The Indian Society of Agricultural Engineers
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Impact of Fortified Organic Nutrient-Rich Solid Nutrioball and Nutriomix on Yield and Nutrient Use Efficiency of Maize
No full textMaize is a nutrient-intensive crop needing both macro- and micro-nutrients. Overuse of inorganic fertilizers boosts yield initially but depletes soil health over time. This study explores a sustainable approach using organic-inorganic nutrient blends in two forms, i.e., Nutrioball (pellet) and Nutriomix (powder), for localized placement, ensuring continuous and controlled nutrient delivery to the root zone. A pot experiment was conducted to assess the nutrient support provided to hybrid maize crop fertilized with 40 g of Nutriomix/ Nutrioball in two split doses (at sowing and at 40th day after sowing) and to compare its performance to standard 100% N-P-K dose derived from soil test-based recommendations and unfertilized control. Nutrioballs were placed in soil at a depth of 5 cm near root zone, and Nutriomix was applied to the surface and mixed with the top 5 cm soil. Seven grades were formulated with varying N-P-K ratios. Deep placement with Nutrioball D grade (7:7:1 of N, P2O5, and K2O) produced the maximum stover quantity (258.0 g pot-1) and grain yield (123.4 g pot-1) of maize, which was 14.6% greater than that obtained in soil test-based N-P-K application and 269.5% higher than the control. The apparent recovery measured for total applied nutrients was 70.4% for N, 45.7% for P, and 429.6% for K. Nutrioball C (7:5:4) and Nutrioball F (8:2:1) showed a significant response while the surface-incorporated Nutriomix composites were moderately effective.
Developing Spatial Maps of Soil Fertility Status and Assessing Impact of Different Fertigation Strategies on Soil Fertility in Kerala, India
No full textKnowledge about soil nutrient status is vital in precision agriculture for site-specific nutrient management, which is the key to improve nutrient application efficiency and boost crop productivity. A study was conducted in Malappuram district of Kerala, India where a total of 70 soil samples were collected at a grid interval of 50 m × 50 m to determine status of soil nutrients including pH, electrical conductivity (EC), organic carbon, available nitrogen, available phosphorus and available potassium. Then, spatial mapping of the soil parameters was accomplished by employing inverse distance weighting (IDW) method of spatial interpolation in geographic information system (GIS) environment. Furthermore, dynamics of variable soil nutrients due to fertigation in tomato crop was monitored at two test sites, one at high soil fertility zone and another at low fertility zone. The results indicated that soil pH in the study area ranged from strongly to slightly acidic with low EC values, which is considered safe for plant growth. The low EC value of soil is likely due to high rainfall and minimal salt accumulation in the soil. The results of nutrient analysis revealed that nitrogen and potassium levels were in the ‘low fertility’ class, while phosphorus was in ‘high fertility’ class. The nutrient dynamics study showed that concentrations of three primary nutrients were highest at the points close to the drippers, especially at 15-30 cm depth, which suggests efficient nutrient delivery through the watering system. Overall, nutrient levels declined with soil depth and distance from the dripper, which emphasized the need for precise fertilizer application. The contrasting fertility levels suggest that blanket fertilizer recommendations may be inefficient and potentially lead to nutrient imbalances or environmental stress. On the other hand, site-specific nutrient management strategies have the potential for promoting both economic savings and environmental stewardship
Performance Evaluation of Sorghum Harvester Considering Crop, Machine and Operating Parameters
No full textThe performance evaluation of the tractor operated sorghum harvester was conducted at farmer’s field at Raichur, Karnataka, and evaluated for different crop and machine parameters viz., three tractor forward speeds (0.56, 0.69 and 0.83 m s-1), three conveyor belt speed (1.00, 1.50 and 200 m s-1), and at three sorghum crop stalk moisture content (27.23%, 22.19% and 18.32%). The sorghum Varada-14 hybrid variety was selected for the study. The results showed that the highest cutting efficiency of 94.09% and best conveying efficiency of 85% were found when the tractor was moving at 0.56 m s-1, the conveyor belt speed was 2.50 m s-1, and the crop moisture content was 27.23% (wet basis). On the other hand, the lowest cutting efficiency of 71.25% and conveying efficiency of 64% were observed when the tractor speed was 0.83 m s-1, the belt speed was 1.50 m s-1, and the crop moisture was 18.32% (w. b.). Also, the maximum shattering loss of 0.84% and maximum windrowing loss of 1.01% found at 0.83 m s-1 tractor speed, 2.50 m s-1 conveyor belt speed, and 18.32% (w. b.) crop moisture content. The minimum shattering loss of 0.10% and lowest windrowing loss of 0.15% were recorded at 0.56 m s-1 tractor speed, 1.50 m s-1 belt speed, and 27.23% crop moisture. It was found that the tractor operated sorghum harvester had high performance efficiency when it is operated at tractor forward speed 0.56 m s-1, conveyor belt speed 2.50 m s-1 and crop moisture content 27.23% (w. b.)
High Lycopene Tomato Ketchup Slice: Development, Drying Kinetics, and Storage Study
No full textThis study presents a novel, shelf-stable tomato ketchup slice (TKS) that offers a concentrated, nutrient-dense, and portable alternative to conventional ketchup, addressing storage, wastage, and convenience challenges in tomato-based products. The formulation was optimized using different hydrocolloids (pectin, xanthan gum, guar gum, acacia gum at 0.5% to 2.5%) and modified starch (1.0% to 2.5%) to achieve desirable texture, lycopene retention, and product stability. Drying temperature (50°C, 60°C, and 70°C) served as the independent variable; while drying time, lycopene retention, texture profile, sensory acceptability, and water activity were the dependent parameters. Pectin (0.75%) was identified as the most effective hydrocolloid based on sensory and texture profile analysis. TKS was dried using hot air drying at 60°C, 70°C, and 80°C, and drying kinetics were modelled using three thin-layer models. Among them, the Wang & Singh model provided the best fit (R2 > 0.99). The optimized formulation consisted of 0.75% pectin and 1.0% modified starch, dried at 60°C for 495 min. It produced TKS with 14.11 ± 0.28% moisture (w.b.) and 22.42 ± 0.03 mg 100g-1 lycopene, higher than conventional ketchup (15.45 ± 0.03 mg 100g-1). Storage studies conducted for 60 days at 28 ± 2°C and 65 ± 5% RH in LDPE pouches showed minimal degradation in lycopene, increased textural firmness, and no detectable microbial growth (<10 cfu g-1), with water activity remaining below 0.6. These findings confirm that TKS is a microbiologically stable, nutrient-dense, and convenient ketchup alternative with commercial potential for dry condiment applications
Comparison of Wet Grinding Methods for Extraction of Sweet Potato Starch
No full textThe selection of an appropriate isolation method is crucial for scalable and cost-effective production of high-quality sweet potato starch, and this study presents a direct comparative evaluation to inform that choice. The study systematically evaluated the influence of four wet grinding methods, namely, distilled water (DW), sodium bisulfite (CM), centrifugation (CF), and sour-liquid (SL) processing on sweet potato starch yield, purity, and physicochemical properties. Starch yield ranged from 7.56% (CF) to 13.08% (DW), while purity varied from 66.55% (SL) to 89.33% (CM). The CM method, using sodium bisulfite, enhanced whiteness and purity by 19% compared to SL by effectively removing impurities, whereas the SL method, driven by microbial fermentation, resulted in increased protein (1.02%) and lipid (0.45%) retention, altering functionality. Amylose content varied from 15.46% (SL) to 27.80% (CM), influencing gelatinization temperature (61.3°C–72.6°C) and pasting properties. The CF method provided a balance between yield and purity, making it suitable for small-scale starch production. Microbial interactions in SL facilitated higher swelling power and solubility, enhancing its industrial applicability in biodegradable films and specialty starches. The findings underscore the importance of selecting appropriate extraction methods to optimize starch quality and functionality, contributing to more sustainable and efficient starch processing
Application of NIR Reflectance Spectroscopy Combined with Chemometrics for Non-destructive Detection of Aflatoxin B1 in Individual Maize Kernels
No full textMaize is a potential host for several fungi, some of which produce mycotoxins. Maximum mycotoxin levels in food vary depending on the type of food, consumer sensitivity, and country regulations. Aflatoxin-B1 (AFB1) is a harmful mycotoxin that causes illness and economic losses in humans, animals, and crops. A visible-near infrared spectroradiometer (350-2500 nm) was used in this study to detect maize kernels with varying AFB1 contamination levels (control, 25, 40, 70, and 200 ppb). Spectral reflectance and chemometrics were used to predict the AFB1 content in maize kernels. Principal component analysis (PCA) and forward selection method were utilized for data exploration; linear discriminant analysis (LDA) and quadratic discriminant analysis (QDA) were employed to develop classification models; and partial least square regression (PLSR) was used for AFB1 quantification. The Kernels germ orientation influenced the classification performance. In training, cross-validation, and testing, the LDA model preceded with PCA had the lowest error rates when the kernels were kept at germ-up orientation. Throughout training, cross-validation and testing of the PLSR model, R2 values were around 0.85. Forward selection method has provided seven optimal wavelengths from the group of 2051 spectral data. The R2 and RMSE of the PLSR model using optimal wavelength data were also close to the results obtained from full spectrum data. The RPD value for the optimal wavelength model during testing was around 2.5, indicating good predictive performance. Results showed that AFB1 can be identified and quantified using spectral data. Spectroscopy is a feasible solution for automatic, non-destructive detection without affecting the products
Evaluation of a Power Tiller Operated De-Topper-cum-Digger for Onion Crop Harvesting
No full textTo enhance mechanization of onion harvesting on small farms and increase the annual utilization of power tillers, a de-topper-cum-digging unit was evaluated for simultaneous removal of onion leaves and digging of topped bulbs using a 9.7 kW power tiller. The field evaluation was conducted at the rake angle of 21° and a digging depth of 70 mm. The height of cut above crown was measured to be 31±7 mm. The absolute cutting torque and total maximum cutting torque for the de-topping unit were measured to be 2.12±0.49 N-m and 2.64±0.49 N-m, respectively at a rotational speed of 1790.95 rpm. The average maximum torque for the conveying unit was observed to vary between 8.46 and 13.21 N-m when operated in first gear with an idle torque of 1.41 N-m as compared to that observed in the range 15.40 to 23.28 N-m with an idle torque of 1.69 N-m when operated in second gear of rotor shaft of the power tiller. The de-topping efficiency, digging efficiency, field efficiency, actual field capacity and damage percentage of onion bulbs were found to be 82%, 92%, 65%, 0.042 ha h-1 and 10%, respectively. The total power requirement for harvesting onion crop (including de-topping, digging, and conveying) was found to be 0.81 kW. The performance assessment indicated satisfactory results, suggesting the viability of the de-topper-cum-digger for use by small landholding farmers cultivating onions
Indian Agriculture - The Growth Narrative
No full textIndian agriculture has transformed into a globally significant narrative of growth—extending beyond mere sustenance to encompass nutritional and health security. Nevertheless, it confronts pandemics and evolving dietary and lifestyle patterns, particularly the increasing apathy of millennials towards conventional agriculture. In this scenario, mechanization has become an imperative rather than an option
India Navigating a Shifting Landscape: The Impact of US Tariffs on the Global Fertilizer Market
No full textThe global fertilizer sector confronts unprecedented disruption as recent US trade policy modifications fundamentally reshape international supply networks. Escalating geopolitical tensions compound these challenges, generating widespread uncertainty across agricultural markets and affecting farming communities worldwide through strained distribution channels. What used to be predictable supply chains are now anything but certain. The latest round of US tariffs is particularly concerning because it’s disrupting long-established trading relationships and forcing everyone to scramble for new arrangements. For a country like India, whose extensive agricultural economy relies substantially on fertilizer imports, these developments present significant challenges