eChapters

Although women work in household chores, agricultural activities, factories, and different workplaces in days of yore, their valuable work is still not recognized as a financial entity (Kathrivel and Sivakumar, 2003). The multiple roles performed by ‘Nari shakti share many working hours, but financial terms are off the records. Women’s power at construction work is greater utilization as labour and their daily routine employment. 

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is generally a policy to assess its impact on society and estimate its societal responsibilities. The CSR plan of any organization ensures that it complies with government norms, their investments in respect of growth, development of weaker sections and the environment. CSR’s primary requisite should be sustainable, involving interventions that an organization can justify without negatively affecting its profit goals.

Empowerment in the women’s development context can be defined as defining, challenging, and overcoming the hurdles in women’s life. She enhances her ability to mould her life, personality, and surrounding environment. The buzzword “empowerment” synchronises with women metaphorically when we think of women empowerment. Such has been the issue and its importance in society today. However, why it matters so much can be attributed to “constraints”. 

A woman is the backbone of the family. The Self-reliance of women is the first step in the nation’s development. For generations, women have fought for their existence. Women’s softness and humility have developed new dimensions of self-reliance; as a result, the image of a woman with a veil of weakness has ended.

The position of women in ancient times was excellent. The most significant decline occurred in the status of women during the Mughal period. 

2.1. Introduction

The word ‘plastic’ is derived from the Greek word ‘plastikos’, which means easily shaped or molded. Plastics is defined as a random set of materials based on synthetic or modified natural polymers which can be formed by thermal and pressure treatment. It comprises of wide range of macromolecular organic compounds obtained either from alteration of natural macromolecules or polymerization of molecules of lower molecular weight.

The term “plant pest”, mainly applied to insect micropredators of plants, has a specific definition in terms of the International Plant Protection Convention and phytosanitary measures worldwide. A pest is any species, strain or biotype of plant, animal, or pathogenic agent injurious to plants or plant products. Worldwide, agricultural pest impacts are increased by higher degrees of interconnectedness. This is due to the increased risk that any particular pest problem anywhere in the world (as a system) will propagate across the entire system.

Nurserymen and propagators propagate different types of horticulture plants with seeds, cuttings, and other methods. Regardless of the medium used, an ideal medium should have the following characteristics:

1. The medium should be sufficient firm and dense to told seed or cutting or layer firmly in place during germination or rooting.
2. The volume of the medium should remain constant upon drying or wetting.
3. This medium should be able to hold and deliver an adequate amount of moisture to the seeds, cuttings or layers.

Asparagus is an herbaceous perennial that is widely grown in the United States, Germany, Spain, and France, with India contributing only a little amount. For many years, asparagus has been grown. This was a favourite crop of the Ancient Greeks and Romans. It belongs to the Liliaceae family and is thought to have originated in the eastern Mediterranean and further east in the Caucasus Mountains. It’s a monocotyledonous perennial that’s farmed for its edible stems (spears).

The chemistry of humic substances is the least comprehended in the field of Soil Science. The many important functions of humus will remain obscure if the structural chemistry of the humic and fulvic acids is not known. A variety of functional groups have been reported in humic substances. However, considerable disagreement still exists in respect of the exact amounts present and, in some cases, proof of existence is lacking.

Some important structural groups of organic molecules are given below:

The nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) has led to major advances in the studies on the nature and chemical composition of soil organic matter. The technique has the potential for characterizing organic matter in the intact soil and its size fractions without the need for extraction and fractionation. Furthermore, it can provide information on the compositional changes in crop residues, peat and litter of the forest soils during biodegradation and humification.

The study of soil organic matter is becoming increasingly important by the day as world agriculture attempts to ensure sustainability of soils, while at the same time striving to enhance food production to feed an ever-burgeoning population. The use of green manures and pasture leys, the return of residues and additions of organic amendments to the soil are often resorted to in an attempt to increase soil organic matter which immensely benefit the physical, chemical and biological make-up of the soil.

Methods and procedures for the qualitative characterization and quantitative analysis of different constituents of soil organic matter are presented in this Chapter.

20.1. Moisture

The soil sample should be in an air-dry condition after mixing, sieving and grinding. When stored in a moisture-tight container, the free H₂O content should not vary appreciably during storage. While most determinations can be done on air-dry samples, for certain purposes such as obtaining summation values, a moisture content value is required.

Introduction

Soil algae are not as numerous as bacteria, actinomycetes and fungi. Furthermore, these are photosynthetic microorganisms. Recent work has led to a more complete knowledge of the ecology and importance of terrestrial algae. These algae are found abundant in the habitats in which moisture is adequate and light is accessible.

Classification

Soil algae are classified into four major classes:

1. Cyanophyceae (Blue green algae)
2. Chlorophyceae (Green algae)

This chapter presents the conclusions of the research study. Based on these conclusions, recommendations relating to the effective implementation and management of Cyber Reference Service (CRS) in agricultural libraries in Maharashtra are made.

6.1 Introduction

The overall aim of this research was to investigate and analyze CRS in the Agricultural College and University libraries of Maharashtra. The study adopted a mixed-methods approach by combining quantitative and qualitative methods to achieve its aims and objectives. 

The chapter deals with the empirical findings and analyses in order to offer ample interpretation for a reliable conclusion to be drawn. In order to enhance and supplement the textual materials in this chapter, tables and models are frequently employed. Discussion is helpful in putting the study’s findings into proper perspective and connecting them to related research.

Table 6.1: Descriptive Statistics of Variable with respect to Minimum, Maximum, Mean, Standard Deviation of Values, Variance, and Coefficient of Variance

4.1. Origin and distribution

• Native to Indian ocean, Malaysia or Philippines

• Grows in tropical Pacific, Asia, and parts of east Africa.

• Areca is derived from a local name from Malabar Coast of India and catechu is from Malay name caccu.

• Karnataka (40%), Kerala (25%), Assam (20%), Tamil Nadu, Meghalaya and West Bengal are major arecanut growing states.

• India is the largest producer and consumer.

11.1. Tea

11.1.1. Tea mosquito bug: Helopeltis theivora

Symptoms

• Adults and nymphs suck sap from buds, young leaves and tender stems.

• Punctures appear as reddish brown spots.

• Leaves curl up, badly deformed and shoots dry up.

Management

• Spray clothianidin 50 WDG 120 g/ha or thiacloprid 21.7 SC 375 ml/ha or thiamethoxam 25 WG 100g/ha or bifenthrin 8 SC 500 ml/ha.

An Abstract on Production Technology of SpicesAn Abstract on Production Technology of Spices and Plantation Crops