eChapters

Soil physical properties
The physical properties of soil, particularly its mechanical behavior, significantly impact its suitability for plant growth. Factors like plant support, root penetration, drainage, aeration, moisture retention, and nutrient availability are all influenced by the soil’s physical condition. These properties also affect the soil’s chemical and biological activities.
A soil’s physical properties are determined by the quantity, size, shape, arrangement, and mineral composition of its particles, as well as its organic matter content and pore spaces.
Important Physical Properties of Soils
1. Soil Texture
2. Soil Structure
3. Surface Area
4. Soil Density
5. Soil Porosity
6. Soil Color
7. Soil Consistence
Soil Texture
Definition
Soil texture refers to the relative proportions of different-sized particles, specifically the percentage by weight of sand, silt, and clay. It’s a fundamental soil property that is difficult to alter. Soil textural determinations typically exclude particles larger than 2 mm in diameter (stones and gravels). While larger particles can affect land management and tillage, they contribute minimally to water-holding capacity (WHC) and nutrient storage/supply.

14.1 Introduction

Atmospheric concentration of CO₂ has increased from 280 ppm in pre-industrial era to 385 ppm in 2008 (+ 37.5%) and is presently increasing at the rate of 2 ppm yr^-1 or 3.5 Pg yr^-1 (1 Pg or petagram = 1 Gt = 1 gigaton = 1 billion metric ton). The increase in CO₂ emission by human activity is attributed to fossil fuel combustion, deforestation and biomass burning, soil cultivation and drainage of wetlands or peat soils. Increase in fossil fuel combustion is caused by high global energy demand of 475 Quads (1 quad = 1015 BTU) and increasing at the rate of 2.5 % yr^-1, especially in emerging economies including China, India, Mexico, Brazil, etc. The world population of 6.7 billion in 2008 is increasing at the rate of 1.3 % yr^-1 and is projected to be 9.5 billion by 2050 before stabilizing at 10 billion towards the end of the 21^st century. There exists a strong positive correlation between population growth on the one hand and CO₂ emission or the energy demand on the other. The People’s Republic of China accounted for 13% of the world’s C emissions in 2002 and that share is projected to rise to 18% by 2025 (Lal, 2004a).

1. The disease Beri - beri is caused due to deficiency of vitamin
   1. D
   2. C
   3. B
   4. A
2. Which of the following vitamin is found in Fish liver oil?
   1. Vitamin D
   2. Vitamin C
   3. Vitamin K and C
   4. Vitamin A

Abstract
This chapter presents a comprehensive exploration of global agricultural exports, focusing on their pivotal role in economic development, food security, and sustainability. It highlights the growing importance of emerging markets, technological advancements, and evolving consumer preferences such as the rising demand for organic, sustainable and value-added products. An in-depth analysis reveals that agricultural exports contribute significantly to job creation, income generation, and international trade relations, particularly for developing nations. The chapter evaluates India’s performance as both an exporter and importer, emphasizing key products like marine goods, rice, spices, and buffalo meat. It further discusses India’s engagement with international trade agreements, quality and safety standards, and the challenges and opportunities in maintaining compliance. The future Outlook identifies high-potential sectors including functional, organic, and plant based foods especially in Asia-Pacific, Africa and Latin America. Drawing on data-driven insights, the chapter offers strategic directions for policy makers, agribusiness, and exporters to enhance market access and competitiveness. Overall, it underscores the transformative potential of agricultural trade in shaping a resilient and inclusive global economy.
Keywords: Global Trade Dynamics, Emerging Markets, Export Opportunities and Trade Agreements

The term transgenic animal refers to an animal in which there has been a deliberate modification of the genome - the material responsible for inherited characteristics - in contrast to spontaneous mutation (FELASA September 1992, revised February 1995). Foreign DNA is introduced into the animal, using recombinant DNA technology, and then must be transmitted through the germ line so that every cell, including germ cells, of the animal contain the same modified genetic material.  By simple means a transgenic animal is an animal in which foreign DNA has been incorporated into its original DNA. Transgenic animals are altered so that their DNA produces chemicals that normally they would not produce.

ABSTRACT

The present communication deals with the impact and contribution on livelihood sustainability based on forest resources and sacred places in nine fringe villages of Pangolakha Wild Life Sanctuary (PWLS), located in Sikkim Himalaya. Populations density in villages varies from 23 at Nayabusty and 274 at Padamchen. Populations were categorised under three age groups viz. minor (15-25 yrs), major (26-36 yrs) and elder (over 36 years). Approximate by 27.6% populations had minimal primary education. Agriculture is the main activity in Suvaneydara (86.7%), Agamlok (85.3%) and in Nayabustyy (82.3%). Villagers in Padamchen (12.5%) and in Nathang (12.5%) are either dependent on Government job (38.2%) or seasonal flow of tourist (25%). The educational qualification in these villages is classes 5 to 10 standards. 91.1% of people rely on forest resources. About 70% of the villagers depicts that forest cover of the region is improving. The availability of fodders (70%) and fuel woods (60%) are still in abundance. People depend on tirja (private), khashmal and goucharan areas for grazing and fuel wood collection. Forty nine economical economically by valued plant species belonging to 46 genera and 35 families were documented. Subtropical ecosystems had high number of plant species. Poaceae was the dominant family (17%). Tree life form is abundant (51%). Total 24 species are harvested for edible purpose, 24% are freely sold in the local haats (market) for their livelihood sustenance. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) of nine villages with respect to forest resources indicated the village specific use pattern of plant resources. Indigenous inherent knowledge of local plants is decreasing in Lingtam. PWLS and its adjoining villages have important places with religious importance, heritage sites managed by the people. It was observed that exploitation of plant resources, lack of maintenance and fast changing concept of traditional ethics among youths, plant resources were degraded and in regenerating stage.

Maize or corn (Zea mays L.) is second most important crop after rice in Jharkhand. Though considered as a Kharif season crop, it can be successfully grown in other two crop seasons viz., Rabi and zaid also as the climatic condition in Jharkhand is conducive for growth of the plants. Rabi maize has comparative advantage over Kharif maize due to low incidence of diseases and insect pests slow growth of weeds and crop does not have to suffer on account of heavy rainfall hence, higher yield potentiality could be realized from Rabi maize. In Jharkhand, the Kharif crops including the maize are grown as rainfed as the 80 to 85% of the annual rainfall takes place during June to September. The share of maize under irrigated condition is restricted to only 15 to 18% of the total cropped area. Maize is not only an important source of nutrient to the human beings but also constitutes a basic component of animal and poultry feed. Here, farmers grow maize mainly for green cobs as cash crop whereas the grains are to be used for human consumption as well as for animals and poultry feed. The cultivation of the specialty corns like baby corn, sweet corn and popcorn is still in its infancy in Jharkhand and hence, large scale cultivation of specialty corn in the state will take some more time. Establishment of food processing unit in the state is at the nascent stage. However, the Government of India is implementing a Mega Food Park in Getalsud Industrial Area of Ranchi district in Jharkhand. The establishment of this mega food park is expected to give a significant boost to the food processing sector in Jharkhand.

Introduction

Natural resources support livelihood of a large section of India’s population, despite its steady declining share in the Gross Domestic Production (GDP) and, in all probability these will continue to play the dominant role even in future. Interaction of several factors in the global climate change scenario has markedly limited the capability of natural resources and thereby threatened livelihood of small holders throughout the world. Factors like agriculture production crisis, fresh water unavailability, energy crisis, deforestation; degradation, wide pandemic, active climate change effects and continuous rise of input cost of farming create threats to the livelihood of millions and it has become imperative to collectively understand the complexities and challenges in natural resource conservation and management.

Introduction
Given increasing demands, dwindling resources, and climate-induced uncertainties, water resource management is a critical challenge in the 21st century. Integrating Information Technology (IT) into water resource management offers transformative solutions to optimize water usage, monitor resources, predictshortages, and enhance distribution efficiency. IT tools such as remote sensing, geographic information systems (GIS), artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), and big data analytics are at the forefront of this evolution, enabling more effective planning, decision-making, and resource sustainability.

INTRODUCTION

A food may have three attributes (1) Provide energy and nutrition (2) Give pleasure, i.e., enjoyable aroma, colour, and taste and (3) Health benefits. Functional food has physiological benefits and reduces the risk of chronic disease beyond basic nutrition.

Functional foods, also reported as ‘nutraceuticals’, ‘medical foods’ or ‘designer foods’ in the literature, were first described by Roberfroid (1999) as ‘Food similar in appearance to conventional food that is intended to be consumed as part of a normal diet, but has been modified to subserve physiological roles beyond the provision of simple nutrient requirements’. Examples are iodized salts, vitamin A and vitamin D fortified milk and yoghurt, folic acid enriched bread, soy products, wheat bran and oats products.

Impatiens is the most popular bedding plant grown worldwide. The genus Impatiens is estimated to contain about 850 species (Grey-Wilson, 1980b). The majority is native to tropical and subtropical regions of India and Africa. The popularity of Impatiens walleriana is mainly due to its propensity for producing large numbers of flowers under low light intensity (Simmonds, 1980). Due to the high economic value and consumer demand for bedding impatiens, there has been a concerted effort by plant breeders to release a wide range of cultivars having different flower colours and distinctive foliage. Previously known as I. sultanior, I. holstii, it has several common names including “Busy Lizzie” and “Patience Plant”. It is one of two important groups of Impatiens in the horticulture industry with the New Guinea Impatiens (Impatiens hawkeri) group being the other. Despite being Impatiens walleriana is one of the most important bedding plants in the world, information on I. walleriana relatively scarce. Impatiens walleriana continues to lead as one of the three most important bedding plants worldwide. It is available as both seed and vegetative products. The history of its development, marketing success, wide adaptability, a large palette of flower colours and forms and unparalleled garden performance as a bedding plant for shade are described as an aid for continued crop development with breeding lessons for other flowering crops.

Introduction

Farming system is complicated inter-related with soil, plants, animals, implements, power, labour, capital and alternative inputs controlled partly by farming families and influenced to varied degrees by political, economic, institutional and social forces that operate at several levels. The farm is viewed during a holistic manner. The farmers are subjected to several socio-economic, biophysical, institutional, body and technological constraints. Farming system conceptually may be a set of components or parts that are reticulate that act amongst themselves. At the centre of the interaction is that the farmer exercise management and selection concerning the sort and results of interaction. It’s the human setting that gives ample condition for development and utilization of a specific system. A farming system clearly is incredibly complicated system. Therefore, any agricultural technology compatible to a specific agroecological state of affairs and socio-economic environment might not be adopted by alternative farmers. Unless each natural and human environment is thought-about, agricultural analysis won’t end in relevant agricultural technology. The income from cropping alone in tiny and marginal farms is hardly ample to sustain the farmers’ family. With the decline in farm size (0.15 ha) because of explosion of population, it’d be more and more tough to provide enough food for the family by the tip of the century. Therefore, the farmer, to be assured of an everyday income for a good living (above the poverty line), a considered mixture of anybody or additional of those enterprises with agronomic crops ought to complement the farm income and facilitate in usage the farm residue/waste. The choice of enterprises should be supported the cardinal principle of minimizing the competition and maximizing the complementarily between the enterprises.

Introduction

Green revolution played a major role in making several counties self reliant in food production. But modern agriculture has degraded natural resources and made agriculture unsustainable. People are getting enough food, but the food is unsafe. Land, water and air have become polluted. People are suffering from the serious diseases like cancer. An alternate version of agriculture or organic farming that is necessity of the day. People are becoming health conscious day by day. There is good demand for Indian organic food in several countries. Niche areas exist for organic farming in several states of India. The Govt of India has launched several programs to promote organic farming.

Introduction
Sustainable agriculture refers to farming practices that meet current food production needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It aims to balance environmental health, economic profitability, and social equity, ensuring that agricultural systems can be productive, resource-efficient, and resilient over time. The role of Information Technology (IT) in achieving these objectives has become increasingly crucial as it provides innovative solutions to optimize agricultural practices, minimize resource consumption, and improve overall productivity while safeguarding the environment. Through the integration of IT tools such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Internet of Things (IoT), Big Data analytics, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and cloud computing, sustainable agriculture can be advanced in ways that were previously unimaginable. These technologies facilitate precision farming, enhance resource management, monitor crop health, predict weather patterns, and provide farmers with the information to make data-driven decisions that foster sustainability.

In plants, mineral uptake is the process in which minerals enter the cellular material, typically following the same pathway as water. The most normal entrance portal for mineral uptake is through plant roots. Some mineral ions diffuse in-between the cells. In contrast to water, some minerals are actively taken up by plant cells. Mineral nutrient concentration in roots may be 10,000 times more than in surrounding soil. During transport throughout a plant, minerals can exit xylem and enter cells that require them. Mineral ions cross plasma membranes by a chemiosmotic mechanism. Plants absorb minerals in ionic form: nitrate (NO₃^-), phosphate (HPO₄^-) and potassium ions (K+); all have difficulty crossing a charged plasma membrane. It has long been known plants expend energy to actively take up and concentrate mineral ions. Proton pump hydrolyzes ATP to transport H⁺ ions out of cell; this sets up an electrochemical gradient that causes positive ions to flow into cells. Negative ions are carried across the plasma membrane in conjunction with H⁺ ions as H⁺ ions diffuse down their concentration gradient.

Introduction

Self Help Groups (SHGs) are fast emerging as a powerful tool of socio-economic empowerment of the poor in rural areas. These are based on the principle by the people, for the people and of the people. Such groups are participatory processes to provide opportunities for people to share knowledge, common experiences and problems.

Self Help Groups (SHGs) of women in India have been recognized as an effective strategy for the empowerment of women in rural as well as urban areas, bringing women together from all spheres of life to light for their rights or a cause. Since the overall empowerment of women is crucially dependent on economic empowerment,  women through these SHGs work on a range of issues such as health, nutrition, agriculture, forestry etc. besides income generation activities and seeking micro credit. “SHG is a small, economically homogeneous and affinity based group of people who have decided to save and contribute to a common fund to be lent to its members as per the groups decisions”. Generally, a ‘Self Help Group’ (SHG) is formed when members of a community, who have the same or similar problem, come together, meet, share experiences, have discussions and thereby arrive at solutions.

Farming system is an integrated set of activities that farmers perform in their farms with available resources and circumstances to maximize the productivity and net farm income on a sustainable basis. The farming system conceptually is a set of elements or components, i.e., soil, water, crops, livestock, labour, capital, energy and other resources that are interrelated and interact among themselves. At the centre of the interaction lies the farmer exercising control and choice regarding the types of results of interaction. The income of cropping alone from small and marginal farm is insufficient now to sustain the farmers family. A judicious mix of any one or more of these enterprises should complement the farm income and help in recycling the farm residues / wastes. The selection of enterprises must be based on the cardinal principles of minimizing the competition and maximizing the complementary between the enterprises. Of late, the researchers on multidisciplinary approach greatly realized and started developing the various farming systems models in accordance with the agro-eco systems zones.

Farming System thus may be defined as a complex interrelated matrix of soil, plants, animals, implements, power, labour, capital and other inputs controlled in part by farming families and influenced to varying degrees by political, economic, institutional and social forces that operate at many levels. The farming system therefore, refers to the farm as an entity of inter-dependent farming enterprises carried out on the farm. The farm is viewed in a holistic manner and the farmers are subjected to many socio-economic, biophysical, institutional, administrative and technological constraints.

Trees are amazing nature’s creations that are not only important for mankind but also sustain ecological balance in nature. They are the source of livelihood and provide valuable raw material for manufacture of household utility products. They are important from spiritual aspect and have been exhaustively described in ancient Indian texts with their significant Ayurvedic and other potential health benefits. Botanically a “tree.” is a large, long-lived (perennial) woody plant that attains a height of at least 6 m (20 ft) at maturity. A tree possess certain characteristic features such as a trunk (single main self-supporting stem) which gives off spreading branches, twigs and foliage to make a crown. Since the diameter at breast height (dbh) of trees is determined internationally at 1.35 m (4.5 ft) above the ground, a tree must be un-branched at least up to 1.5 m (5 ft) from the ground.

1.1 Policy Background

Human activities have resulted in the alteration of the composition of our atmosphere triggering change in the Earth’s climate. The world’s population has grown at an alarming rate with a corresponding increase in demand for natural resources, energy, food, and goods. As a consequence of increase in consumption, vast quantities of gases and effluents are discharged that change the composition of the atmosphere and its capacity to regulate its temperature. The rise in the global temperature is caused by the accumulation of the so-called “greenhouse gases”, namely, carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane, nitrous oxide, and chlorofluorocarbons. Energy received from the sun is absorbed as short wavelength radiation and is eventually returned to space as long wavelength infrared radiation. Greenhouse gases absorb the infrared radiation, trapping it in the atmosphere in the form of heat energy.

A TTO needs a planned budget of five years to sustain it in the long term. This involves budgeting the infrastructure, manpower, research, and outreach programs. The budgetary needs of a TTO will be based on the size and scope of the TTO and the maturity of the parent institution it caters to. The initial years will be focused on capacity development, the appointment of experts, and the establishment of processes of intellectual property management. The mature TTO will generate income through the returns of the licensing agreements and the collaborative efforts with the industry. Nevertheless, external funding through grants and government schemes plays a vital part, particularly in the initial years. The planned budget ensures long-term stability and development of the TTO.
9.1 Budgetary heads
9.1.1 Operational expenditure
Operational expenditure refers to the ongoing costs incurred by a TTO to maintain its day-to-day operations. This includes the cost of maintaining the office, including rent, power and utility bills, computer and network infrastructure, patent management cost, and administration charges. The filing and legal charges also fall within this category. The overheads will be a heavy burden if not planned with finances properly. A TTO has to be provided with a properly planned operational budget that covers the daily operational expenses. The operational expenses help the office perform effectively, sustain the employees, and effectively manage IP. The operational expenses that the budget normally covers include: