eChapters

Kair also known as Karil or Ker {Capparis decidua (Forsk) Edgew} is an economic desertic plant species, which grows well on sand dunes. The plant is adopted so well under hot arid ecosystem that during extreme of summer when it is difficult to survive by many other vegetation, it produces flowers and fruits. Ker is indigenous to India and growing wildly in arid and semi-arid regions of the country. In India, it is found growing naturally in arid and semiarid tracts of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and southern part of Deccan Peninsula. Besides India, it is found in tropical Africa, Arabia, Sind, Baluchistan, Socotra, South Persia, Pakistan (Sind), Sudan and Egypt. The natural habitat of ker is pediments plains all over dry regions and its density ranges from 8-44 bushes ha-1 (Pareek, 1978). The population density of Capparis decidua on different land forms have been reported by Gupta et al., (1989) as the population varies from 9-70 bushes/ ha. They recorded highest population density on older alluvial plains (81 plant/ ha) and minimum on the periphery of runs (20 plants/ha).  In semi-arid of Pali region, 20-40 bushes /ha was noted in rangeland area (Singh,1993). In recent decade, the natural population of ker bushes has been declined due to increase in population pressure of man and animals and increase in cropping area due to canal irrigation in north-western Rajasthan.

Abstract

Women in India constitute a larger proportion of total unemployed population and hence it is imperative to find out the entrepreneurial problems faced by them. A study was conducted with the objectives to ascertain the financial, marketing and production problems faced by women in their enterprises and assessment of their health status and work place facilities. Boutiques, beauty parlors, embroidery units, fruit and vegetable preservation units and artificial jewelry making were the enterprises selected for study. The results of the study revealed that women faced problems in areas like finance, marketing, health, work place and production. Some recommendations of the study are a) Women entrepreneurs should keep abreast of knowledge about new techniques, financial institutions, training institutions and marketing linkages. b) Information about site or location, physical facilities, transportation etc. must be collected prior to selection of area for development of an enterprise. c) Self help mutually aided groups must be formulated for overcoming common entrepreneurial problems. d) Women should shift to the non-traditional sectors of entrepreneurship in order to earn more.

Phenotypic Diversity

Phenotypic diversity measures the portion of genetic diversity which is expressed phenotypically. So it varies with the character under study and the genetic background and the environment in which it is measured. The measures of genetic diversity based on variance of quantitative traits may be unreliable indicators of diversity in a population at the level of individual gene. But diversity at the molecular level (isozymes, RFLPs) may be a reasonable estimate of phenotypic diversity. The degree of differentiation is related to several biological attributes such as breeding system, mode of pollination and seed dispersal, life history, geographical range, successional stages, etc. The outbreeding populations are much less differentiated whereas the selfers or apomictic are strongly differentiated. Populations of outbreeders contain different alleles especially the rare alleles which contribute little to the diversity. Inbreeders should have greater interpopulations diversity and less intrapopulation diversity than the comparable outbreeders. Further, inbreeders are more prone to show an even distribution of their genetic diversity among populations and this makes their optimum sampling more difficult and any evidence of the geographic pattern of this diversity levels would greatly improve sampling efficiency but geographical and environmental factors rarely explain more than 50% variation.

Plant growth regulators are defined as chemicals other than nutrients and vitamins which regulate (or) modify the physiological process ofthe plant. A plant hormones or phytohormones are chemical substances which are naturally produced by plant in specific organs and are translocated from site of synthesis to the site of action. They bring about specific physiological response, even in very low concentration. The quantity of synthesis of these hormones differ from plant to plant, plant internal and external factors. They are readily absorbed and these chemicals move rapidly through the tissues when applied to different parts of the plant. A plant growth hormone may be termed as a plant growth regulator, but not vice - versa, since other than natural plant hormones, plant growth regulators are synthetically manufactured chemicals.

Plant growth regulators have a diverse chemical composition. Based on the general response the chemical mediates in the plant system, they are classified as growthpromoters and growth inhibitors/retardants. However, a particular growth regulator may be growth promoter at a lower concentration and growth inhibitor at higher concentration.

Most of the starch sources are cereals (40 to 90%), tubers (65 to 85%), roots (30 to 70%), legumes (25 to 50%) which contain nearly 70% of starch on dry basis (Santana & Meireles, 2014). Major application of starch is seen in food production, where it is used as a thickening agent, for stabilization, adsorption, gelling, for binding aromatic compounds and as a film forming agent as well (Subaric et al., 2007). About 0.8-3.2 tons of CO2 per ton of plastic can be saved by using starch-based plastics (Patel 1999).

(A) Anatomy of Lens

The lens is anoptically clear, avascular, biconvex structure of crystalline appearance with an anterior surfaceless curved than the posterior surface, placed between the iris and the vitreous. It is suspended by the suspensory ligament of the lens which is attached to the ciliary body and equator of the lens.

The lens consists of a central nucleus surrounded by the lens fibres and anterior epithelium, encapsulated in an elastic lens capsule. The anterior surface of the lens is in contact with the posterior surface of the iris whereas posterior surface is in contact with the vitreous. As the adult lens does not have a blood supply, its metabolic needs are met by the aqueous humour. The lens is composed of 65% water, 35% protein with scant amounts of electrolytes. The proteins can besubdivided into soluble proteins,

Introduction

Winter hardy and highly drought tolerant. This is an excellent choice crop for the arid and semi-arid conditions of India. Maharashtra is the leading state in India for pomegranate cultivation: Maharashtra. NRC of Pomegranate, Kesaon, Solapur, Maharashtra: Established in 2005. Because of the presence of anthocyanin, the aril and skin have a red color. Dried seeds with pulp are known as ‘Anardana’: It is widely used as a condiment, prepared from a sour type of wild pomegranate is called as Daru. Commonly found in the Himalayan region, has a long productive cycle and is resistant to bacterial blight. Double flower type ornamental plant in it modification of stamens into petals makes them look like rose flowers. Nana or dwarf type is called Bonsai pomegranate, exclusively used for ornamental purposes.

Introduction

While experimenting with chemicals, sometimes we need to dry the chemical/ solution (solid, liquid or gas) using a process like evaporation or distillation, mainly to remove water or different solvents. Drying is the process of evaporation or distillation to remove water/solvent from a solution, solid or even from gas. Generally, a drying agent (usually an anhydrous inorganic salt) is used for this process, which reacts with the water (present in the chemical/ solvent to be dried) to form a hydrate. For example, anhydrous MgSO4 is one of the drying agents. The drying agents are recognized by their capacity (the rate at which they absorb water) and their intensity (the amount of water left behind in the solvent at equilibrium). No chemical reaction or change in phase occurs during the drying process.

Type of Solvents

Apart from water (a universal solvent), there are three families of organic solvents used in laboratories.

1) Oxygenated solvents: Alcohols, Ketones, Glycol ethers, Glycol esters, etc.

2) Hydrocarbon solvents: Aliphatic and Aromatic hydrocarbons.

3) Halogenated solvents: Chlorinated hydrocarbons.

Lasoda (Cordia myxa L.) known by many names viz., cherry of desert, assyrian palm, sebestene plum,  lasura, lehsua, gonda and naruvilli, is an underutilized, multipurpose fruit tree distributed in arid and semi-arid regions of the world. Arid regions are considered under the category of wastelands which are not being used to their fullest potential. Among the arid region crops, lasoda is very suitable crop for cultivation in Rajasthan as it can withstand drought to a very great extent and can tolerate temperature as high as 48 to 50°C during summer months. Lasoda thrives well on neglected, low fertile, sandy, gravelly, saline, alkaline soils and hence can be used for forestation of waste lands. However, it grows vigorously in moist sandy loam soils and gives high productivity.

Plant genetic resources are the most valuable and essential basic raw material to meet the current and future need of crop improvement programme. A wider genetic base assume the priority in plant breeding research aimed as developing new varieties for increased crop production. PGR for food and agriculture are a reservoir of genetic adoptability, which act as buffer against environmental changes and economical challenges. The erosion of these resources results in a severe threat to the world long term food securities. The fundamental objective of the genetic resource conservation is the maintenance of genetic diversity within each of the species. In general PGR include all species which contribute to people by providing food, medicine, feed, fiber etc. PGR is our heritage which needs conservation for prosperity.

Genetic resources management is a complex process starting from the identification of a target gene pool for conservation to the use of genetic resources. Many of these activities not only generate but also require geo-referenced data (Spatial data). Analysis of these data can lead to a greater understanding of the eco-geographic representation of existing collections, increasing the efficiency of conserving and managing genetic resources and broadening our understanding of the distribution of genetic diversity. Genetic resource databases could potentially serve as an information resource to a broader scientific community, providing relatively independent global data sets to meet the unique needs of researcher. GIS can merge genetic diversity information with other georeferenced data such as population density, climate, topography and soils, adding value to genetic resources. GIS analysis can help develop conservation strategies, monitor genetic diversity, select potential collecting sites, design in situ reserves and enhance genetic resources use. Currently, GIS use is constrained by limited georeferenced information.

Pigeon pea seeds discovered in historical tombs suggest it was farmed in Egypt circa 2000 BC. Vavilov (1939) concluded that India is the primary origin of the cultivated pigeon pea due to the wide diversity of germplasm available. It’s a crucial location in rain-fed agriculture. It is grown on 4.92 million hectares worldwide, including 3.58 million hectares (72.7 percent) in India alone. Although the crop is planted in 22 nations, it is only cultivated in considerable areas in a handful of them. Its seeds have become a widespread food in Asia, Africa, and Latin America since its domestication in the Indian subcontinent at least 3,500 years ago. It is an important source of protein for the Indian subcontinent’s people and is consumed on a big scale in South Asia. India is a major producer of pigeon peas. Kenya, Malawi, Uganda, Mozambique, and Tanzania are major producers of pigeon pea on the African continent.

Introduction

Entrepreneurship, known for its ability to drive innovation, economic development, and societal change, is a dynamic force that plays a crucial role in global advancement. However, the path of an entrepreneur is not a straightforward journey from concept to achievement. Instead, it is a complex process influenced by numerous factors, which together form the entrepreneurship development cycle. Gaining a deep understanding of this cycle, along with the entrepreneurial environment and the challenges entrepreneurs face, is essential for cultivating a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem.

The entrepreneurship development cycle refers to the various stages that entrepreneurs go through as they turn ideas into successful ventures. The cycle starts with ideation, where entrepreneurs identify opportunities and develop innovative solutions to address unmet market needs or problems. This is followed by a feasibility assessment, during which entrepreneurs assess the potential of their ideas, considering market demand, competition, and the resources needed. After confirming the viability of their concepts, entrepreneurs move on to resource acquisition, gathering the capital, talent, and infrastructure necessary to bring their ideas to life. The subsequent phases include launching the venture, establishing a market presence, and pursuing growth through strategic decision-making and adaptability to shifting market conditions.

Management of metabolic diseases depends on an early diagnosis. For an early diagnosis, metabolic profile test (MPT) is a diagnostic tool being commonly used in veterinary practice, particularly for dairy herds, to assess the metabolic health of the animals. It helps in an early detection by measuring various blood parameters that indicate the nutritional and health status of the cows for their effective timely management. MPT is based on the principle that the imbalance between input (feed) and output (production) is reflected in the abnormalities of key metabolites in the blood. Key components of the metabolic profile test 1. Energy balance indicators •     Glucose- Reflects energy status and carbohydrate metabolism. Low levels can indicate negative

Abstract

The experiment, conducted at research farm of Central Arid Zone Research Station, Bikaner during 2009 on sandy loam soil. The study revealed that in agri-horti system different irrigation levels significantly affected the growth parameters (plant height, stem girth and tree canopy) of fruit trees which was highest at 80% ETc irrigation level in intercropping of moth bean and cluster bean and it was significantly higher over no intercropping. Intercropping of sonamukhi gave 24.8% lower plant height of citrus over no intercropping. Highest fruit yield of citrus was recorded (40% fruiting) with intercropping of moth bean at 80% ETc irrigation level which was 51% higher over intercropping of sonamukhi.

Abstract

The bio-drainage system used to control the water logging hazards and restore the ground water table depth at a level favourable for other crops to grow. The water utilization efficiency per unit area of land improved through bio-drainage and associated cropping activities. The huge quantity of shallow and good quality groundwater that remains perpetually unutilized by the prevalent lowland cultivation system was effectively used by the biological drainage system. Thus the bio-drainage is expected to alleviate the land degradation problem due to high depth of water stagnant, to restore the crop cultivation programme on a sustainable way, to improve the water management practices, to improve the economic conditions of the lowland farmers and finally, to conserve the ecological values of this fragile agro-ecosystem.The objectives of efficient bio-drainage system are to evaluate ET and depended on growth characteristics of different trees and vegetation species having bio-drainage potential in the waterlogged land thereby to study the water table behaviour in the land under plantation and in the surrounding region and use the result in developing suitable plantation geometry to ensure desired water table draw-down, to assess interaction between bio-drainage plantation and co-existing crops and/or companion crops, to assess the value of the tree species through fodder, fuel wood and timber use, and to development of a new technology for land reclamation and evaluating its impact on soil, water and plant bodies in the basin.

Pineapple is one of the most important commercial fruits of the world. It is good source of vitamin A, B and fairly rich in vitamin C, minerals like calcium phosphorus and iron. Fresh fruit of pineapple is used as dissert fruit in the form of slices. Fruit is also used for juice, squash, jam, mixed jam and in canned form, fruit cone is used for preparing candy. Some cultivars of pineapple are used for extraction of fibre. The important states of pineapple growing are Assam, West Bengal, Tripura, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh (Bal, 1997).

Abstract

Participation of rural women and youth in beekeeping activities provides a unique opportunity to improve rural livelihood and poverty reduction. Women have explored their own niche in beekeeping industry by actively engaging in post harvesting of bee products. Income generation is one of the major reasons for participating in beekeeping activities and beekeeping was ranked number one at the same level as agriculture as major source of income. Post harvesting beekeeping, however, needs liquid capital investment which, limit women and youth to fully participate in the business. Cultural practices are also one of the main hindrances for adult women and youth to participate in beekeeping activities. Nonetheless, presence of beekeeping groups and associations, community banks, forest reserves and beekeeping awareness campaigns in the areas provided opportunities for women and youth to participate in beekeeping. Beekeeping represents one opportunity for income generation which need not be time consuming and can fit in well with women’s priority activities. women be given the opportunity to start beekeeping, it is important that all beekeeping development programs ensure from the outset that extension messages reach rural women, and that they are able to take full advantage of training and credit facilities.

Soil

Soil has a pronounceed effect on the plant growth and productivity in kewda. Well drained sandy-loam soil with adequate supply of moisture is best suited for its vigorous growth and flower production. Thickly distributed profitableKewda plantations with normal flowering are found in the lateritic belts with deposits of silty loam soil and adequate moisture supply. In heavy clay soil with inadequate moisture supply, the plants grow vegetatively with poor flowering. At places close to the Bay of Bengal like Rangiagarh, Kujang, Paradeep of Jagatsinghpur district, where a silt-loam soil deposit is found over the clay zone, the dense plantations of kewda with free flowering ability are noticed. But surprisingly, the female plants are more at few places close to the Paradeep port, which may be due to seed propagation by drifting of ripe fruits from the uplands; while in Ganjam district, the farmers are used to plant the selected male plants in their field resulting in high flower production.

The tentative age of the natural plantations is estimated from the rates of leaf production, stem and branch growth (5-50 cm / year) and development of branching pattern (primary and secondary) in conjuction with the interactions made with the local farmers of kewda (Fig. 9). The plants of different age groups (1 to 5 years) are observed for growth characters and flower production at Tulu of Ganjam and Konark of Puri districts under farmers’ field condition and it is observed that the initiation of flowers started at 5 years of age and the rate of flower production was 1.7 to 2.2 per plant (Table 9).

7.1. Status Vegetables are generally sensitive to environmental extremes, and thus high temperatures and limited soil moisture are the major causes of low yields as they greatly affect several physiological and biochemical processes like reduced photo-synthetic activity, altered metabolism and enzymatic activity, thermal injury to the tissues, reduced pollination and fruit set etc., which will be further magnified by climate change. The consequences of the climate change badly hit the vegetable production. Under changing climatic situations crop failures, shortage of yields, reduction in quality and increasing pest and disease problems are common and they render the vegetable cultivation unprofitable. This ultimately questions the availability of nutrient source in human diet.

Packaging is an essential tool to make products stand out from the competition. Beyond the shelf appeal, packaging also provides protection to the contents from physical, chemical and microbiological hazards. However, a lesser known fact is that the same packaging material could also be a source of chemical contaminants, and hence, may impact food safety as well as food quality. Among the different components of packaging material, packaging inks play a critical role as they might hamper product and consumer safety.

Each packaging ink is a mixture of different chemicals and some of these chemicals might be harmful with the potential to migrate to the foodstuff. In terms of risk, the chemicals could be toxic, carcinogenic, mutagenic, repro-toxic and even endocrine disruptors. The chemical contaminants from the packaging inks can get transferred to the foodstuff by a process called migration.

Over the last two decades, a number of scientific papers have been published, revealing the migration potential of substances from the printed matter. However, the first big scandal that brought the subject alive was about the f indings of isopropyl thioxanthone (ITX, a low molecular photo initiator used in UV inks) in baby milk and other liquid foodstuffs all over Europe, resulting in a product recall in the year 2005. The food scandal alerted the packaging chain about the linkage between packaging inks and food safety. Consequently, the authorities issued strict regulations for the application of printing inks as well as general food control measures.