Resource use pattern and efficiency under different irrigation sources in Balasore district of Odisha

The resource use pattern and efficiency were studied in the Balasore district of Odisha under different sources of irrigation. The major sources of irrigation identified in the area were shallow tube-well, lift irrigation and river irrigation. The major crops cultivated in the area during different seasons are paddy, groundnut and pulses. The district of Balasore was selected purposively due to its irrigation potential status and distinct phases of changes in irrigation scenarios. A total of 93 respondents were selected for the study adequately representing different farmers under different sources of irrigation by proportionate random sampling method. The primary data was collected by interview method using a well-structured questionnaire. The secondary data was collected from appropriate sources. The Cobb-Douglas production function was used to study the efficiency of resource use and estimation of the production function. The results depicted how efficiently the resources are used and the relationship of output explained by the given set of explanatory variables

Do calcareous soils affect morphological and physiological characteristics of maize hybrids and their iron efficiency?

Maize (Zea mays L.) is the third most cultivated cereal crop in the world after wheat and rice. Soil calcareousness is the key growth limiting factor causing a substantial decline in plant growth and yield in many arid and semiarid regions globally. This study aimed to understand the variability in morphological and physiological traits among maize hybrids as well as their iron (Fe) efficiency on calcareous soils. Five ruling maize hybrids [COH (M) 6, COH (M) 7, COH (M) 8, COH (M) 9 and COH (M) 10] and their six inbreds [UMI 1200, UMI 1201, UMI 1205, UMI 1210, UMI 1220, and UMI 1230] were evaluated on three calcareous soils having various free CaCO3 content (6.23 to 17.3%) with and without Fe supply. The experiment was carried out in the greenhouse of the Department of Soil Science, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, in 2019. Soil calcareousness reduced the morphological and photosynthetic parameters of all the maize hybrids, and the reduction was more in highly calcareous soils (17.3%). Significant variation in Fe efficiency among maize hybrids was observed and shows good association with physiological and photosynthetic characteristics. The maize hybrids COH (M) 6, COH (M) 8, and COH (M) 7 record higher growth attributes, photosynthetic parameters, and active Fe content with better Fe efficiency. Lower Fe efficiency was noted with inbreds UMI 1230 and UMI 1220. The study showed that maize hybrids and their inbreds were sensitive to higher soil calcareousness, but the magnitude of differences varied with genotypes

Edible coatings: A sustainable approach to protect perishable fruits and vegetables

Fruits and vegetables are crucial to a nutritious diet but are highly perishable, posing challenges in maintaining freshness during storage and transportation. This comprehensive review aims to provide insights into the influence of edible coatings on the postharvest preservation of fruits and vegetables. Edible coatings, made from natural polymers such as proteins, polysaccharides and lipids, have gained attention as an effective method to extend shelf life. These coatings form a protective barrier that reduces moisture loss, gas exchange and microbial growth, thereby delaying senescence and preserving quality attributes like firmness, colour, texture and nutritional content. Application methods include dipping, spraying and brushing to ensure uniform coverage. The efficacy of ediblecoatings depends on factors such as composition, concentration and specific characteristics of the produce. Additionally, incorporating antimicrobial agents like essential oils and plant extracts enhances food safety by inhibiting spoilage microorganisms. Beyond shelf life extension, edible coatings help reduce postharvest losses, improve marketability and decrease reliance on chemical preservatives and synthetic packaging. However, challenges related to formulation optimization, scalability, cost and consumer acceptance must be addressed to enable broader adoption. Overall, edible coatings offer a promising strategy for preserving fruits and vegetables, warranting further research to fully realize their potential in the food industry

Leveraging precision agricultural tools for enhanced crop protection in rice cultivation

Rice production is crucial for meeting the food demand of the ever-growing global population. However, it is impeded by biotic stressors viz., insect pests, diseases and weeds. Traditionally, farmers and plant protection experts rely on conventional crop protection measures to combat these challenges. These measures have various drawbacks including intensive labour requirement, higher cultivation costs, untimely pest detection and indiscriminate agrochemical use which adversely affects the consumers and the environment. Precision tools and technologies can address all these issues to benefit the farmers and agricultural ecosystem on a sustainable basis. Remote sensing technologies aid in weed mapping and detecting disease and pest incidence in rice fields by evaluating the changes in crop reflectance brought about by biotic stressors. Agricultural robotic systems are multifunctional and have attained more than 80 % correct image classification, 96 % weed control and less than 10 % crop damage. Unmanned aerial vehicles for pesticide spraying are cost-effective substitutes for manual spray and can reduce spray volume by more than 20 times besides good application efficiency and effective control. Artificial intelligence offers precise solutions for biotic stress identification and control. Biosensors have also been developed for aiding in detecting rice blast, false smut, tungro incidence and bacterial leaf blight. Apart from highlighting the utilization of precision agriculture tools and technologies for plant protection and weed control in rice, this article also reviews the challenges and prospects related to its application and its feasibility for the stakeholders utilising them to gain sustainable rice production

Application of artificial intelligence in agriculture and allied sectors: A comprehensive review towards sustainable solutions

Sustainability is a holistic goal that can be effectively achieved through the combined efforts of agriculture and its allied sectors. Artificial intelligence (AI) plays a transformative role in this endeavour by bridging sector-specific solutions and integrating them to promote environmental protection and food security. AI is revolutionizing sustainable agriculture, ensuring both food security and environmental protection. The main objective of this article is to comprehensively review the various applications of AI in agriculture and its interlinked sectors like fishery, animal husbandry, forestry, agricultural engineering, horticulture and food science by compiling several previous studies to highlight their role in achieving sustainability and identify research gaps. The literature review was done through databases like Scopus and Google Scholar. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) framework was used to identify, screen and select articles. This article explores the various applications of AI in pest and disease management, weed management, weather forecasting, soil management, greenhouse farming, precision agriculture and yield management. AI has numerous advantages, such as data-driven decision-making, resource management and reduced environmental impacts. This review highlights the implementation of inclusive strategies to achieve sustainability by pointing out the gaps in research, policy and implementation of technologies. The review concludes that integrating AI into agriculture and its allied sectors offer significant benefits that outweigh potential drawbacks, thereby fostering sustainable practices and environmentally friendly innovations

Potassium schoenite: A sustainable potassium source for Flue-Cured Virginia (FCV) tobacco production

India is meeting its potassium (K) fertilizer requirement mostly from other countries through imports. Price fluctuation and unavailability of sulphate of potassium during the crop season greatly impact the potassium (K) requirement for flue-cured Virginia (FCV) tobacco. We investigated potassium schoenite (PS/KMS), a sulphur-containing fertilizer as an alternate source of K for FCV tobacco. The field experiments were conducted on FCV tobacco (Nicotiana tabaccum L. var. Kanchan) under rainfed and irrigated conditions at ICAR-NIRCA Research Station, Hunsur, Karnataka and Research Station in Jeelugumilli, Andhra Pradesh, India, respectively. The study was conducted to see the effectiveness of PS in comparison with a conventional sulphate of potash. Five treatments were tested using a randomized block design with four replications over two years and 2 locations. The results indicate that PS when utilized as a source of potash, produced cured leaf yield (CLY), K uptake and quality parameters of FCV tobacco at a par with sulphate of potash (SOP). Thus, indigenous PS is found to be highly effective in increasing the productivity of tobacco and its utilization in the tobacco crop compared to imported SOP. PS is a sustainable and effective alternative for the imported SOP for the cultivation of tobacco in the light soils of Karnataka (KLS) and Andhra Pradesh (NLS). PS application @ 652 kg/ha in 3 splits (1:2:1) at 10, 30 and 45 days after planting of FCV tobacco in Northern Light Soils (NLS) of Andhra Pradesh and PS @ 522 kg/ha in 2 equal splits (1:1) at 10 and 30 days’ after planting of FCV tobacco in Karnataka Light Soils (KLS) of Karnataka was recommended for the FCV tobacco farming community

Effect of different orgopriming and foliar spraying treatments on seed yield and its components of coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.)

Coriander is one of the most essential spices in India. Coriander\u27s extended germination period often delays crop establishment. The largest coriander-producing country, India must explore innovative agronomic practices to accelerate early growth and enhance overall productivity. So, a field experiment was conducted at Sagdividi Farm, Department of Seed Science and Technology, Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh, during the Rabi season of 2023-24 to evaluate the effects of orgopriming and foliar spray treatments on the growth and yield attributes of coriander variety Gujarat Coriander-3 (GC-3). The experiment was designed in a factorial randomized block design (FRBD), comprising six priming agents with control and three foliar spray treatments with a control, applied at 35 and 55 DAS (days after sowing). The results indicated that orgopriming with tender coconut water significantly increased field emergence by 25.37 %, plant height by 19.62 %, number of umbels per plant by 23.99 %, number of umbellate per umbel by 21.04 %, number of seeds per umbellate by 25.06 %, number of seeds per umbel by 19.58 %, 1000 seed weight by 12.04 %, seed yield per plant by 15.13 % and reduced number of days to 50 % flowering by 12.38 % as compared to control. Foliar spraying with Jivamrut (10 %) significantly increased plant height by 5.80 %, number of umbels per plant by 8.98 %, number of umbellates per umbel by 8.75 %, number of seeds per umbellate by 19.38 %, number of seeds per umbel by 12.02 %, 1000-seed weight by 8.57 % and seed yield per plant by 9.42 % compared to the control. The interaction of Bijamrut (10 %) priming and Jivamrut (10 %) foliar spraying produced the highest plant height with an increase of 40.48 % compared to control. Therefore, priming coriander seeds with tender coconut water and foliar application of Jivamrut (10 %) can enhance seed yield and its related traits

Biological control of greenhouse whiteflies (Trialeurodes vaporariorum) using indigenous Pseudomonas spp.: An eco- friendly approach

Soil deterioration and environmental degradation caused by harsh chemical pesticides have led to the search for suitable alternatives that can not only control pests but also promote plant growth. Pseudomonas spp. has been exploited immensely for its biocontrol and plant growth promotion attributes. This study isolated 5 indigenous bacterial strains from eight rhizospheric soil samples from Shimla and Sirmour districts of Himachal Pradesh and further screened them for traits such as siderophores production and hydrolytic enzyme (amylase and protease) activity. Screening data of isolates showed production of siderophores (19.56%), amylase (50%) and protease (71.73%). The strain EU- SIRCK1243 was positive for all three traits and was tested for indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production yielding 2.03±0.30 ?g/mL (with tryptophan) and 4.23±0.17 ?g/mL (without tryptophan). It was molecularly identified as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, on the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequencing and evaluated for bioefficacy against Trialeurodes vaporariorum (greenhouse whitefly) on tomato plants over two years (2022-2023). The average adult population declined with overall percent reductions of 54.11% in 2022 and 62.04% in consecutive year 2023. In case of nymph populations the overall, reductions was 59.13% in 2022 and 62.20% in 2023. The plant growth and physiological parameters after treatment with EU- SIRCK1243 showed significant increase in shoot and root lengths, fresh, dry biomass, yield and chlorophyll content as compared to control. It is suggested that the strain EU-SIRCK1243 is a promising biocontrol agent for greenhouse whitefly and an effective plant growth promoting bacterium. In future deliberation, the better development of Pseudomonas aeruginosa bioproducts could be emphasized

Metabolite profiling and bioactivity assessment of diverse endophytic fungi from the endangered plant, Nilgirianthus ciliatus

Endophytic fungi are potential sources of bioactive compounds with therapeutic properties. This study investigated the fungal endophytes associated with Nilgirianthus ciliatus, an endangered medicinal plant, to discover its secondary metabolites and bioactivities. Molecular analysis revealed the prominent species to be Aspergillus niger, Didymella sp., Trichoderma viride, Bipolaris zeicola and Nigrospora sphaerica. Alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolics, terpenes and saponins were detected in ethyl acetate extracts employing phytochemical screening. Didymella sp. has showed the highest level of antioxidant activity, demonstrating strong DPPH radical scavenging and reduction capability. T. viride had strong antibacterial action against Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli, meanwhile Didymella sp. and N. sphaerica were most effective against E. coli. GC-MS analysis uncovered many bioactive chemicals, including trans-farnesol and pentadecanoic acid, which are renowned for their antibacterial and antioxidant properties. These findings highlight the presence of the rich variety of diverse endophytic fungi harboring such medicinal plants, which offer promising applications in medicine, biotechnology and agriculture as sources of novel bioactive compounds. Further exploration and characterization of these strains could unlock valuable sustainable resources for various industries

Dietary variations and their comparison with natural diet on the biological parameters of greater wax moth

The research trial conducted at Lovely Professional University\u27s Department of Entomology, School of Agriculture examined the efficacy of two distinct diets and one natural diet in the mass rearing of the greater wax moth. The influence of recommended meals on several biological features of the eggs, larvae, pupae and adults of greater wax moths was examined in a laboratory setting. The weight and size of the larvae and pupae were compared with the effects of feeding on natural foods, such as honeybee wax. The goal of the current study was to examine how this feeding strategy affected the biological characteristics of Galleria mellonella eggs, larvae, pupae and adults. The study concluded that the D2 diet-which included wheat flour, milk powder, yeast powder, honey, wheat bran and maize flour-was the most successful for the greater wax moths. It was discovered that this diet greatly shortened the larval length while improving the weight (27±0.7) and survival rate (90%) of the larvae, as well as raising adult emergence. The natural diet improved the fecundity of female moths, resulting in an average of 571.5 eggs laid per female and a shorter larval lifespan, among other benefits. The third-most effective diet was D1 feeding which contains 350 g wheat flour, 200 g maize flour, 130 g milk powder, 70 g yeast powder, 100 mL honey and 150 g sorbitol