The study was undertaken with an objective to determine the age of Crucian carp, Carassius carassius from Dal Lake using scales, operculum and otolith. As age determination in fishes is considered to be essential for fisheries management and understanding life history of different fish species. After being appropriately prepared fish scales, operculum and otoliths were examined under the microscope to establish the age of fish by counting the number of annuli, or year markings. Fish were between 1+ to 2+ years old, with length ranging from 121 to 131 mm and 132 to 169 mm respectively. Significant positive correlations were observed between total length and total weight (R2=0.8128); and between total length and fish age (R2=0.4547). These relationships indicate a proportional increase in weight with length and an age-dependent size increase, respectively. In the present study growth rings or annuli on scales, operculum and otolith were found visible and clearly distinguishable in C. carassius so it has reached an agreement with other studies that these structures are appropriate for age determination.
Insects cause considerable damage and are the primary reasons for the reduction in the yield of various crops. About 89 insect species belonging to eight different orders cause damage to various agricultural crops in the Western region of Uttar Pradesh. Lepidoptera is the most damaging insect order in the insect-pest complex in this region, with Pyralidae and Noctuidae being the most dominant families. Insect pests such as Scirpophaga incertulas, Cnaphalocrocis medinalis, Chilo infuscatellus, Scirpophaga excerptalis, Emmalocera depressella, Chilo auricilius, Chilo partellus, Maruca vitrata, Etiella zinckenella, Leucinodes orbonalis, Hellula undalis, Sesamia inferens, Helicoverpa armigera, Adisura atkinsoni, Spodoptera litura, Plusia orichalcea, Earias vittella, Agrotis ipsilon, Pieris brassicae, Spilosoma obliqua, Lampides boeticus and Plutella xylostella of the order Lepidoptera; Lipaphis erysimi, Aphis gossypii, Brevicoryne brassicae, Empoasca kerri, Amrasca biguttula biguttula, Amritodus atkinsoni, Nilaparvata lugens, Pyrilla perpusilla, Bagrada hilaris and Bemisia tabaci of the order Hemiptera; Atherigona soccata, Melanagromyza obtusa, Chromatomyia horticola, Bactrocera cucurbitae and Bactrocera dorsalis of the order Diptera; Holotrichia consanguinea and H. nagpurensis of the order Coleoptera; Odontotermes obesus of the order Isoptera; Athalia lugens proxima of the order Hymenoptera are prominent on paddy, sugarcane, maize, mustard, black gram, green gram, pigeon pea, pea, chickpea, brinjal, tomato, okra, cucurbits, cabbage, potato and mango crops. This review provides a comprehensive chirograph on the present status of insects infesting agricultural crops in this region.
The CRISPR (Clustered Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) system has an impact on the immune defense of prokaryotes, like bacteria and archaea. It uses RNA-guided nucleases to target and break down foreign genomes through already acquired sequence memory from the same invading genome. This process has three main steps: spacer acquisition, expression, and interference. Scientists group CRISPR into classes, Cas9, Cas12, and Cas13 proteins playing crucial roles in different CRISPR types. Cas12a and Cas13a/d have become essential tools to detect nucleic acids allowing for very accurate and specific diagnoses. New developments have combined CRISPR-based diagnostics with microfluidic systems, ways to boost signals, and platforms that can detect multiple things at once such as SHERLOCK can act through Cas13 recognition of target nucleic acid species with high sensitivity and specificity and DETECTR which relies on the collateral activity of Cas12a protein RNA. These systems offer quick, cheap, and portable ways to spot viral and bacterial pathogens. Yet, problems like unintended effects and technical hurdles in clinical use still exist. Ongoing improvements in CRISPR technology are likely to make it more precise and useful in various fields, including molecular diagnostics and pathogen detection. Integrating CRISPR with biosensors and artificial intelligence based detection platforms has attracted much attention as highly specific and sensitive sensors with easily programmable and device- independent capability in nature. It will make CRISPR available for many upcoming research works.
The present study was conducted on resource use efficiency on different sizes of farms. The study was carried out in the district Anantnag of Jammu and Kashmir during the year 2023–24. In the Study area, six key crops-Rice, Maize, Apple, Walnut, Garlic and Chili were chosen randomly for evaluating resource use efficiency, as they represent a significant portion of regions agricultural output, providing valuable insights in optimizing inputs and enhancing productivity in diverse cropping systems. Accordingly, the data were elicited from 150 farmers from 3 blocks and 2 villages. From each village 25 respondents were selected. Efficiency of the input use has been worked out with the help of Cobb Douglas production function. The resource use efficiency analysis of apple indicated that the variable inputs such as manure and labour were under utilization. In walnut, the inputs manure and fertilizer were overused and labour was underutilized. In garlic, labour and fertilizer inputs were overused and seed, manure, fertilizers, and labour used in the cultivation of rice were found to be underutilized. In maize, all of the resources were overused except manure and in chilli, the variables seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides were found to be greater than 1, indicating that there is scope to increase the level of these inputs in the production of chilli crops.
The plant community composition and other phytosociological characteristics of the vegetation were studied at all four blocks of the Pahalgam range of Lidder forest division at varying altitudes from 1900m to 3400m amsl. The vegetation analysis was carried out by stratified random sampling. Quadrats of 50 x 10m, 5 x 5m and 1 x 1m for trees, shrubs and herbs, respectively, were laid at different sites. A total of 70 plant species belonging to 38 families were recorded from the study area out of which 16 were tree species, 10 shrub species and 44 herb species. The prioritization of communities and habitats through quantitative and qualitative assessment of vegetation is prerequisite for starting any conservation and management programme. Therefore, an attempt has been made to; (i) identify the communities and habitats; (ii) evaluate them for species richness, native, endemic, economically important and threatened species; (iii) prioritize communities and habitats for conservation. Twelve (12) communities and Eight (8) forest habitats distributed between an altitudinal range of 1900–3400m amsl were recorded. 50% of the total communities were coniferous, 25% broad-leaved and 25% mixed. The communities and habitats have been evaluated by using different attributes like species richness, native, endemic, economically important and threatened species. Based on these attributes forest communities and habitats have been prioritized. Among the recorded communities, Betula utilis community showed highest Conservation Prioritization Index (CPI) value of 62 followed by Betula utilis-Prunus tomentosa community and Acer caesium-Prunus tomentosa community with CPI value 58 each and were thus having the highest priority for conservation. Among the recorded habitats, Grassland habitat showed highest CPI value of 52. Hence, it is necessary to regularly monitor the forest communities and habitats with high Conservation Prioritization Index value (CPI).
Apple is one of the important temperate crops cultivated worldwide. The phenological stages that are highly responsive to the changing climatic conditions have a significant impact on crop production. This study observed the variations in phenophases in apple crop at different altitudes along with the yield and quality response curves to highlight the changes occurred under current climatic conditions in the Jammu & Kashmir UT. Two districts under the study were Baramulla and Shopian with the elevations ranging 1612–2054 m amsl and 1630–2084 m amsl, respectively. Comparison of three commercial apple varieties (Red Delicious, Royal Delicious and Golden Delicious) at different altitudes revealed that flowering occurred earlier in lower elevations. Duration of flowering ranged from 13–17 days in district Baramulla and from 16–22 days in district Shopian. However, fruit set and yield were found highest at higher elevations than at lower elevations. Fruits from lower altitudes were heavier and larger in size compared to higher altitudes. The fruits from higher altitudes had higher fruit chemical characteristics viz. TSS, total sugar content and TSS/ acidity ratio. Between the two districts, fruits from Shopian have better fruit quality traits as compared to the fruits from Baramulla. The CO2 concentration was recorded higher during winter months in both the districts. Overall, temperature showed slightly increasing trend (2.15 %) and rainfall showed decreasing trend (9.59 %) over the last four decades. Climate change seems to be inevitable, thus increase in atmospheric temperature have adverse effects on apple crop production which may result in shifting of apple cultivation belt to higher elevations in the valley. The correlation analysis revealed that temperature positively influenced RD and RYD yields, while rainfall had a negative effect and CO2 exerted a moderate positive impact, indicating differential crop responses to environmental factors.
This research aimed to assess genotype-environment interaction and identify stable high-yielding brown sarson (Brassica spp.) cultivars suitable for Kashmir. Twelve genetically diverse genotypes were evaluated for grain yield and its components using a randomized block design. Significant variations in grain yield were observed within and across the years, highlighting the influence of environmental factors. Stability analysis for grain yield was performed to understand the Genotype x Environment (G x E) interactions. The significant mean squares for G x E (linear) indicated notable genetic differences among the genotypes in their linear responses to varying environments. Among the tested genotypes, KBS- 63 emerged as highly stable and high-yielding, showcasing consistency and resilience across different years. This study underscores the critical role of stability analysis in selecting genotypes that can thrive in fluctuating environmental conditions, thereby promoting sustainable agriculture and reducing reliance on imported edible oils.
The study explores the relationship between personal, socio-economic, and psychological characteristics of rice growers under the Seed Village Programme and their information acquisition behaviour. Data were collected from 310 rice growers across five sub-divisions in Baramulla district, Jammu and Kashmir, using a well-structured interview schedule. The study found significant regional variations in the associations between socio-economic characteristics and information acquisition behaviour. Notably, factors such as education, occupation, extension contact, media exposure, and market orientation were positively associated with information acquisition behaviour. In contrast, age, family size, landholding, income, and experience exhibited weak or non-significant relationships with information-seeking behaviour. The findings suggest that enhancing education, occupation, and extension contact can improve information acquisition, thereby supporting more effective implementation of the Seed Village Programme.
The study aimed at standardization of a sterilization protocol for two most practically functional explants viz. nodal segments and ray florets of Dendranthema grandiflorum Kitam cvs. “Candor and Local Yellow”. Different sterilant concentrations and combinations were tried for both the explants which differed significantly with each other and showed significant effect on culture asepsis and explant survival in both the cultivars. For nodal explants, sterilization regime consisting of Carbendazim 200 ppm for 30 minutes followed by 0.1% mercuric chloride treatment for 8 minutes followed by a final dip in 70% ethyl alcohol for 10 seconds was concluded to be the standard for both the cultivars for further studies. Moreover, a reduction in Carbendazim concentration to 100 ppm and mercuric chloride concentration to 0.05% also proved to be optimally effective. In contrast, the sterilization treatments consisting of mercuric chloride at 0.05% for 4 minutes and 0.1% for 2 minutes followed by a final rinse with 70% ethyl alcohol for 10 seconds proved to be statistically equally effective for ray florets and were concluded the best with respect both to culture asepsis and explant survival.
The present study documents the traditional fishing gears and crafts employed in the Kashmir Himalayas, with a focus on their design, operation, and implications for fishery management. Field surveys and interviews with local fishers revealed seven types of gears, including gill nets, cast nets, scoop nets, bag nets, and double- pronged spears, along with three types of non-mechanized wooden crafts constructed mainly from Cedrus deodara. These gears vary in mesh size, material, and operational mode, reflecting adaptations to local hydrological conditions and target species such as Schizothorax spp. and carps. While deeply rooted in indigenous knowledge and cultural heritage, several gears, particularly gill nets, pose risks to fish populations due to indiscriminate catch of juveniles. The study highlights the urgent need for regulating mesh sizes, raise awareness among fishing communities, and integrate traditional knowledge into sustainable fishery management strategies. Preservation of these indigenous gears and crafts also carries anthropological value, representing the cultural identity and livelihood resilience of Himalayan fishing communities.
The present study was conducted to assess the impact of cement dust pollution on soil available macronutrients around Khrew Industrial area of Kashmir. Three cement industries (Max, Arco and JK) were selected for the purpose and a total of one hundred composite soil samples (0-15 cm depth) were collected from different distances around Max, Arco and JK cement industries of Khrew Kashmir. The chemical analysis indicated that available N content at Max, Arco and JK cement plants varied from 80.44-128.80, 82.00-130.00 and 78.14-122.32 mg kg-1, respectively whereas, available P content of soils ranged from 6.68-12.38, 6.72-12.51 and 6.65-12.22 mg kg-1 respectively. The data revealed that available K content of soils varied from 80.16-128.72, 78.87-126.87 and 80.92-130.14 mg kg-1, in the soils of Max, Arco and JK cement factories, respectively, whereas, available Ca content varied from 1172.00-2150.00, 1161.00-2147.00 and 1182.00-2153.00 mg kg-1, around Max, Arco and JK cement industries, respectively. In general, available N, P and S showed an increasing trend, whereas, Ca, Mg and K indicated a decreasing trend with increasing distance from the cement plants. It was seen that the cement dust adversely affect the available nutrient status of soil.
Phytosociology is the study of the characteristics, classification, relationship and distribution of plant communities and it is useful to collect to describe the population dynamics of each species studied and how they relate to the other species in the same community. Phytosociological studies are essential for protecting the natural plant communities and biodiversity as well as understanding the changes experienced in the past and continuing on in to the future The present study, titled “Phytosociological analysis of trees and plant species in Batakote block of the Lidder Forest Division of Jammu and Kashmir” was carried out to examine the variation of diversity and community structure of plant and tree species. The results revealed that these four different altitudes harbor a total of 53 plant species belonging to 37 families. Of these reported 53 plant species, 14 species were trees, representing 10 families and 10 species were shrubs belonging to 8 families. The number of herbaceous species was 29 representing 22 families. Among trees, Pinus wallichiana was dominant at all four altitudes with IVI values of 95.17, 103.56, 97.90 and 83.81, respectively. Among shrubs, Parrotia jacquemontiana was dominant at altitude 1 with IVI value of 62.87. At altitude 2ndSambucus wightiana was dominant having IVI value of 50.88 and Rosa rubiginosa was dominant at altitude 3rd and 4th with IVI values of 64.98 and 67.51, respectively. Among herbs, Cynodon dactylon withIVI value of 83.59 was dominant at altitude 1st. Fragaraia vesca was dominant at altitude 2nd and 3rd with IVI values of 89.70 and 131.73 , respectively. Aconitum heterophyllum with IVI value of 122.37 was dominant at 4th altitude. Out of four altitudes, altitude 2nd reported the highest number of species followed by 1st, 3rd and 4th, respectively.
The valley of Kashmir is blessed with a climate suitable for raising a number of fruit and nut crops. Walnut is one such praised favourite nut of many. Walnut trees, one of Kashmir’s most valuable crops, are, however, susceptible to diseases and insect pests that cause significant annual financial losses. As such, it is essential to understand the numerous causes of these problems. Aphids are one of the most common insect pests affecting walnuts. With the aim of studying the population dynamics and distribution of two walnut aphid species viz., Chromaphis juglandicola and Panaphis juglandis, the present study was conducted for two consecutive years 2021 and 2022, in Kashmir, India. For the study, three major walnut producing districts were selected and from each district three villages were surveyed for two years and each site was visited fortnightly. The data revealed that the population of both aphids increased gradually from April to 2nd fortnight of June and declined rapidly afterwards, reaching the lowest in September. Aphid numbers reached their highest level during the month of June. Moreover, the predatory natural enemies also helped in shaping the aphid population. A total of five natural enemies were also identified during the study.
The present study was undertaken to assess the nutrient status of sand pear orchards in Budgam district of Jammu and Kashmir to support region-specific nutrient management strategies. Sand pear (Pyrus pyrifolia), locally known as Nakh Kashmiri, is an important temperate fruit crop valued for its high yield potential, crisp texture, extended shelf life, and market preference. Its resilience to climatic stress makes it a commercially viable crop in the Kashmir region. Twelve uniformly aged and vigorous orchards were surveyed using a simple random sampling method. Soil samples were collected from two depths-surface (0-25 cm) and subsurface (25-75 cm)-and analyzed alongside the corresponding leaf samples for macro-and micronutrient content. Surface soils were found to be medium in available nitrogen (321.50 kg/ha), medium to high in phosphorus (17.38 kg/ha), and medium in potassium (229.42 kg/ha), while subsurface layers showed lower levels. Both soil layers exhibited high calcium and magnesium concentrations. Iron and manganese were abundant, whereas zinc and copper ranged from medium to high. Leaf analysis revealed medium to high nitrogen (1.98-2.64%), low to medium phosphorus (0.12-0.19%), and medium to high potassium (1.20-1.96%). Zinc and copper were found to be deficient to moderate, while iron and manganese were adequate. Correlation analysis indicated that soil pH and organic carbon significantly influenced nutrient availability, especially for micronutrient cations. Enhancing organic matter and adopting proper soil management practices can improve the micronutrient status of sand pear orchards.
AbstractThis study evaluates and compares the performance of linear and non-linear regression models to analyse trends and predict key metrics-namely area, production, and productivity-of apple cultivation in Srinagar over a 25-year period (1995 to 2019). Four models were examined: Linear, Logistic, Monomolecular, and Exponential. Their goodness of fit was assessed using multiple statistical indicators, including R2, Mean Squared Error (MSE), Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE), Mean Absolute Error (MAE), Akaike Information Criterion (AIC), the Run Test, and the Shapiro–Wilk Test. The findings reveal that non-linear models, especially Logistic and Monomolecular, outperform the linear model with higher R2 values and lower error metrics across all parameters. The Logistic model proves most effective for estimating area and productivity, whereas the Monomolecular model excels in forecasting production. Furthermore, the comparison between actual and estimated values demonstrates the robustness of these models in capturing historical patterns and predicting future changes. Specifically, the Logistic model provides reliable estimations for maximum area and productivity with minimal deviations from observed data, while the Monomolecular model captures production trends with high precision. These results offer valuable insights for policy planning and for promoting sustainable apple cultivation practices in the region. Future research should explore integrating environmental and economic variables to further refine these models.
AbstractThis study evaluated the antifungal potential of Typha leaf extracts obtained using ethanol, methanol and aqueous solvents against four fungal species: Aspergillus niger, Fusarium oxysporum, Alternaria spp., and Penicillium spp. The disc diffusion assay was performed with extract concentrations ranging from 10 to 100 mg/ml with fluconazole as a positive control. Ethanol extracts exhibited the highest antifungal activity across all fungi, with Alternaria spp. showing the greatest sensitivity (19.50 mm zone of inhibition at 100 mg/ml). Positive control fluconazole showed highest inhibition than all extracts of Typha. The lowest inhibition was observed against Fusarium oxysporum. These findings suggest that Typha leaf extracts, especially ethanolic ones, have significant antifungal properties and potential for development as natural antifungal agents.
AbstractGiven to low adoption of recommended practices by farmers, indiscriminate use of pesticides has emerged as a challenge the apple industry faces at present. To understand the level of adoption of the recommended pesticide spray schedule and the level of pesticide use in Kashmir Valley, a survey of 200 respondents from two blocks each from four districts of South Kashmir including Kulgam, Pulwama, Shopian, and Anantnag was conducted in 2021 and 2022. Primary data was collected in the form of a questionnaire keeping objectives into consideration. The study revealed that only 1/4th of respondents (25.9%) adopted >80% of the spray schedule. 27.84, 25.36, and 20.89 percent of respondents adopted 60-80%, 40-60%, and < 40% of the spray schedule, receptively. Farmers of district Pulwama used maximum pesticide sprays (17.8) while as Anantnag growers sprayed minimum pesticides (14.2). Pesticide costs during the apple growing season were maximum (Rs.109870/ha) in Pulwama and minimum in district Kulgam (Rs.97360/ha). Similarly, pesticide productivity in terms of pesticide cost per kg of apple fruit varied and ranged between Rs.7.07/kg in district Shopian to Rs.8.99/kg in Anantnag.
AbstractThis study examines the impact of timestep variation on the predictive performance of machine learning (ML) forecasting models, emphasizing the importance of optimal timestep selection for improved accuracy. The results show that Support Vector Regression (SVR) performs best with shorter timesteps but struggles with longer sequences. In contrast, Recurrent Neural Networks (RNNs) and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks excel at 26 timesteps, leveraging their ability to capture patterns from extended contexts. RNNs demonstrate consistent performance across various timesteps, with their peak accuracy also observed at 26 timesteps. These findings highlight the need for careful timestep selection to enhance model efficiency and forecast reliability.
AbstractPremature bolting limits the yield and quality of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). This study assessed the effects of paclobutrazol (PBZ) application (50 ppm), growing systems (soil-based and hydroponic), and modes of application (seed priming, root dip, foliar spray) on bolting and flowering timing. Conducted during 2023–2024 at SKUAST-K, the experiment followed a factorial randomized complete block design. PBZ-treated plants showed delayed flower initiation (89.4 days), bolting (95.6 days), and anthesis (102.3 days) compared to controls (85.6, 92.6, and 98.9 days, respectively). Hydroponic-grown lettuce delayed flowering (88.35 days) compared to soil-grown (86.65 days). Foliar application delayed flowering (92.7 days), bolting (101.8 days), and anthesis (109.9 days) more effectively than seed priming or root dip. The combined treatment of PBZ with hydroponics and foliar spray (P2×S1×M3) achieved the most delayed flower initiation (94.9 days), bolting (103.2 days), and anthesis (111.2 days). Delays in bolting and flowering were statistically significant (C.D. at p=0.05: 0.27–0.36 days). These results demonstrate that PBZ, especially via foliar application in hydroponics, can substantially extend the vegetative phase, improving stress tolerance and market quality in lettuce.
AbstractDUS characterization in wheat is crucial to preserve the loss of trait variability, to offer breeders and farmers rights, and to deliver high-quality seeds. In the present study, 296 wheat genotypes were characterized during Rabi seasons of years 2022 and 2023 for seventeen (17) visually assessed DUS parameters following wheat descriptor prescribed by PPV& FR Act, 2001. Out of seventeen (17) visually assessed characteristics, 2 characters (presence of awns; grain texture) were dimorphic and rest 15 characters were found to be polymorphic, indicating their potential for genotype characterization. All the genotypes showed similar expression over the years for each visual character depicting the stability of the genotypes. None of the attribute showed intra-line variation among the genotypes. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences for all the quantitative traits viz., plant height, spike length, number of spikelets per spike and number of grains per spike for two years, thereby clearly indicating the existence of high genetic variability among genotypes. The coefficient of variation for quantitative characters viz., plant height (10.87), spike length (7.16), number of spikelets per spike (5.98) indicates high magnitude of genetic variation and their scope for utilization in genotype characterization and improvement. Thus, the 17 morphological DUS descriptors used in the present study were reliable and reproducible for establishing the distinctiveness in this set of wheat genotypes. The genotypes satisfying the DUS criteria in the set of genotypes can be registered with PPV & FR authority for registration and for obtaining breeders and farmer’s rights.
