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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.

Water Resources: Classifications of water: Groundwater, surface water and Virtual Water; Conjunctive use of water in agriculture; Water resources in different states and Stakeholders of water use.
Introduction
Despite fact that more than two-third of the earth’s surface is covered with water, currently, near about 450 million people in 29 countries are facing severe water shortage and at least 20 percent more water would be required to feed additional 3 billion populations by 2025. About 97.5 percent of ocean-sea water is not available due to its salinity and 2.49 percent is locked up in ice and only 0.01 percent is technologically available and economically accessible water either from surface or ground water sources for human uses. So water saving technologies developed so far is very pertinent to propagate amongst the users. Water is an essential natural resource for sustaining the environment and supporting life where the agriculture is the major user of water resource. Water is an indispensable for sustainable agricultural growth and development. Previously, rainfed agriculture was associated primarily with conservational land treatments to check soil erosion and land degradation.But in the areas of medium to heavy rainfall, there is ample scope of tapping excess rain water through suitable water harvesting structures constructed for this purpose for its subsequent uses as irrigation or to apply lifesaving irrigation to the crops which should also come under the purview of water management for crop production. Although there is a difference in the objectives of water management where there is abundant availability of water from continuous flow connected with perennial sources or lakes and rivers and that of from restricted or limited supply from collection of excess rain through water harvesting structures.The former is associated with to obtain as much as yield of crop per unit area under water application and later is associated with increasing productivityof crop per unit of water application even under rainwater recycling and its effective management for the purpose of irrigation. Hence, both the rainwater and irrigation water are considered to be equally important to context of

Irrigation: definition and objectives; Importance: Function of water for plant growth, water resources and irrigation development for different crops in India.
Introduction
The effect of supplemental water application as irrigation for crop production at its needs during rainless period is well established throughout the world. The plant has life, so it requires water for growth and development to give us proper quality and good yield. Water is required for metabolic activities including solubilization, absorption and translocation on the way of biochemical processes in photosynthesis, transpiration and respiration. India with 2.4% of the world’s total area has 16% of the world’s population; but has only 4% of the total available fresh water. This clearly indicates the need for water resource development, conservation, and optimum use.
Importance of irrigation water management
The importance of irrigation in the world is well stated “Irrigation in many countries including India is an age-old art–as old as civilization – but for the whole world it is a modern science–science of survival”. The pressure of survival and the need for additional food supplies are necessitating a rapid expansion of irrigation throughout the world including India. Production and productivity of agricultural lands is primarily dependent upon the availability of irrigation water to crops. Expansion of irrigation has paid rich dividends in India. fter independence, production registered nearly 4.52 times increase from around 50.8 million tons in 1950-51 to about 230 million tons in 2007-08. This has been mainly attributed to three factors viz., high yielding cereals, expansion of area under irrigation and fertilizer use. Irrigation may be considered as the major factor of modern intensive agriculture as it aids in efficient use of costly fertilizers and other inputs besides meeting crop water needs.

Procedure
1. Mix the dough with ingredients I. Keep it for fermentation till breaks easily without stretching.
2. Put the sponge to mixer. Add salt, sugar, flour and optional ingredients and mix. In last, add shortening. The dough should be soft and very smooth.
3. Let the dough relax for about 30 min. cut pieces of dough weighing 100 g/450g.
4. Mould in along oblong shape and place in baking pans.
5. Proof the moulded dough to a desired height.
6. Bake at 210oC to a golden colour.
7. Cool the loaves overnight.
8. Cut the rusk of desired thickness. Arrange on baking sheets and toast at 190oC till these are crisp and golden brown in colour.
9. Cool and packaged.

Objective: Production of Chocolate.
The major ingredient of chocolate is cocoa mass, which is mixed with sugar, and in case of milk chocolate, also with milk powder. The conching process then follows, which is important for the development of full chocolate flavour. Melted cocoa butter is added, the chocolate mass becomes liquid and is cooled, tempered and poured into moulds to form chocolate products.
Mixing of ingredients
Sugar, cocoa mass and milk powder are intensively mixed forming a dry powder. This powder is pre-ground in various types of mills and then finely ground in a 5-roll refiner. The size of particles in chocolate is between 15- 70 mm (average 25 mm). Small operators use vertical ball mills. Optimum flow properties are required for further processing. The yield value required differs according to the potential use (e.g. hollow moulding or enrobing). The particle size affects both the yield value and the plastic viscosity. In order to reduce recipe costs, the most expensive major constituent (i.e. fat) should be used in the smallest possible proportion which will give correct flow characteristics.

Objective: Development of Salted Banana chips.
Banana is the second most significant natural product harvest of India close to mango. It is accessible round the year and due as it would prefer, nutritive and the rape tic worth. It is most loved product of all classes of individuals. It is a rich wellspring of sugar and nutrients especially nutrient B. Banana assists with diminishing the danger of heart illnesses. Banana is a famous organic product because of its low cost and high nutritive worth. Banana contains about 20% sugar and sensible measure of Vitamins A, B and C. This is considered to be a rich source producing food. It is consumed in several forms and among many worth added arrangements, Banana Chips is viewed as the main thing. Seared banana chips are typically delivered from under-ready banana cuts southern style in sunflower oil or coconut oil. These chips are dry (like potato chips), contain about 4% water (table), and can be salted, spiced, glossed over or jaggery covered. Some of the time banana enhancing is added.

Objective: Development of Potato chips
Potato is a perishable commodity and cannot be preserved longer in fresh form. Although for some time potatoes can be preserved by low temperature storage but this low temperature storage results in many undesirable biochemical changes in the quality of the potatoes. Another alternative for the preservation of potatoes is to conversion in the shelf stable value-added processed products. Further, value-addition and processing of potato will also ensure the availability of wholesome, safe, nutritious, and acceptable food to consumers throughout the year along with simultaneous reduction in post-harvest losses and profit to the farmers for their produce. Potatoes are processed into a great variety of products, including cooked potatoes, par-fried potato strips, French fries, potato chips, potato starch, potato granules, potato flakes and dehydrated diced potatoes and others. Globally, only two potato-based snack foods i.e., chips/ wafers and French-fried potato are the main value-added products of potato, accounting for more than 42% of the potato based processed products. Such type of fried products is loved for convenience and their premium taste, flavour, and texture. With the technological advancements, now potato processing is highly industrialized and market driven. Like other processed products, the finished product quality of potato based value-added products severely depends upon the quality of raw potatoes used. Therefore, the major challenge in potato processing is to fulfil the tuber quality requirements specifically, tuber morphology, reducing sugar (=0.1%) and dry matter content (=20%). Alternatively, we can infer that all type of potato is not suitable for processing. The crispy texture of potato chips is one of the most important quality indicators of the finished product, apart from colour, odour and flavour. Potato chips texture is often described in terms of crispness, hardness and crunchiness. This crispy/crunchy character is an important sensory characteristic on which consumers base their appreciation.

Objective: Preparation of Turmeric powder
Turmeric (Curcuma longa L), the ancient and sacred spice of India known as ‘Indian saffron’ is an important commercial spice crop grown in India. It is used in diversified forms as a condiment, flavouring and colouring agent and as a principal ingredient in Indian culinary as curry powder. It has anti-cancer and anti-viral activities and hence finds use in the drug industry and cosmetic industry. 'Kum-kum', popular with every house wife, is also a by-product of turmeric. It finds a place in offerings on religious and ceremonial occasions. A type of starch is also being extracted from a particular type of turmeric. The increasing demand for natural products as food additives makes turmeric as ideal produce as a food colourant. India is the largest producer, consumer and exporter of turmeric in the world.

Objective: Development of Sugarcane Vinegar.
Principle: Sugarcane is one of the main crops worldwide, and it has an important impact on environmental issues. Sugarcane is used in daily routine life in many ways like as vinegar, jiggery, juices etc. In India sugarcane crop is best cultivated in the west U.P. Sugarcane original vinegar drink with high nutritional quality was produced from fresh sugarcane juice using the yeast culture and acetic acid bacteria by fermentation techniques such as submerged alcoholic fermentation followed by acetic fermentation at room temperature. Refined sugarcane is the primary product of sugarcane juice, during its processing; various other valuable products are also obtained in an unrefined form such as brown sugar, molasses, jaggery and vinegar. Sugarcane juice is widely used in the treatment of jaundice, hemorrhage, dysuria, and other urinary disease. Nowadays sugarcane vinegar is also used in Indian kitchens commonly in pickles, salads, etc. Vinegar is extremely useful for human health including antimicrobial activity, blood pressure reduction, antioxidant activity, reduction in the effects of diabetes, and prevention of cardiovascular disease. Vinegar can be made from any carbohydrate source, amylaceous, or sugary substrate through two successive fermentations: alcoholic fermentation, which is carried out by means of yeasts, and acetic fermentation, with acetic bacteria as the protagonist.

Materials required
Material : Wheat Flour (550 g), Pearl millet Flour (50 g), Ragi Flour (50 g), Finger millet Flour (50 g), Barley Flour (50 g), Sorghum Flour (50 g), Foxtel Millet Flour (50 g), Maize Flour (50 g), Oat Flour (50 g), Besan (50 g) Shortening (350 g), Fine Sugar (400 g), Sodium bicarbonate (10 g), Distilled water (50 ml), salt (8 g). Equipments: Mixer, rolling pin, Tray, cookies cutter, baking oven etc. Principle: Cookies are made from soft wheat are having high sugar and fat content. They contain relatively low moisture content and have fairy high shelf life. Biscuits are similar name used in Europe and UK. Cookies are chemically leavened. Sugar and shortening are creamed to form dough with flour and leavening agents. When cookies dough enters the oven, the fat starts melting and sugar is dissolved which allow the cookies to spread as a function of gravity. The leavening agents expand it in all direction and structure is stabilized with high temperature prevailing in the oven.

Materials required
Material : Wheat Flour (1000g), Shortening (350 g), Fine Sugar (400 g), Sodium bicarbonate (10 g), Dextrose solution (100 ml) i.e 25 g Dextrose hydrate in 500 ml water, Distilled water (50 ml), salt (8 g).
Equipments: Mixer, rolling pin, Tray, cookies cutter, baking oven etc.
Principle: Cookies are made from soft wheat are having high sugar and fat content. They contain relatively low moisture content and have fairy high shelf life. Biscuits are similar name used in Europe and UK. Cookies are chemically leavened. Sugar and shortening are creamed to form dough with flour and leavening agents. When cookies dough enters the oven, the fat starts melting and sugar is dissolved which allow the cookies to spread as a function of gravity. The leavening agents expand it in all direction and structure is stabilized with high temperature prevailing in the oven.

Principle
Pickle is an edible product preserved and flavoured in a solution of common salt and vinegar. Spices and oil are also added. They add to palatability of a meal, aid in digestion and are good appetizers too. Pickles are prepared from fruit and vegetables like cauliflower, reddish, carrot, green chili, turnip, cabbage, onion, mango, jackfruit, aonla and lemon etc. Commercial preservation of many pickle relied upon conversion of fermentable carbohydrates by lactic acid bacteria to organic acids during bulk storage and/or the addition of sufficient amount of sugar, vinegar and other ingredients to the fully cured and packed products to preclude any microbial growth. Organic acids, oil, salt and spices all have antimicrobial properties at suitable concentration especially in combination which preserves the pickles. Pickles in brine such as or after fermentation however, need some amount of preservative or pasteurization to prevent the spoilage.

Principle
Chutney and sauces are important food products prepared both in homes as well as commercially in India. They improve the digestion and are good appetizers. Tomatoes are a good source of vitamin C. Fresh tomatoes are very refreshing and appetizing but can not be stored for a long period. Often they are sold at distress prices during the peak harvest season and nearly 25% of the produce is spoiled due to mishandling and improper processing facilities. Such losses can be reduced by converting fresh tomatoes in to delicious product like paste, puree, juice, ketchup/sauce and powder. Generally, the sugar content in ketchup/sauce varies from 10-26%. The salt content of the product should be 1.3 to 3.4%. Good quality vinegar is essential for the preparation of high quality sauce/ketch up. It should contain 5.0-5.5% acetic acid or glacial acetic acid (100% acetic acid) and should be added when the product has thickened sufficiently. Tomato sauce/ketchup generally contains 1.25-1.50% acetic acid. In order to increase the viscosity and prevent the separation of pulp from clear juice, pectin can be added to extent of 0.1-0.2% pectin by weight of the finished product. Add 0.025% sodium benzoate as preservative to the product before bottling and then pasteurize.

Principle
Nectar: The term ‘fruit nectar’ is used to designate pulpy fruit juice blended with sugar syrup and citric acid to produce a ready-to-drink beverage. In this fruit beverage contains at least 20% juice/pulp and 15% total soluble solid and also 0.3% acid. It is not diluted before serving. Many fruit juices are either too acidic or strongly flavoured; these cannot be pleasant without dilution of blending or both. These strong, tart juices are delicious after dilution with thin syrup or blend juice e.g. apricot, guava and plum juice. Out of the tropical fruits, nectars made from banana, guava, mango and papaya are quite popular. The product is sealed in container or glass bottles and processed by heat to prevent spoilage. The fruit ingredients may be puree, pulp, juice or concentrated equivalent to 40 percent of the finished products. Apples, cherries and pineapples are used in combination with others fruits. The sweeteners are sugar, invert sugar syrup, dried corn syrup, glucose syrup and the optional ingredients are lemon juice, citric, malic and fumaric acids as acidifier and ascorbic acid as antioxidants (150 ppm) can be used.

Principle
Squash: A fruit juice squash essentially consists of juice containing moderate quantity of fruit pulp to which cane sugar is added for sweetening e.g. orange squash, plum squash. This is a type of fruit beverage containing at least 25 percent fruit juice/pulp and 40-50 percent total soluble solids, commercially. It also contains about 1.0 percent acid and 350 ppm SO2 or 600 ppm sodium benzoate. It is diluted before serving.
Mango, orange and pineapple are used for making squash commercially. It can also be prepared from lemon, lime, guava, pear, apricot, muskmelon, papaya etc., using potassium metabisulphate (KMS) as preservative, or from jamun, passion fruit, peach, phalsa, mulberry, raspberry, straw berry, grapefruit etc., with sodium benzoate as preservative.

Objective: Development of RTS beverage from seasonal fruits.
Material required
Fruit, juicer-mixer-grinder, preservatives, sugar, refractometer, pan and knife etc.
Principle
Ready To Serve(RTS): This a type of fruit beverage which contain at least 10% fruit juice and 10% total soluble solid besides about 0.3% acid. This is not diluted before serving.
Before undertaking the preparation of beverage, it is necessary to know techniques of extraction of pulp/juice from various fruits used for RTS.

Principle
Jelly: Jelly is a semi-solid product prepared by boiling a clear, strained solution of pectin containing fruit extract, free from pulp, after the addition of sugar and acid. A perfect jelly should be transparent, well set, but not too stiff, and should have the original flavour of the fruit. It should be of attractive colour and keep its shape when removed from the mould. Pectin (0.5-1.0%), acid (0.5-0.75%), sugar (65%), and water are the four essential ingredients. Pectin test and determination of end-point of jelly formation are very important for the quality of the jelly. Some recipes for jelly making are given below:

Principle
Jam: Jam is a product made by boiling the fruit pulp with a sufficient quantity of sugar to reasonable consistency, firm enough to hold fruit tissues in position. Apple, pear, sapota, apricot, carrot etc. are used for preparation of fruit jam. Jam contains 0.5-0.6 % acid and invert sugar should not be more than 40 %.
Total soluble solids (TSS)
The TSS value is defined as the amount of sugar and soluble minerals present in fruits and vegetables. A refractometer is based on the principle of total refraction. This is done by placing a few drops of distilled water on the prism in the specimen chamber of the back the cover. The distilled water reading should be zero. If it is not so, it should be set to zero with the scale correction knob. The specimen chamber is now cleaned with muslin cloth or tissue paper. For determining the TSS, a drop of sample (jam, juice and syrup, etc.) is placed on the prism and the percentage of dry substance in it read directly on scale in refractometer.

Principles
The quality of foods can be defined as the ‘composite’ of those ‘characteristics’ that differentiate individual unit of a product and have significance in determining the degree of acceptability of that unit by the consumer. The overall quality refers to technological, physiological, chemical, microbiological, nutritional; and sensory parameters to achieve the wholesome food. Sensory quality attributes such as taste, colour, texture, flavour and overall quality of any food products were evaluated by 9- point Hedonic rating test is used for the purpose of evaluation. This test measures the consumer’s acceptability.