Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering,Indian Council of Agricultural Research

Millet production has significantly increased to fulfill the nutritional needs of the increased population across the globe. Around the world, millions of people suffer from shortages of food and hunger. In the last few years, food supply has been influenced by many factors, such as changes in climate, increased population, and a slowing economy. Furthermore, many countries face undernutrition and overnutrition problems. Achieving nutritional and food security requires a transformative shift in the agricultural sector. Providing everyone with access to cheap, healthy, and affordable food as well as a nutritious diet is one way to reach our goal. The present study uses preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analyses (PRISM) to study the search strategy for recent advancements. Bioactive substances, minerals, and properties of cereal grains are impacted by various processing methods like parboiling, decoration, heating, soaking, germination, and fermentation. This paper aims to study the nutrient qualities and processing of antinutrient reduction methods, the nutritional composition of millets, their effects on consumption, and the nutritional characteristics of medicinal use. The highest dietary fiber content is in pearl millets (11.49%), followed by maize (10.20%). Millets contain carbohydrates, antioxidants, and biologically active compounds such as phenolic acids, carotenoids, flavonoids, minerals, and vitamins. The appropriate consumption of millets helps to reduce diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, inflammation, and malnutrition because of their low glycemic index, being gluten-free, and increased major nutrients. But overdose of millet consumption causes goitrogenic effects, kidney stones, thyroid dysfunction, allergic reactions, high sugar levels, and weight gain. Considering the modifications within millets’ nutritional value brought on by the process may benefit the food business, scientists, and consumers in choosing the best processing method to maximize nutrient content, boost nutrient bioavailability, and assist in promoting food and nutrition security.

This study examines patterns of soil physico-chemical properties, vegetation attributes, and their interrelationships along an altitudinal gradient (2,100–3,300 m asl) in high-altitude forests of the Western Himalayas. Vegetation was sampled at three locations along 100 m altitudinal intervals within the Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary, Uttarakhand. In each altitudinal belt, three plots (50 m × 50 m) were randomly marked; a total of 105 plots were studied. For tree species, within three plots, 10 quadrates of 10 m × 10 m were laid for trees and saplings, 20 quadrates of 5 m × 5 m for shrubs and seedlings, and 40 quadrates of 1 m × 1 m were laid for herbs. Soil samples were collected from five points along the same transects at two depths (0–15 cm and 15–30 cm) and then composited for physicochemical analysis. Results reveal that soil properties exhibited distinct trends with elevation, with soil moisture content, soil porosity, water-holding capacity, sand content, available phosphorus, and total nitrogen generally increasing, while bulk density, silt content, soil organic carbon, soil organic matter, and C:N ratio declined. Significant differences were observed between upper and lower soil depths, with lower depths exhibiting higher moisture, pH, and clay content, whereas upper depths had higher organic carbon, nutrients, and water-holding capacity. Vegetation patterns also varied with altitude; tree density and species richness declined, shrub richness fluctuated without a clear trend, and herb richness increased. Elevational variation in soil and vegetation was driven by climatic constraints and plant-soil interactions. Higher soil moisture, porosity, and water-holding capacity at higher elevations reflect lower temperatures and reduced evapotranspiration, while declining bulk density indicates reduced compaction. Lower soil organic carbon levels suggest reduced litter inputs from declining tree biomass, whereas higher nitrogen and phosphorus levels reflect reduced nutrient losses. Depth-related patterns result from particle translocation and surface organic inputs. Canonical Correspondence Analysis showed that altitude, soil moisture, bulk density, and silt content were the primary drivers of species composition across life forms. Other soil variables also influenced the composition of specific plant groups in the high-altitude forests of the Himalayan region. The study suggested long-term ecological monitoring of forests for a better understanding of the influence of soil dynamics and vegetation composition in the Himalayan region.

Water scarcity poses significant challenges to sustainable agriculture. Nanotechnology offers promising solutions for water conservation in agriculture, leveraging the unique properties of nanomaterials to enhance irrigation practices and water purification. This review article explores the potential applications of nanotechnology in irrigation, encompassing four key areas. Firstly Nanosensors enable precise and real-time monitoring of soil moisture, facilitating optimized irrigation scheduling and efficient water use. Nano hydrogels, with their high water-absorbing capacity, aid in reducing water wastage and enhancing soil moisture retention. The synergistic effect of nanoclay hydrogel composites further improves soil water-holding capacity, contributing to sustained crop growth in water-limited environments. Moreover, nanotechnology offers advanced water treatment solutions, with nanoparticles incorporated into nanofiltration and reverse osmosis membranes for efficient removal of contaminants, pathogens, and salts, producing purified water suitable for irrigation. Further research is necessary to assess the long-term effects and potential risks associated with nanomaterials in agricultural applications. Responsible implementation, adherence to regulations, and transparency are paramount to ensure the sustainable utilization of nano-based solutions for water conservation, promoting water security and enhancing agricultural productivity.

Lignocellulosic biomass remains underutilized in anaerobic digestion (AD) due to its recalcitrant structure and limited microbial accessibility. This study investigated the combined effect of dilute-acid pretreatment and Fe3O4 nanoparticle supplementation on biogas production from wheat straw co-digested with cow dung. Wheat straw was pretreated with 1%–4% H2SO4, resulting in notable compositional alterations. Among the pretreatments, 2% H2SO4 increased cellulose content from 38.99% in the untreated straw to 43.63% (approximately 12% relative enrichment) while reducing lignin to 9.84%, indicating improved substrate accessibility. The optimized pretreated wheat straw was subsequently subjected to AD with Fe3O4 nanoparticle supplementation at concentrations of 0–50 mg/L. Characterization of Fe3O4 nanoparticles using XRD, FTIR, SEM, and TEM confirmed their crystalline nanoscale magnetite structure with favourable physicochemical properties for enhanced microbial electron transfer. Biogas production increased with nanoparticle dosage up to 30 mg/L, which produced the highest cumulative biogas yield (273.18 mL g-1 VS), representing an enhancement of approximately 37% over the control. Methane concentration also improved, reaching nearly 66% at this dosage. Kinetic analysis revealed that the modified Gompertz model best described the digestion process (R2 > 0.97), with the highest biogas potential (278.2 mL g-1 VS) and maximum production rate (19.2 mL g-1 VS d-1) observed at 30 mg/L Fe3O4. Overall, the integrated acid pretreatment and nanoparticle supplementation strategy significantly enhanced biogas production, demonstrating a practical and effective strategy for efficient lignocellulosic biomass valorisation through improved biomethane production.

Good teachers are role models. Using Chilean administrative data, we estimate how teacher value-added (VA) affects the VA of students who later become teachers. Exposure to a math teacher with 1 SD higher VA raises teacher VA in the next generation by 0.14 SD and student achievement one generation removed by 0.04 SD. Effects compound with longer exposure and appear driven by observable classroom practices. Under plausible assumptions, these spillovers raise cumulative returns to instructional quality by 28 percent after one generation and 39 percent in the long run.