The study was carried out with the objectives to study the effect of tree spacing and organic manures on growth parameters of Godetia grandiflora L. Study revealed that growth parameters of Godetia grandiflora were suppressed under the close spacing. Maximum plant height, maximum plant spread and number of side stems was recorded in open condition as compared to agroforestry system. Organic manures like FYM and vermicompost enhanced the growth parameters both in open condition and within agroforestry system. Integrating winter annual flower crop with Grewia optiva offers an excellent opportunity for the framers to earn more income than the monoculture.

Crop-livestock integration defined as a process by which farmers intensify their activities by integrating components of crop and livestock activities. The system help poor small farmers, who have very small land holding for crop production and a few heads of livestock to diversify farm production, increase cash income, improve quality and quantity of food produced and exploitation of unutilized resources. In crop-livestock integrated farming systems the most visible feature is the synergy between crops and livestock. The integrated system represents that reduces erosion, increases crop yields, soil biological activity and nutrient recycling, intensifies land use. Mixed farming systems are understood to exist where both livestock and crop production take place within the same locality. Integration of livestock and crop allow nutrients to be recycled more effectively on the farm. The highly improved integrated crop-livestock system can guarantee more sustainable production.

The objective of the study was to work out the impact of training on productive and reproductive performance of indigenous cows. The study was conducted in KVK Satna in Madhya Pradesh. Six villages having more than 15 trainees were selected randomly. 10 trainees and 10 non-trainees from each village i.e total 60 trainees and 60 non-trainees were selected randomly. A structured interview schedule was developed for the primary data collection. Unpaired t-test, mean and standard deviation was applied for comparing results. The productive and reproductive performance of indigenous cows reared by trainees was average daily milk yield (DMY) 4.35±0.63 liters/day, average lactation length (LL) 256.42±13.75 days/animal, average lactation milk yield(LMY) 1111.78±117.23 liter/animal, average peak yield (PY) 5.92±0.78 liters/animal, average dry period (DP) 156.00±21.08 days/animal, average age at first calving (AFC) 41.28±1.79 months/animal, average service period (SP) 135.43±13.19 days/animal, average service per conception (SPP) 2.00±0.58 times/animal, average calving interval (CI) 412.43±13.18 days/animal respectively while the productive and reproductive performance of indigenous cows reared by non-trainees was DMY 2.63±0.75 liters/day, LL 237.50±12.58 days/animal, LMY 628.75±205.50 liters/animal, PY 2.63±1.31 liters/animal, DP 205.75±17.50 days/animal, AFC 42.00±3.56 months/animal, SP 166.25±22.87 days/animal, SPP 3.00±0.82 times/animal and CI 443.25±22.87 days/animal. Indigenous breed cows reared by trainee dairy farmers had significant (p<0.05) improvement in productive and reproductive performance as compared to non-trainees’ indigenous cows. From the present study it may be concluded that training was beneficial and had incorporated its part in trained dairy farmers which was felt lacunae in non-trained dairy farmers.

A field investigation on effect of nitrogen levels on potato variety Kufri Surya was conducted at Potato Research Station, SDAU, Deesa, Gujarat during rabi for three years (2011-12, 2012-13 and 2014-15). Results indicated that application of 150 kg N/ha improved tuber yield and crop productivity with higher remuneration and efficient use of phosphorus, potassium and water. However agronomic use efficiency of nitrogen decreased with subsequent increase in nitrogen levels.

The study was carried out with the objectives to study the effect of tree spacing and organic manures on growth parameters of Dianthus barbatus L (sweet William). Study revealed that maximum plant height, maximum plant spread and number of side stems was recorded in open condition as compared to agroforestry system. Organic manures like FYM, vermicompost, enhanced the growth parameters both in open condition and within agroforestry system. Study also revealed that tree based farming system can be one of the viable alternative land use system to prevent further degradation of land due to soil erosion and obtain production on sustainable basis.

In Jatropha marker-trait association were studied for twenty eight yield and yield component traits using 21 SSR markers and 22 ISSR markers with a set of 97 genotypes of BC4F1 population. Association of mean performance with corresponding marker score were assessed single marker analysis by using simple linear regression. Among this, 16 SSR and 18 ISSR primer pairs were identified as putatively linked to at least one of the investigated trait. The number of associated marker varies of associated marker varies from 6 (oil yield per plant) to one (number of female flower per inflorescence, number of seeds per fruit, fruit aspect ratio and oil content). The adjusted R2 for the regression equation varies from 3.1 to 11.6 %. Traits namely canopy cover between rows (ISSR 856), capsule weight per plant (ISSR 817) and seed yield per plant (ISSR 817) recorded above 10 % R2 value. This indicates that the same gene is controlling the expression of these characters. Moreover, phenotypically these characters have more association with each other. Hence these markers may be useful for marker assisted breeding programme.

A field experiment on combined use of bioinoculation and chemical fertilizer was conducted with test crop pointed gourd cv. Swarna Alaukik consecutively during 2012-13 and 2013-14 rabi and summer seasons in the research plots of “Network Project on Biofertilizers”, OUAT, Bhubaneswar. Integrated application of different levels of N, P and K with biofertilizers (Azotobacter sp., Azospirillum sp. and Phosphate Solubilising Bacteria [PSB] – Bacillus sp.), lime and organic manure significantly increased the dry matter contents viz., fruit, vine and total dry weight of pointed gourd fruit. Likewise, maximum crop nutrient uptake (N, P and K) and post harvest soil nutrient (N, P and K) availability were recorded in the treatment T12 [Lime + Biofertilizer + Vermicompost @ 5 t ha-1 + RDF (100%)]. Investigation leads to conclude that, the liming plots positively influenced the post harvest soil microbial biomass compared to unlined plots which in turn directly influenced the crop nutrient uptake (N- 44.26%, P- 119.97% and K- 35.79%) as well as post crop soil health leading to sustainable cultivation practice.

Thermal processing effectively reduces the number of microorganisms. However, not only the self-life but also the quality attributes of the food is necessary for the consumers. In response to the public health concerns and the preference of customers, researchers and scientists are under intense research and development to utilize the potential of non thermal technologies as an alternative or complimentary process to traditional methods of food processing. Recent advances in emerging food-processing technologies, such as high pressure, pulse electric field, ultrasound, magnetic field and irradiation amongst others have exhibited the fresh-like, palatable, microbiologically safe, high quality and additive free food products. Extensive investigations in the last decade have revealed the potential of non -thermal technologies as promising food processing techniques. In this paper, the aspects associated with applying non-thermal technologies as food processing methods are reviewed, including its working mechanism and its application in the food processing.