Background: Fungal-derived chitosan and cellulase are increasingly explored as vegan, allergen-free alternatives to crustacean-sourced biopolymers and industrial enzymes, yet most studies on sugarcane-bagasse-based Pleurotus cultivation report either mushroom yield or by-product recovery in isolation. This study evaluates a two-step bioconversion process for sugarcane bagasse that recovers cellulase and chitosan, along with the edible fruiting body, from a single cultivation cycle. Methods: Fungi (Pleurotus ostreatus) were cultivated under controlled conditions on enriched sugarcane bagasse. Harvested biomass was used to isolate cellulase and residual biomass was processed for chitosan extraction and recovery via acid/base treatment. Cellulase was assayed using the Congo red polysaccharide assay and the 3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid (DNSA) assay. Chitosan was estimated using the fourier transform infrared (FTIR) technique. Result: The fresh yield of Pleurotus mushroom ranged from 650-800 g/kg of dry substrate, which resulted in a biological efficiency of 75-80%. The cellulase activity of the crude, unconcentrated extract was 0.005 U/mL. The residual fungal biomass yielded chitosan at 1-2% of residual biomass dry weight, confirmed by FTIR.
Background: The study was designed to enhance the growth and biochemical composition of the saplings, therefore accelerating their attainment of optimal growth for transplantation to their permanent sites. Methods: A factorial experiment was performed using an RCBD with 12 treatments and three replications. A total of 108 apple saplings cv. Sharabi were used. The effects of poultry manure and CPPU were assessed on vegetative and root growth, leaf area, total chlorophyll and leaf P, K, Ca and Mg contents. Result: The results revealed that the addition of processed poultry waste significantly affected all characteristics with the high level (150 g pot-1) exhibited superior values for all traits. Conversely, applying the growth regulator CPPU through spraying had a significant impact on all characteristics, with treatment (9 mg L-1) achieving the best significant effect for all traits. The interaction between the two investigated factors exerted a significant effect on all evaluated parameters, with the exception of leaf phosphorus content. Notably, the (150 g pot-1 + 9 mg L-1) treatment combination yielded the optimal values across all assessed traits, whereas the minimum values were consistently recorded under the control treatment.
Background: Integrated nutrient management (INM) improves crop productivity and soil health in mustard, but its influence on insect pest dynamics remains inadequately understood. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of different nutrient sources on growth, yield and pest infestation in mustard under Punjab conditions. Methods: A field experiment was conducted during the rabi season of 2025-26 at Guru Kashi University, Talwandi Sabo, Punjab. Twelve nutrient management treatments comprising combinations of NPK 19:19:19, sulphur, vermicompost and farmyard manure were evaluated in a randomized block design with three replications. Growth attributes, yield parameters and insect pest populations were recorded at different growth stages. Result: T12 [NPK 19:19:19 @ 100 kg ha-1 + sulphur + vermicompost (5 t ha-1) + FYM (10 t ha-1)] produced the greatest plant height at maturity (172.00 cm), grain yield (22.33 q ha-1) and stover yield (42.67 q ha-1), whereas T11 recorded the highest number of siliquae plant-1 (337.67). T12 also had the highest observed insect population at 30 DAS, 60 DAS and maturity (12.83, 15.88 and 14.25 insects plant-1, respectively). Grain yield was strongly and positively correlated with insect population at 30 DAS (r = 0.979), 60 DAS (r = 0.857) and maturity (r = 0.971; p less than 0.001 for each association). Conclusion: The nutrient combination T11/T12 improved productivity, but the accompanying increase in insect population indicates that nutrient management should be integrated with regular pest surveillance and need-based integrated pest management.
Background: This research is an initial effort to construct and validate composite indices designed specifically for measuring the Quality of Life (QoL) of marginalised tea garden workers with reference to Sivasagar district of Assam. Addressing the drawback of generic assessment tools like WHOQOL-BREF in capturing ground realities, the study develops context-specific measures that reflect the socio-economic and living conditions of tea plantation communities. Methods: The study is based on primary data collected using a structured schedule from 1332 tea garden workers across 28 tea estates of Sivasagar district using Proportionate Stratified Sampling and Simple Random Sampling techniques. QoL has been assessed by using both objective and subjective variables. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) has been applied separately to construct Objective and Subjective QoL indices, which has been further validated using Cronbach’s Alpha, Average Variance Extracted (AVE) and Composite Reliability (CR). Result: The findings of the PCA results revealed KMO measure of sampling adequacy values to be 0.799 and 0.802 for both objective and subjective approaches. Five objective and seven subjective components were extracted, which explained nearly 75% and 86% of the total variance respectively. The constructed and statistically validated composite indices yielded higher explanatory power than WHOQOL-based domains, showing their suitability in assessing the multidimensional QoL of tea garden workers.
Background: Biochar, a high-carbon material produced by the pyrolysis of organic farm waste, has gained substantial attention owing to its potential to improve soil fertility and support sustainable agricultural practices. Guava is an important fruit crop grown extensively in many parts of the world. However, guava pruning waste is usually discarded or burnt, generating environmental and disposal problems. This study presents a detailed examination of biochar from guava-pruned cuttings, aiming to describe its characteristics in line with the Fertilizer (Control) Order 1985. Methods: In addition to the biochar production, the incubation of other soil media and amendments with biochar were observed for soil microbiome dynamics. The feedstock used for producing biochar was guava pruned shoots. The shoots were collected from the college orchard at SRMCAS. The pyrolysis of biochar from guava cuttings provides a green method for utilizing agricultural waste while increasing soil fertility and sequestering carbon. Result: The biochar had an alkaline pH of 8.4, total organic carbon content of 50.40%, carbon-to-nitrogen ratio of 65:1, cation exchange capacity of 30 cmol/kg and anion exchange capacity of 5 cmol/kg. Its 25% water-holding capacity indicates high carbon stability and good capacity for water and nutrient retention. SEM showed a very porous structure with cracks and microbial colonization and XRD analysis of the mineral phase found calcite as the major mineral phase, with lesser peaks for silica, potassium salts and ash minerals, all of which contribute to support processes of nutrient buffering and exchange. FTIR confirmed the presence of functional groups, which are vital for water adsorption, nutrient retention and association with beneficial soil microbes.
