Pea productivity in Yemen remains low, partly due to the limited field testing of improved varieties under actual farming conditions. This study was conducted to evaluate and characterize both improved and local pea varieties based on their qualitative and quantitative traits, with the aim of promoting their adoption by farmers. Field trials were carried out at research stations and on farmers’ fields using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications at each location. A total of 29 agro-morphological traits were assessed and described. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed highly significant differences (p = 0.01) among the varieties for key traits such as days to flowering, pod length, biomass, grain yield, and 100-seed weight. The improved variety ‘Yahsb’ recorded the highest yield of 2.7 tons/ha in the Al-Hada district, while the ‘Amran’ variety performed best at the research station. In comparison, the highest yield among local varieties was 1.8 tons/ha across both locations. Cluster analysis showed a 93% genetic similarity among the improved varieties, reflecting strong agreement between farmer evaluations and researcher selections. Based on these findings, several improved varieties have been recommended for cultivation in the studied districts and similar agro-ecological zones. Furthermore, participatory variety evaluation proved to be an effective and economical approach for identifying farmer-preferred varieties, thereby accelerating their adoption and contributing to enhanced pea productivity in Yemen.
A field experiment was conducted in randomized block design for three consecutive years (2021-23) at Agricultural Research Sub-Station, Nagaur, Agriculture University, Jodhpur during rainy season to evaluate the efficacy of different post-emergence herbicides for complex weed flora, growth and yield of mung bean with twelve treatments and three replications. The results revealed that the lowest density (No./m2) of Rhinchosia minima (11.5), Digera arvensis (5.7), Celosia argentea (16.3), Cyperus rotundus (6.7), Dactyloctenium aegyptium (6.3), other broad leaves & grassy weeds (5.7), total weed dry weight (25.0 g/m2) and highest weed control efficiency (82.4%) was recorded under sodium acifluorfen 16.5% + clodinafop-propargyl 8% EC 220 g/ha that was closely followed by fomesafen 11.1% + fluazifop - P-butyl 11.1% SL 220 g/ha. Ready mix application of sodium acifluorfen + clodinafop-propargyl resulted in significant improvement in number of seeds per pod (13.6), 1000 grain weight (44.6 g), mean grain yield (12.3 q/ha), gross returns (?1,04,310/ha), net returns (?72,310/ha), BC ratio (2.1) and weed index (9.0). These similar treatments also resulted in 16.5 % more weed reduction and 20.5 % seed yield enhancement over the imazethapyr application. It was concluded that application of sodium acifluorfen 16.5%+ clodinafop-propargyl 8% EC (Readymix) or fomesafen 11.1% w/w + fluazifop-P-butyl 11.1% (Ready-mix) @ 220 g/ha can be used at 20-25 days after sowing for the control of complex weed flora in mung bean with higher yields and returns.
Rising global temperatures, primarily driven by anthropogenic activities, pose a serious threat to agricultural productivity, soil health, and ecosystem stability. Cereal crops such as wheat and rice, particularly in tropical and temperate regions, are increasingly vulnerable to heat stress. This stress impairs physiological functions, leading to reduced growth and yield. As an eco-friendly and cost-effective solution, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have gained attention for enhancing plant resilience under abiotic stress conditions. AMF improve host plant performance through various molecular and physiological mechanisms, including enhanced nutrient uptake, increased antioxidant production, chaperone activity and upregulation of stress-responsive genes. This review highlights the role of AMF as biofertilizers in mitigating heat stress in cereal crops, emphasizing their potential in sustainable agriculture.
The study was conducted to assess farmers’ knowledge and attitude towards adoption of improved fruit production technology and to identify the socio-economic factors influencing them in Wokha district of Nagaland, India. A sample of 120 farmers cultivating orange, banana, pineapple, and litchi with more than five years of experience was randomly selected. Data were collected through a pre-tested interview schedule and analyzed using correlation and regression methods. The results indicated that a majority of the farmers possessed a medium level of knowledge and exhibited a favourable attitude towards improved practices. Variables such as age, landholding, risk orientation, adoption, family type, information source utilization, and attitude were significantly associated with knowledge. Educational level, experience, adoption, risk orientation, and knowledge significantly influenced farmers’ attitude. The regression model explained 60.9% of the variation in knowledge. The study highlights the need for targeted training and awareness strategies to improve technological adoption among horticultural farmers.
Maize is known as the 'Queen of Cereals' and ranks second in terms of global acreage. It is one of the most significant renewable natural carbohydrate raw materials for the production of bioethanol. The proximate analysis of eleven corn genotypes showed significant variation in starch, crude protein, crude fat, crude fiber and ash content. The studies on amylose and amylopectin components of starch showed that the corn genotype PMH 7 was found to possess significantly high amylose content of 33.80 g100 gm-1 while the corn genotype PML1012 was found to possess very low amylose content of 3.73 g100 gm-1. Liquefaction of high and low amylose corn starch of genotypes PMH7 and PML1012 with alpha amylase at 6.0 KNU g-1 resulted in maximum reducing sugars content of 48.31 and 50.30 mg g-1, respectively in the mash. Further, saccharification of the liquified mash with glucoamylase at an enzyme dosage of 7 AGU g-1 produced maximum reducing sugars of 549.92 and 577.89 mg g-1 with conversion efficiencies of 77.02 and 83.07 per cent, respectively. The ethanol concentration of 8.30% (v/v) was reported to be maximum in the fermented mash of low amylose corn genotype PML1012 as compared to corn genotype PMH7. The high ethanol concentration obtained in the fermented mash of inbred line PML1012 suggested the potential utilization of this low amylose corn for bulk industrial ethanol production.
The current study was carried out to study the changes in activities of carbohydrate metabolizing enzymes under drought stressed wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) (HD2967, PBW660 and WH1105) genotypes and how their regulation was maintained by exogenously applied cytokinins (kinetin and benzyl adenine) and trehalose: an osmoprotectant. Alterations in contents of various sugars (total soluble sugars, reducing sugars and non-reducing sugars) were recorded under control and drought stressed crop plants on foliar application of cytokinins and trehalose at vegetative and flag leaf stages. Drought stress significantly increased total soluble sugars (1.2, 1.4 folds), reducing sugars (1.1, 1.3 folds), non-reducing sugars (1.2, 1.5 folds) and sucrose content (1.3, 1.2 folds) at both vegetative stage and flag leaf stage respectively. Carbohydrate metabolizing enzymes viz., sucrose phosphate synthase (1.2 folds), acid invertase (1.1 folds) and sucrose synthase (1.4 folds) were significantly upregulated under drought stressed plants at flag leaf stage. However, the osmoprotectant mitigated the effect by lowering the enzymatic activities in treatments (T3-T6), T4 treatment (Drought + Kn(40g)+ Tre (1.5mM) had the most promising mitigating effect against drought stress at both the stages. A significant negative correlation was observed between grain yield and sugar metabolizing enzymes, specifically SPS (r = -0.70), SS (r = -0.67), and sucrose content (r = -0.70), during the vegetative stage. Moreover the acuteness of the grain yield with the starch content in loading plot indicates the regulation of sugar metabolism that underwent modifications in presence of exogenous PGRs (trehalose, kinetin and benzyl adenine) that leads to significant increase in starch content that ultimately enhances grain yield of wheat.
A field study was conducted to evaluate the productivity and life cycle parameters of the lac insect, Kerria lacca (Kerr), on Flemingia macrophylla host plants during the Baisakhi crop season across nine districts of Maharashtra, India. The objective was to identify regional variations affecting lac cultivation performance. The mean duration of crawler emergence varied significantly, ranging from 58 days in Sindhkhede Raja, Buldhana, to 43 days in Chandori, Bhandara. Initial crawler settlement density was highest in Surkuda, Gondia (87.33 ± 4.17 crawlers/cm2), and lowest in Beed (44.53 ± 3.69 crawlers/cm2), with corresponding initial mortality rates ranging from 20.31% to 40.87%. After 21 days of settlement, the maximum nymphal density remained in Surkuda (56.11 ± 2.75 nymphs/cm2), while Beed recorded the lowest (28.00 ± 4.38 nymphs/cm2). The proportion of male insects was highest in Beed (85%) and lowest in Chandori, Bhandara (43.89%). Final female cell density at crop maturity showed a similar pattern, with the highest in Surkuda (9.88 ± 0.64 cells/cm2) and the lowest in Beed (1.53 ± 0.19 cells/cm2). Other developmental stages also varied, the pre-sexual stage lasted between 103.2 ± 0.37 and 109.2 ± 0.37 days, and male emergence occurred between 123.2 ± 0.58 and 126.4 ± 0.60 days. The female maturity period ranged from 235.2 ± 0.58 days in Buldhana to 256.2 ± 0.80 days in Loha, Nanded. These findings indicate considerable regional differences in lac insect development and productivity, influenced by local environmental and ecological conditions. The results provide critical insights for selecting optimal cultivation sites and timing interventions to improve lac yield and sustainability in Maharashtra.
Rice straw is renewable, cost effective and abundantly available feedstock, which is usually burned on farm leading to emission of hazardous gases in North-West India. Therefore efficient utilisation of rice straw is important to reduce extensive atmospheric pollution. In the present study, rice straw was used to generate hydrogel which can be used as culture media for growth of flowering plants. The rice straw used in the study contained 20.00, 41.00, 24.00, 9.00 and 6.00 per cent composition of cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin and acid-insoluble ash (silica), respectively. Lignin from rice straw was extracted using the dilute acid pretreatment followed by its alkaline hydrolysis. Lignin was structurally characterized by FT-IR, 1H and 13C NMR spectra. Hydrogels were synthesized using lignin as raw material followed by their characterization using FT-IR and SEM analysis. Different concentrations of lignin hydrogels (0.2, 0.5, 0.8 and 1.0LH) were synthesized out of which 0.5LH proved to be the most efficient due to their high swelling ratio (130.34) and high reswelling capacity. Additionally, hydrogels (0.5 and 0.8 LH) served as great culture media for seed germination and growth of marigold, which showed greater root length, shoot length, root: shoot length ratio, seed vigour index, germination percentage and germination index. Therefore, it was concluded that 0.5 and 0.8 lignin hydrogels can be used efficiently as culture media to enhance the growth of flowering plant marigold.
A field experiment was conducted at the Regional Agricultural Research Station, Polasa, Telangana, India during kharif (2018 and 2019) and rabi (2018-19 and 2019-20) seasons to evaluate integrated nutrient management (INM) practices on maize yield and their residual effect on mustard in a maize-mustard cropping system. Maize was treated with nine nutrient management treatments including 100% recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF), 75% recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN) combined with various organic sources (FYM, vermicompost, poultry manure, sheep manure, neem cake), and biofertilizers (Azotobacter, Azospirillum). Mustard received four fertilizer levels (0%, 50%, 75%, and 100% RDF) as residual treatments. Maize treated with 75% RDN + 25% N through vermicompost produced the longest cobs, greatest cob girth, and highest kernel number, resulting in grain yields of 6349 and 6514 kg ha-1 in 2018 and 2019, respectively. It outperformed several treatments and was comparable to 100% RDF and FYM treatments. In the rabi season, mustard seed yield was highest with residual 75% RDN + 25% N through FYM (1174 and 1266 kg ha-1) and was on par with poultry manure, neem cake, and vermicompost residuals, all significantly superior to sheep manure, biofertilizers, and 100% RDF, which recorded the lowest yields. Among fertilizer levels, 100% RDF significantly increased mustard yield (1260 and 1334 kg ha-1), comparable to 75% RDF. These results indicate that combining 75% chemical nitrogen with organic amendments, particularly vermicompost and FYM, enhances maize productivity and sustains mustard yield, supporting sustainable nutrient management in maize-mustard cropping systems.
The study analyzed bias-corrected meteorological data based on the ensemble mean of four General Circulation Models (GCMs) under four Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs): RCP2.6, RCP4.5, RCP6.0, and RCP8.5. Its objective was to assess average changes in key meteorological parameters for the mid-century (2020-2049) and end-century (2066-2095) periods on an annual basis, as well as during the kharif and rabi seasons, across four agroclimatic zones (AZ) of Punjab: AZ II (Ballowal Saunkhri), AZ III (Ludhiana, Amritsar, Patiala), AZ IV (Bathinda), and AZ V (Abohar, Faridkot). The analysis revealed increases in minimum and maximum temperatures ranging from 0.3°C to 7.5°C and 0.1°C to 4.6°C, respectively, with the most pronounced changes occurring toward the end of the century under the high-emission scenario (RCP8.5). The increase in minimum temperatures was greater than that of maximum temperatures, suggesting a reduction in the diurnal temperature range by approximately 2.5°C to 2.9°C during the mid and late 21st century. These projections indicate that Punjab's future climate may become hotter, drier, and cloudier. Such conditions are expected to increase crop water requirements and could adversely affect agricultural productivity.
Different systemic, combination, and contact fungicides at different concentrations were evaluated against the charcoal rot of sesame pathogen, Macrophomina phaseolina under in vitro and in vivo conditions. Poison food technique was used to evaluate fungitoxicants under in vitro conditions in which complete inhibition (100%) was observed in combination with fungicides tebuconazole 50% + trifloxystrobin 25% at the lower concentration of 20 ppm and systemic fungicide tebuconazole 25EC at a concentration of 50 ppm. Two contact fungicides mancozeb (85.64 %) and chlorothalonil (57.35 %) give inhibition at 100 ppm concentration. The same set of fungicides was used under in vivo conditions as a foliar spray application, in which two combination fungicides tebuconazole 50% + trifloxystrobin 25%, azoxystrobin 18.2% + difenoconazole 11.4% and one systemic fungicide tebuconazole 25 EC showed lower disease severity on sesame (%).
