eChapters

Halophytes are salt-resistant or salt-tolerant plants which thrive and complete their life cycles in terrestrial or aquatic habitats having high salt concentrations. Aronson (1989) compiled a partial list of halophytes containing 1560 species in 550 genera and 117 families. Menzel and Lieth (1999) listed as many as 2600 plants under salt tolerant flora. Although halophytes represent only 2% of terrestrial plant species, they are present in about half the higher plant families and represent a wide diversity of plant forms. Because of their diversity, halophytes are regarded as a rich source of potential new crops. Halophytes are tested as vegetables, fodder and oilseed crops under field trials. The oilseed halophyte, Salicornia bigelovii, yields 2 tones/ha of seed containing 28% oil and 31% protein, similar to soybean yield and seed quality.

Introduction

India is one of the major producers and exporters of honey. Diversity of bee flora and varied agro-climatic conditions in the country offers enormous potential for the development and growth of apiculture. Honey is a supersaturated sugary material produced mainly by honey bees from the sweet substances of plants (floral or extra-floral nectaries) or insect. Honey bee forager (field bee/worker honey bee) collects the nectar and converts the same into honey by a process of regurgitation and evaporation and stores in the honey comb. The sweetness of the honey is largely by monosaccharide viz., fructose and glucose. Honey is either monofloral or polyfloral as it is collected by the bees. The physical properties of the harvested honey depend upon the source from it is derived, water content, temperature, proportion of the simple sugars present and the method of processing. At low temperature (below 17°C), honey gets crystallized. Honey is also hygroscopic, capable of absorbing water from the atmosphere. India produces approx. 65,000 mt of honey per year (Kejariwal, 2015).

Water and nutrients are the most important, and readily manageable, variables for producing a profitable crop. Efficient management of water and essential plant nutrients is imperative for achieving sustainable agriculture and maintaining necessary increase in food production to feed the burgeoning population while minimizing economic losses and environmental impacts. Technology here can play a catalytic role in striking a common ground between these environmental and economic goals. Recent advances in sensor technologies indicate that efficient nutrient management in crop fields can be attained through the application of Precision Agriculture (PA)-based geo-spatial technologies such as global positioning system, geographical information system, remote sensing,

The major impact of the two important components of the Karnataka Watershed Development Programme (KWDP) viz farming system intensification and watershed treatment will be on land-based enterprises and land owners, although to a certain extent landless families would also benefit from the increased labour demand through intensification of agriculture. To ensure growth with equity among all the stakeholders in the project, it is imperative to have practical, market-driven, complementary and supplementary income generating activities for weaker sections of the community, including SCs, STs, women, landless persons, families below the poverty line and other vulnerable groups in project districts.  Hence, it is imperative to raise the status of landless families above the poverty line.  The SHGs are to be encouraged to take up viable enterprise and to enhance their fund mobilization by regular savings, investment in viable income generating activities and in time repayment of the loan taken.  The IGAs are meant mostly for the landless and asset less stakeholders in the watersheds.

Quality of fish raw material plays an important role for the quality of the end-product. Once the fish raw material freshness and nutrition value is lost, it cannot be recovered in the processing stages. Products that are processed from low quality raw material are not always a safety risk, but the quality (nutrition value) and shelf life is significantly decreased. The quality deterioration can start right away during fishing and it continues all the way to the final user. Time-temperature abuse should be avoided at all stages of handling till landed fish reaches the consumer or the processor. In tropical countries more care in handling is necessary as fishes thrive in high ambient temperature has high body temperature and hastens spoilage.

Fish is highly perishable because of their chemical composition. It has high content of soluble substances in the flesh (many of which contain nitrogen and triglycerides characterized by polyunsaturated fatty acids) and high level of autolytic enzyme. After the death of the fish, spoilage starts due to the action of microbes, enzyme and oxidation. It is therefore, necessary to preserve fish after harvest if not consumed or disposed immediately.

Drone cameras have gained popularity due to advancements in technology and decreasing prices. Today, you can find various types of drones, from beginner models with cameras to those equipped with powerful HD and high-resolution 4K cameras. Despite the diversity of models, most drones share similar controls and functionalities. Thanks to technological advancements, drone cameras have become essential tools for aerial photography and videography. This article will explore the components of a drone camera, its functionality, and its diverse applications across various industries.

A drone camera is a specialized device attached to an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), designed to capture high-quality aerial images and videos. These cameras vary in size and design, from compact versions for hobbyists to professional-grade models used in commercial applications.

To sustain the meat industry in profitable manner, efficient utilization of meat by-products is an important issue. In today’s competitive world the realization of old saying “Only the last cry of the animal is wasted” has become essential. The utilization of by-products not only ensures additional revenue but also reduce the cost of various mandatory disposal treatments. The live animals are becoming costlier over the dressed carcass which compels the utilization of by-products. Moreover, unused by-products is also a great threat to environment and public-health apart from loosing nutritional resources. According to FAO (2004) estimates 106.75 million livestock and more than 650 million poultry birds were slaughtered annually in India leading to production of 6.3 million MT meat and different by-products of appreciable value. Now a day’s various techniques are available for the utilization of by-products for different purposes still significant portion of the by-products are unutilized and poses huge economic losses.

Animal By-products are the portions of animal body which are not included in dressed carcass. Animal by-products can be estimated by subtracting the dressing percentage from 100. Dressing percentage is inversely proportional to the byproducts means lower the dressing percentage, higher will be the yield of by-products and vice versa. In normal cases dressing percentage usually ranges between 50-70 percent and by-products yield in between 30-50 percent. However, the actual percentage may be higher because it excludes the weight of bones in muscles which is a part of dressed carcass.

Composition is a fundamental element of cinematography, essential for creating engaging video content. When designing shots and angles, videographers must consider not only technical aspects like lighting and sound but also creative choices that set the mood. Video composition helps filmmakers craft a narrative, influencing how viewers engage with the story. Effective composition goes beyond just framing; it involves color grading and the strategic placement of elements within the frame, making it vital for captivating the audience.

Video Composition Tutorial

A tutorial from B&H Photo’s YouTube channel outlines five crucial rules of video composition that should not be broken. These rules serve as a foundation, providing structure and consistency to the creative process

Introduction

Use of acid/base is common in laboratories for experiments like titration and proper safety in their handling laboratory is necessary. In this chapter we will briefly discuss about the safety measures necessary to be adopted while using acids/bases in laboratory for any experiment.

Handling of Strong Acid/Base

There are four major points that need to be taken care of while working with strong acids or bases that might be quite harmful if any accident happens.

1. Protect Yourself

Wear a lab-coat and acid-resistant gloves: Always use lab-coat/apron and make it sure that the sleeves properly cover your arms. More importantly, use gloves made of acid-resistant materials and also wear shoes to protect your feet while wearing long-pants/jeans. Female with long hair, must tie her hair properly (with rubber band) to avoid any disturbance caused by appearance in between.

Wear safety goggles: It is important to wear safety goggles to protect your eyes using larger and fitting goggles that cover front as well as sides of your eyes. Always use properly fitting and adjustable goggles because smaller/ loose goggles may not protect the areas around your eyes against accidental acid spills and it may fall down from your face, if it is too loose.

Locate emergency wash area: There must be an emergency washing area nearby the work place or laboratory containing lab spill management kits. All the workers in the laboratory must be aware of using the kits and emergency plans.

Neutralize acid: Don’t panic even if an acid or chemical spill happens. Stay calm and act as quickly as possible. In case an acid spills, neutralize it by using sodium bicarbonate so that they can be cleaned and disposed safely. If acid comes in contact of skin, wash it off under running tap water but do not use/ apply sodium bicarbonate on skin.

Once the animal is darted, immobilized animal should be under the expert care of an experienced wildlife veterinarian. The veterinarian needs to monitor the complete immobilization process and should know what to do if something goes wrong. Keep the darted animal in sight and allow the drug to act completely which may generally take 5- 25 minutes depending on the species, sex, drug used, and body condition of animal. Any noise or excitement may cause immobilized animal to wake up or take flight which may make animal search difficult.

Introduction

For proper and efficient experiment to be conducted, experimenters need so many chemicals to deal with. This includes different acids, base, salt, different kind of indicators and so on. Some of these chemicals are safe for health, but some of them are dangerous to health when come in close proximity to our body while some of the chemicals cause health issues on inhaling. These may cause improper functioning of some of our physiological activities. Acids and bases are very dangerous for our tissues when come in our contact. These may cause serious respiratory problem in addition to injuries on coming to our contact. Some chemicals are exploratory yet they may cause even death of the person working with them in laboratory. Therefore, mere use of the chemicals in laboratory is not only the objective of the experimenter. The person working in laboratory should also be concerned about the proper use and handing of the chemical while working with it. Thus, every researcher of an institution who has to work with chemicals in a laboratory should be made aware about the chemicals to be used in the laboratory and the consequences if any mishandling of a laboratory chemical occurs. Not only these, suitable precautionary measures should also be known to the researcher along with ensuring the availability of the required safety equipment/installations. Hence, a proper understanding of the ways of handling of chemicals in a laboratory is of prime importance for the personals like you who are working or have to work in laboratory.

Safe Handling of Chemicals in Laboratory

Safe use/handling of chemicals in laboratory include minimized exposure to chemicals, maintaining safety data sheets, proper labelling, storage, segregation, and transport of chemicals for personal hygiene.

Introduction

We come across a variety of chemicals every day in a laboratory. While some of them are relatively safer, others are extremely hazardous. Thus, it is very important to know the potential hazards that can be caused by the chemicals present in the laboratory and the safety measures needed to be followed to avoid the hazards. Additionally, we should also be aware of the steps necessary to be taken on such hazardous situations. According to IUPAC, a hazardous chemical mean the chemical which has the potential to cause damage in various ways. In a laboratory, there are chemicals that might be irritant, carcinogen, respiratory fibrogen, systemic poison, asphyxiant, flammable, etc. which have the potential to cause hazard to the workers or environment. Therefore, it is important to use appropriate procedure to reduce the risk and protect the health/safety of laboratory personnel, the public and the environment.

Types of Hazards Associated with Chemicals

Chemical hazards: The hazards caused by chemicals can be broadly classified into three categories.

1. Health hazard: This is also known as toxic effects of chemical. The risk associated with a chemical in laboratory depends on the extent of exposure and the inherent toxicity of the chemical. Many chemical reactions form the product that might be much more toxic than the reacting chemicals. For example, inadvertent mixing of formaldehyde (a common tissue fixative) and hydrogen chloride results in the generation of bis(chloromethyl) ether, a potent human carcinogen. For most of the chemicals, the route of exposure (through skin, eyes, gastrointestinal tract, or respiratory tract) is more important (Figure 17.1) that must be considered during risk assessment.

This practical assignment deals with operational principles and functions of the Overhead Project which governs the appropriate handling and application of OHP in real situation and also guides students in preparing different types of Overhead Projector slides for presentation.

This practical assignment is designed for the students to give first-hand information on components, working procedure and handling of public address system (PAS) and liquid crystal display (LCD) projector.

PURPOSE

 To acquaint students with how to operate and handle the public address system.

 To acquaint the students handle LCD projector.

In India, the collection, transport and distribution of raw milk involves a number of agencies and persons at rural and urban level – village producers, milk collectors, halwais (Sweet-makers), milk vendors, dairies, producer-retailers and wholesale or retail markets.

1. Collection

Usually, the milk collectors approach the small village producers to collect milk and the same is sold directly or indirectly (through agents) to a dairy (milk procurement centres) or halwais or city milk vendors or consumers. The producer – retailers themselves, in some cases, supply the milk to the above said parties. The production of milk in small, scattered holdings in village causes problems during its collection. It involves visits to many villages, some of which are not easily accessible for the purpose.

A video camera is an optical device designed to capture videos, differing from a movie camera that records images on film. Initially developed for the television industry, video cameras are now widely utilized for various purposes.

Video cameras are primarily operated in two modes. The first mode, prominent in early broadcasting, is live television, where the camera transmits real-time images directly to a screen for immediate viewing. While a few cameras still support live television production, most live feeds are now used for security, military/tactical, and industrial applications requiring covert or remote monitoring. In the second mode, images are recorded onto a storage device for archiving or further processing. For many years, videotape was the primary format, but it has been gradually replaced by optical discs, hard disks, and eventually flash memory. Recorded video is utilized in television production and is increasingly used for surveillance and monitoring tasks, where unattended recording of a situation is necessary for later analysis.

Ornamental fish breeding and trade provide excellent opportunities for employment and income generation. One of the most critical determinants of the success of the trade is the problem of delivering a quality product to the market. The know-how of collection, critical handling, packaging methods are essential for serving the successful transport of live tropical fish to their final destination. However, a major impediment in expanding the trade of indigenous fishes is the poor roads/communication from most of the collection/landing centres to the town, non-availability of oxygen packaging at remote collection centres, difficulties in transportation of the collected fishes to the agent/stockist. Transportation of live fish and shellfish from areas of collection to destination or from areas of farming to the destination is an important activity of ornamental fish industry.

Proper collection, packing and transportation may help in increasing trade to a greater extent. Ornamental fishes destined for marketing, both domestic and export, have to use modern post-harvest technology or modifications of the current post-harvest technology to improve the post-harvest and post-shipment survival that is critical to the industry. It is in this context that the significance of packing and transport come into the picture. To overcome the problem of high mortality of fish species at different stages during transportation, it becomes essential to evaluate the most suitable and ideal condition for transportation. At present, the mortality rate during fish catching, collection, transportation is very high. The claim by the importers due to DOA (Death on Arrival) from India is on the higher side compared to the consignments from other developing countries. This is due to the lack of appropriate technology for fish packing & transportation/ shipment. Similarly, since the airfreight charges are very high, the exporters have no idea of the optimum number of a particular live fish to be packed in a container to reduce transportation cost. Such information is lacking for Indian fishes. The success of ornamental fish transportation depends on the following steps:

10.1 Introduction

The primary purpose of egg packaging is to keep the egg safe from damage, such as cracking, while in transit. By limiting gas exchange via the shell and shell membrane, the egg package may help safeguard the egg’s internal quality. Once an egg has been deposited, it is immediately exposed to the conditions of the henhouse. In this environment, it is exposed to many different microorganisms. Almost often, there are no negative effects on health. However, there are microbes that can ruin eggs and others that can cause food poisoning. Salmonella bacteria are found in the digestive tract of all animals and can contaminate the poultry houses.

HANDLING OF ANIMALS

Objectives

• For carrying or shifting the animal
  Sexing the animal – to know the sexing of animal.
• Administration of substances
  To conduct experiments.

Materials required – Laboratory animals, apron, tattle and clean towel, weighing balance.

Handling

X-ray film is delicate and should not be handled carelessly or roughly. Avoid touching its surfaces, holding it as near the edges as possible with clean, dry hands. It is sensitive to maltreatment of any kind; heat and light adversely affect the emulsion. It can be handled safely and rapidly for all radiographic purposes as long as the X-ray specialist uses precaution to avoid the production of foreign marks (artifacts) on the film. 

A DSLR, or “Digital Single Lens Reflex” camera, uses a mirror mechanism to direct light from the lens to an optical viewfinder, allowing the photographer to see exactly what the lens sees. When the shutter is activated, the mirror moves aside, allowing light to reach the image sensor, capturing the photograph. While single-lens reflex cameras have been around in various forms since the 19th century, initially relying on film, the first commercially available digital SLR with an image sensor emerged in 1991. Unlike point-and-shoot or phone cameras, DSLR cameras allow for interchangeable lenses, offering greater
flexibility.
Working Principles of DSLR Camera
When using a DSLR camera, the image seen through the viewfinder at the back of the camera is the actual view through the lens. This ensures you are previewing the precise scene you intend to capture. Light from the scene enters through the lens and hits a reflex mirror positioned at a 45-degree angle inside the camera. This mirror directs the light vertically to an optical component known as a “pentaprism.” The pent prism then reorients the light horizontally by passing it through two internal mirrors, delivering the final image into the viewfinder.

In Individual Contact Method, the extension agent engages with individuals on a one-on-one basis, ensuring personalized interaction with each person. This method is employed when the target audience is limited in number, geographically proximate to the communicator, and ample time is allocated for effective communication.

Farm and Home Visit

This method entails direct, face-to-face interactions between extension agents and farmers, typically conducted either on the farm or at the farmer's residence. Its objectives include providing firsthand information on agricultural and household matters, assisting farmers in problem-solving, and aiding in their livelihood sustainability.

Techniques

• Planning and Preparation:

• Identify target audience and topics of discussion.

• Gather relevant materials and publications.

• Schedule visits efficiently and provide advance notice to farmers.

Cities or urban conglomerations are fast developing and where the rate of land availability has infinitesimally small; vertical expansion and taller buildings have emerged and are defining the city skyline. Though this may speak well of the economic development, but the increase in hard paved areas and roads may spell trouble for the environment as urban heat island (UHI) effect. The causes of Urban Heat Island are primarily due to the absorption of solar radiation (Short wave) by building/urban materials that is subsequently re-radiated (long wave) to the surroundings. In addition, heat generated from the use of air- conditioning coupled with the greenhouse effect of pollutants also contribute to the increase in temperature. Such increase in temperature with the presence of air pollutants can result in the accumulation of smog, damages the natural environment and jeopardizes human health. It also costs consumers more money because it takes more energy to cool buildings. Who can forget the regular news of Beijing repeatedly topping the list of most polluted cities and fresh air is available in cans!

Fresh air cans are in no means a firm solution. Plants are atmosphere cleansers, can serve to filter carbon dioxide and other toxins in environment, cool the air by transpiration and also provide cooling shade. Research work shows the benefits of using light colour roofs and roof gardens to minimize the heat gain inside the buildings. This would in turn reduce the energy consumption of air conditioning in buildings. Rooftops, balconies and terraces have often been referred to as the “last urban frontier” of cities, in the sense that they represent the last significant remaining space to be exploited to create a green oasis and an area of relative peace and privacy away from the urban bustle. Given the social, economic and environmental contributions of urban greenery to the quality of life in cities and the realization that cities more often than not lack sufficient greenery, greening of rooftops, balconies and terraces is therefore a logical, effective and high impact way to re-inject the much needed greenery in urban settings thus reinventing the concept of hanging gardens.

Definition

Handing pin cast is used for management of longbone fracture. Pin which is used for immobilisation of fracture of proximal radial and tibial bones is called hanging pin cast.

Special equipment

Intramedullary pin, hand driven drill, plaster of paris bandage Procedures :,

Hantaviruses have been responsible for a variety of human illnesses particularly haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS). There are currently 47 recognized sero/genotypes of hantaviruses with considerable geographic diversity. Each hantavirus type appears to be specific to a different rodent host. The different hantavirus types are associated with different types of disease both in terms of target organs and disease severity. HFRS is primarily a disease of the Old World while HPS is a disease of New World. Although the disease may have first been recognized as early as 1000 years ago in China, it affected >3000 United Nations Soldiers during Korean war (1950-1953). Now it is reported that hantavirus affect as many as 2 lakhs people each year in Asia and Europe. The agent of this virus remained unknown until 1978 when Lee and his associates isolated and named Hantaan virus, after a river in South Korea. Other viruses antigenically related to Hantaan virus were characterized and placed under the genus Hantavirus and family Bunyaviridae.

Over the past few decades, the sharp increase of incidences of hantavirus disease in humans throughout the world has been reported. There are 47 recognized hantaviruses with considerable geographic diversity. But the number of hantavirus virus types recognized continues to grow. Hantaviruses cause persistent infections in rodent reservoirs which directly impact transmission of these zoonotic agents between rodents and from rodents to humans. Environmental, 127 demographic and physiological factors likely interact to mediate responses to hantaviruses in natural rodent populations. Although not much work has been carried out, comparisons of human and rodent immune responses to hantaviruses may provide insights into why hantaviruses often are fatal for humans but cause only persistent infections in rodents.

Hard currency : Money you can trust. A hard currency is expected to retain its value, or even benefit from appreciation, against softer currencies. This makes it a popular choice for people involved in international transactions. The dollar, d-mark, sterling and the Swiss franc each became a hard currency, if only some of the time, during the 20th century.

Hawala : An ancient system of moving money based on trust. It predates western bank practices. Although it is now more associated with the Middle East, a version of hawala existed in China in the second half of the Tang dynasty (618-907), known as fei qian, or flying money. In hawala, no money moves physically between locations; nowadays it is transferred by means of a telephone call or fax between dealers in different countries. No legal contracts are involved, and recipients are given only a code number or simple token, such as a low-value banknote torn in half, to prove that money is due. Over time, transactions in opposite directions cancel each other out, so physical movement is minimised. Trust is the only capital that the dealers have. With it, the users of hawala have a worldwide money-transmission service that is cheap, fast and free of bureaucracy. From a government’s point of view, however, informal money networks are threatening, since they lie outside official channels that are regulated and taxed. They fear they are used by criminals, including terrorists. Although this is probably true, by far the main users of hawala networks are overseas workers, who do not trust official money transfer methods or cannot afford them, remitting earnings to their families.

Family: Ixodidae (Hard ticks)

General characters

•These ticks have hard chitinous shield called scutum on their dorsal surface, so they are called hard ticks. Scutum extends over the entire dorsal surface in male and only anterior one-third of dorsal surface in larvae, nymph and female.

 •Mouth parts are anterior and visible from dorsal aspect.

 •Eyes are one pair (if present) situated on the lateral margin of scutum.

•Spiracles are one pair and situated posterolaterally to the fourth coxae. 

 •Basis capituli or capitulum present at anterior, and have mouthparts and palps.

•The body of female may have one pair marginal grooves at lateral side of behind the scutum.

Plant tissue culture is mainly referred to as mass-multiplication of in vitro derived plantlets grown under controlled environment. Subsequently, the production of artificial seeds from in vitro grown plant propagules is also a method of mass-production of true-to-type plantlets. Micropropagation allows rapid and mass production of high quality, disease free and uniform planting material irrespective of the season and weather. Micro-shoots on being transferred to ex vitro conditions are exposed to abiotic (altered temperature, light intensity and humidity conditions) and biotic stress conditions i.e. soil micro-flora, so there is need for acclimatization for successful establishment and survival of plantlets (Deb and Imchen, 2010). In order to increase growth and reduce mortality in plantlets at the acclimatisation stage, research has been focused on the control of the environmental conditions (both physical and chemical) and to acclimatize the plants to compete with soil microflora (Mathur et al., 2008). In this chapter methods of acclimatization of plantlets derived from simple plant tissue culture or from synthetic seeds are discussed.

The ultimate success of commercial propagation depends on the capacity to transfer plants out of culture on a huge range, at low cost and with high survival rates. The plants multiplied in vitro are exposed to a unique set of growth conditions (high levels of inorganic and organic nutrients, growth regulators, sucrose as carbon source, high humidity, low light, poor gaseous exchange) which may support rapid growth and multiplication but also induce structural and physiological abnormalities in the plants, rendering them unfit for survival under in vivo conditions. Poor control of water loss and heterotrophic mode of nutrition are main cause of deficient growth of in vitro plants.  Hence, gradual acclimatization is necessary for these plants to survive transition from culture to the greenhouse or field. During acclimatization the in vitro formed leaves do not recover but the plant develops normal leaves and functional roots. Once roots are well formed the plants are ready to be transferred into soil.The procedure of acclimatization of regenerated plantlets are: 

Introduction

In a technology that consistently maintains a fantastic development curve with capabilities doubling up year-to-year, freezing the hardware specification is not easy or very meaningful. GIS (not geography) owes to its genesis and progress to the developments in information technology front. It may be asserted that any and all upgrade in the hardware industry will only add to its own ability to effectively process more and more data and handle more complex routines. The personal computers of today are seen to be adequate to run typical GIS software. A reference hardware specification is discussed here. GIS software development is an involved process but then the software developers have made good use of hardware capabilities available and have released upgrades consistently. Hardware developments are such that they defy a static spcification. However a reference specification as on 2009. An overview of various software packages used in the past as well as present is attempted. ESRI released a new version in 2002 and claimed that their ArcGIS is an “integrated collection of GIS software products for building a complete GIS that enable users to deploy GIS functionality wherever it is needed, in desktops, servers, or custom applications; over the Web; or in the field.” The details are discussed below. While a number of software overviews are available, this text is not aimed at providing a tutorial to any of the software packages nor do the comparisons made are to promote any particular software. Similarly, it is presumed that the reader is familiar with the hardware elements and functionality. Lot of information about the software packages are available on their respective web sites and the reader is exhorted to look for current, additional and in depth information required in the pages. A brief discussion on Liveware or human resource can be found at the end of the chapter.

In a large random-mating population both gene frequencies and genotype frequencies remain constant from generation to generation in absence of migration, mutation and selection and the genotype frequencies are determined by the gene frequencies. These properties of a random mating population were first explained by G. H. Hardy and W. Weinberg independently in the year 1908 and are generally known as Hardy-Weinberg law. The operational understanding of this law involves three steps as follows:

1. From parents to the gametes they produce.
2. From union of the gametes to the genotypes in zygotes produced.
3. From genotypes of the zygotes to the gene frequencies in the progeny generation.

The gene and genotype frequencies in the original parent generation are assumed as follows:

Pesticides can cause three types of harmful effects – Acute, Delayed and Allergic.

Acute effects: Are those that occur immediately after the exposure, within minutes or hours.

Weeds interfere with man’s utilization of land and water in various ways. The extent of losses depends on the intensity, infestation, time of occurance and type of weeds.

1. Competition between weeds and crops for growth factors

Weeds compete with crop plants for  other factors in the micro-enviroment. Weeds are capable of absorbing more amount of nutrient from soil than the crop plants. In dry lands, weeds exhaust the soil moisture and put the crop under water stress earlier and thus reduce the yield. Weed can compete with productive crop or pasture land or convert the productive land into unusable scrub. Weeds are also often poisonous, produce burrs, thorn or other damaging body parts or otherwise interfere with the use and managemet of desirable plants by contaminating  harvest or excluding livestock.

Introduction

Resource management balances human needs with environmental preservation, focusing on sustainable development, responsible use, and conservation of natural resources. It involves environmental stewardship, economic efficiency, and social equity, ensuring equitable access for all societal segments while meeting present and future demands (Study Smarter, N.D; Mohd Akhter Ali et al., 2023).

There are specific areas such as water, soil, forests, waste, and sustainable harvesting practices. Each area presents unique challenges and opportunities, requiring tailored strategies and interventions to promote sustainability. The interplay between human activities, environmental impacts, and socio economic dynamics through the lens of resource management highlights the need for sustainable practices that balance development with ecological preservation, ensuring equitable resource distribution and long-term economic stability. Emphasis is placed on holistic approaches, participatory decision making, and capacity building to enhance resource governance and promote sustainable practices.

Introduction

In the face of a growing global population and increasing pressures on natural resources, the quest for sustainable and efficient agricultural practices has become highly significant. The integration of livestock with cropping systems and grasslands stands out as a holistic approach that not only addresses these pressing challenges but also unlocks a myriad of economic benefits. This chapter delves into the profound significance of integrating livestock with cropping systems and grasslands in modern agriculture, exploring how this synergistic combination enhances resource utilization, promotes resilience, and fosters a thriving agricultural sector.

The roots of integrated farming practices can be traced back to ancient agricultural traditions, where farmers instinctively recognized the advantages of combining crop cultivation and animal husbandry (Devendra and Thomas, 2002). Over time, this integrated approach evolved and adapted to different cultural and geographical contexts. In traditional mixed farming systems, livestock provided essential services such as draft power (Gomiero et al., 2011), manure for fertilization, and protein-rich food. As agriculture progressed with technological advancements, there was a shift toward specialized monoculture and intensive livestock farming (Herrero et al., 2013). However, the unintended consequences of these systems, including soil degradation, environmental pollution, and declining rural livelihoods, paved the way for a resurgence of interest in integrated farming methods (FAO, 2020).

Anderson defines organizations as structured human relationships wherein individuals purposefully associate in systematically arranged units to advance and achieve common purposes or interests not explicitly articulated within the institution. Each member assumes a formal status and role within this framework. Distinguishing an organization from an institution lies in its focused pursuit of narrowly defined objectives; it constitutes a collective of individuals organized to pursue specific aims. Conversely, an institution encompasses broader and more general objectives, constituting a set of socially endorsed procedures entailing patterned behavior, norms, and regulations. Organizations may function within institutions, thereby contributing to and facilitating the achievement of institutional objectives. The formation and structure of an organization evolve through the delineation of specialized activities, formulation of rules and regulations for operations, establishment of meeting schedules and locations, ultimately rendering the organization a clearly delineated entity with specific objectives, officers, and membership.

Introduction

As we all know that the 21st century has witnessed the changing phenomenon of information and its communication resulting a dynamic transformation not only in the social structure but also in the perception of human mind.  Exchange of information and knowledge has empowered the human being and enabled them to achieve sustainable development. From paper- based society to paperless society, information has remained the most valuable commodity.

Livestock is an integral component of Indian agriculture which is primarily a mixed crop-livestock farming system and plays an important role in the socio- economic life of India. Livestock contributes significantly to the growth and development of agricultural sector by providing a rich source of high quality products such as milk, meat and eggs and by supporting livelihood of more than two third of rural population. Livestock has a crucial and rapidly increasing role infood security and economic stability worldwide Livestock sector contributes for 4.11% of GDP and 25.6% of total Agriculture GDP. The importance of livestock has been undergoing a steady transformation with the contribution of livestock in total agriculture and allied sector Gross Value Added increasing from 24.32% in 2014-15 to 28.63% in 2018-19. Owing to factors such as population and economic growth, urbanization, improvements in transportation and storage practices,its future importanceformeeting human nutritional requirements of food and fiberand a major contributor to agricultural GDP is evident.

To alleviate the concerns raised by a rapidly growing demand of food security and the need of ensuring sustainability of natural resources, we need to better understandthe ways which wouldspeed up commercialization of livestock production so that it can contribute effectively to the bio-economy. Livestock performance and productivity can be improved by adopting proper diet and feeding practices, improved farm management and disease controlstrategies.

Introduction
Aquaculture is the farming of aquatic organisms, which includes fish, mollusks, crustaceans, and aquatic plants. Over the past forty years, aquaculture has played a significant role in increasing the global supply of fish for human consumption, leading to a marked rise in worldwide fish production. Nearly half (49.3%) of the world’s food fish are currently farmed for aquaculture (FAO, 2023). The proportion of inland fisheries and aquaculture in India’s overall fish production has increased from 46% in the 1980s to over 85% in recent years, resulting in the country with the second-largest aquaculture production. Fishing is a thriving industry with a wide range of resources and enormous potential in India. It is also a highly significant economic activity. Aquaculture may be the solution to ensuring global food security because fish can produce significantly more biomass per unit surface area than terrestrial animals. Aquaculture has a significant impact on world food security and is also considered a potential factor for the pollution of vast marine resources. The application of eco-friendly aquaculture methods can help the aquaculture industry thrive sustainably by reducing its negative effects on the environment. In the twenty-first century, biotechnology is becoming a crucial technology for long-term sustainability management and protection (Cantor, 2000).

Introduction
In the ever-evolving landscape of agriculture, the intersection of science and technology continually reshapes the way we approach crop improvement. Among the most revolutionary advancements in recent years is the advent of genome editing technologies. These powerful tools offer unprecedented precision and efficiency in modifying the genetic makeup of plants, holding immense promise for revolutionizing the field of plant breeding. Genome editing plays a crucial role in plant breeding by enabling plant breeders to make precise and targeted changes to the DNA of crops, offering significant advantages over conventional breeding methods. Besides, crop improvement, these new breeding tools shorten the time needed to introduce desirable traits into crops, from decades to just a few years. They have revolutionized plant breeding by providing breeders with the ability to efficiently create crops that are more resilient, better adapted, and can produce higher yields with fewer resources, ultimately contributing to sustainable food production and addressing the challenges posed by climate change and population growth.
This comprehensive review aims to explore the transformative potential of genome editing technologies in genetic improvement of crop plants. The review will commence by elucidating the underlying mechanisms of genome editing technologies, offering insights into the molecular machinery that drives precise DNA modifications mediated by ZFNs, TALENs, CRISPR/Cas, base editing, prime editing and other new variants of CRISPR/Cas systems, highlighting their respective strengths and limitations. From enhancing crop productivity and quality to conferring resistance against biotic and abiotic stresses, these technologies offer a versatile toolkit for addressing pressing agricultural challenges. Case studies and examples from recent research will illuminate the successes and potential pitfalls of employing genome editing in crop improvement efforts. Besides, the regulatory and ethical considerations surrounding the deployment of genome editing in agriculture will be addressed. In conclusion, this comprehensive review seeks to provide a holistic perspective on harnessing genome editing technologies in plant breeding. By elucidating the scientific principles, applications, regulatory challenges, and ethical considerations, we hope to facilitate informed discourse and decision-making surrounding the integration of these transformative tools into agricultural practices. As we stand at the precipice of a new era in crop improvement, embracing the potential of genome editing holds the promise of unlocking sustainable solutions to global food security challenges.

Introduction
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) constitutes a profound global health crisis, jeopardizing the efficacy of antibiotics and posing a severe threat to the foundation of modern medical practice. The rise of multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens, which exhibit resistance to multiple classes of antibiotics, has significantly escalated the global burden of infectious diseases, complicating treatment protocols and increasing morbidity and mortality rates. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), AMR could lead to 10 million deaths annually by 2050 if current trends continue, accompanied by economic losses projected to reach trillions of dollars due to prolonged hospitalizations, increased healthcare costs, and reduced productivity. The traditional antibiotic development pipeline has stagnated, hampered by scientific complexities, high financial costs, and stringent regulatory frameworks, resulting in a critical shortage of novel antimicrobial agents. This necessitates the exploration of innovative strategies to combat AMR and preserve the utility of existing antibiotics. Among these strategies, Crispr-Cas (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats and Crispr-associated proteins) systems have emerged as a groundbreaking gene-editing platform with transformative potential for addressing AMR. Initially identified as a bacterial adaptive immune mechanism, Crispr-Cas has been repurposed to enable precise targeting of genetic elements, offering novel therapeutic, diagnostic, and environmental solutions. This chapter provides a comprehensive analysis of Crispr-Cas systems in the context of AMR, exploring their molecular mechanisms, diverse applications, current limitations, and future prospects across clinical, agricultural, and environmental domains. By leveraging the precision and programmability of Crispr-Cas, researchers aim to develop targeted interventions that mitigate the spread of resistance while minimizing collateral damage to beneficial microbial communities.

Introduction Data analytics is a systematic analysis of data or statistics. It is also the process of collecting, cleaning, transforming, interpreting, modelling and visualization the data. Such transformed data has to be further investigated to retrieve helpful information that may help conclude and support decision making. This study presents revising selected two relative valuation models (PE Model, PB Model) by replacing the most non-significant variables used in the model with the critical variable that is the potential cause for improving the model’s performance. The objective of relative valuation is to value assets based on how similar assets are priced in the market. This paper measures the valuation accuracy using Root Mean Squared Errors and refine the relative valuation models using the machine learning algorithm for predicting the value of a stock. The following steps helped to revise and refine the PE Model, PB model (Relative valuation models) to predict the value of Sensex stocks.

Abstract

Agroforestry is an ancient practice that farmers have adopted throughout the world. There are innumerable examples of traditional land use practices combining production of trees and agriculture crops on the same piece of land. In India, the organized agroforestry research began in 1979 when a Seminar on Agroforestry was organized at Imphal by the ICAR, New Delhi. As a follow up to this, ICAR launched an All India Co-ordinated Research Project on Agroforestry (AICRPAF) was started in 1983. The diagnostic survey and appraisal revealed that there are enumerable agroforestry practices prevalent in different agro- ecological zones of India occupying sizeable areas. However, spatial technologies like Geographical Information System (GIS), Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographical Positioning System (GPS) have yet to be implemented extensively in this field in India. The spatial technologies have shown great potential in natural resource management through out the world, especially in developed countries in the fields like forest cover mapping, agricultural planning, watershed management, land use planning, etc. In India the agroforestry land use occupy large areas but use of these technologies to estimate area has been initiated in year 2007 with DST sponsored project entitled ‘Spatial and Temporal analysis of agroforestry interventions in North-western India using GIS and Remote Sensing’ The area under agroforestry systems has been estimated/ mapped in two districts viz., Yamunanagar (Haryana) and Saharanpur (Uttar Pradesh), where intensive commercial agroforestry was predominant. Besides, the methodology developed as an out come of this study may be replicated for agroforestry systems existing in other parts of the country.

Keywords: Agroforestry, Geo-spatial, Mapping, Natural Resources, Remote Sensing.

Underexploited

Unexploited fruit crops, jackfruit, tamarind, jamun, karonda, star fruit, etc having high nutritive value, are gaining popularly among the people. Similarly, many exotic fruits, Dragon fruit (Hylocereus spp), Avocado (Persea Americana Miller), Rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum L.), Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana L), Passion fruit (Passiflora edulis Sims), Durian (Durio zibethinus L.,) Longan (Dimocarpus longan Lour) have been introduced in India. Exploitation of their genetic diversity could provide nutritional and livelihood security. There is a need to know about nutritional composition and health significance of these crops. Therefore, efforts have been made to know their potential nutritional and health benefits

Importance of Light in Microgreens Growth

Microgreens depend heavily on light for their growth and development. Microgreens, being photosynthetic organisms, are very dependent on light for the process of photosynthesis, which produces energy. Sufficient exposure to light is necessary for the production of chlorophyll, for vigorous leaf growth, and for the accumulation of beneficial chemicals such carotenoids and phenolics (Mocanu et al., 2021). Research by Demotes-Mainard et al. (2016) and Kopsell et al. (2005) highlights the direct relationship between microgreens' phytochemical composition and light quality, showing how changes in light spectrum affect it.

Introduction
Crop improvement is critical for tackling global food security challenges caused by population growth, resource scarcity, and climate change (Singha and Singha, 2024). Traditional breeding techniques, such as Sanger sequencing, have been around for a long, but their accuracy, speed, and usefulness are typically limited. Sanger sequencing is useful for small-scale inquiries, but its laborintensive procedures and limited throughput make it unsuitable for large-scale genome analysis. Molecular marker-based breeding strategies have proven to be effective tools for addressing these difficulties by increasing plant growth and overall quality (Bohar et al., 2020). In this respect, molecular markers like as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), insertions/deletions (indels), simple sequence repeats (SSRs), and structural variations (SVs) are expected to be useful for future breeding operations (Panahi et al., 2024). The discovery and characterization of these molecular markers is strongly reliant on advances in sequencing technology, namely next generation sequencing (NGS). Furthermore, NGS technologies have shown to be crucial for functional genomics, allowing for large-scale transcriptome and whole genome sequencing across plant taxa (Singh et al., 2024). These vast databases give a comprehensive picture of gene expression and genetic variation, making it easier to identify functional markers linked with certain features (Figure 1). The integration of NGS and bioinformatics technologies has simplified the study of these datasets, enabling more efficient discovery of markers and improving the use of marker-assisted selection (MAS) in breeding programs (Panahi et al., 2024).
The development of high-throughput genotyping technology has enabled substantial SNP-based research, which has improved our understanding of genetic diversity, population structure, and disease association (Yirgu et al., 2023). With the progress of genotyping by sequencing (GBS), SNPs have emerged as the most extensively utilized DNA markers in the twenty-first century (Thomson, 2014). SNP markers have significantly advanced plant breeding across a variety of crops, including tomato (Peterson et al., 2012), maize (Junta et al., 2020), rice (Razak et al., 2020), wheat (Wei et al., 2011), soybean (Kim et al., 2010), oil palm (Maryanto et al., 2020), cassava (Karim et al., 2020), and taro (Helmkampf et al., 2018). Overall, SNP markers have emerged as critical tools for genetic improvement and precision breeding across a wide range of crop species. SNPs initially trailed behind SSRs in DNA fingerprinting because they have fewer polymorphisms

Introduction
Angiosperms produce attractive and intricately structured flowers, within which their reproductive process occurs. In flowering plants, as in other plant groups, a diploid spore-producing generation (sporophyte) alternates with a haploid gamete-producing generation (gametophyte). The flower contains specialized structures, such as the stamen (or androecium) and the pistil (or gynoecium), where the respective male and female gametophytes are formed. The pollen grain serves as the male gametophyte, while the embryo sac serves as the female gametophyte. These gametophytes are responsible for producing sperm and egg cells, respectively facilitating their union during fertilization. The pollen grain contains the male gametophyte in angiosperms or gymnosperms. Conversely, spores function as a resting and dispersal phase for cryptogams (Moore et al., 1991). The study of pollen grains (produced by seed plants, angiosperms and gymnosperms) and spores (produced by pteridophytes, bryophytes, algae and fungi) is known as palynology. This discipline examines the structure and formation of pollen grains and spores, their dispersal and their preservation under various environmental conditions. Palynology serves as a valuable research tool for understanding many aspects of plant and animal metabolism. Moreover, a deeper understanding of pollen can aid plant breeders in enhancing efforts to improve global food and fiber supplies. In the anthers of higher plants, neither the developing pollen nor the surrounding tissues exhibit autonomous growth and development. Instead, the developing anther functions as a system where the gametophytic and sporophytic generations of the plant communicate, coordinate and co-participate in development. This chapter aims to understand the various aspects of gene activity that occur during pollen development.

Abstract
The rapid growth of aquaculture as a critical food production sector brings significant challenges, particularly the management of organic waste, which can harm aquatic ecosystems and reduce farm productivity. Polychaetes, a diverse group of marine annelid worms, present a sustainable and efficient solution to these issues. This chapter investigates their potential in aquaculture waste management, focusing on their ability to bio-assimilate organic matter, mitigate pollution, and enhance nutrient recycling. Polychaetes efficiently process uneaten feed, faecal matter, and organic sludge, converting these into protein and lipid-rich biomass suitable for use as high-quality feed ingredients or bio-products. Their integration supports the circular economy’s principle and integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA), fostering a synergistic system that minimizes waste and optimizes resource utilization. Additionally, polychaete application enhances water quality, reduces reliance on chemical treatments, and promotes sustainable aquaculture development. Integrating polychaetes into aquaculture systems, emphasizing their potential to drive eco-friendly practices, offers a pathway
toward more sustainable, resilient, and economically viable aquaculture production.
Keywords: Polychaete, Bioremediation, Aquaculture, Waste management and IMTA

Introduction

Seaweeds, also known as marine macroalgae, grow in intertidal zones to deep sea environments. Based on their pigmentation, seaweeds are classified into three groups. They are red (Rhodophyta), green (Chlorophyta), and brown (Phaeophyta). Seaweeds are the primary producers in marine ecosystems; they also contribute to carbon fixation, nutrient cycling, reducing wave energy, preventing coastal erosion, and oxygen production. The complex, three dimensional growing nature of seaweeds helps habitat marine flora and fauna. Seaweeds are consumed as food in many countries, particularly in Asia due to their high nutritional content. Along with their nutritional value, they contain bioactive compounds with potential pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications. Agar and alginate from seaweeds are used in the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Seaweeds are integral part of marine ecosystems. Chemical pollutants including pesticides can disrupt these ecosystems by harming their populations, which directly or indirectly affect the marine environment. seaweeds are not only essential components of marine ecosystems. They are also consumed directly or indirectly in various food products (e.g., sushi, soups, and salads). The pesticides in the marine environment absorbed by seaweeds and bioaccumulate in the food chain. Seaweed cultivation is an emerging sector worldwide. The applications of seaweeds are food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and biofuels production. Seaweeds contaminate with pesticides leads to economic loss and reducing market demand. Manu of the seaweed consuming countries have safety limit for pesticide residues in food products, including seaweeds. The presence of pesticides in seaweeds also helps the development of risk assessment and management strategies including source identification, exposure pathways, and mitigating measures. The monitoring of pesticides in seaweeds provides the contamination levels over time, which helps to identifying the emerging issues, assess the effectiveness of regulatory measures, and guide adaptive management strategies.

Energy and food are the two main requirements for human civilization; however the demands for these two resources are increasing in a fast rate. Development of any region is reflected in its quantum of energy consumption. In this context, the situation in arid region is difficult. People burn firewood, agricultural waste and cow dung cake for cooking food causing damages to the fragile eco-system of arid zone. There is inadequate electrical power supply and hence villagers of remote arid areas are unable to derive general benefits. The kerosene is used for lighting and fast depleting diesel oil is used for running agricultural machinery including pumps. In this context solar energy is considered to be one of the promising sources in India.

About 12% of electricity production capacity in India is met through renewable energy sources. In India, national solar mission was launched in November 2009 with a target of 4000 MW grid and 1000 MW off-grid electricity generation from solar energy by the end of phase II (2013-2017), whereas these targets are 20,000 MW and 2000 MW, respectively by 2022. The target has been revised in 2015 to a total grid connected solar power generation of 1,00,000 MW comprising of 40,000 MW roof top generation and 60,000 MW grid connected solar power plants (Resolution of MNRE, Govt of India, No. 30/80/ 2014-15/NSM dated 1^st July 2015).