Central Agricultural University

About: Central Agricultural University is a education organization based out in Imphal, Manipur, India. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Agriculture. The organization has 1116 authors who have published 1157 publications receiving 9217 citations.

Antagonistic potential of Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin against Pythium myriotylum causing damping off of tomato

Abstract: Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin, a white muscardine fungus has widely drawn attention of crop protection practitioners as potential biocontrol agent against insect-pests since decades. In the present study, antagonistic potential of 22 native of B. bassiana isolates were evaluated against damping-off disease of tomato caused by Pythium sp. Results showed that all B. bassiana isolates were able to inhibit mycelial growth of P. myriotylum to the extent of 68–82%. Further studies were conducted to understand the ability of screened B. bassiana isolates to produce cell wall degrading enzymes (CWDEs) viz., amylase, caesinase, chitinase, cellulase, lipase and protease respectively. The potential B. bassiana isolates showed dynamic colonization efficiency in tomato plants with colonization percentage (%) as high as 72–80% through seed inoculation. Eventually, potential isolate BP1.1 has showed wide pH tolerance ability ranging from pH 6–10. Further, potential isolate B. bassiana BP1.1 was evaluated for their efficacy against damping off of tomato under in vitro condition yielding higher germination percentage of 87.34% of and lower disease incidence up to 33.45% under treatment combinations. These findings provide substantial evidences on multifarious potential of B. bassiana as antagonist as well as plant growth promoter in addition to a potential entomopathogen, thus paves the way of a newer domain in the arena of crop protection.

Ion Exchange: The Most Important Chemical Reaction on Earth after Photosynthesis

Abstract: Ion exchange is the interchange of equivalent amount of ions from the solution with ions which are swarming in a boundary of charged surface in equilibrium. It is developed due to the presence of charge in the soil colloids or layer lattice clay minerals. The source of charge developed in the colloidal surface site of soil is mainly from two processes viz. isomorphous substitution and pH dependent charge. The charge can be positive or negative due to the exchange reaction in the layer lattice. The ion exchange capacity is the sum of cation exchange capacity (CEC) and anion exchange capacity (AEC). It depends on the types of soil and the amount of charge present in the layer lattice colloidal structure. With high negative charge in the lattice surface the CEC increases and with positive charge the AEC. Ions with higher charge have larger affinity to adsorbed more strongly than lower. Ion exchange capacity in soil has the ability to retained more nutrients in the form of cations or anions making available to plant for a long time which improved the fertility of soil. Leaching loss of different nutrients from the soil is reduced by holding different ions. Ion exchange processes have been widely used for heavy metal removal for waste water treatment Review Article Meetei et al.; IRJPAC, 21(6): 31-42, 2020; Article no.IRJPAC.56798 32 and water purification because of its high remedial capacity, high removal efficiency and fast kinetic. Due to its applications in agriculture, environmental management, industries, waste water treatment in mining industries, laboratory, nanotechnology, geotechnical and other soil reclamation processes it is considered as the second most important reaction in the globe after photosynthesis.

Organic nutrient sources and biochar technology on microbial biomass carbon and soil enzyme activity in maize-black gram cropping system

Abstract: Since studies on biochar stability in agricultural soils are very limited, the microbial biomass carbon and soil enzyme activity influenced by biochar addition to field condition remains uncertain. Results of this study revealed that microbial biomass carbon and different soil enzyme activity were significantly influenced by both manure alone and combined biochar-manure application. The microbial biomass carbon was highest in vermicompost (355.28 mg kg−1 soil) and lowest in pig manure (343.62 mg kg−1 soil). Among combined biochar-manure treatment, the MBC was highest in goat manure 5 t ha−1 + biochar 5 t ha−1 (476.58 mg kg−1 soil) and lowest in FYM @ 10 t ha−1 + biochar 5 t ha−1 (458.53 mg kg−1 soil) than control (301.43 mg kg−1 soil). The dehydrogenase activity increased significantly with increase in biochar application rate. But acid phosphatase activity decreased with increase in biochar application rate. Urease activity was highest in poultry manure and lowest in pig manure. Vermicompost with biochar resulted maximum increase in protease and lowest in FYM with biochar. The specific UV absorbance (SUVA) increased with biochar application at 2.5 t ha−1 and then again slightly decreased at 5.0 t ha−1 significantly. Among the biochar-manure treatment, the fluorescein diacetate was highest in FYM @ 10 t ha−1 + biochar 5 t ha−1 (66.29 mg of fluorescein kg−1 oven dry soil h−1) and lowest in poultry manure 5 t ha−1 + biochar 5 t ha−1 (56.36 mg of fluorescein kg−1 oven dry soil h−1) than control from initial value (16.38 mg of fluorescein kg−1 oven dry soil h−1). The vermicompost with biochar resulted maximum increase in invertase activity and lowest in goat manure with biochar. Finally, the microbial quotient decreased significantly with increase in biochar application rate. This is the first time report of examining microbial biomass carbon and soil enzyme activity using combined biochar and organic manure under an acidic hilly soil.

Innovative Approaches in Technology Dissemination: Experiences of ATMA Model in Bihar

Abstract: The move from a policy of food security to a strategy that focuses on agricultural diversification aimed at increasing farm income and rural employment carries with it implicit risks for the small-scale farm households that are expected to benefit from this approach. ATMA model which was introduced to replace T&V to over come some of its weaknesses has been quite successful and for the first time, an attempt for convergence of extension by different service providers has been attempted through a legally-constituted body. In addition, ATMA’s have developed a mechanism for participation of farmers in deciding priorities (through Strategic Research and Extension Plan), identifying and implementation programmes (through Farmer Advisory Committees-FAC’s). This has brought some additional funding for implementing demonstrations, trainings, exposure visits, and forming farmer groups and the groups are now facilitated in developing better links with agro-processors. Further, ATMA’s brought some publicity and goodwill and also generated some success stories for extension at a time when public funding and support for extension has been dwindling. They also provided space for seeding some new ideas such as public-private partnerships and user contribution for extension, though several challenges still remain in mainstreaming these ideasHowever, ATMA director and other agricultural leaders within each district need to continually assess their comparative and competitive advantage in producing different high-value crops and products. The most critical output of this strategy will be that the current generation of farmers will learn new technical, management and organizational skills that will be passed on to the next generation as they seek employment outside of production agriculture.

Biological and molecular evidence of papaya ring spot virus pathotype P from mid-hills of Meghalaya, India

Abstract: Papaya ring spot virus (PRSV) is the limiting factor of papaya production in India irrespective of agro-climatic conditions and it may cause crop losses up to 85–90%. In this study, diagnostic survey on PRSV was conducted in mid-hills of Ri-Bhoi district, Meghalaya, India during April to June, 2015. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assay detected PRSV infection in 38 of 53 samples collected from surveyed locations with an average incidence of 71.7%. The representative isolate (PRSV-P:Umiam) from mid-hill Meghalaya was maintained in healthy papaya seedlings by standard sap inoculation method and typical symptoms were expressed within 21–24 days post inoculation. Studies on the physical properties revealed that the dilution end point of PRSV-P:Umiam at 10−2, longevity in vitro for 18 h and thermal inactivation point in between 50 and 55 °C. Among the cucurbitaceous hosts, pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo) alone exhibited chlorotic lesions on leaves within 20–25 days post inoculation. The partial coat protein (CP 750 bp) of PRSV-P:Umiam gene shared maximum nucleotide (~ 95%) and amino acid (~ 98%) identity with PRSV isolates reported from northern and eastern India. The CP based phylogeny clustered PRSV-P:Umiam with the PRSV isolates from north and east India.