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This study was conducted during February, 2022 to February, 2023 to evaluate effect of dietary supplementation of Terminalia arjuna bark and Moringa oleifera leaf powder on external and internal egg quality parameters and egg composition of Uttara chicken. Day old chicks (n=72) were distributed into six treatment groups, having three replicates of 4 birds each. Birds were fed T0 (control diet), T1 (Basal diet+1% Arjuna bark powder+1% Sahjan leaf powder), T2 (Basal diet+1% Arjuna+2% Sahjan), T3 (Basal diet+1% Arjuna+3% Sahjan), T4 (Basal diet+1% Arjuna+4% Sahjan) and T5 (Basal diet+1% Arjuna+5% Sahjan). Eggs from the T3 group consistently exhibited higher (p<0.01) egg weight, thicker egg shell, greater egg shell weight, and improved albumen quality, as evidenced by higher albumen height, albumen index, and Haugh unit values. Yolk weight and yolk color score were also improved (p<0.01) in treatment groups, notably T2 and T3 as compared to control group. The eggs from the T3 group had significantly higher (p<0.05) crude protein content and lower yolk cholesterol levels compared to other groups. There was no significant difference in moisture (%) and ether extract (%) content of egg. Thus, it may be concluded that Arjuna bark @ 1% and Sahjan leaf @ 3% powder have positively influenced egg quality and egg composition of Uttara chicken indicating its potential as a beneficial dietary supplement in poultry diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To increase both water productivity and rice production, research was carried out at the Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Bhopal, India, to evaluate the use of drip irrigation together with modifications in rice crop geometry and other cultural practices. Experiments were conducted with five alternative treatments: T1: Conventional paddy cultivation under continuous flooding, T2: System of Rice Intensification (SRI) methods which include alternate wetting and drying, T3: SRI methods with dripirrigation, the emitters being spaced at 20 cm, T4: SRI methods with drip emitters spaced at 30 cm, and T5: SRI methods with drip emitters spaced at 40 cm. Greatest plant height and root length were recorded with SRI under drip irrigation at 20 cm spacing (T3). Yield and yield-contributing parameters were also significantly higher with this T3 treatment as compared with conventional practice (TI): productive tillers/m², number of grains per panicle, average panicle length and weight, average grain yield (7 t/ha), and harvest index. Superior performance of the T3 treatment in terms of water productivity and waterenergy productivity was also recorded. Among the drip-irrigated treatments, however, there was no statistically significant difference in grain yield between T3 and T4 treatments, indicating that drippers spaced at 30 cm could be recommended to lower the cost of the drip system installation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetic abrasive finishing (MAF) process is an advanced super-finishing process that is capable of achieving surface-finish in micro to nano range. In this study a hybrid module, Taguchi based grey relational analysis (GRA) coupled with simulated annealing (SA) approach is developed for multiobjective optimization of micro-finished aluminium 6060 via MAF process. The performance responses 'change in roughness', 'raise in temperature' and 'change in hardness' are considered to minimize their impact on micro-finished aluminium 6060. These responses are used to calculate the grey relational coefficient for individual response and are then converted into a single response variable i.e. grey relational grade (GRG) value. The meta-heuristic based simulated annealing algorithm is used to predict the most desired process parameter setting i.e. working gap (2 mm), abrasive weight (15 g), voltage (6 V) and rotational speed (50 rpm). This setting has been selected based on the highest GRG value predicted by hybrid Taguchi based SA-GRA approach.

Cymbopogon martinii, commonly known as palmarosa, is an essential oil-bearing crop cultivated by the farmers for production of oil used in perfumery, cosmetics and flavour industries. The study on the economics of palmarosa cultivation has shown that the major portion of operational cost was shared by human labour, distillation charges and preparation of nursery. Total variable cost was found to be ₹ 47926 per hectare per year. The gross returns were found to be ₹ 124000 per hectare per year. The net returns over variable cost were ₹ 76074 per hectare. The benefit-cost ratio was found to be 2.59 indicating a higher profit to the farmers. The independent variables like human labour, planting material and distillation charges were positive indicating significant impact on the returns from the crop. There is need for effective market intelligence system to ensure remunerative price of the produce to the farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study was conducted to assess the knowledge level and scale of adoption of twenty-seven tasar culture technologies by the farmers in relation to various socioeconomic factors, and also the constraints associated with non-adoption of these technologies. Data collected from twenty-eight randomly selected farmers belonging to traditional tasar growing area of Ranchi district of Jharkhand revealed that they had better knowledge of host plant and silkworm rearing technologies than the egg production, though the adoption rate was higher for silkworm rearing technologies, followed by host plant maintenance and egg production. The socioeconomic variables such as age, education, family size and main occupation had significant association with knowledge level and rate of adoption of technologies. However, variable like family type did not have much impact on attaining knowledge and adoption of technologies. Lack of guidance was observed to be major constraint in case of partial or non-adoption of technologies, followed by lack of awareness about the technologies and non-availability of inputs: However, the high cost of inputs was not a major concern for nonadoption of technologies in tasar culture. It is suggested that the young and more literate farmers should be motivated to adopt tasar culture by educating them the benefits which can be derived from this occupation with lesser investment than any other. Further, creating awareness and interest among the farmers about recommended technologies is very necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A survey was conducted to assess the incidence pattern of leaf curl disease in tasar host plants, Terminalia arjuna and T. tomentosa, maintained in plots as economic plantation with various plant spacings and age groups ranging from 20 to 40 years. The disease caused by the deficiency of copper was observed in all the fifteen plots surveyed and both the Terminalia species were found to be afflicted by the disease. However, the incidence (DI) and intensity (PDI) of disease varied with plant species, spacings and age. Higher disease occurrence was observed in T. tomentosa (DI 34.57-67.68; PDI 21.41-43.45) when compared with T. arjuna (DI 37.04-42.81; PDI 21.26-27.14). Closer plant spacing provides better conditions for disease development, as disease occurrence was high in closer spacing. However, a decreasing trend in disease incidence and intensity was observed with increasing plant age. It is therefore suggested to raise T. arjuna under wider spacing so that incidence of leaf curl disease can be avoided for the production of quality leaves which in turn will increase the brushing capacity of host plants and ultimately the cocoon quality and productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kinetics of the alkaline hydrolysis of isoproturon has been studied in the absence and presence of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and sodium lauryl sulfate (NaLS) micelles. CTAB micelles were found to enhance the rate of reaction, while NaLS micelles inhibited the reaction rate. The reaction obeyed first-order kinetics in [isoproturon] and was linearly dependent on [NaOH] at lower concentration. The rate of reaction became independent at higher [NaOH]. At lower [NaOH] the reaction proceeded via formation of hydroxide ion addition complex, while at higher [NaOH] the reaction occurred via deprotonation of &bond;NH&bond;, leading to the formation of isocyanate. The values of kw, km, and Ks were determined by considering the pseudophase ion exchange model. The activation parameters have also been reported. The effect of added salts (NaCl and KNO3) on the reaction rate has also been studied. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 39: 39–45, 2007 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies were conducted on the effect of pruning time, host age, urediniospore release and weather parameters on the incidence and intensity of mulberry leaf rust (Peridiopsora mori). Rust severity significantly increased with increasing shoot age, irrespective of pruning time. Maximum disease severity was observed in plants pruned during the third week of October, and minimum severity in plants pruned during last week of November. Apparent infection rate was higher in younger shoots. Infection rate was higher in plants pruned during the last week of November. Urediniospore release was influenced by prevailing climatic conditions. A higher rate of spore release was noticed during sunny days. Maximum spore release was found between 12.00 h and 14.00 h. Spore release was positively correlated with temperature and negatively correlated with relative humidity. Rust severity (34.97%) was higher in January and least (1.03%) during May. Rust severity was negatively correlated with both temperature and rainfall. An exponential model was developed for the prediction of rust severity which was accurate up to 96.60%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]