IN VITRO FREE RADICAL SCAVENGING ACTIVITY AND PHENOL AND FLAVONOID CONTENT OF NERIUM INDICUM, PELTOPHORAM PTEROCARPUM AND ROSA SPPS. FLOWER EXTRACTS

Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate antioxidant activity and phenol and flavonoid content of three flowers viz. Nerium indicum,Peltophoram pterocarpum and Rosa spps extracts.Methods: The extraction was done by individual cold percolation method using solvents like hexane, ethyl acetate and acetone. Total phenolic andtotal flavonoid content of different extracts was determined using Folin-ciocalteu assays and aluminium chloride colorimetric method respectively.Antioxidant activity was carried out by ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and ABTS radical cation scavenging activity.Results: Total phenol content was more in acetone extract while total flavonoid content was more in ethyl acetate extract, in all the three flowerspecies. FRAP activity was maximum in acetone extracts while ABTS activity was more in ethyl acetate extracts.Conclusion: Phenolic and non-phenolic compounds contribute to the antioxidant activity of these three flower extracts. The best antioxidant activitywas shown by P. pterocarpum flowers suggesting it to be a good source of natural antioxidants.Keywords: Flowers, Antioxidant activity, 2, 2'-Azino-bis-(3-ethyl) benzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid, Ferric reducing antioxidant power, Total phenolcontent, Total flavonoid content

Performance of off-season Okra under Protected Structures in Semi-Arid Region

Okra is a staple vegetable in Indian cuisine which is extensively cultivated year-round due to its rich composition of essential minerals, vitamins, carbohydrates, proteins and dietary fiber. The primary objective of this research was to investigate the impact of mulching and protective structures on okra cultivation during the winter period (off-season). Consequently, okra seeds were planted in three distinct environments: a Net-cum-poly house equipped with a ridge vent, Net-cum-poly house lacking a ridge vent and an open field. These environments were combined with three different mulch conditions: silver-black plastic mulch, black plastic mulch, and no-mulch. The experiment employed a two-factor large-plot design with four replications. The findings of this study revealed the substantial influence of mulching and protective structures on off-season okra cultivation. Key agronomic parameters, including stem diameter (17.20 mm), plant height (164 cm), internode length (18 cm), the number of fruits per plant (35), fruit weight per plant  (367.31gm) and overall fruit yield (19755 kg/ha) exhibited statistically significant improvements in the combination of a Net-cum-poly house without a ridge vent and silver-black plastic mulch. In terms of water management, irrigation volumes delivered under mulched and non-mulched conditions were 387 mm and 446 mm respectively for the open field, while the corresponding figures for the protected environment were 319 mm and 366 mm. The highest water use efficiency was observed 61.97 kg/ha-mm in treatment combination with silver black plastic mulch and Net-cum-poly house without ridge vent. Notably, mulching resulted in a 13.34% reduction in water consumption compared to the non-mulched open field. In the protected environment, water savings reached 28.43% under mulch and 17.76% under no-mulch conditions relative to the non-mulched open field

Remote Sensing and GIS Applications in Soil Salinity Analysis: A Comprehensive Review

Soil salinity is a pressing global issue with far-reaching implications for agricultural productivity and environmental sustainability, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. The expansion of cultivated lands and the need for food production have intensified the challenges associated with soil salinization. This paper reviews the significance of monitoring and assessing soil salinity, especially in regions where traditional irrigation practices and inadequate drainage systems exacerbate the problem. The paper highlights the importance of satellite-based technologies for spatial and temporal mapping of soil salinity, providing cost-effective, rapid, and efficient sources of qualitative and quantitative spatial information. Multispectral remote sensing data have significantly improved the monitoring of soil salinity. The spectral characteristics of salt-affected soil, visible and near-infrared bands, enable the detection of salinity in both barren and vegetated areas. Various salinity and vegetation indices have been developed, with their effectiveness depending on the context and the extent of vegetation cover. Proper timing of fieldwork and measurement is essential for accurate results. The paper presents a comprehensive review of the remote sensing and GIS based methods of soil salinity estimation including salinity indices, vegetation indices, regression methos, neural network methods plus, sensing approaches, and satellite data utilized in soil salinity mapping. The majority of recent studies favour remote sensing technology over traditional methods due to its cost-effectiveness and efficiency. The choice of mapping approach is context-dependent, and there is no universally superior method. This review underscores the critical role of remote sensing in addressing the challenges posed by soil salinity, offering a promising avenue for monitoring and managing this imperative global concern