eChapters

Abstract

India ranks in the world’s five largest producers of over 80% of agricultural produce items. Processing of agricultural produce generates substantial amount of crop residues which can have tremendous value to farmers. However, a large portion of the residues is burned on farm primarily to clear the field from straw and stubble; which affects the environment, soil health and crop yield.The conversion of crop residues to eco-friendly and valuable product like biochar is need of the hour. Biochar is an organic amendment which slowly releases C in the soil, and is stable over the years. Various applications of biochar like reduction in greenhouse gases emission, sequestering C in the soil, increasing crop yield, used as combusting fuel and livestock feedmakes it a promising candidate for sustainable agriculture and environment.

Literal meaning of dispersion is scatterdness. We study dispersion to have an idea about the homogeneity and heterogeneity of the distribution. Dispersion gives an idea about how much the values of the observation varies from their averages. The series in which the values of the observation differ much from their averages is said to be heterogeneous or highly dispersed. The series in which the value of the observation does not differ much from their averages is said to be homogenous or less dispersed.

There are two types of measures of dispersion:

Physical and chemical techniques have been applied either alone or in combination with certain cultural practices to enhance the effectiveness of reducing pathogen inoculums and consequent reduction in disease incidence. Seeds and asexually propagated planting materials have been treated with physical and / or chemical methods in order to eliminate the pathogens from them and to build up disease-free stocks. Physical and chemical methods may be applied to reduce the inoculum present in plant debris as well as in the soil and water. Enough attention has not been bestowed to tackle the pathogens that may exist on fallen leaves or shoots from which infectible spores may be produced later.

Introduction

Mineral imbalance in the animal body produces several problems. Normal dairy animals experience constantly changing nutrient demands and environmental stress during pregnancy and lactation. In the first part of the cycle the negative balance must be held to minimum, later the reserves must be replenished through fine tuned nutritional support for optimum production of the dairy animals. Inadequate blood calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg), or potassium (K) concentrations can cause a dairy animal to lose the ability to rise to her feet as these elements are necessary for nerve and muscle function and are therefore of particular concern in the newly calved dairy animal. Mechanisms for maintaining blood status of these elements concentrations perform efficiently most of the time but occasionally these homeostatic mechanisms fail and metabolic diseases such as milk fever occur. Understanding about cause and predisposing factors behind the same may be helpful to develop strategies to avoid these disorders.

Macro elements have a significant role in normal functioning of the body, including proper reproduction and production. Imbalance of these elements in the body of a peri parturient animal creates severe problems to the animal body and even the productivity of the animal gets seriously affected. Among the macro elements calcium, phosphorus and magnesium with cation-anion balancing elements (sodium, potassium and chlorine) play an important role in normal health of dairy animals during the parturition period.

7.1 Introduction

Chinese cabbage appears to be native of China. It is known to have arisen from a cross between Pak choi (Brassica rapa var. chinensis, non-heading Chinese cabbage) from south China and turnip (Brassica rapa var. rapifera) from north China when they were grown together in the city of Young-chou. Artificial crosses between these species have proved this hypothesis. Its chromosome number 2n=20 distinguishes it from cole crops. It is not a member of cole group but regarded as very closely allied crop due to similarity in breeding systems, cultivation practices, season of growing and other features besides being like a member of Brassica vegetables. In general Pe-tsai cabbage, i.e., heading type (B. rapa subsp. pekinensis or B. pekinensis) and pak-choi cabbage, i.e., leafy type (B. rapa subsp. 

Production of any selected species of earthworm in a particular place adopting semi-natural condition is called vermiculturing. As discussed earlier in chapter 2 and 4, commercial production of certain earthworm species is essential to meet up the huge demand of earthworms for vermicomposting of organic wastes, for production of earthworm meal for pet animals, poultry and fish farming, for preparation of medicine and for their use in reducing toxic chemicals from soil and water, etc. Since during vermicomposting, earthworm multiplies in vermicompost beds, many people confuse between this two terms – vermiculturing and vermicomposing.

Need for certification

Forest restoration and reforestation experts know the effect the right seed source can have on the long-term economic and ecological success of tree planting efforts. However, unlike stock quality (such as size and health), genetic quality (seed source) cannot be observed by the consumer at the time of stock purchase. Where once the provincial government controlled the source of seed and its destination through the provincial nursery system, seed supply is now in the private sector, and the source is unknown or a matter of trust. Tree planting in general needs help, and the wrong seed source is only one of the many reasons that your planting project may not be successful. Besides, the identity of the source will be tracked throughout the chain of custody until it is presented, as a labeled, certified product to the consumer. The seed source may be from a single parent tree or preferably from a large healthy stand of trees. But if seed is bulked from many locations, the label on the resulting seedlings can only indicate the greater area. For example if a nursery bulked its seed from many counties across a specific place, they can only certify and market that crop as? specific place? not as one from a specific county that may have been a source for the seed. For this reason we will have to encourage collectors and growers to bulk only by tree seed zones to promote certification program for the context of successful tree planting.

6.1 Summary

The study analyzed the economics of family migration decision and its relationship with urban informal sector and agricultural efficiency. The study is mainly based on primary survey, though various secondary data Sources have been consulted. The primary survey has been conducted in Birbhum district of West Bengal covering 300 households with equal share of rural and urban households. The selection of the district is mainly guided by the dominance of rural-urban migration and the wide prevalence of both agricultural and non-agricultural activities. By tracing the reasons of migration across the states of India, the study provides a vivid picture of the rural-urban migration in West Bengal and it is associated linkages with agricultural efficiency and urban informal sector. Sophisticated statistical and econometric tools have been utilized to justify the economic explanation of rural urban migration in West Bengal.

In today’s rapidly evolving world, food production is at the confluence of tradition and innovation. While age-old farming practices have sustained civilizations for millennia, the modern era demands an unprecedented level of precision and foresight. Weather intelligence—the practice of integrating detailed meteorological data with advanced analytics and decision support systems— is revolutionizing food production, from agriculture and fisheries to animal husbandry (Fig. 1.1). This chapter lays the foundation for understanding how accurate and timely weather data underpins food security, economic sustainability, and environmental stewardship. It further highlights global themes addressing the growing demand for food in any nation with a burgeoning population, the challenges of climate change, and the increasing frequency of extreme weather events. This introduction also outlines the objectives and structure of this book, which aims to empower decision makers with the knowledge needed to navigate a world where climate and food production are inextricably linked.
1.1 Context & Importance
1.1.1 The Changing Face of Food Production
Food production has always been sensitive to the whims of nature. Historically, farmers relied on folklore, seasonal patterns, and local wisdom to guide planting and harvesting cycles. With growth and development of atmospheric sciences from 19th century, farmers started depending upon weather forecasts in planning and management of agricultural production systems. However, with the advent of climate change, environmental degradation, and increasingly unpredictable

1.1 Introduction

‘Cucurbits’ is a term coined by Liberty Hyde Bailey for cultivated species of the family Cucurbitacae. During this current century the term has been used not only for cultivated forms, but also for any species of the family Cucurbitacae. Cucurbits are frost sensitive, predominantly tendril-bearing vines which are found in subtropical regions around the globe. A few numbers of species those are native to or cultivated in temperate climate are prolific seed producing annuals or perennials that live for one season until killed by frost (Robinson and Decker-Walters 2004). Other vernaculars applied to the family Cucurbitacae and several of its members are ‘gourd’, ‘melon’, ‘cucumber’, ‘squash’ and ‘pumpkin’.

Introduction

After the advent of Post Genomic era, Biological data is accumulating at an electrifying pace every day. Storage and analysis of these data serve as a major source for scientific research to understand the phenomena of origin, evolution and existence of various forms of life. The management of these data requires different statistical techniques used for retrieval, storage, analysis and extraction of precise information from small as well as large biological datasets. Application of statistical tools in Bioinformatics especially in fisheries data has been reported (Roy and Martha, 2008).

Glauber J. R. (1604–1670) in Netherlands first proposed that the salt peter (KNO₃) was the principle of vegetation. He obtained large increases in crop yield by addition of salt peter.

Mineral soils contain 0.04–3.0% K. Total potassium content of soils range from 3000 to 100000 kg per ha in the upper 0.2 m of soil profile. Of this total potassium approximately 98 percent is bound in mineral form whereas 2% in soil solution and exchangeable phases.

ROLE OF POTASSIUM

It is Involved in activating the enzymes (as many as 80) responsible for carbon dioxide reduction and required for synthesis of adenosine triphosphate. Hence deficiency of potassium reduces crop growth and yields.

Crop husbandry includes various cultural practices aimed at enhancing yields from a given unit of land. To achieve this aim, practices such as growing high yielding cultivars which are fertilizer responsive, high density planting and application of large quantities of different nutrients and frequent application of pesticides have been followed. Consequently these practices have been found to be responsible for some problems which were not associated with crops raised by adopting traditional agricultural practices. Thus the benefits of modern methods appeared to be lost, because of the unforeseen problems for which the effective solution have to be found out. Various methods that could be dovetailed with regular cultural practices have been shown to be useful in either reducing the existing pathogen inoculum or avoiding build up of inoculum in the field.

Introduction

In the relentless battle against crop weeds, farmers have traditionally relied on chemical herbicides and labour-intensive mechanical methods. However, concerns about environmental impact and herbicide resistance have driven the search for more sustainable and eco-friendly alternatives. One such solution is biological control, harnessing the power of predatory insects to manage weed populations naturally. This chapter delves into the fascinating world of biological control, exploring the key concepts, benefits, and implementation strategies of using predatory insects to combat crop weeds.

A. Principles of spices breeding
Plant breeding is a science-based technique aimed at improving the genetic makeup of plants to develop desirable traits such as increased yield, resistance to diseases and pests, improved quality, and adaptability to various environmental conditions. When applied to spices, these principles are adapted to meet the unique characteristics and challenges of spice crops.
A.1. Understanding the breeding objectives
• Yield improvement: Increasing the yield of spices like black pepper, ginger, and turmeric is a primary goal. This involves selecting varieties that produce more berries, rhizomes, or seeds.
• Quality enhancement: For spices like vanilla, cinnamon, and saffron, the focus is on enhancing the quality of the product, such as increasing vanillin content, oil content, or curcumin levels.
• Disease and pest resistance: Developing resistant varieties is crucial for spices prone to specific diseases, like black pepper’s vulnerability to foot rot or large cardamom’s susceptibility to fungal diseases.
• Adaptation to environmental conditions: Breeding efforts often aim to produce varieties that can thrive in specific climates, such as the cool, shaded forests required for large cardamom or the arid conditions suitable for cumin.

Abstract

In semiarid climates, a significant component of recharge to basin aquifers occurs along the mountain front. In this scenario Mountain Front Recharge study has been carried along the foothills of Courtallam ,Tamil Nadu. A total of 53 groundwater samples were collected along the foothills and measured for major cations and anions using standard procedure. Saturation index (SI) of carbonate minerals like Aragonite,Magnesite, Calcite and Dolomite,LogpCO₂ and Ionic strength obtained from WATEQ4F output. pH plays a significant role in the saturation index of the minerals. Most of the Carbonate minerals shows undersaturation  with the pH range 7.5. Positive relationship between SI and HCO₃ is noticed. A sharp increase of pCO₂ values towards the foothills region suggests that the groundwater has been recharged by, acquiring longer flow path during its infiltration into deeper level near foot hill region. The SI of these carbonate minerals was spatially distributed to identify the areas of higher SI and also it is compared with the water level fluctuation to understand the recharge process along the foothill region as well as riparian zone.

Introduction

"The new science of nutrigenomics teaches us what specific foods tell your genes. What you eat directly determines the genetic messages your body receives. These messages, in turn, control all the molecules that constitute your metabolism: the molecules that tell your body to burn calories or store them. If you can learn the language of your genes and control the messages and instructions they give your body and your metabolism, you can radically alter how food interacts with your body, lose weight, and optimize your health." (Mark Hyman 2006).

Nutrients have long been considered merely as fuel or cofactors however, it is accepted that diet and feeding strategies play an important role in determining the basic physiological processes that influence the health and wellbeing of animals and ultimately influence the efficiency of production. Traditional research related to animal nutrition mainly deals with either deficiency or excess of the particular nutrient which affects their health and productivity. Subsequently, it was appreciated that nutrients can themselves participate in the regulation of metabolic pathways, for instance through the allosteric regulation of specific enzymes, or by modulating hormone secretion. Shifting of balance between health and disease states involves the complex interplay of genes and the environment, which includes nutrients. The use of systems biology approach in nutrition has attracted both scientists and industrialists during recent decades and a link between diet and health is well established. However, it has often been difficult to easily evaluate the effects of specific nutrients, combinations of nutrients and nutrient interactions because of the lack of straightforward biological indicators that respond to even the simplest changes in nutrition or nutritional status.

• General considerations

 • Purpose and goals of laboratory

 • Standards, guides and references

 • Accreditation for competence

 • Identification of scope

 • Test methods

 • Benefits of ISO17025 accreditation

 • Processing of application

Introduction

Brinjal (Solanum melongena), is a self-pollinated plant also known as eggplant, is an easily cultivated plant belonging to the Solanaceae family.Brinjal ishigh productive vegetable and easily grown everywhere.It is also known as poor’s man vegetable. Brinjal is cultivated widelyand grown as a vegetable crop in any environment. Brinjal grown large amount in India, Pakistan, Chinaand United States. The origin of the brinjal is India. In Brinjaleconomic parts are fruit. It is a high nutritional valuable food.The brinjal fruit and whole plant use as a medicine in some area. It is cultivated everypart of India except high attitude, all the year around. Depending upon consumer’s preference and yield, different types of cultivars are cultivated.Somewild spp of brinjal are fond in northeast states of India and Malaysia. Solanum insanum, a wild cultivar of the plant, mainlyobserved in the dry and hilly region of west Bengal.Some yellow color brinjal varieties are found in Malaya.

9.1 Introduction

Cluster bean is grown in India to a lesser extent than other beans. It is a commercial crop of arid and semi-arid regions. It is grown for its green pods that are used as vegetable and dry seeds. It is also grown as forage and green manure crop. Among leguminous crops it is comparatively hardier, drought resistant and cultivated on a large scale as a forage crop in dry regions because of its deep tap root system which enables it to recover from water stress. Some of the cultivars are used for extraction of gum called as guargum. The gum obtained from this crop is like a mucilaginous substance called galactomannan that is used in various industries particularly textiles, cosmetics, explosives and paper. Due to its colloidal nature, the gum acts as a stabilizer and thickener in food products,viz., ice cream, bakery mixes and salad dressings. The seeds of clusterbean contain about 30-33% gum in the endosperm. The gum in the seeds are galactomannan polysaccharides. The discovery of the galactomannan gum in the endosperm during 1948, led to its importance as an industrial crop. Today it is one of the significant foreign exchange earners of the country. Fresh pods contain 82.5% water, 9.9% carbohydrate, 3.7% protein, 0.2% fat, 2.3% fibre and 1.4% mineral matter. Cyamopsis senegalensis is the ancestor of guar. The largest growing state is Rajasthan (82%). Young plants of cluster bean contain hydrocyanic acid which causes toxicity to animals. It is an amide (asparagine and glutamine) producing legumes.