Non-Conventional food Plants available in and around Loktak Lake, Bishnupur (Manipur)

Loktak Lake is the largest fresh water lake in North East India. The lake is situated at Moirang in the Bishnupur District, Manipur about 48 km to South from Imphal city. This Lake extends about 287 km2. Loktak Lake has an indispensable relationship with the people of the state since time immemorial from socio- cultural and economic viewpoints. Many edible plants are available in and around the Lake. The food plants which are not commonly available in the market and those which are not commonly utilized as food throughout the country are considered as non-conventional food plants. There are various plants which grow in the lake as submerged, free floating, rooted with floating leaves, emergents, etc. and some are found to grow on the floating humus (Phum). The main food of the Brow Antlered Deer (Rucervus eldi eldi) which is found only in Keibul Lamjao National Wildlife Sanctuary near the Loktak Lake is a variety of young shoots of grasses, herbaceous plants, Zizania latifolia, etc. Some important non-conventional food plants available in and around the Lake are Hedichium flavum (Loklei), Alpinia allughas (Pullei), Euryale ferox (Thangjing), Nymphaea stellata (Thariktha), Nymphaea alba (Tharo angouba), Oenanthe javanica (Komprek), Ipomoea aquatica (Kolamni), Nelumbo nucifera (Thambou, Thamchet and Thamna khenjong), Sagittaria sagittifolia (Koukha), Trapa bispinosa (Heikak) Zizania latifolia (kambong) etc. Some plants such as Ipomoea aquatica (Kolamni) and Alpinia allughas (Pullei), Neptunia oleracea (Eshing Ekaithabi), Ludwigia adscendens (Eshing Kundo), etc. have medicinal importance. These food plants are very rich in vitamins and minerals

Effect of different organic sources and mulching on growth, yield and quality of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Ten treatment combinations comprising five different organic sources viz., Vermicompost, FYM, NADEP-compost, Bangalore-compost and No manure and two levels of mulching viz., mulch with wheat straw @ 2.5t/ha and no mulch were evaluated in randomized block design with factorial concept with four replications. An application of vermicompost recorded significantly higher plant height (13.72, 30.00 and 54.56 cm at 30, 60 DAS and at harvest, respectively) and root length (12.52 cm) at 45 DAS, number of pods per plant (25.82), pod yield (2757 kg/ha), haulm yield (4615 kg/ha) shelling % (73.98%), protein content (24.85%) and oil content (51.68%). The effect of mulch on all the observations was found non-significant. All the interaction effects between organic sources and mulching on all the observations were found non-significant. For getting higher growth, yield and quality of kharif groundnut crop should be applied manures with 20 kg N/ha from vermicompost along with 250 kg PROM/ha

Imidacloprid residues in cotton guttation fluid, pollen and soil when applied as seed dressings

Guttation fluid and pollen are possible pathways where pollinators may be exposed to systemic insecticides. During the investigation, Gossypium hirsutum v. H 1098i seeds were coated with Gaucho (Imidacloprid 600 FS at 2.4 g a.i. kg-1seeds) and planted in the field. Guttation fluid, pollen, and soil samples were collected during the season and the samples were analysed by HPLC (High-Performance Liquid Chromatography). The guttation fluid and pollen were collected at three times after 50 per cent flowering. Soil samples were collected before sowing and at harvest. Method validation was achieved by performing a recovery experiment at two fortification levels of 0.05 and 0.10 mg kg-1. The average recoveries obtained from guttation fluid, pollen and soil samples were above 85 per cent. The residues of imidacloprid in guttation fluid, pollen and soil in treated and untreated seed were below detectable levels

Identification of spoilage yeasts in cashew apple (Annacardium occidentale L.) using MALDI-TOF MS

Cashew (Annacardium occidentale L.) is a hardy and golden crop of arid regions, and the pseudo fruit, cashew apple is a vital source of sugars and vitamins that is discarded as a waste during cashew nut processing. Cashew apples start fermenting soon after the harvest, and due to the presence of a wide spectrum of polyphenols and tannins, the change of colour of cashew apples leads to an unappealing marketability and storage stability. The present study is aimed to rapid identification of different spoilage yeasts and to identify them using MALDI-TOF Mass Spectroscopy. Spoilage yeasts like Candida krusei, C. tropicalis, Pichia norvegensis, Brettannomyces bruxellensis were the spoilage yeasts found to have high confidence score values of 2.00 - 3.00 with high consistency

Bio-efficacy of newer insecticides and bio-pesticides against termite on chickpea in arid region of Rajasthan

The seed treatment, as well as soil application of imidacloprid 600 FS @ 5 ml/kg + Beauveria bassiana 1.15 WP @ 2 kg /ha, was found most effective against termite (9.34% plant damage) after 110 days of crop sowing, followed by fipronil 5 SC @ 5 ml/ kg + Metarrihizium anisopliae 1.15 WP @ 2 kg/ha (10%) and clothianidin 50 WDG @ 2 g/ kg + Beauveria bassiana 1.15 WP @ 2 kg /ha (10.62%). The treatments alone seed treatment of imidacloprid 600 FS @ 5 ml/ kg seed (11.56%) followed by fipronil 5 SC @ 5 ml/ kg seed (12.03%) and clothianidin 50 WDG @ 2 g/ kg seed (12.65%) were found moderately effective while, bio-pesticides viz., Metarrihizium anisopliae 1.15 WP @ 2 kg/ha and Beauveria bassiana 1.15 WP @ 2 kg /ha with 15.78 and 15.47 per cent plant damage were found least effective for controlling the termite population. The maximum yield was obtained in imidacloprid 600 FS + Beauveria bassiana 1.15 WP (18.70 q ha-1) followed by fipronil 5 SC + Metarrihizium anisopliae 1.15 WP (18.20 q ha-1) and clothianidin 50 WDG + Beauveria bassiana1.15 WP (18.00 q ha-1), respectively

Selection of honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) colonies for desirable traits

The experiment on selecting honey bee Apis mellifera L. colonies for desirable traits was conducted at the Apiary of the Department of Entomology, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, Haryana (India) during 2020-21. The significant variations were observed in various colony parameters viz. colony strength (7.2 to 13.0 no. of bee frames), brood area (1029.42 to 3917.73 cm2), honey store (1196.48 to 2568.71 g), pollen area (314.76 to 692.73 cm2), brood survival rate (76.56 to 91.61.39 %) and paper potness (8.82 to 24.73 %). Ranking of honey bee colonies was developed on the basis of a five-point scoring system for each desirable trait. Colonies were rated based on 1 to 5 point scale. The average score ranged from 1.2 to 4.9. On the basis of top score, 9 colonies (C-6, C-8, C-2, C-20, C-12, C-11, C-5, C-19 and C-16) were selected for further evaluation and mass queen rearing, having average scores ranged from 3.5 to 4.9

Adoption of paddy straw management techniques in Haryana: Effective approach on environmental conservation

Crop residue burning directly contributes to environmental pollution and releases 149.24 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2), over 9 million tonnes of carbon monoxide (CO), 0.25 million tonnes of oxides of sulphur (SOX), 1.28 million tonnes of particulate matter and 0.07 million tonnes of black carbon. The burning of paddy straw results in extensive impacts both on and off farm, e.g. losses in soil organic matter, soil nutrients, production and productivity, air quality, biodiversity, water and energy efficiency and on human and animal health. In India, being a largest producer of rice as well as of its residue, the effects from residue burning are more severe (Yadav, R.S.2019). There are diverse set of productive techniques for paddy straw management that can be utilised such as composting, straw as a ruminant fodder, incorporated in the soil, gasification, bailing, mushroom farming, production of bio-fuel, recycling in soil, packing material and bio-char production (Pathaket al., 2010). The study on ‘Knowledge and Adoption of Paddy Straw Management Techniques in Haryana’ was conducted with following specific objectives of knowledge, adoption and constraints by the farmer in adoption of paddy straw management techniques. Majority (75 %) of the farmers were having low level of adoption regarding Paddy Straw Management Techniques. Whereas full (100%) adoption of paddy straw as animal fodder got Ist rank followed by domestic purpose got rank 2nd. The respondents had a greater level of acceptance adoption of Spreader/Shrub Master with weighted mean score of 0.95 got rank 1st

Plant-insect interactions in different genotypes of ber (Ziziphus mauritiana L) against fruit borer (Meridarchis scyrodes Meyrick)

Differences in genotypes of ber plant characters may affect insect-plant herbivore interactions, and variation in genotype traits is responsible for modifying the bottom-up effects. We evaluated the performance of different genotypes of Z. mauritiana against fruit borer, Meridarchis scyrodes Meyrick, under field conditions in the semi-arid region of India. We found that: (i) four genotypes were resistant; 5 genotypes were moderately resistant; 7 genotypes were susceptible, and seven genotypes were highly susceptible to fruit borers infestation; (ii) per cent fruit infestation was highest in Sanur-5 (75.09 %) and lowest in Safeda (13.27 %) followed by Tikadi (14.01 %); (iii) phenols (0.96), Tannins (0.95), flavonoid (0.95) contents and pericarp thickness (0.88) had significant negative correlations with per cent fruit infestation of fruit borer, M. scyrodes; (iv) fruit length (0.50) and pulp: stone ratio (0.77) showed significant positive correlations with per cent fruit infestation of fruit borer, M. scyrodes and (v) flavonoid contents explained 91.40% of the total variation in fruit borer, M. scyrodes infestation. Two principal components (PCs) were extracted, explaining the cumulative variation of 88.48 %. PC1 explained 64.34 % of the variation, while PC2 explained 24.14 n. In conclusion, growers can adopt the potential resistant genotype (Safeda) of Z. mauritiana with minimal financial investment to obtain higher yields

Assessing the mercury removal efficiency of natural adsorbents from wastewater

Organic waste materials viz., coir pith, rice husk, and water hyacinth were studied in the batch experiments to evaluate their potential for mercury removal from wastewater. Five pH (4,5,6,7,8) and five different contact times (1,2,4,6,8 hours) were studied with a constant mercury concentration of 0.1 ppm. SEM (Scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy) and FTIR (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy) were used for characterizing the biochars i.e., rice husk biochar (RHBC), coir pith biochar (CPBC) and water hyacinth biochar (WHBC), used for the experiment before and after adsorption studies. Adsorption capacities of each different biochar used for the experiment varied due to their wide range of surface area as well as different shift patterns in the FTIR. Based on the experimental results, among the three adsorbents used for mercury removal from wastewater, coirpith biochar (CPBC) has a maximum removal efficiency of 46.2% followed by rice husk biochar (RHBC–44.8%) and water hyacinth biochar (45.6%) with 6 hours of contact time

Effect of nano nitrogen and phosphorus on growth, yield and quality of ber, Ziziphus mauritiana Lam

An experiment was conducted at Agricultural Research Station, Mandor, Jodhpur (Raj.) to find out the effects of nano nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers on growth, yield and quality of ber using Factorial Randomized Block Design with 5 replications from October 2021 to March 2022. The result showed that the maximum rise (6.45 %) in plant height (79.17 cm), number of primary branches (14.72), secondary branches (22.09), chlorophyll contents (55.34 SPAD value), fruit volume (20.63cm3), specific gravity (0.95), fruit length at harvest (3.42 cm), fruit diameter at harvest (3.16 cm), pulp thickness (12.56 mm), pulp weight (15.79 g), pulp: stone ratio (19.20), fruit setting (6.92 %), average fruit weight (18.00 g), yield/ tree (64.57 kg), ascorbic acid (65.75 mg/100g pulp), total soluble solid (15.77°Brix), total sugar (9.20 %), reducing sugar (4.83 %), non-reducing sugar (4.37 %), fruit pH (5.50) whereas minimum stone weight (0.82 g) and fruit drop (49.38 %) was recorded with the application of nano nitrogen @ 2 ml/ litter water +  nano phosphorus @ 2 ml/ litter water spray over the control