APRIL 2023

Broccoli Sorghum Chekurmanis

Bio Drainage Deforestation

EDITOR IN CHIEF V R RAVI KUMAR

CONTENT

B.Sc (Agri), M.B.A. (IIM-B)

EDITORIAL BOARD Dr. C Manohar Dr. T. Vasanth Kumar Dr. L. Manjunath Dr. Prita Dr. Priyadarshini Dr. Indira. VMD Asst. Editor - Mukesh Kumar AGRI CONSULTANTS Tadaeu Rodrigues Renji Verugese Manjunatha Reddy Shiromani CORRESPONDENTS S S N Sastry Balaraju Chandini LAYOUT & DESIGN Manjunatha M PRINTER Deeya Prints & Design BUSINESS CORRESPONDENTS NEW DELHI - Gijit Menon MAHARASHTRA - Vinith Mutha KOLKATA - Aparna Bannerji CHATTISGARH - Akshay Awasti M.P. - Rayna Chatterjee TAMIL NADU - Sembian U KOCHI - Neha Ashwath Kurian ANDHRA PRADESH - Hujitha TELANGANA - Surya Chandra Rao ASSAM - Jerieff Khan RAJASTHAN - Sandeep Sharma Price : E-copy Rs.30/-

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Editorial

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Agri Word Power

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Agri News

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Millets

10

Crisper Technology

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Influence of Climate on Crops

18

Broccoli

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Chekurmanis

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Bio Drainage

27

Deforestation

29

Women Empowerment

31

Oil Bearing Plants

35

Sorghum

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Email: [email protected] Website: www.agroinidamagazine.in PRINTED, PUBLISHED & OWNED BY V.R. RAVI KUMAR PERIODICAL REGISTERED WITH THE REGISTRAR OF NEWS PAPER OF INDIA UNDER NO.65760/97 VOL. XXXII ISSUE 4 APR - 2023 All rights reserved. Material in this publication may not be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher. The publication is not responsible if errors have crept inadvertently or by over sight. Subject to Bengaluru Jurisdictions only.

Agro India

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APRIL 2023

EDITORI L Dear Readers, Milk production in Karnataka for the last three months has been on decline resulting in shortage of milk supply in schools. It was predicted in 2021 that the after effects of Covid pandemic would cause reduction of milk production due to price rise of feed and other inputs apart from increase in maintenance cost. Thus, the situation in Karnataka is grim and it may take few months to recover and increase the production. Another notable development has taken place in Karnataka where in AMUL, the highest milk producing society has attempted to enter Karnataka market. However, opposition parties in Karnataka, are alleging that this would be a threat to KMF (Karnataka Milk Federation) which supplies milk and various milk products in the brand name 'Nandini'. Incidentally, 'Nandini' has been a dominating and popular milk brand all over Karnataka. Although, 'AMUL' which is run by GCMMF is largest collector and processor of milk products, it would be challenging task in entering in Karnataka milk market as the prices of both milk and milk products are higher than that of Nandini. It is the responsibility of KMF authorities to take all the required measures right from grass root level to ensure that farmers would increase their milk production levels and streamlining procurement / payment operations. Further, KMF also should come out strategies to pay higher price to their farmers who are at present paid lesser than that of AMUL in Gujarat. Also, KMF need to diversify its processed products to attract new customers who are now buying AMUL brands of products. Monsoon season 2023 is expected to be normal according to the India Meteorological Department. IMD, in a recently held press meet, have indicated that there will be 67 percent probability of rainfall in monsoons would be normal from June 2023 to September 2023. With this happy news of good monsoons this year, let us hope that we will have another favourable rainy season and increased food production.

V.R. RAVI KUMAR Agro India

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APRIL 2023

Allogamy : fertilisation by pollen from different flowers or from flowers of genetically different plants of the same species.

AGRI WORD POWER Hackney

Quart : a measure of liquids and dry goods such as grain equal to two pints, or 1.14 litres.

Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus : a virus spread by aphids, which causes poor root development in barley plants. Red and yellow colour changes occur in leaves and yields are much reduced. Chain Harrow : a type of harrow built in a similar way to a piece of chainlink fencing. The links may be plain or spiked, the spiked type being used to aerate grassland. chain-lin Domesticated : referring to a wild animal which has been trained to live near a house and not be frightened of human beings. Ecotone : an area between two different types of vegetation which may share the characteristics of both, e.g. the border between forest and moorland. Factory Farming : a highly intensive method of rearing animals characterised by keeping large numbers of animals indoors in confined spaces and feeding them processed foods, with the use of drugs to control diseases. Garrigue : a dense undergrowth of aromatic shrubs found in Mediterranean regions accompanying evergreen and cork oak. Hackney : a type of horse used both for riding and as a draught animal. Inbreeding Depression : a reduction in variation and vigour Agro India

the grass in an almost cut state which is very palatable.

Raspberry Beetle : a serious pest (Byturus tomentosus) whose larvae feed on young raspberry fruit. arising in a population that is repeatedly inbred. Juice Extractor : a device for extracting juice from a fruit or vegetable.

Scraper : a steel-framed attachment for a tractor. It has a rubber scraping edge, and is used for heavy duty work, clearing slurry from farmyards.

Keiserite : magnesium sulphate powder, used as a fertiliser where magnesium deficiency is evident, especially in light sandy soil.

Tenderise : to make meat tender by keeping it for a certain time in cold conditions, by applying substances such as papain, by injecting with enzymes, etc.

Landrace : a local variety of plant or animal developed over many thousands of years by farmers selecting for favourable characteristics within a species.

Union : the point of contact between a scion and stock in a grafted fruit tree.

Mangosteen : a tree (Garcinia mangostana) which is native of Malaysia, but which is now cultivated in the West Indies. The fruit has a dark shiny rind and a soft sweet white flesh. Non-persistent Pesticide : a pesticide which does not remain toxic for long, and so does not enter the food chain. Oil : a liquid compound which does not mix with water, occurring as vegetable which an edible oil can be produced. Latin name: Olea europaea. Palatable : good to eat Some types of grass are less palatable than others. Big bales preserve 04

Variegation : a phenomenon in some plants where two or more colours occur in patches on the leaves or flowers. Ware Growers : farmers who grow potatoes for consumption, not for seed. Xeromorphic : referring to a plant which can prevent water loss from its stems during hot weather. Yearling : an animal aged between one and two years. Zigzag Harrow : a light harrow used for final seedbed work, and also for covering sown seeds. The frames are zigzag in shape, with short tines bolted to them.

APRIL 2023

AGRI

NEWS

V Satheesh, Millet man, is no more PV Satheesh, 78, who founded the Deccan Development Society (DDS) to help underprivileged women in Telangana's backward Zahirabad region, died after a brief illness. Over the last four decades, he has greatly helped approximately 3,000 women small farmers in forming villagelevel'sangams' (associations). These sangams would discuss crop plans, seed requirements, credit requirements, and produce post-harvest management. He was a strong supporter of small farmers and millet, and he was

markets for their grains. Every year, the DDS displays the model at the annual Biodiversity Festival, which attracts visitors from India and around the world. 'His lifetime contribution to mainstreaming millets will be remembered forever.

always arguing that millet should be given more prominence in the food chain. He used his urban contacts to help DDS farmers find

DDS women won the prestigious global award Equator prize in 2019 under his leadership. The UNbacked Equator initiative recognises and advances locally sustainable development solutions for people, nature, and resilient communities.

L&T Finance starts Agri Loans L&T Finance Limited (LTF), a nonbanking finance company that is a subsidiary of L&T Finance Holdings Limited, has started a digitallyassisted loan facility against agricommodities called warehouse receipt financing (WRF). The company said in a statement that LTF's warehouse receipt financing facility will be available in four states: Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Gujarat. The WRF makes it easier for goods to be used as security for loans. Warehouses where goods are kept are run by professionals called 'collateral managers.' Under this arrangement, the quality and quantity of the goods are checked, and based on that, a receipt is given to the farmers, traders, and processors. The receipt can then be put up as security to get a loan from LTF. At the moment, most of the WRF facilities on the market are done by hand, and it takes anywhere from 7 to 10 days for each loan application to be approved. With the launch of LTF's product, customers can get a loan approval Agro India

within 24 hours of filling out a loan application and can access all information about their loans through the mobile application PLANET. Farmers, traders, and processors can use this service at the LTF branch nearest them to borrow between ₹1 lakh and ₹10 crore at a good interest rate. The company said that the amount given will depend on the person's eligibility and the loan margin range, which will be between 25% and 30% of the market value of the commodity based on quality parameters. Dinanath Dubhashi, the Managing Director and CEO of L&T Finance Holdings Ltd, said that the company WRF promises quick disbursement, flexible repayment,

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and no foreclosure fees. The rabi sowing season in India is over, and 720 million hectares were planted, which is the most in the last five crop years. In a situation like this, we hope that these loans will make it easy for our customers to meet their working capital needs. It will also help stabilise the prices and supply of goods on the market, raise growers' incomes, and cut down on food waste. In the third quarter that ended on December 31, 2022, LTF's retail book reached ₹57,000 crore, which was up 34% from the same time last year. The retail portfolio mix of the total loan book was 64%, led by key products like rural business finance and farm equipment finance. APRIL 2023

AGRI

NEWS

Simpli Namdhari's opens outlet in Hyderabad Simpli Namdhari's, a brand owned by the Namdhari's Group that sells vegetarian food through all channels, opened its first store in Hyderabad's Banjara on March 17, 2023. Namdhari's Group, a diversified agribusiness, plans to bring the 'seed-to-plate' concept to Hyderabad with the opening of this store and give customers a better grocery shopping experience. From working with farmers on the farm to getting products ready for customers to buy in stores, the Group is in charge of every touchpoint to make sure highquality products are delivered. The 11,000 square feet of retail space is made to go with the wide range of fresh and packaged goods that will be sold in the stores. A lot of thought has gone into making it easy to get around the store and shop in general. This experience store has residue-free fruits and vegetables, staples and grains, oils, FMCG, dairy, beauty, and home essentials, among other things, to show how many different kinds of products they sell. Aside from this, the staff is always there and knows how to help customers with their shopping needs. There are designated experiential zones with brands like Tea Culture, TGL Coffee, JBB Ayurveda Spices, Andhra special sweets, pickles, namkeen, and chutney powders by Ruchi homemade foods, a range of Karachi Bakery products, and Bansiwala sweets to improve the in-store retail experience. Simpli Namdhari's is not only a store, but also a big farm in the city. The food in the store comes from Namdhari's own farms and is chosen based on when it's in season and how fresh it is. Simpli Agro India

Good Food is the store's café, where the company's vision and passion come together to make healthy, delicious vegetarian food from farm-fresh ingredients. It has a live kitchen where people can watch the chefs at work. The café has salads, international dishes, wood-fired pizzas, cold-pressed juices, and other small bites so that everyone can find something they like. 'With the launch of our flagship store in Hyderabad, Namdhari's plans to bring the seed-to-plate concept to the city. The brand has a rich legacy of over 30 years and is well-known in the agribusiness space. It is this experience and expertise that we have harnessed into all our businesses. Majority of the vegetables and fruits we sell are produced within our control using both traditional and high-tech agricultural practices to ensure we offer safefor-consumption and residue-free products. We want to focus on building our portfolio of differentiated products, bring our fresh produce to the city and offer 06

quality experiences that keep our customers coming back for more. We want to grow from being a regional brand to a national one and the Hyderabad market is an important part of this growth strategy,' said Gurmukh Roopra, CEO, Namdhari's Group, at the event of the store launch. The Namdhari's Group considers Hyderabad to be a key market, and the company intends to open 3 to 5 more Simpli Namdhari's locations in the city by the end of 2024. The company hopes to make ₹ 30-50 crore in income over the next 24 months, depending on the number of locations it opens in the coming years. 'As one of the largest vegetable seed players in Telangana, we want to leverage the brand and equity in Telangana's rural communities and bring it to customers at the urban level. In this regard, we've tied up with rural cultivators both hi-tech and openfield farmers, to cultivate crops using Namdhari's seeds, which will be procured and sold in Simpli Namdhari's outlets. APRIL 2023

AGRI

NEWS

Agri university professor develops irrigation, fertigation software A former Gujarat Agricultural University professor has developed software that can lower water and energy requirements for certain crops by over 50%. The Tamil Nadu Agricultural University has undertaken research on microirrigation, especially drip irrigation, using Dr. S Raman's software. Dr. Raman told that in one of the turmeric tests conducted by TNAU in Velliangadu village in Coimbatore district's Karamadai block, the crop was irrigated for only 30-45 minutes each day instead of two hours across two days. The crop grew well because water was supplied uniformly and there was no over-watering of the plants. In the case of a demonstration on a banana field in the same hamlet, irrigation was lowered by 50% and increased to daily frequency. The G-9 banana harvest yielded 40 kilogramme per plant, compared to the standard 30 kg per plant. Raman claimed to have created software for micro irrigation scheduling and another for fertigation. The software employs a climatological technique to estimate crop water requirements at various phases of development. The requirements differ depending on whether they are cultivated in the open, in a greenhouse, or in a net house. 'Subsequently, it will suggest the required period of operation of the micro irrigation system based on the system's design, soil type, and mulch conditions. Based on

Agro India

district-level meteorological data, the software calculates the crop's water requirements. According to him, it could indicate a need for 65-70 agricultural and horticultural field crops and orchard crops. Crop geometry is also considered when evaluating water requirements, and it indicates when to administer micro irrigation based on spacing and soil type. It analyses the water requirement for a specific day based on the effective rainfall a region receives and can be updated on a regular basis. The use of the programme has resulted in water and energy savings, which the government can redirect to other sectors, particularly industries, according to the former Gujarat Agricultural University professor. In addition to managing weeds, the farmer can bring in and irrigate a larger area, which may prevent pest and disease infestations. Farmers' returns will improve as a result. Similarly, the fertigation software will be based on fertiliser recommendations supplied by state agricultural universities and 07

departments such as agriculture and horticulture. It has provisions for modifying fertiliser application based on soil and crop growth stage. To make stage-wise application, it considers the nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium intake patterns. According to Raman, this can propose the fertiliser requirements of 65-70 agricultural and horticultural field crops and orchard crops, with provisions for considering nutrient savings. This can save farmers money by avoiding the need for extra fertiliser applications. It will also assist the government in reducing the amount of water soluble fertiliser imported. Farmers could be enrolled for software use for a small fee, and they could receive SMS alerts on their cell phones for daily irrigation and fertigation. Farm advisory departments or corporations, on the other hand, can employ to guide farmers. According to Raman, this can generate entrepreneurs at the village level.

APRIL 2023

AGRI

NEWS

Zuari Farm Hubs colloborates with ICRISAT Zuari FarmHub Ltd and the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics ( I C R I S AT ) h a v e s i g n e d a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) that will support Zuari FarmHub's objective of offering integrated agrisolutions for all agricultural needs. Zuari FarmHub, one of India's premier agritech companies, has established a partnership with ICRISAT. ICRISAT will construct a data-driven digital agriculture platform that will bring all essential data for decision-making on a single platform, and knowledge-driven tools built on top of this data platform will deliver actionable information for distribution. Speaking on the agreement, Mr. Madan Mohan Pandey, MD, Zuari FarmHub stated, 'We want to construct a digital platform that is able to create value for farmers and stakeholders by offering exact advises to farmers. Farmers face issues such as a lack of awareness regarding data-backed warnings and a lack of such solutions for those who are informed. As a result,

crop production and income.’

decision-makers use data-backed digital tools at a relatively low rate. Farmers will be able to access the advisory through digital channels such as the Jai Kisaan app as well as our retail network of Jai Kisaan Junction stores across Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Uttar Pradesh. We hope to provide tailored advice to each farmer as a result of this relationship.' Dr. Jacqueline Hughes, DirectorGeneral of ICRISAT, stated of the partnership, 'Seeing is believing. Before adopting new technologies, farmers must first witness the favourable impact of better soil on

ICRISAT intends to create a digital agriculture platform that includes a cloud infrastructure with machine learning and artificial intelligence capabilities, as well as a geodatabase to store spatial and non-spatial data. The collaboration will also create web and mobile data gathering and information dissemination tools, computation models for the decision support system, and reporting dashboards. These dashboards will offer farmers with actionable advice.' Precisiondriven guidance can help farmers increase their profitability while also preventing crop damage by taking preventive action against diseases and pests. 'Artificial intelligence will be employed extensively for pest and disease detection, and soil nutrient recommendations will take farmers' budgets and yield projections into account,' stated Dr. ML Jat, Resilient Farm and Food Systems Research Program Director at ICRISAT.

Domestic Tractor sales may come down Domestic tractor sales would fall by half to 4-6 percent this fiscal year, compared to a compound average growth rate of 10% since fiscal 2020, owing to repeated normal monsoons. Nonetheless, falling input prices for steel and pig iron will deliver a 100-200 basis point boost to tractor manufacturers' operating margins, according to Crisil Ratings. Tractor sales volume will reach a new high in fiscal 2023 as farm attitude stays positive following another successful monsoon the primary driver of farm revenues and an increase in the Minimum Support Price for the 2022-23 market season. According to Naveen Vaidyanathan, Director at Crisil Agro India

Ratings, tractor volume growth in the coming fiscal year will be led by both farm and commercial markets. The 5% increase in MSP for wheat for the current rabi crop, the largest in the last four fiscals, will boost farm incomes, he said, while the government's infrastructure push and increased building activity will drive commercial demand. Tractor volume will be supported by replacement demand, which represents for 60% of total volume. Tractors have an average lifespan of 6-8 years. Record sales in fiscal years 2017 and 2018 predict solid replacement demand in fiscal year 2019. 08

To be sure, there are dangers associated with this forecast. Extremely high temperatures followed by unusual rainfall in portions of northern and central India during the last month have fuelled fears of a poor rabi harvest this year. Weather forecasters have also raised the possibility of an El Nino event in July-August this year, which might result in below-normal rainfall. While reservoir levels above average would bring some relief, uncertainty could persist. The El Nino effect caused a monsoon shortfall in fiscal 2015 and 2016, affecting farm revenue and causing tractor volume drops of 13% and 10%, respectively. APRIL 2023

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Toll Free No: 18004250505

MILLETS

Super Crops of the Millenium for Food and Nutrition

Dr. Ashok S Alur, Vice Chancellor Kodagu University, ChikkaAluvara, Thorenur Post, Kushal Nagar Taluk, Kodagu District, Karnataka India& Mission Leader- Mission Million Millet Farmers & Consumers

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illets are regarded as highly nutritious traditional staple foods for the majority of the people living in the dry land regions of the world and offer nutritional security particularly in Asia and Africa. Millets encompass a diverse group of small-grained, dryland cereals. Millets are primarily grown in Asia and Africa, with India being the top producer followed by Nigeria, Niger and China. They were among the first plants to be domesticated and still serve as a traditional staple crop in parts of Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. These crops, rooted in ancient cultures and ancestral traditions, have long survived harsh growing conditions. Their climate resilience and adaptability offer opportunities for strengthening food security and bolstering economic growth. These millets are nowadays called as nutri-cereals as they are rich inseveral proteins, different essential fatty acids, dietary fibre, B-Vitamins, important minerals such as calcium, iron, zinc, potassium and magnesium and thus help in rendering several health benefits. In spite of all these known advantages, the direct consumption millets as food has significantly declined over the past three decades due to the lack of awareness of nutritional merits, inconveniences in food preparation, lack of processing technologies, and also the government policy of disincentives towards millets and favouring of supply of fine cereals at subsidized prices. In the post-covid scenario people are very conscious about Agro India

their healthy living practices to overcome metabolic disorders and life style diseases. Millets are the principal sources of energy, protein, vitamins and minerals for millions of the poorest people and are grown in harsh environments where other crops grow or yield poorly. They are highly environmentally friendly as they are grown with less water and usually without application of chemical fertilizers. So far millets are not usually traded in a big way in the international markets. International year of millets is an opportunity to bring millets to limelight and make a way for them to enter international markets in a big way. This article highlights the speciality of millets with regard to health and nutrition benefits. International Year of Millets: The United Nations General Assembly at its 75th session in March 2021 declared 2023 the International 10

Year of Millets (IYM 2023). FAO is the lead agency for celebrating the Year in collaboration with other relevant stakeholders. IYM2023 will be an opportunity to raise awareness of, and direct policy attention to the nutritional and health benefits of millets and their suitability for cultivation under adverse and changing climatic conditions. The Year will also promote the sustainable production of millets, while highlighting their potential to provide new sustainable market opportunities for producers and consumers. India is making all efforts to reorient the joint efforts on the millets to generate demand through value-addition of processed foods through diversification of processing technologies, creating awareness about their health-nutrition benefits. In that context it is important to explore ways for creating awareness on nutritional merits of millets. India farmers can explore the international markets APRIL 2023

opportunities for small-scale farmers. Millets' trade can enhance diversity of the global food system: As of now, millets account for less than three percent of the global grains trade. When sudden shocks affect the foodgrain market, millets can provide a valuable alternative to typically traded grains. This added diversity can improve the resilience of the global trade markets and mitigate our reliance on other grains.

for their millet produce. More Attention for Millets: Millets deserves greater attention because of the following reasons as per United Nations. Millets can be grown when other crops cannot be grown: Growing global population needs sufficient and healthy food amidst climate emergencies and depleting natural resources. Millets can be part of the solution. Millets can survive harsh climate conditions, offering solutions to food scarcity. Because they are often the only crops that can be harvested in dry seasons, millets can be a vital food source for populations vulnerable to food insecurity. Millets are capable of contributing to a healthy diet: Millets provide antioxidants, minerals and protein. As whole grains, each millet variety also offers different types and amounts of fibre, which play a role in regulating bowel function, blood sugar and lipids. Furthermore, millets are gluten-free with a lowglycaemic index making them a great food option for those with celiac disease or gluten intolerance, high-blood sugar or Agro India

diabetes. They can also be a costeffective source of iron. Incorporating millets in our diets can provide us with nutritious and healthy alternatives to the usual refined grains in the global market. Millets are climate-resilient crops: Millets are resistant to drought and tolerant to crop diseases and pests, allowing them to survive in adverse climatic conditions. Because millets can be grown with minimal inputs and maintenance and can adapt to climate shocks, expanding production of millets can transform local agri-food systems to be more efficient, resilient and inclusive. The ability of millets to grow in poor, degraded soils can also provide land cover in arid areas, reducing soil degradation and supporting biodiversity. Millets offer promising livelihood opportunities for small& marginal farmers: As other cereals have become widespread, dietary preferences have shifted and led to a decline in the production and demand for millets. By encouraging the consumption and production of these underutilized crops, we can help millets regain market share and create additional 11

Millets can be used in many innovative ways: The wide genetic diversity of millets lends itself to many diverse and innovate applications of millets in areas such as therapeutics and pharmaceuticals. Used innovatively, millets can offer even greater market opportunities for regional, national and international trade. Diverse Types of Millets:There are diverse types of millets that are prevailing in India and abroad. These include sorghum, pearl millet,finger millet, little millet, foxtail millet, proso millet, kodo millet, broomcorn millet, barnyard millet, brown top millet, buckwheat and amaranth. Nutrition value of Millets: The nutritional importance of millets is very well established and are comparable to major cereals and serve as good source of protein, micronutrients and phytochemicals. Most of the millets contains about 10% protein, 3.5% lipids, finger millet contains 12-16% protein and 2-5% lipids. Millets are also storehouses of micronutrients, vitamins and minerals. Major portion of sorghum protein is prolamin (kaffirin) which has a unique feature of lowering digestibility upon cooking whereas, other millets have a better amino acid profile. Millets APRIL 2023

phytosterols and pinacosanols. These phytochemicals have potential positive impact on human health. All millet grains and especially sorghum fractions possess high antioxidant activity in vitro relative to other cereals and fruits. The major phytochemicals include Phenolic compounds and others.

contain fewer cross-linked prolamins, which helps in higher digestibility of the millet proteins. The use of millets as whole grain makes the essential nutrients such as dietary fiber, minerals, phenolics and vitamins concentrated in the outer layer of the grain or the seed coat form the part of the food and offer their nutritional and health benefits. Millets are not only comparable to major cereals with respect to their nutritional features but are very good sources of carbohydrates, micronutrients and phytochemicals with nutraceutical properties. The millets contain 7-12% protein, 2-5% fat, 65-75% carbohydrates and 15-20% dietary fibre. Among them, pearl millet contains considerably high proportion of proteins (12-16%) as well as lipids (4-6%) whereas; finger millet contains lower levels of protein (68%) and fat (1.5-2%). The essential amino acid profiles of the millet protein is better than maize. The niacin content in pearl millet is higher than all other cereals whereas, finger millet proteins are unique because of the sulphur rich amino acid contents. Similar to cereal proteins, the millet proteins are poor sources of lysine, but they complement well with lysine-rich Agro India

vegetable (leguminous) and animal proteins form nutritionally balanced composites of high biological value. Finger millet is the richest source of calcium (300-350 mg/100 g) and other small millets are good source of phosphorous and iron. Nutrient Composition: The millet grain contains about 65% carbohydrate, a high proportion of which is in the form of non-starchy polysaccharides and dietary fibre which help in prevention of constipation, lowering of blood cholesterol and slow release of glucose to the blood stream during digestion. Lower incidence of cardiovascular diseases, duodenal ulcer and hyperglycemia (diabetes) are reported among regular millet consumers. Millet grains are also rich in important vitamins viz., Thiamine, riboflavin, folic acid and niacin. Millets are comparable to rice and wheat or rich in some of the minerals as well as fatty acids. Millets vary largely in composition of carbohydrates as proportion of amylose and amylopectin content vary from 1628% and 72-84%, respectively. Phytochemicals: Millets are the rich sources of different phytochemicals including tannins, phenolic acids, anthocyanins, 12

Phenolic Compounds: Millets are a good source of phenolic compounds with a variety of genetically dependent types and levels of phenolic acids, flavonoids and condensed tannins. These compounds confer some resistance to moulds and deterioration of the grain. Processing affects the extract ability of phenolic compounds and phenol levels. Phenolic Acids: Phenolic compounds in millet are divided into major categories: phenolic acids, tannins and flavonoids. All millets contain phenolic acids, which are located in the pericarp, testa, aleurone layer and endosperm. Sorghum anthocyanins are unique which render these compounds as potential natural food colorants. The fact that some millet cultivars produce large quantities of tannins, usually present in outer layer of grain, makes it unique among the cereals However, not all varieties contain condensed tannin. Anthocyanins have been extensively studied in fruits and vegetables due to their antioxidant properties and potential as natural food colours. Recent studies have shown that grain sorghum and its distillers dried grain with soluble (DDGS) contain valuable health promoting compounds, such as phenolic acids, tannins, anthocyanins, plant sterols (PS) and policosanols.The high demand for antioxidant and nutraceutical foods has increased during the past years to prevent oxidative stress associated to the APRIL 2023

development of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular, neuron degeneration, cancer, diabetes and hypocholesterolemia as well as being involved with the process of aging. Millets and Human Health: Millets bring variety of potential health benefits and consumption of millets reduces risk of heart disease, protects from diabetes, improves digestive system, lowers the risk of cancer, detoxifies the body, increases immunity in respiratory health, Increases energy levels and improves muscular and neural systems and are protective against several degenerative diseases such as metabolic syndrome and Parkinson's disease. The important nutrients present in millets include resistant starch, oligosaccharides, lipids, antioxidants such as phenolic acids, avenanthramides, flavonoids, lignans and phytosterols which are believed to be responsible for many health benefits. The major health benefits of millets are listed below,

! Millets are the health-promoting

nutritious crops and have superior micronutrient profile and bioactive flavonoids. ! Millets are useful in treating stomach ulcers and gall stones as consumption of millets turns the stomach alkaline and prevents the formation of stomach ulcers. ! Millets are the best food sources to reduce issues with obesity as they contain high quantities of dietary fibre ! Regular consumption of whole millet grains (40g/day) reduces the risk of Cardio vascular diseases and risk of coronary heart disease by 20%. Being rich sources of magnesium, millets help in reducing blood Agro India

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pressure and risk of heart strokes especially in atherosclerosis. Also, the potassium present in millets helps in keeping blood pressure low by acting as a vasodilator and help to reduce cardiovascular risk. Also, the plant lignans present in millets have the ability to convert into animal lignans in presence of microflora in digestive system and protect against heart disease. The high fiber present in millets plays a major role in cholesterol lowering eliminating LDL from the system and increasing the effects of HDL. Finger millet and proso millet are more beneficial in preventing cardiovascular disease by reducing plasma triglycerides. Millets contain more of natural iron and thus help in reducing anemia. Millet consumption will help in keeping degenerative diseases, liver disorders and asthama under control People suffering from allergic reactions can rely on millets. Pearl millet has a very low probability of causing allergic reactions due to the hypoallergic property Millets possess antidiabetic properties and can lower the

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blood glucose response and glycosilatedhaemoglobin thus rendering low glycaemic index and can help in reducing the risk of diabetes mellitus Millets have a role to play in reduction of oxidative stress. The phenolic compounds present in the millets removes the free radicals thus reducing the oxidative stress It is proved that millets also have anticancer properties. The millet extracts have antiprolific effects on cancer cell line, inhibit DNA damage and induce the production of phase-2 detoxifying enzymes Millets prevent oxidation of low density lipoproteins reducing lipase activity which reduces hypertension Millets are the good source of minerals like iron, zinc, and calcium Millets are gluten-free and can be consumed by celiac disease patients. Millets assist in reduction of weight and body mass index(BMI) (15)Consumption of millets with legumes helps in c r e a t i n g m u t u a l supplementation of protein, increases the amino acid content, and enhances the overall digestibility of proteins. APRIL 2023

Agriculture Advancement through

CRISPER Technology

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Ashvini M.N and Shulbhi Verma Researcher, Department of Biotechnology, Junagadh Agricultural University, JAU Assistant Professor, Department of Plant Breeding & Genetics, C.P College of Agriculture, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar.

ood insecurity in terms of production is increasing rapidly due to increase in the population, land limitation for agriculture and changing climate. B i o t e c h n o l o g y, a r e c e n t advancements in the technology are the way to find the solutions for the emerging agricultural challenges. The crop improvement programs which initiated through domestication and natural selection, continued through artificial hybridisation, mutation breeding, precision breeding, molecular breeding and lately started exploring the new plant breeding techniques (NBTs) to enhance the production, productivity and quality of the agricultural commodities. The new plant genetic modification techniques known as genome editing which is considered as faster and precise technology over the old and conventional method. This speciality assists CRISPER (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeat) technology-based crops more improved in their productivity and provide environmental stability in crop because of modification in the gene. Therefore, CRISPER technology used in the production of crops with desirable trait according to the need and situation of the global world. The NBTs mainly uses Site-Directed Nuclease (SDN) technology in three

Genome editing at the CRISPER / Cas9 target locus. Site Specific nucleases introduce doublestrand breaks where genes are modified by two repair pathways. Non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) knocks out genes via deletions or insertions in the absence of donor DNA. Homology directed repair (HDR) results in the insertion of donor DNA on the basis of homologous regions and the correction of gene sequences according to small changes in either DNA strand.

different ways to target genome editing namely, SDN1, SDN2 and SDN3. These advanced technologies utilized by understanding the basic function of genes, helps in improving the traits through precise, efficient, and targeted modifications at genomic loci. The world's first CRISPER-Cas9 edited crop is tomato in the year 2014. In the tomatoes CRISPERCas9 technology used to knock out Argonaute 7. In 2021 edited tomatoes are available in the market. Using CRISPER technology China and Germany silenced the gene that

restrains kernel production in corn this enhanced the almost 10% increases in crop yield. The CRISPER technology edited gene in Mustard greens to reduce the bitterness in taste of leaves. In potato CRISPER technology used to modify the PPOs (Polyphenol oxidases) which reduced the browning of potatoes. Furthermore, in the fruits CRISPER technology used in banana to reduce the expression of DMR6 which increased the resistant capacity of banana from bacterial disease Banana xanthomonas wilt. Many other crops are mentioned in Table.

Basic CRISPER / Cas9 structure. The CRISPER / Cas9 locus consists of three elements, namely a tracrRNA at the 5’ end, a Cas protein-encoding gene, and a CRISPER locus at the 3’ end, which includes a lead sequence, a 23-50 bp repeat sequence, and a spacer sequence. Agro India

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Genetically edited plants are similar to mutagenized plants and are different from genetically modified plants. SDN1 and SDN2 involves the trait improvement by adding small insertions and deletions (INDELs) without the addition of foreign gene (Mishra et al. 2019; Gao 2018), and th are recently (30 March 2022) has been exempted from Rules 7-11 of the Environment Protect Act (EPA) for manufacture that can be use or import or export and storage of hazardous microorganisms or genetically engineered organisms or cells rules-1989. The workflow of CRISPER-Cas9 based gene editing in Plant

As it suggests, the organisms which

Examples of genes from various crops that have been modified by the CRISPR/Cas9 system to increase crop yield and quality. Crop Nam e Gene Na me G ene E diti ng M utant Y ear Function M ethods Features

Rice

PYL1, PYL4, PYL6

Re gulate d plant grow th

K nockout

Promote rice grow th and productivity

2018

Rice

OsAAP 3

A n am ino a cid osmotic e nzyme re lated to nutrient a location

K nockout

H igher till er numbe r and grain yield

2018

Whea t

TaG W 2

E ncoding RIN G E3 ligase

K nockout

Incre ased the length and w idth of w heat grain.

2018

Rice

OsLO G L5

Cyto kinin a ctivating e nzyme

K nockout

Incre ased grain number and w eight per spike as w ell as the yie ld of ric e

2020

Soybea n

Gm FATB1

E ncoding FA TB protein

K nockout

Reduc ed the contents of two satura ted fatty ac ids in soybean

2021

Agro India

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are edited through SDN1 and SDN2 will be considered as genome edited ones, and not the genetically modified organisms (GMOs). This step is going to set a biggest milestone in the progress of genome editing. However, the SDN3 edited plants are similar to GMOs where the foreign genetic material will be present in the same. Rice, wheat, and maize are the three leading agricultural crops in the world alltogether they directly supply more

than 50 % of all calories consumed by the entire human population. Rice is the major staple crop, which is also the source of instant energy. Production of quality rice is of much more concerned aspect which can be achieved by targeting the specific genes using CRISPR/Cas9 system with tremendous untapped potential. The stepwise mechanism for the development of transgenefree new rice variety.. One such example is discussed here under. The most important component in

Examples of genes from various crops that have been modified by the CRISPR/Cas9 system to increase disease resistance.

Crop Name

Gene Name Gene Function

Editing Methods

Mutant Features

Year

Barley

MLO

Reduced resistance to powdery mildew

knockout

improved resistance to powdery mildew

2018

Tomato

MLO 1

Reduced resistance to powdery mildew

knockout

improved resistance to powdery mildew

2018

Tomato

EDR1

Ecoded knockout MAPKKK protein kinase

improved resistance to powdery mildew

2018

Grape

VvWRKY52 Play roles in biotic stress responses

Rice

SWEET 11,SWEET 1113, SWEET 1114

Agro India

knockout

improved 2018 resistance to Botrytis cinerea

transporter knockout genes required for disease susce

increased 2019 broad spectrum resistance to different physiologi cal races of Xoo

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rice is starch (carbohydrate). Starch is a polysaccharide comprising of glucose polymers, amylose and amylopectin. Amylose is a linear polymer of α (1→4) linked D-glucose units. It requires less space compared to amylopectin hence, it is the preferred form of starch for storage in plants. Cooking and eating characteristics of rice are highly dependent on the amylose content. Upon cooling of the cooked rice, the amylose molecules re-associate, which means the chains line up, lock together and form a gel or precipitate. High amylose content helps in maintaining the firmness and stickiness, which are the two properties of cooked rice that influence consumer preferences . Rice with high amount of amylose is a good source of Resistant Starch (RS), which is an indigestible starch, absorbed by the stomach and directly pass to the large intestine. The high amylose and RS will offer potential health benefits and helps in reducing certain serious diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and certain colon and rectum cancers used CRISPR/Cas9 technology to generate targeted mutagenesis in SBEI and SBEIIb genes. These are the genes producing enzymes involved in amylopectin biosynthesis. They catalyze the cleavage and transfer of α-1, 4-linked glucan chain and subsequent conjugate the part of that chain to the 6-hydroxyl groups along another chain, thus produce branches in amylopectin. By supressing these genes, a significant increase in the amylose content and RS content (25.0 and 9.8%, respectively) was observed and thus altered nutritional properties of starch. Genome editing tools are gaining popularity because of their ability to rewrite the genetic material. These are the techniques to obtain 'suitably edited' plants that will help to achieve the zero hunger goal and maintain the growing human population. Further studies are required to overcome the limitations of the major genome editing tools.

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Influence of Climate on Crops

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Dr. H. B. Sodavadiya and Ms. M. L. Patel Regional Cotton Research Station, Navsari Agricultural University, Bharuch

limate is the most important dominating factor influencing the suitability of a crop to a particular region. The yield potential of the crop mainly depends on climate. More than 50 per cent of variation of crops is determined by climate. The most important climatic factors that influence growth, development and yield of crops are solar radiation, temperature and rainfall. W E AT H E R B A S E D C R O P PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT DRYLAND Length of Growing Period: Length of growing period is defined as a period in which the available soil moisture is enough to meet the evapotranspiration requirement of dry land crops and hence the dry land productivity is assured. The length of growing period is given as 'G' with starting and ending of length of growing period in terms of Meteorological standard weeks. Soil temperature and its importance in crop production ! Soil temperature is an important Agro India

environmental parameter for plant growth. ! Variation in soil temperature is much more pronounced because of varying characteristics and composition of soil. Soil temperature and plant ! Soil temperature extremes influence the germination of seeds, functional activity of root system (Rice 10° C; Wheat 3° C). ! Excessive high temperature is harmful to roots and also causes lesions of stem. ! Extreme low temperature impede intake of nutrients. ! Soil moisture intake by the plants stops when the soil temperature is at a temperature of below 1° C. ! Day time soil temperature is more important because it is necessary to maintain favorable internal crop water status in the light of the high evaporation rate. ! High soil temperature causes degeneration of the insets in potato optimum soil temperature for this crop is 17° C, tuber 18

!

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formation is practically absent above 29°C. Crop yield increases linearly as the 10 cm depth soil temperature increases from 15° C to 27° C for maize. Extreme low and high temperature influences the soil microbial population and rate of organic matter decomposition. Rate of decomposition is high under high soil temperatures. Soil temperature controls the nutrient availability (eg., Nutrient release and N fixation) Factors affecting soil temperature: Slope: ! Slope an important factor in temperate regions. ! In the northern hemisphere a south facing slope is always warmer than a north facing slope (or) plains. Tillage: ! Shallow tillage and creating 'dust mulch' reduces the heat flow between the surface and sub soil. APRIL 2023

Growth Te m p e r a t u r e a n d c r o p production ! Important for growth and development ! Optimum temperature is required for maximum dry matter accumulation. ! High night temperature growth of shoot

Drip Irrigation ! Cultivated soil has greater temperature aptitude compared to uncultivated soil. ! The air temperature an inch above the soil is 5 to 10°C higher in cultivated soil compared to uncultivated soil during noon. Soil Moisture: Availability of optimum soil moisture maintains the soil temperature at required level. Soil texture: ! Sandy soil warm up more rapidly than clay soils, because of lower heat capacity of sandy soils. ! Sandy soils have higher temperature in winter. Organic matter: ! Organic matter reduces the heat capacity and thermal conductivity of soil, increased absorptive due to dark colour. ! When organic soils are dry they become warmer than mineral soil in summer and cooler

Cardinal temperature points : All plants have maximum, optimum and minimum temperature limits. The limits are cardinal temperature points. Optimum temperature range is very important. Low temperature injury : Low temperature affects several aspects of crop growth viz., survival, cell division, photosynthesis, water transport, growth and finally yield. Frost damage: Low temperature near the canopy due to earth's reradiation. If the cell size is large the probability of frost damage is high. Advective frosts : Advective frosts are due to incursion of large masses of cold air over a region from the colder areas. Radiation frost: Occur on clear calm nights when heat is freely radiated from all exposed objects. Hoar frost (or) white frost:This is caused due to sublimation of ice crystals on objects like tree branches.

Effect of Temperature on Plant

Black frost: The vegetation is frozen because of reduction of air temperature. Plant management against frost damage: ! Frost free growing season ! Adjusting the sowing time ! Selection of resistant varieties ! Sprinkler irrigation HIGH TEMPERATURE INJURIES : High temperature adversely affects mineral nutrition, shoot growth and pollen development resulting in low yield. ! The critical temperature above which plants gets killed is called thermal 'death point'. ! The temperature above 50°C may kill many annual crops. ! The limit varies with plants; shade loving plants are killed at lower temperature. Mineral Nutrition ! High temperature stress causes reduction in absorption and subsequent assimilation of nutrients. ! Absorption of calcium is reduced at temperature of 28º C in Maize. ! Nutrient uptake is affected by both soil and air temperature in rice. ! Nitrate reductase activity decrease under high temperature. Shoot growth ! High temperature, even for short period, affects crop growth especially in temperate crops

Length of Growing Period

Le ngth of growing pe riod < 5 weeks Minim um of 14 we eks (98 days) 14 weeks 14 to 20 weeks > 20 weeks

Agro India

Crop Status Crop failures will occur Perm it the d ry land crop to atta in its pote ntial productivity A single dry land crop can be cultivated Suitable in ter cropping system can be cultiva ted Lon g duration crop / double crop can be cultiva ted

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like wheat. ! High air temperature reduces the growth of shoots and in turn reduces root growth. ! High soil temperature is more crucial as damage to the roots is severe resulting in substantial reduction in shoot growth. ! High temperature at 38º C in rice reduced plant height, root elongation and smaller roots. Pollen development ! High temperature during booting stage results in pollen abortion. ! In wheat, temperature higher than 27º C caused under-development of anthers and loss of viability of pollen. ! A temperature of 30º C for two days at reduction division stage decreased grain yield by drastic reduction in grain set. Scorching: High temperature lead to dehydration and leaves are scorched. Physiological activities: High temperature disturbs the photosynthesis and respiration.

Micro Sprinklers ! Wind alters the balance of hormones. ! Wind increases the ethylene production in barley and rice. ! Wind decreases gibberillic acid content of roots and shoots in rice. ! Nitrogen concentration in both barley and rice increase with increase in wind speed Wind influences production in two ways Physiological impact Mechanical impact

crop

Effect of Wind on Crop Production: Wind direction and velocity have significant influence on crop growth.

Physiological impact: ! Increases transpiration especially cuticular transpiration than stomatal transpiration. ! Hot wind accelerates the drying of the plants by replacing humid air by dry air in the inter cellular s p a c e s . For example, rice crop during June-July months shows tip drying. ! Wind increases turbulence in the atmosphere and availability of CO2 and thereby increased photosynthesis. ! Beyond a certain wind speed the rate of photosynthesis becomes constant.

Beneficial impact of wind ! Wind increases the turbulence in atmosphere, thus increasing the supply of carbon dioxide to the plants resulting in greater photosynthesis rates.

Mechanical impact on plants: ! Strong wind damages the shoots ! Lodging (Paddy, Sugarcane, Banana etc.,) ! Flower and fruit shedding ! Crops and trees with shallow

Injury due to scorching sun: High temperature causes injury on the exposed area of the plant (eg) Barcks it is know as 'Sun sclad' Burning off: The symptoms are noticed on young seedlings due to high soil temperature. The seedlings are killed. Stem gridle: High soil temperature causes stem scorches at the ground level (eg) cotton.

Agro India

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roots are uprooted. ! Cold wind causes chilling injuries ! Causes soil erosion ! Soil deposition causes poor aeration in root zone Protection of plants from wind damage: ! Shelter belts and wind breaks: Refers to growing trees and tall crops across the direction of prevailing wind to reduce the physiological and mechanical damage to crops. Wind breaks reduces the wind velocity and creates favourable microclimate. ! Adjusting the direction of planting. ! Providing support to the tall crops (eg) Banana. RAINFALL AND ITS INFLUENCE ON CROP PRODUCTION ! Cropping system can be planned by understanding the rainfall pattern. ! Rainfall analysis helps in taking decisions on time of sowing, scheduling of irrigation, time of harvesting etc., ! Rain analysis is necessary for designing farm ponds, tanks of irrigation projects. ! Amount, distribution and intensity of rainfall are the important aspects of rainfall that have considerable influence on crop production. Effect of Solar Radiation on

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Crop Production

mesophyll resistance blocking entry of carbon dioxide.

! Solar energy provides light required for seed germination, leaf expansion, growth of stem and shoot, flowering, fruiting and thermal conditions necessary for the physiological functions of the plant. ! Solar radiation plays an important role as regulator and controller of growth and development. ! Solar radiation also influences assimilation of nutrient and dry matter distribution. The basic principle for increasing yield is harvesting more solar energy. All the management practices like ! Optimum time of sowing ! Optimum plant population ! Timely application of fertilizers ! Irrigation management etc. are aimed at increasing the interception of solar radiation by the foliage so as to get more yield. Effect of Relative Humidity on Crop Production Relative humidity: It is the ratio of actual water vapour content to the saturated water vapour content at a given temperature and pressure expressed in percentage (%). Diurnal variation in relative humidity: ! Mean maximum relative humidity occurs in the early morning. ! Mean minimum, relative humidity occurs in the early afternoon. ! Low RH in the afternoon is due to expansion of air and thus increases the total water vapour capacity Distribution of RH ! Maximum RH is in the equatorial region due to high evaporation. ! Decreases towards poles upto 30° N and S due to subsiding air mass. ! RH increases in poles due to low temperature. Agro India

Pollination ! Moderately low air humidity is favourable for seed set in many crops, provided soil moisture supply is adequate. ! For example, seed set in wheat was high at 60 per cent RH compared to 80 per cent when water availability in the soil was not limiting. ! At high RH pollen may not be dispersed from the anthers

Trash Mulching Effect of Relative Humidity on Crop Production ! Relative humidity (RH) directly influences the water relations of plant and indirectly affects leaf growth, photosynthesis, pollination, occurrence of diseases and finally economic yield. ! The dryness of the atmosphere as represented by saturation deficit (100-RH) reduces dry matter production through stomatal control and leaf water potential. Leaf Growth ! Leaf growth not only depends on synthetic activities resulting from biochemical process but also upon the physical process of cell enlargement. ! Cell enlargement occurs as a result of turgor pressure developed within the cells. ! Turgor pressure is high under RH due to less transpiration. Thus leaf enlargement is high in humid areas Photosynthesis ! Photosynthesis is indirectly affected by RH. When RH is low, transpiration increases causing water deficits in the plant. ! Water deficits cause partial or full closure of stomata and increase 21

Pests ! The incidence of insect pests and diseases is high under high humidity conditions. ! High RH favours easy germination of fungal spores on plant leaves. ! For example, The blight diseases of potato and tea spread more rapidly under humid conditions. Several insects such as aphids and jassids thrive better under moist conditions. Grain Yield: Very high or very low RH is not conducive for high grain yield. Under high humidity, RH is negatively correlated with grain yield of maize. The yield reduction was 144 kg/ha with an increase in one per cent of mean monthly RH. Similarly, wheat grain yield is reduced in high RH. It can be attributed to adverse effect of RH on pollination and high incidence of pests. On the contrary, increase in RH during panicle initiation to maturity increased grain yield of sorghum under low humidity conditions due to favourable influence of RH on water relations of plants and photosynthesis. With similar amount of solar radiation, crops that are grown with irrigation gives less yield compared to those grown with equal amount of 'water as rainfall. This is because the dry atmosphere, which is little affected by irrigation, independently suppresses the growth of crops.

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! Providing adequate drainage for draining excessive stagnating water around the root system. ! Spray of growth retardant of 500 ppm cycocel for arresting apical dominance and thereby promoting growth of laterals ! Foliar spray of 2% DAP + 1% KCl (MOP) ! Nipping terminal buds for arresting apical dominance and thus promoting growth sympodial branches (as in cotton) for increasing productivity ! Spray of 40 ppm NAA for controlling excessive pre-mature fall of flowering/buds/young developing fruits and pods ! Spray of 0.5 ppm brassinolide for increasing photosynthetic activity ! Foliar spray of 100 ppm salicylic acid for increasing stem reserve utilization under high moisture stress ! Foliar spray of 0.3 % Boric acid + 0.5 % ZnSO4 + 0.5 % FeSO4 + 1.0 % urea during critical stages of the stress

Wind Breakers

Very High Relative humidity: ! Reduces evapotranspiration ! Increases heat load of plants ! Stomatal closure ! Reduced CO2 uptake ! Reduced transpiration influences translocation of food materials and nutrients. ! Moderately high RH of 60-70% is beneficial. ! Low RH increases the evapotranspiration Mitigation of High Temperature Stress ! Seed hardening with 0.5% CaCl2 solution for arresting membrane damage due to high temperature stress ! Split application of N and K fertilizers ! Foliar spray of 2% DAP + 1% KCl (MOP) (during the spray, sufficient moisture should be present in the soil for avoiding leaf scorching) ! Folar spray of 3% Kaoline ! Foliar spray of 0.5% zinc sulphate + 0.3 % boric acid + 0.5 % Ferrous sulphate + 1% urea ! Spray of 40 ppm NAA for controlling pre-mature flower / fruit drops due to high temperature stress ! Foliar spray of 1% Urea + 2 % MgSO4 + 0.5 % ZnSO4 (for arresting chlorophyll degradation due to high temperature stress) ! Foliar spray of 2% calcium nitrate spray for membrane integrity Agro India

! Fol i ar sp ray of 0.5 pp m Brassinolide for increasing photosynthetic activity during stress ! Spray of 100 ppm salicylic acid for increase stem reserve utilization and increasing Harvest Index of crops under stress ! Seed treatment + soil application + foliar spray of Pink Pigmented Facultative Methnaotrops (PPFM) @ 106 as a source of cytokinins. Mitigation of Low Temperature Stress ! Seed hardening with 0.01% Ammonium molybdate and foliar spray of 0.1 % ammonium molybdate at critical stages of stress ! Foliar spray of 2% calcium nitrate spray for membrane integrity ! Foliar spray of 2% DAP + 1% KCl (MOP) ! Foliar spray of 500 ppm cycocel for increasing root penetration in search of moisture for alleviationSpray of 100 ppm salicylic acid ! Brassinolide (0.5 ppm) for enhancing photosynthetic activity of plants ! Seed treatment + soil application + foliar spray of Pink Pigmented Facultative Methnaotrops (PPFM) @ 106 as a source of cytokinins. Mitigation of water logging 22

Mitigation of Salt Stress

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Seed hardening with NaCl (10 mM concentration) Application of gypsum @ 50% Gypsum Requirement (GR) Incorporation of daincha (6.25 t/ha) in soil before planting Foliar spray of 0.5 ppm brassinolode for increasing photosynthetic activity Foliar spray of 2% DAP + 1% KCl (MOP) during critical stages Spray of 100 ppm salicylic acid Spray of 40 ppm of NAA for arresting pre-mature fall of flowers / buds / fruits Extra dose of nitrogen (25%) in excess of the recommended Split application of N and K fertilizers Seed treatment + soil application + foliar spray of Pink Pigmented Facultative Methnaotrops (PPFM) @ 106 as a source of cytokinins.

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Broccoli

An anti-cancerproperty enriched western vegetable Dr.Shruti P. Gondi Assistant Professor (Vegetable Science).College of Horticulture,Hiriyur. KSNUAHS, Shivamogga

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egetables like broccoli belonging to the plant genus Brassica, contain tons of health-promoting compounds and potentially p o w e r f u l phytochemicals.Broccoli is rich in various antioxidants and plant compounds, which contribute to its health benefits.It contains a unique family of plant compounds called isothiocyanates, the most abundant of which is called sulforaphane. Broccoli is 22 times more nutritive than cabbage and 140 times more than cauli flower. They improve many risk factors for disease, and may reduce the risk of cancer. What are the important compounds that make broccoli as nutrient hub ? Sulforaphane: One of the most abundant and extensively studied plant compounds in broccoli. It can have protective effects against various types of cancer. Indole-3-carbinol: A unique nutrient found in cruciferous vegetables, which may have beneficial effects against cancer. Carotenoids: Broccoli contains lutein, zeaxanthin and betacarotene, which may all contribute to better eye health. Kaempferol: An antioxidant with many benefits for health. It may protect against heart disease, cancer, inflammation and allergy.

Agro India

Quercetin: An antioxidant with numerous benefits, including lower blood pressure in people with high blood pressure. Which part of broccoli is most nutritious? The florets and stems of broccoli are very similar in their nutrient content, and both are excellent parts of broccoli to include as part of our Healthiest Way of Eating. The amount of most B vitamins, minerals, and fiber are very similar in the two parts of the plant. Health Benefits of Broccoli: Broccoli contain sulfurcontaining compounds that are responsible for their often spicy and bitter taste. These are bioactive compounds that may have numerous beneficial effects on health.

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Cancer Prevention: ! Cancer is characterized by the rapid growth of abnormal cells, beyond their normal boundaries, and is often linked to oxidative stress. ! Broccoli is loaded with compounds that are believed to have protective effects against cancer. ! Observational studies suggest that consumption of cruciferous vegetables, including broccoli, is linked to reduced risk of many cancers. This includes lung, colorectal, breast, prostate, pancreatic and gastric cancer. ! The factor that sets cruciferous vegetables apart from other vegetables, is a unique family of plant compounds called isothiocyanates. ! Isothiocyanates have been shown to affect liver enzymes, reduce oxidative stress, decrease inflammation, APRIL 2023

stimulate the immune system and decrease the development and growth of cancer. ! The main isothiocyanate in broccoli is sulforaphane, which acts against formation of cancer at the molecular level, such as by reducing oxidative

Nutrients present in broccoli Amount (per 100 g) 34 Calories 89% Water 2.8 g Protein 6.6 g Carbohydrate 1.7 g Sugar 2.6 g Fiber 0.4 g Fat Saturated 0.04 g Monounsaturated 0.01 g Polyunsaturated 0.04 g Omega-3 0.02 g Omega-6 0.02 g Trans fat Nutrients

Agro India

stress. ! Sulforaphane is found in 20100 times higher amounts in young broccoli sprouts than in full-grown broccoli heads. Lower Cholesterol Levels ! Cholesterol has many important functions in the body. ! Bile acids are formed in the liver, then stored in the gallbladder and released into the digestive system whenever we eat fat. ! Substances in broccoli have the ability to bind with bile acids in the gut, increasing their excretion out of the body and preventing them from being reused. ! This results in the synthesis of new bile acids from cholesterol, reducing the total level of cholesterol in the body. ! According to one study, steamed broccoli is particularly effective for lowering cholesterol levels

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Eye Health ! Impaired eyesight is a common consequence of aging. ! Two of the main carotenoids in broccoli, lutein and zeaxanthin, have been associated with decreased risk of age-related eye disorders. ! Broccoli contains betacarotene, which is converted into vitamin A in the body. It may therefore have beneficial effects on eyesight in individuals with a low vitamin A intake. ! It is high in many nutrients, including a family of plant compounds called isothiocyanates, which may have numerous health benefits. ! It is also a decent source of fiber, and higher in protein than most other vegetables. ! The consumption of broccoli has been linked with reduced risk of cancer and heart disease, as well as improved eye health. APRIL 2023

Multivitamin Plant Chekurmanis A bowl of Nutrients Lekhana A. M, Dr. SowmyaKumari, Dr. Thippesha D., Pooja M. B, Jagruthi S and Ayesha Siddiqua M., Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, KSNUAHS, Shivamogga

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auropusandrogynus L. Merr.is a shrubby plant belonging to the Phyllanthaceae family. The plant is native of India and Burma region. S.androgynus is known as Star gooseberry, Sweet leaf bush, Phakwaanbaan in Thailand, Cekurmanis in Malaysia, Katuk in Indonesia, Binahian in Philippines, and Dom nghob in Cambodia. It is known as “multivitamin” vegetable due to its perceived superior nutrition and vitamin content in comparison to other vegetables. It is found in the Sikkim, Himalayas, Khasi and Akra hills at 1200m elevations and in the Western ghats of Kerala from Wynad northwards at an altitude of 3001200m. It is reported to be introduced into Kerala from Malaysia in 1953 and is known in Malayalam as “Madura keera”. Chekurmanis occupy a prominent place in almost all household kitchen gardens but has not been cultivated on a large scale for commercial purpose. Uses: ! Chekurmanis leaves are rich source of vitamin C, vitamin E, βcarotene, riboflavin, thiamine, calcium, iron, zinc and protein. ! S. androgynus was reported to have approximately 7.4 g protein per 100 g of fresh leaves as compared to spinach has 2.0 g. ! Despite its use as a medicinal and food product, studies have reported pulmonary dysfunction Agro India

as a side effect of consuming it. Cases of difficulty in breathing were reported by the scientist. Distribution: It grows in humid, high temperature conditions and is a Southeast Asian indigenous vegetable. This plant is widely cultivated and native to Southeast Asia including Bangladesh, India, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan and Yunnan. Botany: The plant is a slow growing glabrous perennial shrub and attains a height of 2-3.5m. Its main branches are terete and flaccid. Lateral branches are thin. Leaves are ovate, oblong, sessile, alternate, membranous and short stacked. The inflorescence is auxiliary with small reddish flowers. Flowers are monoecious, minute, auxiliary, pedicelled and clustered. Fruits sessile, white or pinkish-white,globular, up to 1.5 cm in diameter with a fleshy 25

epicarp. The fruit is nearly whitish. The crop is highly cross pollinated and entomophilous because of photogynous and monoecious nature of flower. As a leafy vegetable, it is usually maintained as a perennial plant at a height of 1-1.5m by frequent harvest of leaves and apical system. Soil and climate: It comes up well in all types of soils. The growth and yield are high when they are grown in rich, well drained sandy loam or semi-laterite soils. A warm humid climate with good rainfall is best suited and its grows luxuriantly at a lower elevations at 500m above MSL though plants are found at higher elevations up to 1,200m above MSL. When the plants are raised under shade, it produces broader leaves. There are no distinct varieties or types available in this crop. Propagation: It is propagated by APRIL 2023

seeds and stem cuttings. Seed propagated plants come to harvest little later than cuttings. Herbaceous stem cuttings (6- 12 months old) may be collected with 5-6 nodes or 20-30cm length and planted in polybags containing manure mixture. Rooting can be harvested by dipping the cuttings in 50ppm IAA/ IBA before planting in polybag. It takes 20- 25 days for rooting.

spacing of 60cm between the plants. Fertilizers: Farmyard manure of 5 kg is added in addition to 25g each of urea, superphosphate and muriate of potash. Application of 30g of 7:10:5 NPK mixture per plant supplemented with 1 % urea spray after each clippings enhances leaf yield considerably. Training and Pruning: When the plants are about one meter height, they are tipped to develop laterals. If left untrimmed in early age, the plant reaches the size of a small tree. It can be trained as hedge or even on bowers or on trellises.

Planting: Usually, it is grown as hedge or fence around vegetable plots or in kitchen gardens. For planting a hectare area, about one lakh cuttings are required. The cuttings are planted in shallow furrows at least 15 days earlier to the onset of monsoon during AprilMay. Cuttings are planted at a

Harvest: The first clipping of succulent leaves can be done 3- 4

Nutrition content of Sauropusandrogynusin 100  g of fresh leaves a

C o n te n t

V al u e

P r o te in

7.4 g

5.2 5 g

Fat

1.1 g

0.5 8 g

F ib re

1.8 g

1.7 5 g

M o is tu r e

6 9 .9 g

85 .4 g

C a r o te n e R ib o f la v in

56 00 µ g 0.21 m g

-

T h ia m in e

0.50 m g

-

P o ta ssiu m

-

45 .7 m g

C o b a lt

-

1.6 2 m g

M a n g an e se

-

25 .6 m g

C o pp e r

-

76 8.7 m g

S o d iu m

-

30 6.3 m g

Zi nc

-

15 .9 g

Ir o n

-

21 2.5 m g

M a g n es iu m

-

66 4.9 m g

C a lc iu m

71 1 m g

84 .4 m g

V ita m in C

24 4 m g

31 4.3

P h o sp h o ru s

54 3 m g

-

Agro India

V a lu e

b

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months after plantings, i.e., when the plant reaches about 60-90cm height subsequently In every fortnight, another harvest is possible, if the plants are manured and irrigated. Plants are usually trimmed to 1- 1.5m height to facilitate easy harvest. The tender shoots and leaves are used for culinary purpose. The annual productivity is 30-50 tonnes/ha with a per plant yield of 1- 3kg leaves per year. The plant is devoid of any serious pests and diseases except an occasional incidence of scale insects and aphids which can be controlled by spraying Malathion @1 ml/l. Caution should be taken not to pluck the leaves and tender shoots immediately after spraying insecticide. Uses of Chekurmanis different countries

in

China - A medication for coughs, to soothe lungs, as a tonic to reduce fever, a natural slimming agent, and consumption as a vegetable. Indonesia - To increase milk production, as an antipyretic, consumed as a vegetable and used as a colorant. Thailand - The roots are used to reduce fever and to reduce food poisoning and as an antiseptic. Malaysia - The roots are used to treat cardiovascular diseases and hypertension. The leaves are used to increase lactation, treat urinary problems and for treatment of oral thrush of infants as well as an eye lotion, Taiwan - S. androgynus could have significant potential as a slimming agent to combat obesity India - Leaves are used as an antidiabetic, to treat ulcers, eye disease and tonsillitis.

APRIL 2023

Bio drainage

Eco-Friendly technique for combating some problematic soils in India Seema, A. J., Ravikumar, D., Bhavya V. P., Sushma, N., Ragini Patil, Vivek M. S. and ManjunathMopagar College of Agriculture, Shivamogga

I

rrigated agriculture covering about 17 per cent of the total cropped area of the world contributes 40 per cent of the total food production (INCID 2003). In India one-third area under irrigation produces two third of the food grains. In this period, the net irrigation potential has increased from 95 million hectare (M ha) to 260 M ha in the world and from 22.5 M ha to 57 M ha in India (INCID 2003). Introduction of canal irrigation without adequate provision for drainage in arid and semiarid regions results in water table rise leading to waterlogging and secondary salinization in large areas in irrigation commands. Globally about 10 per cent of the land area is affected by waterlogging and over 6 per cent by salinity (FAO, 2008). In India, about 6.7 million ha (m ha) of land is affected by different levels and types of salinity, out of which nearly half are under irrigated agriculture (ICAR, 2010).It is projected that about 13 m ha area in irrigation commands of India will be affected by waterlogging and soil salinity by 2025 (ICAR, 2010). In India highest economic loss due to waterlogging and salinity is found in Haryana. Thus, twin menaces of waterlogging and salinization represent serious threats to the sustainability of irrigated agriculture and calls for appropriate reclamation measures. Water logging soil may be regarded Agro India

as waterlogged soil, when it is nearly saturated with water much of the time such that it's air phase is restricted and anaerobic conditions prevail. Soil salinity in soils is increased concentration of salts which hinder plant growth and crop productivity. Causes for salinity and waterlogging :-Over irrigation, Canal irrigation in areas adjoining agricultural lands where subsoil water table steadily rises, Inadequate drainage, Surface flooding, Presence of high water table, Waterlogging also caused in depression along roads, canals and railway sides and Sea water comes to a particular area during high tidal surges.

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Conventional technologies overcome the problem of waterlogging and salinity, but they have certain limitations. To combat drainage problem of such an extent, the technology needed to be less expensive, location specific, sustainable and environment friendly for its largescale adoption by the farmers. Biodrainage: Biodrainage could be a viable option. It is a combined drainage-cum-disposal system. The biodrainage technique is ecofriendly as the biodrainage plantations purify the environment by absorbing greenhouse gases and releasing oxygen into the environment. Bio drainage may be

APRIL 2023

!

! ! ! ! !

defined as “pumping of excess soil water using bioenergy through deep rooted vegetation with high rate of transpiration”. It is environmentally safe as it has not generate any drainage effluent to dispose. It is also economically attractive because it requires only an initial investment for planting the vegetation, and when established, the system could produce economic returns by means of fodder, wood or fiber. Biodrainage also has an additional advantage in term of carbon locked in the timber. Fast growing Eucalyptus species known for luxurious water consumption under excess soil moisture condition are suitable for biodrainage. Where to apply? Thornburn and George (1999) explained that the evaporation from the soil takes place up to a depth of 4 m. Therefore, it must plan to keep this 4 m soil depth free from waterlogging to minimize the process of secondary salinization of soils and to sustain the crop productivity in canal command Agro India

disposal system Moderates the temperature of the surrounding by transpiration and a cushion for moderating frost, cold and heat wave impacts Helps in carbon sequestration and carbon credits Mitigates the problem of climate change and contributes to increased forest cover Purifies the atmosphere by absorbing CO2 and releasing O2 Acts as wind break and shelter belts in agroforestry system Provides higher income to the farmer due to the production of food, fodder, fuel wood and small timber Provides assured people's participation as the biodrainage plantations on farmer's field belong to the individual farmers.

areas located in arid and semi-arid regions. For this, we need fast growing trees having their root system penetrating to greater depth. !

The bio-drainage technique could be applied in two contexts viz. Curative (for water waterlogged areas) and Preventive (for potentially waterlogged areas).

To solve the twin problem of waterlogging and secondary salinization in Indian scenario caused due to agricultural development and use of irrigation increasingly demands the biodrainage plantation of trees and salt-tolerant crops as an integrated part of the landscape and farming viewing the cost and environmental issues involved in using the conventional drainage technologies.

Merits of Biodrainage over Conventional Drainage systems in Indian situation ! Relatively less costly ! No maintenance ! No operational cost, as the plants use their bio-energy in draining out the excess ground water into atmosphere. ! No need of any drainage outfall and disposal of drainage effluent ! No environmental problem, as the plants drain out filtered fresh water into the atmosphere ! In- situ solution of the problem of water logging and salinity ! Preventive as well as curative system for waterlogging and salinity ! Combined drainage- cum 28

Plantation of suitable salt tolerant deep rooted trees with high transpiration rates. It helps in terms of reclamation of waterlogged area, controlling of water table, improving crop productivity, providing shelter belts. The problems associated with a rise in salinity in the root zone can be effectively delayed using biodrainage systems in semi-arid and arid areas.

APRIL 2023

DEFORESTATION MAJOR CAUSE FOR SOIL EROSION IN HILLY REGIONS OF KARNATAKA

R. Srinivasan, S.P. Maske, N. Maddileti, V. Ramamurthy and D. Kalaivanan ICAR-National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, Regional Centre, Bengaluru ICAR - Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Hesaraghatta Lake Post, Bengaluru

T

he soil is the top layer of the earth's surface. It is made up of rock and minerals. It is filled with air and water. Soil is a live house of different organisms and the base of plant systems. Plants' growth and development is depending on soil minerals and water. It also provides shelter to many animals that live on or in the soil. Without soil, there would be no vegetation and no food for others. Soil degradation causes include agricultural, industrial, and commercial pollution; loss of arable land due to urban expansion, overgrazing, and unsustainable agricultural practices; and long-term climatic changes. Soil erosion is a major component of degradation in agriculture systems. The detachment and removal of soil particles by water or wind are known as soil erosion. It is influenced by slope, rainfall, soil type, vegetative cover and any interference or disturbance which aids in the removal of particles from the soil surface. Erosion factors is known as natural erosion or geological erosion and the erosion caused by human interference or disturbance of the ecosystem is known as accelerated erosion. Both erosions can occur simultaneously and it is very difficult to differentiate them. Status of soil erosion in Karnataka: Soil erosion is a process in which the top fertile layer of soil is lost. Due to soil erosion, the soil becomes less fertile. Among, the different Indian states, nearly 49% (9.40 Mha) of Agro India

Water-caused soil erosion can be classified as below:

the total geographical area (TGA) of Karnataka is affected by water -1 -1 erosion (>10 Mg ha yr ), placing it fifth among the Indian states. Further, the district-wise soil loss ranges from