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ThesisItem Embargo Standardizing supplemental lighting for improved strawberry cultivation in soilless media under protected cultivation(Punjab Agricultural University, 2023) Pardeep Kaur; Mahesh Chand SinghA study was carried out at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana to standardize the supplemental lighting for improved strawberry cultivation in soilless media inside a naturally ventilated greenhouse. For supplemental lighting, full spectrum LED grow lights were used. The experimental treatments included three levels of supplemental lighting viz. 235, 169, 132 μmol m-2s-1, and 3 levels of photoperiod viz. 12, 14 and 16-h. The treatments were replicated thrice in a factorial CRD layout. After transplanting, the strawberry plants were fertigated with fresh nutrient solution throughout the growing season using drip irrigation system. Electrical conductivity and pH of the nutrient solution were maintained in the range 1.5-2.7 dSm-1 and 5.5-6.5, respectively. Crop related data (plant height, leaf chlorophyll content, leaf area index, etc.) were recorded at weekly interval. Climatic data (mainly light, temperature and relative humidity) were recorded continuously at a 5-minute interval through development of a low-cost IoT-based real-time climate monitoring system. The fruit related data (fruit diameter, fruit weight, number of fruits and yield per plant) were recorded at the time of each harvesting. The quality parameters viz. titratable acidity, total soluble solids, total sugar, reducing sugar, ascorbic acid and phenol content were analysed twice in the growing season (7th February and 25th March, 2022). The performance of strawberry was significantly affected by time-differential supplemental lighting in terms of its effects on different plant growth parameters, fruit parameters and yield. The supplemental lighting of 132 μmol m-2s-1 for a photoperiod of 16-h recorded the highest fruit yield of 450.0 g/plant with an average value of 408.9 g/plant. The results indicated a significant increase in yield, WUE and FUE of Camarosa strawberry with decrease in supplemental lighting from 235 to 132 μmol m-2s-1 and an increase in photoperiod from 12 to 16-h. The average benefit-cost ratio (B:C) was obtained as 2.35 and 2.27 with and without subsidy, respectively. Supplemental lighting of 132 μmol m-2s-1 for a photoperiod of 16-h resulted in highest B:C value of 2.74 with 50% subsidy and 2.68 without subsidy. Thus, subjecting strawberry plants to light in the range of 362.5-430.6 μmol m-2s-1 including supplemental light of 132 μmol m-2s-1 for about 16 hours in a day is desired to record the optimal plant growth, fruit yield and quality of camarosa strawberry, when cultivated in soilless media inside a naturally ventilated greenhouse.ThesisItem Open Access Chemical derivatizations of major constituent of cumin (Cuminum cyminum) and their biological activity(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2021) Pardeep Kaur; Sharma, SunitaCuminum cyminum is an annual herbaceous plant belonging to the family Apiaceae genus Cuminum. In the present study, chemical composition of essential oil and different solvent extracts of cumin of variety GC-4 was determined by GC-MS analysis. Cuminaldehyde was found to be the major constituent present in the essential oil and second major compound present in the different solvent extracts (except chloroform). The proximate analysis of cumin seeds showed that it contains 8.58±0.20, total minerals 8.62±0.05, crude protein 14.43±0.02, crude fibre 11.06±0.01, fats 15.00±0.04, total sugars 2.30±0.21 and total carbohydrates 40.01±0.06. Elemental investigation of cumin seeds showed that it contains micronutrients like Iron: 181.33, copper: 14.25, manganese: 25.75, zinc: 31.25, chromium: 10.15, nickel: 2.38, cobalt: 2.05, cadmium: 2.03, lead: 58.75, arsenic: 118.50 in parts per million concentrations. Phytochemical study revealed that various phytochemicals viz alkaloids, saponins, tannins, coumarins, amino acids, flavonoids, proteins, phenols and carbohydrates were present in different solvent extracts. Aqueous extract of cumin seeds was used as a bioreductant for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles. Different derivatives i.e. Schiff Bases, hydrazones, thiosemicarbazones, chalcones and pyrazolines of major constituent of essential oil namely cuminaldehyde (isolated from essential oil by column chromatography) were synthesized. Characterization of synthesized compounds was done using UV-visible, FT-IR, 1 H and 13C NMR. Essential oil, different solvent extracts, silver nanoparticles, cuminaldehyde and its derivatives were screened for their antioxidant (via DPPH assay), microbial (against Pseudomonas sp., Klebsiella sp. and Enterobacter sp.) and fungicidal potential (against Fusarium wilt, Ascochyta blight and Bortrytis gray mould. Cuminaldehyde derivatives were found more effective as compared to cumin essential oil, its major constituent, different solvent extracts of cumin seeds and silver nanoparticles synthesized from aqueous cumin seed extract.ThesisItem Open Access economic analysis of agro-based village industries in Punjab(Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2017) Pardeep Kaur; Goyal, MiniThe present study was carried out with the objective to analyze the economics of agro based industries in Punjab. Central zone was randomly selected for the study. Primary data were collected from 40 villages of Fatehgarh sahib district during the year 2015-16. A total number of 74 enterprises were found containing 33, 14, 15 and 12 of atta chaki, ghani oil, gur khandsari and cotton carding enterprises respectively. The study revealed that all the 74 entrepreneurs of the agro based industries were male. Only 21 (28.37%) entrepreneur were educated up to middle. The proportion of landless, marginal, small, semi medium, medium entrepreneurs were 29.72%, 14.86%, 16.21%, 27.02% and 12.16% respectively and none of the entrepreneur had large farms. Majority of the entrepreneurs (82.69%) were taking credit from institutional sources. Except fixed costs all the other costs and returns were highest in case of gur khandsari enterprise as compared to other enterprises. The gur khandsari industry had highest returns and had lowest payback period i.e. 2.13 years. The major problem as perceived by the entrepreneurs was of tough competition with large enterprises. Shortage of power, seasonal availability of raw material, shortage of labour and lack of marketing facilities were some of the other the important problems. Setting up more enterprises in villages, branding of the product and guaranteed of uninterrupted power supply may help to promote the agro based village industries in Punjab.
