Horizon e-Publishing Group (HePG): E-Journals
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Enhancing seed shelf life through modified atmospheric packaging: A review
No full textEfficient seed storage is crucial for maintaining seed quality, viability, and germination potential, which directly impact agricultural productivity and food security. However, prolonged storage leads to seed deterioration due to both biotic and abiotic factors, resulting in significant post-harvest losses. Modified atmospheric packaging (MAP) is a sustainable non-chemical technology that enhances seed storability by altering the gaseous environment around seeds. MAP operates through active packaging, which injects desired gases and passive packaging, where the product’s respiration modifies the atmosphere. By reducing oxygen (O2) levels, minimizing moisture absorption, and inhibiting microbial and insect activity, MAP extends seed shelf life. Typically, O2 is replaced with nitrogen (N2) or carbon dioxide (CO2), limiting oxidative reactions and metabolic activity. MAP benefits multiple seed types, including cereals, legumes, oilseeds, and horticultural crops. Physically, it reduces seed moisture, delaying deterioration and preserving seed coat color. Physiologically, it prolongs seed longevity by reducing the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and conserving seed reserves. Biochemically, it minimizes lipid peroxidation, maintains enzyme activities like alpha-amylase and catalase and reduces electrolyte leakage. Additionally, MAP controls storage pests and pathogens; elevated CO2 inhibits insect proliferation and fungal contamination, mitigating mycotoxin risks. This review examines the strategic role of MAP in seed conservation for sustainable agriculture by comparing MAP with traditional storage methods and assessing its impact on seed viability and longevity
Exploring the medicinal plants and traditional knowledge for common respiratory ailments among farmers in Ilocos Sur, Philippines
No full textGlobally, medicinal plants have long been used in ethnomedicine across various cultures and traditions. However, there is still limited information on their specific use by farmers. This descriptive study explored the taxonomy and use of medicinal plants and the traditional knowledge for treating common respiratory ailments among farmers in Ilocos Sur, Philippines. It utilized a descriptive research design, a survey questionnaire, an interview and observation, with frequencies, percentages and mean for data analysis. The study identified 22 species of medicinal plants from 17 families used by Ilocano farmers as traditional treatments for respiratory ailments such as coughs and colds. Various plant parts were utilized, including the whole Vitex negundo L. plant, the leaves of Origanum vulgare L. and Psidium guajava L., the leaves and roots of Zingiber officinale Roscoe and the fruit of Citrofortunella microcarpa. These were prepared as decoctions or juices, consumed orally, or used in aromatic herbal baths to relieve asthma, cough and colds. Traditional healing practices also included drinking warm decoctions of Citrofortunella microcarpa fruit, taking hot baths with a combination of boiled medicinal leaves and performing steam bath rituals. The use of medicinal plants for locally common respiratory ailments among farmers reflected traditional knowledge as these plants are available at no cost. This is a first-time study in this area to bridge the gap between traditional knowledge and synthetic medicine for screening of phytochemical and pharmacological properties of plants, as only a few of these plants are commercially available in the market
Weather based agro advisory services in promoting sustainable agriculture: A review
No full textAgricultural production is closely linked with weather conditions, as fluctuations in temperature, rainfall, wind patterns and humidity significantly influence crop productivity. Adverse weather events often lead to considerable crop losses, emphasizing the need for timely and accurate weather information. Weather Based Agro Advisory Services (WBAAS) play a pivotal role in bridging this gap by providing farmers with real-time and forecasted weather information, enabling them to adopt strategic measures to mitigate risks and optimize agricultural outputs. WBAAS offers customized guidance based on weather predictions, including optimal sowing times, irrigation scheduling, pest and disease management and post-harvest strategies. By receiving accurate and timely advisories on parameters such as temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and rainfall, farmers can make informed decisions, reducing the likelihood of crop failure and improving yield quality and quantity. These services not only aid in minimizing production losses but also enhance economic returns by promoting resource efficiency and sustainable farming practices. The integration of technological innovations into weather based agro advisory services further strengthens their impact, facilitating the dissemination of precise weather data through mobile applications, SMS alerts and other digital platforms. Studies have demonstrated the transformative potential of these services in improving farmers\u27 adaptive capacity and resilience against climate variability. This review analyses studies on how farmers utilize technological innovations combined with weather-based information to enhance agricultural productivity. It examines the impact of weather based agro advisory services on agriculture and explores their broader role in achieving sustainable farming practices and addressing challenges posed by climate change
Validation of medium range rainfall forecast accuracy in Jagtial district of Telangana
No full textRainfall is found to vary to a greater extent in its amount, intensity and distribution than any other weather parameter. Variation in rainfall during the crop season, including delay in monsoon arrival, heavy downpours and prolonged dry spells, can have a more significant impact on crop growth and development. If farmers have timely access to a medium-range rainfall forecast, they can take full advantage of unfavourable weather situations in scheduling their agricultural operations. The present study was taken by Agromet Field Unit (AMFU), Regional Agricultural Research Station, Jagtial, to analyze and verify the accuracy of medium-range rainfall forecast issued by the India Meteorological Department using a location-specific Multi-Model Ensemble (MME) technique for the Jagtial district from 2017 to 2023. The methodology included adopting quantitative and qualitative methods with the Ratio score, Hanssen and Kuipers (H.K) Score, RMSE, usability analysis and correlation of validation for verifying the accuracy of rainfall forecast for the monsoon. The results of the study revealed that rain forecast accuracy for past 7 years is excellent for post monsoon (October - December) in Jagtial district that has high skill score (RS range 77.2 to 93.5 %) with lower Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of rainfall (3.17 to 14.2) in contrast to poor to moderate skill score (RS range 47.5 to 60.7 %) of accuracy for south-west monsoon with higher RMSE (14 to 29.5). The percent usability of forecast was also found to be higher for the post-monsoon (88.5 to 100 %) than the southwest monsoon (39.3 to 84.9 %). Among the essential predictions, rainfall is the most crucial one, which affects the crop output over a given region and, finally, the farmer\u27s economics. Hence, with access to enhanced accuracy of rain forecast, farmers of Jagtial can limit the damages caused directly or indirectly by adverse weather situations by executing timely need-based farm operations
Classification of different edible plants based on total phenolic and in vitro antioxidant activities using principal component and hierarchical cluster analysis
No full textAn acetone-aqueous extracts of 16 edible plants was prepared; their Total Phenolic Content (TPC), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging (DPPH), 2,2?-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical scavenging (ABTS), Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) and Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) were measured. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) were used to clarify the correlations between antioxidant assays and plant extracts. The first (PC1) and the second (PC2) principal components accounted for 91.60 % of the overall variability, whereas HCA classified samples into three main groups based on measured parameters. The 16 plants were classified into high, medium and low antioxidant activity groups based on according to TPC and the antioxidant activities results. Those in the high-antioxidant activity group were Punica granatum, Rheum officinale, Phyllanthus niruri and Melaleuca leucadendra. The plants in the medium-antioxidant activity group were Thymus vulgaris, Datura metel, Menthae arvensis, Parameria laevigata, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Curcuma xanthorrhiza and Zingiber officinale. The plants in the low-antioxidant activity group were Plantago major, Guazuma ulmifolia, Centella asiatica, Sericocalyx crispus and Piper nigrum. Positive relationships existed between TPC and the antioxidant activity of the extracts, indicating that the principal contributors to the antioxidant characteristics of the studied plants are phenolic compounds. Some of these plants may serve as valuable sources of natural antioxidants
Biochemical composition of blackberry varieties cultivated under the climatic conditions of the Samarkand region
No full textThis study examined blackberry fruits\u27 biochemical composition and quality at full ripeness. The content of carbohydrates, vitamins, flavonoids and amino acids was analyzed in dried fruits from the following blackberry varieties: Jumbo, Thornfree, Karaka Black, Brazos, Brzezina, Cacanska Bestrna and Chester. The results indicated that the fruits contained relatively high concentrations of the amino acids asparagine, cysteine, alanine and proline. Among the varieties, Chester exhibited the highest amino acid content (22.55 mg/g), closely followed by Thornfree (22.30 mg/g). Carbohydrate content was observed to be the highest in the Cacanska Bestrna variety (9.01 mg/g) and the lowest in the Karaka Black variety (3.37 mg/g). Vitamins (B2, B6, B9, B12, PP and C) and flavonoids (Hypolyethylen, Hypolyethylen 7-O-D-Gly, Rutin, Isorhamnetin and Hyperoside) were also quantified. The analysis revealed that flavonoid content was exceptionally high in the Karaka Black variety (84.116 mg/100 g) and relatively low in the Brzezina variety (35.389 mg/100 g). Regarding vitamin C content, Karaka Black recorded the highest levels (211.321 mg/100 g), whereas Jumbo exhibited the lowest levels (135.265 mg/100 g). These findings could be a valuable resource for the food processing industry and agricultural practices. They provide a basis for establishing quality standards for different blackcurrant varieties and identifying the optimal harvest period for each
Impact of waterlogging stress on the yield of specific sugarcane genotypes yields in the northeastern coastal region of Tamil Nadu
No full textAn experiment was conducted at the Sugarcane Research Station, Cuddalore during 2023-2024 to study the physiological, biochemical and yield parameters of sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) under waterlogging stress. The sugarcane plants were subjected to waterlogged at the peak growth stage (9th month to 11th month). The four varieties used in the study were Co 86032, Co 62175, CoC 13339, Co G 7 and nine clones used in the study were C 2015 095, G11035, C 16338, C 2014 516, Co 15020, C 2014 021, Si 2014 047, C 2015 006, C 30010. Various morphological, physiological and biochemical parameters such as leaf area index, chlorophyll content, nitrate reductase activities, catalase content, peroxidase activity, yield and quality parameters, were recorded after 240 days of exposure and at harvest. The results of the study indicate that clone C 16338 and variety CoC 13339 can be recommended for growing under anticipated water logging stress conditions. Both the clone C 16338 and variety CoC 13339 showed the least drop in cane yield compared to Co 86032 under waterlogging stress
Agriculture diversification in Jammu region: Status and determinants
No full textAgricultural diversification refers to the shift from the dominance of one crop to production of a number of crops on a farm or in a region, to meet the ever-increasing demand for food. It is crucial for enhancing food security and reducing climate risks, yet small-scale farmers in rain-fed regions face challenges in adopting diversified farming systems. The main objectives of the study were to assess the present status of crops, livestock, integrated crop-livestock diversification in vulnerable and non-vulnerable villages and identify key determinants influencing agricultural diversification. The baseline survey was conducted in 51 villages of Bhalwal block of Jammu district (2016-17) and identified 25 villages as climate-vulnerable villages. In these 25 vulnerable villages, project entitled “Climate Resilient Sustainable Agriculture in Rain-fed Farming Areas of Jammu Region” has been implemented since 2016-17 in the said block. Therefore, for the present study, 300 farmers were selected randomly from the 25 vulnerable villages that are covered under under the said project. For comparison, 100 farmers were selected randomly from the adjoining non-vulnerable villages which were not covered under the said project. The results revealed that non-vulnerable villages exhibited slightly higher crop diversity (0.67) than vulnerable villages (0.63), while livestock diversity was higher in vulnerable villages (0.40) compared to non-vulnerable villages (0.37). Integrated crop-livestock diversification was also greater in vulnerable villages (0.88) than in non-vulnerable villages (0.82), highlighting the prevalence of integrated farming systems. Key drivers of crop diversification in vulnerable villages included access to irrigation, adoption of drought-tolerant crops and participation in training programs, which played a significant role in diversification. Strengthening diversification drivers particularly irrigation, resilient crops and capacity-building programs can enhance agricultural resilience. Policies should promote integrated farming systems to mitigate climate risks and stabilize farm incomes
Edible floral pigments: Exploring flowers as natural biocolourants for food applications
No full textCelebrated for their aesthetic appeal, ornamental flowers are rich sources of vibrant pigments with potential applications beyond visual enhancement. This review explores the extraction and characterization of these natural pigments, emphasizing their viability as eco-friendly alternatives to synthetic colorants in the food industry. With increasing consumer preference for clean-label and sustainable ingredients, natural pigments derived from flowers present an attractive option for food coloration. Their application extends to improving the visual appeal of food products, replacing artificial dyes and supporting the growing demand for plant-based and naturally derived formulations. The study highlights the functional properties of floral pigments, their stability under various processing conditions and their potential role in enhancing both the nutritional and sensory attributes of a food. Furthermore, as sustainability remains a key focus in modern food production, ornamental flowers emerge as a valuable and renewable source of natural colorants. Their integration into food systems aligns with the industry\u27s shift toward environmentally responsible and health-conscious innovations. This review underscores the promising role of floral pigments in shaping the future of food colouring, offering an innovative approach that meets regulatory, environmental and consumer-driven requirements. By leveraging these botanical resources, the food industry can advance toward safer, more sustainable and visually appealing product formulations, reinforcing the ongoing transition to greener and healthier alternatives
Impact of moisture content on seed quality of combine-harvested rice varieties
No full textThe study was conducted with different rice varieties viz., TRY 3, CO (R) 50 and ADT 54 harvested using a tractor driven combine harvester with John Deere two wheel drive tractor across distinct moisture contents at various stages viz., at physiological maturity, two days, four days and six days after physiological maturity stage. The treatments aimed to deduct seed quality evaluation through physical parameters viz., broken seed, dehusked seed, pure seed and husk percentage, seed to husk ratio, mechanical properties and physiological properties of seed was evaluated using ferric chloride and further, whereas physiological parameters such as germination, seedling growth and vigour index. The result showed that harvesting at physiological maturity achieved 91 % germination rate, which subsequently decreased at six days after maturity stages to 86 %. Whereas seeding length, dry matter production and seedling vigour obtained during physiological maturity stage and six days after maturity stage of root length 24.6 cm and 22.7 cm, shoot length as 13.1 cm and 10.4 cm, dry matter as 0.150 and 0.121 (g/10 seedling), vigour index of 3350 and 2843 respectively. The chemical method using ferric chloride, detected 7.7 to 8.4 % mechanical damage irrespective of the varieties studied with different moisture levels. However, germination percentage from harvesting at physiological maturity stage or four to six days after maturity stages which maintain more than 80 % germination irrespective of the varieties studied and satisfied the Indian Minimum Seed Certification Standards