A pot experiment was conducted to determine the phosphorus release pattern of Jhabua Rock phosphate (JRP) in Vertisols, when it was applied with eighteen fertilizer treatments under three soil moisture regimes viz. 50% of field capacity (MR1), field capacity (MR2) and saturation (MR3). The result was found that JRP@120 kg P ha-1+PSB@ 150 g ha-1+FYM@5 t ha-1 with field capacity (F17 MR2) was the most effective treatment amongst all treatment combinations (61.52 kg P2O5 ha-1). The maximum release in available-P was obtained at 90 DAI in case of F17 (262%) and minimum in case of F2 (19%) over control. The trend of per cent change in cumulative in available-P release was F2 F10=F13

Different novel approaches of nutrient managements are used to improve the performance of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) under environmental constraints. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the growth, yield attributes and yield of barley. Three different barley varieties (RD 2035, RD 2552 and RD 2786)were evaluated for 2 years (2014 and 2015) with five different precision nutrient management practices using replicated trial. Precision nutrient management practices involved PNMP1: RDF – half N, full P2O5 and K2O as basal + remaining half N as top dressing after first irrigation; PNMP2: RDF – half N, full P2O5 and K2O as basal + remaining half N as top dressing before first irrigation; PNMP3: 50 % of recommended N and full P2O5 and K2O as basal + Green Seeker based N top dressing after first irrigation; PNMP4: 70 % of recommended N and full P2O5 and K2O as basal + Green Seeker based N top dressing after first irrigation; and PNMP5: Soil Test Crop Response. Yield traits were measured as plant height, total tillers, ear length, grain weight, yield and harvest index. Varieties RD 2035 and 2552 recorded the highest plant heights (at 60 DAS and harvest) and number of total tillers, ear length, grain weight ear-1, grain, straw and biological yield, respectively. Nutrient management practices PNMP5 and PNMP4 recorded highest yield and yield attributes, and can be used interchangeably.

Studies were conducted in two locations of Chikkamagaluru district on the efficiency of some insecticides against Myzus persicae L. on potato crop at malnad (Hilly zone) belt of Karnataka during Rabi 2014-15. Results showed that, At Lakshmipura (Location 1), thiamethoxam followed by imidacloprid and acephate were effective in controlling aphid population. PVY incidence was low in thiamethoxam treated plots compared to other insecticide treated plot. However, none of the insecticides were effective in reducing PLRV incidence. At Karkipete (Location 2), imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, acetamiprid and acephate were effective. Pooled data of both the locations indicated, thiamethoxam and imidacloprid were superior in controlling aphid population. The implication of the study in seed potato production is discussed.

The investigation entitled, “Nutrient content as well as nutrient uptake of maize and green gram as affected by integrated nutrient management in maize- green gram cropping sequence under south Gujarat condition” was conducted during rabi and summer seasons of 2014-15 and 2015-16 at College Farm, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari to study the production potential of maize- green gram cropping sequence under integrated nutrient management system. The treatment consisted of integrated nutrient management viz., T1-General RDF (RDF + FYM @ 10 t/ha), T2 - 75% RDN through chemical fertilizer + 25% RDN through biocompost, T3 -75% RDN through chemical fertilizer + 25% RDN through vermicompost, T4 -75% RDN through chemical fertilizer + 25% RDN through FYM and T5 -control to maize in rabi season as main plot treatments replicated four times in randomized block design. During summer season each main plot treatment was split into four sub plot treatments with four levels of recommended dose of fertilizers viz., S1 -control, S2 -50% RDF, S2 -75% RDF and S4 -100% RDF to green gram resulting in twenty treatment combinations replicated four times in split plot design. Grain and straw yields as well as nutrient content (N, P and K) and their uptake by rabimaize (grain and straw) were maximum under application of maize grain recorded significantly higher nitrogen content with the application of general RDF (RDF + FYM @ 10 t/ha) (T1) being remained at par with T3 (75% RDN through chemical fertilizer + 25% RDN through vermicompost), T2 (application of 75% RDN through chemical fertilizer + 25% RDN through bio-compost) and T4 (75% RDN through chemical fertilizer + 25% RDN through FYM).Significantly higher grain yield (56.00 q/ha) and straw yield (64.50 q/ha) was observed under application of general RDF (RDF + FYM @ 10 t/ha) (T1) which was at par with 75% RDN through chemical fertilizer + 25% RDN through vermicompost (T3) and 75% RDN through chemical fertilizer + 25% RDN through biocompost (T2).Similarly, during summer season the residual effect of general RDF (RDF + FYM @ 10 t/ha) applied to rabi maize showed higher seed and stover yields, nutrient content (N, P and K) and their uptake by green gram (seed and straw) after harvest of green gram, followed by 75% RDN through chemical fertilizer + 25% RDN through vermicompost. Among the levels of RDF directly applied to green gram in summer season, significantly higher values of seed and stover yields, nutrient content (NPK) and their uptake by green gram.

Weedy rice is one of the most important noxious weed that infests commonly in the direct seeded rice fields worldwide. As weedy rice is conspecific form of cultivated rice, it is very difficult to discriminate it from the cultivars at its early growth stages, which are also difficult to control. Moreover, as the emergence of weedy rice is still obscure, the present study aimed at assessing the genetic diversity of seventy-five weedy rice collected from different regions of Odisha, India along with fifteen wild rice, three landraces and three popular cultivars grown in same field or in adjacent regions to understand the origin of weedy rice using SSR markers. A total of 14 SSR markers produced on an average of 4.12 alleles across 14 loci amplified. The polymorphic information content (PIC) ranged from 0.292 (RM 282) to 0.54 (RM 339) in all loci with an average of 0.48. The percentages of polymorphic loci were found to be 100%, 85.71% and 57.14% in weedy rice, wild rice and cultivars respectively, with the average of 80.95%. The dendrogram generated by UPGMA-based analysis clustered all the 96 individuals in three major groups with a similarity coefficient of 0.67. Principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) showed 30.27% of all genetic variation was clustered in first two components in the analysis. Similar to cluster analysis, structure analysis also clustered all the rice genotypes into three major groups comprising of 96 genotypes (weedy rice, weedy rice, wild rice, landraces and cultivars and admixtures respectively). This is the first preliminary report of weedy rice diversity in India, which shows the evolution of weedy rice as a complex phenomenon. This needs further studies for better understanding of weedy rice evolution in India using more number of markers along with genes responsible for domestication of rice.

To study the effect of potassium humate and Bio-inoculants on soil fertility, Enzymatic activity and microbial population in soil of cowpea, a pot experiment was laid out during kharif, 2014 on loamy sand soil, at S.K.N. College of Agriculture, Jobner according to completely randomized block design with three replications. The treatments consisting of three levels of potassium humate (control, 5 and 10 mg kg-1) and five bio-inoculants (no inoculation, Rhizobium + VAM, Rhizobium + PSB, VAM+PSB and Rhizobium + VAM + PSB) were applied. The application of potassium humate @ 10 mg kg-1 and seed inoculation with Rhizobium+VAM, Rhizobium+ PSB, VAM+PSB and Rhizobium+VAM+ PSB significantly increased the organic carbon, available nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, microbial population (bacteria, fungi, actinomycetes), enzymatic activities (alkaline phosphatase and dehydrogenase activity) in soil at harvest stage of the crop than control, while, pH and EC of soil decreased non significantly at harvest.

Cauliflower, Brassica oleracea var. botrytis is among one of the most cultivated vegetable crop of Ajmer. A field study was conducted at an experimental research farm, situated in Pal-Bichla, Ajmer. Observations were recorded to study the incidence and population dynamics of major insect pests and their natural enemies on cauliflower. Experiment was laid out in randomized block design (RBD) with three replications. Twenty-four days’ old cauliflower seedlings were transplanted in the plot of 10 m2 area with 40cm x 40cm spacing on 1st August 2014 to study the population dynamics of the major pest and its natural enemies during the monsoon season. The study continued from August 2014 – November 2014. The second study was conducted from January 2015– April 2015. In Aug.-Nov. crop season larval population of Plutella xylostella, DBM ranged from 0 to 17.60 larvae/ plant and DBM was first noticed in the field on 5th September, 2014 (2.76 larvae /plant) with gradual increase in its population and reached its peak on 7th November, 2014 (17.90 larvae/plant). Whereas, in Jan.-Apr. 2015 crop season, larval population of DBM ranged from 0 larvae per plant to 22.30 larvae per plant. The Spodoptera larva was first spotted on 29th of August 2014 (2.0 larvae /plant) with gradual increase in its population and reached its peak by the end of September (8.60 larvae/plant). Severity of aphid incidence was found to be higher in winter season as compared to monsoon season. Highest larval parasitization by Cotesia plutella was recorded on 14th Nov. (9.66%) for the year 2014 and on 05th April (14.16%) for the year of 2015.

Fishery based Farmers in a coastal Karnataka, priorities climate variability as their primary agricultural and fishery productivity-reducing factor. This paper focuses the importance of considering local farmers’ perceptions of climate hazard, as this significantly persuade on-farm investments and decision-making. The study is evidence for farmers perceived climatic and weather patterns to have changed over the past decades; they perceived increasing trend of occurrence of drought (78.75%). Where decreasing trend of rainfall (74.17%), temperature (97.92%) and wind speed (87.08%) were valued as increasing. Discussants are familiar with long and short season rains based on the quantity of rainfall received and duration. According to their judgment, the long rains occur between July and August, while the short rains occur between October and December, leading to declined crop and fish productivity, increased drought and flood incidents and increased livestock and human morbidity and mortality. The majority of respondents had average to better perception on changing climate. The climatic data show evidence that corroborates the farmers’ perceptions.

Twenty genotypes of cumin were evaluated in normal, salinity and moisture stress conditions during Rabi 2005-06 for nine quantitative traits to estimate the nature and magnitude of variability, heritability (bs), genetic advance as % of mean and interrelationship among the traits. Analysis of variance indicated significant variability for all the traits. High estimates of phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) along with genetic coefficient of variation (GCV) were observed for biological yield, seed yield, plant height and number of umbels/plant in all the three environments. High variability were observed for branches/plant, umbels/plant, 1000 seed weight and seed yield under stress condition while, days to 50 % flowering, plant weight and 1000 seed weight was under normal condition. The genetic advance was found high for seed yield, biological yield, branches/plant and umbels/plant in stress condition while high genetic advance for plant height, biological yield and seed yield in normal condition. A considerable variation was observed in normal condition in compared to salinity and moisture stress condition for most of the traits, which was confirmed, by high mean and wide range of variation as evidenced by high PCV and GCV values. Significant and positive correlation of seed yield was observed with seeds/plant and biological yield in stress condition but in normal condition, seed yield has positive correlation with branches/plant.

Storage studies for extension of shelf-life of fresh oyster mushroom in different containers viz., open vessels, polyethylene bags and paper bags at room temperature, house-hold cold storage system and refrigerator conditions revealed that house-hold cold storage system and refrigerator conditions in paper bags gave better results from storage points of view. From sensory point of view, fresh mushroom could not be stored more than two days at room temperature, four days in cold storage system and six days in refrigerated conditions.

A study was carried out to investigate the effect of blade type, cutting velocity and cross sectional area of stalks on cutting energy, cutting force and specific energy required for cutting of chickpea stalks. A pendulum type impact test rig was designed and developed to measure the cutting energy. The bundled chickpea stalks were fitted firmly in the stalk holder to replicate stalks stand in the field. Two types of blades viz., smooth edge and serrated types were used for the present study. The results showed that the cutting energy, cutting force and specific energy requirement were decreased as the cutting velocity increased for both type of blades whereas these values were increased as the cross sectional area of chickpea stalks increased. Among the two types of blades used for experiments, serrated type blade required less cutting energy, cutting force and specific energy as compared to that of smooth edge type blade at all cutting velocities and diameters of stalks.

The study was conducted in Tumkur and Chitradurga district of Karnataka state during 2015-16. For the study, 30 farmers and 20 extension workers were selected from public, private and corporate sectors. Thus, the total sample size for the study was 150 respondents. The data were collected by using structured interview schedule developed for the farmers and questionnaire for extension workers. The perception was measured using a Likert scale and data were analysed using Analysis of variance technique. With respect to public extension system, equal percentage of farmers (36.66 %) had least favourable and favourable perception and 26.66 per cent of farmers had most favourable perception. Regarding Private extension system, nearly half (43.33%) of farmers had favourable perception followed by most favourable (30.00%) and least favourable (26.66 %). With respect to corporate extension system, 40.00 per cent of the farmers had least favourable perception followed by most favourable (33.33 %) and favourable (26.66 %). With respect to perception towards public extension system, it was found that 55.00 per cent of public extension workers had favourable perception followed by most favourable (30.00 %) and least favourable (15.00%). Regarding private extension system, 45.00 per cent of private extension workers had favourable perception followed by most favourable (30.00%) and least favourable (25.00%). When corporate extension system is concerned it was found that 40.00 per cent of corporate extension workers had least favourable perception towards corporate extension system and equal percentage of them i.e., 30.00 per cent had favourable and most favourable perception.

A line x tester crossing programme was taken up with seven lines and five testers with a view to obtain best heterotic crosses for seed cotton yield along with fiber quality traits. The Crosses viz. ,combinations GSHV-97/13 x AKH-7859, 4384 x AKH-076R, 4384 x AKH-7859, GJHV-156 x AKH-03-8h and GSHV-97/443 x DR-8 showed highly significant and positive standard heterosis for seed cotton yield per plant. Twenty six and twenty nine hybrids showed significant and positive standard heterosis for span length and fiber strength. Nine hybrids for ginning percent, three hybrids for strength: length ratio and one hybrid GSCMS-10 x DR-16 for LUR exhibited significant and positive standard heterosis.

The present research included rainfall probability analysis of previous 114 years rainfall data (1901-2014) with a major object to forecast the yearly rainfall of India. The observed values were computed by Weibulls formula. The annual rainfall values were estimated by two prediction models using Gumbel and Log Normal distributions. The rainfall data in the Log Normal and Gumbel distribution and their equivalent rainfall events were estimated by Root Mean Square Deviation (RMSD) or Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) for goodness of fit. It clearly indicates that the Gumbel distribution was found to be the best model for forecasting yearly rainfall (mm). Whereas Log Normal distribution is fairly close to the observed annual rainfall of previous 114 years (mm).

India stands first in area and production of banana. It is cheapest source of energy, which is available throughout the year. It requires uniformly warm and moist conditions for optimum growth and development. Some reviews have revealed that a temperature below 10ºC and above 38ºC has affected the growth of the banana plants. In the present investigation the experiment was done with three categories viz., i) with well watered, ii) stress imposition (withholding water) and iii) recovery in well watered condition. The observations on 21 morphological parameters were recorded in all the categories of the experiment. In the first category of experiment, the morphological traits like shoot length, pseudostem girth, petiole length, leaf length, leaf weight, percent leaf moisture loss after 48 hrs, constant dry weight at 80ºC, total plant weight, shoot weight and root traits like number of roots, root girth, percent moisture loss after 24 hours and after 48 hours in roots showed significant difference, while number of leaves, leaf breadth and percent leaf moisture loss after 24 hrs, total leaf weight, root weight, root volume, root length and constant dry weight at 80ºC were non-significant. In the second category of the experiment, during water stress more number of green leaves was observed in cultivars Adukkankunnan (AB), Karibale (AAB), Rasthali (AAB) and wild Musa balbisianatani (BB) indicating their tolerance to water stress. Less number of green leaves or absence of green leaves was observed in wild Amturkela (BB), cultivars Neypoovan (AB), Petitnaine (AAA), Palayankodan (AAB) and Pisang Jari Buya (AA) indicating their sensitivity to water stress. In third category of experiment that is, during recovery all characters showed significant difference except, the characters like percent leaf moisture loss after 24 hours and 48hours, which had non-significant differences.

This study was conducted in all eight zones of India. 210 Programme Coordinators responded to the online questionnaire and cases of two KVKs (KVK, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh and KVK, Kanker, Chhattisgarh) were studied for an in-depth study. The findings revealed that majority of PCs were middle aged, had Ph.D., were specialized in field other than extension education discipline, had medium level of experience as PCs, had undergone 2-4 trainings in last two years with medium level of self-esteem, job satisfaction, achievement motivation and organizational commitment. Age, education and area of specialization had non- significant correlation with managerial skills whereas job experience, training attended, self-esteem, achievement motivation, professional productivity, organizational commitment, job satisfaction and managerial linkages had positive and significant correlation with managerial skills.

An field experimental trail was carried out in the kharif season of 2011 at Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Regional Research Station, Kaul, India to study the comparative performance of scented/basmati rice (CSR 30) under five different methods of planting viz., machine transplanting under pudlled (M1) and unpuddled conditions (M2), direct seeding under vattar conditions (M3), direct seeding under zero tillage (with residue) (M4), conventional practice (nursery raising) (M5) in a randomised block design with three replications. The growth indices like LAI, CGR, RGR, NAR, LAD, LWR, SLA, SLW, ULR, LRGR, LAPF and agrometeorological indices i.e. AGDD, AHTU, APTU, RUE and HUE showed significantly positive correlation with yield and yield attributes whereas LAR, RLGR, RLAGR ,RLAER ,AGDD, AHTU and APTU was negatively correlated with yield and yield attributes at different vegetative growth phase (DAS).

India is agrarian economy in which agriculture has been the main driving force for growth and gross domestic product of the country. For bringing equity and equality, participation of the work force is deciding factors for speed up the economic growth. 43 % of the world agricultural labour force is women and support for women can increase productivity and revenue by upto 20 percent. Ex-post-facto research design based study was conducted in Gwalior district of Madhya Pradesh. Total 200 farm women were selected randomly and data was collected by personal interview using a pre-tested interview schedule. Analyzed data revealed that according to mean score of the participation, harvesting had highest score (79.66) and ranked first followed by weeding (79.33), cleaning of grain (78.3), storage (76), sowing (75), winnowing (74.66), cleaning of field (72.66), thinning (72), grading (71), marketing (70.66), irrigation (69.33), spray of chemical (68.33), application of fertilizer (67.33), leveling of field (56.66) and ploughing of field (45). However, there was least participation of farm women in operations like ploughing (score 45.00), leveling of field (score 56.00), fertilizer application (score 67.33) and spray of chemicals (score 68.33). These operations were an exclusive domain of males in the area under study. On overall basis, about half (51%) of farm women had medium level of participation in agricultural activities. It could be revealed from [Table-7] that these five variables viz. education status, family size, family type, annual income, and economic motivation taken together explained the variation in participation of farm women in agricultural activities to the extent of 75.78 percent. The farm women are mostly associated with harvesting, weeding and cleaning of seed. Women had less participation in marketing. The study indicates the planners and policy makers for women empowerment should give a serious attention to the given aspects and make the suitable strategy for reducing the drudgery of the women in the more participated areas. This can result into the improving the work efficiency of the farm women which intrun may lead to the health of the households and society.

A field experiment was conducted during 2014-15 and 2015-16 at DWR, Jabalpur (M.P.) to assess the impacts of conservation agriculture and weed control measures on soil physical and biological properties under rice-wheat-mungbean cropping system in vertisols. The experiment consisted of fifteen treatments comprising of, five tillage as main-plot treatments and three weed control measures as sub plot treatments were, laid out in split plot design with three replications. Among the tillage treatments, maximum bulk density was found in transplanted rice-conventional tilled wheat (1.41 g/cc) followed by zero tillage in rice -wheat -mungbean without presence of previous crop residues (1.40 g/cc) after the second year of experiment. Maximum porosity (47.81 %) was observed in conventional tillage in both rice and wheat with zero tillage in mungbean with presence of previous crop residues. However, weed control measures did not affect the bulk density and porosity of soil. Zero tillage in rice-wheat-mungbean with previous crop residues had higher population of total bacterial (14.43 and 29.12 x 106 cfu/g first and second year respectively), and, fungal, (10.20 and 18.89 x 104 cfu/g, first and second year respectively) actinomycetes (9.23 and 14.08 x103 cfu/g first and second year respectively) and dehydrogenase (20.74 and 26.03 µg TPF/ soil/2hr, first and second year respectively) activity during both years. Whereas, maximum population of bacteria, fungus, actinomycetes and dehydrogenase activity (15.90 and 28.63 x 106 cfu/g, 9.46 and 21.55 x 104 cfu/g, 11.10 and 14.48 x103 cfu/g and 25.05 and 35.99 µg TPF/ soil/2hr, first and second year respectively) was found in weedy plots.

Genetic variability, genotypic and phenotypic coefficient of variation, Heritability, genetic advance and Correlation analysis were undertaken for twenty four characters of muskmelon obtained from the cross IVMM-3 x Punjab Sunheri (C: 4 x 7) in F6 generation. Genotypic coefficient of variation was lower than the phenotypic coefficient of variations in all quantitative traits role of environment in the phenotypic expression of traits. High values of Genotypic coefficient of variation and phenotypic coefficient of variations in F6 generation for most of the character viz., final vine length, number of primary branches per vine, number of male flowers per vine, number of female flowers per vine, sex ratio, number of fruits per vine, fruit yield per vine, average weight of fruit, average rind thickness, average fruit cavity, average weight of pulp per fruit, average weight of seed per fruit, T.S.S. and acidity indicating presence of substantial amount of genetic variation.

The study was conducted at Imphal West District of Manipur, India during 2009-2014. The study area is situated in the Manipur valley between the latitude 24.30ON to 25.00ON and longitude of 93.45OE to 94.15OE covering an area of 558 sq. kms. The population is predominately dominated by the Meitei community. The present study was conducted to identify and document the indigenous wild edible plants being used by the Meitei community. This research was carried out through extensive field survey, personal interviews and careful documentation of wild edible plants in the selected study area. In the present study, 105 wild edible plant species under 83 genera belonging to 48 families were recorded which were found to be ethnobotanically important among the Meitei community. These plants were identified and listed with their botanical name, vernacular names, family and plant parts used.

India and Japan signed a free trade agreement in 2011 called India-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IJCEPA). The signing of this agreement had resulted in different views when it comes to Indias Agricultural exports to Japan. The present study focused on impact of India-Japan free trade agreement on fishery sector. The choice of this sector is directed by the fact that India is the second largest producer of fishery products in the world. This study has been performed using Finger-Kreinin (FK) index to know the degree of competitiveness and also an ex-ante partial equilibrium model i.e., SMART model (Software for Market Analysis and Restrictive Trade) to find the resultant trade creation and trade diversion effects from the proposed tariff reduction agreement. This study is based on secondary data sources like WITS database of the World Bank and COMTRADE database of the United Nations. The results obtained from the study suggest that the IJCEPA will lead to considerable increase in exports of fishery products as per the SMART analysis and this increase in exports is mostly driven by trade diversion rather than trade creation replacing efficient exporters of Japan. On the other hand, tariff preferences offered from Indias side creates very little scope for Japan to expand their shares in Indian market. The danger of cheap imports supplanting the domestic products in the Indian markets therefore, is not much. Overall, as per the results obtained from SMART model, IJCEPA will have a favourable effect on Indian fishery sector.

The present experiment was conducted to study the necessity of monitoring the Bt cotton cultivation to ensure the safety of the biodiversity and the ecosystem at large in the Laboratory of Division of Soil Biology, Indian Institute of Soil Science, Bhopal in 2012. The researchers found specifically some actinomycetes are necessary for breaking own cellulose and humus and mineralizing and immobilizing nutrients. The existence of diverse microorganisms in the rhizospheric soil can change the quality of crop residues. This study discusses in the effects of Bt cotton on soil microbial diversity, as any GM crop, with Bt genes it could leads to total destruction of soil organisms by leaving dead soil unable to produce food. Soil samples were collected from rhizosphere of the cotton growing areas Nagpur, Maharashtra state. The soil samples were collected at the time of boll development stage. In our study the richness of the microbial communities in rhizosphere soil did not differ between Bt cotton and the non Bt cotton variety. Even the functional diversity of Microorganisms was not different in rhizosphere soil between Bt cotton and non Bt cotton variety. In contrast in our study, some soil specific microbial populations were affected by Bt cotton. A decrease in specific microbial population could lead to a decrease in decomposition process after the level and composition of soil organic matter and have secondary effects on the survival of plant pathogens.

Fourty day old sexed Vanaraja chicks (20 male+ 20 female) were selected for this experiment. All the management and feeding was done according to standard process. At 10 weeks of age 20 birds (10 males and 10 females) were slaughtered by cervical dislocation method at 2nd cervical vertebra level. After separation of brain staining of hippocampus was done. The paraffin blocks were cut with the help of a semi- motorized rotary microtome and tissue section were stained by using by Cresyl fast violet stain. Photography was carried out from the selected fields both under lower (10x) and higher (40x) magnifications. Size and diameter of different neurons in hippocampus was measured by conventional ocular micrometry. In both sexes brain topography, position of projection neurons, local circuit neurons and vascularized capillaries, dendrites are structurally similar. Different dendritic processes in neurons are approximately same in number and size in both sexes. Neuron size (cell body size) is significantly larger in male birds (135.45 ± 1.23 µm2) than female’s birds (116.53 ± 2.52 µm2) under higher magnifications.

Rural or Farm tourism is now a novel attraction area of the metro city people in India. Rural tourism is as an important tool for human development including employment generation, environmental and biodiversity development. The study was conducted at dooars area of Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar and Coochbehar District of West Bengal, India. The study was conducted during June, 2015 to November, 2015. The respondents were selected from rural people and from the tourist. Two different type samples were selected. One is from rural people and another is from tourist. The sample sizes were 200 in case of selection rural people and 50 in case of selection of tourist. The objective of the study was to identify the threat and opportunity of the dooars area for making farm or rural tourism place with the help of some review study. Descriptive research design was followed to obtain pertinent and precise information. It was found from the study that the dooars area of west Bengal had a potentiality to become an established rural tourism spot.

Santolina chamaecyparissus L. is important herb known for its anti-helminitc, antispasmodic and emmenagogic properties. Metabolic profiling using GC and GC-MS was applied to determine chemical differences between conventionally seed propagated and micro-propagated plants. Oil yield range was showed that the essential oil isolated from foliage of regenerated plantlets was a complex mixture, 25 compounds were identified corresponding to 80% of the total oil content. The analysis of the identified constituents included mono-terpene hydrocarbon, oxygenated mono-terpene, sesqui-terpene hydrocarbons and oxygenated sesqui-terpene The major constituents were artemisia ketone, 1,8-cineole, myrcene, limonene, linalool, cis b-ocimene and b-caryophyllene oxide

The ever increasing population imposes continuous pressure on limited water resources. Treated wastewater appears to be a visible and viable option as other sources are windling. In the present study treated tannery effluent mixed with domestic wastewater was used as irrigation source as it provides valuable nutrients. Germination studies and pot culture studies were conducted to assess the impact of treated tannery effluent, mixed with domestic wastewater on the growth of flower crops viz., Calendula offcinalis, Cosmos bipinnatus, Dahlia apiculata, Belli perennis, Dianthus alpines, Hibbertia humifusa, Gomphrena globosa and Tagetes erecta. Highest germination percentage (96%) as well as vigour index (1872) was observed with 25 % treated tannery effluent mixed with 75% domestic wastewater irrigation when compared to other mixing ratios.

Field experiment was conducted to compare tractive, root profile and crop parameters among resource conservation machineries and conventional practice under leveled and unleveled plots for three consecutive years from kharif-2012 to kharif-2014, comprising of two main treatments i.e. No Leveling (L0) and Leveling with laser land leveler(L1) and five sub treatments viz., zero till drill (M1), roto till drill (M2), strip till drill (M3), raise bed planter (M4) and conventional practices (M5). The five sub-treatments i.e., M1, M2, M3, M4 and M5 were performed uniformly under L0 and L1. The experiment was carried out for green gram crop in the research farm of Centre for Watershed Management and Participatory Research and Rural Engineering, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar, Gujarat State. The result revealed that the treatment L1 offered 5.79 per cent higher effective field capacity (EFC), 0.77 per cent more tractive efficiency, 3.40 per cent higher power delivery efficiency, 7.62 per cent less volume of soil disturbance, 6.50 per cent more fuel efficiency, 6.33 per cent less energy and 8.00 per cent reduction in surface soil disruption than the treatment L0. Among resource conservation machineries M1 recorded higher effective field capacity and tractive efficiency of 0.504 ha/hr and 71.87 per cent, which was correspondingly 51.78 and 2.05 per cent more than M5. M2 presented maximum value of power delivery efficiency equivalent to 18.73 per cent, which was 19.59 per cent higher than M5. M1 recorded lowest soil volume disturbance (359.68 m3/hr) among sub-treatments, which was 38.65 per cent lower than M5. Fuel consumption and energy requirement presented by M1 was lowest with corresponding value of 7.60 l/ha and 77.96 kWh/ha, which were 47.94 and 47.76 per cent lesser than M5. The treatments M3 and M2 stood second and third reporting fuel consumption equivalent to 8.51 and 8.91 l/ha, respectively. M1 presented minimum surface soil disruption of 92.05 cm2, which was lower by 50.99 per cent compared to M5.

The present study has been under taken in different grade regulated markets to find out the availability of facilities and services, to analyse the technical and price efficiency of different grade regulated markets of wheat in Madhya Pradesh. The present investigation is restricted to the four different grade of regulated markets (Krishi Upaj Mandi) of wheat i.e., Sehore, MHOW, Kalapipal and Katangi, which have been selected randomly from each grade (A, B, C and D Grade) regulated markets in Madhya Pradesh. A grade (Sehore) regulated market have found to facilitate more than the other markets but this particular market was found less price efficient than the other markets. All the markets have poor market facilities with regards to National e-Agriculture Market (e-market). As e-market has all the facilities like post-harvest, cold chain, well developed marketing infrastructure, efficient marketing system, competitive trade as well as value addition services such as grading and storage, more transparent auction process and increased participation of buyers etc, which is the prime need of present market scenario. Thus, these markets must be fined with present needs of era and accomplished with all the facilities so that farmer could be able to trade his product from his home instead of reached in market with several constraints i.e. supply chain inefficiency, post- harvest losses, information asymmetry, unavailability of credit, storage and grading, intermediaries, which the farmers faced in the regulated markets.

Dairy farmers are feeding locally available green and dry fodder along with concentrate to the animals. The availability of these feed and fodder varies with season and region. Farmers feed the animals whatever is available with them or in the market without considering the nutritive value and end up spending more money or feeding imbalanced feed to the animals. The study was undertaken in Anand district of Gujarat in India to find out the lowest possible combination of feed and fodder to be fed to buffalo yielding 6 liters or more milk per day and are in early lactation. The area is dominated by buffalo among the dairy animal population in the study area which formed the basis for selection. Simple method of linear programming was used to arrive at the least cost combination using Excel solver. The study indicated that for a buffalo weighing 450 kg and yielding 10 litres of milk in a daywith 6% fat can be fed with 14.32 Kg of green maize fodder, 2.03 kg of paddy straw, 11.81 kg of soyabean straw and 4.82 kg of cotton seed cake, for which the feed cost per litre milk production comes out to be Rs. 21.23, besides meeting all the nutrient requirements.

This study investigates the labour supply behaviour of agricultural labourers at different wage rates. The objectives of this study are to test the Impact of rural development schemes on availability of agricultural labours supply and to observe agricultural labours responsiveness to changes in the wage rates by using 2013 cross-sectional data. The reason for sub-optimal utilization of labour offerings was the provision of food in the public distribution system, which upsurges the food availability and security for a month with only one or two person days of labour offering. If agricultural labourers were food secure, then they have every reason to prefer leisure. On demand side, most of the farmers also opinioned that, labour availability has reduced due to implementation of MGNREGA and migration of agricultural labour to other regions had a more significant role. In addition, in the rural areas, due to increased wages in the non-agricultural sector, there appears to be operation of backward bending supply curve of labour at two levels.

Temperature is increasing at an alarming rate due to climate change posing threat to food security by decreasing the production of rice, the world’s most important crop. Thus, we need to look for more heat tolerant strains, which can cope up with the climatic condition in future. Rice faces heat stress particularly during flowering which ultimately leads to reduction in panicle yield due to decrease in viability of the pollens and fertility of the spikelets. The present experiment was conducted taking 10 rice genotypes including heat tolerant check N-22. Genotypes were characterised on the basis of important physiological and biochemical parameters like membrane stability index: MSI, lipid peroxidation, H2O2 content and antioxidant enzymes activity (SOD, APX, GPX & CAT), which play important role in imparting tolerance to plant during heat stress. N-L-44 and N-22 displayed lower membrane damage and higher antioxidant enzyme activity. They also maintained low level of H2O2. The genotypes Vandana, Sahbhagi Dhanand CR-262-4 were more heat tolerant than Anjali, Swarna, PS-5, PB-1 and IR-64 which displayed higher production of H2O2, greater membrane damage and less antioxidant enzymes activity. Less decrease in pollen viability, spikelet fertility and panicle yield were recorded in N-22 & N-L-44 under heat stress. Vandana, Sahbhagi Dhanand CR-262-4 displayed a decrease of 30 to 35% in all three traits. But, Anjali, Swarna, PS-5, PB-1 and IR-64 were found to be very sensitive toward an increase in temperature during flowering with a decrease of more than 50% in yield. This variation in yield among various genotypes correlated with the differences in their MSI, Lipid peroxidation, H2O2 content and antioxidant enzymes activity.

Effect of different cropping systems (CS) on the soil quality (SQ) was assessed for soils of Sub-humid (dry) ecosystem of Central India in Rahat watershed of Nagpur District, India. Forty two surface and subsurface samples were analyzed for two physical indicators viz. bulk density (BD) and particle size distribution; four chemical indicators viz. electrical conductivity (EC), soil organic carbon (OC), Free Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3) and soil available nitrogen (AN). SQ indicators were compared with its value under different CS in three different landforms. The components of each CS highly affects the soil properties viz. BD, clay content, OC and AN. The higher values of BD i.e. 1.31, 1.38 and 1.48 g cm-3 in Citrus + wheat under plateau top landform, sole tur– fallow under pediment landform and cotton–fallow under alluvial landform, respectively indicated the deterioration of the soil physical condition. The cotton–fallow CS also showed highest i.e. 60.59 per cent of clay. The sorghum-fallow CS adversely influenced the chemical environment in case of OC and AN, which showed lowest value (0.57% & 208 kg ha-1, respectively). In alluvial landform, AN content was high in different CSs (278 to 348 kg ha-1). The CSs, which does not add biomass in the soil, resulted in decreased OC and increased BD due to its anti-microbial effect in soil. The adverse impact of these CS on SQ indicators resulted in deterioration in quality of soil. Therefore, such CS should be prevented for long-term cultivation. Appropriate crop rotation with CS Soybean- Wheat-- Sorghum- Gram-- Soybean-Gram-- Sorghum--Wheat for kharif- rabi season in four consequent years should be followed.

Field experiments were conducted at the College Farm, N.M. College of Agriculture, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari during rabi and summer seasons of 2014-15 and 2015-16. The treatments comprised for chickpea were two levels and two sources of phosphorus (25 and 50 kg P2O5/ha from SSP and rock phosphate) along with and without VAM (Vesicular arbuscular mycorrhiza) @ 2.0 kg/ha as soil inoculants and one control i.e., control (No phosphorus and VAM to chickpea) and making ten treatment combinations, laid out in a randomized block design, replicated three times. The succeeding fodder sorghum crop was grown on the same layout, keeping chickpea treatments as main plots and two fertility levels as sub-plots [75 % of the recommended dose of 60 kg N + 30 kg P2O5/ha and 100% of the recommended dose of 80 kg N + 40 kg P2O5/ha]. Total twenty treatment combinations were in a split plot design (SPD) with three replications. The experiments during both years were conducted on the same site without changing the randomization of treatments. The highest seed and straw yields of chickpea were recorded with 50 kg P2O5/ha from SSP with VAM (T8) and was at par with 50 kg P2O5/ha from SSP alone (T4), 50 kg P2O5/ha from RP alone (T5) and 50 kg P2O5/ha from RP + VAM (T9). The increase in chickpea yields were the results of increased growth and yield attributes viz., plant height, number of branches per plant, dry matter accumulation, number of pods per plant, pod weight per plant, number of grains per plant and 100 seed weight also these all growth and yield attributes were found in accordance with the trend of chickpea yield.

Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Sehore (M.P.) during the period from 2011-12 to 2014-15 conducted a total 52 frontline demonstration of Chickpea crop. Cultivation practices comprised under FLD viz. use of improve variety (JG -322, JG-16), seed treatment, seed inoculation, spacing 30cm, soil test based nutrient management, irrigation water management and integrated pest management show that percentage increase in the yield of Chick pea ranged from 15.55 % to 27.85 % over farmer’s practice. The highest seed yield 19.25 q ha-1 was recorded in the year 2014-15 in FLD, which was 15.55% more over the farmer’s practice (16.66 q ha-1). The additional cost Rs. 1158 to Rs. 3000 gave additional net return, it was ranged from Rs. 4334 to Rs. 8120 per hectare .The increased benefit: Cost ratio was also calculated, it was ranged from 1:2.18 to 1:2.77 in demonstration &1:2.04 to 1:2.57 in farmers practice.

The study was conducted during Kharif, and Rabi seasons in adopted NICRA village Koste, Balaghat, Madhya Pradesh, India during 2012-13 to 2015-16. Demonstrations on pigeon pea and chickpea crops were carried out by the active participation of farmers with the objective to harness maximum potential of crops by demonstrating the improved technologies. The improved techniques including use of new high yielding variety, seed treatment with Rhizobium and PSB culture, soil test based balanced fertilizer application, timely weed management and integrated pest management. Demonstration was recorded higher yield as compared to farmers practice. The improve technology recorded higher yield of 1310kg/ha, and 1370 kg/ha pigeon pea and chickpea, respectively farmers practice 970 kg/ha and 1110 kg/ha. On the basis of increase in yield of pulses, the technological gap, extension gap, technology index were exercised. The improve technology gave higher gross return and net return with higher benefit cost ratio against farmers practice.

The study on “Recognition and Utility of New Media for Students” was conducted at Institute of Agricultural Sciences (IAS) and Department of Journalism & Mass communication (DJMC), BHU, Varanasi, U.P. the sample consisted of 60 students from DJMC and 180 respondents from IAS collected through the method of whole enumeration. Majority of students of IAS and DJMC joined new media sites more than four years ago and majority of respondents of IAS and DJMC belonged to the daily users with 83.33% and 93.33% respectively. The major online activity for the students of both the faculty was chatting followed by watching videos/ movies etc. Most of the students of both the faculty surfed internet 1-2 hours daily and 49.44% students of IAS and 39.28% students of DJMC had devoted 25-50% time of total internet use for educational purpose. There was no significant difference among students of IAS and DJMC regarding internet visiting frequency and time spent on new media sites for educational purpose.

In the present study, seminal traits of Deccani rams were studied along with the inter-relationship study between the scrotal circumference and other seminal parameters in Deccani rams. Semen was collected from eight deccani rams (18 ejaculates/each ram). The scrotal circumference (cm), semen ejaculate volume (ml), sperm concentration (millions/ml) and mass activity (0-5 scale) of Eight Deccani rams were in a range of 24.00 to 28.50, 0.10 to 1.20, 2260 to 16000 and 3.00 to 5.00 respectively. Significant (P<0.05) variation was observed in semen volume and mass activity between the rams, but no significant (P>0.05) variation was found between the semen concentration of the rams. A significant (P<0.05) positive correlation (r=0.298) was observed between scrotal circumference (SC) and volume of semen, and between scrotal circumference and semen concentration (r=0.836). Significant positive correlation between physical and seminal traits of Deccani Ram semen indicate their role as selection criteria for improving the reproductive performance of the Deccani ram breed.

Estimates of combining ability analysis are important genetic attributes for maize breeders to look forward improvement in productivity through hybridization and selection. The analysis of variance revealed that the sufficient variability was present in the material studied. Relatively higher estimates of GCV were obtained for grain yield/plot, cob yield/plot, ear height, cobs/plot and final plant stand. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance was recorded for the traits, plant height, 1000 grain weight, ear height and final plant stand that depicts the existence of additive gene effects. Mean sum of squares was highly significant for traits such as grain yield, 1000 grain weight, days to 50% pollen shed and silking, plant and ear height, ear length, ear girth, cobs/plot etc. Mean sum of squares due to lines, testers and line×testers were found significant for almost all the characters studied from combining ability point of view. Though the variance due to lines and testers were not significant for cob yield/plot and grain yield/plot, but their effect for rest traits and interaction line x tester effect were found significant for all the characters, indicating that the parents used in this study differ significantly and there was a preponderance of non additive gene action for the characters. Variance due to sca was greater than gca variance for almost all the traits except for plant height and cob length. Among testers BML-6 (for traits grain yield/plot, cob yield/plot, ear height, plant height, ear girth, cobs/plot and final plant stand) and HKI 1344 (for traits days to 50% pollen shed and silking, days to 80% maturity, plant and ear height, ear length, ear girth) were observed as good testers and among the lines IAMI 24, IAMI 22, IAMI 13, V 938-37 and Z 486-7 were found to be good for various important traits. Hybrids IAMI 24/BML 6, IAMI 31/BML 6 and IAMI 22/BML 6 were identified as promising on the basis of SCA effect, heterosis and mean per se performance.

Two Field experiments were conducted during Kharif and Rabi seasons respectively in 2004 to study the effect of plant population and integrated nitrogen management on yield and quality of baby corn. The experiments were laid out in split plot design with three replication. The treatments comprised of three different plant populations of high, low, medium with a spacing of 45 x 15 cm (higher population), 45 x 30 cm (low population) and 60 x 15 cm (medium population) respectively and seven integrated nitrogen management practices viz., 100% recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) N (150 kg ha-1) and FYM (12.5 t ha-1), 75% RDF N plus 25% N substitution through FYM along with FYM @ 12.5 t ha-1, 50% RDF N plus 50% N substitution through FYM along with FYM @ 12.5 t ha-1, 100% RDF N alone, 75% RDF N alone, 50% RDF N alone and without fertilizer N and FYM application (Control). The growth characters were found higher under low plant population and the LAI and DMP were higher in 45 x 15 cm at 60 DAS during both kharif and rabi seasons. Among the integrated nitrogen management practices, application of 100% recommended dose of fertilizer N and 12.5 t of FYM enhanced all the growth characters of baby corn at 60 DAS of observation during both the seasons. Higher husked baby corn and fodder yield were produced in higher plant population combined with 100% RDF N and 12.5 t ha-1 FYM during both the seasons.

Banded Leaf and Sheath Blight (BLSB) of maize caused by Rhizoctonia solani f. sp. sasakii Exner is one of devastating soil-borne disease of maize in India. Evaluation of botanicals and bio-control agents lead to give direction to control the pathogen. Seven plant extracts namely: Azadirachta indica, Jatropha curcas, Annona raticulata, Curcuma longa, Allium cepa, Pongamia pinnata and Datura stramonium were tested in vitro using poison food technique. Antagonistic effect of botanical was highly significant (P <0.01) on mycelial growth of R. solani f.sp. sasakii. Maximum inhibition of mycelial growth was recorded in Azadirachta indica at both five (46.67%) and ten (51.11%) per cent concentration. The antagonistic effect of four fungi and two bacteria namely Trichoderma viride, T. virens, T. harzianum, T. koningii, Pseudomonas fluorescens and Bacillus subtilis were assayed in vitro by dual culture method. Among them Trichoderma harzianum gave maximum inhibition of mycelial growth (65.13%) compared to control.

The experiment was conducted under pot conditions in the Department of Plant Pathology, Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Jabalpur, by incorporating the plant leaf powders @ 30 g/kg soil. The mortality was recorded at the intervals of 20, 30 and 40 days after sowing the mungbean seeds. Among all the treatment botanical leaf, powder of Neem (Azadirachta indica) was found most effective against Rhizoctonia solani followed by botanical Neelgiri leaf powder (Eucalyptus globulus).

In terms of food and nutritional security, Potato is the crop, which is most important after Wheat, Maize and Rice in the World. The State West Bengal is the second leading producers of India. In this study -Area, Production and Yields of Potato in West Bengal for the period of 1963-2012 have been considered to apply different parametric models-linear, non-linear regression and time series models (Box Jenkins& GARCH); and nonparametric model. Suitable parametric model was selected on the basis of various goodness of fit criterion and assumptions of residuals. In case of nonparametric regression, optimum bandwidth was computed by method of cross validation. Here, epanechnikov-kernel was used as the weight function. Non parametric function was emerged as the one of the best fitted trend function among all selected models, wherein parametric models ARIMA (1,1,0) was identified for both area and production of Potato & ARIMA(1,1,1) was appropriate for Potato’s yield. Forecasting was made by selected parametric models up to 2020.

A field trial was conducted at ICAR-Directorate of Weed Research, Jabalpur, (Madhya Pradesh) during Rabi 2012-13 to study the effect of wastewater irrigation on heavy metals accumulation in tomato grown on Vertisol. Eight treatment combinations were made including four main treatments such as drain water, filtered water-I (Typha based), filtered water-II (Vetiveria based) and tube well water (control), which were split-up in two levels of EDTA application @ 0 and 0.25 kgha-1. The tomato variety-Dhamini was transplanted in net plot size of 1.5x2 =3 m2 with 50 cm row to row and 30 cm plant to plant spacing. Results revealed that the yield of tomato was registered significantly higher under plots irrigated with drain water than tub well water irrigation. Higher nutrients content in tomato and availability of N, P and K in soil was recorded under plots irrigated with drain water than tube well water irrigation. However, tomato absorbed higher concentration of heavy metal in plots irrigated with drain water than tube well water irrigation. EDTA application enhanced the translocation of heavy metals in tomato. Nearly two-fold increase in concentration of heavy metals was observed in tomato shoot. Comparatively lower concentrations of heavy metals were retained in fruits of tomato than its shoot part. The sequence of heavy metals accumulation in soil was Cu >Mn> Pb >Zn >Ni >Cd. Lower metal accumulation was observed in lower layer of soil as compared to surface layer.

- The study was carried out in Department of Agricultural Entomology Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore during 2014-15 to find out the feeding preference of Indian Honey bee (Apis cerana indica) on different pollen substitute (PS) diets, which resemble natural pollen in nutritional values. For preparing pollen substitute diets locally available nutritional rich ingredients was selected such as pulses powder along with skimmed milk powder, Honey, Glucose and powdered sugar. It was found that red gram based diet was more alluring to the honey bees compared to other formulations, as the colonies fed with Parched red gram flour (PRGF) based PS recorded the lowest number of days to consume the diet with a mean of 5.2 days followed by Parched bengal gram flour (PBGF) based diet (5.9 days) Parched horse gram flour (PHGF) based diet took longest time (7.3 days). In the case of number of bees feeding on each diet PRGF based diet was consumed rapidly compared to other diets with a mean of 41.5 bees per day followed by Parched black gram flour (PBGF) based and PBeGF based PS with a mean of 38.3 and 35.8 bees per day respectively. Honey bees preferred the PS diets provided on 1.5 mm nylon compared to butter. Sugar feeding can also be given in dearth periods along with PS diets.

A spray pattern analysis system was developed to assess quantitatively the incremental liquid application rates from ground application equipment. The spray pattern was evaluated by using patternator constructed confirming to specification of ISO 10064. The patternator was made by 30 number of channels each 7.5 cm width at the top and 2 cm depth. The motorized knapsack mist blower was placed at one side of the corrugated sheet in such a way that the corrugations were perpendicular to the nozzle position. Beakers were kept below the corrugations for collecting the spray materials. The speed of the blower was measured with tachometer. The sprayer unit was placed at a distance of 1 m from the patternator. The engine speed was regulated by accelerator. The spray distribution pattern for motorized knapsack mist blower recorded maximum amount of 0.07 l min-1 spray liquid deposited at 5500 rpm engine speed at 6.0 mm orifice diameter.

Experiments were conducted in Department of Agricultural Entomology Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore during 2014-15 to standardize pollen substitute (PS) for Indian Honey Bee Apis Cerana indica. PRGF PS (Parched red gram powder 26% + skimmed milk powder 24% + sugar 5% + glucose 10% + honey 35%) which was found to be appealing to Indian honey bee in previous studies was taken for the study to standardize the quantity of diet to be given. Varying quantities of the diet namely 1, 2, 4, and 8g per brood frame strength (FS) of bees were given to the honey bees. In the dearth period (October to December, 2014), 4 and 8 g / FS was superior to 0, 1 and 2 g /FS indicating that higher levels of PS can be provided in dearth period compared to honey flow period. Providing high levels of PS during dearth period, helps in building up of high population of honey bees which in turn work to collect pollen and nectar in honey flow period. Hence, it is essential to give higher levels of PS during dearth period. Beyond 4 g / FS there was no significant increase in colony growth parameters. Hence 4 g / FS in dearth period and 2 g /FS in honey flow season of PRGF based PS was found to be optimum. Providing PS had good impact on colony growth parameters like honey, pollen storage, sealed brood and adult population as these parameter are in respectable numbers compared to the colonies surveyed outside the university.

One of the most essential components of motorized knapsack is the spray nozzle. This study evaluated the droplet spectrum of venturi air induction nozzle [available in the market] under various working pressures. In laboratory, droplet spectrum, using a droplet particle size analyzer and was measured with the operating pressure of 4500, 5000, 5500 and 6000 rpm. The results showed that: the droplet spectrum was affected by the nominal flow and by the liquid pressure. The motorized knapsack mist blower with venturi air induction nozzle gave the highest discharge of 1,842 ml min-1 at 4500 rpm and IV level of dosage. The NMD observed for different combinations of orifice sizes of 1.5 mm to 6.5 mm, were the droplet size increased from 15 to 21 µm respectively. The engine rpm from 5000, droplet size [VMD] increased from 88 to 139 µm with increasing the orifice size from 1.5 to 3.0 mm respectively. The uniformity coefficient for spraying jet nozzle is 5.6 to 7.4 with increasing the engine rpm from 4500 to 5000 rpm and decreases to 5.7 with increasing the engine rpm to 6000 rpm respectively.

The rabbit farming is an important emerging enterprise in many countries of the world. Advantages such as small body size, short generation interval, rapid growth, genetic diversity and high productive potential make rabbit convenient as meat producing small animal in developing countries of the world like India. Raising rabbits in an intensive system can cause many physiological and environmental stress results in spreading of enteric diseases such as coccidiosis and epizootic rabbit enteropathy. The lower level of antibiotics over the years has been used in rabbit production as growth promoters and prophylactic agent of diseases. The European Union Commission banned the use of antibiotics as a growth promoter in animal diets, because of issues with antibiotic resistance and antibiotic chemical residue in animal products, which may cause problems for human health. To replace the antibiotics, new ways are used for prevention and control of infections, which can modulate the gut microflora. These non-antibiotic compounds with bacteriostatic or bactericidal activity are probiotics, prebiotics, bacteriocins and organic acids. Definition of the probiotic is a live microbial feed additive, which has a beneficial effect on the host animal by means of improving its intestinal microbial balance. The bacteria which are generally used as probiotics include the lactic acid bacteria–lactobacilli, enterococci, bifidobacteria and yeasts.

The present study was conducted in broiler rabbits to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation of probiotic on an economics of feeding. Three dietary treatments were randomly and equally allotted to 30 rabbits at the age of 28 days. Thus, each treatment consisted of 10 rabbits. The three dietary treatments were: T1 as a control (Basal diet), T2 (Basal diet+ 0.5 g probiotic) and T3 (Basal diet +1 g probiotic). The total experimental period lasted for 8 weeks. Observations were recorded for the economics of feeding in broiler rabbits. Results showed that the return over feed cost (Rs.) at the 12th week was the highest in T2 (116.1) with mean body weight of 2.086 kg followed by T3 (105.42) with mean body weight 2.067 kg compared to control group T1 (107.11) with mean body weight of 1.964 kg. The return over feed cost (%) at the 12th week was the highest in T2 (53.35) followed by T1 (51.72) and T3 (46.79). Average weekly cost (Rs.) of feeding/ kg weight gain was the lowest in T2 (132.01) followed by T3 (135.81) and T1 (142.90).