BIO-SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES FOR IMPROVING SOIL HEALTH INDEX

As the anthropogenic activities are increasing day by day, the environmental pollution has also been rising. The continuous disposal and improper treatment of domestic, industrial, and agricultural wastes is highly toxic and has emerged as a serious pollution threat which is jeopardizing the environment & human health. Soil contamination is referred to as the accumulation in the soil of persistent harmful substances, chemical compounds, radioactive wastes, salts, or pathogens that have a negative impact on biological systems. Bioremediation is a waste management technique that includes the use of living organisms to eradicate or neutralize pollutants from a contaminated site. Other processes use plants, earthworms and biochar to attenuate the toxicity of contaminants. View Article DOI: 10.47856/ijaast.2021.v08i9.00

Correlation of Organic Carbon Content of Soil on Paddy Productivity: A Case Study

Soil fertility is one of the important factors controlling yield of the crops. Macronutrients (N, P, K and S) are important soil elements which control its fertility. Soil characterization in relation to evaluation of fertility status of the soils of an area or region is an important aspect in context of sustainable agriculture production. A high SOM (Soil Organic Matter) content provides nutrients to plants and improves water availability, both of which enhances soil fertility and ultimately improve food productivity. Since 2017 ARF with support of NABARD has been conducting trials on 300 acres of agriculture land of villages of district Sonipat, Haryana using hydroponically grown Paddy nursery. A study was carried out on randomly selected 50 acres of land to see the effect of SOC (Soil Organic Carbon) and N (Nitrogen) content on the yield in hydroponically grown paddy. View Article DOI: 10.47856/ijaast.2022.v09i03.00

Understanding Importance of Soil Testing and Significance of SOC on Crop Productivity

Healthy soils are important to grow healthy crops, raising healthy animals, and supporting a healthy human population through nutritionally balanced diets. As an indicator for soil health, SOC is important for its contributions to food production, mitigation and adaptation to climate change, and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It supports multiple soil functions determining soil physical, chemical and biological quality parameters contributing to the productive capacity of soil. It improves soil structural stability by promoting aggregate formation which, together with porosity, ensures sufficient aeration and water infiltration to support plant growth. It is one of the factors that help in increasing water holding capacity, improves cation exchange capacity to hold huge quantities of positively charged nutrients such as calcium, magnesium and potassium until the plant needs them. View Article DOI: 10.47856/ijaast.2022.v09i05.00

SOIL HEALTH STATUS OF SELECT VILLAGE OF DISTRICT SONIPAT, HARYANA AND WAY FORWARD

Soil health and fertility are the basis for gaining sustainable profit through higher productivity by the farmers. Using optimal doses of fertilizers and cropping pattern as per the scientific recommendations is the first step towards sustainable farming. Soil organic carbon (SOC) is the most important component in maintaining soil quality because of its role in improving physical, chemical, and biological properties of the soil. Organic matter is an important source of nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur. Soil Health card is a Government of India's scheme promoted by the Department of Agriculture & Co-operation under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare, apart from giving the health index of soil, will also indicate fertilizer recommendations and soil amendment required for the farm. Under Govt. of Haryana sanctioned Soil Health Card project, ARF carried out the fertility status study of 3000 acres of land of village Baroda Mor, block Mundlana, Tehsil Gohana, Sonipat, Haryana and distribute the cards well before the harvesting of Rabi crop with proper recommendation on dosage of appropriate fertilizer as per deficiency of essential nutrient parameter. View Article DOI: 10.47856/ijaast.2021.v08i6.00

Shifting the limits in wheat research and breeding using a fully annotated reference genome

Introduction: Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is the most widely cultivated crop on Earth, contributing about a fifth of the total calories consumed by humans. Consequently, wheat yields and production affect the global economy, and failed harvests can lead to social unrest. Breeders continuously strive to develop improved varieties by fine-tuning genetically complex yield and end-use quality parameters while maintaining stable yields and adapting the crop to regionally specific biotic and abiotic stresses. Rationale: Breeding efforts are limited by insufficient knowledge and understanding of wheat biology and the molecular basis of central agronomic traits. To meet the demands of human population growth, there is an urgent need for wheat research and breeding to accelerate genetic gain as well as to increase and protect wheat yield and quality traits. In other plant and animal species, access to a fully annotated and ordered genome sequence, including regulatory sequences and genome-diversity information, has promoted the development of systematic and more time-efficient approaches for the selection and understanding of important traits. Wheat has lagged behind, primarily owing to the challenges of assembling a genome that is more than five times as large as the human genome, polyploid, and complex, containing more than 85% repetitive DNA. To provide a foundation for improvement through molecular breeding, in 2005, the International Wheat Genome Sequencing Consortium set out to deliver a high-quality annotated reference genome sequence of bread wheat. Results: An annotated reference sequence representing the hexaploid bread wheat genome in the form of 21 chromosome-like sequence assemblies has now been delivered, giving access to 107,891 high-confidence genes, including their genomic context of regulatory sequences. This assembly enabled the discovery of tissue- and developmental stage–related gene coexpression networks using a transcriptome atlas representing all stages of wheat development. The dynamics of change in complex gene families involved in environmental adaptation and end-use quality were revealed at subgenome resolution and contextualized to known agronomic single-gene or quantitative trait loci. Aspects of the future value of the annotated assembly for molecular breeding and research were exemplarily illustrated by resolving the genetic basis of a quantitative trait locus conferring resistance to abiotic stress and insect damage as well as by serving as the basis for genome editing of the flowering-time trait. Conclusion: This annotated reference sequence of wheat is a resource that can now drive disruptive innovation in wheat improvement, as this community resource establishes the foundation for accelerating wheat research and application through improved understanding of wheat biology and genomics-assisted breeding. Importantly, the bioinformatics capacity developed for model-organism genomes will facilitate a better understanding of the wheat genome as a result of the high-quality chromosome-based genome assembly. By necessity, breeders work with the genome at the whole chromosome level, as each new cross involves the modification of genome-wide gene networks that control the expression of complex traits such as yield. With the annotated and ordered reference genome sequence in place, researchers and breeders can now easily access sequence-level information to precisely define the necessary changes in the genomes for breeding programs. This will be realized through the implementation of new DNA marker platforms and targeted breeding technologies, including genome editing

Environmental Impact of Solar Photovoltaic Cells: A Review

The atmosphere has considerable releases of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, sulphur, and other particulate matter. These emissions can be traced back to human activity. This study makes a contribution to a re-evaluation of carbon gas emissions and how the installation of solar panels can have an effect on those emissions. Within the scope of our study, we analysed the many roles that solar panels play. Solar panels are typically made out of photovoltaic cells. What a solar photovoltaic (PV) system produces is a reduction in the amount of carbon emissions produced by your local power utility to generate one kilowatt-hour of electricity. It is possible for a solar panel system to supply a full house with all of the electricity that it requires, while emitting approximately seventy-five percent less carbon than traditional fuel sources. I reviewed the various solar panel systems and their ability to cut down on carbon emissions by utilising a variety of the technologies that are involved with them

Dairy intake and risk of hip fracture in prospective cohort studies: non-linear algorithmic dose-response analysis in 486 950 adults

Previous studies on the relationship between dairy consumption and hip fracture risk have reported inconsistent findings. Therefore, we aimed to conduct an algorithmically driven non-linear dose-response meta-analysis of studies assessing dairy intake and risk of developing incident hip fracture. Meta-analysis from PubMed and Google Scholar searches for articles of prospective studies of dairy intake and risk of hip fracture, supplemented by additional detailed data provided by authors. Meta-regression derived dose-response relative risks, with comprehensive algorithm-driven dose assessment across the entire dairy consumption spectrum for non-linear associations. Review of studies published in English from 1946 through December 2021. A search yielded 13 studies, with 486 950 adults and 15 320 fractures. Non-linear dose models were found to be empirically superior to a linear explanation for the effects of milk. Milk consumption was associated with incrementally higher risk of hip fractures up to an intake of 400 g/d, with a 7 % higher risk of hip fracture per 200 g/d of milk (RR 1⋅07, 95 % CI 1⋅05, 1⋅10; P < 0⋅0001), peaking with 15 % higher risk (RR 1⋅15, 95 % CI 1⋅09, 1⋅21, P < 0⋅0001) at 400 g/d versus 0 g/d. Although there is a dose-risk attenuation above 400 g/d, milk consumption nevertheless continued to exhibit elevated risk of hip fracture, compared to zero intake, up to 750 g/d. Meanwhile, the analysis of five cohort studies of yoghurt intake per 250 g/d found a linear inverse association with fracture risk (RR 0⋅85, 95 % CI 0⋅82, 0⋅89), as did the five studies of cheese intake per 43 g/d (~1 serving/day) (RR 0⋅81, 95 % CI 0⋅72, 0⋅92); these studies did not control for socioeconomic status. However, no apparent association between total dairy intake and hip fracture (RR per 250 g/d of total dairy = 0⋅97, 95 % CI 0⋅93, 1⋅004; P = 0⋅079). There were both non-linear effects and overall elevated risk of hip fracture associated with greater milk intake, while lower risks of hip fracture were reported for higher yoghurt and cheese intakes

Comparison of grading of aortic stenosis between transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography in adult patients undergoing elective aortic valve replacement surgeries: A prospective observational study

Introduction: Intraoperative trans-esophageal echocardiography (TEE) has been found to underestimate severity of aortic stenosis (AS) compared to trans-thoracic echo (TTE). We conducted a prospective study comparing pre induction TTE and intra operative TEE grading of AS in patients posted for aortic valve replacement surgeries. Methods: Sixty patients with isolated AS who were undergoing aortic valve replacement were enrolled in our study. Baseline TTE was done and after induction of anesthesia, TEE was done. Mean gradient across aortic valve, peak jet velocity, aortic valve area (AVA) by continuity equation and dimensionless index (DI) were assessed in both. Results: Mean gradient decreased from 56.4 in TTE to 39.8 mm Hg in TEE leading to underestimation of AS in 74.5% of patients (P < 0.0). Mean of peak jet velocity also decreased from 500 in TTE to 386cm/s in TEE (P < 0.01). In 76 % of patients this led to reduction of AS grade from severe to moderate. Mean AVA was 0.67 cm2 in TTE and 0.69 cm2 in TEE. Though there was 0.02 cm2 increase, it was not statistically significant (P = 0.07). All the patients remained as severe AS in TEE. DI mean was 0.19 in both TTE and TEE (P = 0.14).It led to underestimation of severity in 6% of patients in TEE. Conclusion: Our study shows that AVA measurement by continuity equation and DI are reliable in grading aortic stenosis while performing intraoperative TEE. Mean gradient and jet velocity can be significantly reduced

The Nutraceutical value of Horticultural Crops

Nutraceuticals are one of the secondary metabolites that are being produced by diverse group of plants including the horticultural crops. The secondary metabolites in diverse horticultural crops are produced in significant amounts when encountered with different stresses such as wounding stress, abiotic stress, biotic stress, exposure to ultraviolet radiation etc. The secondary metabolite production in the plants enhances their response towards different stresses and help the plants to fight against the stresses in addition to their growth and development. The secondary metabolites expressed in horticultural crops such as phenolic compounds, flavonoids, alkaloids, polyphenols, terpenoids have proven to exhibit number of health benefits such as anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anticancer response. The indepth knowledge of the biosynthetic pathways could lead to the enhancement of the secondary metabolites. Also, the stress responses can be modulated in a ways that could lead to the optimal expression of the genes involved in the production of these secondary metabolites. In the present review article, various horticultural crops including two vegetable and four fruit crops were assessed for the production of secondary metabolites under stress conditions, the biosynthetic pathways leading to the specific secondary metabolite production along with their health benefits have been discussed in detail