Journal of Applied and Natural Science
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A review on dietary fiber in cereals and its characterization
Get PDFThe consequence of food fiber has led to the expansion of a potential market for fiber-rich products and ingredients. Now days, research is being carried on novel resources of dietary fiber (DF), such as agronomic by-products which have traditionally been undervalued. The dietary fibers have its vital role in many physiological processes as well as in the avoidance of many ailments. However, dietary fibers have a number of scientific properties that can be applied in the formulation of foods resulting in surface modification and augmentation of the stability of the foods during their manufacturing and storage. There is a limited study on the effects of dietary fiber on vitamins. This signifies that less-fiber diets can increase the risk of ailment like colon cancer. The usage of fibers from new origins that are currently not fully exploited such as from bacteria, mosses, seaweeds, fruits and vegetables and the prospect of modifying the fibers joining them with other constituents and enhancing their nutritional and sensory attributes, would possibly broaden the field of application for dietary fibers. The present review assesses the classification, nutritional properties, physico-chemical properties and therapeutic functions of dietary fiber. The diets with the high intake of fiber are known to have positive effects on the health
A review on zinc and boron nutrition in rice
Get PDFMicronutrients, though needed in smaller amounts, play a major role in the production and productivity of rice. Zn is the fourth most deficient nutrient element in Indian soils and its deficiency causes severe yield reduction in rice. Application of Zn either as foliar spray or soil application caused significant improvement in growth and yield attributes and yield of rice. Similar to that of Zn, B nutrition also caused significant improvement in growth and yield attributes and yield of rice. The review elaborates the effect of Zn and B nutrition on the growth, physiological parameters, yield attributes, yield and quality of rice
Comparison of floor bacterial load in different types of rabbit cages
Get PDFRabbits are housed on various types of cages including single tier, multi- tier cages etc. The effect of housing system on the floor bacterial load is variable, and its effect on animal production is limited. An attempt has been made to evaluate and compare the floor bacterial load between single-tier and multi-tier caging system in rabbitary. The study was carried out in rabbitary which housed broiler rabbits. The samples were taken in sterile cotton tipped swabs. The floor bacterial load was determined by dilution method where serial dilutions were done with sterile normal saline. An aliquot of 1 ml was taken from dilution and poured in sterile petri plates in triplicate and mixed with liquefied sterilized plate count agar. Following incubation, the bacterial colonies were counted. The bacterial load in the single-tier was comparatively lower than the multi-tier cage even before washing of cages. There was significant difference (P<0.01) in the floor bacterial load before (1.73x1012±0.30) and after water wash (1.35x1011±0.29) and between single (1.50x109±0.30) and multi-tier cages (1.35x1011±0.29). The bacteria up to genes level found using Hi-Media bacterial kit were Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Flavobacterium sp, Micrococcus sp, Proteus sp, Mannheimia sp, Klebsiella sp, Bordetella sp, Bacillus sp, Actinomyces sp, Cornybacterium sp and Pseudomonas sp. This study concluded that reduced bacterial load found in single tier may be due to good aeration and better handling facilities. In single tier cage the dung and urine gets settled at the floor which facilities easy washing which slows down the bacterial growth
Application of Horton’s infiltration model for the soil of Dediapada (Gujarat), India
Get PDFThe design and evaluation of surface irrigation systems of a site requires reliable data of infiltration which could be provided by an infiltration model. In this study, Horton’s infiltration model has been estimated for the soil located in a field of College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Dediapada, Gujarat using the infiltration data obtained from several locations in the field using double ring infiltrometer. The decay constant of the Horton’s infiltration model was obtained using graphical method and also by using semi-log plot of t (time) vs. (f – fc), where f is the infiltration rate (mm/hr) and fc is the initial rate of infiltration capacity (mm/hr). The potential of the Horton’s infiltration model so obtained was evaluated by least square fitting with the observed infiltration data. The Horton’s infiltration model was used to estimate infiltration rate (mm/hr) and cumulative infiltration (cm). The Horton’s model for infiltration rate obtained by semi-log plot method was obtained as i=20 + 94 e-1.02t, where i=infiltration rate (mm/hr) and t= time (min). The coefficient of determination obtained when the infiltration model was applied to observation data taken at various points in the field were found to 0.96. Therefore, it could be inferred that the Horton’s infiltration model could give a reliable estimate of infiltration for the soil of Dediapada.
 
Nutraceutical potential of Ficus roxburghii an underutilized fruit of Sikkim Himalayas
Get PDFFicus roxburghii, “Elephant ear fig “or wild fig is one of very popular fruits found growing wild in the hills of North Eastern and North Western Himalayan region. The fruit of wild fig has also been used as medicine by the tribal people of Sikkim and other states of India. Keeping this in view, the present study was conducted at Laboratory of Department of Horticulture, Sikkim University, Sikkim to access the different nutraceuticals properties as nutritional constituent like protein, fat, fibre, carbohydrate and energy value, mineral content viz.Ca, K, Mg, Na, Zn, Co, Mo, Fe, Mn and phytochemical content such as total phenols, flavonoid, ascorbic acid, anthocyanin and total carotenoids of F. roxburghii. The results of present study revealed that fruit of F. roxburghii contains significant amount of nutritional, mineral and phytochemical properties viz. protein (3.00±0.06%), fat (0.13±0.04%), fibre (3.06±0.02%), carbohydrate (90.81±0.44 %), energy value (376.45±1.44), Ca (23.69 ± 1.7), Mg (73.09 ± 2.1), K (819.64 ± 12.54), Mo (0.58 ± 0.06), Na (6.73 ± 1.2), Zn (0.34 ± 0.10). Fe (26.55 ± 2.8), Cu (4.22 ± 0.20), Mn (7.11 ± 0.11), total phenols (4.13±0.52 mg GAE/ G), total flavonoid (3.10±0.09 mg GAE/ G), ascorbic acid (3.36±0.27 mg GAE/ G), anthocyanin (1.13±0.15 mg GAE/ G) and total carotenoids (0.68±0.10 mg GAE/ G). It may be concluded that the fruit of F. roxburghiiis rich in nutraceuticals and must be incorporated in our balanced diet
Economics and energetics in hybrid sunflower cultivation as influenced by irrigation and fertilizer management practices
Get PDFThe objective of the study was to assess economic feasibility and environmental sustainability in sunflower cultivation as influenced by irrigation and fertilization. A field experiment was conducted during the winter (November-March) of 2011-12 and 2012-2013 in farmer’s field at Madandanga under Chakdaha block of Nadia district in West Bengal (23°22.221\u27N latitude and 88°22.221\u27E longitude with an altitude of 12 m above mean sea level), under sub-humid subtropical climatic condition. The crop irrigated thrice (I30/60/80) outperformed other crops which had reduced moisture (I30 and I30/60) in respect of gross revenue (GR). Irrespective of irrigation levels, application of N80P40K40B1.5S25 treatment paid the highest additional GR over RDF. The higher incremental cost-benefit ratio (ICBR) for ‘Aditya’ was observed with N80P40K40B1.5 at all irrigation levels. Estimated energy indices revealed that net energy gain (NEG) was the highest with the supply of N80P40K40B1.5S25 at all irrigation levels. However, maximum values of energy ratio (ER) and energy productivity (EP) were recorded with N80P40K40B1.5 while total specific energy (SE) was higher with N80P40K40S25 for all irrigation levels. Recommended dose of fertilizer (N80P40K40) was observed to be the most energy-intensive treatment with higher energy intensiveness (EI) values. The treatment N80P40K40VC5 was found to be the most energy-efficient treatment with lowest energy intensiveness (EI) values at all irrigation levels, closely followed by the N80P40K40B1.5S25 treatment
Research article Comparison of artificial screening methods for evaluation of resistance to Fusarium wilt disease of castor (Ricinus communis L.)
No full textThis study was carried out to compare two artificial screening methods viz. Soil Infestation method (SIM) and root dip inoculation technique (RDIT), under glasshouse conditions for the screening of resistant to Fusarium wilt. Both the artificial screening methods; SIM and RDIT were statistically similar in respect of wilt incidence. However, the reaction exhibited by the castor genotypes was varied with artificial screening methods. Mean wilt incidence obtained through SIM (53.9%) was higher as compared to RDIT (44.8%). All the genotypes exhibited comparatively higher wilt incidence when screened through SIM as compared to RDIT. Genotype DCS 9 exhibited resistant reaction (15.8 %) when screened through RDIT but was moderately resistant (32.5 %) when screened through SIM. It was concluded that SIM could also be used for screening of castor genotypes for the resistance to Fusarium wilt disease. However, lower level of resistance could be evaluated efficiently with saving 8-10 days through RDIT as compared to soil infestation method
Yield potential and economics of rabi sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) as influenced by different crop residues and green biomass composts
Get PDFA field experiment was conducted on vertisols at Organic Farming Research Institute, University of Agricultural Sciences, Raichur coming under northern Karnataka during rabi season of 2015-16 to study the yield potential (q ha-1 ) and economics of rabi sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) as influenced by different crop residues and green biomass composts. The experiment consisted of fifteen treatments, of which twelve treatments were based on nitrogen supply though different composts, one recommended dose of fertilizer, one recommended organic and inorganic fertilizers and another was absolute control. Significantly higher grain yield (39.9 q ha-1 ) and stover yield (13.2 tha1 ) was recorded with application of FYM @ 3 t ha-1 + RDF (50:25 N:P2O5 kg ha-1 )followed by recommended NP fertilizers (T13: 37.2 q ha-1 ) and Cotton stalks +Redgram stalks + Glyricidiasp. with C: N ratio of 30:1 compost @ 50 kg N equivalent (T12: 36.6 q ha-1 ). The lowest grain yield was recorded with absolute control (T15: 18.4 q ha-1 ). Significantly higher B:C (3.08) was recorded with RDF(50:25 N:P2O5 kg ha-1 ) + FYM @ 3 t ha-1 application followed Cotton stalks +Redgram stalks + Glyricidia sp. with C: N ratio of 30:1 compost @ 50 kg N equivalent (T12:2.90) over other treatments. Application of recommended FYM @ 3 t ha-1 15 days before sowing along with 50 kg of nitrogen and 25 kg of phosphorus per hectare at the time of sowing recorded higher dry matter production, grain and stover yield and net returns and benefit: cost ratio
Agronomic performance of Indian wheat varieties and genetic stocks known for outstanding chapati quality characteristics
Get PDFThe aim of the present study was to evaluate set of wheat genotypes in one location for their agronomic performance and chapati quality. The cultivars included the tall traditional wheat of the pre-dwarfing era, which were known to excel for chapati quality. This set also included varieties known to have good chapati quality, commercially grown wheats, advanced lines and genetic stocks excelling in one or other quality attribute. All these genotypes developed for different component traits were evaluated along with the recently released high yielding varieties to assess their quality. The mean chapati score of these genotypes revealed that the tall varieties had a distinct edge over others and are the best resource available for this trait. C306 had a high mean chapati score of 8.17 followed by C518, C591 and C273. The released varieties WG357, HD2733 and PBW343 were intermediate in chapati quality whereas the genetic stocks WH1103 and WH712 had lowest score in the group. Among other agronomic traits recorded the traditional varieties were tall and had lower yields than the recently released varieties. The tall varieties had a slightly higher test weight. The environmental conditions and the quantitative nature of the chapati quality did not auger well with the set of genotypes tested however, better and stable performance of the tall traditional varieties. C306 the wheat variety released in 1965 for cultivation has remained the best quality genotype over the years and was also established from this study
Tolerance against ageing in different varieties of Brassica rapa var toria, B. rapa var yellow sarson and B. juncea( L.)
Get PDFSeed deterioration is a serious problem in developing countries where seeds are stored in places usually without a proper control of humidity and temperature. In this investigation, an effort was made to identify crops as well as varieties of brassica spp. tolerance to ageing and predicting loss of seed viability at regular interval through standard germination under laboratory condition. Analysis of variance showed that mean squares due to crops, ageing periods and crop× ageing period were significant for % seed germination. Result revealed that standard germination declined from 95.63 to 37.54% in toria, 92 to 28.96 in yellow sarson, and 93.79 to 30.92% in mustard. Similar changes in germination % were observed at 9 and 12 months of observation. After 6 months, germination % declined from 95.13 to 35.50% in toria, 91.87 to 28% in yellow sarson and 93.33 to 29% in mustard. Analysis of variance showed significant differences for %seed germination due to varieties, ageing period and interaction of varieties × ageing periods. At varietal level AP2, AP3 and AP4 aged seed, Bhawani (82.66%, 68.16% and 28.17%) showed higher seed germination % respectively than other three varieties of toria. In case of yellowsarson and mus-tard least deterioration for standard germination were observed in B-9 and Kranti respectively.This study indicates that toria seeds have better storability than yeloowsarson and mustard. At varietal level good storage potential was found in Bhawani, B-9 and Krantivariety of toria, yellow sarson and mustard respectively than other three varieties of studied crops