valuable insights for enhancing policy development and fostering more resilient drought management practices in the future
Artificial diet: A novel technique for honey bee sustenance–a review
Get PDFColony maintenance during honey dearth period is a tricky and cumbersome task for bee keepers worldwide. The development of artificial diet has improved remarkably to confront the challenges of dearth period like reduced foraging activities, decreased brood development, susceptible to diseases due to lack of immunity and so on. The complexity of artificial diets grew over time as many studies demonstrated the vital significance of balanced nutritional profile of honey bees such as carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, lipids, phytochemicals and phytosterols. Recent advancements have incorporated microbes such as cyanobacteria, yeast and other natural plant extracts to artificial diet to support colony growth, to enhance disease resistance and to maintain a healthy gut microbiome. Commercial diets are pre-formulated blends enriched with all nutrients including probiotics which can improve digestion, nutrient absorption and bolsters the bee’s immune systems and to overcome the difficulties faced by honey bees during dearth period. By combining a well-balanced diet with all essential nutrients, beekeepers can better support their colonies with enhanced resilience through which year-round productivity and overall well-being of honey bees can be maintained. This article gives an insight into artificial sources, microbe-based nutrition and their combination and commercial diet formulations that are required during off-season through which over all sustenance of honey bees can be achieved
The utilization of alum sludge as constructed wetlands’ media to reduce nutrient in communal wastewater treatment plant effluent
Get PDFCommunal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) typically used Anaerobic Baffled Reactors (ABRs) due to their low operational costs and ease of maintenance. However, studies indicated that nutrients such as ammonia and phosphate in ABR effluents often failed to meet quality standards. This issue became increasingly urgent as untreated nutrients significantly contributed to environmental degradation, including eutrophication in water bodies, which posed a severe threat to aquatic ecosystems and public health. The pressing need to explore efficient nutrient removal techniques highlighted the importance of investigating innovative approaches such as constructed wetlands using alum sludge. On the other hand, drinking water treatment processes usually required the addition of aluminum sulfate for coagulation, which generated sludge containing aluminum. This alum sludge was often disposed of without proper treatment, leading to environmental degradation. For the first time, this research connected two separate fields-wastewater treatment and alum sludge management-revealing an interdisciplinary approach that transformed alum sludge into a sustainable material for nutrient removal. This innovation addressed dual environmental challenges: mitigating nutrient pollution and repurposing waste materials. Research suggested that dried alum sludge from drinking water treatment plants had the potential to be used as media in constructed wetlands to reduce nutrient levels. A comprehensive literature review was conducted to explore methods of dewatering alum sludge before its use as constructed wetland media, various designs of constructed wetlands using alum sludge and the mechanisms of nutrient removal. This work unveiled promising business opportunities, particularly for industries focusing on sustainable waste reuse technologies and eco-friendly infrastructure development. Prospective directions for further research included optimizing the longevity and efficiency of alum sludge as constructed wetlands media under different wastewater conditions. Future challenges included addressing potential aluminum leaching, maintaining media performance over time and exploring scalability for industrial applications. The results indicated that alum sludge was typically air-dried and then oven-dried before being used as an alternative media in constructed wetlands. Key mechanisms for nutrient removal in constructed wetlands with alum sludge included adsorption through ligand exchange, nitrification-denitrification, microbial activity and plant uptake. Single-stage constructed wetland designs demonstrated higher removal efficiency compared to multi-stage designs, suggesting pathways for cost-effective implementation in decentralized wastewater treatment systems
Comprehensive and comparative analysis of various rice establishment methods: A review
Get PDFRice (Oryza sativa L.) is the most important staple food crop sustaining nearly two third of the world\u27s population. However, rice cultivation faces several challenges, including the use of uncertified seeds, water scarcity, labor shortages and weed infestations. To address these issues, it is essential to adopt appropriate crop establishment methods that enhance growth and yield attributes of rice. In India rice is commonly grown by transplanting seedlings into the puddled soil. Although this method is widely practiced, it demands substantial labor, water, capital and energy making it less profitable which makes the farmers to shift towards direct-seeded rice (DSR). While DSR offers benefits in terms of labor and water savings, its adoption is hindered by poor seedling establishment and increased weed infestation. Under this situation, System of Rice Intensification (SRI) has emerged as a methodology that achieves higher seedling establishment rate (97.3 %) and also reduces water usage, enhancing weed control and increasing the total production. Despite of its advantages, SRI is laborious, requiring skilled workers for transplanting and it is time-consuming which delays the transplanting process. This situation highlights the need for mechanized rice transplanting, which facilitates timely planting and efficient crop establishment. Mechanization reduces labor, time, energy and production costs, ultimately enabling higher yields at a lower cost
Influence of planting pattern and nutrient management on plant growth, yield and quality of sweet corn in a rainfed sweet corn-cowpea intercropping system
Get PDFIntercropping, a sustainable agricultural practice, enhances land use efficiency, soil fertility and overall crop productivity. This study uses a split-plot design to evaluate the effects of various Sweet corn (SC) + Cowpea (CP) intercropping patterns and nutrient management strategies on sweet corn growth, yield and quality during 2019 and 2020 cropping years. The hypothesis was that intercropping, combined with optimal nutrient management, can significantly enhance the performance of sweet corn. Amongst the planting pattern and nutrient management practices, sweet corn and cowpea planted in alternate paired rows of 2:2 and 75 % of the soil test based recommended fertilizer (STBFR) to SC and STBFR to CP, supplemented with consortia biofertilizer (BC) gave superior results in terms of growth, yield and yield attributing characters as compared to other treatments. Specifically, SC planting with CP in 1:1 and 2:2 ratios showed a yield increase of 13 % to 15.6 % over the same-row planting. Although the planting pattern did not significantly influence the quality parameters of SC, the nutrient management practice involving 75 % STBFR with BC resulted in the highest accumulation of total sugars (10.8 %), reducing sugars (1.98 %), non-reducing sugars (8.55 %) protein content (8.69 %), total soluble solids (TSS) value (15.79 °Brix), phenol content (0.19 %) and calcium content (42.73 mg) in the kernels. The study suggested that intercropping sweet corn and cowpea in a 2:2 row pattern, combined with 75 % STBFR to SC + STBFR to CP + BC, is a sustainable and economically beneficial practice for farmers
Exploring the influence of plant extracts on silkworm growth and health: A review
Get PDFThe quality and productivity of cocoon production remain a major concern for the Indian sericulture industry. Enhancing the nutritional quality of mulberry leaves can lead to improved efficiency in cocoon and seed production. Among the various approaches being considered, enhancing the nutritional quality of mulberry leaves by fortifying and improving the economic traits and silk productivity seems to be a promising strategy. In this situation, using plant extracts during silkworm rearing emerged as a viable option to achieve this goal. The bioactive compounds present in plant extract have been shown to have positive effects on silkworms by enhancing food intake, increasing biomass and thereby improving cocoon yield. Although much research has been done in this area, the strategies proposed for its application are often insufficient to address current productivity challenges. This review aims to collect and analyse available data and information on the application of plant extracts to improve the economic characteristics of the silkworm (Bombyx mori L). By integrating these results, this review aims to provide information to help develop more effective strategies to improve cocoon production and quality for commercial silkworm rearing in the future
Metabolomic profiling, FT-IR and GC-MS characterization and bioactivity of Psychotria adenophylla leaf extracts
Get PDFPsychotria adenophylla Wall. belongs to Rubiaceae family and known “Chelianthua” in Odisha. It’s used as traditional medicine and an efficient analytical method for reliably assessing the quality of P. adenophylla leaves has yet to be clearly developed. The present study investigated the preliminary phytochemical screening, FT-IR and GC-MS characterization, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic and anti-bacterial activity of different solvents leaves extract where it showed significant biological activities. Qualitative analysis was used to identify the secondary metabolites saponin, tannin, alkaloid, phenol, phlobatannin, steroid, terpenoid, glycosides, anthraquinone and flavonoids. Quantitative phytochemical screening of total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC) and total steroid content (TSC) was done using different methods. FT-IR and GC-MS was done using crude extracts, viz., Petroleum ether, chloroform and aqueous. In-vitro anti-inflammatory activity was done by albumin inhibition assay. In-vitro hypoglycemic effect was studied using α-amylase inhibition assay and α-glucosidase assay. Antibacterial potential was studied through agar well diffusion method, MIC and MBC were evaluated by serial dilution method. Result showed the presence of secondary metabolites viz. saponin, tannins, alkaloids, phenol, steroids, terpenoids, glycosides, anthraquinone and flavonoids. Total phenolic content was evaluated to be 118.76 mg GAE, total flavonoid content was 47.42 mg/g rutin equivalent and total steroid content was estimated to be 104.9 mg/g of diosgenin in petroleum ether (PA-Pe) extract which was higher than chloroform (PA-C) i.e 65.51 mg/g of diosgenin and 49.15 mg/g of diosgenin in aqueous extract (PA-A). GC-MS spectrum shows 25 compounds in PA-Pe crude extract, where PA-C showed 50 compounds. The petroleum ether extract demonstrated superior biological activity, exhibiting 73.79 % α-amylase and 71.55 % α-glucosidase inhibition (antidiabetic activity), along with significant antibacterial effects against gram-negative pathogens (18.32 ± 0.58 mm zone against K. pneumoniae) with MIC/MBC values of 37.5 µg/mL where in gram positive bacteria B. subtilis showed higher zone of inhibition of 17.39 ± 0.64. The lowest MIC and MBC were evaluated for both K. pneumoniae and B. subtilis i.e 37.5 µg/mL and > 37.5 µg/mL Every test revealed that petroleum ether extract was more active than chloroform and aqueous extracts. These findings highlight PA-Pe as the most effective extract, suggesting its potential as a source of natural anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antidiabetic agents
Optimizing baby corn yield and quality: Insights from organic and agronomic interventions
No full textCultivation of baby corn, a profitable crop in the global agricultural market, requires careful attention to increase yield, productivity and quality. This review examines the impact of various land configuration practices and organic nutrient management practices on baby corn yield, productivity and quality. Different land configurations, including flat beds, broad beds and ridges and furrows, can be combined with organic nutrient management strategies that utilize various plant- and animal-based soil amendments. While organic nutrient management has increased the nutritional content of baby corn, particularly by increasing micronutrient levels, improvements in land configuration have had a substantial influence on the crop\u27s productivity. Physical characteristics, such as cob length, width, grain homogeneity and overall quality, have all been significantly improved. These improvements support sustainable farming practices, in addition to increasing the market value of baby corn. Baby corn\u27s versatility and nutritional advantages have expanded its commercial potential and raised demand for both fresh and processed varieties. This review highlights the importance of integrating organic nutrient management with land configuration to enhance the sustainability, quality and productivity of baby corn farming. This review offers valuable insights for farmers and agricultural professionals, supporting the adoption of integrated approaches that harmonize land management techniques with organic nutrient management to optimize crop performance, ensure environmental sustainability and promote farmers\u27 well-being
Edapho-climatic influence on the growth of farm-grown casuarina under different agroclimatic zones of Tamil Nadu, India
Get PDFCasuarina plantations are increasingly established in Tamil Nadu because of quick economic returns from its multi-utility uses. However, casuarina growth depends on site conditions and relationships have been established between various climatic and edaphic parameters and growth attributes. The present study evaluated the influence of climatic factors, such as rainfall, temperature and relative humidity, as well as soil physicochemical properties on teak growth in two agroclimatic zones of Tamil Nadu, namely North eastern zone (NEZ) and the Western zone (WZ) in two years old casuarina trees respectively. From each zone, climatic factors were analyzed and soil samples were collected at 0-15 cm and 15-30 cm in the soil profile for physicochemical analysis. The results show that the growth biometrics of block plantations of casuarina trees were positively correlated with climatic and edaphic factors. Maximum and minimum temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, organic carbon and available nitrogen showed significant positive correlations with the tree volume index. This studys’ key finding is that the casuarinas’ growth varies among agroclimatic zones, which can be monitored by means of edapho-climatic factors that influence casuarina plantations
Assessing the effect of various nutrient management practices on Mungbean (Vigna radiata) production in Guava (Psidium guajava) based agri-horti system
Get PDFThe field experiment was conducted in the Kharif season spanning 2022-23 to determine the most effective nutrient management practice via foliar application in Mungbean (Vigna radiata L.) in a guava (Psidium guajava L.) cv. Lalit based agri-horti system. The studies were conducted at Agroforestry Research Farm, Banaras Hindu University campus in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with ten treatments and three replications. The guava fruit orchard of size 7x7 m was established in 2007. The orchard had an average height of 5.85 m, canopy diameter of 5.60 m, stem girth of 0.97 cm and crown length of 4.93 m. Mungbean cv. Samrat, a short duration (60-65 days) and yellow mosaic virus resistant variety were used for the study. The plot size was 9 m2 (gross) and 4.80 m2 (net) with an inter-row spacing of 30 cm and an intra-row spacing of 10 cm. The seeds were sown at the rate of 15 kg ha-1. The plants were raised till 64 days and the treatments with different concentrations of recommended fertilizer foliar were given when most of the (80 %) pods turned brown. The results revealed that treatment T₁₀ in which recommended fertilizer dose (18:48:24 kg ha-1 N:P₂O₅: K₂O) along with foliar applications of Nano urea (4 mL L-1), 0.5 % ZnSO₄ and 0.2 % Boron at pre-flowering and pod development stages gave high yield. The plants subjected to this treatment showed significantly low mortality but increased plant height, branching, leaf production, yield and improved economic returns (gross return, net return and benefit-cost ratio). The second most effective treatment was T₉ in which recommended fertilizer dose was supplemented with 0.5 % ZnSO₄ and 0.2 % boron applied twice, at pre-flowering and pod development stages. Integrating optimized fertilization and foliar nutrient applications to enhance mungbean yield while maintaining sustainable practices in agri-horti systems