Agricultural Research最新文献

Agriculture plays crucial role for developing the economic status of any country. As the population is increasing day by day, the demand for food materials is also increasing. For the storage, import, export, pricing, etc., of food materials, there is need of timely production forecast of the crops. To get timely and accurate production forecast, there is requirement of continuous monitoring of the agricultural crops. The demand of early forecast creates the opportunity of using remote sensing to provide timely and accurate crop forecast using satellite-based technology. Mustard is an important oilseed and cash crop grown during the rabi season under irrigated or assured water conditions. The objective of this study is to discriminate the mustard crop from other rabi season crops by using the temporal MSI and SAR data of Haryana state of India. Based on crop spectral profile of MSI data and temporal backscatter profile of SAR data, classification has been done by random forest classification technique and the LULC was segregated into the mustard and other classes to generate the mustard crop classified mask. In the study, NDVI values of the crop derived from multidate MSI data are compared with backscattering values obtained from multi-temporal SAR data. The R square between NDVI and SAR backscatter is 0.907 which is showing positive correlation between both. The classification accuracy for the mustard crop was found to be 95% and 91.66% using SAR and MSI data, respectively. The present study suggests the potential of multi-date Sentinel-1A VH polarized SAR data for differentiating the mustard crop from the other associated rabi season crops using machine learning approach.

An efficient management of water resources is considered essential for increased irrigation water productivity and for long-term sustainability of cropland ecosystems. In north-western India, the widespread adoption of conventional irrigation practices within water-intensive cropping systems like “rice-wheat” has led to frightening levels of water shortage and meager economic benefits. Diversified cropping systems, or producing different crops on the same piece of land at once, can increase revenue potential besides saving of irrigation water. Diversified cropping systems can help ensure the environmental and economic sustainability of agricultural operations, which can ultimately improve the livelihood of farmers. In this regard, this study aims to compare three maize-based crop sequences with rice–wheat system under different irrigation regimes. Specifically, rice equivalent yield, water balance, water productivity and net returns were assessed for different cropping systems under varied irrigation regimes. The study findings demonstrate significantly higher rice equivalent yield in maize–gobhi sarson–summer moong sequence under I_1.25, I_1.0 and conventional irrigation scheduling practice besides saving of ~ 687.5, 462.5 and 800 mm of irrigation water, respectively, compared to the rice–wheat sequence established under conventional irrigation scheduling. The cropping sequence with oilseeds and pulses as component crops, i.e., maize–gobhi sarson–summer moong and maize–potato–mentha + onion has ~ 1.85-times higher water use efficiency under I_1.25 as compared to the R–W cropping under conventional irrigation scheduling. The R–W cropping sequence under conventional irrigation regime resulted in the lowest average net returns compared with maize-based crop sequences established under I_1.25 and the conventional irrigation regime.

Bangladesh ranks high among the world’s leading fish producing countries. However, there is need to consistently increase fish production for feeding the growing population as well as meeting global demand. Production and supply of quality fish seeds is the precondition for successful fish farming and production, which is often hindered by multitude of problems. The study was conducted to identify the problems affecting the hatchery owners in producing quality fish seeds and its associated factors. Empirical data were collected from 70 randomly selected hatchery owners in Mymensingh district of Bangladesh during March and April 2019 using a structured interview questionnaire. Both descriptive and inferential statistics, such as multiple linear regression models were used to analyze the data. Major findings indicate that most of the hatchery owners (98.6%) experienced medium extent of problems in fish seed production, followed by high extent of problems (1.4%). In general, problems associated with financial capital, such as lack of capital to pay electricity bills (PFS = 199 out of 210) and high cost of fish feeds (PFS = 196) were found important for the hatchery owners. On the contrary, lack of knowledge of optimum doses of hormones use (PFS = 59) in fish seed production was identified as the least important problem. Correlation analysis suggested that annual income, hatchery management experience, investment at the hatchery, organizational participation, extension media contact, and knowledge of hatchery management were significantly associated with problems in fish seeds production. Moreover, multiple linear regression identified that extension media contact and hatchery management knowledge were the highest contributing factors that can explain variation in the focus variable by 17.2% and 16.2%, respectively. The study identified some opportunities for policymakers to address the important factors for reducing problems in producing fish seeds. Moreover, frequent contact with the extension service providers and adequate training on hatchery management might be effective measures in minimizing problems of the hatchery owners in the study areas.

Ethiopia, a country in the Horn of Africa, is noted for its diverse natural landscapes and rich agricultural legacy. However, it faces a significant challenge in the form of soil erosion and loss. The country’s pace of soil loss, particularly in the Woybo watershed, has been a major cause of concern due to its detrimental impact on food security, livelihoods, and long-term development. To construct the soil loss rate map in the Woybo watershed, the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) was integrated with Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System. The RUSLE model was used to analyze soil erosion using rainfall erosivity, soil erodibility, slope length and steepness, land cover and management, and conservation support practice. The calculated average soil loss rate from the watershed was 19.58 tons per hectare per year, resulting in a total annual erosion rate of 572,611.15 tons per year. Furthermore, nearly half of the watershed (47.78%) is affected by very slight to moderate and very severe (39.96%) soil loos. Furthermore, the western portion of the watershed is predominantly composed of brown soil, which is intrinsically more sensitive to the eroding force of rainfall droplets. The majority of the watershed’s eastern half is made up of red soils, which are significantly influenced by soil loss and erosion. Managers and policymakers can use the findings of this study to establish suitable conservation programs, ensuring that water and soil conservation measures are implemented quickly in the study watershed, in accordance with the priority watersheds’ ranking.

Assam, along with other Northeast (NE) Indian states, is a pesticide-free zone, which increases the risk of pathogen infiltration to the fields from the surrounding biodiversity hotspot region. To identify potential phytopathogens and beneficial microbes (BCs) from these regions, we investigated the fungal diversity collected from eight districts in Assam. The fungal population in the clay-textured soil ranged from 4.27 to 4.83 × 10⁴ CFUgm⁻¹ soil. A total of 449 fungi were isolated, 437 were morphologically characterized, and 70 isolates showing macroscopic and microscopic variations were identified using ITS sequencing. Based on ITS sequences, the fungi belonged to 3 phyla, including Ascomycota (60), Basidiomycota (4), and Zygomycota (6), which were dispersed in 7 classes and 28 genera, and 12 isolates remained uncharacterized. Among the identified isolates, the known plant pathogens and mycotoxin producers included Fusarium, Curvularia, Penicillium, and Aspergillus, while BC included Trichoderma. Pearson correlation studies revealed that the fungal population was greatly affected by the soil pH and EC. Comprehensive studies using PCA plot indicates that soil EC promotes the evenness of fungal diversity. Moreover, the soil organic carbon alters the soil pH, which interacts with available nitrogen in the soil and consequently improves the fungal diversity. The finding concluded that the soil attributes, viz., organic carbon, available nitrogen, soil pH, and soil EC impacted heterogeneous microbial populations and fungal diversity. We also report status of soil Cd, Cr, As, and mineral nutrients. Soil As ranged from 3.48 to 9.09 mg kg⁻¹. Equilibrium between biocontrols and phytopathogens among the isolated fungal population was observed.

The growing usage of pesticides in agriculture need to be assessed by measuring the pace at which they absorbed into the soil. This study employed batch equilibrium technique to examine the sorption behavior for studying environmental fate of the oxyfluorfen through meticulous simulation and analyzing complex soil matrices. Determinative experiments with a thorough evaluation of the oxyfluorfen behavior, including its adsorption and desorption characteristics as well as its kinetics of hydrolysis and photolysis degradation. Oxyfluorfen molecules were shown to interact strongly with soils, primarily through physio-sorption mechanisms. Thermodynamic investigation clearly demonstrated exothermic and spontaneous adsorption processes, which were characterized by negative Gibbs free energy values (− 23.5 to −30.1 kJmol⁻¹). Notably, soil no. 6 (Parachinar), which was characterized by a remarkable organic matter concentration (1.88%) and a pH of 9.01, had the maximum adsorption capacity (K_d(ads) = 382.8 gmL⁻¹). The linear and Freundlich models both confirmed that this adsorption behavior followed a C-type isotherm. The half-life of oxyfluorfen was calculated using ultraviolet–visible spectrophotometry, and it was found to be 115 days in hydrolysis studies and 3.20 days in photolysis experiments, respectively. These data highlight oxyfluorfen's strong affinity for the chosen agricultural soils, indicating little possibility for degradation resulting in higher persistence. These findings also provide prospects for streamlining degradative pathways, opening the door for workable methods of environmental restoration through organic means.

Stunting is a complex issue in India that has deep-seated health, social, and economic causes. The problem of stunting is a clear indicator of chronic undernutrition and has long-term impacts on both individuals and society. Identifying hot-spot areas with the highest stunting prevalence among children is important for addressing the multifaceted issue of childhood stunting in India. Therefore, we conducted a study to analyze the spatial distribution and identify the predictors of stunted children in India using spatial and multilevel analysis. We analyzed data from the National Family Health Survey-5 and included a sample size of 201,276 children (aged 0–59 months) in 707 districts, 28 states, 8 union territories, and 30,198 clusters throughout India. From Getis-Ord hot spot analysis, we identified Meghalaya, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Assam, Gujarat, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh as the hot-spot areas in India for childhood stunting. The study’s findings could be used to develop targeted interventions and strategies to reduce stunting in identified hot-spot areas of India. From multilevel logistic regression analysis, we found that stunting prevalence was greater among male children aged 12–59 months in India, especially those born to young, underweight, uneducated mothers, households with poor sanitation facilities, larger family sizes, and the poorest wealth index. We must prioritize the effective implementation of policies aimed at improving maternal education and basic sanitation facilities, reducing family size, and enhancing the socioeconomic conditions of the poorest households to significantly reduce stunting in India.

Entomophily plays an important role in optimum seed set of self-incompatible Brassica oleracea var. italica. In the present study, a total of 27 insect species belonging to three orders Hymenoptera (64.88%), Diptera (33.15%) and Lepidoptera (1.97%) visited broccoli flowers, among which the Indian bee (Apis cerana indica) was the dominant pollinator (49.21%). The peak activity of A. c. indica and A. mellifera mellifera was recorded at 13.00 h during all the flowering stages. Pollen foragers of A. c. indica (61.14%) were more frequently observed than nectar foragers (38.86%), whereas A. m. mellifera recruited a higher number of nectar foragers (63.67%). The pollen foragers of A. m. mellifera were swift flyers visiting significantly a higher number of flowers (12.35 flowers/minute) and spending least time per flower (3.32 s/flower). The pollination efficiency of A. c. indica and A. m. mellifera was found to be 0.50 and 0.64, respectively. The foragers of A. c. indica and A. m. mellifera were estimated to pollinate 6838 and 7935 flowers a day and required 2.00 and 1.56 visits per flower for optimum seed set. Yield enhancement studies through entomophily showed that flowers receiving unrestricted visit from pollinators (open control) recorded 286.38% higher yield followed by interaction of two pollinators (A. c. indica + A. m. mellifera) 234.71%, A. m. mellifera (197.43%) and A. c. indica (178.3%) with respect to control close treatment.

To manage bee-wasp species interaction, knowledge of wasp predaceous behavior and honey bees’ defense mechanism are of utmost importance. It is an elaborately oriented experimental attempt to save the world of honey bees from incineration and to address the alternative stringent menace posed by wasps. Predatory behavior of wasp species viz. Vespa auraria Smith, V. tropica (Leefmansi) Vecht., and V. basalis Smith was studied at hive entrance of Apis mellifera and also their inherent defense mechanism was described. V. auraria was the most agile wasp species with highest attacks on colony at 3.68 ± 0.98/week, and it also spent the least time of 7.47 ± 0.28 s to catch a bee followed by V. tropica (25.58 ± 0.51 s) and V. basalis (31.26 ± 0.73 s). V. basalis had the tendency to attack at ground level than at hive entrance. On an average, 6.04 guard bees/colony significantly can resist wasp attack. In heat balling a wasp, after 45 s a maximum of 25.75 ± 0.43 bees were seen engulfed and in the process, a rise of 3.59 °C temperature was recorded. Higher thermal exposure of bees for 5 and 20 min was also recorded. Bee-wasp protector was the most suitable wasp management technique and it had the lowest successful bee catches of 0.55 ± 0.07, 0.21 ± 0.01 and 0.00 ± 0.00 bees by the wasp, V. auraria, V. basalis and V. tropica, respectively. Acetic acid was the most effective among six bait materials, and all tested wasp repellents (Neem Kernel Extract 1500 ppm, Pure Clove oil, Karanj seed oil and Menthol) at 5 ml per treatment showed promise. Wasps are a significant threat to the honey bee apiaries in northern hill states and northeastern regions of India. Despite proposed management techniques, a foolproof method is elusive due to insufficient studies on bee-wasp interactions. This study aims to highlight the predator–prey relationship for effective management.

Wetlands are widely known for its distinctive and most diverse ecosystems in the world. Assam is blessed with number of lentic systems. The beels are unique water bodies, have biologically sensitive ecosystems and containing a bewildering diversity of aquatic biota. The present investigation aimed on the exploration of potential fishery resources of Majuli Island and reviewing its status while searching for a sustainable management strategy. Study was conducted from July, 2020–May, 2022 in 10 different potential wetlands of Majuli Island. Study observed that the river island is a part of the vast dynamic river system of Brahmaputra basin with a total length of 2,706 km and a catchment area of 580,000 km² is shrinking so fast. Largest shrinkage (area-wise) was observed in Jorbeel (about 17.5 ha). Study revealed that fishery and its allied agricultural activities (> 70%) still stands as primary occupation of the people for their life and livelihood. A total number of 50 fish species having great commercial, ornamental and food value belonged to 22 families were recorded with large number of least concern rank. Cyprinids were emerged as a dominant group. Indigenous fishery technology was very rich among the local peoples. Thirty different variety of traditionally made fishing gears, traps & crafts operated in different season were found. Highly prone to flood, population explosion, siltation, construction of roads & river embankments, loss of hydrological connectivity with the river, occupancy of marginal areas for human settlement and other human encroachment activities were found to be major threats. Wetlands of Majuli acts as natural sponge. This study concludes the urgent need of proper scientific intervention & awareness programmes to stop further disturbances to the rare ecological asset.