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Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat
Assam Agricultural University is the first institution of its kind in the whole of North-Eastern Region of India. The main goal of this institution is to produce globally competitive human resources in farm sectorand to carry out research in both conventional and frontier areas for production optimization as well as to disseminate the generated technologies as public good for benefitting the food growers/produces and traders involved in the sector while emphasizing on sustainability, equity and overall food security at household level.
Genesis of AAU -
The embryo of the agricultural research in the state of Assam was formed as early as 1897 with the establishment of the Upper Shillong Experimental Farm (now in Meghalaya) just after about a decade of creation of the agricultural department in 1882. However, the seeds of agricultural research in today’s Assam were sown in the dawn of the twentieth century with the establishment of two Rice Experimental Stations, one at Karimganj in Barak valley in 1913 and the other at Titabor in Brahmaputra valley in 1923. Subsequent to these research stations, a number of research stations were established to conduct research on important crops, more specifically, jute, pulses, oilseeds etc. The Assam Agricultural University was established on April 1, 1969 under The Assam Agricultural University Act, 1968’ with the mandate of imparting farm education, conduct research in agriculture and allied sciences and to effectively disseminate technologies so generated. Before establishment of the University, there were altogether 17 research schemes/projects in the state under the Department of Agriculture. By July 1973, all the research projects and 10 experimental farms were transferred by the Government of Assam to the AAU which already inherited the College of Agriculture and its farm at Barbheta, Jorhat and College of Veterinary Sciences at Khanapara, Guwahati.
Subsequently, College of Community Science at Jorhat (1969), College of Fisheries at Raha (1988), Biswanath College of Agriculture at Biswanath Chariali (1988) and Lakhimpur College of Veterinary Science at Joyhing, North Lakhimpur (1988) were established. Presently, the University has three more colleges under its jurisdiction, viz., Sarat Chandra Singha College of Agriculture, Chapar, College of Horticulture, Nalbari & College of Sericulture, Titabar. Similarly, few more regional research stations at Shillongani, Diphu, Gossaigaon, Lakhimpur; and commodity research stations at Kahikuchi, Buralikson, Tinsukia, Kharua, Burnihat and Mandira were added to generate location and crop specific agricultural production packages.
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ThesisItem Open Access CRITICAL COMPONENT ANALYSIS OF CLIMATE, SUSTAINABILITY, PREFERENCE AND PERFORMANCE OF LIVESTOCK IN ASSAM(College of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University, Khanapara, Guwahati, 2017-07) TALUKDAR, JUPI; SAHARIA, K. K.A “Critical Component Analysis of Climate, Sustainability, Preference and Performance of Livestock Sector in Assam” has been planned with a random sampling technique in Kamrup, Dibrugarh and Bongaigaon districts of Assam to fulfill the above specified reasons. The method of random sampling technique got established when the Deputy Commissioners of each district were discussed. Further after going to the Block office, the villages were also selected as per the directive and facilitations provided by the block/field officials. It was in the village where Snow Ball sampling method was adopted. Based on the needs PCA method was also applied for getting the information relating to the social dynamics of animal husbandry in the study. Data were collected in three sets of pre-tested, reliable and valid interview schedule containing the features of climate, sustainability, preference, and performance. Collection of data were done based on the person actually who is involved in farming, considering analysis on the basis of 20 per cent confidence level and then finding the critical factors, analysis were done. The data such collected were arranged, tabulated, and analyzed so as to arrive at useful conclusion and interpretation so that they become benchmark for animal husbandry policies with regard to production system, supply chain and promotional livestock rearing. Results showed that the average age of the respondents was around 39 years. A good number of the respondents (45.67 %) had medium family size as high as 66.00 per cent of the respondents had nuclear type of family. The average educational qualification of majority (44.33%) of the respondents was of lower primary level. Educational status of majority (63.00 %) of the other member of the family of the respondents was higher secondary level. Average 14.58 numbers of livestock in the pooled sample could be considered towards a healthy sign considering the fact that large majority of farm people in whole of the districts had landless to marginal categories of farmers. The average annual family income of the respondents was Rs.1, 62,095/- and majority of them fell in middle income group. The average respondents own income was found to be Rs.116393/- and majority of them fell in middle income group. Majority (74.00%) of the respondent’s received medium income of Rs 29056 from livestock farming. The major sources of personal income of the respondents was Agriculture (29.80%) followed by animal husbandry (22.18), business (10.55%), fishing (8.28), art and culture (7.37%) , handicraft (5.90%), transport of item (5.62%), services (5.48) and household items (4.82%). Food (35.36%) and Education (22.66 %) were the two main areas in which maximum expenditures were made by the respondents in this study. Most of the respondents were having medium social participation with 3.47 numbers of times per year with the society and bringing it at a reflection of development, proliferation or non-orthodox atmosphere among the people of the districts. Most of the respondents were having medium to higher level of extension contact with 7.07 numbers of times per year among the respondents in different districts, which was definitely an encouraging phenomenon. More than 80 per cent of the farmers were having awareness about different farm related problems. Farmers involved in mass media contact belonged mostly to medium level category with 6.62 average numbers of areas per year. Majority of the respondents (76%) were involved in progressive livestock rearing practice. Land ownership was the most preferred indicator of progressive livestock farming in all the three districts. Different indicators of progressive livestock farming can be listed from highest to lowest impact as follows- Land ownership (6.19%), Association with the society (5.97%), Innovativeness (5.95%), Ideal family members to help farming (5.76%), More time to spend with animals (5.75%), Entrepreneurship Habit (5.73%), concern for quality (5.58%), Enduring livestock keeping (5.55%), Leadership Quality (5.51%), Willingness of people for farm products (5.27%), Contact with extension worker (5.18%), Economic orientation (5.06%), Self employment (4.87%), Religious mindedness (4.85%), Good market (4.83%), Educational qualification (4.72%), Good size of the farm (4.50%), Keeping hope for future generation (4.44%), Mass media contact (2.65%) and Political affiliation (1.64%). Most of the farmers realizing factors that affected animal husbandry development belonged to medium group level. Flood has been recognized as the most important factor affecting Animal Husbandry in all the three districts. Different micro-climatic factors affecting animal husbandry can be ordered in terms of their impact as follows- Flood (6.09%), Less availability of grass (5.82%), Parasitic infestation (5.72%), Education (5.66%), Draught (5.56%), Increasing cost of animal husbandry (5.39%), High temperature (5.37%), Less per capita availability of land (5.16%), Misunderstanding with neighbors (5.03%), Low rainfall (4.96%), Land used for infrastructure (4.83%), Social standing (4.71%), Lack of technical people in field (3.82%), No departmental support (3.66%), Pollution in water (3.62%), Soil erosion (3.41%), Job in public/private sector (3.22%), Frequency of visiting dignitaries (3.15%), General atmosphere (2.95%), Pollution (2.88%), Traditional rituals and festivals (2.78%), More dust in air (2.34%), Vehicular traffic (2.11%), Stringent rules and regulations (1.77%). Cattle was the highest preferred species in all the three districts, Kamrup (70.00%), Dibrugarh (65.00%), Bongaigaon (62.00%) while Bee keeping remained the least preferred farming practice in all the cases. Number of years of involvement in farming by the farmers of the Dibrugarh district was highest against Kamrup district to be the lowest. The overall ranking of the six different livestock species in terms of their profitability was as follows, Cattle (1575.00), Pig (692.33), Goat (503.67), Buffalo (453.00), Sheep (128.67) and Bee keeping (95.33). Flood was regarded as the most serious problem by the respondents of Dibrugarh and Bongaigaon districts while the same for Kamrup was the scarcity of fodder. The average degrees of changing status of livestock farming were 2.56. This in equivalent value revealed that the sector was slowly progressing. Association of the respondent with the market of the district Kamrup was highest and for Bongaigaon was found to be the lowest. The price of the farm product of the district Kamrup was highest and for Bongaigaon was found to be the lowest and the mean prices in the three districts varied significantly from each other. The mean transaction in market among the respondents in the districts of Kamrup was significantly higher than that of Bongaigaon district but it was marginally lower than that of Dibrugarh district. Most of the respondents preferred to sell their livestock product and produces to whole sellers. The mean satisfaction of the Kamrup district was found to be highest and the same for Bogaigaon was the lowest. Whenever and wherever animal husbandry produces and products were traded, there was no difficulty in selling them off and as such the chance of spoilage was minimum. The local sources in different extent and that could be ranked (overall) in terms of the gradually decreasing local procurement as follows Cattle (79.49%), Pig (52.13%), Goat (47.50%), Honey bee (24.37%), Sheep (23.50%) and Buffalo (11.97%). Cattle enjoyed highest demand and high profit oriented, because of traditional more acceptance of cattle milk over the milk produced by other species. Majority of the changes taking place in livestock sector were in medium group of distribution i.e. 71.67%. Marketing (6.91%) is the highest degree of changes occurring in the livestock sector.ThesisItem Open Access EFFECT OF STRUCTURAL DESIGN ON THE PERFORMANCE OF ERI-UNION FABRICS(AAU, Jorhat, 2017-07) Duarah, Pomima; Kaur, SatvinderThis study on “Effect of structural design on the performance of eri-union fabrics” was carried out with the following objectives: 1. To construct eri union fabrics of different structure using selected yarns. 2. To study the physical and comfort properties of the constructed fabrics. 3. To study the effect of laundering on the constructed fabrics. 4. To study the suitability of the fabrics for different garments. For the purpose of the study eri, red eri, cotton, polyester, acrylic and rayon yarns were used to construct the eri union fabrics on the fly shuttle handloom to create plain eri union fabrics and using jacquard attachment with jacquard accessories like lingoes, mail eye etc. to create patterned eri union fabrics. Eri was used as warp and red eri, cotton, polyester, acrylic and rayon yarns were used as weft. Five plain weave eri union fabrics and five patterned eri union fabrics were woven. The constructed eri union fabrics were tested with standard test methods for mechanical properties (weight, thickness, thread count, cover factor), physical properties (strength, elongation, pilling, abrasion, tearing, and stiffness) and comfort properties (absorption, wicking, air permeability, and thermal conductivity), drapability test done and analysed using suitable statistical techniques. Visual assessment was also done for the woven eri union fabrics with the help of a structured questionnaire. Opinion of the respondents was taken regarding the general appearance, lustre, and handle, texture of the woven eri union fabrics and also the effect of laundering on the fabrics. Findings revealed that the patterned eri union fabrics highly suitable for garments. Laundering did not show noticeable change in the fabric samples. Further, garments were designed and constructed using the woven patterned eri union fabrics and opinion of the respondents was taken on the suitability of the patterned fabrics for the garments which revealed that the patterned eri union fabrics are suitable for different garments.ThesisItem Open Access DESIGNING AND CREATING OF APPARELS INSPIRED FROM TRADITIONAL MOTIFS OF MISHING COMMUNITY OF ASSAM(AAU, Jorhat, 2017-01) Chungkrang, Lizamoni; Phukan, Ava RaniDesigns are of great importance when it comes to give an enchanting and intriguing look to the textile products. Textile designing is full of creativity and scope with vast horizon, and is a demanding and emerging field. With the changing world of fashion, the field of textile demands for unique, different and fresh designs which give us the opportunity to use the adapted traditional motifs. Escalating demands of consumers requires modification in the fashion industry with respect to design, colour, style and technique. So, an attempt was made to designing apparels inspired from traditional motifs Mishing community of the Assam with following objectives- 1. To study and document the traditional motifs and designs of Mishing Community of Assam 2. To develop and create patterns for apparel using the existing motifs in a diversified way 3. To construct selected apparels for adolescents 4. To assess the consumer acceptability of the products. Through this study the investigator attempts to popularize the traditional textile motifs of Mishing community and its value addition to different apparels. To carry out the study, wide range of Mishing traditional textile motifs were documented and collected from six selected districts of Assam- Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Dibrugarh, Sibasagar, Jorhat and Golaghat through personal visit to common textile weavers. A preliminary study was conducted on the selection of the motifs. A set of fifty two numbers of ladies and gents apparels suitable for adolescents were designed and sketched with different colour combination and placed the chosen motifs for their opinion. Out of fifty two, fourteen designs were selected based on the results of the survey conducted. The selected designs were: 1(W), 2(W), 3(F), 4(W), 5(E), 6(W), 6(F), 7(E), 8(B), 9(B), 10(W), 11(W), 12(W), and 13(W). For woven techniques, peg plans were prepared in REACH Tax Software for each and every motif and carried out the weaving process. For other three techniques, the patterns of motifs were developed in Coral Draw Software. The basic blocks were prepared and drafted based on the standardized body measurements. The cost of each constructed garments were calculated by considering the cost of material, cost of accessories used, labour cost and the profit. The constructed apparels with different techniques were: Tunic (woven), Short summer dress (woven), Long gown (fabric painting), Top and Capri (woven), Palazzo (embroidery), Kurti (woven), Kurti (fabric painting), Fitted skirt and top (embroidery), Stole (block printing), Mekhela chadar (block printing), Neck tie (woven), Gent’s formal shirt (woven), Nehru jacket (woven) and Gent’s waist jacket (woven). The constructed apparels were displayed at the Department of Textiles and Apparel Designing, Faculty of Home Science, AAU, Jorhat and systematically evaluated by a panel of 50 judges including staff members and Ph.D scholars based on criteria’s like proper placement of the motifs, forms of existing motifs, colour combination, fitness and overall appearance of the apparel. The constructed apparels were again evaluated by 50 consumers from different fields of textiles, to assess the consumer’s acceptability in terms of general appearance, design of the apparel, colour combination of the apparels, selection of the traditional motif, arrangement of the motif, colour combination of the motifs. The evaluation was carried out in Faculty of Home Science, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat-13, Department of Fashion Technology, Women’s University, Jorhat and Jorhat market, including faculty members; Post graduate students, Ph.D scholars and Fashion designers. The evaluation was carried out with the help of a structured questionnaire. From the results of the survey, majority of the respondents rated as excellent in terms of general appearance, design of apparels, colour combination, selection of the motifs, techniques used for developing the motifs, arrangement of the motifs and overall appearance of the constructed apparel. They also stated that all selected motifs were nicely incorporated in the respective apparels with exclusive colour combinations. Among all the 14 numbers of constructed apparel, the Design No. 1(W) was rated 1st rank whereas Design No. 6(F), 12(W), 10(W), 11(W), 8(B), 6(W), 3(D), 13(W), 5(E), 9(B), 2(W), 4(W) and 7(E) were rated rank from 2nd to 14th respectively. From the above findings it can be concluded that it is possible to develop new and interesting designs from the existing Mishing traditional motifs to meet the excessive demands of contemporary designs in the fashion and apparel fields and also increase the variety of designs in the field of textiles. This study will help the fashion designers for creating more innovative ideas in the field of fashion designing and also it will help the motivates people to come up with an ingenious work, which indirectly help in upgrading the art and craft of Assam as well as India’s.ThesisItem Open Access Hydroponic systems for growth, development and quality flower production(AAU, Jorhat, 2017-07) Sarmah, Ruby; Bora, SunilAn investigation was carried out at Department of Horticulture, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat during the year 2016 to 2017 to find out the best hydroponic system, EC of hydroponic nutrient solution and growing media for quality flower production in Tuberose, Gladiolus and Marigold. The experiment was laid out in two factor completely randomized design with 15 treatment combinations and with three replications comprising of five different levels of hydroponic systems viz. S1 (NFT or Nutrient Film technique), S2 (Water culture system) , S3 ( Aggregate or drip system with coco peat ), S4 (Aggregate or drip system with sand ), S5 (Aggregate or drip system with sawdust) and three different levels of hydroponic nutrient solution concentration viz. N1 (EC 1.0 dS/m), N2 (EC 1.5 dS/m), N3 (EC 2.0 dS/m) and one control (soil and water). Statistical analysis of the data revealed that most of the growth, flowering, root, bulb characters and physiological parameters were significantly influenced due to differences in systems of cultivation, media and nutrient concentrations (EC). Among the various levels of hydroponic systems, S2 (water culture) has shown the best results for most of the growth characters including root, bulb characters and physiological parameters in Tuberose. While, S1 (NFT) was significantly superior in most of the flower characters. The nutrient treatment N3 (EC 2.0 dS/m) has significantly improved all growth parameters except leaf length and plant height which were best in N1 (EC 1.0 dS/m). N3 treatment (EC 2.0 dS/m) was found to be the best in terms of flower and bulb characters including physiological parameters under study. However, the results of root characters were significantly superior in N1 (EC 1.0 dS/m). Hence, S1N3 (NFT + EC 2.0 dS/m) was found to be the best for Tuberose in terms of growth and flowering. In case of Gladiolus, most of the growth characters were found to be significantly superior in S2 (water culture). This treatment was also found to be effective in terms of root, corm and physiological parameters under study. In Gladiolus, a remarkable growth, flowering and corm production was observed in the nutrient treatment N2 (EC 1.5 dS/m). It can be concluded that, the treatment combination S2N3 (water culture + EC 2.0 dS/m) was the most suitable treatment for Gladiolus. In case of marigold, experimental data revealed that the growth and flower characters have shown significant superiority in S1 (NFT). Whereas, S2 (water culture) has shown the best results in root and physiological characters. Among the nutrient treatments, N2 (EC 1.5 dS/m) has shown the best response in marigold in most of the growth characters. Early emergence of bud and flower was noticed in N3 (EC 2.0 dS/m), whereas other flower characters were found to be significantly better in N2 (EC 1.5 dS/m). The root characters of marigold were expressed at its best in N1 (EC 1.0 dS/m) whereas, the physiological characters were found to be significantly improved in N3 (EC 2.0 dS/m). Thus, from the floriculture perspective conclusion can be drawn that treatment combination of S2N2 (NFT + EC 1.5 dS/m) is optimum for quality flower production of marigold. The experimental findings also deduced that for all crops under experiment, S3 (coco-peat) and S4 (sand) are the best media. However, S5 (sawdust) has shown the inferior result among media under study and it was at par with control in most of the observations. The statistical analysis of control vs. rest was shown to be highly significant in most of the observations under study. Thus, it can be concluded that different hydroponic systems, potting media along with their combinations among them exert effect on overall growth, flowering, root, bulb & other physiological parameters in different flowering crops.ThesisItem Open Access CAPACITY BUILDING OF RURAL WOMEN IN HOMESTEAD GARDEN FOR SUSTAINABLE HORTICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT(AAU, Jorhat, 2017-07) Gogoi, Pritimoni; Dutta Das, ManjuThe present investigation on capacity building of rural women in homestead garden for sustainable horticultural development was carried out in two agro-climatic zones of Assam. A multi stage purposive cum simple random sampling design was followed for selection of sample. One district from each zone namely Sivasagar district of Upper Brahmaputra Valley Zone and Kamrup (R) district of Lower Brahmaputra Valley Zone were selected randomly. Total 300 rural women from 12 villages of the selected zones and who were mostly engaged in fruits and vegetable cultivation were selected as respondents for the present study. Data collection was done by using structured interview schedules. The study revealed that majority of the rural women (54.00 %) were of middle aged group, married (87.67%), educated upto middle school level(54.32%), had farming as their main occupation (67.25%), had less than 1 hectares of cultivable land (70.33 %), had more membership in group organizations (65.81 %), had poor contact with extension personnel (87.33%) , took agricultural advice from friends and neighbours (58.10%), had not attended any intervention programme (57.62%). Among the rural women who had attended intervention programme earlier, majority 85.03 percent attended on the aspect piggery. Majority of the rural women had independent participation in selected farm and non-farm activities such as transplanting and weeding (79.02%), weeding (66.00%), cooking (65.66%) and weaving (69.67%). Majority (74.67 %) of rural women took independent decision on amount of food to be kept for consumption, preservation of fruits and vegetables (41.00 %) and weaving (73.64%). Majority of rural women had low level of knowledge in aspects like nursery raising (76.30%), land preparation (67.00%), production practices (80.00%) and plant protection (52.70%). The problems faced by rural women in participating in different horticultural activities which got first ranks in their respective categories of problem were lack of irrigation facility, growth retardation of plants due to higher weed growth, high cost of labour, lack of proper training, household workload and natural calamities. The outcome of the intervention programmes indicated that there were changes in knowledge gain and retention in rural women and technology adoption behavior. The knowledge retention by rural women in three aspects of production technologies of fruit and vegetable crops namely plant protection, nutritional management and land preparation were given first, second and third ranks after analysis. In case technology adoption, aspects plant protection measures, nutrient management and nursery raising practices got the first, second and third ranks respectively.ThesisItem Open Access ENVIRONMENTAL SANITATION IN ASSAM- AN ANALYSIS FOR RURAL HEALTH UPLIFTMENT(AAU, Jorhat, 2017-07) Borgohain, Shyamalima; Sarmah, JulianaThe study entitled “Environmental Sanitation in Assam- An Analysis for rural health upliftment” was undertaken with the objectives: i) To explore the institutional arrangement of government on environmental sanitation, ii) To assess existing knowledge and practices of rural women regarding environmental sanitation, iii) To identify the problems faced by the rural women in adopting different governmental measures for environmental sanitation, iv) To explore the problems faced by the field functionaries in proper implementation of the governmental measures for environmental sanitation and v) To find out suggestions from the field functionaries for proper functioning and improvement of the environmental sanitation programme. The present study was conducted in Jorhat and Sivasagar district of Assam. Purposive cum simple random sampling method was adopted for selecting the sample of 360 rural women as respondents. Field functionaries of Public Health Engineering Dept. (PHED) and also contractual functionaries of Swachh Bharat Mission- Gramin (SBM-G) of both Jorhat and Sivasagar district were selected as another set of respondents for the present study to explore theproblems faced by the field functionaries in proper implementation of the governmental measures for environmental sanitation. Both primary and secondary data were collected for the present study. Secondary data was collected to explore the institutional arrangement of government on environmental sanitation. Primary data was collected through scale developed by the researcher, interview schedule and questionnaire. The study revealed that the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation (MDWS) is the nodal ministry for the overall policy, planning, funding and coordination of programs of environmental sanitation in the country. The key programs of the Ministry providing thrust to the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation (RWSS) sector are the National Rural Drinking Water Program (NRDWP) and the Swachh Bharat Mission- Gramin (SBM-G) which were implemented in Assam by the nodal department Public Health and Engineering Department (PHED). Both National Rural Drinking Water Program (NRDWP) and Swach Bharat Mission –G has a 5-tier structure at the National, State level, District level, Block level and Gram Panchayat (GP) level with definite roles and responsibilities at each level. The study also revealed that majority of the rural women (48.10%) belonged to the middle age group, 88.90 per cent were married and majority of the respondents (65.80%) had marginal land holding. Majority of the respondents had education up to high school level (34.16%). Only 2.5% rural women had pucca house and cent per cent of rural women had low cost latrine at their houses. Source of drinking water of majority of the respondents (41.11%) was piped water supply from a public source. Farming was the main occupation of head of the family for 47.50 per cent of rural women. Majority of the rural women (75.3%) were from nuclear family and 33.61 per cent rural women had no membership in any organization. The findings also highlighted that majority of the rural women belonged to medium socio-economic status (65.84%). Data also revealed that the majority of the rural women (70.00%) had medium level of knowledge and also majority of the rural women (64.44%) had moderate level of practice regarding environmental sanitation. Lack of systematic approach to the family was ranked as I problem by the rural women in adopting low cost latrine as a governmental measure for environmental sanitation. Field functionaries under environmental sanitation programme namely Assistant Engineer, Junior Engineer of PHED and District consultants, Block resource coordinators, cluster resource coordinators faced different problems while implementing the programme for the beneficiaries among which the problems related to finance were found as moderate and severe by both permanent and contractual functionaries respectively. ‘Less involvement of PRI members’ was expressed as moderate problem by both permanent and contractual functionaries under problems related to management. ‘Lack of proper vehicle’ under Infrastructure Problems was also expressed as moderate problem by both permanent and contractual functionaries. ‘Awareness generation and demand creation at community level for access to safe drinking water and sanitary toilet through use of mass media’ and ‘Behavioural change among community through motivational programme should get first priority than mere construction of toilet’ was suggested by all the functionaries for proper functioning and improvement of the environmental sanitation programme.ThesisItem Open Access CHARACTERIZATION AND EVALUATION OF SOME TURMERIC ( Curcuma longa L.) GENOTYPES OF NORTH EASTERN REGION OF INDIA(AAU, Jorhat, 2017-07) LUIRAM, SoLEI; Barua, P. C.A field experiment was conducted at Horticulture Experimental Farm, AAU, Jorhat, Assam for two consecutive years (2015 & 2016) to characterize and evaluate the performance of thirty one (31) turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) genotypes of north eastern region of India along with two check varieties. The experimental materials were collected from farmer’s field of all the eight north eastern states of India. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design with 3 replications. The individual plot size was 1.5m x 1.5 m with plant to plant spacing of 30 cm x 30 cm accommodating 25 plants per plot. In the present study, all the growth parameters at different growth stages showed significant variations due to genotypes. The effect of year was found significant for leaf length at 105 DAP, leaf width at 75, 105 and 135 DAP, number of leaves per hill and number of leaves per main shoot at 75 DAP, number of leaves per tiller at 75, 105 and 135 DAP, number of tillers per hill and plant height at all the growth stages. However, the effects of interaction between the genotypes and year were significant for number of leaves per tiller at 75 DAP, number of tillers per hill in all the growth stages and plant height at 165 DAP. Significant variations in both the fresh and dry rhizome yield per hectare were observed among the different genotypes evaluated. The maximum fresh rhizome yield was recorded in the genotype TMN-2. While the minimum was recorded in the genotype TAS-14. However, the dry rhizome yield was found highest in the genotypes TPR-2 while the lowest dry rhizome yield was recorded in TNL-1. Significantly high variation was noticed for dry recovery and harvest index showing the highest in the genotype TPR-2 and Check-2 variety respectively and the lowest was recorded both in the genotypes TAS-6. The high significant variations in the curcumin and oleoresin content among the different genotypes studied were observed due to genotypes. The highest curcumin content was recorded in the check-2 variety and the lowest curcumin content was observed in the genotype TAS-3 (1.72 %). The oleoresin content in the present study ranges from 7.63 % to 17.52 %. The correlation study showed that the plant height, leaf length and leaf width at 105, 135 and 165 DAP, length of mother and primary rhizome, finger rhizome per plant, weight of mother, primary and secondary rhizome, LAI at 135 DAP and LAD were found significant and positively correlated with rhizome yield of turmeric. Thus, these characters maybe considered very important factors in selecting the genotypes for increasing the yield of turmeric in any improvement programmes. Summarizing the PCV, GCV, heritability and genetic advance characters, it could be concluded that the genotypes giving higher values of these characters might be given more emphasis and hence better selection process for further crop improvement programme. Thus, the result of the present study demonstrates that there existed wide variability among different turmeric genotypes of north eastern region of India indicating high potential for effective crop improvement through breeding as the genotypes in this region are good sources of genes for many desirable traits. The promising genotypes, viz. TMN-1, TMN-2, TNL-2, TNL-4, TML-1, TPR-1, TPR-2, TAP-2, TSK-1, TAS-4, check-2 variety and TAS-10 gave high fresh rhizome TML-3, TPR-2, TAP-2, TAS-5, TAS-6, TAS-7, TAS-8, check-2 variety and TAS-14 variety gave appreciable yield per hectare in the range from 306.11q/ha to 413.89 q/ha whereas, the genotypes TML-1, TML-2, amount of curcumin contents in the range between 5.11 % to 6.51 % which were encouraging and thus suitable for commercial production of turmeric in the north eastern region of India.ThesisItem Open Access MAPPING AND DISSECTION OF GENETIC EFFECTS INTO QTLs FOR GRAIN YIELD UNDER DROUGHT IN ELITE RICE VARIETY OF ASSAM(AAU, Jorhat, 2017-01) VERMA, RAHUL KUMAR; Modi, M. K.Two traditional drought tolerant cultivars were crossed with Ranjit in the present study in order to identify QTLs and improved lines for various yield traits under drought stress. The allelic distribution of 45 SSR markers associated with major grain yield QTLs under drought stress were studied in 115 ahu rice cultivars. The cluster analysis distinguished cultivars into 2 major clusters. The drought tolerant cultivars (ARC10372 and Banglami) were grouped with tolerant check (Nagina22) and high yielding cultivars were grouped with susceptible check (Ranjit). A total of 110 polymorphic SSR markers were identified across the parents, Banglami and Ranjit. These SSR markers were used for segregation analysis in 180 F2 plants. Among 110 polymorphic SSR markers, 88 fitted the expected Mendelian segregation, whereas 22 (20.0%) significantly deviated from it (P<0.01). Only 89 SSR markers could be assigned to 12 linkage groups covering a total of 1628.7 cM of the rice genome. The F2:4 population consisting of 2460 F4 plants were evaluated for various yield traits under two hydrological conditions viz., irrigated control (non stress) and drought stress created in rainout shelter. The drought stress was imposed from panicle initiation to panicle emergence period (reproductive stage). A total of seven QTLs, viz., qNOT2.1 (number of tillers), qEBT6.2 (effective booting tillers), qPNL1.1, qPNL6.1 (panicle length), qNGP12.1 (number of grains per panicle), qNCP6.1 (number of chaff per panicle) and qGYP7.1 (grain yield), were identified under drought stress whereas, four QTLs viz., qEBT6.1 (effective booting tillers), qNCP4.1 (number of chaff per panicle), qSFP6.1 (spikelet fertility) and qGYP9.1 (grain yield), were identified under irrigated conditions. The cultivar ARC10372 was crossed with Ranjit and 180 F2 plants were raised. Among these, only 36 F2 plants carrying tolerant parent allele for the SSR markers RM431 and RM11943 associated with the major grain yield QTL (qDTY1.1) were selfed to raise F2:3 population. Only 10 F3 plants were selected on the basis of yield and root traits. These were selfed to raise F4 population. The F2:4 population consisting of 217 F4 plants were evaluated for various yield traits under drought stress and irrigated conditions. Two F2:4 lines (B-42, B-106) from ‘Banglami x Ranjit’ and one F2:4 line (A-78) from ‘ARC10372 x Ranjit’ were selected on the basis of improved yield and grain quality traits under drought stress. The selected plants may be used for the development of drought tolerant rice variety.ThesisItem Open Access TAPPING OF CARBON DIOXIDE IN RICE ECOSYSTEM THROUGH AZOLLA CULTIVATION(AAU, Jorhat, 2017-07) Khwairakpam, Rowndel; Das, RanjanThe present investigation was carried out in the stress physiology laboratory under fully automated bioreactor where tapping of CO2 and external injection regulation CO2 facility were available. To understand the assimilation and N accumulation in Azolla-Rice ecosystem in response elevated CO2 possible interactions of CO2 and Azolla on the growth and yield of rice investigation was conducted during the kharif season of 2014 and 2015.The studies revealed that there was variable response of photosynthetic parameters which lead to impact on carbon sequestration potential as well as change in O2 evolution under varying levels of CO2 environment under rice-Azolla ecosystem. In case of fluorescence and related parameters, there was deviation from the normal range as the CO2 concentration increased, however these deviations were minimized in presence of Azolla. These were also same in case of ETR, NPQ, PQ, ф PSII etc. Photosynthetic and its related parameters viz. gs, Ci, T, etc. were found to be related to stomatal density and size. These factors ultimately affected plant growth which was translated as yield. Elevated (500 ppm) CO2 with Azolla has a greater potential for C sequestration, while soil organic carbon enhancement helped increase crop productivity and sustainability which was evident from higher yield and yield attributing parameters. Soil microbial population with higher C: N ratio was recorded under elevated CO2 with rice-Azolla ecosystem. There have been increasing concerns regarding the role of soil microbial population in biological stabilization of SOC in agricultural soils because change in the soil microbial population within rhizo-spheres with changes in organic matter input. Significant reduction of NPK was recorded due to elevated CO2, however; reduction rate was variable with Azolla when compared with without Azolla and ambient. Conversion of inorganic nitrogen was significantly reduced in elevated CO2 however there was amelioration affect under 500 ppm CO2 with Azolla due to significant increase in key enzymes such NR, NiR and GS syntheses activity. CO2 enrichment decreased the N concentration in rice without any change in the C content, leading to an increase in C:N ratio However variability among systems also recorded. This study: (1) depicts the changes in microbial population and fungal predominance; (2) infers a biological stabilizing mechanism behind the C sequestration which includes physical-chemical stabilization as the major controlling processes leading to variation of yield. Azolla has enormous potential to sequester of atmospheric CO2 due to its rapid growth in freshwater without the need for a soil-based nitrogen source. Azolla is a novel opportunity to expand and diversify the supply of fertilizers and production of rice fields vis a vis tapping the CO2 and enhancing the O2 evolution system under changed environmental conditions.
