Journal of Applied and Natural Science
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Effect of different potato varieties and tuber sizes on physiological changes under ambient storage performance
Get PDFThe storability and sprouting behavior of three grades (small, medium and large tubers) from four Indian potato cultivars was studied under ambient conditions to assess the quality changes due to physiological losses and sprouting bhaviour of potato tubers. It was found that physiological loss in weight (%), decay loss on number and weight basis (%), sprout loss on number and weight basis (%), total loss (%), general appearance, presence of black or hollow heart were affected significantly by the different varieties as well as by the size. The loss in weight of tubers due to physiological activities, decaying and sprouting increased with the increased in storage period and the loss was more in larger than smaller and medium tubers. Kufri Badshah showed the best control over sprouting, whereas, 100% sprouting was observed in Kufri Bahar with all possible combinations during storage. The maximum value for cumulative physiological loss in weight was observed in variety Kufri Bahar (12.07%), whereas, minimum was in Kufri Pushkar (7.44%). The maximum decay loss was observed in variety Kufri Pushkar (7.89 and 8.72%) and minimum in Kufri Bahar (0.00 and 4.58%) on 80th and 90th day of storage period. Black or hollow heart was absent completely in all the possible treatments. So far general appearance of the tubers was concerned, the larger tubers shrivelled more and earlier than the medium and small sized tubers. Different varieties behaved differently during the entire storage period
Production potential and economics of wheat, Triticum aestivum as influenced by different planting methods in Punjab, India
Get PDFThe burning of rice straw after rice harvest in the Rice-Wheat System can be overcome by direct seeding of wheat by in standing and loose rice straw. To find out the most appropriate method of wheat sowing after rice crop in Sri Muktsar Sahib district, a field experiment was conducted with five different sowing methods including zero tillage and happy seeder. Among the different planting methods maximum grain yield was obtained with the conventional (52.26 q/ha) and happy seeder without loose straw (51.93 q/ha) planting method as compared to happy seeder with loose straw (50.83 q/ha), zero tillage (49.80 q/ha) and conventional method with mulching (49.66 q/ha). However, the benefit-cost ratio was higher by happy seeder with (2.38:1) and without loose straw (2.35:1) as compared to zero tillage method (2.31:1) and conventional (2.14:1). Higher B:C ratio with happy seeder was also due to its lesser cost of cultivation as compared to conventional method of sowing. The higher net return obtained from happy seeder with and without loose straw Rs. 50104 and Rs. 51019/ha respectively as compared zero tillage method (Rs 48663/ha) and conventional tillage method (Rs. 49856/ha). Although the grain yield under conventional method of sowing was higher but it failed to produce higher net return and B:C ratio. Happy Seeder technology is a time savings, good option against burning of rice residue in Punjab
Impact of overgrazing and documentation of wild fodder plants used by Gujjar and Bakerwal Tribes of district Rajouri (J&K), India
Get PDFThe present study aims to documents the wild plants used as fodder by Gujjar and Bakarwal tribes and their impact of utilization and overgrazing in the forests of district Rajouri (J&K), India. During the study period two blocks which were densely inhabited by Gujjar and Bakkerwal tribes were selected (Nowshera and Budhal) and frequent field trips were also made on other blocks of the district where the tribal people may reached. A total of 63 plants species were reported from the study area belong to 33 families and 51 genera, of all these 63 species, 22 were trees, 11 were shrubs and 30 were herbs. During the study it was observed that, due overgrazing, lopping, and cutting of forest plants in large scale by the tribes and local inhabitants for the expansion of agricultural lands and local settlements outside and inside of the forests and the number of livestock reported much more than the carrying capacity of forest, which resulted into the threatening of some plant species. It is also observed that some species like Pinus wallichiana and Cedrus deodara were not be reported in the area due to their commercial utilization and overgrazing purposes, and also due to their more litter fall which is not good for the growth of ground flora. The tribes sometimes also employ forest fire for better fodder, which leads to great loss to the regeneration of forest plants
Attitude of rural youth towards agriculture as a means of livelihood
Get PDFThe importance of agriculture to the socio-economic development of the country cannot be overemphasized. Agriculture sector is potentially the largest employment providing sector in the country. Despite this, unemployment is high among rural youth, who prefer to migrate to urban areas to take up low paying jobs. The present study was carried out mainly to find out the characteristics of rural youth and their attitude towards agriculture as a means of livelihood. The study was conducted in four villages in Udham Singh Nagar district in Uttarakhand. Data was collected from 115 youth using pretested interview schedule. It was found that maximum number of respondents (31.30 %) had education up to higher secondary level, majority were students (46.96 %) and had medium level of mass media exposure (72.17 %) and change proneness (58.30 %). The study indicates that majority (85.20 %) of the respondents had neutral attitude towards agriculture followed by 13.90 percent of the respondents who had negative attitude towards agriculture and only 0.90 % respondents had positive attitude towards agriculture. The study indicates that the findings will help extension policy makers to frame appropriate training programmes for educating youth regarding opportunities in agriculture and allied sectors
Wild edible fruit tree resources of Arunachal Pradesh, North East India
Get PDFThe paper reports on the survey of wild edible fruit trees covering 49 sites from 17 districts of Arunachal Pradesh, India. A total of 52 wild edible fruits species representing 33 families was reported, out of which 10 had medicinal uses. The highest number of wild edible fruits belonged to family Moraceae (9 spp.) followed by Anacardiaceae (4 spp.) and Actinidiaceae (3 spp.). More than half the fruits (66.67%) are available during the monsoon season, i.e. between June and October. Dilenia indica, Castanopsis indica, Canarium strictum, Terminalia citrina, Phoebe cooperiana, Phyllanthus emblica and Artocarpus intergifolia are the commonly traded fruits. This is perhaps the only extensive survey which has so far been carried out on wild edible fruit tree resources covering all the districts of Arunachal Pradesh. In the present era where there is global interest on bioresource documentation, this study is significant for securing intellectual property right and preventing biopiracy
Evaluation of the performance of gum guar varieties in north eastern Karnataka, India
Get PDFThe climatic situation in north eastern parts of Karnataka (except Bidar district) is almost similar to that of Rajastan. There is considerable area under rainfed situations and guar being a highly drought and temperature tolerant summer annual legume crop, there is hope for guar as an alternate and contingent crop during drought year in this region. With this objective effort were made to introduce, evaluate and to identify suitable gum guar varieties for North eastern parts of Karnataka. Ten gum guar varieties developed, released and cultivated in Rajasthan, Haryana and Gujarat state were evaluated in Agricultural Research Stations (ARS) located in Bidar, Gulbarga, Yadgiri, Bellary and Raichur districts of Karnataka during Kharif 2013-14. At Bidar, the top entry with respect to yield was HG-884 (679.00 Kg/ Ha), Variety RGC-1031 (793.00 Kg/Ha) performed well with respect to seed yield in Gulbarga district. Genotypes GAUG-13 (614.00 Kg/Ha) and RGC-986 (501.00 Kg/Ha) recorded higher seed yield respectively, in Bellary and Yadgiri district. At Raichur GAUG-13, recorded highest seed yield of 1432.00 Kg/Ha. Over the locations genotype GAUG-13 recorded highest seed yield of 759.00 Kg/Ha followed by HG-884 (700.40 Kg/Ha) and RGC-986 (696.60 Kg/Ha). The varieties tested exhibited considerable significance differences among themselves at four locations, except at one location (Agricultural Research Station, Bheemarayanagudi, Yadgir district). Variety GAUG-13, recorded highest seed yield over three locations indicating its wider adaptability
Alternaria blight of oilseed brassicas: A review on management strategies through conventional, non-conventional and biotechnological approaches
Get PDFOilseed Brassicas are contributing approximately 28 percent of the India’s total oilseed production. This crop is gaining wide acceptance among t he f a rme r s b e ca u s e of adaptability for both irrigated as well as rainfed areas and suitability for sole as well as mixed cropping. Besides, it offers higher return with low cost of production and low water requirement. The production and productivity of oilseed brassicas are comparatively lower as compared to the world average due to the biotic and abiotic constraints. Among the biotic constraints, alternaria blight disease caused by Alternaria spp. has been reported from all the continents of the world, causing up to 70% yield losses in India. This disease was found on leaves, stems and siliquae and dark spots on the leaves and siliquae reduce the photosynthetic capacity and induce immature ripening, which causes reduced amount of quality seed and oil content. The severity of this disease depends upon weather conditions, varieties, age of host plants and virulence of the pathogens. Efforts are being done throughout the world for the management of alternaria blight of rapeseed-mustard. This paper comprehensively reviews the research of alternaria blight of rapeseed-mustard with special reference to management strategies through conventional, non conventional and biotechnological approaches that leads to planning the future research. The present scenario demands the traditional and modern biotechnological techniques bringing together for integrated disease management according to the need and availability at farmers level for sustainable management of alternaria blight disease of oilseed brassicas
Pesticides effect on soil microbial ecology and enzyme activity- An overview
Get PDFIn modern agriculture, chemical pesticides are frequently used in agricultural fields to increase crop production. Besides combating insect pests, these insecticides also affect the activity and population of beneficial soil microbial communities. Chemical pesticides upset the activities of soil microbes and thus may affect the nutritional quality of soils. This results in serious ecological consequences. Soil microbes had different response to different pesticides. Soil microbial biomass that plays an important role in the soil ecosystem where they have crucial role in nutrient cycling. It has been reported that field application of glyphosate increased microbial biomass carbon by 17% and microbial biomass nitrogen by 76% in nine soils at 14 days after treatment. The soil microbial biomass C increased significantly upto 30 days in chlorpyrifos as well as cartap hydrochloride treated soil, but thereafter decreased progressively with time. Soil nematodes, earthworms and protozoa are affected by field application rates of the fungicide fenpropimorph and other herbicides. Thus, there is need to assess the effect of indiscriminate use of pesticides on soil microorganisms, affecting microbial activity and soil fertility
Effect of planting density and training on plant health and seed quality of bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) under protected conditions
Get PDFA study was conducted at the Department of Seed Science and Technology, Dr. Y. S. Parmar University of Horti-culture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan (H.P.), India during Kharif 2012 to evaluate the effects of the different planting densities and training systems on plant health (powdery mildew severity) and seed quality of bell pepper cv. Solan Bharpur under pro-tected conditions (polyhouse). Experiment was laid out in naturally ventilated polyhouse using three different planting densi-ties (S1 - 45×15 cm, S2 - 45×30 cm and S3 - 45×45 cm) and four training levels (T1 - single shoot, T2 - two shoots, T3 - three shoots and T4 - four shoots)with three replicates. The combination S2T2 (plants spaced at 45x30 cm and trained to two shoots) was found superior over all other treatments in terms of seed yields i.e. per plant and per hectare (18.00 g and 959.87 kg, respectively) and was at par with important quality characters. The treatment combination S3T1 (plant spaced at 45×45 cm and trained to single shoot) resulted in least powdery mildew severity (21.21 %) and performed best for seed qual-ity characters viz. 1000 seed weight, germination percentage, seedling length, seedling dry weight, seedling vigour index-I & II (6.32 g, 95.75%, 10.86 cm, 3.26 mg, 1039.77 and 312.34, respectively) but it gave lower seed yield and thus it is uneconomic. Therefore, planting density 45×30 cm in combination with two shoot training system can be recom-mended for commercial seed production of bell pepper under protected conditions
Optimization of recipe for development of Aonla squash- A Response surface methodology approach
Get PDFCentral Composite Design (CCD) was employed for optimizing the recipe for development of Aonla squash with juice content (25 to 40%), acidity (1.00 to 1.10%) as independent variables and adjusting 50% total soluble solids. Thirteen different experimental combinations given by RSM design were used to investigate the effect of independent process variables on four product responses developed squash. RSM evaluated responses of the 13 squash recipes by second order quadratic equations and found that pH ranged from 2.69-3.00, ascorbic acid from 102-212 mg/100ml, browning from 0.428- 0.579 and overall acceptability scores from 6.25-7.75. ANOVA analysis showed that the product responses of beverages were significantly affected (at 5%) by changes in juice and acidity of the squash recipes. Overall acceptability scores of the beverage increased with the increase in proportion of juice content from 25 to 40%. The coefficient of determination i.e., R2 for all responses was higher than 0.95 and nonsignificant lack of fit was observed for all models; which was desirable. Through numerical optimization, standardized recipe selected by RSM for aonla squash was with 40% juice and 1% acidity getting highest desirability of 0.991. The pH, ascorbic acid, browning and overall acceptability for the optimum recipe predicted by the design were 2.96, 197.8 mg/100 ml, 0.557 and 7.7, respectively. Thus, present study was first in its kind to optimize aonla squash recipe by using RSM as a tool which gave advantage of not only selecting best recipe but also provided impression of the influence of ingredients used in squash’s preparation on its physico-chemical profile