eChapters

In the Asian and Pacific ‘region, it is China alone which produces the largest quantities of agricultural waste and also crop residues. This is followed by India. From the production of rice, corn and wheat alone 587 million tons of residues are generated per year in China. Maheshwari (2014) has surveyed the proportions of waste that Malaysia generates from the production of rice, palm oil, rubber, coconut and forest products. In Myanmar the crop waste and residues constitute about 4 million tons per year out of which more than half constitutes rice husk.

Mushrooms are fleshy fungi constituting a purely vegetarian diet, which is very tasty and nutritious. Some mushrooms are edible whereas others are poisonous. So far, more than 1600 types of mushrooms are known of which, nearly 100 have been accepted as food worldwide. Diversification in any farming system imparts sustainability. Mushrooms are one such component that not only impart diversification but also help in addressing the problems of quality food, health and environment related issues. One of the major areas that can contribute towards goal of conservation of natural resources as well as increased productivity is recycling of agro-wastes including agro-industrial waste. Utilising these wastes for growing mushrooms can enhance income and impart higher level of sustainability (Manjit Singh et al., 2011).

Mushroom cultivation activities can play an important role in supporting the local economy by contributing to subsistence food security, nutrition, generating additional employment and income through local, regional and national trade; and also offering opportunities for processing enterprises. Among the 33 globally cultivated types of mushrooms 3 mushrooms i.e. white button, oyster and paddy straw mushrooms are popularly grown in India.

18.1 Introduction

The commercially available water quality simulation models with various dimensions (1D, 2D and 3D) and database software designed to quantify movement and concentration of contaminants in lakes, streams, estuaries, and marine environments. The following water quality models were described below (Table 18.1).

18.2 Environmental Fluid Dynamics Code

The Environmental Fluid Dynamics Code (EFDC) is a multifunctional surface water modeling system, which includes hydrodynamic, sediment-contaminant, and eutrophication components. It has been applied to over 100 water bodies including rivers, lakes, reservoirs, wetlands, estuaries, and coastal ocean regions in support of environmental assessment and management and regulatory requirements. IT is a state-of-the-art hydrodynamic model that can be used to simulate aquatic systems in one, two, and three dimensions. It has evolved over the past two decades to become one of the most widely used and technically defensible hydrodynamic models in the world. It uses stretched or sigma vertical coordinates and Cartesian or curvilinear, orthogonal horizontal coordinates to represent the physical characteristics of a waterbody. It solves three-dimensional, vertically hydrostatic, free surface, turbulent averaged equations of motion for a variable-density fluid. Dynamically-coupled transport equations for turbulent kinetic energy, turbulent length scale, salinity and temperature are also solved. The model allows for drying and wetting in shallow areas by a mass conservation scheme.

11.1. Central Silk Board

Established in 1948 at Bangalore under administrative control of Ministry of Textiles.

SYNOPSIS

Human health is defined as a state of physical, mental, physiological and social well being. It is also considered as a state of body and mind, where there is a balance of body humors or secretions. The paper introduces the readers to common diseases caused through various agents like deficiency disorders, food and water, air-borne, vector, viruses, and life-styles. It also describes healthy food, health management, food management, and healthy life style.

Vegetation is a key component in hydrologic modeling. Transpiration, a component in hydrologic cycle, is contributed by vegetation. Most of the hydrologic model thus includes vegetation as a parameter. For accurate and appropriate model output, first requirement is good quality data. Most of the time, the data on vegetation is confusing, as in literature various researcher have used different values for common vegetation parameters. Here some common parameters of some important crops, which yield good quality results, are given.

Kharif crops are generally sown during last week of May and first week of June, while rabi crop are sown during last week of November and first week of December. But this period will vary from region to region as well as depends on variety of crop.

Objectives
• To understand the meaning and importance of communication.
• To explore the basic components and process of communication.
• To identify the different types and forms of communication.
• To recognize barriers to effective communication and strategies to overcome them.
• To develop an appreciation for the role of communication in personal and professional contexts.
Meaning and Importance of Communication
Communication is the process of exchanging information, ideas, emotions, and messages between individuals or groups. It is a fundamental aspect of human interaction and plays a vital role in personal, social, and professional contexts. Effective communication enables understanding, fosters relationships, and facilitates decision-making.

Objectives
• Understand the concept of communication gap.
• Identify the reasons behind communication gaps in personal, professional, and organizational settings.
• Explore the effects of communication gaps on relationships and productivity.
• Develop strategies to overcome communication gaps effectively.
Communication Gap
A communication gap occurs when there is a breakdown in the communication process, leading to misunderstandings, incomplete information transfer, or misinterpretation of messages. It can happen between individuals, groups, or organizations, and has significant impacts on relationships, productivity, and decision-making.
Reasons for Communication Gaps
Several factors contribute to communication gaps. These reasons can be categorized into three broad areas: individual, organizational, and technological.

Introduction The term ‘communication’ originates from the Latin word ‘Communis’, means the act of imparting, participating, and transmitting or the notion of making something common or sharing it among individuals. Communication encompasses the multifaceted process of sharing and exchanging ideas, emotions, information, and experiences between two or more individuals. It embodies the act of transmitting thoughts or expressions, serving as a vital conduit for the flow of knowledge and understanding. Essentially, it is aligning a sender and receiver for a specific message or series of messages. Leagans (1961) states that communication is the process by which two or more people exchange ideas, facts, feelings or impressions in ways that each gains a common understanding of the meaning, intent and use of messages. Effective communication is not just about issuing orders; it is about fostering comprehension (Suresh, 2003). It beyond imparting knowledge to enabling a profound understands (TNAU, 2012).

3.1. Communication

Leagans (1961) refers as process by which two or more people exchange ideas, facts, feelings or impressions in ways that each gains a common understanding of meaning, intent and use of messages.

Communis is Latin word - meaning common.

Act of getting a sender and a receiver tuned together for a particular message, or a series of message.

Winfield (1957) refers as whole learning process; encompasses

º Teacher - message or material to be taught

The communication module is a device which is used to control the communication between the stations. This chapter explores the different communication modules and their specifications.

5.1 WiFi

ESP8266 WiFi Module is a WiFi serial transceiver module. This chip has a full TCP/IP protocol stack with the computational power onboard. This makes the board simple to use as Wi-Fi connection board. The specification of this board includes, 32-pin QFN package, Integrated RF switch, Integrated RISC processor. It has on-chip memory with external memory interfaces, integrated MAC/baseband processors, Quality of Service management, on chip regulator, Integrated WEP, TKIP, AES, and WAPI engines, 11 b/g/n. It has integrated TCP/IP protocol stack and Integrated PLLs, regulators, DCXO and power management units. It has +19.5dBm output power in 802.11b mode and Power down leakage current of <10uA

5.2 Bluetooth

Bluetooth is a wireless protocol. The recent introduction of Bluetooth with Low Energy extension is also as iBeacon. The advantage of BLE4.0 standard includes the low power consumption, which makes it a better option to be used in smart phones. This facilitates the setup of a mesh network of Bluetooth devices, with lower latency and higher range respect to standard Bluetooth.

This is a SMD BLE module based on TI cc2541 chip. It has low cost, small and easy to use. The preloaded firmware allows to build BLE communications with AT command. It supports communication with iPhone, iPad (iOS 5.0 or greater) and Android 4.3 or greater. It works on frequency: 2.4 GHz ISM band and modulation method is GFSK (Gaussian Frequency Shift Keying). It has transmission power: - DBM, 23-6 DBM, 0 DBM, 6 DBM, can be modified by the AT command. It works on baud rate 9600bps. It can operate on temperature range -40 ~ 125°C.

Another interesting board is the HC-05 Bluetooth module. Specifications of the works Master/Slave configurations. It operates on frequency of 2.4GHz ISM band with Modulation GFSK(Gaussian Frequency Shift Keying).

 Objectives
• Understand the meaning of the communication process.
• Learn the various types of communication.
• Explore different models of communication.
• Analyze how communication flows in different contexts.
Meaning of Communication Process
The communication process refers to the systematic steps through which a message is conveyed from a sender to a receiver. It involves the transmission of information through a medium, with feedback confirming whether the message has been received and understood correctly.
Elements of the Communication Process
The communication process consists of the following elements:
• Sender: The person or entity initiating the message.
• Message: The content or information to be communicated.
• Encoding: The process of converting the message into symbols, language, or signals that can be understood by the receiver.
• Medium/Channel: The pathway through which the message is transmitted (e.g., face-to-face, email, phone).
• Receiver: The person or entity for whom the message is intended.
• Decoding: The process by which the receiver interprets and understands the message.
• Feedback: The response of the receiver that indicates whether the message was understood

Sending a message from one place to another place, which are physically separated from each other, is called Communication. The Communication Engineering or Communication Technology deals with the design and development of engineering systems to transmit information from its source, and at the same time, to receive the same information at a remote destination with reliability, accuracy and quality.

The analysis of community mobilization in natural farming requires a systematic framework that captures the complex dynamics of agricultural transformation, social change, and community empowerment. This framework serves as a lens through which to examine successful cases of natural farming adoption while identifying the critical factors that enable communities to transition from conventional agriculture to sustainable practices. Understanding these dynamics is essential for replicating successful models and scaling natural farming initiatives across diverse contexts and geographies. Contextual analysis forms the foundation of any case study framework, requiring comprehensive understanding of the social, economic, environmental, and political conditions that influence community receptivity to natural farming practices. This includes examination of agricultural history, farming traditions, economic pressures, environmental challenges, and existing social structures that shape how communities respond to new agricultural app

The transformation of communities through collective action requires systematic approaches that can navigate the complexities of human behaviour, social structures, and environmental contexts. Community mobilization, while grounded in universal principles of participation and empowerment, manifests differently across various settings and circumstances, necessitating flexible yet structured processes that can adapt to local conditions while maintaining effectiveness. This chapter examines the intricate processes and diverse models that guide community mobilization efforts, with particular attention to rural contexts where unique challenges and opportunities shape the mobilization landscape

Journal Citation Reports (JCR) and SCImago Journal Rank (SJR) are widely used metrics for evaluating journal impact. While JCR is based on Web of Science and emphasizes high-impact journals, SJR uses Scopus data, offering broader geographic and disciplinary coverage. This chapter evaluates their relative strengths and weaknesses, focusing on their applicability across disciplines and geographies. Multiple trends also impact research landscapes across the globe (Fig. 3.1).
Comprehensive tables provide a comparative overview of which metric is more suitable for various disciplines and global regions. The assessment of academic journals plays a critical role in research evaluation, academic promotions, and funding decisions. Two prominent journal-ranking systems, JCR and SJR, serve as benchmarks for these purposes. JCR, managed by Clarivate Analytics, primarily focuses on citation frequency over a two-year window. Conversely, SJR, developed by SCImago using Scopus data, incorporates a prestige-weighted citation approach over a three-year period (Fig. 3.2). Several of our Indian Scientific Journals are not covered by JCR. As more than 80 per cent Journals are from Europe and North America. The CLARIVATE covers only few Indian Journals most of which are published by Central Government Agencies

Abstract

Rice blast disease (Pyricularia grisea cavara) which is very much weather sensitive, continues to be an enigmatic problem of West Siang District of Arunachal Pradesh, owing to its geographical location and climate. There is an urgent need of a forewarning system which can provide advance information for outbreak of the diseases attack so that protection measures can be implemented before the actual economic damage of the crop occurs. Two most important statistical techniques for disease forecasting viz. regression analysis and artificial neural network were chosen and forecasting models has been developed for the area and analyzed with local weather data to find best fit for the area and also compared with the Support Vector Machine (SVM) based model RB-Pred developed by Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh. The model based on artificial neural network was found to be best with accuracy of 75-80%, with the present data and algorithm. The accuracy can be improved with long archive records and proper implementation and algorithm selection of the hidden layer, of both ANN and SVM based (being special case of ANN) models, for site-specific forecasting.

Introduction

Droughts are considered to be a significant environmental disaster and have captured the attention of various experts, including environmentalists, ecologists, hydrologists, meteorologists, geologists, and agricultural scientists. These natural calamities are known to occur in almost all climatic zones, regardless of whether they are high- or low-rainfall areas. Generally a decrease in the amount of precipitation received over an extended period such as a season or a year, is the primary cause of droughts. However, other factors such as high temperatures, strong winds, low relative humidity, and characteristics of rainfall (e.g., intensity, duration, onset, and termination) also play a crucial role in their occurrence. It’s important to distinguish a drought from aridity, which is a permanent feature of a climate and is limited to low rainfall areas (Wilhite, 1992). A drought is a temporary phenomenon and can last from a few months to several years. Some people often mistake droughts for heat waves, but Chang and Wallace (1987) highlighted the fundamental difference between these two events. A heat wave typically lasts for a week, while a drought can extend for several months or even years. When a heat wave and a drought coincide, it can lead to dire socio-economic consequences.

To overcome the challenge of popularizing pigeonpea hybrids in the country, it is considered fair enough to compare the hybrid rice with respect to their seed production technology, yield advantages and profitability to the farmers and seed producers. Since both pigeonpea and rice are grouped under self-pollinated crops, this comparison, in the views of authors, may help in encouraging hybrid pigeonpea seed producers and those involved in marketing of hybrid seed.
  
Rice is a highly self-pollinated crop and earlier hybrids were not possible because it was essential that large quantities of hybrid seeds are produced easily and economically. In China, the birth place of hybrid rice, this impossible looking task was accomplished. To launch this program, the Chinese scientists decided to alter the pollination system of rice.