Establishment of Organic Terrace Garden and Cultivation of Nutritious Vegetables

In urban areas garden spaces are reduced in size everyday due to human impact on ecosystem. People living in urban and peri-urban areas don’t have enough space for kitchen gardening or home gardening. The only places that one can grow their own vegetables are terraces and balcony. The main aim of this study is to create awareness on all aspects of growing own organic vegetables and establishment of organic terrace garden. For the establishment of organic terrace garden, space was selected in the department of Botany, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore. The area was covered by using green shade nets. Different sizes of grow bags were selected for the cultivation of vegetables, fruits, greens and medicinal plants. The organic fertilizers and manures like vermicompost, Farm Yard Manure, panchagavya, NPK consortium were used. Neem oil was used to control the pests. Drip irrigation setup was placed in the terrace garden for irrigating the plants. The ornamental plants were planted in the hanging pots and plastic pots to beautify the environment. Students are motivated and trained for the establishment of organic terrace garden and cultivation of vegetables.

Profitability, marketing, and resource use efficiency of ginger production in Rukum west, Nepal

The study was designed to investigate the profitability, marketing, and resource use efficiency of ginger production in Rukum west. The sample size of 62 ginger-growing farmers out of 187 farmers was determined using slovin’s formula. In addition, 20 traders from two major market hubs Simrutu and Jhulneta were interviewed. The pre-tested semi-structured interview schedule was administered to interview a randomly selected sample size. Data were analyzed using descriptive and statistical tools, including the Cobb-Douglas production function. Result showed that the average area under ginger cultivation was 0.14 ha. A major portion (46.56%) of the cost was found to be incurred by the seed alone in ginger cultivation. The benefit-cost ratio (2.02) indicates that ginger production enterprise was profitable. The productivity of ginger in the study area was estimated to be 11.39 Mt/ha, while per kg cost of production was found to be (NRs 35.67 = USD 0.30). Most of the gross income (78.85%) was found to be contributed by fresh ginger. Similarly, gross margin, market margin, and producer’s share were found to be 21.16, 33.33, and 62.97%, respectively, for 1 kg of ginger. The indexing technique identified high-cost with low-quality seed and price instability as the major problems associated with the production and marketing of ginger, respectively. Cobb-Douglas production function estimated the value of return to scale at 0.889, implying that ginger production exhibited decreasing returns to scale. A study on resource allocative efficiency revealed that farm yard manure and total labor were underutilized resources while seed rhizome was overutilized resource. Thus, for optimal allocation of resources, expenditure on farm yard manure and total labor need to be increased by 87.374% and 39.908%, respectively. The study concluded that an effort should be made to bridge the gap between optimal resource utilization and current practices. For this, it is prime important to interconnect the combined efforts of ginger growers, provincial government, or any developing partners.

Response of Quality Attributes of Banana (Musa paradisiaca L.) cv. Williumto Post Shooting Spray and Bunch Covering Material

Aims: To study the post harvest shooting namely; control, humic acid 2%, 2, 4-D 30 mg/l, gibberellic acid (GA3) 100 mg/l, CPPU 4 mg/l and sulphate of potash (SOP) 2% and covering materials viz., non- woven material bag and blue colour polyethylene sleeve (6% perforated) bag on bunch of banana cv. Willium Study Design: Experiment was laid out in a Completely Randomized Design (Factorial) with three repetitions. Place and Duration of Study: Experiment was carried out at the Horticultural Research Farm,Department of Horticulture, B. A. College of Agriculture, AAU, Anand during the year 2017-18 and 2018-19 Methodology: The experimental plot was prepared by deep ploughing, harrowing and levelling. The pits of 30 x 30 x 30 cm were dug out at a spacing of 1.8 x 1.8 m2 and well decomposed fine textured Farm Yard Manure (FYM) at the rate of 10 kg per pit was applied at planting. Well hardened, healthy, uniform tissue cultured tissue culture plants of willium banana having 5-6 leaves were used for planting. Post shooting sprays were given twice i.e. 1st spray after complete opening of inflorescence and 2nd spray after 30 days of first spray with covering the bunch immediately after second spray.The fruits which were used for recording the weight loss during ripening, were used to calculating pulp: peel ratio. Pulp to peel ratio was calculated by dividing respective pulp weight by respective peel weight. The TSS value of the fruit was recorded by using hand refractometer having range of 0-32 ⁰Brix. Acidity (%) was calculated by the method described by Rangana (1977) was adopted for estimation of titrable acidity. Results: The results revealed that the banana bunches sprayingof CPPU 4 mg/lwith bunch covering with non woven materials were recorded significantly lower physiological loss in weight (12.80, 13.60 and 13.20%) and (13.26, 14.14 and 13.70%), respectively. Whereas, post shooting spray of SOP 2% with non-woven material bag coveringwere recorded significantly maximum TSS (21.42, 21.05 and 21.17 ºBrix; 21.39, 20.93 and 21.16 ºBrix), reducing sugar (12.55, 12.34 and 12.45%; 12.21, 12.16 and 12.18%) and total sugar (21.42, 20.82 and 21.12%; 20.84, 20.50 and 20.67%) as compared to rest of the treatments of post shooting sprays and bunch covering materials on banana quality. Conclusion: From the two years of field study, it can be concluded that the post shooting spraying of CPPU 4 mg/l and SOP 2% with non woven bunch covering bags were improve fruit quality of banana.

Effect on Integrated Nutrient Management on Productivity, Quality and Nutrient Uptake on Summer Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of integrated nutrient management on productivity, quality and nutrient uptake in summer groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) during summer 2018 at Dantiwada, Gujarat. The treatment consisted of ten different integrated nutrient management treatments practices. The integration of inorganic fertilizers along with seed inoculation of biofertilizers viz., Rhizobium and phosphates solubilising bacteria (PSB) recorded significantly higher pod and haulm yield of summer groundnut as compared to rest of the treatments. Combined application of 75 % recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN) and 25 % RDN through vermicompost or farm yard manure (FYM) along with seed inoculation of Rhizobium and phosphates solubilising bacteria (PSB) recorded higher pod and haulm yield and also higher net returns and B- C ratio in summer groundnut.

Respose of Indian gooseberry (Emblica officinalis Gaertn.) to Different Sources of Plant Nutrients

The Indian gooseberry is a monoecious tree and bears a unisexual flower where a high degree of cross-pollination is required for an ideal fruit set as well as better productivity. The fruit set, retention and yield in gooseberry depends on the nutritional and hormonal balance of the tree. The current work is based on the objective to estimate the fruit set, retention, sex ratio and yield in gooseberry after application of a recommended dose of fertilization (RDF) in association with farm yard manure (FYM) and biofertilizers (Azotobacter, Azospirillum and phosphate solubilizing bacteria). The maximum sex ratio was estimated in control (250.22 and 251.09) due to sufficient nitrogen fertilization. However, the highest fruit set, retention percent and yield per tree were reported with the treatment containing three-fourth of RDF in combination with Azotobacter, Azospirillum and PSB (phosphate solubilizing bacteria). Further, it was observed that about 25 to 50% replacement in RDF could be possible through biofertilizer application as a constant source of nutrients to trees.

PRODUCTION OF ENZYMES IN PREDOMINANT THERMOPHILIC FUNGI AVAILABLE FROM ORGANIC SUBSTRATES

Present investigation describes that the study site comes under Aurangabad Division Maharashtra and it falls in Deccan Plateau Zone of India. It was collected different types of organic substrates viz. vermiompost, poultary manure, baggase, farm yard manure (FYM), soil, Ash etc. Isolated thermophilic predominant fungi thermophilic fungi viz.Aspergillus niger, Mucor mucedo,Humicola insolens,Trichoderma harzianum,T. viride,Penicillium duponti,Fusarium oxysporun and Chaetomium thermophilum were carried out for the production of enzymes. Isolated predominant thermophilic fungi were evaluated on different types of enzymes. Among tested thermophilic fungi, the highest ativity was observed in C. thermophilium (20mm) followed by T. harzianum (19.50mm) In lipase, M. mucedo (15.40mm) was found maximum followed by F. oxysporun. Cellulase activity was found highest in A. nige (25mm) followed by others. In case of xylanase, catalase, peroxidase and esterase activities were found maximum, minimum and medium even negative in some fungi. Maximum pectinase activity was detected from H. insolens (52.26 @ 0 min) and (74.25 @ 10 min) and in case of M. mucedo, F. oxysporun and C. thermophilium was found most extreme while least in A. niger (30.12) and P. duponti (33.47) @ 0 minute. Key words: Organic Substrates, Thermophilic Fungi, Enzymes

BIORECLAMATORY STUDIES ON SALT AFFECTED SOIL BY USING CYANOBACTERIAL BIOFERTILIZERS

In the present investigation, three strains of cyanobacteria isolated from agricultural fields near to salt mine were used as biofertilizer individually and in consortia. Farm yard manure was also used along with cyanobacterial biofertilizers to see the ameliorative effect on soil physical, chemical and biological properties. The algalization experiment was conducted in pots in the glass house of the department for 240 days. There was an improvement in carbon, nitrogen, phosphate, potassium, magnesium, calcium, zinc, iron, copper and manganese with biofertilizers treatment whereas sodium ion, EC and pH were found to be decreased. Soil microbial activities and plant growth parameters were found to be improved. Thus, the cyanobacterial species show promise in effective exploitation for phytoremediation and improved productivity of saline soils.

A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE FARMERS’ PERCEPTION ON THE ORGANIC CULTIVATION IN SELECTED HORTICULTURAL CROP

A study on the farmers' perception on the organic cultivation for the selected horticultural crops viz.; pineapple, potato and cabbage was undertaken during the period 2018 to 2020 in the state of Nagaland and Manipur. The analysis of the data from the selected districts reveal that the total cultivated area is found maximum in Nagaland as compare to Manipur. The total overall land holding in Nagaland is recorded as 106.25 ha; while in Manipur it was recorded as 92.18 ha. While in Manipur state, maximum ploughing is recorded at marginal farmers with 2 ploughing, followed by small and medium farm size group, as 3 times ploughing is concerned, marginal farmers are maximum followed equally by small and medium, whereas 4 ploughing is concerned, very few are doing 4 & above ploughing in Nagaland for the pineapple crop. For the potato crop, 3 to 4 ploughing are found maximum in both the state. Very few are adopting 5 & more ploughng for potato crop in Manipur whereas it is found maximum in medium farm size group. In case of cabbage, maximum is found with 3 & above ploughing on medium farm size. The extent of adoption of (FYM) farm yard manure (in t/ha) across the different farm size group of Nagaland and Manipur shows that maximum FYM is used by the medium adopters, followed by low adopter and very few are found in the high adopter of Nagaland state. With respect to the state of Manipur, maximum are medium rate adopter followed by low rate and it is least on high adopter of pineapple crop. As for potato crop is concerned, medium farms were found maximum for medium rate adopter of FYM followed by low rate and very few are under high rate of adopter in Nagaland state. As Manipur is concerned, it is also found in the same trend with maximum on medium, followed by low and least on high rate adopter of FYM for potato crop. As cabbage crop is concerned, it is also following the same trend of pineapple and potato with maximum on medium rate, followed by low rate and least on hig

Effect of Mulch and Nutrients on Yield and Physiological Parameters in Transplanted Ginger

The conventional propagation method using ginger rhizome being slow, a suitable method of raising ginger seed material in portrays has been devised by Indian Institute of Spices Research. The advantages of this technology are production of healthy uniform planting materials and reduction in seed rhizome quantity which eventually reduced cost on rhizomes. The experiment was carried out in the Instructional Farm, College of Agriculture, Vellayani during April 2016 to January 2017. The ginger variety used was Karthika. Field experiment was laid out in split plot design with four levels of mulches in main plots and fertilizer levels in sub plots with four replications..Two nodded rhizome bits of ginger cultivar was raised in protrays were transplanted at 55 days in beds taken in the interspaces of coconut. Plants that received M1 (30 t ha -1) in main plot resulted in maximum plant height, number of tillers, number of leaves/plant and shoot weight, treatment T2 (150:100:100 kg ha -1) and their interaction (m1t2) also resulted in highest plant height, number of tillers, number of leaves/plant, shoot weight, Fresh yield and Dry yield on all periods of observation The results of the study indicated that ginger transplants intercropped in coconut garden, that mulching @ 30 t ha -1(half at transplanting and half 2 MAT) along with 150:100:100 kg NPK ha-1 and basal application of 30 t ha-1 of farm yard manure could be recommended for higher yield and growth.

A study on Economic Analysis of Organic Coconut Cultivation in Coimbatore District

The study analyses the economics of coconut production under organic farming in Coimbatore District of Tamil Nadu. Participatory Guarantee Scheme (PGS) was studied in accordance to how farmers get their organic farming certification under PKVY scheme in Tamil Nadu. The estimated variable cost was Rs. 43,025/ha. The total cost of cultivation was Rs.82,216/ha. The net income over operational cost was Rs.2,95,888/ha and net income over total cost was Rs.2,56,697/ha. Total yield was increasingly responsive with higher application of farm yard manure and bio- fertilizers. Results of scale efficiency shows majority of the farms were operating in optimum return to scale. Inadequate supply of labour and inadequate market for organic products poses as major constraints to organic coconut farming in the area of study. Aim: The purpose of the study was to find out the profitability level and responsiveness of yield with input application of organic farming through Participatory Guarantee Scheme (PGS) and how farmers actively involved in organic farming to conserve natural resources. Design of Study and Methodology: The study was conducted in Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu (2020) with 60 sample respondents. Purposive sampling was adopted for the study and two blocks were selected based on the leading operator of PGS scheme. The data were collected through well-structured interview schedule which was prepared through pre-tested survey. The analytical methods followed in the study included cost and returns estimation, resource use efficiency and data envelopment analysis to reveal the exact scenario of organic farming practices. Findings of the study: The study showed about Organic coconut is found to be one of the most important and sustainable crop options. Estimates of Resource Use Efficiency show that coconut yield was relatively higher with use of farm yard manure and bio- fertilizers, compared to all other organic inputs Nearly, 32.5 per cent of the farms considered under study were found to be operating in constant returns to scale. The major marketing constraint faced by the sample farmers through organic farming was inadequate supply of labour and price fluctuations of coconut.