A field experiment was conducted at Kalliyoor Panchayath of Thiruvanathapuram district to assess the dissipation and risk assessment of spiromesifen 22.9 % SC in chilli. The residue analysis conducted at Pesticide Residue Research and Analytical Laboratory at College of Agriculture, vellayani, Thiruvanathapuram revealed that, the insecticide had an initial residue of 0.92 mg kg-1. The half- life of spiromesifen on chilli was calculated as 4.49 days. Spiromesifen reached below LOQ on 15th day after spraying. Risk assessment studies revealed that the TMRC value less than that of MPI, indicated the safety of particular chemical.

In the laboratory, in order to culture the fungi, essential elements and compounds are needed for growth and other metabolic processes. Those elements are supplied in the medium; sometimes all media are not equally good for all fungi or an artificial medium on which all fungi can grow. Hence different media were tested in the present investigation, to select the best medium suitable for the growth of the pathogen. Among eight different semisolid media, potato sucrose agar (PSA) medium showed the maximum colony diameter with a mean of 76.25 mm, followed by oat meal agar (OMA) medium which recorded a mean growth of 70.49 mm, while YPPDA medium showed colony diameter of 68.50 mm, followed by CMA medium (65.38 mm). CDA showed very poor colony growth (20.27 mm). Mycelium colour of the fungus varied from bright white, white to cream white. The growth pattern varies from flat to raised. With respect to morphological characters it was observed that whitish coloured colony produced in the PDA, RA, CDA and RYDA, whereas the YPPDA, CMA and OMA produced the Cream white and Bright Whitish in PSA. Fungus showed the good growth on the YPPDA, PSA, CMA and OMA, however in the medium like PDA and RYDA moderate growth and poor growth was observed in the RA and CDA media. Raised mycelium growth was observed in the YPPDA, RYDA and PSA media whereas PDA, RA, CDA, CMA and OMA which produced flat mycelium growth with circular margin whereas on PSA colony shape was irregular.

Small Ruminant Livestock Farming has been an integral part of many households in rural areas. The present study was planned and carried out among 140 respondents in four villages in costal belt (Sundarbans area) of South 24 Parganas district in West Bengal to find out the socio-personal profiles of the Small Ruminant Live Stock Owners (SRLO). They were predominantly most active age group (30-45 years), maximum owners were above primary level education, belonging to Hindu religion from Scheduled caste and General with nuclear family. They were marginal and small livestock holding with low annual income from small ruminant farming. Majority of SRLO were used farm publication in mass media, livestock owner from other villages, BLDO/Veterinary Officer and Panchayat personnel in personal cosmopolite communication and resident of the same village but other than neighbors in personal localite communication sources utilization in costal belt of South 24 Parganas district in the state of West Bengal.

This study is to analyze the extent of technical, allocative and economic efficiency in major crops cultivated in NEDZ of Karnataka. A random sample of 30 farmers each under rainfed condition, borewell irrigation and canal irrigation are studied for Manvi and Raichur taluks of Raichur district in NEDZ of Karnataka. The technical, allocative and economic efficiency of crops analyzed using Data envelopment analysis. The borewell cotton farmers are very poor technical efficiency compared with rainfed cotton, however their allocative efficiency was higher at 0.609 compared with the low allocative efficiency of 0.29 for rainfed cotton farmers. Paddy farmers in canal irrigation have impressive technical efficiency score of 0.84, but relatively poor allocative efficiency score of 0.64. In rainfed redgram none of the farmers have technical efficiency with a score below 0.50 and most of the farmers have allocative (55 percent) and cost efficiency (70 percent) with a score below 0.5. Thus, most of the farmers scored high in technical efficiency, but scored poorly in allocative and economic efficiency in rain fed redgram. This shows that farmers need to be well educated regarding their allocative efficiency as they are already well equipped technically. Thus, these farmers need to be trained to achieve allocative efficiency in the use of inputs in order to improve their overall economic efficiency.

A field experiment was conducted at the Agricultural College farm, Bapatla, during kharif and rabi 2017-18 and 2018-19. The experiment was conducted with variety BPT-5204 in a Randomized Block Design with ten treatments and three replications. Uptake and content of N, P and K in grain and straw at harvest were found significantly higher with the treatments that received soil test-based fertilizer recommendation with 10 t ha-1 FYM application, followed by soil test-based fertilizer recommendation (T2). Fertilizer use efficiency (FUE) was significantly the highest with application of 5.5 t ha-1 target yield recommendation with FYM (T8) compared to all other treatments. Grain yield of rice was significantly higher with soil test-based fertilizer recommendation with 10 t ha-1 FYM application which was statistically at par with soil test-based fertilizer recommendation alone (T2) and 7.5 t ha-1 targeted yield fertilizer recommendation with FYM (T10) compared to the rest of the treatments.

A field experiment on standardization of stage wise water requirement in acid lime (Citrus aurantifolia Swingle) under Western Maharashtra cv. Phule Sharbati was carried out at All India Coordinated Research Project on Fruits, Department of Horticulture, Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri during the period from 2014-15 to 2018-19. The pooled results obtained that the effect of stage wise application of irrigation water on growth, yield and fruit quality of acid lime were significant. The maximum plant height (3.13 m), canopy volume (23.66 m3), fruit weight (47.60 g), number of fruits (805.54 fruits/tree), fruit yield (38.71 kg/tree and 10.71 t/ha), juice (49.08 %), acidity (6.85 %), ascorbic acid (32.85 mg/100 ml juice) and B:C ratio (1.56) were recorded in the treatment T4 i.e., application of irrigation water at 80:80:80:80:80:80 ER % from stage-I (January-February) to stage-VI (November-December). From the results it is recommended that irrigation at 80:80:80:80:80:80 ER % from stage-I (January-February) to stage-VI (November-December) is recommended for better growth, maximum yield and quality fruits with efficient and timely utilization of irrigation water in acid lime cv. Phule Sharbati for Western Maharashtra.

Biogas from sea biomass would be a promising source of energy for replacing fossil-based fuels. Sea biomasses such as seaweeds and sea grasses can be used as an alternate feedstock for biomethanation as they have high carbohydrates and water content and low lignin. In this study, sea grasses such as Cymodocea serrulata and Syringodium isoetifoliuma and sea weed viz., Gracilaria salicornia found in Manalmekudi coast, Pudukottai district were collected and their characteristics were studied to assess its suitability for biogas production. Physico-chemical characteristics such as Total Solids, Volatile Solids, Total Organic Carbon and Nitrogen were determined. The C/N ratio of Cymodocea serrulata,Syringodium isoetifoliuma and Gracilaria salicornia were found to be 26.93, 29.19 and 22.81 respectively and hence all the three sea biomasses have very good biomethanation potential.

The present study was carried out by Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Shivpuri district Madhya Pradesh to know the yield gap between improved package and farmers’ practice under Front Line Demonstration. Black gram (Vigna mungo L.) is one of the most important pulse crops cultivated in Shivpuri district of Madhya Pradesh. It is having lower yield in farmer’s field due to multiple constraints. One of the major causes of its lower productivity was non-adoption of improved technologies. Front line demonstrations on Improved Crop Management practices were conducted at 80 framer’s fields of Shivpuri district during Kharif season from 2011-12 to 2015-16. The improved technologies recorded a mean yield of 12.30 q per ha which was 32.78 percent higher than the yield obtained with farmers practice (9.36 q ha-1). Besides, higher mean net income of Rs. 32247 ha-1 with a B: C ratio of 3.23 was realized when compared to farmers practice (Rs. 22097 ha-1 and 2.69). The average technological gap, extension gap and technological index noticed were 1.59 q ha-1, 2.94 q ha-1 and 11.40 percent respectively. The higher average grain yield was recorded in demonstration plots over the years compared to local check due to increased knowledge and adoption of full package of practices.

Ten demonstrations were conducted during 2018-19 to 2019-20 in different villages of Mohali district of Punjab to disseminate the production technology of high yielding (612.5 q/ha) Tomato variety Punjab Varkha Bahar-4. Diagnostic field visits, regular surveys, farmer-scientist interactions and training programmes ensured proper seed rate, spacing, application of balanced and optimum doses of nutrients, proper weed management and timely plant protection measures. These activities ensured higher yield over local practice of cultivation in the range of 23.20-24.37 percent. An average net profit of Rs 6, 05,375/- was recorded under recommended practice while it was Rs 4, 56,350/- under farmers’ practice. Benefit/ cost ratio ranged from 3.85 to 4.64 under demonstration while it ranged from 3.21 to 3.85 under control plots. With adoption of frontline demonstration (FLD) of proven scientific technology it is clearly interpreted that yield potential of variety and net returns from cultivation of tomato could be enhanced to desired extent which in turn gives higher income to the tomato growers.

Jatropha oil cake is a by-product obtained after extracting jatropha oil from seeds. Since the applications of oil cake are limited and there is lots of scope for energy recovery from oil cake if appropriate thermochemical conversion process used. The objective of the present work was to study of pyrolysis of jatropha oil cake using a Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) tool. The heating rates selected for this study were 10, 20, 30, and 40°C/min. for the TGA pyrolysis experiments. Three were three stages of thermal decomposition observed for jatropha oil cake and the thermal behaviour of jatropha oil cake is briefly discussed in this paper. The maximum peak temperature recorded for tested heating rates for oil cake was 327, 335, 358, and 421°C. The Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose method was used to analyze TGA data for determining the activation energy for the pyrolysis process. The predicted average activation energy value by the KAS method for jatropha oil cake was 21.62 kJ/mol.

The field experiment was conducted during rabi 2017-18 to study the response of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) to different nitrogen application schedules using various sources. The experiment consisted of 11 nitrogen scheduling treatments viz., absolute control, full basal, 2 and 3 splits at different stages undertaken with different doses of nitrogen using randomised complete block design with three replications. Results of the study revealed that the growth attributes like plant height, tiller density and dry matter accumulation in wheat were significantly superior with respect to application of 100% RDN (basal + 1st irrigation) –neem coated urea. Likewise, various yield attributes like effective tiller, ear length, number of grains and test weight of wheat were also found statistically superior with application of 100% RDN (basal + 1st irrigation) – neem coated urea as compared to other treatments. Similarly, grain and straw yield were significantly higher by 184.7 and 164.5%, respectively with the application of 100% RDN (basal + 1st irrigation) – neem coated urea over the control. Interestingly, significantly higher harvest index (44.87 %) was recorded with the application of 50 % RDN through FYM @ 13 q ha-1, vermicompost @ 9.5 q ha-1 and mustard cake @ 4.8 q ha-1 and 50 % RDN through neem coated urea @ 130.2 kg ha-1. A perusal of the data revealed that the growth parameters, yield attributes and yields of wheat were found significantly superior with application of 100% RDN (basal + 1st irrigation) – neem coated urea as compared to other nitrogen sources.

Agriculture extension plays a pivotal role in disseminating information about the latest agriculture technology for sustainable agriculture development. However, the attitude of the farmers towards extension services determines the extent to which the technology recommendations are adopted by farmers. The present study was undertaken in two hill districts of the state of Uttarakhand to determine the attitude of vegetable growers towards extension services and find out the factors which affect their attitude towards extension services. The study sample comprised 160 farmers selected randomly from four villages spread across two districts with the highest vegetable production in the state. The findings revealed that the majority of vegetable growers (61.25%) displayed an unfavourable attitude towards extension services. Further, vegetable growers’ age, gender, education, income level, farming experience, mass media exposure, information-seeking behaviour were found to be positively correlated whereas caste and gender were negatively correlated with their attitude towards extension services. The study findings will help policymakers and extension administrators to improve the efficiency of the present extension services delivery systems so that they can improve the technology adoption thereby enhancing vegetable production in the state.

Probiotics are micro-organisms or their products, used for the health welfare of the host; have found use in aquaculture as a means of alternate disease control agents, supplementing or even in some cases replacing the use of antimicrobial compounds. A wide range of microalgae, yeasts and gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis, Carnobacterium, Enterococcus, Lactobacillus, Lactococcus, Micrococcus, Streptococcus and Weissella) and gram-negative (Aeromonas, Altermonas, Photorhodobacterium, Pseudomonas and Vibrio) bacteria have been isolated and used aquatic medium as probiotics. These actively inhibit colonization of potential pathogens in the digestive tract of aquatic animals by antibiosis or by competition for nutrients or space or by alteration of microbial metabolism, and also by the stimulation of host immunity. Aerobic gram-positive endospore-forming bacteria i.e., Bacillus spp. is used as probiotics for the improvement of water quality with vitamin C and influences the composition of water borne microbial population and reduces the number of pathogens in the vicinity of farmed species.

Karonda seeds are very hard and have low germination per cent but it is propagated through seeds. There are various constraints of low seed germination. Considering this a trial under the title Effect of various pre sowing chemicals on seed germination and vigour in Karonda (Carissa carandas Linn.) was carried out at the nursery of Horticulture Department, Khalsa College, Amritsar, Punjab during 2019-2020. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design with three replications, consisting of eleven treatments replicated thrice. The results of present investigation revealed that the karonda seeds treated with KNO3 1% Soaking (2hr) (T3) recorded minimum number of days required for germination and maximum germination percentage was observed when karonda seeds soaked in water for 12 hour (T10).The treatment Thiourea2% soaking (2hr) (T9) maintained its superiority in producing maximum, shoot diameter, shoot fresh weight and dry weight whereas length of seedling, dry weight of root, Vigour index-I and vigour index-II reported maximum in T4 KNO3 2% soaking (1hr). However, maximum survival percentage was observed inThiourea2% soaking (2hr) (T9).

The study on residue and dissipation of flonicamid and fipronil after foliar application of flonicamid 15% + fipronil 15% WDG on rice plant after 2 applications at 15 days interval with the first coinciding with the tillering stage @ 400 g ha-1 and 800 g ha-1 was conducted at Integrated Farming System Research Station, Kerala Agricultural University, Karamana, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. The residues of flonicamid and fipronil were estimated using LCMS/MS. The mean initial deposit of flonicamid at recommended and double the recommended dose were 0.39 and 0.82 mg kg-1, respectively. The residue dissipated with time and reached below limit of quantification of 0.05 mg kg-1 within 3 days in the recommended dose and within 5 days in double the recommended dose. The mean initial deposit of fipronil at recommended and double the recommended dose were 2.70 and 3.60 mg kg-1, respectively. The residue dissipated with time and reached below limit of quantification of 0.01 mg kg-1 within 10 days both in the recommended and double the recommended dose. However, the harvest time residues of flonicamid and fipronil were below limit of quantification in paddy grain, straw, husk and soil.

Technology demonstration components were conducted by Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Mon, Nagaland under National Innovations Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) project to find out alternative remunerative cropping systems in comparison to existing foxtail millet- fallow system through crop diversification and intensification in the Mon district Nagaland. Traditionally, sole pre- kharif foxtail millet growing areas under sandy loam soils with objective of utilization of rain water through double cropping and enhancing net returns of the farmers by introducing oilseeds- cum- pulses crop of soybean instead of keeping the land fallow after harvesting of foxtail millet during kharif season. KVK demonstrated improved variety JS 335 as secondary crop after harvesting of foxtail millet crop for three consecutive years i.e., 2017, 2018 and 2019 in farmers’ fields through participatory approach. The demo farmers realized additional average yield 11.31 q/ ha with net returns of Rs. 26,003/ ha from soybean which limiting under Jhum practices. Soybean was sown during second F.N. of June without any deviation in optimum window. From the pooled analysis of 3 years, 72.65 percent increase in profit over farmers practice was estimated in foxtail millet- soybean cropping sequence demonstration compared with farmer’s practice of sole foxtail millet crop. The adoption of foxtail millet- soybean sequence increased the net returns (Rs. 35,793/ ha) than farmers practice of sole foxtail millet (Rs. 9790/ ha), and cropping intensity also doubled apart from food and nutritional security under sandy loam soils upland in Jhum farming system of Mon district Nagaland, India.

Agriculture and food production, plays an important role in Indian economy, but GDP contribution from dryland agriculture is far less than the expectations as there is no assured return, when rain fails. The area under dryland agriculture is about 60% of total cultivable area. When the crop is 40-50 days and if rain does not come, the crop is under severe dry spell conditions and many times the crop fails and farmer has to suffer heavy losses which is an issue of serious concern. For assured irrigation at this stage, solar operated dripping machine has been found more promising for the farmers engaged in dryland agriculture to save the crop and achieve good returns to lead a comfortable and dignified life. The technology is pollution free and there is no need of electricity or diesel engine. The machine can be installed anywhere in the field and uses drip irrigation technology. The machine can be pulled by any source of power i.e., human or bullock or tractor.

Effect of integrated nitrogen management on growth and yield of banana on Inceptisol soil was studied by conducting an experiment at Post Graduate Institute Farm of Mahatma Phule Agricultural University, Dist: Ahmednagar. An experiment was laid out with ten nitrogen substitution treatments through FYM, neem cake and vermicompost in different proportions (25%, 50% and equal nitrogen from these sources) replicated thrice in randomized block design. The recommended dose of banana as 200:40:200 g plant-1 with seven splits of nitrogen and basal application P2O5 and K2O at planting was carried out for this experiment. The number of functional leaves up to 180 DAP were not significantly influenced by integrated nitrogen management treatments but at later growth stages, substitution of nitrogen either @ 25 or 50 % through FYM recorded higher number of functional leaves throughout crop duration period. Application of 50% N: FYM + 50% N: RDF recorded significantly highest pseudostem height while substitution @ 25% N through FYM along with 75% N: RDF recorded significantly higher psedostem girth and leaf area index of banana. Nitrogen substation @ 25% either through FYM, neem cake or vermicompost induced early shooting (flowering) of banana by 14 to 18 days. However, application of 50% N: through neem cake + 50% N: RDF recorded significantly less duration from shooting to harvest or for bunch development of banana. Significantly higher yield of banana was recorded with the application of 25% N through FYM along with 75% N: RDF than rest of the treatments. The integrated nitrogen management treatment significantly influenced the banana yield. The nitrogen management as 25% N: FYM + 75% N: RDF reported significantly higher yield of banana (73.05 t ha-1) followed by 50% N: FYM + 50% N: RDF (69.55 t ha-1) and inorganic fertilizer application based on soil test (67.22 t ha-1), 50% N:VC + 50% N: RDF (67.04 t ha-1), 25% N:VC + 75% N: RDF (65.26 t ha-1), 25% N: NC + 75% N: RDF (50.44 t ha-1) and RDF (60.86 t ha-1).

The brinjal seeds were bio primed with liquid biocontrol agent Psuedomonas fluorescens in five different concentrations viz., 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25% by adopting seed to solution ratio of 1;1 by volume by volume basis for 6 h (already standardised) and evaluated for seed and seedling quality characters along with hydroprimed and nonprimed seed. The results revealed that, seeds bioprimed with P. fluorescens at 15% concentration for 6h increased the speed of germination by 12.8 percent, germination by 10 percent, root length by 11.1 percent and shoot length by 29.4 percent over nonprimed seeds. The percent increase over nonprimed seed for the drymatter production and vigour index was 15.1 and 30.3 percent, respectively.

Sugar beet is one of the most efficient converters of solar energy into stored energy. It is an important sugar crop which has great potentiality of augmenting sugar production at lower cost. Tropical sugarbeet is yet to be produced on commercial scale in India and it is still considered to be toddling baby in the ethanol industry. Although, few industries are claiming to be using sugarbeet as feed stock for ethanol production, its growth has not reached the level expected. With this aim the experiment was carried out with 3 Sugarbeet varieties viz; LS-6 (subtropical zone), PAC-60008, SZ-35 (temperate zone) the same were planted for production of alcohol. After six months the sugar beets were harvested and sucrose was extracted from the beet roots. LS-6 performed best as in term of biochemical traits followed by PAC-60008 and SZ-35. Ethanol yield was observed 101.6 (l/ton) in LS-6 variety, 80.16 (l/ton) in PAC-60008 and 74.24(l/ton) in SZ-35 variety.