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ThesisItem Restricted Protected cultivation of vegetables in Punjab-an economic analysis(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2020) Manpreet Kaur; Parminder KaurThe present study was undertaken to assess the costs and returns in the production of major vegetable crops under protected cultivation vis-à-vis open field cultivation, to examine the economic viability of investment for the production of vegetables under protected cultivation and to identify the constraints in the production of vegetables under protected cultivation technique and making suggestions for streamlining the same. The primary data for the year 2018-19 were collected from 40 poly house and 40 open field farmers from Ludhiana and Jalandhar districts. The results revealed that the cost of establishment of polyhouse was to the tune of Rs.18,70,000/4000m2 with subsidy. The total per acre cost of production of capsicum, tomato and cucumber under polyhouse was higher by Rs.417233 (336.45%), Rs.420370 (328.73%) and Rs.398310 (343.02%) respectively than that of open field cultivation. The net returns under polyhouses were higher by Rs.280582.90 (510.50%), Rs.157269.84 (233.49%) and Rs.163925.05 (434.53%) respectively for the said crops in polyhouse cultivation. The huge differences in cost of production in polyhouse cultivation of vegetables were due to the use of more number of seedlings, costly seeds, high field and bed preparation cost and requirement of skilled labour while expenditure on weeding and irrigation was found less in polyhouse cultivation of vegetables. The yield of capsicum (111.05%), tomato (115.33%) and cucumber (109.14%) in polyhouse cultivation was found higher as compared to open field cultivation of vegetables. The cultivation of vegetables under polyhouse was found to be feasible as reflected in higher values of NPV i.e. Rs. 17,61,915.66, Rs. 8,18,623.31 and Rs. 6,17,997.35 per 4000m2 with benefit cost ratio (BCR) of 1.3, 1.1 and 1.5 and Internal rate of return (IRR) of 24%, 17% and 15% respectively for capsicum, tomato and cucumber. High investment cost, lack of technical guidance, costly seeds, non-availability of skilled labour and high cost of maintenance were the major constraints faced by polyhouse farmers. Despite these constraints, cultivation of vegetables under polyhouse emerges as a profitable venture to increase farmers‟ income.ThesisItem Open Access Eating disorders and its effect on nutritional status of college girls(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2020) Manpreet Kaur; Grover, KiranEating disorders and overweight are notable health issues, which are increasing day by day among young adults. Therefore, extent and type of eating disorders among college girls and its effect on their nutritional status was evaluated by conducting a study in two phases. In first phase, sample of 500 college girls in age group of 18-25 years was selected from five colleges of Ludhiana city, Punjab. Eating disorders were assessed by using Eating Attitude Test (EAT) questionnaire. In second phase, on the basis of scores (<20 considered as eating disorders and >20 considered as non-eating disorders) sub sample of 60 subjects with and without eating disorders (30 each) were selected. Prevalence rate on basis of Eating Attitude test (EAT) scale was found to be 46 percent with higher mean scores of oral control (15.86±6.29) followed by dieting (13.17±8.47) , bulimia and food preoccupation (3.86±1.98). Higher percentage of subjects with eating disorders was found to be overweight and obese. The low level of physical activity and performances were observed among subjects with eating disorders. A higher inadequate food intake was observed among subjects with eating disorders as compared to without eating disorders. The percent adequacy of macro as well as micro nutrients was found to be lower among subjects with eating disorders. The mean per cent adequacy of food and nutrient intake of college girls was found to be marginal or poor. A significantly higher visceral fat rating was recorded among subjects with eating disorders which showed high risk of various diseases. Higher percentage of college girls with eating disorders were found to be anemic having low hemoglobin level. This demands formulation of nutrition and health fitness clubs in colleges to create awareness and practices regarding diet, exercise and yoga.ThesisItem Restricted Improved randomised response technique for estimation of sensitive character(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2019) Manpreet Kaur; Grewal, Inderjit SinghGetting correct answers to sensitive questions from the respondents and estimating the population parameters on variables that are sensitive in nature is still a problem in survey sampling. In the present project work, problem of estimation of population proportion of sensitive characteristic have been studied. For this improved randomized response device has been developed by taking the two cases of unrelated question, case-I „when the unrelated characteristic is known‟ and other case-II „when the unrelated characteristic is not known‟. Two estimators have been proposed one for known value of and other for unknown value of which were found to be unbiased. The expression for variances and unbiased estimates for the variances of the proposed estimators have been obtained. The optimum value of sample sizes have been worked out for which the minimum variance for the proposed estimators have also been obtained. In order to see relative efficiency, the proposed estimators have been compared on the basis of relative efficiency with respect to Tiwari and Mehta (2016) and Mangat (1992). An empirical study have been conducted and concluded graphically that proposed estimators are better than the estimators of Tiwari and Mehta (2016), Mangat (1992).ThesisItem Open Access Gardner solitons in Electron-Positron-Ion plasma featuring Cairns-Tsallis electrons(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2019) Manpreet Kaur; Parveen BalaSolitary waves are nonlinear and localized structures which arise when there is balance between nonlinearity and dispersion. In the present study, the effects of non-thermal and non-extensive distribution of electrons on the soliton propagation in plasma system containing Boltzmann positrons have been studied. The given distribution is applicable to this study to a limited range of values of q and α, 0.6< q≤ 1 and 0≤ α< 0.25. Using Reductive Perturbation method, Korteweg-de Vries (K-dV), modified K-dV (mK-dV) and Gardner equations are derived for electron-positron-ion (e-p-i) plasma system. The soliton solution of the Gardner equation is discussed in detail. Results have been interpreted in the form of graphs. It is found that for a given set of parameter values, there exists a critical value of q (i.e, qc) below which only rarefactive K-dV solitons exist and above it compressive K-dV solitons exist. However, at the critical value of q, both compressive and rarefactive mK-dV solitons co-exist. In this region, for q > qc, rarefactive Gardner solitons and for q < qc, compressive Gardner solitons are found. The present investigation may help us to understand the electrostatic perturbations in laboratory and space plasmas.ThesisItem Open Access Standardization of thermotherapy and tissue culture techniques for virus free garlic (Allium sativum L.)(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2018) Manpreet Kaur; Sharma, MadhuGarlic (Allium sativum L.), being an agamic crop lacks seed production and is mainly propagated vegetatively. This phenomenon of vegetatively propagation leads to degeneration of varieties over the generations in terms of production and productivity through buildup of virus complexes. Consequently, to develop vigorous and virus free plants, the present investigation entitled “Standardization of thermotherapy and tissue culture techniques for virus free garlic (Allium sativum L.)”. In this regard thermotherapy, tissue culture and combination of both in vivo and in vitro techniques were exploited and standardized to obtain virus free plants in garlic. 200 virus infected bulbs of G-282 based on morphological symptoms were harvested and subjected to DAS-ELISA for the confirmation of potyvirus. Cloves were exposed to hot air and hot water ranging from 40-70oC and 55-85oC, respectively, for estimating per cent survival rate and days taken for germination. Treatments exhibiting 80-100% survival rate were used for development of virus free plants. Hot air at 55oC for 20 hours and 60oC for 30 minutes showed 80-100% survival rate in 13-21 days with 100% virus elimination whereas, 60oC for 15 minutes resulted in 75% virus free plants. Hot water at 55oC for 10 minutes showed 90% survival rate with 66.67% virus elimination whereas 55oC for 20 minutes, and 65oC for 10, 20 & 30 minutes gave 100% virus free plants. In in vitro regeneration, shoot tips and stem discs of different genotypes viz., G-282, AC-102 and PG-20 were excised from surface-sterilized virus infected cloves and cultured on MS medium supplemented with growth regulators for shoot regeneration. In this study, shoot tip and stem disc culture gave 85% and 75% shoot regeneration under in vitro conditions, respectively. In shoot tip culture, more average number of shoots (3.1) with greater average shoot length (9.49 cm) was found on MS medium supplemented with NAA and BAP 0.2 mg/l each whereas, stem disc culture showed less average number of shoots (3) with 9.19 cm average shoot length. G-282 and AC-102 were found more responsive for in vitro regeneration through shoot tip. However, AC-102 and PG-20 were found recalcitrant for stem disc culture, thereby exhibiting genotypic differences in regeneration among the cultivars. Stem disc showed more regeneration in MS medium supplemented with 1.5 mg/l of BAP as compared to 1 mg/l BAP. Higher percentage of root induction in shoot tip culture was initiated from ½MS medium with 30 g/l sucrose. 80% and 25% regenerated plants were found to free of potyvirus infection in shoot tip and stem disc culture, respectively as indexed by RT-PCR. Suggesting shoot tip to be a better approach than stem disc in garlic. In combination of in vivo and in vitro techniques, cloves were subjected to hot air and hot water prior to excising shoot tips. Pre-culture exposure to hot air at 40oC for 10 & 20 days and 55oC for 20 hours showed 40-60% regeneration rate with 100% virus elimination whereas 60oC for 15 minutes regenerated 66.67% virus free plants. In hot water, 55oC for 10 and 20 minutes gave 80 and 50% regeneration with 100% virus elimination. Cloves exposed to hot water at 65oC did not responded in in vitro conditions. The regeneration of virus free plants through tissue culture techniques requires technical skills and is a costly venture. Thus, exposure of garlic cloves to hot air at 60oC for 30 minutes or hot water at 65oC for 20 minutes found efficient and cost effective approaches to produce virus free plants.ThesisItem Open Access Morphological characterisation of tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa L.) genotypes under Punjab conditions(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2017) Manpreet Kaur; Madhu BalaThe aim of this study was to evaluate the tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa L.) genotypes collected from different regions of India under Punjab conditions. The experiment was conducted at the Research Farm, Department of Floriculture and Landscaping, PAU Ludhiana during 2016-2017. The experiment consisted of total eight single type cultivars of tuberose namely Local Single, Prajwal, Shringar, Mexican Single, Sikkim Selection, Calcutta Single, Phule Rajni and Pune Local Single were evaluated on the basis of their different growth and yield parameters. Among these cultivars evaluated, ‘Prajwal’ took minimum days for spike emergence (81.73 days), minimum days for opening of first floret (114.33 days), exhibited maximum plant height (54.53cm),spike length (90.53 cm) rachis length (42.00 cm),number of spikes per clump (4.80) and duration of flowering (34.27 days).Number of floret per spike and length of floret was recorded maximum in ‘Calcutta Single’ (46.60) which was at par with ‘Prajwal’ (45.93) and ‘Prajwal’(5.85 cm) was at par with ‘Calcutta Single’(5.78 cm) respectively. ‘Prajwal’ is also a good multiplier and produced significantly more bulbs and bulblets (2.93 and 18.40) respectively in comparison to the other cultivars whereas minimum bulbs and bulbets was recorded in cv. ‘Mexican Single’. From the above study it can be concluded that among all the single tuberose cultivars, ‘Prajwal’ performed best in all the growth, flowering and yield parameters under Punjab conditions.ThesisItem Restricted Synthesis and characterization of graphene oxide nanocomposite for water decontamination(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2017) Manpreet Kaur; Kiran JeetThe present study focuses on synthesis of Graphene oxide and its nanocomposite films for the removal of arsenic As (III)) from water. Preparation of Graphene oxide was carried out by Modified Hummers method. Films of GO nanocomposites were prepared in acetic acid solution by providing physical shear. The electron microscopy results of films indicated that nanomaterials such as graphene oxide (GO) and graphene oxide-carbon nanotubes (GO-CNTs) were well dispersed in chitosan nanoparticles (Ch) matrix. The maximum adsorption capacity for As (III) was obtained to be 30.30, 25.00, 23.81 and 11.63 mg/g for GO, Ch film, GO/Ch film and GO-CNTs/Ch film respectively at optimum condition (i.e. pH = 6, contact time = 20 minutes and temperature = 30°C). GO has high efficiency to remove As (III) ion from contaminated water and also other adsorbents such as GO/Ch film and GO-CNTs/Ch film show great potential in the field of water decontamination due to their ability to be used in the form of thin film membrane. Thermodynamic parameters result indicates that the adsorption processes is spontaneous and exothermic.ThesisItem Open Access Development of high fibre and antioxidant rich fruit bars from fruit juice waste(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2017) Manpreet Kaur; Sachdev, Poonam AThe investigation entitled “Development of high fibre and antioxidant rich fruit bars from fruit juice waste” was undertaken with the objective to study the physico- chemical, phytochemical and antioxidant activity of raw material and product prepared from fruit juice waste, to standardize the method for the development of fruit bars from fruit juice waste and to ascertain the shelf life stability of fruit bars from fruit juice waste. Fruit juice waste of kinnow, guava and grapes were collected during fruit processing in the department and analysed for physico-chemical and phytochemical characteristics. Recipe was standardized using 15-20 per cent sugar and 0.2 per cent citric acid. The drying conditions were optimized by drying thin layer of juice waste on tray drier at temperatures 45, 50 and 55⁰ C. On the basis of sensory quality , the juice waste containing 20 per cent sugar and 0.2 per cent citric acid and dried at 50⁰ C for 6 hours for T1(guava bar), 18 hours for T2 (kinnow bar) , 8 hours for T3 (grapes bar) , 16 hours for T4 (kinnow: guava bar (1:1)), 12 hours for T5 (kinnow: guava: grapes bar (1:1:1) ), 13 hours for T6 (kinnow: grapes bar (1:1)) and 10 hours for T7 (grapes: guava bar (1:1) ) were found the best. The physico-chemical properties i.e. TS, TSS, total sugars, acidity and crude fibre increased while pH and moisture content decreased in all fruit bars during six months of storage at 14-32⁰ C. All the bioactive components (phenols, antioxidants, ascorbic acid and anthocyanins) decreased significantly with storage in all fruit bars. The products prepared could be stored in polythene bags (100 gauge) and laminates (50 gauge) with maximum retention of organoleptic quality. After six months storage, it was concluded that treatment T5 i.e. kinnow: guava: grapes (1:1:1) was found highly acceptable followed by treatments T7 i.e. guava: grapes bar (1:1)> T3 i.e. grapes bar > T1 i.e. guava bar > T4 i.e. kinnow: guava bar (1:1) > T6 i.e. kinnow: grapes bar (1:1) > T2 i.e. kinnow bar, respectively on the basis of sensory evaluation. The average cost for each fruit bar of 200 g was calculated as Rs. 20 which is economically feasible for both the manufacturers and consumers.ThesisItem Restricted SALICYLIC ACID INDUCED CHANGES IN SOME PHYSIOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS IN MASHBEAN (Vigna mungo L. Hepper) GENOTYPES GROWN UNDER SALINITY(PAU Ludhiana, 2012) Manpreet Kaur; Navita GhaiThe present investigation was undertaken to study the effect of salicylic acid on physiological and biochemical parameters in salt sensitive (KUG 363 and KUG 310) and salt tolerant (KUG 529 and KUG 502) mashbean genotypes, along with a check variety (UL 338) grown under NaCl (30mM and 45mM) stress. The plants were grown in plastic pots kept under a rain-out shelter. NaCl was applied in split dose: 50% at the time of sowing and remaining 50% at 15 days after sowing (DAS). Salicylic acid (SA) @ 0.5 mM and 1.0 mM was applied as a foliar spray at 25 DAS. Data on various physiological and biochemical changes was recorded at 35 (vegetative stage), 50 (flowering stage) and 65 (pod setting stage) DAS. Salt stress decreased the leaf area and plant dry biomass of all the genotypes at various stages of development. The decrease in plant dry biomass led to reduction in relative growth rate and crop growth rate. Sensitive as well as tolerant genotypes showed a sharp increase in membrane permeability under saline conditions. NaCl caused a decrease in photosynthetic pigments and increase in levels of hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde content. Under saline conditions, all the genotypes showed a higher accumulation of osmotic solute proline, with tolerant genotypes accumulating more amount than sensitive ones. Antioxidant enzymes like catalase and ascorbate peroxidase showed a decrease under saline conditions. However, peroxidase activity was increased under salt stress. Maximum increase was shown in salt sensitive genotypes. Reduction in yield contributing parameters like number of pods plant-1, number of seeds per pod, 100 seed weight and seed yield plant-1 was observed at both the levels of salinity. SA treatments had a pronounced ameliorative as well as, growth promoting effect under saline conditions. The ameliorative effect of SA was observed as increase in leaf area, relative leaf water content, water potential of leaves and photosynthetic pigments in salt-stressed plants. SA treatments increased the biosynthesis of proline under salt stress. Foliar application of SA enhanced the level of antioxidant system (catalase and ascorbate peroxidase) in mashbean plants under NaCl stress and reduced the hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde content. The reduction in yield and yield contributing parameters was also less in SA-treated salt-stressed plants as compared to non saline controls. However, tolerant genotypes (KUG 529 and KUG 502) and check variety (UL 338) were able to tolerate high salinity and responded better to the application of SA as compared to sensitive genotypes probably due to improved growth, metabolism and enhanced antioxidant system. Lower concentration of SA (0.5 mM) proved to be more effective to ameliorate the adverse effects of salt stress.
