Genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance in Triticum aestivum

The present investigation was carried out to study gene action, heterosis, correlations, variance, genetic advance, heritability using diallel mating design at Research farm, Department of Agriculture, Mata Gujri college, Fatehgarh sahib during rabi, 2016-17 and 2017-18. The experiment was carried out in Randomized Block Design and observations were recorded on fifteen characters. The best heterotic cross for grain yield per plant was Kalyan Sona × WH-1080 followed by PDW-215 × CPAN-1796, Kalyan Sona× CPAN-1796, DBW-90 × PDW-215, DBW-90 ×WH-1080 and Kalyan Sona × DBW-90. Results revealed that grains per plant showed highly significant and positive genotypic correlations with days to booting, days to heading, spike length, plant height, harvest index and peduncle length. The experimental materials for the present investigation consisted of five lines viz., Kalyan sona , WH-1080, PDW-215, DBW-90 and CPAN-1796 and one check viz., PBW-725.

Effect of Phosphorus and Sulphur Application on Growth and Yield Attributes of Mungbean (Vigna radiata L)

A field experiment was conducted during summer season of 2015 at the Crop Research Centre of Department of Agriculture, Mata Gujri College, Sri Fatehgarh Sahib to study Response of phosphorus and sulphur application on Growth and yield attributes of mungbean (Vigna radiata L). The number of plants in meter row length was recorded highest with the application of 40 kg /ha followed by 20 kg S/ha and control. The highest plant height was recorded with the application of 40 kg S/ha which was statistically at par with application of 20 kg S/ha it was significantly superior over the control during all observation stages of crop. However at 30 and 60 DAS, the number of branches per plant recorded maximum with the application of 40 kg P2O5/ha followed by 60 kg P2O5/ha and control. At harvest, the application of 60 kg P2O5/ha recorded highest number of branches per plant but was statistically at par with other levels of phosphorus. The maximum number of grains per pod was recorded with the application of 60 kg P2O5/ha which was statistically at par with 40 kg P2O5/ha. It was found that the pod length was maximum with the application of 40 kg S/ha followed by 20 kg S/ha and control. The maximum grain yield was recorded with the application of 60 kg P2O5/ha which was significantly superior to other treatments.

Livelihood Security of Small and Marginal Farm Households in Punjab

The present study was conducted to assess the livelihood security of farm households. The study was conducted in the rural areas of Fatehgarh Sahib and Ludhiana districts of Punjab. A total of 88 small and marginal farm households selected from eight villages of four blocks in selected districts were interviewed through a stratified random selection technique. The analyses of data showed that the number of nuclear families was almost double to joint families. Only 6.81 percent of the households had an income of more than five lakhs per annum. The majority of the households had medium to low levels of household livelihood security. The districts were characterized by a low level of educational and economic security. More than half of the households were in favour of a joint family system for better livelihood security. The study suggested that livelihood security could be improved by providing skill-based education in rural schools and off-farm employment opportunities.

Community Action: A 360° Approach to Understand and Prevent Violence against Women and Child Marriage in Punjab, India

Violence Against Women (VAW) is a public health concern. It affects the physical, mental, sexual, and reproductive health of women. Despite rising levels of education and pro-women laws across India, VAW is a major concern in the state of Punjab. The aim of the study outlines the design and implementation of a community-developed VAW intervention. A 360° approach was used to view the complex interplay between individual, interpersonal, community, and societal factors associated with VAW. Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) were used to identify community perceptions on VAW in the Fatehgarh Sahib District of Punjab. A community-based intervention named JAGO was designed and developed among a population of about 20,000 in 25 villages of Punjab. Operational meetings, IEC campaign, street plays, photography, gender sensitization workshops, painting competition, home visits, and village-level celebrations and pledge presentation ceremonies were also conducted.The results and best practices gained through this community-led intervention can serve as a model for other prevention of VAW initiatives, both in India and other like-culture communities. An important lesson learned from this initiative was that community action is more acceptable and there should be open discussion for the culturally sensitive issues.

Effect of storage period on the chemical composition and sensory attributes of strawberry syrup

The present study was carried out to develop syrup and standardise the formulation of recipe produced from strawberry and determine syrup's nutritional value during storage in the department of Agriculture, Mata Gujri College, Fatehgarh Sahib, Punjab during the winter season of 2018-2019. It was Fresh ripe strawberries were washed with pure water and blended to get the pulp. The fruits were analysed to determine the moisture, TSS, pH, ascorbic acid, total sugar, reducing sugar, titrable acidity and ?- carotene. Different combinations of table sugar and distilled water were used to prepare syrup with a constant value of 25% fruit pulp, i.e. T1= 10% sugar concentration, T2= 20% sugar, T3= 30% sugar, T4= 40% sugar, T5=50% sugar, T6= 60% sugar, T7= 70% sugar with 25% strawberry pulp and T8 with 25% pulp only. The samples were stored at ambient temperature for 120 days to check the physiochemical and organoleptic analysis of strawberry syrup. According to the opinion of organoleptic test panel, treatment with 60% sugar was the most preferred one after considering the points of colour, flavour, texture, taste, and overall acceptability. During storage period TSS, pH, total sugar and reducing sugar increased whereas titrable acidity and ascorbic acid content decreased during the storage period.

Effect of Biofertilizer and Mulch on Growth, Yield, Quality and Economics of Pea (Pisum sativum L.)

Background: Pea is a nitrogen-fixing legume. The interest in pea as soil-building crops is increasing day by day as the chemical fertilizers are becoming less available and more expensive. The use of fertilizers is also increasing leading to environmental pollution. The adverse effect of plastic mulch in agriculture is related to handling the plastic wastes and the associated environmental impact. The current study was aimed to search for organic alternatives to fertilizer and plastic mulch in order to overcome the defeatist effects on the environment.Methods: The present investigation entitled “Effect of biofertilizer and mulch on growth, yield, quality and economics of pea (Pisum sativum L.)” was conducted during Rabi season 2017-18 at the Experimental farm, Department of Agriculture, Mata Gujri College, Fatehgarh Sahib, Punjab, India. The experiment was laid out in factorial randomized block design (FRBD) with three replications. The treatments consisted of four mulches, M0-No mulch, M1-Paddy straw@5t/ha, M2-Maize stubbles@4t/ha, M3-Sawdust@10t/ha and four Rhizobium doses, B0-No Rhizobium, B1-Rhizobium@20g/kg of seeds, B2-Rhizobium@25g/kg of seeds, B3-Rhizobium@30g/kg of seeds and their combinations. Conclusion: In the individual outcome of Rhizobium and mulch best results were obtained with the application of Rhizobium@30g/kg of seeds and saw dust@10t/ha. In interaction, Rhizobium@30g/kg of seeds and saw dust@10t/ha performed better as compared to other interaction treatments.

Life Skills among School Going Adolescents in Relation to Certain Personal Variables

The present study aims to assess the life skills among school going adolescents in relation to gender, locale, parental education and parental occupation. The sample consisted of 200 school going adolescents studying in government and private schools of Patiala, Fatehgarh Sahib and Mansa districts of Punjab. Life skills scale (Sharma, 2003) and the background information sheets prepared by the investigator herself were used to collect the data. The findings revealed that female and rural school going adolescents possess more life skills than their counterparts. School going adolescents whose fathers and mothers are less educated possess significantly more life skills than their counterparts. School going adolescents who have business as parental occupation possess more life skills than their counterparts. Results of the study further revealed that school going adolescents whose mothers are non-working possess significantly more life skills than those with working mothers.

Regional Disparities in Industrial Development: Evidence from Districts of Punjab

The economic development of any region can be achieved by improving the factors of the industrial sector. Inter-district industrial sector development disparity of the state is the major obstacle in the process of balanced economic development. In this backdrop, the present study was undertaken to examine the relative performance of 22 districts of the state of Punjab in terms of industrial development at different points of time (1991, 2001, and 2017). Using Wroclow Taxonomic Method, a district-level industrial sector development index (ISDI) was constructed with the help of 9 indicators of the industrial sector to identify the development of the districts. The results confirmed that there were considerable disparities in industrial development in Punjab. The districts near to the Grant Trunk road were more industrially developed due to location advantages as compared to other districts of the state. The district Ludhiana was the best district among all districts in terms of industrial progress. S.A.S Nagar, Fatehgarh Sahib, Sangrur, Jalandhar and Patiala were labelled as improving districts, whereas the districts Tarn Taran, Pathankot, Fazilka, Muktsar, Moga, Mansa and Faridkot identified as industrially backward districts.