ID: 66070
Title: Development and evaluation of a power-operated carrot harvester-cum-detopper for hilly regions
Author: T. Senthilkumar, S. Syed Imran, G. Manikandan and R. Sanjay Krishnan
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2024
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 127 (9) 1118-1123 10 Nov. (2024)
Subject: Development and evaluation of a power-operated carrot harvester-cum-detopper for hilly regions
Keywords: Carrot harvester, design parameters, detopping, digging efficiency, hilly regions.
Abstract: Carrot harvest is a major drudgery operation that includes manual digging using hand hoes and manual
detopping. It is a highly labor-intensive operation in
the Indian hilly regions. We have developed a power operated carrot harvester-cum-detopper suitable for
hilly areas. The design parameters of the harvester,
viz. blade height (100, 200 and 300 mm), conveying angle (15°, 25° and 35°) and catch height (20, 40 and 60 mm)
were considered to evaluate the machine in actual field
conditions. The optimum parameter values obtained
for field operation were blade height of 300 mm, conveying angle of 25° and catch height of 40 mm. The field
results of the power-operated carrot harvester indicate
an actual field capacity of 0.028 ha h–1
, digging efficiency
of 95.5%, conveying efficiency of 97.5%, detopping efficiency of 98.0% and damage percentage of 2.0. The
harvester performs well for carrots grown in raised
beds and single, narrow-row cultivation practices.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Anon., 2023; https://www.indiastat.com/data/agriculture/carrot
Shirwal, S. and Mani, I., Study on design parameters effecting mechanical carrot harvester. Int. J. Eng. Sci. Res. Technol., 2014, 3(3),
1664–1670.
Literature cited 2: Hagen, K. B., Jostein, H. and Ringdahl, K. H., Physiological and subjective responses to maximal repetitive lifting employing stoop and
squat technique. Eur. J. Appl. Physiol. Occup. Physiol., 1993, 67(4),
291–297.
Oda, A. M., El-Wahab, A., Tawfik, M. A. and Wasfy, K. I., Evaluating of a prototype machine for carrot crop harvesting suitable for
small holdings. Zagazig J. Agric. Res., 2018, 45(1), 213–226.
ID: 66069
Title: Madtsoiid (Althinophidia) snake from the intertrappean beds associated with the oldest (>66 Ma) lava pile of the Deccan traps in India
Author: Anup Dhobale, Dhananjay M. Mohabey , Bandana Samant and Satish Sangode
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2024
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 127 (9) 1114-1118 10 Nov. (2024)
Subject: Madtsoiid (Althinophidia) snake from the intertrappean beds associated with the oldest (>66 Ma) lava pile of the Deccan traps in India
Keywords: Faunal biodiversity, intertrappean beds, lava flows, madtsoiid snake, volcanic eruptions
Abstract: The present study records the earliest occurrence of a
madtsoiid snake from the intertrappean sediments associated with the chronostratigraphically constrained lava
piles of the oldest Deccan trap eruptions in India. The
intertrappean sedimentary beds of the Malwa Group
occur at multiple stratigraphic levels in the two lowermost formations between the lava flows that erupted
during Maastrichtian C30n. The fossils described represent small-sized middle to posterior vertebrae assigned
to Madtsoia. Preservation of these earliest late Cretaceous snakes in India has great significance due to their
survival through the earliest Deccan volcanic eruptions.
The overall faunal biodiversity of the Malwa Group is
dominated by squamates and amphibians during the
early stage of volcanism, indicating that volcanism has
least affected the diversity of the snakes.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Mohabey, D. M., Samant, B., Deepesh, K., Dhobale, A., Rudra, A.
and Dutta, S., Record of charcoal from early Maastrichtian intertrappean lake sediments of Bagh valley, Madhya Pradesh: palaeofire
proxy. Curr. Sci., 2018, 114(7), 1540–1544.
Tholt, A. J. et al., Geochronological constraints on the evolution
and petrogenesis of the Malwa Plateau Subprovince of the Deccan
Traps. Geochem. Geophy. Geosyst., 2023, 24, e2023GC011137.
Literature cited 2: Mohabey, D. M., Samant, B., Dhobale, A. and Deepesh, K., Reptilian
vertebrates from Deccan volcanic associated sediments of Malwa
Plateau in context to reptiles across Maastrichtian–Paleogene volcanic eruptions in Main Deccan Volcanic Province, India. Global
Geol., 2019, 22(4), 250–257.
LaDuke, T. C., Krause, D. W., Scanlon, J. D. and Kley, N. J., A
Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) snake assemblage from the Maevarano
Formation, Mahajanga Basin, Madagascar. J. Vertebr. Paleontol.,
2010, 30, 109–139.
ID: 66068
Title: The hybrid feature incorporated dual deep learning architecture for the automatic jasmine plant disease detection and classification
Author: P. Maragathavalli and S. Jana
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2024
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 127 (9) 1108-1113 10 Nov. (2024)
Subject: The hybrid feature incorporated dual deep learning architecture for the automatic jasmine plant disease detection and classification
Keywords: Agriculture, convolutional neural network, crop, deep learning, general adversarial network.
Abstract: Agriculture is the strength of our nation, and its production rate is also important for feeding food to all.
The crop production rate is more significantly affected
by various diseases. Currently, these diseases are identified and classified using a visual inspection method,
which is not suitable for larger crop fields. Therefore,
a machine-based, systematic approach is needed to
identify various diseases that occur on the leaves of the
jasmine plant. The present article develops and proposes
a computer-based systematic approach to the detection
and diagnosis of jasmine plant diseases using the dual
deep learning method. The proposed classifier consists
of a general adversarial network (GAN) module and a
proposed convolutional neural network (CNN) architecture for diagnosing diseases in the jasmine plant.
The GAN module extracts the features from the data augmented jasmine plant leaf image, and the CNN
module performs the disease classification process. The
proposed CNN module contains both lower and higherorder kernels that produce the hybrid features, which
are further classified by the CNN architecture. The
proposed classification approach is validated on the set
of jasmine plant leaf images. The simulation is carried
out using MATLAB software, and the results of the
plant leaf classification system are compared with
state-of-the-art models in terms of crop sensitivity, crop
specificity and accuracy.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Fuentes, S., Yoon, S., Kim, S. and Park, D., A robust deep learning-based detector for real-time tomato plant diseases and pests’
recognition. Sensors, 2017, 17(9), 2022.
Quan, L. et al., Maize seedling detection under different growth
stages and complex field environments based on an improved faster
R-CNN. Biosyst. Eng., 2019, 184, 1–23.
Literature cited 2: Lu, Y., Yi, S., Zeng, N., Liu, Y. and Zhang, Y., Identification of
rice diseases using deep convolutional neural networks. Neurocomputing, 2017, 267, 378–384.
Kawasaki, Y., Uga, H., Kagiwada, S. and Iyatomi, H., Basic study
of automated diagnosis of viral plant diseases using convolutional
neural networks. In Advances in Visual Computing: Proceedings of
the International Symposium on Visual Computing, Springer, 2015,
pp. 638–645.
ID: 66067
Title: Production, trade and future prospects of tropical tuber crops
Author: P. Prakash, D. Jaganathan and Sheela Immanuel
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2024
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 127 (9) 1100-1107 10 Nov. (2024)
Subject: Production, trade and future prospects of tropical tuber crops
Keywords: Agricultural resilience, climate change, food security, production trends, trade dynamics, tuber crops.
Abstract: Tropical tuber crops such as cassava, sweet potatoes
and elephant foot yam play vital roles in global food
security and economic development, particularly in developing nations. The present study examines the current
scenario of tuber crop production and trade dynamics,
focusing on India’s role both as a producer and an exporter. Using empirical data from various sources including Food and Agriculture Organization of the United
Nations and Agricultural and Processed Food Products
Export Development Authority, the study analyses
production trends, trade patterns and policy frameworks, to elucidate potential pathways for enhancing
productivity, sustainability and competitiveness in the
tuber crops sector. The analysis reveals significant
growth in cassava and sweet potato production globally,
with India emerging as a key player. However, climate
change, pests and diseases, soil degradation, and trade
barriers pose hurdles to the growth of the sector. This
study also recommends comprehensive strategies, including climate-resilient agricultural practices, integrated
pest management, soil health enhancement and infrastructure development, to address these challenges and
promote the sustainable growth of tuber crops.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: FAOSTAT, Statistics Division Data of Food and Agriculture
Organization, 2022; http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/
Pearce, F., Cassava comeback. New Sci., 2007, 194(2600), 38–39.
Literature cited 2: Burns, A., Gleadow, R., Cliff, J., Zacarias, A. and Cavagnaro, T.,
Cassava: the drought, war and famine crop in a changing world.
Sustainability, 2010, 2, 352–3607.
Motsa, N. M., Modi, T. and Mabhaudhi, T., Sweet potato (Ipomoea
Batatas L.) as a drought tolerant and food security crop. S. Afr. J.
Sci., 2015, 111(11/12), 01–08
ID: 66066
Title: Habitat suitability and distribution range modelling for slender-billed vulture Gyps tenuirostris in Arunachal Pradesh, North East India using MaxEnt
Author: Talo Biju, Abprez Thungwon Kimsing, Jacob Ngukir, Gunjan Kumar Saurav and Daniel Mize
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2024
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 127 (9) 1093-1099 10 Nov. (2024)
Subject: Habitat suitability and distribution range modelling for slender-billed vulture Gyps tenuirostris in Arunachal Pradesh, North East India using MaxEnt
Keywords: Conservation, distribution range, Gyps tenuirostris, habitat prediction, maximum entropy.
Abstract: Determination of distribution range with the suitability
of available habitat is one of the important facets for
conservation planning on any threatened species. The
slender-billed vulture (SBV) Gyps tenuirostris is one of
the three critically endangered Gyps vultures found in
Arunachal Pradesh, North East India. Maximum Entropy
(MaxEnt) software was used to predict potential distribution range, habitat suitability and influence of environmental variables on the distribution of SBV. Analysis
showed that out of the total area of 81658.85 km2
,
95.88 km2 (0.12%) fell in the ‘extremely suitable area’
category. The prediction from MaxEnt was highly accurate, with a statistical AUC value of 0.994. The predicted
preferred habitat of SBV includes areas with low elevation, high temperature, high precipitation, and open
land with less vegetation cover. Elevation (63%) was
found to have the most significant influence on the distribution of SBV. The findings of the present study will
help in the implementation of any conservation initiatives
required in the future with respect to SBV population
protection or habitat conservation in Arunachal Pradesh.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Buechley, E. R. and Şekercioğlu, Ç. H., The avian scavenger crisis:
looming extinctions, trophic cascades, and loss of critical ecosystem functions. Biol. Conserv., 2016, 198, 220–228.
Swarup, D. P. et al., Safety of meloxicam to critically endangered
Gyps vultures and other scavenging birds in India. Anim. Conserv.,
2007, 10, 192–198.
Literature cited 2: BirdLife International, Gyps tenuirostris (amended version of 2016
assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017;
https://www.birdsofindia.org/#!/sp/1079/Gyps-tenuirostris (accessed on
30 January 2020).
Withaningsih, S., Iskandar, J. and Prawiradilaga, D. M., Conservation
and management strategies for the sustainability of raptors in a human modified landscape. Int. J
ID: 66065
Title: Spatial variability of sulphur fractions in soils of agro-climatic zone-II, Himachal Himalaya, India
Author: Deepika Suri , Vijay Kumar Sharma , Pardeep Kumar , Praveen Kumar, Munish Sharma and Nagender Pal Butail
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2024
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 127 (9) 1083-1092 10 Nov. (2024)
Subject: Spatial variability of sulphur fractions in soils of agro-climatic zone-II, Himachal Himalaya, India
Keywords: Geostatistics, GIS mapping, kriging technique, spatial variation, sulphur fraction
Abstract: Estimating spatial variability of soil nutrients and
their fractions is important for understanding their
dynamic distribution under various pools. The present
study was carried out to examine the spatial distribution of soil sulphur (S) fractions in agro-climatic zoneII (mid hills sub-humid) of Himachal Himalaya, India.
The data were analysed with a classical and geostatistical approaches. The soil organic carbon varies from
2.8 to 22 g/kg and the S-fractions are positively correlated
with organic carbon. The total-S varies from 72.6 to
513.9 mg/kg with a mean value of 260.9 mg/kg. The descriptive analysis showed that the coefficient of variation
ranged from 8.5% to 52.9%. Semivariogram modelling
represents that the best-fitted model was exponential
and the nugget-to-sill ratio {(C0/C0 + C)} explains the
spatial dependency, suggesting a moderate spatial dependence. The principal component analysis represents
the three principal components that explain the 91%
variance in the dataset. The higher concentration of
sulphur is well correlated with soil organic carbon.
The present study provides information to understand
sulphur dynamics through their partitioning among
various pools for effective soil resource management.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Kabata-Pendias, A., Trace Elements in Soils and Plants, CRC
Press, USA, 2001, 3rd edn.
Fageria, N. K., Baligar, V. C. and Clark, R. B., Micronutrients in
crop production. Adv. Agron., 2002, 77, 185–250.
Literature cited 2: Das, D. K., Introductory Soil Science, Kalyani Publishers, New
Delhi, 2015.
Tabatabai, M. A., Sulphur. Agronomy, 1982, 9, 501–538
ID: 66064
Title: Lifecycle GHG emissions for bioethanol production from lignocellulosic biomass: potential of jute and kenaf feedstock from an Indian perspective
Author: Arvind Kumar Singh, Laxmi Sharma, Tinku Goswami, Pratik Satya and Gouranga Kar
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2024
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 127 (9) 1076-1082 10 Nov. (2024)
Subject: Lifecycle GHG emissions for bioethanol production from lignocellulosic biomass: potential of jute and kenaf feedstock from an Indian perspective
Keywords: Biofuels, carbon footprint, environmental indicators, fibre crop feedstock, life cycle assessment.
Abstract: Energy security and the transition to a thriving lowcarbon economy are essential for a developing nation
like India. We examined the life-cycle greenhouse gas
emissions (GHG) and environmental impact of bioethanol production from jute and kenaf feedstock. It was
observed that net GHG emissions from crop production and bio-refinery from jute and kenaf ethanol were
3.45 and 5.88 g MJ–1 respectively. This result is much
lower than any other feedstock like sugarcane bagasse,
corn stover, rice straw and wheat straw. Life cycle assessment revealed that ethanol produced from jute and
kenaf biomass can reduce GHG emissions by 78–81%
when compared with petrol. Bioethanol has the least
negative effects (rice straw > sugarcane bagasse > wheat
straw > corn stover > jute, kenaf) on the environment
and resource depletion. It might deliver 60% of the
ethanol requirement annually and may prove to be a
workable technology for meeting ethanol-to-petrol
blend targets
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: REN, Renewables 2022, Global Status Report. REN21 Secretariat,
Paris, France, 2021; https://digitallibrary.in.one.un.org/TempPdfFiles/
7029_1.pdf
Awogbemi, O., Kallon, D. V. V., Onuh, E. I. and Aigbodion, V. S.,
An overview of the classification, production and utilization of biofuels for internal combustion engine applications. Energies, 2021,
14(18), 5687.
Literature cited 2: Takeuchi, K., Shiroyama, H., Saito, O. and Matsuura, M., Biofuels
and Sustainability: Holistic Perspectives for Policy-Making, Springer
Nature, 2018, p. 4; https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-54895-9.
International Trade Administration, US Department of Commerce,
2024; https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/india-renewable-energy.l
ID: 66063
Title: Advanced machine-learning approaches for landslide susceptibility map generation using remote sensing data and GIS
Author: Vivek Saxena, Upasna Singh and L. K. Sinha
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2024
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 127 (9) 1065-1075 10 Nov. (2024)
Subject: Advanced machine-learning approaches for landslide susceptibility map generation using remote sensing data and GIS
Keywords: CatBoost, deep neural network, landslide susceptibility mapping, LightGBM.
Abstract: Under the present Indian government initiative, all weather roads are being taken up for four pilgrimage
locations in the Uttarakhand state of India. The
Rishikesh to Gangotri road axis is a major road used
by local citizens and tourists. Rainfall and numerous
anthropogenic activities become the primary reasons
for landslide hazards in the area. An accurate Landslide
Susceptibility Map (LSM) for any area is of paramount importance for the decision makers of land-use
planning. The present study gives a comparative analysis of recent advanced algorithms, i.e. CatBoost,
LightGBM and deep neural network topology for generating the LSM by following pixel-based. Fourteen
causative factors along with landslide inventory of 154
locations are used for the study. LSM are generated
based on JENKS natural break criteria using all the
algorithms and their performance comparison is evaluated. Overall accuracy for train and test data, prediction
accuracy, area under receiver operating characteristics
(AUROC) score for test data, and computational time
for model fit on train data; are the criteria used for performance evaluation of each algorithm. In this study, it
is observed that LSM can be generated at considerably
fast pace if CatBoost or LightGBM is used while deep
neural network-based topology gives marginally better
results on all other performance measure
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Sarkar, A. N., Global climate change and emerging environmental
and strategic security issues for South Asia. J. Environ. Prot.
(Irvine, Calif.), 2011, 02(09), 1162–1171.
Petrucci, O., Landslide fatality occurrence: a systematic review of
research published between January 2010 and March 2022. Sustainability, 2022, 14(15), 9346.
Literature cited 2: Hong, H. et al., Landslide susceptibility mapping using J48
decision tree with AdaBoost, bagging and rotation forest ensembles
in the Guangchang area (China). Catena, 2018, 163, 399–413.
Arora, M. K., Das Gupta, A. S. and Gupta, R. P., An artificial neural
network approach for landslide hazard zonation in the Bhagirathi
(Ganga) Valley, Himalayas. Int. J. Remote Sensing, 2004, 25(3),
559–572.
ID: 66062
Title: Sustainable farming in areas with stubble burning: a systematic review of management techniques and policy measures
Author: Anupam Singh , Anmol Negi, and Riya Thakur
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2024
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 127 (9) 1037-1044 10 Nov. (2024)
Subject: Sustainable farming in areas with stubble burning: a systematic review of management techniques and policy measures
Keywords: Air pollution, environmental impact, Happy Seeder technology, policy interventions, stubble-burning
Abstract: Stubble burning, a prevalent agricultural practice in
Punjab and Haryana, poses significant environmental,
health and socioeconomic challenges, particularly concerning air pollution and soil degradation. This systematic literature review (SLR) examines research findings,
policy interventions and technological innovations aimed
at addressing the adverse effects of stubble burning
and promoting sustainable crop residue management.
This review encompasses studies investigating the extent
of stubble burning, its impact on air quality, soil fertility and human health, as well as alternative management strategies like the adoption of Happy Seeder
technology and bioenergy utilization. The present article identifies key trends, challenges and opportunities
in stubble-burning research and policymaking.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Kadian, M., Nagoria, S., Monga, S. and Meera, M., Stubble burning
in India: environmental concern and alternative tools. Curr. Agri.
Res., 2024, 12(1); doi:dx.doi.org/10.12944/CARJ.12.1.13.
Chandel, S. S. and Upadhyay, E., Utilization of crop stubble as alternate source of electricity generation. J. Atmos. Sci. Res., 2020, 2(4),
5–11; doi:https://doi.org/10.30564/jasr.v2i4.1708.
Literature cited 2: Sangwan, V. and Deswal, S., Paddy stubble management: a study
on farmers’ opinions. Ecol. Quest., 2022, 33(2), 1–16.
Singh, G., Dizaji, H. B., Puttuswamy, H. and Sharma, S., Biogenic
nanosilica synthesis employing agro-waste rice straw and its application study in photocatalytic degradation of cationic dye. Sustainability, 2022, 14(1), 539.
ID: 66061
Title: Advanced therapeutic approach in management of diabetes mellitus through precision medicine
Author: Narshima Arya , Tajungrenla Longkumer , Aishwarya Gandhi and Srujana Medithi
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2024
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 127 (9) 1029-1036 10 Nov. (2024)
Subject: Advanced therapeutic approach in management of diabetes mellitus through precision medicine
Keywords: Actionable genes, chrono nutrition, diabetes mellitus, individual intervention, omics essay, precision medicine
Abstract: Among chronic diseases, diabetes mellitus carries one
of the most life-threatening and disabling complications.
It has its cost complications in addition to reducing life
expectancy. Diabetes management aims to find each
patient’s best course of action at the ideal time. Using
precision medicine for patients with diabetes mellitus
can improve the quality of therapy. For this, genetic
screening becomes an essential component. The pharmacogenetics of antidiabetic medications can be a hallmark component that can be incorporated into genetic
screening. For the management of diabetes, precision
medicine is gaining momentum. Long-lasting response
to oral sulphonylureas in insulin-dependent infants because of neonatal diabetes (abnormal beta cells) is considered one of the best examples of the significance of
precision medicine. The present review aims to pinpoint the new subgroups of diabetes based on glutamic
acid decarboxylase antibodies, age, body mass index,
A1C, insulin resistance and glycemic response to metformin. Incorporating genetic screening into therapeutic therapy and achieving precision medicine for type 2
diabetes patients depends on the pharmacogenetics of
anti-diabetic drugs. The importance of PM in the treatment of diabetes is expanding and its use can revolutionize the lives of diabetic individua
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Marucci, A., Rutigliano, I., Fini, G., Pezzilli, S., Menzaghi, C., Di
Paola, R. and Trischitta, V., Role of actionable genes in pursuing a
true approach of precision medicine in monogenic diabetes. Genes,
2022, 13(1), 117; doi:10.3390/genes13010117.
Anjana, R. M. et al., ICMR-INDIAB collaborative study group.
Metabolic non-communicable disease health report of India: the
ICMR-INDIAB national cross-sectional study (ICMR-INDIAB17). Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol., 2023, 11(7), 474–489; doi:10.
1016/S2213-8587(23)00119-5
Literature cited 2: Tiwari, P., Recent trends in therapeutic approaches for diabetes
management: a comprehensive update. J. Diabetes Res., 2015;
https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/340838.
Xie, F., Chan, J. C. and Ma, R. C., Precision medicine in diabetes
prevention, classification and management. J. Diabetes Investig.,
2018, 9(5), 998–1015; https://doi.org/10.1111/jdi.12830.
ID: 66060
Title: Challenges and strategies for farmer-centric extension system in India
Author: R. Venkattakumar, P. Venkatesan, N. Vijay Avinashilingam, Surya Rathore, Mahantesh Shirur, Ch. Srinivasa Rao, Lalitha Navya Challa and Bhavana Dori
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2024
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 127 (9) 1019-1028 10 Nov. (2024)
Subject: Challenges and strategies for farmer-centric extension system in India
Keywords: Challenges, farmer-centric extension system, strategies.
Abstract: India is an agrarian country with 160 million ha of arable land, wherein agriculture is predominantly
(86%) practiced by small and marginal farmers with less than 2.00 ha area. The country’s public extension system, which has so far carried the maximum burden of catering to these farmers’ extension
needs, is now seeking to explore new approaches and interventions to serve the farmers and address
their changing needs efficiently. Both public and private extension systems and at times, the convergence efforts of both players, have been implementing many reforms to bring desirable impacts in
agriculture, especially on farmers’ income and sustainability. These efforts need to be complemented
by the development of farmer-centric models and approaches. This article captures the experiences
and challenges of extension systems and discusses new approaches and interventions to empower the
farmers and suggests strategies for rendering farmer-centric extension
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: All India Report on Agricultural Census, 2015–16. Department of
Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India, 2020; https://
agcensus.da.gov.in/document/agcen1516/ac_1516_report_final-22-
0221.pdf
Mayee, C. D., The Future of Indian Agriculture Export: A 2030
Scenario. Agrospectrum India, 2022
Literature cited 2: Babu, S. C., Joshi, P. K., Glendenning, C. J., Kwadwo, A. O. and
Rasheed, S. V., The state of agricultural extension reforms in India:
strategic priorities and policy options. Agric. Econ. Res. Rev., 2013,
26(2), 159–172.
Srinivasa Rao, C., Gopinath, K. A., Prasad, J. V. N. S., Prasannakumar,
S. A. and Singh, A. K., Climate resilient villages for sustainable
food security in tropical India: concept, process, technologies, institutions, and impacts
ID: 66059
Title: The genetic rescue of the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) population in Ooty, South India
Author: Pavithira Muthuswamy, Walter Devaa and U. Ramesh
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2024
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 127 (9) 1018-1018
10 Nov. (2024)
Subject: The genetic rescue of the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) population in Ooty, South India
Keywords: None
Abstract: Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss,
Walbaum 1792) are native to the North
American region and their endemic range
extended globally from 1874 (ref. 1). Today,
rainbow trout are available in more than 99
countries except Antarctica. In the 19th
century, the British found the cool water
streams of the Ooty region in Nilgiris of
South India, suitable for trout culture. The
initial attempts to establish trout was done
with brown trout (Salmo trutta fario) and
loch Leven trout (Salmo levensis) in 1863
by Francis Day, but these efforts failed for
four decades. In 1909, the rainbow trout
(O. mykiss) was successfully introduced by
Henry C. Wilson from New Zealand and a
hatchery was constructed in 1910. In 1913,
there was a decrease in size and number of
the fish population due to high fishing
pressure. To increase and enhance the fish
population, further introductions were done
between 1920 and 1997, and these efforts
established the rainbow trout population
successfully and they are growing till today in the Ooty region.
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: MacCrimmon, H. R., J. Fish. Board Can.,
1971, 28(5), 663–704.
Gopalakrishnan, A., Lal, K. K. and Ponniah,
A. G., Naga: ICLARM Q., 1999, 22(3), 16–19.
Literature cited 2: Devaa, W. and Ramesh, U., Curr. Sci., 2022,
122(4), 384–385.
Devaa, W., Panneerselvam, V. and Uthanda kalaipandian, R., J. Genet., 2024, 103(1), 1–13.
ID: 66058
Title: Human–elephant conflicts in Assam, and its impact on regional food and nutrition security
Author: Kusum Priya, Manisha Choudhury and Bibhuti Prasad Lahkar
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2024
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 127 (9) 1017-1018
10 Nov. (2024)
Subject: Human–elephant conflicts in Assam, and its impact on regional food and nutrition security
Keywords: None
Abstract: The Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) has
been sharing resources with humans for
thousands of years1
. Nonetheless, during the
past 40 years, more and more documentation of human–elephant conflict (HEC) has
surfaced. HEC is a form of such conflict,
resulting from negative interactions between people and elephants2
. Crop raiding
(when elephants consume or destroy crops),
property damage, injuries, and fatalities of
people and elephants are frequent outcomes
of these confrontations. An estimated 300
people die and 8–10 million hectares of
crops are damaged annually in India as a
result of HEC3
. Recently, Kerala declared
the HEC as a natural disaster, a significant
step aimed at addressing the growing issues
related to wildlife interactions in the region4
. Other states in northeast India are
being encouraged to consider similar measures, recognizing the increasing frequency
of HEC and their impact on both communities and elephant conservation efforts5
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Talukdar, N. R., Choudhury, P. and Ahmad, F., Biodivers. Conserv., 2024, 33(6),
2231–2245.
Munyao, M., Siljander, M., Johansson, T.,
Makokha, G. and Pellikka, P., Glob. Ecol.
Conserv., 2020, 24, e01382
Literature cited 2: Kar, A., Goswami, N. K. and Saharia, D.,
PARIPEX Indian J. Res., 2016, 5(2), 188–
190.
Kerala to declare man–animal conflict as a
state-specific disaster: What it means. The
Indian Express, 2024; https://indianexpress.
com/article/explained/kerala-man-animal conflict-state-specific-disaster-explained 9201527/ (accesed on 20 August 2024)
ID: 66057
Title: Rhodophytes (seaweed): a promising alternative source of potash fertilizer
Author: N. D. Yogendra, Arup Ghosh
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2024
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 127 (9) 1007-1008
10 Nov. (2024)
Subject: Rhodophytes (seaweed): a promising alternative source of potash fertilizer
Keywords: None
Abstract: Potassium plays a vital role in the complete
life cycle of all plants and animals, supporting a range of essential biological processes.
Ranking as the seventh most abundant element in the Earth’s crust, potassium is essential for a wide range of ecological and
physiological processes. In soils, potassium
concentrations typically range from 0.04%
to 3%, reflecting its varying availability in different soil types and conditions. In the
top 20 cm of most agricultural soils, potassium concentrations typically range from
1% to 2% . This variability underscores the importance of monitoring and
managing potassium levels to ensure optimal growth and productivity in agricultural
practices. The distribution of potassium
(total) in the soil is as follows, available K
(1–2%), fixed K (1–10%) and mineral K
(over 90–98%). In terms of plant availability, the order is solution K > exchangeable
K > fixed K > mineral K .
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Swarup, A. and Ganeshmurthy, A. N., Fert.
News, 1998, 43(7), 37–50.
Sparks, D. L., Adv. Soil Sci., 1987, 6, 1–63.
Literature cited 2: Kirkman, J. H. et al., N. Z. J. Agric. Res.,
1994, 37, 207–227.
Kumar, M. et al., J. Appl. Phycol., 2011,
23(5), 797–810.
ID: 66056
Title: Recurrence of branch albinism in Tabernaemontana divaricate
Author: R. Lekshmi Rajesh Panduranga Gunaga, N. S. Thakur S. A. Huse H. T. Hegde
Editor: S.K.Satheesh
Year: 2024
Publisher: Current Science Association and Indian Academy of Sciences.
Source: ENVIS, CES & EWRG, CES
Reference: Current Science Vol. 127 (9) 895-897 10 Nov (2024)
Subject: Recurrence of branch albinism in Tabernaemontana divaricate
Keywords: None
Abstract: In plants, chloroplast is responsible for producing pigments that captures solar energy
and generates various metabolites for
growth and development. Mutation whether
natural or that occur through tissue culture
multiplication/propagation may cause poor
or cease differentiation of proplastids to
chloroplast and result in the formation of
albinos. Mostly, genetic change in plants
result in leaf colour mutants and are of different types: total chlorophyll increased
type and chlorophyll deficient types – total a
and b (ref. 1). Albinos are leaf colour mutant having reduced chlorophyll content.
Mutation of any of 15 enzymes of chlorophyll biosynthesis pathway can result in
chlorophyll deficiency. These mutation
can result in complete albino and partial
albino, generally known as chimeras. Chimeras are the results of chloroplast DNA
mutation, generating heteroplastidic cell
containing both albino or mutant and normal plastids. U
Location: T E 15 New Biology building
Literature cited 1: Falbel, T. G. and Staehelin, L. A., Physiol.
Plant., 1996, 97, 311–320.
Gunaga, R. P. and Vasudeva, R., J. NTFPs,
2011, 18, 337–340
Literature cited 2: Peirce, G. J., Studies on the Coast Redwood,
Sequoia sempervirens, University of Michigan Library, Michigan, 1901, pp. 83–106.
Pittermann, J., Cowan, J., Kaufman, N., Baer,
A., Zhang, E. and Kuty, D., PLoS ONE, 2018,
13, e0191836