Effect of harvested rainwater in farm ponds of a saline area on soil properties

Harvesting rainwater through surface storage is one of the options to combat the frequently occurring drought condition in rainfed agriculture. The quality of irrigation water plays a very important role in improving crop productivity and maintaining soil health, especially in the saline area. The information on the water quality of harvested rainwater in farm ponds of the saline area needs to be made available. Hence, an attempt has been made to study the water quality in farm ponds and its effect on soil health and crop productivity after irrigation using different energy sources for lifting the water. The study was carried out on 11 dugout-type farm ponds from the Ghusar village in Akola taluka of Akola district. The harvested rainwater in farm ponds was only used as protective irrigation for rabi crops through a sprinkler irrigation system operated by either an electric pump or diesel pump or tractor-operated pump. The values of EC (0.16 to 0.36) dSm-1, pH (7.54 to 8.66), SAR (1.02 to1.78) me l-1 and RSC (0.2 to 0.4) me l-1 in harvested rainwater indicated that the cations and anions were in acceptable limits of safe quality water for protective irrigation. The use of harvested rainwater in farm ponds in Ghusar village of the saline area was also found to be within safe limits from a soil health point of view and it maintains soil fertility

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

Comparative economic indicators of the farmers practising natural farming vs conventional farming system

The present study was carried out in Kanchipuram district of the Tamil Nadu. Paddy is the main cereal crop raised in 47,739 ha of the cultivated area followed by groundnut and pulses.  Farmers following conventional and natural farming are purposively selected in 120 numbers to cultivate Paddy in 436.56 ha among that area and data was gathered from their respective fields. The main aim of this study is to analyze whether natural farming system was economically better with sufficient economic returns to the farmers against conventional farming practices. The study was confined only to major crop of the study area; paddy. The comparative analysis results revealed that natural farming is a viable option for farmers under the prevailing conditions with a significant yield gap and higher benefit-cost ratio against conventional farming in 2021–2022. Efficient use of available natural resources as a key input for farming was found economically attractive enough to trigger wide spread adoption of natural farming systems in the study area

Entrepreneurship opportunities for agriculture graduate and rural youth in India: a scoping review

The majority of the world’s population lives in rural areas whereas, in the case of India, 73% population is dependent on agriculture and related works as their mainstream revenue resources. Entrepreneurship in rural areas could be one of the utmost vital initiatives towards the country’s economic development under the adverse impacts of climate change. Entrepreneurship is a crucial feature for the sustainable survival of small-scale agriculture in a continuously increasing compound international economy. Contrarily, most rural entrepreneurs in developing nations, including India, face numerous problems due to the unavailable primary facilities in remote areas. Several agricultural entrepreneurship technologies have been scientifically studied and introduced by numerous countries. Information regarding the progress in modern agriculture entrepreneurship has become crucial for agriculture graduates and the rural youth engaged in the agriculture sector. Hence, it becomes essential for developed and developing economies to emphasize the large-scale demonstrations of agriculture entrepreneurship technologies. In the present manuscript, several such interventions are highlighted in the form of various points which will be of immense use to the self-reliant movement of India. In this endeavour, helpful information on agriculture entrepreneurship technologies from various research institutions and universities has been generated to benefit agriculture graduates and rural youth

A comprehensive analysis of biomass energy in India for agricultural and domestic use

Biomass is an abundant and renewable resource in India, with vast potential for use in energy production, agricultural applications, and waste management. The country has made significant strides in developing and utilizing biomass resources for various purposes in recent years. One of the primary uses of biomass in India is for energy production. Biomass fuels, such as wood chips, agricultural residues, and municipal waste, are used in rural areas for cooking and heating. Additionally, the government has implemented policies and initiatives to promote the use of biomass for electricity generation. Biomass-based power plants have been established nationwide, with a total installed capacity of over 9,000 MW. Biomass is also used in agricultural applications in India. The country is a major producer of sugarcane, and bagasse, a byproduct of sugarcane processing, is commonly used as a feedstock for producing biofuels and biogas. Additionally, farmers are increasingly using biomass-based fertilizers and pesticides to improve soil health and reduce chemical inputs. Regarding waste management, biomass is a valuable resource for converting organic waste into useful products. Anaerobic digestion and composting are popular methods for treating organic waste, with the resulting biogas and compost being used for energy generation and agricultural applications, respectively. Overall, biomass is an essential resource for India, providing energy, supporting agriculture, and promoting sustainable waste management practices. With continued investment and innovation, biomass has the potential to play an even more significant role in the country's energy and agricultural sectors in the coming year

Utilization and impact of green roof technology in maintaining the ecological balance

Pursuing an environmentally friendly and sustainable system in the modern world has shed new light on green roof technology, a concept that has been introduced previously. However, the rise of urban cities with limited space and increased human activities has ascertained its importance in achieving sustainable agriculture and architecture simultaneously. The numerous lists of benefits have intrigued a new interest among urban developers and landscape architects, resulting in various research on the topic. The article covers the basic concept of green roofs, their functionalities in creating an ecologically balanced environment and why they must be considered in the developing urbanization of the country

Comparative study of green gram cultivation in natural farming vs recommended practices

A comparative study on green gram cultivation in natural farming vs recommended practices was carried out at Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Abusar Jhunjhunu in Kharif-2022 to assess future possibilities of Natural farming practices in the district. In natural farming plot no manure and fertilizer were applied, seeds were treated with beejamrit and after sowing Jeevamrit was applied in field as per recommendation while in other plots all recommended doses of fertilizers were applied, seeds were treated with imidacloprid and NPK consortia, for management of weeds herbicide pendamethalin was applied after sowing. Whiteflies were observed in both plots. Neemastra and imidacloprid were applied in natural farming and other plots to control white flies. All observations were recorded from both plots and analyzed. Results revealed that lower yield was observed in natural farming plots (4.54 q/ha) than recommended practices (5.82 q/ha.). Possible causes of low yield in natural farming plots were weeds and severe white fly infestation. In recommended practices, pendamethalin herbicide was applied as pre-emergence, which reduced weed population, while Imidacloprid was sprayed to control white flies, reducing pest infestation. Soil samples after harvesting of crops were taken from both plots and analyzed for available organic carbon and NPK level. In the natural farming plot organic carbon level was slightly higher than in another plot which is a positive sign that it may increase the yield of the next crop. &nbsp

Biology and morphometric of shoot and fruit borer (Leucinodes orbonalis Guenee) on brinjal crop under laboratory conditions

The study on the biology of shoot and fruit borer was carried out in the Research Laboratory of the Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, CAU, Imphal, India, Kharif season during 2021-22. White, creamy eggs with an oval to elongated shape were placed singly in bunches. On food made from brinjal, the incubation period for the brinjal shoot and fruit borer ranged from 3-7 days, with a mean time of 4.4±1.26 days. The average larval time varied from 13-20 days with a mean duration of 16.8±2.41 days in the brinjal food portion under laboratory conditions. The larvae were white to dark pinkish throughout the instars to become fully grown. It took an average of 9-15 days for a pinkish to dark brown pupa to develop, and between 6 and 8 days for the pupa to mature into an adult. The adult moths were little with whitish wings, and they lived an average of 5.4±1.50 days for female and 2.95±0.98 for male adults, ranging from 4.0 to 5.5 days during the experiment. As a result, the entire life cycle was completed in a brinjal diet ranging from 31 to 39 days, with a mean time of 34.9±2.19 days. During the trial, the male-to-female ratio ranged from 1 to 2, with an average ratio of 1:2 in a lab setting