Journal of Applied and Natural Science
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Role and performance of Agri-input dealers in extension services in Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu, India
Get PDFThe present study was designed to study the role and performance of input dealers in extension services and the relationship of farmers and dealers from a farmer perspective. For this study, a survey was taken in the Coimbatore district using a purposive random sampling technique with a well-structured interview schedule. The study found that most dealers had 40-50 farmers as customer per day at peak and offseason. Regarding technical assistance given to farmers, 90.00 per cent of the farmers asked for the brand. Delivery in prime season (1.181) followed by credit period (0.633), company officials behaviour (0.600) are the primary factor in the satisfaction of dealers with the company. Regarding the level of satisfaction of the farmers, Product choice (93.33%), Credit facility and availability of the product (90.00%) were the primary satisfaction criteria of the farmers with input dealers. It was concluded from the study that agro chemical company have field assistant at the block and village level to assess the farmers’ problem. In addition, the company having a strong research unit to develop is a need-based product for farmers. They had proper follow up activities in the farmer’s field. Therefore, Agri-input dealers were the first focus of the farmers at the village level. The Agriculture department could use the Agri-input dealers to transfer technology at farmers level and its reach would be high
Standardization of protein-enriched cookies made from Tamarind seed flour
Get PDFProtein-energy malnutrition is one of the major public health problems in India affecting children under 5 years of age. The prevalence of underweight in children under 5 is 42.5% in India, being the highest globally. The need for low-cost supplemental food is vital under such conditions. This study aims to develop low cost and protein-rich value-added products from Tamarind seed flour. The incorporation of Tamarind seed flour (50%) in the development of cookies exhibited a significant level of increase in protein in cookies. The protein content of Control cookies was 5.65% and Tamarind seed flour incorporated cookies was 11.26%. This study depicted that Tamarind seed flour can be used as the replacement of conventionally used cereal flours to develop functional foods to curb protein-energy malnutrition.
Development of soil test crop response based fertilizer prescriptions through integrated plant nutrition system for aggregatum onion (Allium cepa L.) under drip fertigation
Get PDFAn insight into the balanced crop nutrition and efficient irrigation will be rewarding to attain profitable bulb yield of shallow-rooted and high nutrient requiring aggregatum onion. To develop fertilizer prescription equations(FPEs) for aggregatum onion under drip fertigation by encompassing the Soil Test Crop Response approach (STCR), a field experiment was conducted in Palaviduthi soil series with 15 treatments viz., Absolute control (T1), Blanket recommendation (60:60:30) + Farm Yard Manure (FYM) @ 12.5 t ha-1(T2), STCR based NPK fertilizer recommendation (STCR-NPK) for the targeted yield of 14 (T3),15 (T4),16 t ha-1 (T5), FYM @ 6.25 (T6), 12.5 t ha-1 (T7), STCR–NPK+FYM @ 12.5 t ha-1 for the targeted yield of 14 (T8),15 (T9),16 t ha-1 (T10), Biocompost @ 2.5 (T11), 5 t ha-1 (T12) and STCR–NPK+Biocompost @ 5 t ha-1 for the targeted yield of 14 (T13),15 (T14),16 t ha-1 (T15). The results revealed that T10 was more supercilious than others. The basic parameters were deliberated from the experimental data on total nutrient uptake, initial soil fertility status, applied fertilizer doses. The aggregatum onion (variety CO 4) required 0.43, 0.32, 0.45 Kg of N, P2O5, K2O to produce one quintal of bulb yield. The percent contribution of nutrients from soil and fertilizer was 14.01, 54.57 for N, 35.11,50.50 for P2O5 and 12.69, 70.12 for K2O, respectively. The contribution of N, P2O5, K2O from FYM and biocompost were 41.02, 16.23, 41.53 and 47.98, 15.87, 49.56 percent sequentially. Based on the above parameters, the fertilizer prescription equations were formulated for aggregatum onion under drip fertigation in Palaviduthi soil series
Influence of different organic sources of nutrients on growth and flowering behaviour of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) cv. Bhagwa
Get PDFA field experiment on the influence of different organic sources of nutrients on growth and flowering behaviour of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) cv. Bhagwa was conducted at College Farm, College of Horticulture, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Jagudan, District-Mehsana in Gujarat, India during Mrig bahar (June-January) 2017-18 and 2018-19. The present investigation was laid out in Randomized Block Design with three replications consisting of twenty-two treatments with four different organic manures viz., farmyard manure, vermicompost, poultry manure and neem cake as a source of nitrogen and recommended dose of manure and fertilizers based on plant age with or without biofertilizers (Azotobacter, PSB & KMB) and biopesticides (Trichoderma viride and Paecilomyces lilacinus). The results based on pooled data revealed that a maximum number of hermaphrodite flowers (85.17) and incomplete flowers (96.50) up to two months after treatment application, fruit set (69.45 %) along with minimum fruit drop (13.18 %) and days taken for marketable picking (168.83) were significantly (@5%) noted under treatment 100 % RDN through poultry manure + 50 ml PSB + 25 ml KMB + 5 g Trichoderma viride + 5 ml Paecilomyces lilacinus. However, significantly (@5%) highest incremental primary growth parameters viz., plant height (0.60 m), plant spread (E-W: 0.41 m and N-S: 0.43 m) and stem girth (1.47 cm) after two months of treatment application were observed under treatment 100 % RDN through vermicompost + 50 ml PSB + 25 ml KMB + 5 g Trichoderma viride + 5 ml Paecilomyces lilacinus. Thus, the organic sources viz., vermicompost and poultry manure with biofertilizers and biopesticides would be very helpful for enhancing vegetative growth and flowering behaviour of the pomegranate
Growth, yield and nutritional content of finger millet (Eleusine coracana L.) as influenced by pranic energy application
Get PDFPranic agriculture (PA) is an ancient farming method where pranic energy improves crop production. Finger millet or Ragi (Eleusine coracana. L) is a major staple millet consumed in India, particularly Karnataka and is a rich source of protein and nutrients. A field study in half-acre was carried out with pranic energy treatment to seed, land and crop and along with control (without energy treatment). The traits of finger millet like plant height (26%), number of productive tillers (35%), no of panicle (54%), number of fingers (13%) and grain yield (44%) were statistically (p < .05) higher over control. Protein content in finger millet straw (4.38 %) and grain (6.13%) was higher in pranic treatment than control (3.5 and 4.75%). Nitrogen and zinc content in millet grain was higher in pranic treatment (980 and 1.96 mg/100g) than control (760 and 1.63 mg/100g). The increase in protein, nitrogen and zinc content of the millet grain and straw will help to improve the quality of produce for consumption by cattle and humans. Increase in straw and grain yield will help to improve the economy of the farmer. Further studies are needed to know the actual mechanisms involved in the growth and yield improvement of finger millet. And, also in-depth studies are necessary to address the reasons behind the variation in nutrients accumulation in straw and grain.
Effect of Piper nigrum (Linn.) seeds extract and second line anti-tuberculosis drugs on a few Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains
Get PDFPiper nigrum (Linn.) belonging to the family Piperaceae have been reported for its multitudinous medicinal values. The present study was undertaken to examine the direct effect of Ethionamide (ETH), Para amino salicylic acid (PAS), ethanolic extracts of P. nigrum on Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) strain H37Rv and Multi drug-resistant (MDR)-strains-12, 19 and 21. The proportion method was used to detect the anti-mycobacterial drug susceptibility testing for mycobacteria using Lowenstein Jensen (LJ) medium. It was found that P. nigrum does not interfere with single or in the combination of both ETH and PAS showing the bioenhancer activity. In vitro study of ethanolic extract of P. nigrum observed that the extract inhibited the growth of H37Rv strains and MDR strains-12, MDR strains 19, and MDR strains 21. The present results will pave new avenues to find a new medicine that possesses P. nigrum alone or in combination with drugs to combat MDR-strains controlling tuberculosis
Assessment of anti bacterial, anti inflammation and wound healing activity in Wistar albino rats using green silver nanoparticles synthesized from Tagetes erecta leaves
Get PDFSilver nanoparticles synthesized from plant material have superior bioactivities. The purpose of this current study was to synthesis, characterize and to explore the bioactive efficacy of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) using aqueous leaf extract of Tageteserecta. The biosynthesized Ag-NPs were characterized using ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction and Scanning electron microscopy. Ag-NPs were studied for in-vivo anti-inflammatory and wound healing activities performed in female Wistar albino rats. UV –Vis absorption spectrum of the T.erecta leaves extract was obtained at 428nm due to excitation of surface plasmon vibration in nanoparticles and confirms the synthesis of silver nanoparticles. The FTIR analysis showed the presence of sulfate, alkene and alcohol in the AgNP of T.erectaleaves. The average crystallite size of AgNP synthesized was found to be 27.2 nm. The spherical silver grain of 15.5 nm average size has been depicted with high-resolution scanning electron microscopy. Maximum activity (15mm) of T.erecta leaves silver nanoparticles was observed against Salmonella typhi (15mm) followed by Escherichia coli (12mm). Ag-NPs exhibited significant wound healing activity and anti-inflammatory activity in carrageenan-induced paw volume tests performed in female Wistar albino rats. Colloidal Ag-NPs can be synthesized by simple, nonhazardous methods, and biosynthesized Ag-NPs using T.erectaleaves extract have significant therapeutic properties.This work evidently confirmed that silver nanoparticles mediated T.erecta could be considered as a potential source for anti-inflammatory and wound healing drug
Agricultural drought monitoring in Tamil Nadu in India using Satellite-based multi vegetation indices
Get PDFDrought being an insidious hazard, is considered to have one of the most complex phenomenons. The proposed study identifies remote sensing-based indices that could act as a proxy indicator in monitoring agricultural drought over Tamil Nadu\u27s region India. The satellite data products were downloaded from 2000 to 2013 from MODIS, GLDAS – NOAH, and TRMM. The intensity of agricultural drought was studied using indices viz., NDVI, NDWI, NMDI, and NDDI. The satellite-derived spectral indices include raw, scaled, and combined indices. Comparing satellite-derived indices with in-situ rainfall data and 1-month SPI data was performed to identify exceptional drought to no drought conditions for September month. The additive combination of NDDI showed a positive correlation of 0.25 with rainfall and 0.23 with SPI, while the scaled NDDI and raw NDDI were negatively correlated with rainfall and SPI. Similar cases were noticed with raw LST and raw NMDI. Indices viz., LST, NDVI, and NDWI performed well; however, it was clear that NDWI performed better than NDVI while LST was crucial in deciding NDVI coverage over the study area. These results showed that no single index could be put forward to detect agricultural drought accurately; however, an additive combination of indices could be a successful proxy to vegetation stress identification.
Performance of water table management system for alleviating sodic soil reclamation at Kumulur farm, Trichy District, Tamil Nadu
Get PDFWaterlogging and sodicity is common problem in many irrigation canal command areas. The water table management system is the next level of improving water management in irrigated agriculture. In the present study, the water table management system was designed to work effectively in the monsoon season as a controlled drainage system and sub-irrigation system during summer. The field evaluation of drain water quality analysis was carried out from the water table management system installed at A-block of Eastern Farm, Agricultural Engineering College and Research Institute, Kumulur farm, Trichy, Tamil Nadu during 2015-2016. The experiment was laid out in a split plot design with three replications. Four levels of drain spacing of drain pipes (7.5, 10, 12.5 and 15m) were the main plot treatment and two levels of depth and diameter of drain pipes (75 cm, 60 cm & 75 mm, 63 mm) were the sub plot treatments. The results showed that the recommended quality of press mud 2 t ha-1 was a help to reduce the Exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) level of 33 to 28 percent when compared to other ameliorants. It was concluded that solubilization should be removed by providing drainage and brought to ESP level of less than 16 percent and 15 m drain spacing to adapt to reduce the ESP level below the critical.
Smartphone assist deep neural network model to recognize the high-quality tea using leaf maturity and its effect on leaf chlorophyll
Get PDFImmature and tender tea leaves always produce high-quality tea than mature tea leaves. Depending on the maturity and age of the leaf, the colour and texture of the tea leaf are different. The photosynthesis capacity of the tea leaf also changes with the change of leaf maturity. Though the tea farmer plucks, classifies, and recognizes the best tea leaves (immature and tender) by viewing the visual symptoms and position of the leaves, the method is not authentic all time and leads to the overall degradation of the tea quality. The present study presents a smartphone assist tea leaf recognition system by analyzing the colour and texture properties of the tea leaf. The six different colour features and 4 Haralick texture features were extracted in the colour and grey domain of the leaf images. Three types of tea leaves, i.e., mature, immature, and tender, were classified using Deep Neural Network (DNN) with ADAM (Adaptive Moment Estimation) optimizer. With an accuracy of 97%, the DNN outperformed the Support Vector Machine (SVM) and K Nearest Neighbor (KNN). The SVM and KNN reported a total of 94.42% and 95.53% accuracy, respectively. The investigated system using DNN with an average precision and recall value of 98.67 and 98.34, respectively, may detect and classify the tea leaf maturity status. The system also can be used in AI-based tea plucking robotic systems or machines