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Climate change and its role in plant health and disease dynamics
No full textClimate change is due to the concentration of greenhouse gases (CHG) and increased human activity. It is projected that CO2 concentration and temperature will rise to 1250 ppm and 3.4 °C, respectively, by 2095. In changing climatic conditions, most cereal, vegetable, and fruit crops are affected by biological and non-biotic factors. Changes in climatic variables directly affect the distribution and migration pattern of diseases, reproduction and development of pathogens, breaking of host plant resistance, decrease in survivability of bioagents, lowering the population of natural enemies, affecting endophyte–plant interactions, and affecting the efficacy of pesticides by changing of plant morphology. This overview focuses on discussing various aspects of the climate factors affecting plant disease
Yield performance of radish, Raphanus sativus L. in Bikaner district of Rajasthan
No full textThe study analyzed the economic and stover yields of radish across six locations during the rabi seasons of 2019 and 2020, alongside nutrient uptake and soil-water interactions. Economic yield ranged from 147.2 to 185.9 q/ha (mean: 174.0 q/ha) in 2019 and 153.3 to 186.0 q/ha (mean: 176.0 q/ha) in 2020, while stover yield ranged from 8.8 to 14.5 q/ha (mean: 12.7 q/ha) in 2019 and 9.9 to 14.8 q/ha (mean: 13.3 q/ha) in 2020. Location II consistently exhibited the highest economic yield (186.0 q/ha) and nutrient uptake, whereas Location V recorded the lowest performance in yields and nutrient absorption. Variability in yield and nutrient parameters was moderate to low, with coefficients of variation (CV) below 15%, indicating overall consistency among locations. Soil and irrigation water quality significantly influenced yield outcomes. Soil pH exhibited strong negative correlations with economic yield (-0.731) and nutrient availability, emphasizing the importance of managing pH for optimal crop performance. Organic carbon and essential nutrients such as nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and micronutrients (Fe, Zn, Mn) displayed positive correlations with yield, highlighting their role in promoting productivity. Seasonal variations in irrigation water quality, including pH, electrical conductivity (EC), sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), and residual sodium carbonate (RSC), demonstrated improved water quality post-monsoon due to leaching and dilution effects. These findings underscore the importance of site-specific nutrient management and water quality monitoring for enhancing radish yield and soil health. Addressing pH imbalances, optimizing nutrient availability, and mitigating salinity hazards could significantly improve agricultural productivity in semi-arid regions
Assessment of yield and economic indicators in clusterbean grown in front-line demonstration under rainfed conditions in Jhunjhunu district of Rajasthan
No full textClusterbean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L.), an important legume crop of arid and semi-arid regions, plays a vital role in sustaining the livelihoods of farmers in Rajasthan due to its drought tolerance, soil-enriching properties, and industrial applications. This study was undertaken to assess the yield potential and economic viability of an improved clusterbean variety, RGC-1033, compared to local farmer varieties under rainfed conditions in the Jhunjhunu district through Front Line Demonstrations (FLDs) during Kharif 2023 and 2024. The results revealed that RGC-1033 consistently outperformed the control varieties, recording an average yield of 17.68 quintal/ha compared to 15.01 quintal/ha under farmer practices, with yield increases of 17.57% and 18.12% in 2023 and 2024, respectively. The extension and technology gaps indicated the need for improved dissemination and adoption of recommended practices. Economically, the improved variety demonstrated higher profitability with a gross return of ₹98,450/ha and ₹78,350/ha, and a net return of ₹62,825/ha and ₹42,650/ha in 2023 and 2024, respectively, compared to lower returns from local varieties. The benefit-cost (B:C) ratio also improved under demonstration plots (2.76 and 2.19) over farmer practices (2.43 and 1.91). These findings underscore the significance of adopting improved clusterbean varieties and scientific practices to bridge the yield and technology gaps, thereby enhancing farmer income under rainfed agro-ecologies
Influence of pollen substitute feeding on colony development of Apis mellifera during resource scarcity
No full textHoney bees play a vital role in both the production of high-value hive products and the pollination of a wide range of crops, making them indispensable to global agriculture. However, during dearth periods when natural sources of nectar and pollen are limited, colony strength often declines, threatening brood rearing and overall productivity. Nutritional supplementation through pollen substitute diets has emerged as an important strategy to sustain colonies under such conditions. To evaluate their effectiveness, experiments were conducted during the dearth seasons of 2021 and 2022 at the apiary of the Horticultural Research Farm, Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar. Pooled results from both years revealed that treatment T10 (Bee Pollen + Honey) produced the highest mean colony strength (8.21 frames), demonstrating a significant positive impact on brood development and foraging activity. This superior performance was attributed to the synergistic nutritional benefits of combining natural pollen with honey. The second-best results were obtained with treatment T7 (a formulated diet of dehusked parched gram flour, deactivated yeast, skimmed milk powder, sugar, water, turmeric powder, multivitamins, and pollen), which achieved a mean strength of 7.48 frames. This was followed by T6 (T3 + 10% Bee Pollen) with a mean of 7.20 frames, suggesting that the inclusion of yeast, turmeric, and multivitamins enhanced colony vitality, possibly by boosting immunity and resilience. Overall, the findings highlight that carefully formulated pollen substitute diets can effectively maintain colony strength during forage scarcity, with Bee Pollen + Honey proving to be the most beneficial option
