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  • ThesisItemRestricted
    Status of trace elements and electrolytes in pregnancy induced hypertension and its effect on neonatal health
    (Punjab Agricultural University, 2023) Himlesh; Grover, Kiran
    The present study was conducted to assess the prevalence and determinants of pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) along with the effect of maternal status of trace elements and electrolytes on neonatal health in Punjab. The prevalence of pregnancy induced hypertension was found to be 8.1 percent which was further observed as gestational hypertension (90%), preeclampsia (7.5%) and eclampsia (2.5%). The history of chronic hypertension (r=0.86), diabetes Mellitus (r=0.38), hypothyroidism (r=0.37), Poly Cystic Ovarian Disease (r=0.22) and family history of hypertension (r=0.22) was observed as the significant (p<0.05) determinants of pregnancy induced hypertension. The comparative assessment of trace elements and electrolytes between normotensive (n=30) and hypertensive antenatal subjects (n=30) conducted in Government Rajindra Hospital, Patiala revealed a significantly (p<0.05) higher mean Systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressure of hypertensive subjects. A significant difference in daily food intake and serum concentration of trace elements (calcium, magnesium, iron, selenium, copper and zinc) and electrolytes (sodium, potassium and chloride) was also observed. The effectiveness of diet counseling was evaluated by selecting two groups of pregnancy induced hypertensive subjects i.e. Experimental (with diet counseling) and Control (without diet counseling). The diet counseling based on Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) was provided to experimental group for 3 months at a regular interval of 15 days. The findings reported significantly lower Systolic ( 143.8±20.6 vs 150.7±11.4 mmHg) and Diastolic (93.5±3.9 vs 96.8±5.96 mmHg) Blood Pressure in experimental group. The counseling resulted in significantly (p<0.05) higher mean intake of fruits, vegetables, milk and milk products in experimental group. Further, the trace elements levels were also observed to be significantly (p<0.05) higher in experimental group with better neonatal outcome. Hence, nutrition and diet counseling should be provided to all the women of reproductive age group to manage the pregnancy related complications for better health of neonates.
  • ThesisItemEmbargo
    Effect of biochar and bacterial endophytes on salinity tolerance in oats (Avena sativa L.)
    (Punjab Agricultural University, 2023) Arshdeep Kaur; Gupta, Namarta
    The present investigation was carried out to study the effect of biochar and plant growth-promoting bacterial endophytes for salt tolerance in oats (Avena sativa L.). Forty four morphologically distinct salinity-tolerant endophytic bacteria were isolated from the leaf, stem and root samples of oats on nutrient agar with 2.5% NaCl and screened for the production of ammonia, auxins, siderophore and HCN; solubilization of Ca3(PO4)2, ZnO, Zn3(PO4) and ZnCO3 and salt tolerance up to 12% NaCl. Bacterial isolates showing high salt-tolerance and plant growth-promoting traits were selected and tested for growth promotion of oats on 1% H2O agar plates. Three potential isolates were identified based on polyphasic approach as Enterobacter quasiroggenkampii O1SE4, Bacillus inaquosorum O3SE2 and Bacillus safensis O4SE1. The SEM analysis showed the colonization of the plant tissues by all the three bacterial strains. Total 25 genotypes were screened for germination parameters viz. percent germination, shoot length, root length, seedling length, fresh weight, dry weight, vigour index I and II, proline, SOD, POD and CAT under salt stress conditions and were grouped into highly salt tolerant, moderately salt tolerant, moderatly salt sensitive and highly salt sensitive. Among seed treatments, the combination of biochar (2%) and Bacillus safensis maximally improved the above parameters as compared to the other treatments of Enterobacter quasiroggenkampii, Bacillus inaquosorum and biochar (1%). The evaluation of biochar and bacterial strains was done in two salt tolerant and two salt sensitive genotypes grown in the pots. The highest plant height, SLW, NAR were observed with the bacterial treatment (Bacillus safensis) + biochar (2%). Among biochemical parameters chlorophyll, carotenoid, total soluble sugar, starch, total soluble protein and free amino acids along with activities of antioxidant enzymes SOD, POD and CAT were enhanced by the application of Bacillus safensis and biochar (2%). Na+/K+/Ca2+/Mg2+ homeostasis was maintained by biochar and bacteria application. In conclusion, it is stated that the combined use of biochar and halotolerant endophytic bacteria can be used for improving the crop growth under salt stress in oats.
  • ThesisItemEmbargo
    Understanding sunflower - Macrophomina phaseolina interaction under water stress conditions
    (Punjab Agricultural University, 2023) Navkiran Kaur; Sharma,Pankaj
    A total of 35 isolates of Macrophomina phaseolina causing charcoal rot were collected from eleven kharif and rabi crops from different districts of Punjab and adjoining states. Macrophomina phaseolina isolated from sunflower field, Ludhiana was characterized on cultural and morphological and molecular basis. The isolates infecting sunflower showed highest sequence homology of ITS genomic region with M. phaseolina isolate from Indore, Madhya Pradesh NCBI accession no. MT127404. This isolate was further used to standardize the inoculation techniques under field and polyhouse conditions. Tooth pick inoculation technique was found most effective for large scale screening while sorghum grain inoculation method was proficient under polyhouse conditions. A set of 71 sunflower genotypes were evaluated using tooth pick inoculation technique against charcoal rot under irrigated and restricted irrigation conditions. Four genotypes viz; 75B, EC6078261, OPH137, and OPH 172 were found moderately resistant under irrigated conditions whereas only two genotypes 75B and EC6078261 showed moderately resistant reaction in restricted irrigated conditions. The present study was first attempt to investigate the water stress-Macrophomina phaseolina interaction on different components of physiological, plant growth and yield parameters along with disease incidence. A significant reduction in total chlorophyll content (54.78 %), relative water content (47.06 %), membrane stability (51.75 %), sugar (69.00 %), protein (13.90 %) and proline (56.66 %) content was observed with inoculum density of 4 g/kg soil at soil moisture levels of 40 % and 60 %. The inoculum density of 4 g/kg of dry soil resulted in maximum mortality during seedling stage and growth period. Thus, varied inoculum density and water stress conditions made the sunflower plants more prone to dismissive physiological alterations. It led to biomass reduction viz; root length (41.27 %), root width (76.74 %), root weight (85.37 %), shoot length (56.71 %) and shoot weight (79.06 %). Thus it resulted in per plant seed yield reduction (95.45 %) at 52.62 to 100 % disease severity at higher inoculum density (4g, 6g, and 8g/kg dry soil). The expression levels of the defense related genes LOX, ACCO1, PAL, SOD, and APX were also modified under varying degree of water stress and inoculum density. The strong correlation between low soil moisture and disease severity implies that the proper irrigation of the field can be suggested as cultural management practices for the farmers.
  • ThesisItemRestricted
    Development and Control of a Suitable Robotic Manipulator for Wash Root Paddy Nursery
    (Punjab Agricultural University, 2023) Jaideep; Manjeet Singh
    The study aimed to develop a robotic manipulator for the singulation and transplanting of seedlings from a bunch of wash-root paddy nursery. Previous attempts to develop mechanical transplanters for wash root paddy nursery faced challenges, leading to the exploration of robotic systems for seedling singulation. To develop robotic manipulator, study was conducted to determine physical and mechanical properties of wash root seedlings at different growth stages for consecutively two years in 2020-21 and 2021-22. The collected data was used in the development of the robotic manipulator and different electro-mechanical mechanisms used for seedling segregation and conveying. During the evaluation phase, the electro-mechanical mechanisms showed inadequate segregation from the bunch of wash-root seedlings. Modifications were made in the robotic manipulator’s design, enhancing its arm reach and end-effector design to achieve the desired functionality. The approach to program the robotic manipulator for pre-specified positions instead of image processing technique was considered for more flexibility and adaptability in segregating the wash-root seedlings. The Jetson Nano microprocessor was utilized for control and coordination, enabling execution of the manipulator’s operations. A forward kinematic analysis using the standard Denavit-Hartenberg (D-H) algorithm and RoboAnalyzer software were used for the control of robotic manipulator. Python language was used for the programming to control the manipulator’s actions and interactions with the wash-root seedlings in tray. Seedling height ranged from 153.3 mm (PR-121 variety) to 553.4 mm (PB-1125 variety) across different ages and varieties. PB-1125 variety is the longest variety, and PB-121 variety is the shortest variety amongst all four varieties selected for the study. Cross-sectional area of the wash-root seedlings varied from 3.63 mm2 (PB-1509 variety) to 9.46 mm2 (PB-1125 variety). Average tensile force and compressive force varied 6.72-26.53 N and 5.74- 14.74 N respectively for all 3 varieties and 3 growth stages of the seedlings. During the evaluation of robotic manipulator, the minimum percentage of cycles i.e., 15.33% missing the seedlings were observed for the washed seedlings of varieties PB-1121 and PB-1509 at the age of 30 DAS. It was concluded that average seedlings picked per cycle varied in the range of 1.45 to 1.88 with highest seedlings picked at 25 DAS and lowest picking was of seedlings at 35 DAS. Data analysis showed that the percentage of more than 3 seedlings picked per cycle varied in the range of 10.00-20.67% with the highest percentage was observed at 25 DAS of the seedlings and lowest percentage was recorded for seedlings aged 35 DAS. Overall, the performance of developed robotic manipulator was better for the seedlings of all the selected varieties at the age of 35 DAS.
  • ThesisItemRestricted
    Studies on avian diversity, biology and behaviour along Beas river conservation reserve
    (Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2021) Sachin Kumar; Kler, Tejdeep Kaur
    River Beas was declared as conservation reserve in year 2017 under section 36A of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 but no study is available on the avian diversity along river. Therefore, present study was conducted from April 2019 to March 2021along Beas conservation reserve to understand the avian diversity in various sub habitats present along the river by selecting three locations i.e. Location I (Talwara: In foot hills of Shiwaliks), Location II (Beas: near urban settlement) and Location III (Harike: near rural settlement). Each location was further divided as crop fields, riparian, shallow water, edge, island and river. Study revealed that river Beas provides shelter to 245 bird species where 228 species were recorded at Location I with 40 exclusive species, 126 at Location II and 202 at Location III with 13 exclusive species. Crop fields had avian diversity of 104 at Location I, 78 at Location II and 94 at Location III. Riparian zone of river harbours 143 at location I, 83 at location II and 117 at location III. Shallow water river zone had 110 at location I, 126 at location II and 58 at location III. During this study a total of 113 species were recorded to exploiting edge sub habitat and 85 species Island sub habitat for various activities while 126 in shallow water sub habitat of riverine system which shows that the edge and island habitats are equally important from avian conservation point of view. Both Island and edge habitat are made of relatively very small area as compare to overall river habitat zone therefore these sub habitats are easy to manage but need attention during conservation planning. Crop fields and riparian habitats support more single species roosters and single group roosters. Riverine habitats (Edge, Shallow water and Islands) supports more mix group roosters. A total of 527 nests were recorded during study period having 193 nests at Talwara, 115 at Beas and 219 at Harike. Nesting of birds was niche area specific where colony nesters were tree species specific including Baya weaver nesting was specific to Date Palm and Cattle Egret nesting was specific to Kikar. Riparian zone of Talwara was wide and had minimum anthropogenic activities therefore harbour maximum of 143 species in riparian zone while Harike had wide shallow water zone therefore maximum of 126 water dependent species as compare to other two locations. Location II had almost lowest values for all diversity indexes under study (Abundance, Richness, Shannon index, Simpson index) in comparison to Location I and III shows the effect of proximity of human habitation on avian diversity. Though the all six sub-habitats understudy were adjoining to each other still a clear distinction of niche area preference was recorded during study. The birds may enter the adjoin niche but overall abundance remains similar for preferred niche for each bird species. The study concludes that significant number of species recorded have specific niche area requirements that are completed by the river’s sub-habitats including feeding, foraging, roosting and nesting therefore conservation plans should be designed in such a way that whole area come under protection as a single unit while maintaining its sub habitat identity.
  • ThesisItemRestricted
    Technologies for utilization of hull less barley for high fibre foods
    (Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2021) Mahamudu Mohamed Sasamalo; Amarjeet Kaur
    Barley (Hordeum vulgare) is the fourth significant cereal cultivated for human use next to wheat, rice and maize. The demands of barley production keep on increasing day to day due to its diverse utilities, nutritive value and ever-increasing demand. Keeping these in view Punjab Agricultural University has developed two hull less barley, variety PL 891 and BHS 352. These two hull less barley varieties PL 891 and BHS 352 were procured from Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics and were given treatments viz. germination, pressure cooking, acid and alkali and milled into flour. Milled sample were analyzed for chemical composition, functional and rheological characteristics. Barley flour was stored and estimated for shelf life. The effect of treatments for changes in functional, nutritional and antinutritional was studied. All the treatments showed increase in protein content, crude fiber and dietary fiber ranging from 12.5912.77%, 4.06-4.52% and 17.48-23.8%, respectively. β-glucan content improved after treatments; ranging from 4.02-5.05%. Processing caused 33.7-74.3%, 24.4-81.4 %, 75.7-84.6% and 43.173.1% reduction in antinutritional factors such as tannins, saponins, phytic acid and trypsin inhibitor, respectively. Notably, the mineral bioavailability as well the in-vitro protein digestibility and the antioxidant potential improved with the processing. Food products such as chapatti, flat bread and cookies were prepared by 30% incorporation level. Barley drink was prepared by using 100% roasted barley grains. Among the food products prepared, for chapatti all the treatments were accepted by the panelist with the highest overall acceptability of 8.50 from those prepared from germinated flour, for flat bread and cookies those prepared from alkali treated grains had highest overall acceptability of 8.55 and 8.50, respectively. Between hull less barley varieties, variety PL 891 was found better in preparation of high fiber chapatti, flat bread and cookies and variety BHS 352 was found better for preparation of fiber barley drink.
  • ThesisItemRestricted
    Development of lactic acid starter culture based fermented fruit and vegetable juices
    (Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2021) Modi, Ritika; Sahota, Parampal
    The lactic acid fermented fruit and vegetable beverages have been developed through controlled fermentation using ten allochthonous high lactic acid producing (0.612-1.35%), phenotypically and genotypically characterized, homo-lactic- Lactic Acid Bacterial (LAB) strains as starter culture consortium. Value-added secondary metabolite enriched Turmeric, Amla, Black carrots (Kanji), and Black pearl grapes-based functional beverages were developed with improved nutritive value (15-35%) antioxidants, (21-63%) polyphenols, (20-42%) flavonoids and (24%) carotenoids; microbial quality (1010 LAB CFU/ml) and acceptability (8±0.2) with shelf life of 90 days. The optimized bioprocess parameters using Box-Behnken Design in Response Surface Methodology with 5% (v/v) (107 CFU/ml) active starter culture for Turmeric beverage -[turmeric 2%w/v), lemon juice (5%v/v), ginger juice (1.5%v/v); dilution ratio (1:3 with sterilised water); salt (1%w/v)]; Amla beverage -[amla juice: guava juice: ginger juice (1:1:1.5 %v/v); dilution ratio (1:3); salt (0.6%w/v)]; Kanji beverage -[black carrots juice (100ml); salt and rye (1.5%w/v); dilution ratio (1:3)]; Grapes beverage -[grapes juice (100ml), lemon juice (8% v/v); dilution ratio (1:1.5); salt (1.2%w/v)], pasteurized at 82ºC for 10-15 sec and fermentation at 37ºC for 28 hrs. A generic HACCP plan determining critical control points on the line was recommended as a food safety tool during the preparation of beverages. Unstructured kinetic model so developed depicts maximum LAB growth at 8th hour and highest ∆pH and Vmax on the 28th hour and 8th hour, respectively. The increase in lactic acid production (0.35, 0.55, 0.96, 0.63 %TA), reduction in pH (4.51, 4.96, 3.76, 2.64) with enhanced functional aspects based on total polyphenols (52.30, 45.58, 41.85, 52.29 gallic acid equivalents mg/100ml) and flavonoids (44.20, 31.13, 43.91, 46.96 quercitin equivalents mg/100ml) with significantly stronger scavenging activities for the 2,2diphenyl-1- picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical (74.25, 86.36, 86.91, 69.70%) and ferric reducing power (87.9, 94.4, 108.66, 100.3 μM FeSO4 equivalents) was observed for Turmeric, Amla, Kanji and Grapes fermented beverages, respectively. These bio-interventions showed antimicrobial activity against food borne pathogens Staphylococcus aureus MTCC3906, Listeria monocytogenes MTCC657, Klebsiella pneumonia MTCC109, Escherichia coli MTCC443, Aeromonas hydrophila MTCC173, as well arrested the initial phase of MOLT-4 and CaCo2 cancer cells lines, down regulating the expression of proto-oncogenes and up regulating the tumor suppressor gene exhibiting the antitumorigenic effect. Further, hepatoprotective and hypoglycemic effect studies showed administration of functional lactic acid fermented turmeric and amla beverages (10 ml/kg body weight) for 6 weeks, significantly reverse or reduce the physiological, metabolic damage, and histological alterations equivalent to the hepatoprotective drug Liv52 in alcohol-induced liver damaged and hypoglycemic drug glibenclamide in streptozotocin-induced diabetic Wistar rats, respectively. Further, lyophilised freeze-dried turmeric and amla fermented powders were developed which can be consumed as ready-to-use fermented beverages by reconstitution @2% and @3.2% (with sterilized water) with retention of all properties of freshly prepared beverage prepared.
  • ThesisItemOpen Access
    Effect of agronomic manipulations on crop productivity and weed dynamics in poplar (Populus deltoides Bartr.) based agroforestry system
    (Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2022) Parija, Bhadra; Navneet Kaur
    Present study entitled “Effect of agronomic manipulations on crop productivity and weed dynamics in poplar (Populus deltoides Bartr.) based agroforestry system” was carried out at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana and KVK, Roopnagar (Experiment I) during 2017- 18 and 2018-19. Experiment I consisted of crop establishment methods of wheat viz. two methods of sowing (line sowing and broadcasting) and two seed rates (100 kg/ha and 125 kg/ha) along with five weed control treatments viz. carfentrazone 20 g/ha, pinoxaden 50 g/ha, clodinafop+metribuzin 270 g/ha, weed free check and weedy check in factorial RBD with 3 replications. The age of the poplar tree was 4 years in Ludhiana with 12.4 m height and 15.8 cm diameter at breast height (dbh) while at Roopnagar the age of the plantation was 3 years with an average 9.3 m height and 12.1 cm dbh during 2018-19. Experiment II consisted of planting geometry viz. two poplar spacings (8m×2.5m and 7m×3m, paired at 2.5m) and two potato planting geometry (65cm×18.5cm and 75cm×15cm) in main plots and weed control treatments (atrazine 0.250 kg/ha, metribuzin 0.350 kg/ha, paraquat 0.300 kg/ha, clodinafop+metribuzin 0.270 kg/ha, weed free check and weedy check) in sub-plots with three replications in split-plot design. The age of the poplar here was 6 years old with 19.6 m height and 26.5 cm DBH during 2018-19. The results of experiment I revealed that line sown wheat (38.0-42.8 q/ha) with higher seed rate of 125 kg/ha (37.3-41.5 q/ha) under weed free check (40.2-45.4 q/ha) had higher yield advantages with a greater number of effective tillers, spike length, grains/ear and 1000-grain weight in comparison to broadcasted with lower seed rate wheat crop under the rest weed control treatments and it was statistically at par with clodinafop+metribuzin 270 g/ha (36.5-41.3 q/ha) applied treatments. The application of clodinafop+metribuzin 270 g/ha effectively reduced the weed count and biomass. In experiment II, poplar spacing of 8m×2.5m (263.5-272.0 q/ha) and potato planting geometry of 75cm×15cm (256.6-262.1 q/ha) recorded significantly higher potato tuber yield. Among the weed control treatments weed free check (294.9-302.9 q/ha) was at par with clodinafop+metribuzin 0.270 kg/ha (289.4-293.2 q/ha) in terms of potato tuber no., weight/hill and yield. These treatments have exhibited a higher weed smothering effect thereby subsequently reduced the weed seed bank and seed recruitment in both the experiments. All the herbicides used in both the experiments temporarily reduced the microbial population and their activity upto 90 days of application and then it recovered till harvesting of the intercrops.
  • ThesisItemEmbargo
    Residue mulch, tillage and irrigation effects on crop and water productivity of pigeonpea-wheat cropping system
    (Punjab Agricultural University, 2022) Satinder Singh; K.B. Singh
    A two-year field experiment on effect of variable irrigation regimes, crop residue mulch and tillage treatments on pigen pea was conducted in loamy sand and sandy loam soil at research farm of Department of Soil Science. The treatments were combination of three irrigation regimes of 0, 0.2 and 0.4 (based on IW/ Pan-E ratios) in main plots, tillage practises (conventional (CT) and deep tillage (DT)) and two rice straw mulch rates (0 and 6 t ha-1) in sub plots. Irrigation regime I2, Soil temperature recorded under I2 was lower than I1 and I0 irrigation regime. Rice straw mulch and CT reduced soil temperature at 0.5 m depth during both years. Frequent irrigation (I2) with mulching recorded higher periodic soil moisture content and storage than limited irrigation regimes without mulch. Leaf water potential, relative leaf water content, soil plant analysis development (SPAD), normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), leaf area index (LAI) , periodic biomass and plant height were significantly higher in I2 compared to I1 and I0, in DT compared to CT and in mulching compared to no mulch. With I2, DT and mulching significantly higher pigeon pea grain and stover yield were recorded as compared to I1 and I0, CT and no mulch. In grain and stover yield significant intercations were observed between irrigation x mulch, tillage x mulch and irrigation x tillage x mulch. The residual effect of different treatments imposed in pigeon pea on yield and yield attributing of wheat were non significant. The simulated seasonal water balance in pigeon pea was in proximate agreement with observed values for irrigation regimes, tillage and mulching treatments. Good coefficient of determination between simulated and predicted values of LAI, biomass and evapotranspiration indicated that the DSSAT (CROPGRO) model simulations were satisfactory.