Journal of Applied and Natural Science
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Dynamics of socio-economic development of districts of eastern Uttar Pradesh
Get PDFDevelopment process of any system is dynamic in nature and depends on large number of parameters. This study attempted to capture latest dynamics of development of districts of Eastern Uttar Pradesh in respect of three dimensions- Agriculture, Social and Infrastructure. Techniques adopted by Narain et al. (1991) have been used in addition to Principal component and factor analysis. Ranking seems to very close to ground reality and provides useful information for further planning and corrective measures for future development of Eastern UttarPradesh’s Districts. The Composite Indices (C.I.) of development in respect of 18 developmental indicators for the total 28 districts of eastern Uttar Pradesh have been estimated for the year 2010-2011. The district Barabanki was showed a higher level of development (C.I. =0.10) in Agricultural development compared to Social development (C.I.=1.12) and Infrastructural development (C.I. =0.89) followed by the district Ambedkar nagar (Agricultural, C.I. =0.52), (Social, C.I. =1.12) and (Infrastructure, C.I. =0.89). District Allahabad secured first position in the Social development (C.I. =0.81) and second in Infrastructural development (C.I. =0.34) as compared to Agriculture (C.I. =0.93). District Varanasi was the most developed district in Infrastructure (C.I. =0.10) as compared to Agriculture (C.I.=0.96) and Social (C.I. =0.96). As per findings of the study, the two districts Mau and Jaunpur were down in their ranking and the districts Chandauli and Maharajganj improved their ranking
Constraints analysis in adoption of best farm practices towards sequestration of greenhouse gases
Get PDFThe aim of this paper is to find out the major losses due to emission of green house gases (GHGs) and investigate the major constraints that are responsible for non-adoption of best farming practices to minimize the emission of GHG in agricultural sectors in Haryana state. The study was conducted in two districts of Haryana state namely; Hisar and Karnal. A total number of 120 farmers were interviewed to analyze the constraints in adoption of best farm practices towards sequestration of GHGs and losses occurred. The study resulted that very serious losses occurred due to greenhouse gases were found crop benefit ratio decreased with mean score of 1.23, crop damaged due to adverse climatic uncertainty (1.07), crop production decreased (0.89), sowing season changed (0.86), loss in bio-diversity (0.84), less income earned from agriculture (0.81), soil water holding capacity decreased (0.68). The other serious losses perceived due to emission of GHGs were deeper level of ground water table (0.31), cropping pattern and cropping system changed (0.28), high usages of inorganic fertilizers (0.23), soil fertility decreases (0.13). While the constraints that were found responsible in non-adoption of best farming practices towards sequestration of GHGs were noticed as non- availability of package of practices (96.11%), lack of awareness about health risk in humans (94.72%), no reward for adoption of environmental measures (93.05%), lack of demonstration/training for reducing GHG emission (91.11%), less credibility in farm practices (90%) were major problems observed in adoption of farm practices
Quantitative changes in phytochemicals in tomato plant due to application of resistance inducing chemicals and their role in inhibition of early blight pathogen Alternaria alternata
Get PDFPhytochemicals viz. soluble protein, reducing sugar and phenols were quantified from tomato (Solanum lycopersicon) leaves after application of resistance inducing chemicals viz. salicylic acid, ?-aminobutyric acid, chitosan and 2,6- dichloroisonicotinic acid as 8 hr seed dip treatment or 2 hr seedling dip treatment or both treatment to study their effect on induction of resistance and inhibition of growth of pathogen. Soluble proteins and phenols were found maximum due to seed+seedling treatment of salicylic acid @ 1.5 mM concentration with 76.90 per cent and 102.68 per cent increase over control whereas reducing sugar was maximum for seed+seedling treatment of ?-aminobutyric acid @ 15.0 mM concentration with 61.38 per cent increase over control. The increased level of protein quantity had no effect on inhibition of Alternaria alternata growth, whereas the increased quantity of sugar inhibited the average growth of Alternaria up to 19.39 per cent. Among phenolic compounds catechol and the cinnamic acid (formed in shikimic acid pathway of phenol biosynthesis) was inhibitory to the A. alternata whereas tannic acid hadsome effect on inhibition of Alternaria growth (13.84 % fungal growth inhibition). The increased level of sugar+phenol tested against the pathogen completely inhibited the growth of Alternaria fungus. Thus, the increased level of reducing sugar and phenol in tomato leaves due to the application of resistance inducing chemicals seemsto be inhibitory to the pathogens multiplication and pathogenesis
Agro-metrological investigation of bumper apple productivity in Himachal Pradesh, India
Get PDFThe study aimed to investigate the productivity and weather relationship for the apple growing areas of Himachal Pradesh viz., Kalpa, Bhuntar and Shimla in district Kinnaur, Kullu and Shimla, respectively. The results revealed that pre bloom period (November to February) in the year 2009-10 remained cooler. The minimum temperature of 0.4 to 0.9, 1.0 to 1.1°C and 1.9 to 2.2°C and maximum temperature of 6.7, 1.0 to 1.1 and 1.7°C were lower in Shimla, Bhuntar and Kalpa region, respectively compared to 1995-2009.. The maximum temperature for the chill accumulation months of November, December, January and February during 2009-10 showed 13 to 19 per cent lower compared to 1995-2009. The average pre bloom rainfall during 2010 was 39 to 57 per cent higher than 1995-2009 indicating sustainable bloom period. The 3 to 4°C temperature rise during March 2010 (19 to 24°C) as compared to 1995-2009 (16 to 21.4°C) coupled with 52 per cent higher precipitation benefited the crop in profuse flowering and hence good fruit set. The average maximum temperature during the post bloom period (May-June) in 2009-10 was 1°C higher compared to the previous years coupled with 23 per cent higher rainfall resulting in an highest productivity. The highest productivity (8.57 MT/ha) during 2010 which was 58 per cent higher than the previous years can be ascribed due to the favorable low temperature in pre bloom period and increase in the temperature inthe month of March along with adequate rainfall in the bloom and post bloom period
Character association and path coefficient analysis for grain yield of parents and hybrids in rice (Oryza sativa L.)
Get PDFAn experiment was conducted to study the inter-relationships, direct and indirect effects of various yield attributing characters towards grain yield per plant, at Rice Research Centre, Rajendranagar. Grain yield per plant had significant positive correlation with productivity per day (0.97), panicle weight (0.71), number of filled grains per panicle (0.57), panicle length (0.46), number of productive tillers per plant (0.34), days to 50 per cent flowering (0.23) and plant height (0.16).Path analysis revealed that productivity/ day (0.91) was the major contributor for grain yield followed by, days to 50 per cent flowering (0.19), grain length (0.05), number of productive tillers per plant (0.04), panicle weight (0.04) and number of filled grains per panicle (0.04). It can be concluded from the study that, the above characters can be used as the selection criteria in any rice yield improvement breeding programmes
Biological control of downy mildew of maize caused by Peronosclerospora sorghi under environmentally controlled conditions
Get PDFDowny mildew disease, caused by Peronosclerospora sorghi, is one of the most serious diseases of maize. The disease is currently managed by seed treatment with metalaxyl fungicides. However, problems regarding environmental pollution resulting from the use of fungicides and development of fungicide resistance within populations of P. sorghi are of increasing concern. Assuming that biological control by means of using antagonistic microorganisms may be an alternative for the management of this disease, the efficacy of biocontrol agents viz., Bacillus subtilis G1, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens B2, Brevibacillus brevis 57 and Pseudomonas fluorescens Pf1 for the management of downy mildew of maize and for promoting plant growth was evaluated. The results indicated that seed treatment with B. subtilis G1 and B. amyloliquefaciens B2 significantly (P = 0.05) increased the germination percentage and seedling vigour of maize as assessed by roll towel method. Among them, B. subtilis G1 was the most effective and recorded 9% and 31% increases in germination percentage and seedling vigour of maize respectively, as compared to the control. A talc- based powder formulation of B. subtilis G1 when applied through seed at the rate of 10 g/kg reduced the downy mildew incidence up to 54% under greenhouse conditions. Results of this study suggest that B. subtilis G1 is a promising bioagent for the management of downy mildew of maize and for promoting plant growth. This antagonist could be further exploited for commercial scale up for ecofriendly management of downy mildew of maize under localized climatic conditions
Growth pattern of Celastrus paniculatus Willd. in two different habitats of district Tehri Garhwal, Uttarakhand (India)
Get PDFTehri Garhwal is one of the most important hilly district of Uttarakhand state, which is located at the foot hills of Himalayan mountain ranges has a rich and diverse form of vegetation along with medicinal and aromatic plants. Traditionally the folk people and the local inhabitants utilize the vegetation from their contiguous in the form of medicine, timber, food, fiber etc. Among these useful plants population of the some useful plants are becoming rare and threatened due to unsustainable utilization, overexploitation, construction of roads, over grazing, pilgrims, construction of large dams, forest encroachment, landslides and natural calamities, modernize agriculture etc. Out of these medicinal plants, a very important and threatened medicinal plant is C. paniculatus (Malkangni). The present study deals with conservation and cultivation practices of C. paniculatus in two altitudinal sites i.e. site 1st - village Budogi lying on the altitude of 2000m asl. and site 2nd - S.R.T. Campus Botanical Garden, Badshahithaul (Tehri Garwal), upto 1600m asl. Measurements of the plant height, number of leaves, size of veins etc. was compared at two altitudinal zones. The samples parameters from site 2nd showed maximum growth rate of C. paniculatus i.e. 8.4± 0.86 cm, 9.01± 2.0 and 2.63± 0.23 cm for plant height, number of leaves and size of veins respectively as compared to site 1st i.e. 5.19±0.52 cm, 4.85±0.85 and 2.27±0.1 cm. Thus, C. paniculatus showed best growth rate at an elevation up to 1600m. The cultivation practice will provide reliable information for cultivation of this species in a particular altitudinal range
Productivity enhancement and popularization of improved production technologies in wheat through frontline demonstrations
Get PDFFront line demonstrations (FLDs) on wheat were conducted on 150 farmers’ fields to demonstrate the impact of drought tolerant rainfed varieties (PBW 175 & PBW 644) and other improved practices techniques (supplemental irrigation and sowing with seed drill) on production and economic benefits in the kandi region of Punjab state during rabi seasons from 2011-12 to 2013-14 under rainfed situation. The improved production technologies recorded additional mean yield of 27.8 q/ha and 28.4 q/ha for rainfed varieties and other improved practices. The per cent average increase in yield of rainfed over local cultivars was 35.3, while 29.1 for other improved practices. The average extension gap, technology gap and technology index were 7.3 q/ha, 8.4 q/ha and 22.5 per cent, respectively in different varieties. FLDs recorded higher B:C ratio of 2.32 and 2.52 for rainfed varieties and other improved practices, respectively. The FLDs conducted on improved technologies during the present study resulted in enhancement of yield, net returns and also increased the knowledge of the farmers. Thus, productivity of wheat could be increased by adopting recommended improved management practices with a suitable high yielding variety under rainfed conditions. The present study resulted in convincing the farming community about potentialities of improved production management technologies of wheat in productivity enhancement and for further adoption by the farming community
Effect of chemical vis-a-vis non-chemical pest management on predatory spiders in paddy-ecosystem
Get PDFSpiders act as one of the most important defenders in paddy ecosystem and there are several families of those with different habits. The question on the effect of chemical application in comparison to the non chemical option on different spider families in the zone under study was attempted for getting answer. For that purpose, the field experiment was conducted during kharif, 2014 for studying spider abundance in chemical versus non-chemical treatments. Chemical based treatment consisted of the application of Phorate 10G at 10 days after transplanting (DAT), followed by spraying with Imidacloprid 17.8 SL at 45 DAT, and dusting of Methyl Parathion 2D at 80 DAT. Transplanting of rice following skip row technique, sowing of okra, cowpea, sesame & balsam on the surrounding bunds, retention of weeds on the bunds, single inoculative release of Trichogramma chilonis @ 1,00,000 at 35 DAT, and use of pheromone (Scirpophaga incertulus lure)-cum -light trap @ 10 traps ha-1 were integrated together in nonchemical based treatment. The results revealed that the population of wolf spiders and long jawed spiders were statistically higher during all the seven dates of observation in non-chemical based approach. Amongst Araneid spiders, non-chemical based approach recorded significantly higher population at 60, 75 and 90 DAT. On the basis of overall mean, the non-chemical treatment had significantly higher population of spiders belonging to most of the families except Thomisidae. The mean population of spiders across the families varied from 1.06 to 12.0 and 0.54 to 6.66 per double sweep per sub plot in non-chemical based and chemical based treatment, respectively. Thus, the study confirms the safety of the non-chemical based approach in maintaining significantly higher level of spider population
Effects of agro-chemicals practices in economic production of cabbage in valley districts of Manipur, India
Get PDFPresent investigation was conducted in Thoubal district and Imphal East district of Manipur, India to assemble the information about the economics of cabbage production, checking the practices done by farmers while using agro-chemicals and identifying the problems encountered by the producers in cabbage production. NPK was the most popular inorganic fertilizer amongst farmers. As such 59 farms applied fertilizer twice and 26 farms applied more than twice before harvesting. Different irrigation practices were encountered where use of pipes was more popular (53 farms) relative to the use of bucket irrigation (32 farms). Hoeing or hand fork were the most efficient tools for weed management (66 farms) followed by hand picking (21 farms). Majority of the farmers (79 farms) applied insecticides to control insect pest and fungicides as the major means of diseases management (78 farms). Overall the average cost of cultivation was worked out to be Rs. 18007.18 farm-1 with the cost of large farms much higher than the small farms which is estimated as Rs. 26827.12 farm-1 and Rs. 12126.35 farm-1 respectively. The main problems faced by farmers were pest and diseases problems, insufficient irrigation, inadequate electricity for irrigation, infertility of soil, non-availability of fertilizers in time and suitable plant protection chemicals. The study concluded that cabbage farmer misused pesticides in terms of its types and quantity used in order to increase its production. In addition, consumers were exposed to high pesticide residue levels due to limited or no waiting period before cabbage heads were harvested