New advances in information technology led to the development of Expert Systems and their application in various sectors including farming. In India, agricultural production has been transformed into a multifaceted business enterprise. Indian agriculture to remain competitive needs the accumulation and integration of scientific knowledge, and information from many diverse sources. Indian farmer often relies on agricultural specialists, advisors and agricultural research and development institutes for agricultural information for better decision making at the actual farm situation. Unfortunately, timely specialist assistance is not available when the farmer needs. Thus the situation demand for a ‘virtual expert’ who can give personalized expert advice to a large community of farmers, specific to their needs and aspirations considering various knowledge sources. The role of expert systems in tobacco sector and its applications in effective production and protection technologies have been discussed in this article. It is almost impossible for any human expert to consider every piece of available information before arriving at optimal decisions. To overcome this problem and provide precise information to the farmers, “expert systems” have been developed with a primary goal to make expertise available to clients and decision makers who need answers swiftly. The main aim is to deliver the required information and disseminate the up-to-date scientific knowledge in a readily accessible and easily understood form to the farmers. It is one of the most efficient extension tools to take the technology from scientists to the growers directly without any distortion of content which normally creeps in because of multiple agencies involved in conventional technology transfer systems. With this aim, ICAR-Central Tobacco Research Institute has developed a web-based expert system on tobacco using “Agridaksh”- an online tool developed by ICAR-Indian Agricultural Statistics Research Institute. This, online expert systems has the tremendous capacity to transfer location specific technologies and advice to the farmers with a greater precision

Drying and pickling are the most ancient and effective methods to preserve food which are used so far. In particular, drying cucumber slices using a dehydrator has been shown to significantly reduce their moisture content from 89% w.b. to 4.5% w.b. and lower their water activity from 0.98 to 0.17, making them safe from microbial activity. Moreover, storing these dried cucumber slices for up to 9 days did not result in any significant increase in water activity. The cucumber slices also pickled using different vinegar solutions. It has been observed that with increase in storage period pH of the solution as well as pickles decreases. Vinegar concentration of 480 and 600 ml have shown similar trend. This study showed that drying and pickling can be used to preserve cucumber slices for longer period

A field experiment was conducted during Rabi season at ICAR Research Complex for Eastern Region to evaluate stirrup hoe for intercultural operation in maize crop (Zea mays L.). The mean values of age, weight, height, body mass index (BMI), lean body mass (LBM), body surface area (BSA) and basal metabolic rate (BMR) of the subjects were 37.83 years, 51.67 kg, 152.50 cm, 22.20 kg/m2, 1.36 m2 and 1233.98 kcal/day, respectively. The mean of heart rate (HR), energy expenditure rate (EER) and oxygen consumption rate (OCR) during operation of stirrup hoe and khurpi were 113.08 and 97.13 beats/min, 9.26 and 6.72 kJ min-1 and 0.61 and 0.43 l/min. Weeding efficiency, plant injury and effective field capacity for stirrup hoe were 84.57%, 1.85% and 0.007 ha/hr whereas, for khurpi these were 96.95%, 0.74% and 0.002 ha/hr. The cost of operation of khurpi was 3.5 times costlier than stirrup hoe. The body part discomfort score (BPDS) of stirrup hoe was 26.8 whereas that of khurpi was 20.8. write advantage of stirrup hoe over khurpi.

Good quality healthy seedlings are very much needed for getting bumper yield and higher returns in vegetable production. Farm women often reported problems in quality nursery production during Kharif season. The high mortality of vegetable seedling results in huge losses of farm women. Keeping these facts in mind JNKVV Krishi Vigyan Kendra Shahdol conducted FLD on income enhancement of Farm women through improved nursery raising of vegetables. The study was conducted during Kharif 2019 and Kharif 2020 at two locations in two Nutrismart villages. The results revealed that farm women had a huge gap in the knowledge of selection of quality seeds (78%) and preparation of nursery bed and nutrient management (72%). The healthy seedling production under recommended practices and farmer practise was 1860/5 sqm in comparison to 1110/5 sqm respectively. The gross returns, net returns and B: C ratio under recommended practices and farmer’s practice were Rs 9300, Rs 6890 and 3.85 as compared to Rs 5550, Rs 3690 and 2.98 respectively.

Pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.], a popular pulse crop of rainfed tropics and sub-tropics, is predominantly grown for its high protein grains under mixed or pure stands. In India, where pigeonpea is grown on over 5.0 m ha, the entire produce is transformed into decorticated splits (dal) for marketing and consumption. Besides this, different parts of the plants are also used in several other ways which directly or indirectly contribute positively towards sustainable rural agricultural system. These include fresh vegetable, animal fodder and feed, soil conservation, folk medicine, lac and fuelwood production, thatch roofing, basket making, and the like. The authors in this paper have attempted to bring all such scattered information together for the benefit of those concerned with the overall pigeonpea research, development, production, and utilization.

Field experiments were conducted during kharif 2017 and rabi 2017-18 to evaluate the bio-efficacy of fungicides (Carbendazim 25% + Mancozeb 50% WS, Carbendazim 50 WP, Mancozeb 75 WP and Carboxin 37.5% + Thiram 37.5% WS) against the seed rot and seedling blight of maize at Research Farm, Zonal Agricultural Research Station, Jhabua (MP). All the fungicides were found significantly effective against the seed rot and seedling blight compared to control. The maximum seed germination (86.98 and 86.32% in kharif and rabi, respectively), shoot length (32.76 and 38.30 cm in kharif and rabi, respectively), root length (4.79 and 5.12 cm in kharif and rabi, respectively) and seedling vigour index (3254.8 in kharif and 3748.0 in rabi) were recorded on Carbendazim 25% + Mancozeb 50% WS @ 35 g/kg seeds (T3) followed by Carbendazim 25% + Mancozeb 50% WS @ 3.0 g/kg seeds (T2). While the lowest values of these parameters were in control. Similarly, lowest % disease incidences of seed rot (9.08 and 8.0% in respective seasons) and seedling blight (5.81 and 4.11%) was recorded with Carbendazim 25% + Mancozeb 50% WS @ 35 g/kg seeds followed by Carbendazim 25% + Mancozeb 50% WS @ 30 g/kg seeds. Yield attributes, yields and economics of maize also significantly influenced by various fungicides. Significantly higher grain yield of 2795 kg/ha and stover yield of 3860 kg/ha was recorded in Carbendazim 25% + Mancozeb 50% WS @ 35 g/kg seeds and which was on par with Carbendazim 25% + Mancozeb 50% WS @ 30 g/kg seeds. Maximum gross returns of Rs. 47914, net returns of Rs. 36615 and B:C ratio of 2.60 were also recorded with the seed priming with Carbendazim 25% + Mancozeb 50% WS @ 35 g/kg seeds.

Research on sweet basil was conducted in a field experiment during the kharif season of 2019 at Faculty of Agriculture, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Wadura, Sopore to study the effect of spacing and organic weed management on growth and development of sweet basil under temperate conditions of Kashmir. Results revealed that among weed management practices walnut hull aqueous solution spray (1:10) at the time of planting + hand weeding 20- 25 DAT + walnut hull aqueous solution sprays just after hand weeding / hoeing (W6) have recorded significantly higher plant height, number of functional leaves, leaf area index, number of primary and secondary branches, dry matter accumulation, spike length, number of spikes plant-1, number of spikelets spike-1, number of spikelets plant-1,number of seeds spike-1,number of seeds plant-1,seed weight plant-1,test weight, fresh herbage yield, dry herbage yield per hectare, seed yield, harvest index. Spacing of 30cm × 30cm (S30) recorded significantly higher pant height as compared to other spacing however spacing of 40cm × 30cm (S40) spacing recorded significantly higher no. of functional leaves, LAI, dry matter accumulation and fresh herbage yield. Spacing of 50cm × 30cm (S50) recorded significantly higher no. of primary and secondary branches spike length, number of spikes plant-1, number of spikelets spike-1, number of spikelets plant-1,number of seeds spike-1,number of seeds plant-1,seed weight plant-1 and test weight.

Problems of onion crop production and their solutions at farming situations were studies with participation of farmers. In this regard, demonstrations on integrated crop management in onion varieties were conducted in 2017-18 during Rabi season by National Horticultural Research and Development Foundation – Patna under National Horticulture Mission, in differentlocationsofBiharthrough(TDTD)TechnologyDisseminationthroughDemonstration at selected farmers' fields. These demonstrations focused on increase productivity/ net returns of onion per unit area and get the feedback from farmers on the performance of onion varieties. The vigour of the variety is one of the major constraints in production of onion. The productivity and economic returns of onion in improved technologies were calculated and compared with the corresponding farmer's practices. All the five varieties recorded higher gross return, net return and cost benefit ratio in improved technologies as compared to the control plots as well as suksagar variety. It was found that farmers were using old varieties of onion crop without proper use of recommended scientific package of practices. Results obtained showed that over the year NHRDF Red-3 variety performed superior over local check. The gross returns Rs 2,95,502.50/ha, net returns Rs 2,10,227.50 /ha, extension gap ( 146.90 Q/ha) and C:B ratio 3.47were also recorded highest in NHRDF Red-3 variety compared to local variety. Technology gap was highest in NHRDF Red-4(92.84 Q/ha), whereas technology index were minimum in improved variety NHRDF Red-2 12.87% which is at par 13.09% in NHRDF Red-3 compared to local check. NHRDF Red—3 with taking 10-12 days more time for maturity, whereas Obtained minimum onion bulb yield with lower returns and B: C ratio in NHRDF Red with it was at par Agrifound Light Red. It was also recorded that Suksagar as a local variety medium adoption index due to taking 25-30 days less time for maturity in comparisons to NHRDF Red -3 and other varieties. This will subsequently increase the income as well as the livelihood of the farming community.

Astudy was conducted to evaluate the humoral immune modulating effects of aqueous Moringa oleiferaleaf extract supplementation in chicks by measuring antibody titre against Newcastle disease virus (NDV). Two treatment groups consisting of T1 and T2 were offered aqueous M. oleiferaleaf extract supplementation in drinking water at the rate of 60ml/litre and 90ml/litre, respectively. Aqueous extract in drinking water were supplemented daily for two weeks starting from the age of four weeks and continued till the age of six weeks. Feeding of moringa leaf extract had profound impact on antibody response against NDV. Increase in antibody titre was recorded in both the treatment groups, but group treated with 90ml moringa leave extract supplementation in drinking water recorded significantly (

In this paper, an attempt has been made to study the temporal variation in monthly, seasonal and annual rainfall, and average annual maximum and minimum temperature for the period 1901-2015 over Ranchi district of Jharkhand, India. Long-term changes in rainfall, temperature was determined by Man-Kendall rank statistics and Sen’s slope, and forecasting of time series was determined by ARIMA model. The results revealed that there was significant decrease of average rainfall in the month of February and August while increase in month May and Pre-monsoon season. Average rainfall in the month of February, May, August and Pre-monsoon season showing insignificant increasing as well as decreasing rainfall trend. The average annual maximum and minimum temperature showing decreasing and increasing trend over Ranchi district during the period 1901 to 2015. This paper also describes five-year prediction of rainfall and temperature climatic variables.