Milk and milk products finds a prominent place in the food basket among both rural and urban households in India. Milk provides required nutrients to people of all age groups. Dairying is traditionally linked to the culture of rural India as means of livelihood and risk mitigation strategy. Dairying is recognized as an important source of income for small and marginal farmers in India since on an average 22-26 per cent of the income of the rural households is contributed by milk. The present study makes use of data published by NSSO in its 66th,68th and 77th rounds to analyse the households reporting owning livestock especially cattle and buffalo in milk, study the consumption pattern of fluid (liquid) milk across different states and as well among different fractile classes. Study observes that there is wide variation in ownership of cattle and buffalo across states. The analysis indicates high elastic nature of liquid milk and also observe that there is a wide variation in consumption of milk across states both in rural and urban areas. Majority of fractile classes do not meet the requirement in respect of consumption of liquid milk as prescribed by the ICMR. Concerted efforts are necessary to spread the operation flood programme to hitherto less exploited states, boost up production and also distribution of milk by chalking out appropriate welfare schemes especially to vulnerable section of the society

Bioethanol can be produced from sugar and starch crops, but lignocellulosic biomass can also be utilized for bioethanol production. The physicochemical analysis pearl millet stalk was carried out. Pretreatment process optimization of the selected biomass was done with 7.5, 10 and 12.5 % of total solid loadings for all the biomass with the ortho-phosphoric acid concentration of 5, 7.5 and 10 % at 100?C and 121?C for 1, 2 and 3 h of time interval. With 12.5 % of total solid loading and 7.5 % of ortho-phosphoric acid at 121?C the sugar release and lignin reduction were highest after 3 h of pretreatment. Hence, it was selected as the optimized conditions for ortho-phosphoric acid pretreatment. Pearl millet stalk released about 38.96 g l-1 of total sugar while the lignin content was 9 % at the optimized condition. The lab scale Simultaneous Saccharification and Fermentation (SSF) experiment was done with the hydrolysate alone, hydrolysate with artificial sugar (total sugar concentration of 60 g l-1), hydrolysate with 10 % (w/v) of yeast extract. The two types of enzymes cellulase of 40 FPU g-1 and xylanase of 25 U ml-1 was used in all the treatments for saccharification. The two types of yeasts (S.cerevisiae and P.stipitis) were used for the optimization of fermentation. The ethanol yield was calculated as 32.13 g l-1 from pearl millet stalk after 96 h of fermentation with S.cerevisiae from the hydrolysate with added artificial sugar (total sugar concentration of 60 g l-1). The sugar consumption was highest in pearl millet (58.48 g l-1) in the condition 2 with S.cerevisiae. Hence, the hydrolysate with added artificial sugar with S.cerevisiae was selected for fermentation up to 96 h for all the biomass samples. The process parameters for SSF viz., temperature and agitation speed were optimized with the above treatment. The SSF experiment in the above optimized treatment with S.cerevisiae was done at 25, 30 and 35?C. The three different agitation speed were used such as 75, 100 and 125 rpm for optimization. The highest ethanol concentration of was achieved from pearl millet stalk (44.24 g l-1) at 30?C with 100 rpm at 96 h compared to other temperatures and agitation speed. Hence, the optimized temperature and agitation speed selected were 30?C and 100 rpm respectively for bioethanol production from pearl millet stalk

Bioethanol is a liquid biofuel produced from lignocellulosic biomass. Seven number of lignocellulosic biomass were selected for the biomass characterization such as arecanut shell, arecanut sheath, corn cob, cotton stalk, maize shank, paddy husk and pearl millet stalks. From the physicochemical analysis three biomass (pearl millet stalks, arecanut husk, cotton stalk) were selected for further study. In this study, a pilot scale system of 50 l capacity was designed and developed for fermentation with working volume of 33.33 l. The bioethanol yield, bioethanol concentration, bioethanol production rate was found as 0.023 g g-1, 23.12 g l-1 and 0.24 g l-1h-1 respectively after 96 h of fermentation. The practical yield, theoretical yield and the fermentation efficiency were 6.26, 11.74 g l-1 and 53.30 % respectively at 24 h which increased to 23.12, 27.29 g l-1 and 84.69 % respectively after 96 h of fermentation

The APETALA2/ethylene-responsive element binding factor (AP2/EREB) superfamily is one of the largest transcription factor families in plant kingdom which play a predominant role in plant growth processes and are involved in different biotic and abiotic stress responses. A detailed and comprehensive in silico analysis was performed to identify the AP2/ERF transcription factors in pearlmillet which identified 99 AP2/ ERF TFs classified into 19 AP2 family, 62 ERF subfamily, 15 DREB subfamily, 2 RAV family TFs and a soloist. Phylogenetic analysis was performed with the predicted protein sequences and conserved motifs were analysed. Seventy percent AP2 /ERF superfamily genes were found to be localised in nucleus and all of them were mapped onto the seven chromosomes. Physico-chemical parameters were computed and found that thirteen transcription factor proteins were stable. Fold Index was used and found that six transcription factors had no disordered regions and were folded completely. PMERF57 has good stability index and no disordered regions. These identified putative genes could be explored for further analysis

An experiment was carried out during 2018 at, Main Garden farm and Post-Harvest Technology and Analytical Laboratory, Department of Horticulture, Dr P.D.K.V. Akola. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design with nine treatments and four replications. The different foliar application of growth substances treatments viz., T1 (1% Potassium Nitrate), T2 (2% Potassium Nitrate), T3 (1% Calcium Nitrate), T4 (2% Calcium Nitrate), T5 (GA3 50 ppm), T6 (GA3 100 ppm 2,), T7 (NAA 50 ppm), T8 (NAA 100 ppm), T9 (Control) were used in research programme. The foliar application of growth substances during rainy crop of guava was done in the month of August. Observations on fruit, qualitative and post-harvest parameters were recorded periodically. Results obtained in the present investigation revealed that, the number of fruits per plant (273.50) and fruit yield (32.34 kg/plant) was maximum in treatment in T8 (NAA 100 ppm). The fruit weight (142.25 gm), fruit length (7.16 cm), fruit diameter (7.19 cm) and specific gravity (1.17 g/cc) was maximum in the treatment T6 (GA3 100 ppm). Fruit qualitative parameters viz., maximum total soluble solids (°Brix), acidity (%), ascorbic acid (mg/100g pulp), reducing sugars (%), non-sugars (%) and total sugars (%) content was found in foliar application of 2% Calcium Nitrate during 0, 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th and 10th at ambient storage condition. Fruits post-harvest parameters viz., significantly minimum physiological loss in weight (%), and fruit decay (%), colour changes (days) and highest shelf life (days) was found in foliar application of 2% Calcium Nitrate during 0, 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th and 10th at ambient storage condition

In rice, tillering is an important agronomic trait and the tillering stage starts with the appearance of first tiller from axil of the second leaf of the main culm. The degree and rate of grain-filling in rice differs largely with the type of tillers. In this context, studies on tillering pattern and its relation with seed set becomes important. Investigation on the tillering window of the rice varieties TKM 13, CO (R) 50, CR 1009 Sub1, ADT 50 and establishing the correlation with seed filling potential was carried out. Primary tillers which initiated earlier i.e., 36.4, 38.9, 45.1 and 43.8 DAS also completed flowering earlier 95.8, 97.8, 115.9 and 113.6 DAS and had higher seed filling duration 38.2, 40.2, 43.1 and 41.4 days in TKM 13, CO (R) 50, CR 1009 Sub1and ADT 50 rice varieties, respectively when compared to the secondary and tertiary tillers. Tertiary tillers which had emerged after the secondary tillers i.e., 69.9, 72.3, 78.7 and 77.5 DAS had completed flowering on 107.5, 108.2, 129.2 and 126.5 DAS and had seed filling duration of 26.5, 29.8, 29.8 and 28.5 days in rice varieties TKM 13, CO (R) 50, CR 1009Sub1 and ADT 50, respectively

Studies on the impact of cow urine-based ginger-garlic-green chilli (3G) extracts in organic cotton were conducted during Rabi 2018 and 2019 in Tamil Nadu Agricultural University. The jassid population was less (2.52/3 leaves) in 5% ginger-garlic-green chilli (3G) extract applied plots which was on par with NSKE (5%) application (2.76 nos./3 leaves). The mean per cent reduction of thrips population over control was more (50.35) in 3G extract (5%) applied plots which was on par with NSKE application (47.68). PROC for whiteflies was also more (62.74) in 5% 3G extract sprayed plots. The highest cotton kapas yield (2446 kg/ha) and BCR (2.09) was registered in 3G extract (5%) applied plots

Field experiments were conducted during Rabi 2015 and 2016 in TNAU, Coimbatore with the rice variety CO 51. Organic package of practices was followed throughout the crop period. Among ecofriendly pesticides tested for the management of major insect pests in rice, the NSKE (5%) application the registered the lowest GLH and BPH population with the better pest control efficiency of 58.05 and 56.74 per cent respectively, for GLH and BPH. Combination of neem oil and pungam oil each at one per cent also performed better against GLH, BPH in addition to stem borers with least dead heart 4.93%) and white ear (2.11%) symptoms. The entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana performed better against leaf folders with better pest control efficiency of 80.64 per cent

Studies were undertaken to enhance seed quality in tomato seeds var PKM 1 in terms of germination and vigour through priming. In soaking duration standardisation, it was found that the tomato seeds imbibe the maximum amount of water and attains the maximum wet weight on 25 hours after soaking the seeds. The radical protrusion observed on 28 hours after the seed soaking. Hence the soaking duration for tomato var PKM 1 seed priming can be fixed as 25 hours. Tomato seeds were primed with chemical ingredients viz., of GA3 at 50,100,150,200 and 250ppm and KNO3 at 1,2,3,4 and 5% and KH2PO4 at 1,2,3,4 and 5% and succinic acid 100,200,300,400 and 500ppm soaking durations of 25 h to optimize the concentration. Seed priming with 50 ppm of GA3 recorded higher germination and recorded 7% increase over the unprimed seeds. Impact of priming was aslo expressed on the seedling vigour. Seed priming with KNO3 at 1% concentration for 25 hours soaking and drying back improves the germination percentage upto 9 %, KH2PO4 at 4 % concentration improves 16 % and succinic acid at 300 ppm improves 18 % germination over the unprimed seeds

Renewable energy projects for generating electricity in the form of solar, wind, hydropower and biofuels like biodiesel, ethanol etc., are the key sources to providing rural energy where power available in short supply. The performance study was carried out with different blending ratio of diesel and biodiesel which is obtained from Jatropha curcus oil. Different blends such as 0,20,50,80, and 100 per cent of various combinations of diesel with biodiesel were used for the experimental evaluation study. The power output of the engine has no significant difference from the various blends of biodiesel, with diesel fuel. The specific fuel consumption of an engine at 0.4 kW, it was 6 percent higher than the diesel fuel and higher loads (2.0 kW) at higher percentage of blends, it is noticed that an increasing trend ranged at an average of 15 percent for all the trials. As the load increases, the fuel flow rate of liquid fuels revealed linearly increased tendency with the load rise from 20 to 100 percent and fuel consumption of biodiesel blend fuel was higher than those of diesel fuel due to the lower heating value of selected biodiesel and its blends. The brake thermal efficiency of the engine was 22 percent with the selective biodiesel and its blend with diesel fuel at higher loads (2.0 kW). The higher brake thermal efficiency was estimated as 23.64 percent for the full load condition. This is the good option for using the blended fuels for running engines in future to reduce emission and global warming

The study analyzed marketing approach and constraints perceived by the organic ginger growers in Hill Zone of West Bengal during September 2020 to July 2021. Themultistage sampling technique was used to select 80 respondents. The study revealed that three marketing channel viz., channel I (Producer ? Local Trader ? Wholesaler ? Retailer ? Consumer), channel II (Producer ? Wholesaler ? Retailer ? Consumer) and channel III (Producer ? Local trader ? Retailer ? Consumer) were followed for marketing of output. Out of total average production per farm 80.35% constituted the marketed surplus of which 69% was put on the market through channel –I. In both channel-I and II highest marketing cost (?8.53/kg.) was employed by the wholesaler and received highest net marketing margin (?14.67/kg. in channel –I and ?17.17 / kg. in channel - II). But in channel –III maximum net marketing margin received by the retailer (?18.85/kg.). The overall producer share in consumer rupee was only around 50%and marketing efficiency observed only 86.48%, 96.44% and 111.83% for channel I, II and III respectively. The major impediments in production and marketing of organic ginger were diseases and pest attack, emergence of weeds, low price of output and high fluctuation of market price. Whereas, lack of knowledge about insect-pest-diseases management and quality seed, unavailability of quality seed and processing facility centre were the prime technological and input-supply constraints. Hence, institutional and technical supports for production, processing and marketing are imperative for adoption and extension of organic ginger cultivation

The present study aimed at marketing of groundnut, wheat and sugarcane natural farming. Junagadh, Gir Somanath, Rajkot and Amreli districts were selected purposively for the study. A total 30 market intermediaries were studied comprising wholesalers and retailers from selected districts. Shepherd’s formula was used to estimate marketing efficiency. There are two marketing channels for groundnut and wheat i.e., channel-I: producer-retailer, channel-II: producer–wholesaler–retailer. The net price received by farmer was found higher in channel–I for both crops. The marketing efficiency for groundnut and wheat was found highest in channel-I. In sugarcane, there were three marketing channels viz; channel-I: producer–retailer, channel-II: producer–sugar factory–retailer and channel-III: producer–jaggery factory–retailer. The highest net price was received by farmer in channel-I. The marketing efficiency for sugarcane was found highest in channel-III

The aim of the present study is to analyze the mandal wise rainfall data in Vizianagaram district. Mandals were categorised based on the distribution of rainfall. Out of 34 mandals in the district 26 are plain areas and 8 are tribal/agency areas. Among 34 mandals, 6 mandals received normal rainfall and 16 mandals received excess rainfall during South west monsoon period. Similarly, 2tribal/agency mandals received normal rainfall and 6 agency mandal received excess rainfall during South West monsoon period

The present study was conducted in Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh. Data were collected personally from 120 farmers from ten villages of Machilipatnam, Kankipadu, Nandigama and Gannavaram mandals to study the knowledge and adoption of bio fertilizers among the farmers. The findings of the research revealed that Majority (68.33 per cent) of the respondents had medium level knowledge, followed by 20.00 per cent of them having low level of knowledge and 11.67 per cent of the respondents had high level of knowledge. Majority (64.17 per cent) of the respondents had medium adoption level, followed by 20.00 per cent of them having low adoption level and15.83 per cent of the respondents had high adoption level of bio fertilizers. More than half (52.50 per cent) farmers reported low shelf life of bio fertilizers, 42.50 per cent farmers reported non availability of bio fertilizers locally at times when needed, 35.00 per cent farmers reported lack of knowledge about bio fertilizers practices and 29.17 per cent farmers reported lack of knowledge about bio fertilizers as the constraints. More than half (52.50 per cent) of the farmers suggested to increase the shelf life of bio fertilizers, 46.67 per cent of the farmers suggested that bio fertilizers should be available at local level, 43.33 per cent of the farmers suggested to provide useful information and literature on bio fertilizers from Agriculture Department and University, 33.33 per cent of the farmers suggested to conduct the demonstrations regarding use of bio fertilizers

Zinc deficiency is one of the important micronutrient deficiencies of rice which is widespread and causes significant yield loss in severe conditions. Evaluation of the local germplasm in target environment is a promising strategy to understand the genetic diversity for zinc deficiency tolerance and to identify potential donors. Hence, in the present study, a set of 135 accessions comprising of local landraces and improved varieties of rice were assessed for zinc deficiency tolerance under zinc deficiency in submerged conditions using zinc deficiency score and yield related morphological traits like days to fifty percent flowering, number of productive tillers, spikelet fertility percent and single plant yield. Significant variation was observed for all the traits studied. The association among the traits revealed that Zinc deficiency score is negatively correlated with plant height (-0.272**), spikelet fertility percentage (-0.358**) and single plant yield (0.197*). The hierarchical clustering analysis by UPGMA grouped 135 germplasm accessions into eight clusters and identified significant outliers such as Mapillai Samba, Senkar and Rasagadam. The landraces like Karuppu Nel and Manipur Local which recorded higher yield under zinc deficiency can be used in further studies to understand their mechanism of tolerance

Powdery mildew of cluster bean incited by Leveillula taurica is the major devastating disease in cluster bean growing districts of Karnataka causing yield loss upto 50-55 per cent. The pathogen infests all aerial parts of cluster bean including the pods. The aim of this paper was to observe factors that influence the conidial germination of Leveillula taurica. Hence, the present study was conducted with regard to examine the conidial germination of Leveillula taurica at different temperatures and relative humidity using spore germination method through cavity slides. In this study, different temperatures and relative humidity were significantly affected the conidial germination. It was found that the optimum temperature for conidial germination was 25°C after 24 hours of incubation, at which maximum germination (63.16%) occurred, while the least amount of germination (10.17%) occurred at temperature 10°C. Conidial germination has been shown to be influenced by relative humidity, the highest germination of 60.16 per cent was observed at 85 per cent relative humidity and the least germination (18.16 %) at 65 per cent relative humidity. As a result of the conducted experiment, 25°C and 85 per cent relative humidity provides the best suitable conditions for severity of powdery mildew in cluster bean fields