Enrichment of Zinc and Iron Micronutrients in Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) through Biofortification

Biofortification of pulse crops with Zn and Fe is a viable approach to combat their widespread deficiencies in humans. Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) is a widely consumed edible crop possessing a high level of Zn and Fe micronutrients. Thus, the present study was conducted to examine the influence of foliar application of Zn and Fe on productivity, concentration, uptake and the economics of lentil cultivation (LL 931). For this, different treatment combinations of ZnSO4·7H2O (0.5%) and FeSO4·7H2O (0.5%), along with the recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF), were applied to the lentil. The results of study reported that the combined foliar application of ZnSO4·7H2O (0.5%) + FeSO4·7H2O (0.5%) at pre-flowering (S1) and pod formation (S2) stages was most effective in enhancing grain and straw yield, Zn and Fe concentration, and uptake. However, the outcome of this treatment was statistically on par with the results obtained under the treatment ZnSO4·7H2O (0.5%) + FeSO4·7H2O (0.5%) at S1 stage. A single spray of ZnSO4·7H2O (0.5%) + FeSO4·7H2O (0.5%) at S1 stage enhanced the grain and straw yield up to 39.6% and 51.8%, respectively. Similarly, Zn and Fe concentrations showed enhancement in grain (10.9% and 20.4%, respectively) and straw (27.5% and 27.6% respectively) of the lentil. The increase in Zn and Fe uptake by grain was 54.8% and 68.0%, respectively, whereas uptake by straw was 93.6% and 93.7%, respectively. Also the benefit:cost was the highest (1.96) with application of ZnSO4·7H2O (0.5%) + FeSO4·7H2O (0.5%) at S1 stage. Conclusively, the combined use of ZnSO4·7H2O (0.5%) + FeSO4·7H2O (0.5%) at S1 stage can contribute significantly towards yield, Zn and Fe concentration, as well as uptake and the economic returns of lentil to remediate the Zn and Fe deficiency.

​Factors Affecting Production of Important Pulse Crops in Rajasthan: A Cobb Douglas Analysis

Background: Pulses are one of the most important food crops grown globally owed to their higher protein content. It also accounts for larger financial gains of the agricultural sector by amounting for a large part of the exports. The present study was carried out to determine the factors affecting production of pulse crops in Rajasthan. Methods: This paper based on secondary data collected over the years i.e. from 2000-01 to 2017-18. The Cobb-douglas production function was used to the observation for the estimation of elasticity of selected variables contributing to the production of pulses in Rajasthan state, Cobb douglas type production function was employed to assess the effects of seed, fertilizer, manure, human labour, irrigation, bullock labour and plant protection measures on pulses production. Result: The results from the study have shown that fertilizer and plant protection measures were positively significant while the variable corresponding to irrigation water was negatively significantly affecting the gram production. The variables such as seed and irrigation water were found positive and significant, while plant protection measures had significant negative effect on black gram production. Only two variables namely, fertilizer and irrigation water were found positively significant out of estimating production function of green gram.

Growth and Decomposition analysis of Rabi Pulse Crops in Rajasthan

The present study was conducted to analyze the growth rate and source of output growth in area, production and productivity of rabi pulse crops viz., gram and lentil crops in Rajasthan. The study was solely based on secondary time series data. The study period (1988-89 to 2017-18) has been divided into four periods namely period-I (1988-89 to 1997-98), period-II (1998-99 to 2007-08), period- III (2008-09 to 2017-18) and overall period (1988-89 to 2017-18). Exponential growth and principal decomposition models were used to measure the growth rates and relative contribution of factors in production of gram and lentil crops. The area, production and productivity of gram showed mixed pattern of growth at the rate of -0.46, 1.86 and 2.33 per cent, respectively during overall period. However, the area, production and productivity of lentil were reported positive growth with the magnitude of 11.94, 12.72 and 0.93 per cent, respectively in the state. The study revealed that the mixed growth rate was observed in area, production and productivity of gram while increasing growth was observed in area, production and productivity of lentil. During all the study periods, the expansion in area was effective to increase the production of lentil in Rajasthan. During period-I and II, the production of gram was mainly contributed by expansion in area while in the case of period-III and overall, the interaction effect was more dominant

​​Estimation of Total Factor Productivity Growth of Major Pulse Crops in Rajasthan, India

Background: Pulses, supplemented with cereals, provide a perfect mix of vegetarian protein of high biological value. The productivity of pulses in India is less than half of the productivity levels in the USA and Canada. Present investigation was aimed to Total Factor Productivity (TFP) growth in three pulse crops in the state of Rajasthan from 2000-01 to 2017-18. Methods: In the current study, the Tornqvist Theil Index was used to compute the total output index, total input index and total factor productivity index. The Tornqvist Index is exact for the homogenous translog production function that can deliver a second order approximation to an arbitrary twice differentiable homogenous production function. The translog function does not require perfect substitutes for inputs. If the relative price of input increases, the producer decreases its use (substituting other inputs) until all marginal productivities are proportional to the new prices. Result: The results of this study has indicates low TFP in Gram (0.98%) despite a 59.23 per cent share in the total pulse output of the state. The annual compound growth rate of TFP of black gram increased at the rate of 1.11 per cent per annum (moderate growth) and the contribution of TFP to output growth was low; at about 41.63. Whereas, the compound growth rate of TFP of annual green gram crop increased at the 2.38 per cent per annum (high growth) while its TFP to output growth was about 66.43 per cent. The real cost of production of gram, black gram and green gram crop increased by 0.77, 1.49 and 1.57 per cent per annum, respectively.

Identification of metalaxyl and ethaboxam insensitive Pythium sylvaticum pathogenic to pulse crops in Montana, USA.

Pythium root rot and damping-off caused by Pythium spp. are important diseases of pulse crops. In a 2016 pathogen survey from dry pea growing fields in Montana, along with commonly known causal agents P. ultimum and P. irregulare, an isolate identified as P. sylvaticum (LPPY17) was isolated from the rhizosphere of a diseased pea plant collected from Valley County, MT. Root rots and damping-off caused by P. sylvaticum have not previously been reported for chickpea, pea, and lentil crops. The isolate LPPY17 was tested for fungicide resistance in vitro, and results indicated a reduced sensitivity to metalaxyl and ethaboxam containing fungicides. LPPY17 was also tested for pathogenicity on chickpea, pea, and lentil seedlings in the greenhouse, and the results from the study revealed LPPY17 is capable of causing both root rots and damping off. Due to the potential pathogenicity and reduced fungicide sensitivity of this species, in the future it will be important to monitor for P. sylvaticum in pulse root rot surveys and diagnostics, as management options may be different from other common Pythium spp.

An Untargeted Metabolomics Approach for Correlating Pulse Crop Seed Coat Polyphenol Profiles with Antioxidant Capacity and Iron Chelation Ability

Pulse crop seed coats are a sustainable source of antioxidant polyphenols, but are typically treated as low-value products, partly because some polyphenols reduce iron bioavailability in humans. This study correlates antioxidant/iron chelation capabilities of diverse seed coat types from five major pulse crops (common bean, lentil, pea, chickpea and faba bean) with polyphenol composition using mass spectrometry. Untargeted metabolomics was used to identify key differences and a hierarchical analysis revealed that common beans had the most diverse polyphenol profiles among these pulse crops. The highest antioxidant capacities were found in seed coats of black bean and all tannin lentils, followed by maple pea, however, tannin lentils showed much lower iron chelation among these seed coats. Thus, tannin lentils are more desirable sources as natural antioxidants in food applications, whereas black bean and maple pea are more suitable sources for industrial applications. Regardless of pulse crop, proanthocyanidins were primary contributors to antioxidant capacity, and to a lesser extent, anthocyanins and flavan-3-ols, whereas glycosylated flavonols contributed minimally. Higher iron chelation was primarily attributed to proanthocyanidin composition, and also myricetin 3-O-glucoside in black bean. Seed coats having proanthocyanidins that are primarily prodelphinidins show higher iron chelation compared with those containing procyanidins and/or propelargonidins.

Effect of Different Pulse and Oilseed based Cropping Systems on Yield and Nutrient Budgeting under Rainfed Conditions of Jammu

Background: Maize-wheat is the predominant cropping system of dryland ecology of Jammu region, but due to their comparatively higher input requirements especially of nutrients and water under the fragile ecology of these dry lands an untenable threat has been posed to their factor productivities. Therefore, all cropping sequences that suit and sustain better on the natural resources of the dryland ecosystems for a longer period of time needs to be explored.Methods: The treatments consisted of two oilseeds i.e. mustard) and gobhi sarson and two pulse crops i.e. chickpea and field pea taken during rabi were followed by two oilseed i.e. soybean and sesame and two pulse crops i.e. green gram and black gram grown during kharif. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with four replications.Result: Significantly higher chickpea equivalent yield of green gram was observed with field pea- green gram sequence (10.26 q/ha) which was at par with the chickpea – green gram and field pea - black gram system. The available nitrogen status was significantly influenced and recorded highest (166.82kg/ha) under field pea- green gram system. Further overall nutrient mining by this system was quite low as compared to other systems.