Journal of Applied and Natural Science
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Economic analysis of integrated farming systems in the Kuttanad region of Kerala state, India: A case study
Get PDFAgriculture, with its allied sectors, is unquestionably the largest livelihood provider in India. According to Committee on Doubling of Farmers’ Income Report, the average annual earning of a small and marginal farmer household was Rs 79,779 in 2015-16 and indicates that 86% of farmer households earn only 9% of total income and rest of the farmers earn 91% of total income. Integrated farming system practised mostly by small and marginal farmers, is a viable option for increasing farm income. The present study was undertaken to identify the farming systems practised by small and marginal holdings in Kuttanad region of Kerala state, India and also attempts to assess the profitability of these farms and suggest optimal farm plans using linear programming technique. The study revealed that rice + fish and Coconut + Banana+ Dairy cow + Poultry+ Goat were the most profitable farming systems with a benefit cost ratio of 2.63 and 2.86, respectively. The resource allocation in the existing plan was sub-optimal. The optimisation of resource use led to maximization of net returns, indicating the potential for realising greater income. The net returns of rice + fish increased from Rs. 181724 to Rs. 220010 in the optimal plan. The study also suggests the extent to which net returns can be increased with additional units of constraint resources viz., land/labour. The net returns in FS IV can be increased by Rs.286177.9 per additional acreage of land allotted. Thus, the farmers in Kuttanad can increase their income by optimal resource allocation and by deploying additional units of land or labour
Analysis of sentinel-1 data for regional crop classification: a multi-data approach for rabi crops of district Hisar (Haryana)
Get PDFGeneration of spatio-temporal information such as land use system and management practices is one of the key ingredients for carrying out the regional level agro-ecosystem modelling. However, at the regional level availability of such data is scarce, where analysis of a cropping system is essential and a pre-requisite for studying the overall sustainability of the agricultural production system. The present investigation was carried out to identify the actually practised cropping pattern and their mapping in Hisar district of Haryana (India) using Multi-Data Approach (MDA). Multi-date sentinel-1 for the rabi season of 2019 was classified using multi-phase unsupervised classification approach and classes of interest were identified. Finally, classified images were subjected to logical combinations which helped in generating crop classification maps and statistics. Results showed that cropping pattern of the district exhibited huge variations and area under wheat was observed to be highest (204.76 thousand ha) in comparison to mustard crop (64.42 thousand ha) and least was under the sugarcane crop (0.97 thousand ha). Some other crops like vegetables and horticultural crops were also identified during this period, but the major crops that were identified during rabi 2019 were wheat and mustard. Hence, regional crop classification using sentinel-1 data appears to be a valuable tool for predicting a specific regions cropping pattern, which is considered to be the most significant aspect of an agricultural production system
Controlling formation of metal ion adducts and enhancing sensitivity in Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry
Get PDFFormation of metal ion adducts in mass spectrometry, particularly in electrospray ionization liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (ESI-LC-MS), is a nightmare scenario for an analyst dealing with quantitative analysis. We have studied in detail the metal adduct formation and concluded that the use of fluorinated alkanoic acids along with formic acid and volatile ammonium salts was extremely useful in suppressing metal adduct formation in positive ion mode of ESI-LC-MS. The extremely high electronegativity of fluorine atom and unique electrostatic nature of C—F bond coupled with stereo-electronic interactions with neighboring bonds or lone pairs enables the polyfluorinated alkanoic acids in trapping highly electropositive ions (Na+, K+) thereby letting proton do its job efficiently. Addition of formic acid, trifluoroacetic acid, heptafluorobutyric acid and ammonium acetate was found to be extremely effective in controlling metal ion adducts and producing [M+H]+ ions almost exclusively resulting in significant increase in the sensitivity. This technique has been successfully used in our laboratory for the estimation of targeted and nontargeted analysis of pesticides, marine toxins, drugs and pharmaceuticals etc. in various matrices including environmental waters using liquid chromatography-time of flight mass spectrometer operated in all ion acquisition mode and triple quadruples (QQQ) in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode
Estimation of the SARS-CoV-2 specific reproduction number in SAARC countries: A 60-days Data-driven analysis
Get PDFNovel coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) was acknowledged as a global pandemic by WHO, which was first observed at the end of December 2019 in Wuhan city, China, caused by extreme acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus2 (SARS-CoV-2). According to the Weekly operation Update on COVID-19 (November 13, 2020) of the World Health Organization, more than 53 million confirmed cases are reported, including 1.3 million deaths. Various precautionary measures have been taken worldwide to reduce its transmission, and extensive researches are going on. The purpose of this analysis was to determine the initial number of reproductions (Ro) of the coronavirus of SAARC countries named Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Bhutan, Nepal, the Maldives, and Sri-Lanka for the first 60 days as the growth is exponential in the early 60 days. The reproduction numbers of coronavirus for Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Bhutan, the Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka are 1.47, 3.86, 2.07, 1.43, 1.31, 3.22, 1.75, and 2.39 respectively. The basic reproduction number (R0) 3.86 for Bangladesh and 1.31 for Bhutan indicated that up to 60-days of the outbreak COVID-19, the epidemic was more severe in Bangladesh and less severe in Bhutan among all the SAARC countries. Our predictions can be helpful in planning alertness and taking the appropriate measures to monitor it
Development of Thabdi milk sweets of Gujarat State, India utilizing Ghee residue as an ingredient
Get PDFThabdi an ethnic khoa based milk sweet of Gujarat State, which is famous for its characteristic colour texture and flavour, was prepared using ghee residue as an ingredient in order to provide a way to effectively utilize the by-product. Ghee residue was added in milk at different rates viz. T1 (control), T2 (2%), T3 (4%), T4 (6%), T5 (8%) and T6 (10 %). Addition of ghee residue in milk for making Thabdi was found to significantly (P?0.05) increase the fat, protein and ash content, Free fatty acids (FFA), Thiobarbituric acid (TBA) value and acidity significantly (P?0.05) decreased the hardness of the products. Addition of ghee residue resulted in elimination of the 40 min holding period generally used for making Thabdi. Sample T4 (containing 6 % ghee residue) yielded the most acceptable product in terms of sensory attributes of product. It had a glossy brown colour, soft body, uniform grainy texture and pleasing rich nutty caramel flavour. During storage of sample T4 at cabinet temperature (20±1oC) and room temperature (37 C), the acidity, FFA, HMF (Hydroxymethyl Furfural), TBA and hardness increased significantly (P? 0.05) and sensory scores, moisture, water activity and pH decreased significantly(P? 0.05). It can be concluded that the most acceptable quality Thabdi could be prepared by addition of ghee residue at the rate of 6 % w/w of milk with improved shelf-life of 28 days at 20±1oC and 14 days at 37±1oC as compared to 21 and 12 days for control respectively. Thus, Thabdi sweet prepared with the use of ghee residue as an ingredient will provide a way to effectively utilize the by-product
A review on the role of emerging revolutionary nanotechnology in forensic investigations
Get PDFDue to the unique properties of nanoparticles, it has gained prominence in lots of fields with extensive research being carried around it. With lots of novel applications arising from this field, Forensic science seems to be one of the fast-growing fields in nano research applications. The growing and extensive use of nanotechnology being applied in forensic investigations is promising and could soon be the tipping point in the discipline. Applications mainly have been related to evidence identification and analysis in the broad major fields in Forensic Science such as single-crystalline semiconductor CdS nano slabs for explosives detection, functionalized TiO2 nanorods for organophosphorus chemical warfare agents in Forensic Chemistry, the use of Nanopowders for latent print visualization in Forensic physics and Gold nanoparticle protein nanopore for detection of single-stranded DNA in Forensic biology. Nanotechnology has also been employed in illegal drug detection in recent times. These and other applications of Nanotechnology provides prompt and precise results with reduced methods due to the limited instruments used for analyzing evidence as well as providing sensitive and selective ways of detecting evidence. As evidence is notable in forensic investigations, nanotechnology’s use in identifying and detecting these has potential in enhancing and providing efficient and rapid means for investigations and unravelling leads into crimes. This review emphasizes some disciplines in forensic sciences in which nanotechnology is having an impact, novel methods and newly developed instruments and also takes into account its challenges as well as perspectives into the future
Effect of intra row spacing, dates of haulm cutting and fertilizer dose on disease free quality seed tuber production of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) under new Alluvial Zone of West Bengal
Get PDFPotato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is the most popular tuber crop in West Bengal, India. Seed tuber is the single most important factor in potato cultivation and if the seed is not of good quality, then optimum production could not be achieved. Unavailability of good quality seed, high price and untimely supply of seed at the village level are the main limiting factors in potato production. Field experiments were conducted during rabi season of 2017-18 and 2018-19 at Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Kalyani, West Bengal to determine the effects of intra row spacing, dates of haulm cutting and fertilizer dose on disease free quality seed grade tuber production of potato. The experiment was laid out in a split split plot design with three replications having twelve treatment combinations. The results revealed that with the decrease in intra row spacing from 20cm to 15cm seed grade size (< 75g) tuber yield and numbers and total tuber numbers were significantly increased but marketable grade (> 75 g) tuber yield and numbers were significantly reduced. Haulm cutting at 65 DAP increased the seed grade size tuber yield and numbers over 75 DAP. With the decrease in fertility levels from 100% RDF of NPK to 50% RDF of NPK the seed grade tuber production and number were significantly increased at 5% level of significance. Disease incidence and intensity of Phoma leaf spot decreased and early blight increased with decreasing doses of fertilizers. No viral disease was observed. Dehaulming at 65 DAP was found safer so far as infestation and chances of viral disease transmission by the sucking pests were concerned. From the present study it may be concluded that, for quality seed tuber production of potato and to get highest net return under New Alluvial Zone of West Bengal, use of 50cm X 15cm spacing along with haulm cutting at 65 DAP, when planting is done on first week of November and grown with 50% RDF of NPK was found best
Simultaneous application of AMMI measures and yield for stability analysis of wheat genotypes evaluated under irrigated late sown conditions of Central Zone of India
Get PDFReports on biased interpretation for the stability of the genotypes under AMMI analysis, considering only the first two interaction principal components, has been observed in recent past. Simultaneous use of yield and stability of genotypes in a single measure had been advocated for identification of highly productive and broadly adapted genotypes. The performance of superiority index, allowed variable weighting mechanism for yield and stability, has been compared with AMMI based measures. For the first year (2018-19) Superiority index, weighting 0.65 and 0.35 for yield and stability, found UAS3002, MP3336 and HI1633 as of stable performance with high yield. Recent analytic measures the relative proportion of genotypic value (PRVG) and Harmonic mean of the relative proportion of genotypic value (MHPRVG) selected CG1029, HI1634 and HD2932 wheat genotypes. Indirect relations were expressed by Superiority Index (SI) with other stability measures. Superiority index saw stable performance along with high yield of HD2864 and HI1634 for the second year 2019-20. PRVG as well as MHPRVG measures observed suitability of CG1029 and HD2864 while MP3336 as unstable wheat genotypes. Values of SI measure had expressed only indirect relations of high degree with stability measures except with yield, PRVG and MHPRVG values. Stability measures by the simultaneous use of AMMI and yield would be more meaning full and useful as compared to measures consider either the AMMI or yield of genotypes only
Studies on character association among quality traits and yield components in Basmati rice (Oryza sativa L.)
Get PDFRice is most important food crop of India and grown in different regions with differential consumer preferences for grain size, shape, aroma and cooking qualities. Therefore, crop improvement in rice not only focused on yield but also to enhance quality. Hence the present investigation was carried out with an objective of assessing the character association among twenty-two morphological and quality characters of thirty basmati rice (Oryza sativa L) genotypes. Correlation analysis revealed that Seed yield was significantly and positively associated with days to maturity (0.330**), number of tillers per plant (0.434**), number of grains per panicle (0.358**), grain weight per panicle (0.410**), and flag leaf length (0.258*). The days to maturity exhibited a significant positive correlation with plant height, panicle length, grain weight per plant, kernel length before cooking, kernel length after cooking and L: B ratio. Tiller per plant reflected the positive and significant association with a number of grains per panicle, grain weight per panicle and grain weight per plant. Flag leaf length showed a significant positive correlation with a number of grains per panicle and grain weight per plant, while Grains per panicle was positively and significantly associated with grain weight per panicle, grain weight per plant and kernel breadth before cooking. Grain weight per panicle exhibited a significant positive association with grain yield per plant (0.410**), kernel breadth before cooking (0.381**), 100 grain weight (0.240*) and 100 kernel weight (0.210*). These characters could be utilized to form a selection index for improvement of the basmati rice
Variation in morphometric characters, germination and oil content of Terminalia bellirica (Gaertn.) Roxb. seeds collected from various provenances of Odisha, India
Get PDFThe wide distribution of Terminalia bellirica in natural forests of Odisha has a good opportunity to identify better genotypes with higher oil yielding potential. The study related to variation in oil content, morphometric characters and germination of Terminalia bellirica (Gaertn.) Roxb. seeds was carried out in nine provenances viz. Deogan, Bolangir Kasturi Bahal, Narada, Kantamal, Jeypore, Gunupur, Kuchinda and Ghatikia of Odisha (India) keeping in the importance of the seed oil for biodiesel production, soap industry and medicinal values. T. bellirica is widely distributed in Odisha with gregarious fruiting of which most of the fruits remain unused except used as myrobalan for medicinal purposes. It revealed that Kantamal provenance expressed highest fruits length (3.87cm) and 100 fruit weight (1340.17gm), 100 seed weight(649.05gm) and 100 kernel weight(99.43gm) with maximum oil yield which can be taken up for further improvement study. However, the progeny testing at nursey level was also found to have the same provenance performing best for germination and seedling characters.