Intercropping of medicinal and aromatic crops in adult coconut garden under Brahmaputra valley region of Assam

A field experiment conducted at Horticultural Research Station, Kahikuchi of Assam Agricultural University revealed the performance of medicinal and aromatic plants grown as intercrops in 32 year old Assam Green Tall coconut garden. There were three medicinal plants viz., sarpagandha (Rauvolfia serpentina), pipali (Piper longum) and vedailota (Paederia foetida) and two aromatic plants viz., citronella (Cymbopogon winterianus) and patchouli (Pogostemon cablin) in the experiment. The yield of all the medicinal and aromatic plants grown as intercrop in coconut garden were found to be reduced compared to their sole crop yields. The reduction in yield was less in patchouli (5.2%), followed by vedailota (7.0%), sarpagandha (8.9%), pipali (9.0%) and citronella (16.8%). The nut yield of coconut improved with intercropping with medicinal and aromatic crops. The piperine content in pipali, alkaloids in sarpagandha and essential oil content in patchouli were significantly reduced when grown as intercrops in coconut garden as compared to sole crop. However, the iridoid glycosides in vedailota and essential oil content in citronella were not significantly influenced by intercropping. Intercropping system of growing with patchouli under coconut recorded the highest net income (`178,089 ha-1) and B:C ratio (3.26) followed by sarpagandha (`157,484 ha-1 and 3.09), pipali (`113,118 ha-1 and 2.62), citronella (` 107,432 ha-1 and 2.40) and vedailota (`100,382 ha-1 and 2.36). Hence, intercropping of patchouli, sarpagandha and pipali with coconut can be recommended for Assam condition

Interaction of infrared laser radiation with gases

SIGLEAvailable from British Library Lending Division - LD:D65047/86 / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo

INVESTIGATION OF LASER SUPPORTED DETONATION WAVES AND THERMAL COUPLING USING 2.8µm HF LASER IRRADIATED METAL TARGETS

La formation et la propagation de vagues de de détonation supportées par laser (LSD) et l'accouplement thermique pour les cibles solides irradiées par laser HF ont été étudiées en tant que fonction d'un matériau de cible, de l'irradiation et de la pression ambiante. La photographie à grande vitesse a été utilisée pour étudier la dynamique de plasma et les seuils auxquels le plasmotron et la production de vagues LSD sont obtenus. Pour les impulsions d'une durée de 300nsec (FWHM) et les points focaux de 1-2mm qui ont été utilisés, le seuil LDS pour les cibles d'aluminium, d'acier inoxydable et de platine mesurait ∼(2-3) x 108 W.cm-2. Au-dessus du seuil LSD, la vélocité d'expansion initiale semblait conforme à la dépendance d'irradiance prédite par la théorie. Des données supplémentaires sur l'action réciproque du platine ont été obtenues en utilisant des thermocouples pour mesurer l'accouplement thermique de la cible en tant que fonction de la taille du point, l'irradiance et la pression ambiante. Un coefficient maximum de 14-18% a été mesuré à un niveau d'irradiance légèrement au-dessous du seuil de l'ignition de la vague LSD.The formation and propagation of laser supported detonation (LSD) waves and thermal coupling for HF laser irradiated solid targets have been investigated as a function of target material, irradiance and ambient pressure. High speed photography has been employed to study the plasma dynamics and the thresholds for plasmotron and LSD wave production obtained. For the 300nsec duration (FWHM) pulses and 1-2mm diameter focal spots used, the LSD thresholds for aluminium, stainless steel and platinum targets were measured to be ∼(2-3) x 108 W.cm-2. Above the LSD threshold the initial expansion velocity showed good agreement with the I1/3 irradiance dependence predicted by theory. Additional data on the interaction for platinum were obtained using thermocouples to measure the thermal coupling to the target as a function of spot size, irradiance and ambient pressure. A maximum thermal coupling coefficient of 14-18% was measured at an irradiance level slightly below the LSD wave ignition threshold

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Not AvailableOestrus characteristics following synchronization with exogenous hormone in cowsNot Availabl

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Not AvailableA field experiment was conducted for two years to investigate the effect of vermicompost, organic mulching and irrigation level on growth, yield and quality attributes of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) with an ultimate aim of optimizing water and nutrient requirement of tomato in mild-tropical climate during dry season. The vermicompost together with organic mulching increased plant height (106.5 cm), leaf area (40.6 cm2), leaf weight (1301 mg/ leaf), fruit weight (92.9 g), fruit yield (4.013 kg/ plant), fruit density (0.972 g/ cc), post-harvest shelf-life (15.0 days) and TSS (5.2º Brix) of tomato significantly. Application of vermicompost alone too increased the shelf-life of fruits by 25-106 % and TSS beyond 4.5 %, both of which are traits highly desirable for production of summer tomato and the related processing industry. The application of vermicompost @ 5 tonnes/ ha, 5 cm thick mulching with dried crop residues, two-thirds dose of NPK fertilizer (80:40:40 kg/ ha) and 30 % irrigation is optimum for obtaining better quality and productivity of field grown tomatoes during dry period of mild-tropical climate.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableStrawberry (Fragaria×ananassa Duch.) is rich source of dietary antioxidants, minerals and nutrients. Dietary antioxidants have been known as beneficial for enhancing the fitness, preventing certain diseases and even mitigating the effects of ageing. The objectives of the present study were to determine variability and inheritance of antioxidants, to identify antioxidant rich and productive genotypes, and to suggest suitable breeding approaches. The genotypes, namely Ofra, Chandler, Festival and Camarosa showed higher concentrations of dietary antioxidants and therefore could be useful in future breeding. Results indicate that the effect of the genotypes on antioxidant contents is stronger than that of the environment. The high heritability (>80%) and low genetic advance as percentage of mean (<40%) for ascorbic acid and -carotene contents could be improved by heterosis breeding. However, selection and hybridization would be effective tools to enhance the phenols and anthocyanin content, and yield potential as these traits showed high heritability (>80%) and high genetic advance as percentage of mean (>40%). Positive direct effect on fruit yield was highest for phenol content (0.609) which is also fairly close to its correlation coefficient (0.765) indicating that a direct selection based on phenol content would be most effective and that the phenol content could be used as a reliable biochemical marker to identify the productive genotypes having higher amounts of dietary antioxidants. The information could also be used for developing antioxidant rich cultivars, i.e. ‘Breeding Strawberry for High Antioxidants’.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableStrawberry (Fragaria×ananassa Duch.) is rich source of dietary antioxidants, minerals and nutrients. Dietary antioxidants have been known as beneficial for enhancing the fitness, preventing certain diseases and even mitigating the effects of ageing. The objectives of the present study were to determine variability and inheritance of antioxidants, to identify antioxidant rich and productive genotypes, and to suggest suitable breeding approaches. The genotypes, namely Ofra, Chandler, Festival and Camarosa showed higher concentrations of dietary antioxidants and therefore could be useful in future breeding. Results indicate that the effect of the genotypes on antioxidant contents is stronger than that of the environment. The high heritability (>80%) and low genetic advance as percentage of mean (<40%) for ascorbic acid and -carotene contents could be improved by heterosis breeding. However, selection and hybridization would be effective tools to enhance the phenols and anthocyanin content, and yield potential as these traits showed high heritability (>80%) and high genetic advance as percentage of mean (>40%). Positive direct effect on fruit yield was highest for phenol content (0.609) which is also fairly close to its correlation coefficient (0.765) indicating that a direct selection based on phenol content would be most effective and that the phenol content could be used as a reliable biochemical marker to identify the productive genotypes having higher amounts of dietary antioxidants. The information could also be used for developing antioxidant rich cultivars, i.e. ‘Breeding Strawberry for High Antioxidants’.Not Availabl

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Not AvailablePlastic film mulching: a technology for pineapple cultivation in undulating hilly areasNot Availabl

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Not AvailableScientific cultivation of maize for sustainable livelihood for small and marginal farmers of NagalandNot Availabl