In this study, 110 taro landraces were characterized using 19 quantitative traits. Statistical tools like descriptive statistics, Shannon-Wiener diversity index, principal com-ponent analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis were used to evaluate diversity. Descriptive statistics showed sig-nificant variation among the landraces for the 19 quan-titative traits studied. The highest coefficient of variation was found in the yield, number of suckers, leaf width and total oxalate. The corm length (H ' - 1.06) and starch content (H ' - 1.20) had the highest Shannon-Wiener di-versity index. PCA resulted in seven principal compo-nents (PCs), which explain 70.65% of the total variation. PC1 was mainly associated with plant height, leaf length, leaf width, petiole length and plant spread. PC2 was associated with yield, moisture content, corm length and total oxalate. PC3 was associated with dry matter con-tent and disease index. The cluster analysis using the weighted neighbor-joining method resulted in five major clusters based on geographical location. Cluster IV had a maximum of 54 landraces, and cluster III had a mini-mum of five landraces. The present study, which iden-tified high genetic diversity and plant height, number of suckers, leaf length, leaf width, corm length, yield, total oxalate content and disease index, can be useful in taro varietal improvement programmes.

A field experiment was conducted during the winter (rabi) season of 2013–15 at the ICAR–Research Complex for North-Eastern Hill Region, Nagaland Centre, Jharnapani, Medziphema, Nagaland, to evaluate the effect of mulching, liming and integrated nutrition for maximizing the productivity of recently introduced crop baby corn (Zea mays L.) in the region. The results revealed that, use of straw mulches significantly increased the yield attributes of baby corn. Significantly higher yields of green baby cob (10.8 t/ha), baby corn (1.84 t/ha) and green fodders (34.65 t/ha) were recorded with application of 1.0 t lime/ha but was on a par with 0.5 t lime/ha. Similarly, higher yields of green baby cob (10.56 t/ha), baby corn (2.02 t/ha) and green fodder (34.95 t/ha) were noted with application of 100% recommended dose of fertilizer through inorganic sources (RDF (IN) + 25% RDF through organic sources (ON). Hence, use of straw mulch integrated with application of lime in furrow @ 1.0 t/ha along with 100% RDF (IN: N-P-K-S-Zn: represents 150-80-60-30-10 kg/ha) + 25% RDF (ON) may be adopted and promoted to achieve the maximum crop productivity of baby corn under the foot-hill condition of eastern Himalayas.

Management of the newly introduced short duration and high economic value crops like baby corn in acidic soil is poorly understood and related information is scarce in particular to eastern India. Keeping these things in view, a field study was conducted during the two consecutive winter seasons (2013-2014 and 2014-2015) to assess the effect of best management practices (application of straw mulch, doses of lime and integrated nutrition) on production potential, quality and soil health in baby corn under the acidic soil of eastern Himalaya. Yields, economics and quality of baby corn were increased significantly with application of straw mulch @ 5 t ha(-1) as compared to without mulch. Yield of baby corn increases with increasing levels of liming up to 1.0 t ha(-1). Also, higher quality parameters were noted in same treatment. Application of 1.0 t lime ha(-1) also improved the soil fertility status after crop harvest. Baby cob, baby corn, green fodder and dry fodder yields was significantly higher with 100% RDF + 25% RDF (through farm yard manures as organic nitrogen ON). This treatment also improved nitrogen content, their uptake and protein content in baby corn, cob husk and green fodder compared to control. Economic parameters were significantly higher with applications of 100% RDF + 25% RDF (ON). Higher doses of integrated nutrition [100% RDF + 25% RDF (ON)] also enhanced the soil health. Thus, it may be concluded that baby corn should be grown with straw mulching and integrated nutrition of 100% RDF + 25% RDF (ON) along with liming of 1.0 t ha(-1) to achieve the higher productivity, quality and soil health under acidic soil of eastern Himalaya.

Application of citric acid (CA), Bacillus polymyxa (PB), and lime (CaCO 3 , LI) may enhance P availability to plants by reducing the fixation of applied P and releasing fractions of already fixed P in acid soil. Different P solubilizers were compared in three contrasting acid soils to study the release kinetics of P, Al, and Fe and the change in different P-fractions. Soils were leached in a column with 0.01 M CaCl 2 solution at an interval of 20, 40, 60, 80, 100, and 120 days. The soil samples were analyzed for P-fractions, acid phosphomonoesterase, microbial biomass phosphorus (MBP), microbial biomass carbon (MBC), and readily mineralizable carbon (RMC). Most of the kinetic equations were well fitted in first-order, zero-order, and power function for P, Al, and Fe, respectively. Iron P was the dominant fractions in these soils and had a significant and positive path coefficient with available P. All the treated soils showed a decrease of 3–50%, 3–20%, 1–18%, and 1–23% of saloid P, aluminium P, iron P, and calcium P (except LI and PBLI) compared to control. Individual factor map showed that P-solubilization was influenced more by soil type than by the amounts and distributions of P-fractions. Among the solubilizers, the highest acid phosphomonoesterase, MBP, and RMC were observed in PBLI, while among the soils, the highest MBC and RMC were found in Alfisol. Irrespective of soil type and P solubilizers, the release kinetics of P, Al, and Fe was best fitted in specific kinetic equations. Path analysis showed that difficultly available P fractions had contributed directly to easily available P fractions due to the application of P solubilizers.

The shifting cultivation practice is the predominant land use system of Nagaland, India, and Wokha district in particular. In general, there are four different forms of land use: forest, shifting cultivation, cultivated fallow, and wet terrace rice cultivation. In the Wokha district, a study was conducted in the year 2015 to evaluate the variability in soil characteristics among four different land use systems and to map their spatial distribution. A total of 381 soil samples were collected and tested for six soil fertility parameters; clay, pH, soil organic carbon, available nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K). The results showed that all of the soils were very acidic in nature; however the mean value of soil pH was substantially higher in the shifting cultivation system. Soil organic carbon concentrations ranged from high to very high across all land use systems. Average soil organic carbon content was highest in the forest, followed by cultivated fallow, shifting, and wet terrace rice cultivation (WTRC) systems, whereas available N content was very low to low. The P concentration of the soil was very low in the WTRC system and low in the other systems. Soil K concentration was high in shifting (361.95 kg/ha), cultivated fallow (312.4 kg/ha), forest (309.73 kg/ha), and low in WTRC (166.975 kg/ha) land use systems. Available N, P and K deficiency was found in 93.8%, 72.2%, and 32.9% of soil samples, respectively. Soil organic carbon correlated positively with K and significantly positively with N. Soil pH correlated negatively with clay content and positively but non-significantly with P. The generated maps might be used to assist farmers in identifying the expected nutrient levels in their areas and encourage them to change their crop management practices to improve crop yield and profitability. Due to soil acidity, higher SOC, lower N and P, and higher potassium content, suitable acid loving crops, higher N and phosphorus fertilization, and some commercially advantageous potassium responsive crops may be encouraged in farming practices.

Peach fruits of the cultivar TA-170 were lye peeled and canned in A2 ½ tin cans with a covering medium of 400 Brix containing enzymatically extracted fruit juice in a concentration of 30-40 per cent with or without ascorbic acid (500 ppm) and compared with the control (400 Brix of sucrose syrup + 0.3% citric acid). Cut out analysis carried out upto 6 months with 2 months storage interval, revealed that all the treatments met FPO specification for drained weight and showed superiority in quality over conventional canned peaches. The vitamin C fortified treatments had a higher retention of ascorbic acid throughout the storage as compared to the unfortified treatments. In comparison to peach halves canned in juice with or without ascorbic acid in the covering medium, more non-enzymatic browning was seen in the peach halves canned in plain sucrose syrup.

ABSTRACT Integrated farming system (IFS) based shifting cultivation reduces soil erosion and outperform in terms of productivity and income generation in North-Eastern Hills of India. To address this hypothesis, an experiment was conducted at Jharnapani, Nagaland, India with five treatments, viz., natural vegetation (NV), animal-based IFS (IFA), horticulture-based IFS (IFH), traditional shifting cultivation (TS) and traditional shifting cultivation with minor interventions (TSM). The soil moisture (34%), available N (23%), soil organic carbon (35%), bacterial (56%) and fungal (54%) counts decreased after burning of natural vegetation. Burning increased soil pH (10%), EC (131%), available P (62%), and available K (53%) for a short period. Improved integrated farming system models such as IFA and IFH were found to reduce soil erosion (34–48%) and loss of SOM (26–51%), N (33–45%), P (19–54%) and K (27–51%) compared to the traditional system (TS). Moreover, the improved models like IFA and IFH had a higher net return (0.07–52% higher) compared to TS. Considering all these facts, IFA/IFH can be recommended for the North Eastern Hill region based on suitability of altitude, socio-economic status of the farmers, farmers’ preference and demand in the local market.

Northeast India is rich in genetic diversity of horticultural crops and colocasia is one of the important crops. This region is rich in colocasia diversity for both cultivated and wild species particularly in jhum fields, homestead gardens, near water bodies, river banks, forests and road sides. Wide range of variability is observed in vegetative characters, corm and cormel characters, yield and quality characters. It is cultivated in jhum field as a mixed crop along with paddy and other crops like ginger, chilli, maize, turmeric etc. and in homestead garden, it is cultivated along with maize, cucurbits, chilli, King chilli, etc. The nutrient rich and gluten free tuber crop is an integral part of traditional cuisines of ethnic people of this region. All the plant parts of this ariod member are edible. Several traditional dishes have been prepared from leaves, petioles and tubers. The leaves, petioles and damaged tubers are also fed to pig and poultry. Recent past, the genetic diversity of colocasia is under threat due to urbanization, climate change, introduction of new crops, and pest and diseases and resulted in genetic erosion. The conservation of these vast gene pool is necessary.

With increasing agricultural production after green revolution in India, generation of agricultural waste is a concern for clean agricultural production system. The purpose of the study is to recycle locally available agricultural wastes into vermicompost and apply it on crops. In this study vermicomposts prepared from combinations of four sources of each plant biomass and animal excreta were characterized and tested for yield and quality of green bell pepper (Capsicum annum L.). Vermicompost samples were analyzed for macronutrients, micronutrients and enzymatic activities at intermediate (40 d) and final (80 d) stages of decomposition. During composting, total organic carbon content of the bedding material decreased and C: N ratio was narrowed down. Zinc, Cu, and Mn contents were decreased by 6.9-177.3%, 28.5-318.5% and 0.7-207.4%, respectively, while Fe content increased by 15.4-64.3% in the matured samples. Acid phosphomonoesterase and dehydrogenase activities were reduced by 2.5-26.0% and 15.5-84.1%, respectively; while the beta-glucosidase activity of vermicompost from cow dung and pig dung was increased by 2.0-30.7% at maturity. Application of vermicompost along with NPK fertilizers enhanced morphological, biochemical and yield attributes of green bell pepper which in-turn improved yield (7.1-135.7%) over the control. Vermicomposts also improved soil fertility by increasing organic C and plant-available N, P and K. Hierarchical cluster analysis revealed that the properties of mature vermicomposts were mainly determined by the animal excreta. Poultry litter along with paddy straw and Azolla pinnata proved to be superior raw material in the production of high quality vermicompost which could produce good quality and quantity of fruits. The study also suggests that production of vermicompost from locally available plant biomass and animal excreta will sustain crop harvest with quality produce and improve soil fertility.

Traditional shifting cultivation with reduced cycle aggravates soil erosion more rapidly in north-eastern India. To address this issue, an erosion plot experiment was conducted from January 2013 to December 2014 at Wokha district of Nagaland, India with five treatments viz., control (T1), bench terraces (T2), contour bunds (T3), bamboo fence (T4) and wooded log (T5). Soybean (cv. JS-335) was grown with the standard package and practices. The main objective was to find out the best suitable soil conservation measure to arrest the soil and nutrient loss. The annual soil erosion was measured the highest in treatment T1 (70.1 t ha−1) followed by T5 (25.2 t ha−1), T4 (13.5 t ha−1), T3 (6.20 t ha−1) and T2 (0.94 t ha−1) in the first year. In the second year, the extent of soil erosion was reduced, and it followed the order of T (50.7 t ha−1) < T5 (20.3 t ha−1) < T4 (8.92 t ha−1) < T3 (4.62 t ha−1) < T2 (0.54 t ha−1). Subsistent amount of clay, silt, sand, soil organic matter, major nutrients and micronutrients were lost in both the years. It was also found that the monetary loss in terms of only nitrogenous and potassium fertilizers was contributed 74.9 to 83.2% in the year 2013 and 50.7 to 70.8% in the year 2014, respectively. Considering all treatments across the years, bench terracing across the slope (T2) is found as the most suitable, but economic point of view, contour bund (T3) may be recommended for this region.

Field experiment was conducted during rabi 2013-14 and 2014-15 to study the effect of paper mill waste integrated nutrition on yield, economics and soil health of garden pea varieties at ICAR-Research Complex for NEH Region, Nagaland Centre, Jharnapani, Nagaland. The experiment was laid out in split plot design and replicated thrice. Maximum seed yields (905 kg/ha), green pod yields (3454 kg/ha), gross return (₹ 108372/ha), net return (₹ 60260/ha) and B: C ratio (2.25) had recorded with Azad pea. Application of paper mill waste @ 1.0 t/ha gave higher yield attributes of garden pea than to its lowers levels. Highest gross return (₹109189/ha) and net return (₹ 57977/ha) was obtained with paper mill waste @ 1.0 t/ha, however the maximum B: C ratio (2.20) was noted in 0.5 t/ha. Significantly higher seed yield (926 kg/ha) and green pod yield (3449 kg/ha) were recorded with application of 100% RDF+25% RDF (ON), which was 53, 13, and 45% higher, respectively over control. Among integrated nutrition, maximum seed yield (977 kg/ha), green pod yield (3646), gross return (₹ 115328/ha), net return (₹ 64616/ha) and B:C ratio (2.28) was noted with 100% RDF + 25% RDF (ON). Soil health attributes, i.e. pH, EC, soil organic carbon; available NPK had improved significantly due to integrated nutrition. Thus, Azad pea could be grown with application of paper mill waste @ 1.0 t/ha along with 100% RDF+25% RDF(ON) for better productivity, profitability and soil health in Eastern Himalayas.

A field experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of integrated nutrition along with application of micronutrient and biofertilizers on productivity and profitability of french bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) at the ICARRC for NEH Region, Nagaland Centre, Jharnapani, during rabi 2013–15. Treatment consisted of four nutrition levels, viz. control, 100% RDF (80-60-30-20 kg NPKS/ha), 100% RDN (RDN:80 kg/ha through 16 t/ha of FYM), 75% RDF + 25% RDN and 100% RDF + 25% RDN in main-plot and five levels of biofertilizers + micronutrient, viz. control, PGPR (Rhizobimum + Bacillus + Pseudomonas), PGPR + 5 kg Zn/ha, PGPR + 1.5 kg Mo/ha and PGPR + 5 kg Zn + 1.5 kg Mo/ha in sub-plot. Experiment was laid out in split-plot design and replicated thrice. Significantly higher seed yield (1630 kg/ha) was recorded with application of 100% RDF + 25% RDN, which was 30% higher over 100% RDN. Maximum net returns (₹ 21399/ha), B:C ratio (1.31), production efficiency (15.8 kg/ha/day) and economic efficiency (₹ 305/ha/day) were noted with 100% RDF + 25% RDN. Maximum grain yield (1551 kg/ha) had recorded with PGPR +5 kg Zn ha+1.5 kg Mo/ha. Maximum net returns (₹ 29941/ha), B:C ratio (1.30), production efficiency (15.1 kg/ ha/day) and economic efficiency (₹ 210/ha/day) were also noted with PGPR+5 kg Zn ha + 1.5 kg Mo/ha. Thus, to achieve the higher productivity and profitability, french bean could be grown with 100% RDF+25% RDN through organic manures (FYM) and seed inoculation with PGPRs + micronutrient in foot hill condition of Eastern Himalayas.

This study to assess the extent of adoption and its determining factors of improved dairy farming practices by the farmers was conducted in 13 selected districts in the region with 130 sample size from each KVKs adopted and non-adopted villages selected through proportionate random sampling. Data collection from the selected respondents was made with the help of pre-tested structured schedule through personal interview method. The study reveals that majority of the respondents (53.85%) in KVKs adopted villages had medium level of adoption of improved dairy farming practices, while over half of the total respondents (53.08%) in non-adopted villages were found in low adoption level of the same dairy farming practices. Specific recommendations like natural feeding/ grazing and sufficient supply of clean water under feeding practice, providing drainage facilities and milking lactating animals regularly under housing management and deworming and grooming under health care were found adoption by all the respondents (100%) in both categories. The study further shows that out of 13 independent variables under study, only three variables namely; education, farming experience and training received of the two categories of respondents were found having positively significant relationship with their extent of adoption of dairy farming practices. While four variables such as education, type of primary farming activities, training received and extension contact in case of beneficiary farmers and three variables namely; annual income, farming experience and training received in case of non-beneficiary farmers had emerged as the most dominant factors influencing for adoption of improved dairy farming practices.

The study aimed at quantifying yield and economics of the performance of frontline demonstrations (FLDs) in terms of grain yield, extension gap, technological gap and economic gains in six improved varieties of rice in 9 districts of Manipur during 2016-17 to 2018-19. The data on selected parameters of demonstration plots as well as control plots were collected through experimental designs (‘Control-Treatment’) of social research. The results revealed that the average grain yield in demonstration plots of all the selected varieties of rice was higher than farmers practice with highest percent increase over the local check was recorded in var. RC Maniphou-7 (32.67%). The lowest extension gap and technology gap were observed in var. RC Maniphou-11 (7.5q/ha) and CAU-R1 (5q/ha). While the highest technology index was seen in RC Maniphou-7 (14.87%) variety of rice with respect to its potential yield. The study also shown that the highest additional income of Rs. 27325/ha in demonstration over local check was recorded in cultivation of var. RC Maniphou-13 with B:C ratio of 2.38. This was followed by var. RC Maniphou-10 (Rs. 27033/ha), RC Maniphou- 12 (Rs. 23550/ha) and CAU-R1 (Rs. 22153/ha). The results clearly indicate that the adoption of improved varieties of rice and recommended package of cultivation practices with scientific intervention by KVKs under frontline demonstration (FLD) programme contributes to increase the productivity and profitability of rice cultivation at farmers’ fields in Manipur, which may be further improved by reducing the cost of cultivation, extension gap and technology gap.

In the present study, 12 high-yielding varieties (HYVs) and 13 traditional landraces collected from the various places of north-east India were evaluated during 2014 and 2015 for genetic improvement of yield potential of rice (Oryza sativa L.) for diversity analysis for its wider adoption in mid-hills of Nagaland. Among the evaluated 25 varieties, 'RCPL 412′ (2.88 t/ha), 'IURON 514′ (2.61 t/ha), 'VL Dhan 209′ (2.53 t/ha), and ‘Rukhathang’ (2.52 t/ha) performed better in respect of yield potential than 'Bhalum 3′ (2.42 t/ha). Magnitude of the difference between pheno-typic and genotypic coefficient variation for the characters analyzed was relatively low, indicating less influence of environmental factors. High heritability with high genetic advance was recorded for yields, spikelet fertility, seeds/panicle, days to 50% flowering, panicle weight and panicle length. The principal component analysis (PCA) also identified that, yields, panicle weight, percentage of filled grain and seeds/panicle are the most important traits for classifying the variation among the genotypes. The PCA and cluster analysis revealed that, the presence of sufficient diversity among the genotypes and indicate hybridization of 'RCPL1 412′ with 'VL Dhan 221′ will be highly useful for development of short-stature early, high-yielding varieties of ‘Shengyayouh’ with 'RCPL1 412′ may produce the transgressive segregants for development of medium-duration and medium-tall, high-yielding pureline for mid-as well as hill altitudes of eastern Himalayas.

The study aimed at assessing the performance of cluster frontline demonstrations (CFLDs) in terms of grain yield, extension gap, technological gap and economic gains in pulse crops in 21 selected districts of Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura during 2017-18 to 2019-20. The data on selected parameters of demonstration plots as well as control plots were collected through experimental designs (‘Control-Treatment’) of social research. The results reveal that the average grain yield in demonstration fields of all selected pluse crops namely; field pea, black gram and lentil was higher than farmers practice. The PU 31 variety of black gram was recorded with the lowest extension gap (2.34q/ha), technology gap (0.60 q/ha) and technology index (6.74%) followed by lentil (HUL 57) with 2.58q/ha, 5.74 q/ha and 40.97% and field pea (Aman) with 3.08q/ha, 9.17q/ha and 41.67% respectively. The highest additional income (Rs. 24422/ha) in CFLD over local check was recorded in cultivation of black gram followed by lentil (Rs. 16284/ha) and field pea (Rs. 16109/ha). The results clearly indicate that the use of improved varieties and package of cultivation practices with scientific intervention under cluster frontline demonstration programme contributes to increase the productivity and profitability of pulses in the region by reducing the yield and technology gaps.

Thirty two rajma beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) landraces have been evaluated for 17 traits to study the genetic variability, correlations and direct and indirect effect of characters on yield. Results showed that wide range of variations were observed for all 17 traits among the landraces. Moderate to high level of GCV and PCV and high level of heritability were observed for all the traits. PCV was slightly higher than GCV, but the difference was insignificant. The traits such as plant height, number of seeds/plant, number of pods/plant, test weight and seed yield recorded high level of GCV, PCV and heritability. Correlation results showed that seed yield had positive and high correlation (p<0.01) with umber of seeds per plant, number of pods per plant, test weight and seed weight. It was observed that number of seeds per plant had high positive correlation with number of pods per plant and number of seeds per pod had high positive correlation with locules per pod. The results of path coefficient analysis showed that no. of seeds per plant and seed weight had very high level to high level of positive direct effect on seed yield. Based on findings, no. of seeds per plant, no. of pods per plant, test weight, no. of flowers per inflorescence and plant height are identified as very important traits in selection for improving the rajma bean yield.

A study was undertaken to evaluate the seasonal influence on performance of Vanaraja (n=3924) and Gramapriya (n=2227) maintained in five different batches during 2011-14. Better growth was observed in summer during brooding. At brooding, mortality was significantly higher during winter in Vanaraja and during summer in Gramapriya. The egg production was higher when birds started laying in winter than in summer. The overall Hen Day Egg Production (HDEP) was higher in Vanaraja (p<0.01) than the Gramapriya. The fertility level varied between 68 to 90% in both varieties. The hatchability percentage on fertile egg set (FES) varied within the range of 70 to 90. It was concluded that better egg production performance could be obtained from Vanaraja birds, raised in summer and those initiated laying in winter. Therefore, the seasonal factors should be taken care of while raising parent line to achieve optimum production.

Farm, ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Nagaland Centre, Jharnapani, Nagaland to evaluate thirty two landraces of rajma bean for the growth, yield and quality under low altitude conditions of Nagaland.The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications.Eighteen traits viz., growth, yield related components and four quality parameters were recorded.Significant variations were observed for all the traits studied among the landraces evaluated.The results revealed that the line RCN 11 and RCN 20 performed better under lower altitude conditions of Nagaland.The RCN 11 and RCN 20 have recorded the highest seed yield of 63.8 g/plant.The maximum 100-seed weight was recorded by RCN 11 (60.0g) and RCN 20 (56.2 g).The highest yield of 1766.1 and 1766.8 kg/ha was recorded by RCN 11 and RCN 20 respectively.RCN 6 recorded highest protein content of 20.1 % and this line also registered 49.3 g/plant seed yield and 1256.4 kg/ha yields. K e y w o r d s