eChapters

SINGLE CELL PROTEIN (SCP) AND PROTEIN DEFICIENCY

Protein is an essential component of diet. The greatest single problem in the world today is global food protein shortage. Having adequate quantity of food is only one side of the picture, but the most important aspect is the supply of balanced and nutritious food. All efforts are being made to increase the food production through modern methods of farming. But very little attention is being paid towards protein requirements and production. Approximately half of world population suffers from the protein deficiency disease called ‘Kwashiorkor’ and children with poor protein are victims of this disease.

Usually, cereals have low protein values while protein rich pulses are not available in desired quantities due to poor yields and high costs. The good quality protein available in fish, meat, poultry, and eggs is not available due to poor economic condition as well as varied dietary habits. With the current system of production, agriculture cannot be relied upon to feed an ever increasing world population. Hence there is an urgent need to find other protein sources. The best potential is seen in microbial protein or single cell protein (SCP), a new source of protein independent of agriculture.

DEFINITION: The dried cells of microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, yeasts, algae that are grown in large scale culture systems as proteins for human or animal consumption are collectively known as "single cell proteins".

ABSTRACT

Assessment of groundwater potential has wide importance in the exploration, management and development of groundwater resource. The fact that geologic and topographic factors, such as, geomorphology, lithology, structure, soil and slope control the occurrence and movement of groundwater in a region has been made use of in satellite remote sensing to aid groundwater exploration. In hard rock terrains, due to lack of primary porosity, lineaments have greater importance as those can be zones of secondary porosity trapping groundwater in its pore spaces.

In the present study, an attempt has been made to delineate groundwater potential zones in the hard rock terrain in the Gayatri River basin in Kerala, India, using satellite data. The study area which lies between 10o 26’N and 10o 45’N latitudes and 76o 21’E and 76o 54’E longitudes covering an area of about 1000 square kilometers is a drought-prone area. Landsat 7 ETM image of Gayatri River basin has been interpreted visually in a digital environment using ERDAS Imagine software to create geomorphology and lineament maps. Further, with the help of ancillary data, various thematic layers like, lithology, soil, drainage density, etc. have been created and subsequently updated using information obtained from the satellite data. Slope map of the basin has been created using Shuttle Radar Topographic Mission (SRTM) data. Integration of the thematic layers has been done in Arc/Info GRID GIS environment by giving weights to various thematic layers according to their importance in terms of groundwater occurrence. Finally, groundwater potential map of the basin has been prepared by classifying groundwater potential zones as good, moderate and poor.

1. INTRODUCTION

Wild pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is one of those fruits which has got a great economic importance. The name “pomegranate”is derived from Latin pomum (apple) and granatus (seeded) which has influenced the common name for pomegranate in many languages (like in German Granatapfel, seeded apple). It has widely been cultivated throughout India and drier parts of South-East Asia, Malaysia, the East Indies and tropical Africa. The most important growing countries of pomegranate are are Egypt, China, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iran, Iraq, India, Mayamar and Saudi Arabia. In India, it grows in the vast tract of the hill slopes of Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. One of the important centers of wild pomegranate, in Himachal Pradesh is Darlaghat, located about 50 Km from Shimla. The fruit provides substantial income to the farmers particularly where it is found growing wild such as in Mandi, Kullu, Sirmour, Solan, Shimla, and Chamba districts of Himachal Pradesh. It is found very common and gregarious in drier and sub-marginal land of mid hill regions of outer Himalayas at an elevation of 900-1800 m above mean sea level (a.m.s.l). Wild pomegranate is considered as one of the commercial fruits of Himachal Pradesh in the form of dried arils popularly known as “Anardana”. Besides Anardana, other value added products can also be prepared from this fruit as detailed in this chapter.

“Mostpeople spend more time and energy going around problems than in trying to solve them.”
 

- Henry Ford

A problem can be defined as a situation that prevents us from achieving the goals we have set for ourselves. It can be anything from financial, personal to work-related. Problems can arise anywhere, and any activity that helps to end our problem results in problem-solving. Being a part of an extension organization we have to come across different kinds of problems. Every job role has its problems. But how well do we cope up with the everyday problems that we often face? Some people are good at problem-solving. Others may think they are not. Most are somewhere in between.

Good problem solving skills empower managers in their professional and personal lives. Good problem solving skills seldom come naturally; they are consciously learnt and nurtured. The selection of good problem solving skills includes:

The term “chelate” comes from the Greek word “chel,” meaning “claw,” indicating that the element is tightly held or clawed by the ligand. The term was coined by Morgan and Drew in 1920, defining it as a chemical compound in the form of a heterocyclic ring with a metal ion attached by coordinate bonds to at least two non-metal ions, known as chelation. A chelate is a type of mineral complex, which is a mixture of a mineral and an organic compound like a protein or polysaccharide. Chelation refers to the bond formed between a metal ion (mineral) and a ligand (protein or amino acid chelating agent). Chelates are created by reacting a mineral salt with an enzymatically prepared mixture of amino acids and small peptides under controlled conditions. The ligand binds the metal at multiple points, forming a ring structure with the mineral, resulting in a chelate.
In animal feed, chelated minerals, such as iron, manganese, cobalt, copper, and zinc, are commonly used to enhance bioavailability and support metabolic functions. These trace elements are transitional elements on the Periodic Table, forming stable complexes or chelates due to their ability to form coordinate covalent bonds.
The primary goal of chelates is to improve mineral absorption in animals during periods of high nutritional demand, such as pregnancy, lactation, weaning, and environmental or disease stress. Chelates have been studied for their effects on immunity, reproductive performance, and overall herd health. To maximize mineral absorption, chelated compounds should be stable in the rumen.
Chelates are stable, electrically neutral complexes that protect trace minerals from chemical reactions during digestion, ensuring their availability to the animal. Chelated minerals are used to increase bioavailability and uptake, reaching the plasma intact and separating at the site of action. They can replace a portion of inorganic minerals in animal diets and are suitable for all species. Soluble chelated trace minerals are designed for use in drinking water supplies.

Rodents are well recognized pests and are considered the number one enemy of man. These animals, though considered primitive, have been so successful and abundant worldwide that they alone account for more than half of the known mammalian fauna. They can subsist on a variety of food and even without water for a long time. Due to their prowess of adaptability, they have successfully adapted to varied ecological and physiological niches, and therefore are inhabitants of practically each and every latitude and altitude. They multiply at super fast speed because they become sexually mature when they are just 6-8 months old. They then pose a challenge to man in all respects. According to Prakash (1988) in India there are 135 species and about 300 sub-species of rodents belonging to 46 genera. At least 15 of these rodent species are known to be the serious pest of public health hazard (Jain and Tripathi, 1988). Rodents not only damage the crops in the fields, where the infestation occurs at all stages of food production, processing, storage and distribution, they are also responsible for a number of diseases in the human beings.

Rodents attack the-crops shortly after sowing, during the vegetative growth and during the ripening of the seed heads. They damage the various crops of the kharif season viz., jowar, maize, ground nut and cotton as well as the crops of the rabi season viz., wheat and barley etc. They damage other crops also which include paddy, sugarcane, soyabean and Bengal gram etc. Hence some well planned rodent management is the need of the time and before going for the planning of any control method in a given situation it is essential to have an estimation of the population and the species involved.

1. Introduction

India’s horticulture production has exposed multiple rises in the historical two decades and the country is ranking second in the world next to China. The horticultural crops viz., fruits, vegetables, flowers, spices, plantation crops and medicinal and aromatic plants have become a vital motorist for economy development in numerous states in India. Horticulture contributes 30.4 per cent to GDP of agriculture, which calls for the need of research and technical backstopping in this sector. Horticulture is a division which has the potential to create multiple springs of income, thereby boosting the economic growth of a country. Horticulture can be undertaken as market driven cultivation of vegetables, fruits and flowers, as ecotourism, as therapeutic medicinal plant harvesting and as a part of multiple farming to accompaniment the main source of income.

India is one of the unique countries in the world with great diversity in climate. The annual rainfall varies from about 180 mm in North western part of India to almost 11,777 mm at Cherrapunji in Meghalaya. For a considerable amount of time, Cherrapunji had occupied the position of wettest place in India. However, off late, observations revealed that it is Mawsynram which receives the maximum amount of annual rainfall. Hence, Mawsynram with 11,872 mm annual rainfall is the wettest place in India. Both the places-Mawsynram and Cherrapunji-are located within 16 kilometers from each other in the East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya. The maximum temperature at Churu in western Rajasthan is 50ºC and the lowest minimum temperature at Leh in Ladakh region is as low as -35ºC. In view of such great diversity in the distribution of rainfall and temperature in the country, it is necessary to have clear understanding on regional, seasonal and diurnal variation in different weather parameters (Fig. 13.1).

Ruminants possess the remarkable ability to efficiently utilize non-protein nitrogen (NPN) substances as substitutes for protein, thanks to the presence of microbes in their rumen. These substances contain essential amino acids, which are crucial for the proper growth and development of animals. The microbes in the rumen play a significant role in synthesizing these essential amino acids from NPN sources, making them readily absorbable by the ruminant’s digestive system. In fact, research has demonstrated that rumen bacteria prefer utilizing amides, amino acids, and ammonium salts for energy production and growth, rather than proteins. This utilization of NPN substances is essential for meeting the protein requirements of ruminants and ensuring their overall health and productivity. Consequently, incorporating NPN-rich feeds into ruminant diets can be a cost-effective alternative to traditional protein sources.
Definition: Non-protein-nitrogenous (NPN) substances refer to feedstuffs that contain nitrogen in a form other than proteins or peptides. In fresh herbages, up to 30% of the total nitrogen content may consist of NPN substances.

The quantity of space available for product storage is referred to as warehouse capacity. Understanding the distinction between theoretical working capacity and storage capacity can be aided by warehouse capacity. In warehouses and other storage facilities, space is perhaps the most valuable resource for online retailers. By making the most of their warehouse space, businesses can significantly increase the quantity of goods they can store there. Having more things in storage at once can save them money on transportation and other expenses.
It also makes it easier for the warehouse KPI staff to access the products, which helps them process orders faster and deliver the goods to customers sooner. Because space can be limited in a warehouse setting, warehouse managers and business owners should take the time to assess how much space they have and how well they’re using it.
STEP TO CALCULATE WAREHOUSE STORAGE CAPACITY
Understanding your warehouse’s current capacity is the first step in
determining how to increase it. This brief guide will show you how to calculate a
warehouse’s capacity in feet:
• Calculate the total square footage of your warehouse complex. Let’s assume that it is 10,000 square feet in this case.
• Determine the total amount of space devoted to non-storage purposes, such as offices, loading areas, restrooms, and break rooms. Assume for the moment that this is equivalent to 2,000 square feet.
• Subtract the total square feet of non-storage space from the total square feet of your warehouse to determine the usable space. The following is the equation:
USABLE SPACE-TOTAL SQUARE FEET – NON-STORAGE SPACE SQUARE FEET
Determine the total usable storage space by identifying the maximum stack height or clear height. This should account for the lowest-hanging overhead

Natural-fibre-reinforced green composites represent an important alternative to conventional synthetic-fibre composites. This chapter examines renewable fibres such as hemp, jute, flax, and sisal and their integration with bio-based polymer matrices. The discussion covers material composition, processing methods, environmental considerations, sustainability, applications, advantages, limitations, and current research developments. Natural fibres offer low density, renewability, biodegradability, and cost advantages, although hydrophilicity, variability, and processing limitations can affect composite performance. Surface treatments and appropriate fabrication methods are therefore important for improving mechanical, thermal, and durability characteristics. Applications in automotive, construction, packaging, and biomedical sectors demonstrate the growing potential of these sustainable composite materials.

Table, normal yield: A standard yield table with which to compare actual yields. The values of a normal yield table are derived as averages of the best producing fully stocked areas for given species, sites, and methods of treatment.

Table, stand: A summary table showing number of trees by species and diameter class for any given area.

Table, stock: A summary table showing for any given area the volume of trees by species and diameter class.

ABSTRACT

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is the driving force for the fundamental economic and social revolution. It accelerates globalization, makes access to knowledge and information much easier for the people in respect of creation of technologies, diffusion of old innovation and diffusion of human skills for rural prosperity. The National Conference on Informatics for Sustainable Agriculture Development (ISDA) organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and National Informatics Centre (NIC), in May 1995, has given much needed “roadmap” to usher in “ICT led agriculture development” in the country.

Abstract

Food security to the increasing population on one side and the increasing export of food grains on the other side has lead to the immediate attention on to raise the food production in our country. The decreasing land availability for agriculture due to the increased degraded lands and use of agricultural lands for non agricultural purposes has still worsened the situation. In order to match with the food requirement from decreasing agricultural lands, Indian agriculture has been pushed towards indiscriminate use of farm inputs exploiting the non renewable natural resources without any concern to the environmental ill effects leading to further degrading of the situation. Even though the concept of sustainability is age old, the importance is felt recently. Sustainable use of resources at farm level can magnify the effect of conserving non renewable resources and reducing ill effects on the environment at state level and to the country. Sustained farm production is a key to manage our resources and environment. Adoption of new information technologies with the conventional agronomic practices to increase farm production is made inevitable due to our past experience. The advancement in the technology tools like Remote Sensing, Geographic Information System, Global Positioning System and Decision Support Systems have paved way for better and effective management of crop production at farm level. 46 Geospatial Technologies for Natural Resources Management

A systematic approach of management involving advanced technologies and conventional agronomic practices through understanding the factors like soil variability, weather parameters and crops that contribute for the sustainable farm production is need of the hour. The spatial and temporal variability of the farm production parameters are to be studied and mapped in relation to historical data of the farm for successful site specific management. Site specific management tools may improve decisions related to site conditions, thereby reducing the aspect of uncertainty in the management system. This approach of farm management using advanced technologies viz., Remote Sensing, Geographic Information System, Global Positioning System, Variable rate technology, crop production modeling and Decision Support System can enable sustainable farm production with beneficial effect on the environment in future.

Keywords : Remote sensing, GIS, Sustainable Farm production, Site Specific Management

1. Agricultural biotechnology: Agricultural biotechnology is a collection of scientific techniques used to improve plants, animals and microorganisms.

2. Gel electrophoresis: Analytical technique by which usually large biomolecules (proteins, DNA) are separated through a gel by application of an electric field.

Rural Development Concept

Rural development falls under the wider concept of “Development,” a goal universally valued by individuals, families, communities, and countries around the globe, regardless of its definition.

Rural development encompasses a wide scope, primarily targeting actions to enhance underdeveloped aspects of village economies. Key areas in rural India that require new development initiatives include- enhancing human resources, focusing on literacy (especially among women), education, skill enhancement, health, sanitation, public health improvements, and land reform, alongside the advancement of each locality’s productive assets.

The development of green nanocomposites requires more than replacing conventional materials with renewable alternatives; it also requires responsible sourcing, efficient resource utilization, and consideration of the complete material life cycle. This chapter examines green and eco-friendly nanocomposites from the perspective of sustainable material selection and circular economy principles. It discusses strategies for obtaining renewable raw materials, reducing environmental impacts, improving resource efficiency, and designing materials for reuse, recycling, and recovery. Applications of green nanocomposites are also considered in relation to sustainability objectives. By connecting material development with circular economy strategies, the chapter provides a framework for developing nanocomposites that combine functional performance with reduced environmental burden.

Abstract

The Sonadi is an important breed of sheep in southern Rajasthan. Three districts namely Udaipur, Rajsamand and Chittorgarh were selected from major and Bhilwara from minor breeding tract for complete enumeration. Finally 450 shepherds were selected to collect the information with respect to demographical and geographical distribution as well as management practices. Among selected tehsils, two tehsils from each district were chosen for breed characterization. In all 6979 sheep from 147 shepherds of 49 villages in 8 tehsils were registered for breed characterization.