Asian Research Journal of Agriculture
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Clonal Evaluation and Genetic Divergence Studies in Mulberry Genotypes
Aims: This study aims to evaluate the wood quality and leaf quality traits of selected mulberry clones and assess the genetic divergence among them, providing valuable insights for the development of superior genotypes with enhanced economic value for the sericulture and agroforestry sectors.
Study design: Twenty-one genetic resources of mulberry were collected from various regions in India and evaluated through clonal test in a Row Column Design to assess growth attributes and genetic divergence.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in India, and the systematic progeny test and clonal evaluation were carried out in Forest College and Research Institute, Mettupalayam during 2018-2022.
Methodology: The selected clones were evaluated for growth attributes such as plant height, diameter at breast height (DBH), volume, number of branches, leaf length, leaf width, petiole length, number of leaves, and leaf area. Genetic divergence was estimated using D2 statistics, and clustering of clones was performed using the \u27GENRES\u27 statistical package.
Results: The study identified several clones with significantly higher growth attributes, highlighting their potential for selection in breeding and cultivation programs. Variability and heritability studies indicated that volume exhibited the highest heritability, suggesting strong genetic control and potential for improvement.
Conclusion: Clones MI-0718, MI-0807, and MI-0845 showed superior growth performance and genetic divergence, indicating their suitability for further breeding and improvement programs. The study provides insights into the genetic variability of mulberry clones and emphasizes selecting superior clones for enhancing wood volume and overall productivity
Growth and Instability in Agriculture Production in Odisha, India
The performance of agriculture sector in any economy is better understood through the analysis of growth and instability in agriculture production. It is evident that the growth of agriculture in Odisha is very erratic in nature and huge instability is there in agricultural production. Instability in agriculture affects the trend and pattern of production which creates risk in farmers’ ability to adopt new technologies. Therefore, this paper aims to study the growth and instability in agriculture production in Odisha where growth and instability on area, yield and production of twenty crops have been calculated. Instability in agriculture production is caused by various agricultural reforms, weather variation and price fluctuation. Therefore, in this study attempt has been made to analyse the contribution of agriculture and allied sector to GSVA in Odisha over the years, sectoral employment, and district wise crop intensity. To examine growth and instability in agriculture of twenty major crops, this study has undertaken decadal analysis by using secondary data. Total four decades i.e. 1970-80, 1980-90, 1990-00, 2000-10 and 2010-20 are considered. The results show that, agriculture sector is leading sector in providing employment and significantly contribute to GSDP in Odisha. However, the area under cultivation of all the crops area gradually decreasing due to the urbanization but the percentage of area under cereal cultivation is decreasing whereas percentage of area under pulses are increasing but the area under total food grains is decreasing showing farmers are switching towards non-food grain products. So far, the growth of production and yield of different crop areas shows erratic growth in agricultural crops, as evident from the high instability rate in the growth of different crops. The cropping intensity shows that it is lower than the national level and therefore the role of technology needs to be identified
A Study on Price Spread Analysis and Marketing Efficiency of Ragi in Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri Districts of Tamil Nadu, India
Cereals like wheat and rice dominating food sources, millets have been underutilized despite their nutritional value and suitability for semi-arid regions. This research investigates the price spread analysis and marketing efficiency of Ragi, a millet variety, in Tamil Nadu. Focusing on Ragi cultivation in Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri districts, the study employed a convenient sampling technique, surveying 90 farmers and various stakeholders. Structured interviews gathered data on cultivation practices, marketing costs, and value addition. Results reveal significant marketing costs and margins, with Channel II exhibiting the highest total marketing cost and margin. Price spread analysis highlights Channel III as the most cost-efficient, with the highest producer share. Using Acharya\u27s method, Channel III demonstrates superior marketing efficiency compared to Channels I and II. Additionally, value share analysis indicates varying benefits among actors in different marketing channels. Overall, the study underscores the importance of understanding marketing dynamics to enhance efficiency and ensure equitable distribution of benefits within the Ragi value chain in Tamil Nadu
A Study on Medicinal Plants Diversification and Their Role on Livelihood Development in the Nilgiris
Tribal economy and development are mainly dependent on the Forest and Non wood forest products. The non wood forest products are mainly the products and services availed from the other those timber products of the forest and the fringed areas. Traditionally these forest products are having direct impact on the livelihood of the tribal communities. This study has been designed to analyse the role of the Non wood forest products on the livelihood of the tribal communities in the Tamil Nadu State, India. Three of the major tribal communities in the Nilgiris Hills, Kolli hills and the Kalvarayan Hills were taken for the study. The key informant method was followed and 80 informants were selected to collect the primary data. An exhaustive list of the available Medicinal Plants was also inventorised. The contribution of the livelihood through the products ranged from 50-10 % based upon the collection and marketing of the products
Economic Advantage of Sorghum Based Intercropping System for Western Zone of Tamil Nadu, India
Sorghum is the fifth most important crop. Being a C4 crop, it can withstand adverse climatic conditions. It can be used for food, feed, fodder, and biofuel. Sorghum can perform better under future climatic conditions than other crops and can be a better option in the future that can ensure the food and nutritional security of the country. A sorghum-based intercropping system can be a great option to ensure sustainability by fetching additional income from legume crops without compromising the yield of sorghum. An experiment was conducted at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University during the summer of 2021 to evaluate the economic benefits of a sorghum-based intercropping system. The treatment consists of T1-Sorghum Sole crop, T2-2rows of Sorghum+2rows of Cowpea, T3-2rows of Sorghum+1row of Cowpea, T4-2rows of Sorghum+2rows of Greengram, T5-2rows of Sorghum+1rows of Greengram, T6-2rows of Sorghum+2rows of Lablab, T7-2rows of Sorghum+1rows of Lablab. The economic benefits of the cropping system were evaluated by considering the yield, BCR, and LER. The yield of sorghum (3 t ha-1) planted under T7 was significantly higher than that of sole sorghum (T1). The net return from T7 (₹ 67872 ha-1) was higher than other treatments because of the additional income generated from the lablab (high market value at the time of harvest). The B:C ratio of the intercropping system was 2.7, whereas sole sorghum registered the lowest BCR of 1.9. The compatible performance of the intercropping system yielded a higher net return and BCR. Hence, intercropping of sorghum with legumes (especially lablab) is more productive and remunerative under a 2:1 pattern compared to sole cropping
Utilization of the Lentera DESA Website in Blended Learning-Based Soil Fertility and Health Management Training in Yogyakarta
Knowledge of soil fertility and soil health management is essential, especially in Yogyakarta, where the soil fertility and health of rice fields are low. This study employed an experimental research design involving 715 farmers, with data collected in August 2022 and June 2023. The research explored the effectiveness of a blended learning training scheme, especially in the use of The Lentera DESA website. The primary objectives were to identify factors that are related to the use of the Lentera DESA website and to examine the correlation between the duration of watching training videos and farmers’ knowledge. Factor analysis was carried out using multiple linear and mediated regression analyses. Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to examine whether there is a relationship between video viewing duration and increased knowledge. As a result, four factors directly relate to the use of the Lentera DESA website, namely re-login activity (P = 0.001), farmer age (P = 0.047), presence of info-session (P = 0.054), and smartphone ownership (P = 0.023). Mediated regression analysis revealed that re-login activity plays an essential role in increasing the utilization of the Lentera DESA website through both partial mediation and complete mediation. However, using the Lentera DESA website as an online training medium showed no significant correlation with increasing farmers knowledge of soil fertility and soil health management
Role of Tribespeople in the Sustenance of Biodiversity and Agroecosystem
Most ecoregions worldwide have experienced significant habitat conversion, with high levels of transformation and inadequate protection prevalent across Europe, South and Southeast Asia, Western South and North America, Western Africa, and Madagascar. Conversely, ecoregions requiring substantial protection and minimal conversion are largely found in the Arctic, Northern Amazon, North Asia, and Central Australia. Historically, long before formal conservation strategies emerged, tribespeople developed sophisticated conservation practices that effectively preserved environmental richness. These practices included sophisticated codes to prevent overhunting and maintain biodiversity. Tribespeople, acting as guardians of wildlife, engage in diverse livelihoods that include agriculture, hunting, and gathering edible plants. They also contribute to genome conservation at both community and individual levels. However, tribal communities face significant challenges such as eviction for conservation purposes, loss of control over natural resources, displacement, and legal issues. Solutions to these challenges have been explored through isolation, assimilation, and integration approaches. To reconcile conservation with tribal rights, it is crucial that conservationists protect the land rights of tribespeople, consult them on their needs, and support their traditional practices. Evidence increasingly shows that tribespeople, who manage a wide range of species crucial for their food, health, and economic security, are exceptionally skilled at environmental stewardship. Thus, conservation efforts should focus on upholding tribal land rights as a cost-effective solution, leveraging the tribes\u27 deep-rooted knowledge and practices for better environmental outcomes
Discriminant Analysis of Plant Growth Regulators among Vegetable Growers in Junagadh District of Gujarat, India
In an agrarian economy like ours, farming productivity is of vital importance for farmers\u27 economic wellbeing and national prosperity. The differential adoption of PGRs among horticulturists can offer insights into broader agricultural practices. Understanding PGR use in vegetable provides a comparative basis for evaluating its impact on diverse crops in the region. This study examines the socio-economic profile and identifies distinguishing factors between users and non-users using a sample of 160 farmers (80 users and 80 non-users) in Junagadh district, Gujarat. Analyses included simple tabular analysis and discriminant analysis. In this study, it was observed that most farmers were aged 36 to 50 years, and all respondents were male. The majority had an education level of 1st to 8th standard and an income up to 2 lakhs. Most farmers had landholdings of 2.01 to 4.00 hectares, engaged in both agriculture and animal husbandry, and had over 12 years of farming experience. Linear discriminant analysis identified annual family income, education, quality of yield and awareness as the most significant variables in distinguishing between users and non-users of plant growth regulators
Impact of Varietal Demonstrations on the Productivity and Sustainability in Rice (Oryza sativa L.) at Villupuram District of Tamil Nadu, India
Popularization of newly released variety in a new environment was important to increase the productivity and sustainability on a particular location. Keeping this inview, field demonstrations were carried out at farmer’s field by introducing drought tolerant rice variety TKM 15. The variety was released by Rice Research Station, (TNAU), Thirurkuppam, during 2022. A total of ten, field demonstrations were conducted at farmer’s field organized by Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Villupuram, and Tamil Nadu during Kharif 2023. The farmers cultivating variety ADT 37was used as the check variety (farmer’s practice). An average yield of 4,925kg.ha-1 was recorded from TKM 15 demonstrations which showed 7.75% increase over the farmers cultivating variety (4570kg.ha-1). The farmers have obtained additional revenue of Rs. 10,100ha-1from TKM 15 demonstrations, which may motivate the farmers to adopt TKM 15 variety with the improved rice production technology. The Front-Line Demonstration on new variety introduction, effectively influenced the attitudes, skills, and knowledge related to improved or recommended practices in paddy cultivation, fostering adoption. It also enhanced the relationship between farmers and scientists, fostering mutual confidence
Response of Types of Cuttings and IBA Concentration from First Sprout to Highest Sprouting and Rooting in Crossandra (Crossandra infundibuliformis L.)
The present investigation was conducted under Konkan Agro-climatic conditions at College of Horticulture, Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli, Dist. Ratnagiri (India) during the kharif season (2023-2024). The experiment was laid out in Factorial Randomized Block Design (FRBD) with twelve treatment combinations and three replications. Present investigation found that in types of stem cuttings treatment C1 :Softwood cuttings was found best with respect to minimum days to first sprout, days to highest sprouting , maximum number of new sprouts/cuttings, girth of sprout, length of new sprout, number of leaves, leaf area, survival(%), fresh weight of shoot, dry weight of shoot, absolute growth rate, relative growth rate, number of roots, length of longest root, fresh weight of root, dry weight of root, shoot to root ratio. In different IBA concentration treatment H4 : IBA@2000ppm was found best with respect to minimum days to first sprout, days to highest sprouting , maximum number of new sprouts/cuttings, girth of sprout, length of new sprout, number of leaves, leaf area, survival(%), fresh weight of shoot, dry weight of shoot, absolute growth rate, relative growth rate, number of roots, length of longest root, fresh weight of root, dry weight of root. In interaction effect treatment C1H4 (Softwood cuttings treated with IBA@2000 ppm) is found to be most effective among all other treatment combinations in terms of most of the parameters such as Sprouting percentage, Number of new sprouts/cuttings, Length of sprout/cuttings, Girth of new sprout, Number of leaves/cuttings, Leaf area, Survival percentage, Fresh weight of shoot, Relative Growth Rate, Fresh weight to dry weight of shoot ratio, Number of roots