Journal of Applied and Natural Science
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Land characterization and soil-site suitability- evaluation of banana growing areas of South Gujarat, India
Get PDFAn investigation was carried out to evaluate the soil-site suitability and land characterization in some banana growing soils of South Gujarat. The soil belongs to Vertisols, Inceptisols and Enitisols soil order. Banana growing soil (Pedon-1) of Narmada district have ochric epipedon whereas, pedon 2, 3, 4,5, 6 and 9 are placed in order Inceptisols owing to ochric epipedon followed by cambic horizon (changes in colour, structure and texture). The presence of smectite mineralogy class, hyperthermic soil moisture regime and more than 30 per cent clay (but less than 60 per cent), pedon 7 and 8 classified as Inceptisols. In respect of land characteristics, The cumulative rating index of Jhagadia (PN2), Bardoli (PN5) and Palsana (P6) coming under highly sustainable (S2). Whereas, rest of the pedon i.e., Narmada (P1), Bharuch (PN3), Kamrej (PN4) Navsari (PN7), Jalalpore (PN8) and Valsad (PN9) are sustainable under high input (S3). Considering the soil-site suitability criteria, Bharuch (PN3), Palsana (PN6) and Jalalpore (PN8) are identified as highly suitable talukas for banana cultivation. While the Narmada (PN1), Jhagadia (PN2), Kamrej (PN4), Bardoli (PN5), Navsari (PN7) and Valsad (PN9) were categorized in moderately suitable class (S2). The suitability class can be improved if the correctable limitations (soil fertility characteristics) are altered through soil amelioration measures
Long-term application of fertilizers on chemical and biological properties of an Alfisol
Get PDFA long term fertilizer experiment (30 years) at Bengaluru had been started during 1986 with eleven treat-ments and four replications in an Alfisol on finger millet (Elusine coracana) maize (Zea mays) cropping sequence. The results of the ongoing experiment after 27 cycles of finger millet and maize on changes in soil chemical proper-ties revealed that application of inorganics alone resulted in impaired soil fertility status (soil pH, organic carbon con-tent and available nutrients in soil were decreased) over balanced fertilizer application. There was a decline in soil reaction over the initial status and the maximum decrease was observed in 100 % NP (-1.46), 100 % N (-1.20) and other treatments. Application of 100 % NPK+FYM+lime maintained the soil pH (6.2) compared to all the other treat-ments. Organic carbon content of soil in all the treatments was higher (6.46 g kg-1) compared to the initial status; however, maximum increase in organic carbon content was registered on application of NPK+FYM. Application of 10 t ha-1 along with recommended dose of fertilizers and lime was found promising in term of sustaining crop and soil productivity
Effect of organic source of nutrients and biofertilizers on growth, yield and quality of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.)
Get PDFTurmeric (Curcuma longa L.) being a long crop duration, rhizomatous nature and high productivity it re-quires heavy input of fertilizers. Keeping this in view, an experiment was conducted at the Instructional farm of Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Pundibari, Cooch Behar, West Bengal during 2009-10 and 2010-11 to study the effect of organic source of nutrients and biofertilizers on growth, yield and quality of Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.). The results revealed that application of green leaf manure (from Glyricidia maculata) @ 12tonnes/ha along with rock phosphate @ 0.2 tonnes/ha, wood ash @ 1 tonnes/ha, Azospirillum @ 5kg/ha + PSB @ 5kg/ha (T5) gave the sig-nificantly highest fresh (29.27 tonnes/ha) and dry yield (7.81 tonnes/ha) followed by vermicompost 5 tonnes/ha along with Azospirillum @ 5kg/ha + PSB @ 5kg/ha (T4) (26.30 tonnes/ha and 6.99 tonnes/ha, respectively) which was statistically at par with sole application of 30 tonnes/ha farm yard manure (T2) ( 26.00 tonnes/ha and 6.77 tonnes/ha, respectively). Next highest dry yield (6.40 tonnes/ha) was recorded in control plots (T6) of recommended dose of fertilizers at the rate of 80:80:120 kg N, P2O5 and K2O/ ha along farm yard manure @ 15 tonnes/ha. The lowest fresh yield of 19.31 tonnes/ha and dry yield (5.26 tonnes/ha) was recorded in the treatment of sole application of FYM @ 15 tonnes/ha (T1). Somewhat higher dry recovery percentage was recorded in case of all the organic treatments compared to control treatment (T6). Maximum dry recovery (27.22%) and curcumin content (5.24%) was recorded in the treatment of sole application of FYM @ 15 tonnes/ha (T1). It may be concluded that the application of green leaf manure (from Glyricidia maculata) @ 12tonnes/ha along with rock phosphate @ 0.2 tonnes/ha, wood ash @ 1 tonnes/ha, Azospirillum @ 5kg/ha and PSB @ 5kg/ha was the best treatment followed by application of Vermicompost @ 5 tonnes/ha + Azospirillium @5 kg/ha + PSB @ 5 kg/ha and application of farm yard manure @ 30 tonnes/ha treatments for dry yield and quality of turmeric
Estimation of combining ability analysis in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) for yield, nutritional and processing quality improvement
Get PDFCombining ability for yield and nutritional quality traits in tomato were studied by involving 28 cross combi-nations obtained from crossing 8 diverse lines in diallel mating fashion. Based on GCA effects of parents, the varie-ties Pant T-3, Arka Alok and Sel-7 were good general combiners for most of the traits under study. The crosses viz., Pant T-3 x H-24 (1.052%), Arka Meghali x Punjab Chhuhara (0.768%) and H-88-78-1 x Azad T-5 (0.768%) were found to be high positive specific combining ability effect for yield per plant. For quality traits, the crosses Arka Me-ghali x Punjab Chhuhara and H-24 x Sel-7 were also superior specific combiner for number of seeds per fruit and ascorbic acid, while cross Punjab Chhuhara x H-88-78-1 was superior specific combiner for number of seeds per fruit (24.165%), yield per plant (0.677%) and titrable acidity (0.183%). These elite hybrids may be tested for yield and other quality traits under different agro-climatic conditions for commercial exploitation of hybrid vigour
Advances in role of organic acids in poultry nutrition: A review
Get PDFAnti microbial drug resistance concerns scientists all around the world epically one used as livestock feed additives. Feed grade antibiotics are given in non therapeutic doses which lead to survival of pathogenic microbes which in turn develop drug resistance, thus necessitating researchers to search for alternative ways to feed grade antibiotics besides doing least compromise on growth parameters. Organic acids are used in poultry to lower the pH of intestinal tract which favours good microbes which in turn suppress pathogenic microbes thus evicting the use of antibiotics. They are used in poultry diets and drinking water to elicit a positive growth response, improving nutrient digestibility, performance and immunity in poultry. Literature shows that organic acids have more or less pronounced antimicrobial activity, depending on both the concentration of the acid and the bacterial species that is exposed to the acid. The variability in response of organic acids and its possible mechanisms are discussed. Scope of this paper is to provide a view of the use of organic acids in the prevention of enteric disease in poultry, the effect on the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), immunity and performance of broiler or laying hens. In the current review beneficial as-pects of organic acids along with different dose combinations are discussed to promote its optimum utilization in poultry nutrition and production
Effect of chitosan and acetic acid on the shelf life of sea bass fillets stored at refrigerated temperature
Get PDFConsidering the necessity on the use of chitosan and acetic acid as an antimicrobial and antioxidant agents, an attempt was made to study their effect on Asian sea bass fillets stored at refrigerated temperature of 4±1°C. The effectiveness of different antimicrobials (Chitosan and Acetic acid) were measured by disk diffusion method against five bacterial strains (E. coli, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus mirabilis and Pseudomonas fragi) with 1% Acetic acid as (T1), 1% Acetic acid + 1% Chitosan as (T2), 1% Acetic acid + 2% Chi-tosan as (T3) and distilled water as control (C).T2 was more effective in inhibiting all the bacteria except Pseudomo-nas fragi. Treatment T1 was found to be more effective against it whereas the action of T3 on the bacterial strains was also effective but less than the other two treatments. Further, antioxidant property of the treatments were measured by DPPH method which indicated that T3 showed highest % of antioxidative activity (3.94%) followed by T1 (3.85%), T2 (2.62%), and C (1.788%).Thus, it is observed that the antioxidant activity was found to be increased with the increasing concentration of chitosan. Application of chitosan and acetic acid coatings on Asian sea bass ( Lates calcarifer) fillets successfully controlled the TVB-N values, PV and TBA values (p<0.05) when compared to control sample and among all the treatments T2 was found to be the best. Coating of chitosan and acetic acid on the fillets also resulted in improvement of sensory scores as well as acceptability under refrigerated condition
Effect of dormancy breaking chemicals on microtuber production potential under in vivo conditions of central India
Get PDFThe present study was carried out at ICAR -Central Potato Research Station, Gwalior during 2012-13 to assess the effect of dormancy breaking chemicals, their dip duration and microtuber size on growth and yield parameters. The three different size >4-6mm, >6-8mm and >8mm of variety Kufri Sindhuri were given dip treatment with six types of growth regulators/ dormancy breaking chemicals viz 1ppm gibberelic acid, 0.5 ppm gibberllic acid, 1% thiourea, 0.5 % thiourea, 1ppm gibberllic acid + 1% thiourea and 0.5 ppm gibberllic acid + 0.5 % thiourea along with water control for 30 min, 45 min and 60 min. All the treatments exhibited better growth and yield parameters over water control but significantly best at 5% was 0.5 ppm gibberllic acid treatment for growth parameters and 0.5 ppm gibberllic acid + 0.5 % thiourea treatment for yield parameters. All the dip duration 30 min, 45 min and 60 min had not significant at 5% level effect for both growth and yield parameters. The larger sized micro-tuber (>8 mm) showed significantly superior plant emergence, plant height, number of compound leaves per plant, number of stems per plant both at 50 and 75 days after planting followed by 4-8 mm grade and <4 mm grade micro-tubers. Similar trend was observed for all the yield parameters. The overall mean finding indicates that micro-tubers treated with 0.5 ppm gibberllic acid in combination with 0.5 % thiourea gave highest yield (226.0 q/ha tuber), among micro-tuber size of >8mm (295.0 q/ha tuber) and among dip duration 30 min (206.67q/ha) and 45 min (210 q/ha) resulted in significantly higher yield parameters under nucleus seed production in in vivo conditions of central India
Organic farming: Present status, scope and prospects in northern India
Get PDFOrganic agriculture has emerged as an important priority area globally in view of the growing consciousness for safe and healthy food, long term sustainability and environmental concerns despite being contentious in history. Green revolution although paved way for developing countries in self-sufficiency of food but sustaining production against the limited natural resource base demands has shifted steadily from “resource degrading” chemical agriculture to “resource protective” organic agriculture. The essential concept remains the same, i.e., to go back to the arms of nature and take up organic farming to restore the loss. Organic farming emphasizes on rotating crops, managing pests, diversifying crops and livestock and improving the soil. The rainfed areas particularly north-eastern regions where least or no utilization of chemical inputs due to poor resources provides considerable opportunity for promotion of organic farming thereby reflecting its vast but unexplored scope. However, significant barriers like yield reduction, soil fertility enhancement, integration of livestock, marketing and policy etc., arise at both macroscopic and microscopic levels; making practically impossible the complete adoption of ‘pure organic farming’; rather some specific area can be diverted to organic farming and thus a blend of organic and other innovative farming systems is needed. Adoption of Integrated Green Revolution Farming can be possible to a large extent, where the basic trends of green revolution are retained with greater efficiency and closer compatibility to the environment. This review paper attempts to present the recent global and regional scenario of organic farming particularly highlighting the scope, prospects and constraints in the northern areas
A comparative analysis of phytoplankton diversity and abundance during monsoon season in selected beels (wetlands) of Assam, India
Get PDFWater collected from 8 selected floodplain wetlands (beels) of Brahmaputra valley basin were examined using both filtered method (FM) and sedimentation method (SM) for the assessment of phytoplankton diversity and abundance. A total 22 and 41 species were recorded by employing FM and SM, respectively. There was a significance difference (p<0.05) between FM and SM. Species and abundance of phytoplankton were lesser in FM than SM and it was due to exclusion of minute size (<25?) from net and maximum retention of species in sedimentation method. Chlorophyta, Bacillariophyta, Cyanophyta, Euglenophyta, Chrysophyta and Dinophyta were recorded during study period. Chlorophyta, Bacillariophyta and Cyanophyta were dominant groups. Bacillariophyta was dominant group followed by Chlorophyta and Cyanophyta in FM while Chlorophyta was dominant group followed by Bacillariophyta and Cyanophyta SM. Total phytoplankton densities were recorded from 35 cells L-1 to 3808 cells L-1 in FM while 1.55×104 cells L-1 to 12.33×105 cells L-1 to in SM. Diversity indices of phytoplankton were varied widely in FM and SM. Siligurijan beel and Bildora beels were considered more stable environment than other beels based on diversity indices
Larvicidal action of Nux-vomica (Strychnus nux-vomica L.) against Diamond back moth (Plutella xylostella L.)
Get PDFThe present investigation reports on larvicidal efficacy of plant extracts of Nux-vomica, Strychnus nux-vomica against Diamond back moth (DBM). In this investigation shade dried and powdered nux-vomica plant sam-ples (leaves, root bark, stem bark, seed and fruit rind) were extracted with organic solvents ethanol, methanol, ace-tone, hexane and chloroform and also formulated as Emulsifiable Concentrates (EC) using surfactant and solvents. This formulated plant extracts were tested against third instar larvae of DBM for larvicidal efficacy using leaf disc bioassay method under laboratory condition. Among the five solvent extracts tested, hexane extracts of root bark 11.11 EC @ 2 % showed highest larval mortality of 76.66 % followed by seed 14.25 EC, leaf 16.66 EC, stem bark 12.50 EC and fruit rind 12.50 EC extracts exhibited maximum mortality @ 2 % concentration recording 66.66, 63.33, 56.66 and 40.00 per cent mortality respectively. Positive and negative control such as respective solvent and water showed 10.00 and 3.33 % larval mortality respectively. The results of these experiment clearly indicate that nux-vomica plant possess promising larvicidal action against diamond back moth