Socioeconomic profiles, production and resource use patterns in selected semi-arid Indian watershed villages

The collaborative watershed research and development project between ICRISAT and the Andhra Pradesh Rural Livelihoods Programme (APRLP) was initiated with an overall objective of alleviating poverty through watershed-based interventions that enhance agricultural productivity and the sustainability of rural livelihoods. The initial phase of the project focused on participatory technology evaluation in selected watersheds for development of best practices and upscalable implementation models. Characterization of the biophysical and socioeconomic systems is an important aspect of this work. A detailed baseline socioeconomic farm household survey was conducted in 2003 in selected watershed villages of Mahabubnagar, Nalgonda and Kurnool districts. This report analyzes the socioeconomic conditions and resource endowment patterns of the watershed farmers. The report provides a snapshot of the structure of production in the villages, constraints and potential for increased productivity, social and political networks, and the distribution of assets across social groups. The net household incomes from diverse sources including crop, livestock and off-farm and their contribution to total household income in the selected villages are presented. The report also analyzes the income inequalities and the effect of different income sources on household income inequalities in the watershed villages using inequality decomposition techniques

AFLP-based molecular characterization of an elite germplasm collection of Jatropha curcas L., a biofuel plant

Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) was employed to assess the diversity in the elite germplasm collection of Jatropha curcas, which has gained tremendous significance as a biofuel plant in India and many other countries recently. Forty-eight accessions, collected from six different states of India, were used with seven AFLP primer combinations that generated a total of 770 fragments with an average of 110 fragments per primer combination. A total of 680 (88%) fragments showed polymorphism in the germplasm analyzed, of which 59 (8.7%) fragments were unique (accession specific) and 108 (15.9%) fragments were rare (present in less than 10% accessions). In order to assess the discriminatory power of seven primer combinations used, a variety of marker attributes like polymorphism information content (PIC), marker index (MI) and resolving power (RP) values were calculated. Although the PIC values ranged from 0.20 (E-ACA/M-CAA) to 0.34 (E-ACT/M-CTT) with an average of 0.26 per primer combination and the MI values were observed in the range of 17.60 (E-ACA/M-CAA) to 32.30 (E-ACT/M-CTT) with an average of 25.13 per primer combination, the RP was recognized the real attribute for AFLP to determine the discriminatory power of the primer combination. The RP values for different primer combinations varied from 23.11 (E-ACA/M-CAA) to 46.82 (E-ACT/M-CTT) with an average of 35.21. Genotyping data obtained for all 680 polymorphic fragments were used to group the accessions analyzed using the UPGMA-phenogram and principal component analysis (PCA). Majority of groups obtained in phenogram and PCA contained accessions as per geographical locations. In general, accessions coming from Andhra Pradesh were found diverse as these were scattered in different groups, whereas accessions coming from Chhattisgarh showed occurrence of higher number of unique/rare fragments. Molecular diversity estimated in the present study combined with the datasets on other morphological/agronomic traits will be very useful for selecting the appropriate accessions for plant improvement through conventional as well as molecular breeding approaches

Efficient land water management practice and cropping system for increasing water and crop productivity in semi‐arid tropics

In Indian semi-arid tropics (SATs), low water and crop productivity in Vertisols and associated soils are mainly due to poor land management and erratic and low rainfall occurrence. This study was conducted from 2014 to 2016 at the ICRISAT in India to test the effect of broad bed furrows (BBF) as land water management against conventional flatbed planting for improving soil water content (SWC) and water and crop productivity of three cropping systems: sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]–chickpea (Cicer arientinum L.) and maize (Zea mays)–groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) as sequential and pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.)] + pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] as intercropping, grown under different nutrients management involving macronutrients (N, P, and K) only and combined application of macro- and micronutrients. The results stated that the SWC in BBF was higher over flatbed by 9.35–10.44% in 0- to 0.3-m, 4.56–9.30% in 0.3- to 0.6-m and 3.85–5.26% in 0.6- to 1.05-m soil depths during the cropping season. Moreover, depletion of the soil water through plant uptake was higher in BBF than in flatbed. Among the cropping systems, sorghum–chickpea was the best in bringing highest system equivalent yield and water productivity with the combined application of macro- and micronutrients. The BBF minimized water stress at critical crop growth stages leading to increase crop yield and water productivity in SATs. Thus, BBF along with the application of macro- and micronutrients could be an adaptation strategy to mitigate erratic rainfall due to climate change in SATs

PathogenMip Assay: A Multiplex Pathogen Detection Assay

The Molecular Inversion Probe (MIP) assay has been previously applied to a large-scale human SNP detection. Here we describe the PathogenMip Assay, a complete protocol for probe production and applied approaches to pathogen detection. We have demonstrated the utility of this assay with an initial set of 24 probes targeting the most clinically relevant HPV genotypes associated with cervical cancer progression. Probe construction was based on a novel, cost-effective, ligase-based protocol. The assay was validated by performing pyrosequencing and Microarray chip detection in parallel experiments. HPV plasmids were used to validate sensitivity and selectivity of the assay. In addition, 20 genomic DNA extracts from primary tumors were genotyped with the PathogenMip Assay results and were in 100% agreement with conventional sequencing using an L1-based HPV genotyping protocol. The PathogenMip Assay is a widely accessible protocol for producing and using highly discriminating probes, with experimentally validated results in pathogen genotyping, which could potentially be applied to the detection and characterization of any microbe

Connector Inversion Probe Technology: A Powerful One-Primer Multiplex DNA Amplification System for Numerous Scientific Applications

We combined components of a previous assay referred to as Molecular Inversion Probe (MIP) with a complete gap filling strategy, creating a versatile powerful one-primer multiplex amplification system. As a proof-of-concept, this novel method, which employs a Connector Inversion Probe (CIPer), was tested as a genetic tool for pathogen diagnosis, typing, and antibiotic resistance screening with two distinct systems: i) a conserved sequence primer system for genotyping Human Papillomavirus (HPV), a cancer-associated viral agent and ii) screening for antibiotic resistance mutations in the bacterial pathogen Neisseria gonorrhoeae. We also discuss future applications and advances of the CIPer technology such as integration with digital amplification and next-generation sequencing methods. Furthermore, we introduce the concept of two-dimension informational barcodes, i.e. “multiplex multiplexing padlocks” (MMPs). For the readers' convenience, we also provide an on-line tutorial with user-interface software application CIP creator 1.0.1, for custom probe generation from virtually any new or established primer-pairs

Manufacturing and Supply Chain Flexibility: Building an Integrative Conceptual Model Through Systematic Literature Review and Bibliometric Analysis

The purpose of this study is twofold: first, to establish the current themes on the topic of manufacturing and supply chain flexibility (MSCF), assess their level of maturity in relation to each other, identify the emerging ones and reflect on how they can inform each other, and second, to develop a conceptual model of MSCF that links different themes connect and highlight future research opportunities. The study builds on a sample of 222 articles published from 1996 to 2018 in international, peer-reviewed journals. The analysis of the sample involves two complementary approaches: the co-word technique to identify the thematic clusters as well as their relative standing and a critical reflection on the papers to explain the intellectual content of these thematic clusters. The results of the co-word analysis show that MSCF is a dynamic topic with a rich and complex structure that comprises five thematic clusters. The value chain, capability and volatility clusters showed research topics that were taking a central role in the discussion on MSCF but were not mature yet. The SC purchasing practices and SC planning clusters involved work that was more focused and could be considered more mature. These clusters were then integrated in a framework that built on the competence–capability perspective and identified the major structural and infrastructural elements of MSCF as well as its antecedents and consequences. This paper proposes an integrative framework helping managers keep track the various decisions they need to make to increase flexibility from the viewpoint of the entire value chain

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Not AvailableThe purpose of this study is to assess the groundwater quality and identify the processes that control the groundwater chemistry in a crystalline aquifer. A total of 72 groundwater samples were collected during pre- and post-monsoon seasons in the year 2014 in a semi-arid region of Gooty Mandal, Anantapur district, Andhra Pradesh, India. The study utilized chemometric analysis like basic statistics, Pearson's correlation coefficient (r), principal component analysis (PCA), Gibbs ratio, and index of base exchange to understand the mechanism of controlling the groundwater chemistry in the study area. The results reveal that groundwater in the study area is neutral to slightly alkaline in nature. The order of dominance of cations is Na+ > Ca2+ > Mg2+ > K+ while for anions, it is HCO3- > Cl- > NO3- > SO42- > CO32- > F- in both seasons. Based on the Piper classification, most of the groundwater samples are identified as of sodium bicarbonate (Na+-HCO3- ) type. According to the results of the principal component analysis (PCA), three factors and two factors were identified pre and post monsoon, respectively. The present study indicates that the groundwater chemistry is mostly controlled by geogenic processes (weathering, dissolution, and ion exchange) and some extent of anthropogenic activities.Department of Science and Technology (DST) New Delhi Department of Science & Technology (India) [SR/WOS - A/ES - 20/2013(G)