A study was carried out to investigate the growth attributes and economics of blackgram (Vigna mungo)-based intercropping systems as influenced by moisture conservation practices. The experiment was laid out in a split –plot design with three replications with four cropping systems of C1-sole blackgram, C2-sole sesame, C3-blackgram + sesame (2:2) and C4-sesame + blackgram (2:4) were assigned to main plots and four moisture conservation practices viz. M0= without mulch and irrigation, M1=Dry weed biomass mulch @ 5.0 t ha-1, M2=FYM mulch @ 5.0 t ha-1 and M3=Irrigation as and when require were assigned to sub plots. Among the moisture conservation practices, irrigation (twice) recorded the highest growth attributing characters followed by FYM mulch and dry weed bio mass mulch. Among the cropping systems, highest plant height, number of branches plant-1, leaf area index and dry matter accumulation was recorded in blackgram grown as sole crop but when blackgram grown as intercrop, highest growth attributing characters was recorded under 2:4 row ratio combination followed by 2:2 row ratio combination. Among the methods of moisture conservation practices, the highest economics return was recorded under irrigation (twice) followed by FYM mulch and dry weed bio mass mulch. Among the cropping systems, the highest yield attributes and economics returns was recorded under when blackgram grown as sole crop but when blackgram grown as intercrop yield attributes and economics return was recorded highest under 2:4 row ratio combination followed by 2:2 row ratio combination. These results indicated that intercropping along with mulching helps to increase the absorption of soil moisture and reducing the loss of moisture form surface soil which help to enhances the growth and yield of blackgram.

When carrots are cut and peeled, the whitish appearance or ‘white blush’ on the surface occurs which reduces consumer acceptance of minimally processed carrots. Aloe gel based composite coatings have shown to prevent loss of moisture, firmness and improves the quality. In the present investigation, three different Aloe vera based composite coatings formulations having Aloe vera gel viz. 5, 10 and 15%, 0.5% carboxymethyl cellulose, 5% peanut oil and 2% glycerol monostearate were prepared. Glycerol was used as a plasticizer. Uniform healthy peeled carrots coated with Aloe vera based composite coatings were packed in low density polythene (400 gauge) bags and stored at room (14±3°C, 47±8%) and refrigerated (5±2°C, 55±2%) conditions. The samples were analyzed for various parameters viz. physiological loss in weight, decay loss and hunter L, a and b value on every 2nd day under room condition and on every 4th day under refrigerated condition. During storage, at both room and refrigerated conditions, physiological loss in weight, decay loss, Hunter L value increased while Hunter a and b value decreased. In coated samples at room and refrigerated temperature, 15% AvCC was most effective in reducing physiological loss in weight (14.3% and 10.9%), decay loss (11.6% and 10.2%), Hunter L a b value (55.9 and 56.0; 33.6 and 34.2; 41.9 and 41.7) followed by 10% and 5% Aloe vera based composite coatings as compared to uncoated peeled carrots.

The study was done in the Agron. Dept., Fac. of Agric., Mansoura University. The investigation was carried out at Sakha Agricultural Research Station, Kafr EL-Sheikh, Agric. Res. Center, Egypt, during 2010 and 2011 growing seasons. Astudy was undertaken in cotton (G. barbadense L.) to assess the relative efficiency of biparental mating and F3 selfed populations in realizing greater variability with desirable recombinants using F2 of one cross Giza 86 x Pima S6. These F2 populations were advanced to F3 following intermating (biparental mating BIP and selfing). Analysis of variance revealed highly significant differences among biparental sets of families for all studied characters. The variation between plants in biparental progenies were relatively high as compared with F3 selfed families. Biparental progenies proved its superiority over selfing by registering high mean values in desirable direction for most characters. Considerable variation was observed in biparental progenies as compared to F3 selfed populations for most of the characters, which confirmed by high means of GCV and PCV values. Also, variations created on account of biparental mating were found to be heritable as seen from increases of discrepancy between PCV and GCV and reflected less influence of environmental factors. The contribution of additive variance was higher for most earliness traits, lint percentage, lint index and uniformity ratio in both BIP and F3 selfed populations. The magnitude of non- additive were largely in BIP for most yield characters and fiber fineness and strength in both crosses as compared with F3 selfed. Broad sense heritability improved considerably for most characters in BIP. This was due to increased portion of genetic variance to total phenotypic variance due to cryptic genetic change that have been brought about one cycle of intermating.

The heavy use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides by the farmers is becoming threat to sustain environmental security. One side, timely availability of critical farm inputs helps to increase farm productivity and another side, their optimum use helps to maintain environmental and economic balance. Hence, agro-input dealers can play major role in ensuring farmer’s access to agricultural inputs and environmental security because they serve as the closest body to the farmers. The full participation of agro-input dealers is required to meet the challenges faced by extension system in India which can be achieved when they are perceived as subject of development especially women agro-input dealers. Towards this end, the small scale study was conducted in Pune district of Maharashtra with a random sample of 30 agro-input dealers (15 women and 15 men) to determine the extent of involvement of agro-input dealers in extension activities. Data were collected through well-structured interview schedule and analyzed by using descriptive statistics and multinomial logistic regression. It was observed that majority (53.34%) of the men agro-input dealers were less involved in the extension activities whereas the majority (66.67%) of the women agro-input dealers were moderately involved in extension activities. The maximum likelihood estimates indicates that gender, computer literacy and target farmer of agro-input dealers were found to be significant at 5% level of significance with their extent of involvement in extension activities.

For food and nutritional security, forecasting production behaviours of the major food crops play vital role. Planners should have idea about the past and likely production scenario of the major crops. In this paper attempt has been made to examine the performance of total food grains production in India and its major states during the period (1950-2009). Stability in production behavior with respect to area, production and yield of total food grains has been studied. This study also focuses on forecasting the area and production of total food grains in India using Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) model. The success of agriculture depends on many factors from formulation of policy to its implementation, availability of inputs, climatic conditions etc. In an attempt to increase forecast accuracy, the study incorporated the factors of production in the ARIMA model as auxiliary variables. The study reveals that by and large estimated figures are closer to the observed figures when different factors are included in the model. Forecasting figures worked out using the best fitted ARIMA models with and or without the incorporation of factors of production indicate that Uttar Pradesh will be the leading state in India in total food grains production, with a production of 49455 thousand tonnes from an area of 19982 thousand hectare with 2718 kg/ha yield during year 2020.