Automation of Seed Priming Technology for Enhanced Seed Vigour of Blackgram Seeds

Background: Seed priming technique involves soaking of seeds in priming agent to a point where germination related metabolic activities occur in the seeds followed by drying of imbibed seeds to original moisture to prevent the radical protrusion and facilitate storage of primed seed. Draining of priming agent and drying of large quantity of primed seeds is a laborious and time consuming process. The current study was aimed to standardize automation of seed priming process by utilizing house-hold top loading washing machine. Methods: The top loading washing machine referred to as Seed Priming Cabinet, contained a priming drum with provision for draining water. On completion of the soaking period, the ‘SPIN’ button was pressed by setting the duration of spin drying (1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 min.). Then the seeds were removed from the drum of priming cabinet and subjected to shade drying so as to reach the original moisture content and evaluated for seed quality parameters. Result: The blackgram seed subjected to conventional hydropriming was compared with automatic seed priming for 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 min. and observed that hydropriming and spin drying for 3 min. was found to be optimum and the per cent increase in germination recorded over control was 18.0 per cent thus suggesting that automation of seed priming technology can be recommended for enhanced seed vigour and crop productivity of blackgram.

Effect of Plant Growth Regulators and Micro-nutrients on Vegetative Growth, Flowering and Yield Attributes of Litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.)

The experiment was conducted to observe the effect of plant growth regulators (GA3 and NAA) and micro-nutrients (ZnSO4 and Borax) on vegetative growth, flowering and yield attributes of litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.). ZnSO4 applied @ 0.4% resulted in maximum per cent increase in plant height and canopy spread, i.e. 5.78% and 6.65% respectively. Whereas, application of Borax @ 0.4% exhibited maximum per cent increase in plant girth (8.72%). NAA @ 2.5 ppm was effective in improving the flowering parameters of litchi. With respect to physical parameters of fruit and yield component, application of borax @ 0.4% resulted in maximum fruit set (43.76%), number of fruits per tree (1128.67), fruit yield (25.11 kg/tree), fruit weight (22.24 g), aril weight (15.65 g) and minimum fruit cracking (5.08%). Lowest fruit drop percentage (60.91%) was however caused by application of ZnSO4 @ 0.4%.

Effect of Biofumigation on Fusarium wilt of Eggplant caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melongenae

Eggplant is the most traditional vegetable crop in India and susceptible to a number of diseases, among which Fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. melongenae (FOM) that reduce yield and quality. The present study on effect of biofumigation on Fusarium wilt of eggplant caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. melongenae under natural field conditions showed that the biocidal volatiles released by Brassica tissue incorporation decreased the wilt incidence greatly from 14.57(Radish) to 50.88(Mustard) per cent reduction over control and significantly enhanced the Yield 30.43 (Radish) to 51.95 (Mustard) per cent increase over control and also enhanced the yield parameters viz., leaf area (10.15 to 35.87), plant height(13.01 to 26.39), root length(23.10 to 49.29) per cent increase over control respective.

​Multiple Linear Regression Analysis for Factors Influencing Net Return Per Animal in Male Buffalo Calves Farming

Background: An integrated crop with male buffalo calves farming system consists of a range of resource-saving practices that aim to achieve high acceptable profits and sustained production levels, while minimizing the negative effects of farming. The farmers earn good income by rearing these calves up to a suitable age and then sell them to meat industry, utilize the dung and urine as manure and fodder wastages used as feeding for male buffalo calves. Methods: Coimbatore, Theni and Kanyakumari districts of Tamil Nadu State were purposively selected for the present study. From each of the selected districts, 20 male buffalo calves rearer were selected randomly, covering a total of 60 male buffalo calves farmers. The collected data were analyzed, by using multiple linear regression function and study the relationship between net return per animal. Result: The five variables viz., sale price of animal, total variable cost, herd size, deworming practices and purchase age of animals were found to be significantly associated with net return per animal in male buffalo calves farming. The coefficient of this variable shows that for every one per cent increase in herd size, there will be 88.611 per cent increase in net return.

Impact of Front Line Demonstration on Yield and Economics of Okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.)] in Banswara District of Rajasthan

The present study was undertaken to find the yield gap through FLDs on okra crop. The Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Banswara conducted Frontline demonstration on 10 farmers for each year since 2016, 2017 and 2018 in different locations of Banswara district. Frontline demonstrations were conducted on okra by the active participation of the farmers with the objective of improved technologies of okra production potential. Use of hybrid variety, balanced use of fertilizer on the basis soil testing report and integrated pest and disease management etc are the main technologies to be tested in this demonstration. Okra is a major vegetable crop of Rajasthan, but the productivity of okra is very low in this district due to lack of knowledge and partial adoption of recommended package of practice by okra cultivators. Results showed that average yield obtained were 142.6, 134.2 and 137.7 q/ha under improved system, whereas, in local variety 80.3, 81.7 and 87.3 q/ha yield was recorded during 2016, 2017 and 2018, respectively. The per cent increase in yield with high yielding over local variety was 57.73 to 77.58 per cent. The extension gap recorded was 62.3, 52.5 and 50.4 per cent during 2016, 2017 and 2018, respectively. Besides this, the demonstrated plots gave higher gross return, net return with higher benefit cost ratio when compared to farmer’s practice.

Female Economic Participation and Economic Growth: An Empirical Evaluation of the Nexus for sub-Saharan African Region

More recently, there has been increasing recognition of gender perspective to achieve economic growth and sustainable development. Although the nexus between gender equality and economic growth has enjoyed sizeable consideration in the literature, empirical evaluation of the economic growth effect of female economic participation is few. Hence, this study seeks to examine the relationship between female economic participation and the economic growth process of the sub-Saharan African region. In particular, the study tests whether there is an economic growth premium due to female participation in economic activities using data for a sample of 35 sub-Saharan African economies. Employing the Prais-Winsten regression, the findings suggest the existence of a significant positive effect of female economic participation on economic growth in the region. Specifically, a per cent increase in female employment rate and female labour force participation leads to a 0.028 per cent and 0.021 per cent increase in economic growth. Also, the share of working population, domestic credit to the private sector and urbanization rate are positively correlated with economic growth during the study period. The findings imply that female economic empowerment is important for achieving economic growth in the region; hence empowerment of women and girls should be made focal in national and regional development plans as stipulated in goal 5 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) plan.

Mechanical Properties of Rice-Straw Reinforced PLA Composite after Alkalization, Heating and Coating Treatments

Natural fibers have advantages over that of synthetic fibers such as biodegradability, low densities, and low cost of production. Optimum interfacial bonding is crucial since it determines the mechanical properties of a polymer-based composite materials. Surface treatment needs to be performed prior to the composites fabrication in order to improve the interfacial bonding. Coating application is an environmentally friendly alternative to the conventional methods of fiber treatments. In this research, the mechanical properties such as tensile (37.1 per cent increase), flexural strengths (61.7 per cent increase) and hardness (31.4 per cent less prone to surface indentation) of rice straw reinforced Polylactic acid composite at 10 wt% fiber and 90 wt% polymer after fiber treatments are analyzed through fabrication and testing. The fiber treatments involved are alkali treatment, heating treatment and coating. The results showed observable increase in tensile, flexural strengths and hardness for alkali treatment, heat treatment. However, from coating process, there is only slight increase in all the mechanical tests. These results have inferred that heat treatment has the highest improvement in mechanical properties, followed by alkalization and then comes coating.

Caesarean sections and health financing: a global analysis

ObjectivesThe objective of this study is to explore the association of health financing indicators with the proportion of births by caesarean section (CS) across countries.DesignEcological cross-country study.SettingThis study examines CS proportions across 172 countries.Main outcome measuresThe primary outcome was the percentage excess of CS proportion, defined as CS proportions above the global target of 19%. We also analysed continuous CS proportions, as well as excess proportion with a more restrictive 9% global target. Multivariable linear regressions were performed to test the association of health financing factors with the percentage excess proportions of CS. The health financing factors considered were total available health system resources (as percentage of gross domestic product), total contributions from private households (out-of-pocket, compulsory and voluntary health insurance contributions) and total national income.ResultsWe estimate that in 2018 there were a total of 8.8 million unnecessary CS globally, roughly two-thirds of which occurred in upper middle-income countries. Private health financing was positively associated with percentage excess CS proportion. In models adjusted for income and total health resources as well as human resources, each 10 per cent increase in out-of-pocket expenditure was associated with a 0.7 per cent increase in excess CS proportions. A 10 per cent increase in voluntary health insurance was associated with a 4 per cent increase in excess CS proportions.ConclusionsWe have found that health system finance features are associated with CS use across countries. Further monitoring of these indicators, within countries and between countries will be needed to understand the effect of financial arrangements in the provision of CS.