Journal of Applied and Natural Science
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Performance of cotton genotype TCH 1819 to high density planting system under winter irrigated condition at the Western agroclimatic zone of Tamil Nadu
Get PDFPlant population is an important attribute in crop management practice. Increasing the plant density by decreasing the crop row spacing was an alternative strategy to optimize crop profit. Hence, the field trial was conducted at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, during the winter season of 2017 – 18 to study the effect of row spacing on the growth and yield of cotton genotype TCH 1819. The experimental design was Randomized Block Design (RBD) with seven spacing treatments viz., T1: 60 x 15 cm (1,11,111 plants ha-1), T2: 60 x 20 cm (83,333 plants ha-1), T3: 75 x 15 cm (88,888 plants ha-1), T4: 75 x 20 cm (66,666 plants ha-1), T5: 75 x 30 cm (44,444 plants ha-1), T6: 90 x 15 cm (74074 plants ha-1), T7: 90 x 20cm (55,555 plants ha-1) and was replicated thrice. Plant densities showed a significant (p=0.05) difference for all the characters studied. The higher plant density of 1,11,111 plants (60 x 15 cm) observed significantly (p=0.05) maximum plant height (103.14 cm), Leaf Area Index (LAI) (4.35), Dry Matter Production (DMP) (8125 kg/ha), Crop Growth Rate (CGR) (6.58 g/m2/day), root length (41.46 cm), root dry weight (14.94 g/plant), and chlorophyll index (48.24). The number of sympodial branches per plant (17) and bolls per plant (22 bolls) was found significant in the wider spacing of 75 x 30 cm. The narrow spacing of 60 x 15 cm noted the highest seed cotton yield (2565 kg/ha), net return (R65706.62), and B: C (2.32) ratio, followed by the spacing of 75 x 15 cm due to more plant density per unit area (m2). So, maximum yield in cotton can be achieved by decreasing the row spacing and increasing the plant population per unit area
A case study of an organic Agripreneur adopting integrated farming system model at Kullagoundenpudur village of Erode district in Tamil Nadu, India
No full textThe present study aimed to investigate the profile characteristics, key facts, and figure by identifying an enterprising organic farmer among many farming groups. The case study method which is a comprehensive study of a social unit comprised of a person, a group, a social institution, a district, or a community was followed to study the selected organic farmer cum agripreneur who effectively used all his farm resources less input usage drawn outside his farm. One of those differed from other organic farmers to integrate all his farm components and carried out farming activity with future market forecast into mind. In addition to that, his farm, which was located in Kullagoundenpudur village of Erode district in Tamil Nadu, had been approved as ‘Model Farm’ on Integrated Farming System (IFS). There existed great scope for doing agriculture as a business activity in future. His business motive, risk-bearing nature and time management strategy helped him to succeed in his business. He also coined that for his success, "Genetics played 60% role, Technology played 20% role and Management played 20% role". The study will also motivate young graduates and other farmers to come forward and adopt such farming activities
Development and evaluation of a sesame thresher as influenced by crop, machine and operational parameters
Get PDFThe development of a sesame thresher for the purpose has clearly an edge over conventional methods of threshing and reduce the drudgery of work to a great extent. Due to the scarcity of daily labours, it is essential to bring in a sesame thresher, which is cost-effective, compact, reduce threshing losses and easy to use for sesame cultivars. The laboratory experiments were conducted with different levels of variables, from that the combination level of 11.0 ms-1 peripheral velocity of threshing cylinder, 15 mm concave clearance, spike tooth type cylinder and 16.8 % (d.b) moisture content of harvested sesame capsule were selected. The selected combination level yielding the maximum threshing efficiency of 99.0 %, maximum cleaning efficiency of 99.4 % and minimum % visible damage to threshed sesame grains of 0.79 %, was optimized for the development of prototype sesame thresher. A prototype sesame thresher consisting of a mainframe, threshing unit, blower and sieve assembly, feed chute, power transmission system and transport wheels was developed with optimized level of variables. The prototype sesame thresher was evaluated for its performance in comparison with the conventional method of sesame threshing. Compared with the manual method of threshing, the prototype sesame thresher resulted in 17, 12, and 1.2 % savings in threshing efficiency, cleaning efficiency, and % visible damage to threshed sesame grains. The prototype sesame thresher results in 87 % and 83 % saving in time and cost respectively when compared to the conventional method of manual threshing
Understanding of farmers\u27 perception of climate change and adaptation strategies: A case study in Jhargram district of West Bengal, India
Get PDFA study on farmers perceived prevalence of climate change, manifested by the phenomena like increasing temperature, fluctuating rainfall etc. and in the considered agro-ecological areas was conducted in Binpur II block of Jhargram district of West Bengal to assess the extent of farmers\u27 perception about the climate change and their adaptation strategies to cope up with losses due to climate change. Results showed that the farmers\u27 perception of climate change greatly influenced farmers\u27 readiness to adapt climate change by considering some adjustments to their cultivation and production practices. The findings showed that the farmers\u27 perception of climate change was at a high-level group of respondents. Results showed that 50% of respondents were optimistic with the idea that they can cope up the climate change problems if they get proper government assistance. Only about 13% of farmers perceived Government plans on climate change. Regarding the adaptation strategies, 40% of respondents followed more or less strategies, whereas most of the respondents did not adopt any strategies in this regard.
 
Greenhouse cultivation of fruit crops with special reference to India: An overview
Get PDFIndia is facing various challenges in fruit cultivation viz., climate change, increasing pressure on natural resources, decreasing land tenure with the ever-increasing population. Besides this, the demand for quality fruit is also on the rise as people are now more aware of a nutritious and healthy diet. The quality with higher production is difficult with the traditional system of cultivation and requires a more scientific approach in cultivation. Greenhouse cultivation technology can enhance quality and quantity both. This technology is required to convert some portion of the present 6.5 million ha of the fruit-growing area to increase national productivity and product quality. The purpose of greenhouse cultivation is to grow crops by altering the micro-environment surrounding the crop so that the plant performs maximum to its genetic potential. It also increases the yield, improves the quality and stability of production and makes commodities available when there is no outdoor production. China is the world leader in greenhouse fruit production with the largest area under this technology. In India, greenhouse fruit cultivation is in its infancy as the only strawberry is commercially being grown under greenhouses. However, in fluctuating environmental conditions and losses in fruit crops due to various biotic and abiotic stresses, protecting the fruit crops for the off-season, quality and higher production will be a necessity in future. Keeping in view the low productivity of fruit crops in India and future needs of round the year quality production, an overview of work and cultivation scenario on this aspect is discussed in this paper
Protective effect of ascorbic acid against fenvalerate induced toxicity in air-breathing fish Clarias batrachus
Get PDFThe food demand in recent times has increased many folds. In order to augment the need for food, the agriculture practice is extensively carried out by the farmers and pesticides are widely used by them for the better yield of crops. Fishes are also cultivated by these farmers, and humans are consuming the fishes as they are very high nutritious food product. But, these pesticides through agricultural runoffs are contaminating the ponds as well the aquatic fauna like fish. The present research work deals with the evaluation of the protective effect of ascorbic acid on fenvalerate induced nephrotoxicity in Clarias batrachus. The pyrethroid pesticide- Fenvalerate EC 20% was administered directly in the water contained in the aquarium at the dose of 0.027 ppm, 0.042 ppm and 0.083 ppm respectively for 96 hrs hours after the dose calculation through LC50. Thereafter, ascorbic acid was administered orally by gastric intubation method at the dose of 200 mg/Kg body weight per day for 04 days to each pesticide treated group. The study revealed that, after the exposure of fenvalerate, there was significant damage at the biochemical levels like urea, creatinine, protein and albumin and histopathological study of kidney tissue in fish C. batrachus. But, after the administration of ascorbic acid, there was a significant restoration in the biochemical levels and in histopathology of the kidney of fish. The study concluded that Ascorbic acid possessed protective effect against fenvalerate induced toxicity in C. batrachus
Beneficial effect of Hordeum vulgare extract against aluminum chloride induced neurotoxicity in Wistar rats
Get PDFAluminum is present in medicines and food. Its toxicity induces deleterious effects in various living organisms. At the same time, Hordeum vulgare a cereal known as an important nutritional source and also endowed with bioactive molecules. The objective of this study was to evaluate, on the one hand, the modifications induced by aluminum chloride in Wistar rats at the cerebral level and, on the other hand, to test the efficacy of the barley extract, Hordeum vulgare, (HEV) to restore the harmful effects of this studied metal with a concentration of 13 ml HEV/kg/day for a period of 21 days. The extraction of HEV by maceration resulted in an aqueous extract with a yield of 10.70%. Exposure to AlCl3 at a concentration of 100mg/kg, permitted to observe that the concentration of aluminium at the brain level is significantly high (p<0.05) in the intoxicated rats compared to the control rats. On the other hand, the activity of alkaline phosphatase (PAL), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) indicated a decrease in the intoxicated rats. Indeed, the histological study showed very pronounced lesions in the brains of the poisoned rats resulting in necrosis and cellular spongiosis. In addition, the administration of HEV restored the activity of the various antioxidant enzymes with an improvement in brain tissue architecture in intoxicated rats treated with HEV which justifies the therapeutic virtues of H. vulgare in protecting against aluminium chloride-induced neurotoxicity
Soil organic carbon assessment under different land uses in Cauvery delta zone of Tamil Nadu, India
Get PDFSoil organic carbon (SOC) plays a vital role in soil fertility and is important for its contributions to mitigation and adaptation to climate change. The present study was undertaken to estimate the SOC stock in soils under different land uses of Cauvery Delta zone of Tamil Nadu. Four different land uses were selected for the study viz, Forests, Agriculture, Agro-forestry and Plantations. Soil samples were collected from Madukkur and Kalathur soil series of Cauvery Delta zone for soil carbon analysis. The soil samples were fractionated into three aggregate size classes viz., macro-aggregates (250-2000µm), micro-aggregates (53-250 µm) and silt and clay sized fraction (<53 µm). At 0-30 cm depth, the forest land use stored the maximum SOC stock in the different size fractions viz. macro-sized fraction (73.0 Mg ha-1), a micro-sized fraction (76.0 Mg ha-1) and silt+clay sized fraction (77.0 Mg ha-1) in Madukkur series. Agriculture land use registered the lowest SOC stock. Among the different size fractions, silt+clay sized fraction (< 53 µm) retained the maximum SOC in all the land uses. In Kalathur series also, maximum soil organic carbon stock was recorded in forest land use. The data generated in the study will be beneficial to the user groups viz., farmers in identifying the most suitable land use for enhancing the storage of soil organic carbon thereby improving yields of crops and trees
Development of a web-based tool for probit analysis to compute LC50/LD50/GR50 for its use in toxicology studies
Get PDFThe toxicity bioassays are essential to detect and estimate the potential toxicological effects of chemicals on an organism. LC50/LD50/GR50 is the estimation of dose/concentration necessary to kill 50 per cent of a population of the test species. Experimentally this is done by administrating a chemical at different doses to a group of organism and then observing the resulting mortalities in a set of the time period. A web-based module for a statistical analysis tool to calculate and compare the median lethal dose has been developed in ASP scripting language based on Server-Client Architecture. The module produces the final probit line, dose-response curve, LC50/LD50 with 95 % confidence interval. The Chi-square statistic has been obtained for testing the adequacy of fit. A user-friendly interface for entering/pasting the data and various parameters such as number of variables, number of observations etc. has also been provided. Additionally, a complete procedure to perform probit analysis has also been provided in the help file
A review on distribution and importance of wetlands in the perspective of India
Get PDFBiodiversity is not equally distributed across the world. It depends on the type of various habitats and food availability. In these habitats, wetlands play an import role to increase the biodiversity of the particular area. Many studies have focused on various habitats to conserve biodiversity. However, the wetland studies are very few due to the lack of information on their distribution and importance. The present review focusses on the wetland status and their importance in India. India has vibrant and diverse wetland ecosystems that support immense biodiversity. The wetlands are unique habitats which provide ecological, social and economic values. However, rapid urbanization, industrialization and uncontrolled agricultural practices have pressurized to shrink the wetlands in India. The present paper highlights the wetland habitats in India with their geographical location, distribution, avian species diversity and their significance. The paper also discusses the growing threats like climate change, land-use change and agriculture/ municipal waste to the wetlands and the conservation efforts by Indian government policies, i.e. National Wetland Conservation Programme, National Environmental Policy, and National Plan for conservation of the aquatic ecosystem. In addition, on the basis of previous studies on wetlands, it is suggested that the role of stakeholders is very much responsible for wetland conservation