Loading...
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.
Browse
60 results
Search Results
ThesisItem Open Access A STUDY ON IMPACT OF “BRINGING GREEN REVOLUTION TO EASTERN INDIA” (BGREI) PROGRAMME IN UBVZ OF ASSAM IN PROMOTION OF FARM MECHANIZATION(2021) Buragohain, Moromi; Neog, P.K.Agricultural mechanization technology plays a key role in improving agricultural production in developing counties, and should be considered as an essential input to agriculture. In Assam most of the farm operations are done using animal power, hence, there is great scope of selective mechanizing in Assam where, small hand tools are used involving drudgery. In order to bring about a change, a programme under Farm Asset Building Activity has also been proposed under BGREI programme. The major component of the BGREI programme is farm mechanization, and promotion of farm mechanization has been recognized as one of the essential requirement and need of the hour for agricultural development in Assam especially in rice cultivation. Keeping this in view primarily, the present study entitled- “A study on impact of Bringing Green Revolution to Eastern India (BGREI) programme in UBVZ of Assam in promotion of farm mechanization” was carried out in three district of Assam namely Golaghat, Johan and Sivasagar. The objectives of the study are as follows: OBJECTIVES:- 1. To assess the extent of utilization of farm machineries by the beneficiary and neighbouring farmers 2. To determine the level of knowledge on operation of different farm machineries and extent of adoption on scientific practices of applying farm machineries and tools in selected crops 3. To analyze the factors influencing the extent of utilization of farm machineries and tools. 4. To study the change in farming in terms of cropping intensity, cropping pattern, crop, diversification, intensification, productivity and profitability as a result of using farm machineries. 5. To identify the constraints face by the beneficiary and non beneficiary farmers in utilization and application of farm machineries and to pool suggestions thereof. A multistage purposive cum random sampling design was used for selecting 300 farmers as respondents. Approprite statistical methods were used for analysis and interpretation of data. The findings reveal that majority (57.33%) and (49.33%) of the BGREI beneficiary farmers and non-beneficiary farmers had medium and low level of utilization for farm machineries and tools respectively. Majority (68.67%) and (55.33%) of the beneficiary farmers and non-beneficiary farmers had medium and low level of knowledge on different farm machineries and tools respectively. Majority (60.00%) and (53.33 %) of the BGREI beneficiary farmers and non-beneficiary farmers belong to medium and low adoption category towards scientific practices of farm machineries and tools respectively. Paired “t” test was applied to compare between the BGREI beneficiaries’ farmers and non-beneficiaries farmers related to their extent of utilization of farm machineries and tools and it revealed that the beneficiary’s farmers had significantly higher utilization as compared to non-beneficiaries farmers. Likewise, beneficiary’s farmers had significantly higher level of knowledge on operation of farm machineries and tools as well as higher adoption on scientific practices of applying farm machineries and tools as compared to non-beneficiaries farmers. For extent of utilization of farm machineries and tools of the BGREI beneficiary farmers, correlation table revealed a positive and significant relationship between annual income, information source utilization, credit orientation, mass media and social media use and attitude towards farm mechanization. In case of non-beneficiary farmers, correlation table revealed a positive and significant relationship between social participation and labour availability. For level of knowledge on operation of different farm machineries and tools of the BGREI beneficiary farmers, correlation table revealed a positive and significant relationship between information source utilization, credit orientation, scientific orientation and attitude toward farm mechanization. In case of non-beneficiary farmers, correlation table revealed a positive and significant relationship between age, annual income, scientific orientation, extension contact and mass media and social media use. For extent of adoption on scientific practices of applying farm machineries and tools of the BGREI beneficiary farmers, correlation table revealed a positive and significant relationship between age, size of operational land holdings, annual income, information source utilization, mass media and social media use, and participation in farm machineries related training. In case of nonbeneficiary farmers, correlation table revealed a positive and significant relationship between size of operational land holdings, annual income, labour availability, mass media and social media use, participation in farm machineries related training and attitude towards farm mechanization. Among economic factors, social factors, personal factors and organizational factors subsidies availability, after seeing neighbours development, self-reliance or independence and guidance from ADO respectively were the major factors influencing the extent of utilization of farm machineries and tools for majority of the BGREI beneficiary farmers and nonbeneficiary farmers. The changes has taken place for more than 50 per cent of the beneficiary farmers in terms of cropping intensity, cropping pattern, crop diversification, productivity and profitability. The constraints face by the beneficiary and non-beneficiary farmers in utilization and application of farm machineries and tools are as follows: Economic constraints includes high initial cost of implements (Rank I), Infrastructural constraints includes non availability of spare parts in nearby places (Rank I), Information constraints includes farmers faced lack of skilled labour to operate farm machineries and tools (Rank I), The major situational constraint faced by the respondents was most of the farm machines and tools were not suitable for women farmer (Rank I) and frequent repairing (Rank I) was the most felt technological constraint by the BGREI beneficiary and non-beneficiary farmersThesisItem Open Access DETERMINANTS OF ADOPTION IN REGARD TO RECOMMENDED CULTIVATION PRACTICES OF RICE (Oryza sativa) and MAIZE (Zea mays) IN THE STATE OF NAGALAND(2021) KHUVUNG, ZUJANBEMO; Mishra, PrasantaAgriculture is considered as the backbone of Nagaland‟s economy where the majority of the population depends on agriculture. Major variants of cereals produced in Nagaland are rice, maize and millet. The two methods of cultivation among the Naga tribes are jhum and terrace cultivation which makes about 86 per cent of the total cultivable area in Nagaland. Emphasis on improving the production and productivity of agriculture is crucial to bridge the gap between the demand and supply of food grains. The present study on Determinants of adoption in regard to recommended cultivation practices of rice (Oryza sativa) and maize (Zea mays) in Nagaland was carried out in the state of Nagaland. The objectives of the study were measure the extent of adoption in regard to recommended cultivation practices of rice and maize in Nagaland, find out determinants of adoption of rice & maize production technology, identify the constraints faced by the farmers while adopting recommended cultivation practices, solicit suggestions from the research scientists, development workers and policy makers on measures for enhancing the production and productivity of rice and maize in Nagaland and develop a strategy to increase the rate of adoption of recommended rice and maize production technology. Thestudywastakenupinsixdistricts of Nagalandwithasamplesizeof 300farmers.Eighteenindependentvariables viz., age, gender, education, family type, family size, occupation, operational land holding, annual income, farming experience, social participation, information sources utilization, extension contact, cosmopoliteness, innovativeness, economic motivation, scientific orientation, achievement motivation and attitude towards shifting cultivationwithextentof adoptionasdependentvariableswerestudied.Therespondentswereinterviewedpersonally with the help of structuredinterviewschedule.Thedatacollectedwerecoded, tabulated and analyzed usingfrequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, co-efficient of variance, Karl Pearson‟s co-efficient of correlation and multiple linear regression analysis. The profile ofthefarmersrevealed that more than half(59.7%)of the respondentswere medium aged and were males (65.7%), less than one-third of them were illiterates (31.7%), majority belonged to nuclear family type (86%) and more than half (51.7%) of them hadfamily size of 3-5 members. A little more than two-third (67.7%) of the farmers did cultivation as occupation, majority (46%) had marginal operational land holding, 80.67 per cent had medium (Rs. 80905) income 8 level, more than half (57.7%) of them had 13-32 years of farming experience, less than half (49.3%) of the farmers had no membership in any organization, 47.67 per cent of them had medium level of information sources utilization and 51.67 per cent had medium level of extension contact. Majority (23.66%) of them had contact with ATMA officials, 67 per cent of them visited town for agriculture purpose. More than half (69.67%) of the respondents had medium level ofinnovativeness, 45.67 per cent had medium level of economic motivation, 62 per centhaving medium level of scientific orientation, 56.67 per centhaving medium level of achievement motivation while 63.7 per cent of them had moderate level of attitude towards shifting cultivation. Majority (60.67%) of the farmershadmediumlevelofadoptionof recommended cultivation practices of irrigated rice, 60 per cent had mediumlevelofadoptionof recommended cultivation practices ofupland riceand 69 per cent had medium level of adoption of recommended cultivation practices of maize. The computed correlation coefficient value of family size (r=0.946*) showed a positive significant relationship with extent of adoption of recommended cultivation practicesof irrigated rice, while sixteen independent variables with the extent of adoption of recommended practices of irrigated rice taken on multiple linear regression analysis gave the co-efficient of multiple determination (R2) value of 0.913. The variables namely family size (b=2.209*), social participation (b=0.377*) and economic motivation (b=1.121*) were found to be positively significant and can be termed as good predictors of extent of adoption of recommended cultivation practices of irrigated rice. The computed correlation coefficient values of family size (r=0.944*) and annual income (r=0.160*) were positively and significantly correlated with the extent of adoption of recommended cultivation practices of upland rice, while sixteen independent variables with the extent of adoption of recommended practices of upland rice by the farmers taken on multiple linear regression analysis gave the co-efficient of multiple determination (R2) value of 0.905. The variables namely age (b=0.103*), family size (b=3.449*) and scientific orientation (b=0.121*) were found to be positively significant and can be termed as good predictors of extent of adoption of recommended cultivation practices of upland rice. The computed correlation coefficient values of operational land holding (r=0.197*), information sources utilization (r=0.931*), extension contact (=0.905*), innovativeness (r=0.958*), economic motivation (r=0.941*) and achievement motivation (r=0.945*) were positively and significantly correlated with the extent of adoption of recommended cultivation practices of maize 9 and annual income (r=-0.263*) was found to be negatively significant. Sixteen independent variables with the extent of adoption of recommended practices of maize by the farmers taken on multiple linear regression analysis gave the co-efficient of multiple determination (R2) value of 0.954. Variables namely family size (b=0.097*), information sources utilization (b=2.050*) and innovativeness (b=1.067*) were found to be positively significant and can be termed as good predictors of extent of adoption of recommended cultivation practices of maize. Whereas annual income (b=-4.685*) and extension contact (b=-0.452*) were found to be negatively significant with extent of adoption of recommended cultivation practices of maize. Non-availability of quality seeds, lack of proper financial assistance and subsidies, non-availability of timely farm inputs and machineries, pest and disease incidence, lack of storage facilities and processing units, low market value for crops, lack of marketing facilities and channels, lack of proper interactions between farmers and extension service providers, lack of result-oriented trainings and demonstrations, weather uncertainty, high cost of fertilizers and lack of knowledge of government schemes and incentives and proper irrigation and drainage facilities were some of the major constraints highlighted by the farmers while adopting recommended cultivation practices of rice and maize. Some of the strategy proposed to increase the production of rice and maize in Nagaland were timely supply and use of high yielding varieties and hybrid seeds, System of Rice Intensification, Crop Diversification in maize crop, Integrated Nutrient Management (INM), Integrated Pest & Disease Management (IP&DM), Water Resource Management, Improved farm mechanization, Integrated Farming System (IFS) Approach and Participatory Research and Development.ThesisItem Open Access ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF HOMEGARDEN BIODIVERSITY IN ASSAM(2021) Hussain, Zafrina; Deka, NiveditaHome garden as the name says is usually a small area of land surrounding a household, where members of the family grows varieties of vegetables, medicinal crops, fruits trees and trees which can be ornamental and so on and is commonly known by the name baari in Assam, in rural household apart from growing vegetables and fruits in their home garden they rear live stocks, cattle’s and fishes as well hence there exist a noticeable biodiversity in a baari, however in urban residents misses this opportunity and is limited to fruits and vegetables for meet the family food requirements . Home gardening is also known by the name homestead gardening as it surrounds the home of the household. Almost every household may it be a rural household or an urban dwelling household both has a garden either their vegetable garden or kitchen garden which is a miniature form of farm plots growing vegetables and herbs in small area and so in small scale. Household grows vegetables, herbs and also fruits in pots and containers to meet their day to day culinary needs. It is often a structured space having a visual appeal all the year round. In today’s human civilization when there are constant threat to the climate and environment home garden is a boon as it serves the environment with greeneries which provides fresh air, bears with the pollution by reducing carbon emission, provides fresh vegetables grown all organically, usually using compost manures, because it is practiced in small scale so the use of chemical fertilizers are negligible. It is also a source of rare and extinct varieties of fruits and herbs which have established medicinal properties. Therefore, to cope up with environmental issues urban civilization practices roof top gardening unlike their rural counterparts as small step to a big environmental issue and also to meet with their nutrition requirement. The present study is an attempt to assess the existing status of biodiversity in the home gardens of few randomly selected villages in five Agro climatic zones of Assam. All the five Agro climatic zones have different characteristics in terms of rainfall pattern, terrain and soil, so does the biodiversity, however the most commonly found biodiversity component have been studied and assessed in terms of economical analysis where in the species richness, its abundance, and its density is studied, the economics of resources used in the home gardens, the role of gender in management of the home gardens, and assessing the contribution of homegarden biodiversity in livelihood. This study was conducted in randomly selected homegardens of Jorhat (Upper Brahmaputra Valley Zone), Morigaon (Central Assam Zone), Karbi Anlong (Hill Zone), Sonitpur (North Bank Plain Zone), and kamrup district (Lowe Brahmaputra Valley Zone) of Assam. An inventory of crop species and livestock diversity component in home gardens was prepared and a comparative study using Shannon- wiener index the diversity of species was evaluated and the relative importance value, density and abundance was calculated for the selected home gardens from five different Agro climatic zones. The study categorised the composition of species as components into trees, vegetables, fruits, spices, medicinal plants, and livestock for biodiversity inventory. Thus excluding for example ornamental species, which do not relate immediately to livelihood. A total of 144 plants species belonging to 64 families were recorded from the survey of 290 gardens across the five selected Agro climatic zones of Assam. An average of 34 plant species were found in each homegardens surveyed for the study which included vegetable species, tree species, medicinal plant species, and spices and condiments. The smallest homegardens in the present study had a Shannon index with 1.30, but they were not significantly different from the indices reported for the medium and large (1.21, 1.24, respectively), while the total of 144 species recorded in the study. When the production and consumption ratio was studied across the Agro climatic zones, it is seen that the production and consumption ratio was found to be the highest in the homegardens of the North Bank Plain Zone which was 0.76, followed by the homegardens of the Lower Brahmaputra Valley Zone which was 0.72, respectively. Usually incomes from smaller homegardens is less as compared to the larger homegarden because larger garden have profit motive with higher composition of commercial plant species while in smaller gardens composition of commercial crops is less. The percentage contribution of homegardens towards household’s average annual gross income was 43.33 per cent. Female headed homegardens were significantly higher in size than male headed homegargens in the small sized homegardens and medium sized homegardens in this study. Among the three homegarden size categories 53.00 per cent were female headed in small sized homegardens 59.00 per cent female headed in medium sized homegardens and 57.00 per cent in large sized homegardens.ThesisItem Open Access Post-Harvest Quality Enhancement in Banana cv. Grand Naine(2021) Behera, Swosti Debapriya; Neog, ManoranjanAn experiment on „Post harvest quality enhancement in banana cv. Grand Naine‟ was conducted in kharif season of 2017-18 and 2018-19 in the Orchard and Quality Control laboratory, Department of Horticulture, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat to study the effect of various pre and post harvest treatments on post harvest quality and shelf life of banana. Two pre harvest treatments B1 (Bunch spray of sulfate of potash 2% + calcium chloride 2%), B2 (Bunch spray of sulfate of potash 2% + micro nutrient Tracel 2%) and six post harvest treatments H1( Dipping hands in 1% chitosan solution for 2 minutes), H2 (Dipping hands in 30 ppm Benzyl adenine solution for 10 minutes), H3 (Dipping hands in 2% calcium chloride solution for 5 minutes) H4 (Dipping hands in 1% Garlic extract for 4 hours), H5 (Dipping hands in Gibberelic acid 150 ppm solution for 1 minute), H6 (Control or Hands without any treatment) were applied to fruits. Fruits were subjected to post harvest treatments immediately after harvest and kept at ambient conditions (mean temp. 21.8 + 2.3°C; mean RH 85 + 10%). Physicochemical properties and enzyme activities were studied at harvest and across storage at 3 days (S1), 6 days (S2), 9days (S3) and 12 days (S4). The laboratory experiment was laid out in a factorial completely randomized block design with three replications. Among pre harvest treatments, sulfate of potash 2% + micro nutrient (Tracel 2%) proved better in improving fruit qualities. On 12th days after storage, maximum TSS ( 25%), Reducing sugar (17.83%) , Non reducing sugar (11.13%) and Total sugar (28.97%) were recorded in B1H6 ( spray of sulfate of potash 2% + calcium chloride 2% + control) while minimum content was found in B2H5 (sulfate of potash 2% + micro nutrient (Tracel 2%) + GA3 150 ppm i.e. 18.72%, 9.03%, 7.40% and 16.44%, respectively. B2H6 registered the lowest titrable acidity (0.32%) which was followed by B1H6 (.322%) and B2H1 (0.357%). Maximum retention of ascorbic acid (4.71 mg/100g), crude protein (3.25%), crude fibre (0.42%), pectin (2.38%) and the lowest phenol content (25.50 mg/ 100g) were obtained in B2H5 . .Pectin methyl esterase activity in pedicel was the highest i.e. 37.34 units / mg protein on 12th days of storage in B1H6 and the lowest activity (20.84 units / mg protein) was found in B2H5. In pedicel, its activity was higher than that of peel. Physiological loss in weight (PLW) and rotting of fruits were increased during storage. B2H5 recorded the lowest PLW (10.39%) on 12th days after storage and absence of rotting of fruits which was followed by B2H3 (10.92%). Organoleptic qualities of fruits were found to decrease with the advancement of storage period. The highest score values in respect of colour (9), flavour (8.67) and overall acceptability (9) were obtained in sulfate of potash (2%) + Tracel 2% + post harvest treatment of Gibberelic acid 150 ppm followed by sulfate of potash (2%) + Calcium chloride (2%) + Post harvest treatment of Gibberelic acid 150 ppm which was having highest taste score (9) and texture value (8.73). Maximum shelf life of 15 days was recorded in sulfate of potash (2%) + Tracel 2% + post harvest treatment of Gibberelic acid 150 ppm while the lowest of 9 days was found in sulfate of potash (2%) + Calcium chloride (2%) + Control. The former treatment is also very cost effective while comparing with other treatments. Thus, it may be suggested that pre harvest treatments with sulfate of potash (2%) + Tracel 2% and post harvest treatment of Gibberelic acid 150 ppm (1 min) appeared to be the best treatment with minimum pectin methyl esterase activity, physiological weight loss, rotting and microbial activities retaining maximum pectin, crude fibre, protein which extended the shelf life up to 15 days at ambient conditions.ThesisItem Open Access FORMULATION AND CHARACTERISATION OF MILLET INCORPORATED FOOD PRODUCTS(2021) Khatoniar, Sushmita; Das, PranatiThe present study was undertaken to formulate millet incorporated food products to utilize the inherent health benefits of millet grains. The ingredients used in the present study along with finger, foxtail and proso millet were wheat, buckwheat, Bengal gram, green gram, soybean and red kidney bean. The physico-chemical properties of the raw materials used were analysed. The bulk density of the raw ingredients used in the present study ranged from 0.71 ± 0.02 to 0.83 ± 0.09 g/ml respectively, with no significant difference between them at p≤0.05 level. The water absorption capacity, oil absorption capacity, foaming capacity and foam stability were found highest in soybean flour among the raw ingredients used. The moisture content of the selected raw ingredients was ranged from 7.24 ± 0.05 g/100g (soybean flour) to 10.51 ± 0.04 g/100g (buckwheat flour). The protein content of the raw ingredients used was in the range of 7.45 ± 0.11 g/100g (finger millet flour) to 41.43 ± 0.10 g/100g (soybean flour). The crude fibre content was highest in red kidney bean flour (6.64 ± 0.03 g/100g) and lowest in Bengal gram flour (2.11 ± 0.01 g/100g). The carbohydrate content was found highest in wheat flour (70.88 ± 0.24 g/100g) followed by finger millet flour (68.23 ± 0.23 g/100g), buckwheat flour (66.72 ± 0.11g/100g) and proso millet flour (66.58 ± 0.45g/100g). Highest energy content was observed in soybean flour (425.92 ± 0.63 kcal/100g) followed by Bengal gram flour (369.86 ± 0.67kcal/100g), proso millet flour (352.86 ± 2.43 kcal/100g) and also whole wheat flour (345.86 ± 1.21 kcal/100g). The total dietary fibre was highest in Bengal gram flour (21.46 ± 0.20g/100g), followed by soybean flour (19.76 ± 0.18g/100g) and red kidney bean flour (16.65 ± 0.13g/100g). The ingredients used for preparation of multigrain mixes i.e., whole wheat flour, finger millet flour, foxtail millet flour, proso millet flour, buckwheat flour, Bengal gram flour, green gram flour, soybean flour and red kidney bean flour were added in three different ratios such as MM I (60:10:10:5:5:2.5:2.5:2.5:2.5), MM II (50:10:10:10:5:5:5:2.5:2.5) and MM III (40:10:10:10:10:5:5:5:5) and physico-chemically evaluated. Among the multigrain mix formulations, the functional properties such as water absorption capacity, oil absorption capacity, foaming capacity and foam stability were significantly higher in MM III than MM I and MM II. In case of proximate composition, the crude protein, crude fat, total minerals, crude fibre and total energy content was found highest in MM III formulation as 14.42 ± 0.11 g/100g, 3.23 ± 0.03 g/100g, 2.44 ± 0.04 g/100g,4.01 ± 0.06 g/100g and 352.60 ± 2.14 kcal/100g, respectively. Similarly, the minerals such as calcium, iron, phosphorous, zinc, sodium, potassium and magnesium were found highest in MM III formulation. While studying the starch fractions, MM III contained highest amount of resistant starch (18.67%). The in vitro protein digestibility was significantly higher in MM III whereas in vitro carbohydrate digestibility and Glycemic Index (GI) is lower in MM III than the other mixes which makes it superior in terms of health protective factors. Shelf life was studied using three different packaging materials such as LDPE (100 gauge), HDPE (200 gauge) and plastic bottle (Tarson) and analysed for moisture increment, free fatty acid, peroxide value and total plate count during storage. The HDPE pouch was found significantly better in preserving the flour than the other two packaging materials as moisture increment, free fatty acid, peroxide value and total plate count was found lowest after completion of storage period of 180 days. Value added products such as Indian flat bread (chapati), cookies, muffins, buns and pasta were prepared from MM I, MM II and MM III and sensory evaluation was carried out. The products prepared using MM III were found more acceptable in terms of sensory parameters such as flavor, texture, appearance, taste and overall acceptability.After analysing the nutritional parameters such as proximate composition, mineral contents and bioactive components of the developed products using MM I, MM II and MM III; the products prepared using MM III was found containing significantly higher amount of proximate constituents such as crude protein, crude fat, total minerals, crude fibre and total energy content. The mineral constituents such as calcium, iron, phosphorous, potassium, magnesium, sodium and zinc was also found highest in products prepared using MM III than MM I and MM II. As the MM III found superior in many aspects than the other multigrain mix formulations, it was selected for further in vivo study. In vivo study of the multigrain mix as compared to whole wheat flour revealed that Glycemic Index (GI) of MM III was 41 whereas GI of whole wheat flour was found 58. The mean blood glucose response of normal healthy rats after feeding MM III was found lowest (79.00 mg/100g) after 120 minutes of feeding. The supplementation of MM III on alloxan induced diabetic rats showed significant improvement in blood glucose level in both the experimental groups. The results of impact of supplementation of MM III on plasma lipid profile of experimental rats showed significant improvement in plasma high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, total cholesterol, triglycerides, AST, ALP and ALT level after maintaining 28 days feeding period in comparison to the group feed with only high fat diet. On the basis of the present study, it can be concluded that the developed millet based multigrain mix has low glycemic index with functional efficacies in terms of hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effect. The outcomes of the present study can be recommended for popularization and consumption of the mix and to create awareness related to health benefits of such multigrain mixes to reach the vulnerable populations who are at risk of developing non-communicable diseases.ThesisItem Open Access Efficacy of nano bioformulation for the management of red spider mite (Oligonychus coffeae) in tea(2021) Sonowal, Supriya; Sahewalla, I. P.The present investigation was conducted in the Department of Tea Husbandry and Technology, Nano Lab of Department of Plant Pathology and field experiment were conducted in Experimental Garden for Plantation Crops (EGPC), Assam Agricultural University (AAU), Jorhat, Assam during 2016-2020 to carry out the experiments to obtain nanoparticle and characterization. The nano particles were synthesized from Fusarium oxysporum, fish and crab and used as NP-1, NP-2 and NP-3 respectively. The nanoparticle used were characterized by UV-VIS, Zeta Sizer, TEM and DLS. UV-VIS spectroscopy of chitosan nanoparticles was carried out a range of wavelength of 314.00, 340.00, 348.50 nm 200- 600 nm and results showed maximum absorption at critical wavelengths for a particular nanoparticle respectively for F. oxysporum, fish and crab chitosan nanoparticles. Zeta potential values of the present nanoparticles were recorded positively charged with zeta potential of 3.85, 16.89 and 20.48 respectively for chitosan nanoparticles of F. oxysporum, fish and crab. Similarly, TEM study showed the present nanoparticles were smooth surfaced with spherical in shape. On the other hand DLS study showed the size of the nanoparticles as 105.6, 98.0, 285.0 nm respectively for F. oxysporum, fish, crab. In vitro evaluation of chitosan NPs synthesized from F. oxysporum, fish and crab in combination of M. anisopliae and V. lecanii against red spider mite was tested at different doses (5 ml/lit, 7 ml/lit and 10 ml/lit) at 100 ppm concentration. At first day after treatment highest per cent mortality recorded from M. anisopliae + NP-2 (38.55%) at dose of 7 ml/lit. At third days of spray the highest per cent mortality was recorded from M. anisopliae + NP-2 (65.42%) at 7 ml/lit .This was followed by M. anisopliae + NP-2 (58.79%) and (58.05%) at 10 ml/lit and 5 ml/lit respectively. At fifth days after treatment M. anisopliae + NP-2 showed maximum mortality against O. coffeae (81.66%) at 7ml/lit followed by M. anisolipae + NP-2 (79.76%) and (76.48%) at dose of 10 ml/ lit and 5 ml/lit respectively and lowest mortality per cent (21.51%) was observed at control.ThesisItem Open Access ASSESSMENT OF SOIL AND GROUNDWATER QUALITY AS INFLUENCED BY CONTINUOUS MONOCULTURE OF TEA (Camellia sinensis) IN THE UPPER BRAHMAPUTRA VALLEY ZONE (UBVZ) OF ASSAM(2021) Phukon, Shyamal Kumar; Bhuyan, R.P.Tea (Camellia sinensis) is one of the most important perennial cash crops of Assam used for domestic consumption and export. Assam produces 55% of the tea produced in India and 1/6th of the tea produced in the world. Most of the small tea gardens are confined to Upper Brahmaputra Valley Zone (UBVZ). Tea crop is cultivated since years and predictions are made that due to prolonged monoculture it may be deteriorating soil health and depletion of nutrients or nutrient imbalance compounded by poor physical, chemical and biological conditions of the soils appear to contribute significantly. So the present investigation was undertaken to find out the soil and water qualities of the tea gardens in five districts viz. Golaghat, Jorhat, Sivsagar, Dibrugarh and Tinsukia with a special reference to the age groups (0-5, 5-30, 30-45, >45) years of cultivation in identifying the key quality indicators for assessing the effect of continuous monoculture of tea on soil and water quality and the concentration of Aluminium and Fluoride in tea plant and their correlation with yield. Through identification of Minimum Data Set (MDS) for soil and water quality with principal component analyses, the critical soil quality indicators were identified in continuous tea cultivation in reference to the age. In Golaghat district the SQI was found to be 17.29, 16.68, 14.46 and 12.50 for the age groups of 0-5, 5-30, 30-45, >45 years of continuous tea cultivation with MDS. Similarly, in Jorhat, Sivsagar, Dibrugarh and Tinsukia the SQI values were 16.41, 14.08, 10.57, 10.32; 14.01, 12.71, 11.25, 10.97; 13.57, 12.59, 11.97, 11.62; 11.31, 10.22, 10.13, 9.01 under 0-5, 5-30, 30-45, >45 years of continuous cultivation, respectively with MDS. The most sensitive indicators of soil quality were pH, Avl N, Avl P2O5, Avl K2O, OM, Zn, Ex Al and Avl S which contributes the most towards SQI in all the districts. Water Quality Index (WQI) indicates the quality of water and the best quality was being found in Dibrugarh (54.37) followed by Tinsukia (44.40), Sivasagar (33.65), Golaghat (26.24) and Jorhat (19.30) respectively, with MDS. Most of the age group of the districts of the present study revealed no significant correlation of tea yield with F and Al concentration indicating that F and Al concentration had no impact on tea yield. Though, average Al and F concentration was found to increase with the increase in age of cultivation irrespective of cultivated area under the UBVZ of Assam. Moreover, among all the age groups of the districts, no significant correlation of tea yield with stem girth and bush spread were observed. Based on the secondary data, tea average yield was found to be highest in Tinsukia followed by Dibrugarh, Sivsagar, Jorhat and Golaghat under all the age groups.ThesisItem Open Access Biochemical, histopathological and molecular characterization of sesamum phyllody disease in Assam(2021) Gogoi, Shankar Hemanta; Nath, P. DebThe field of phytoplasma diseases witnessed a new height of systematic study and research works throughout the world. An effort was made for biochemical, histopathological and molecular characterization of the sesamum phyllody disease. Sixteen (16) different alternate hosts were identified by molecular technique and out of that 9 were characterized. Three different groups of phytoplasma viz., aster yellows (16SrI), clover proliferation (16SrVI) and stolbur phytoplasma (16Sr XII) were identified to be associated with the phytoplasma alternate host samples. By using iPhyClassifier tool Brinjal phytoplasma isolate was grouped into the subgroup level 16SrVI-D. Exitinus indicus was detected for phytoplasma presence; characterization was done and it was found that it may play a new role for sesamum phyllody phytoplasma transmission. Ten (10) sesamum cultivars were grown in the field and pot conditions to observe the disease reactions and the cultivars were found moderately resistant (MR) to moderately susceptible (MS). The sesamum phyllody disease was successfully transmitted from infected to healthy sesamum plants by graft transmission (80%). Membrane-bound, phytoplasma-like bodies were detected in Transmission electron microscopy. Total chlorophyll content was reduced by 41.02 per cent in severely infected plants, while in mildly infected plant it was reduced by 28.20 per cent. Ratio between chlorophyll “a” and chlorophyll “b” progressively reduced as a result of infection. The ratio was 1.02 in healthy plants, while it was 1.01 and 0.96 in case of mild infection and severe infection, respectively. Phyllody disease considerably increased the dry matter content in the infected plant. Increase in dry matter content was 12.41 per cent and 19.85 per cent in mildly infected and severely infected plants, respectively. However, no considerable difference in moisture content was observed in both mildly and severely infected plants compared to the healthy ones. Phyllody disease decreased the total nitrogen as well as protein content. The reduction in protein content was 8.50 per cent in mildly infected leaves and 13.29 per cent in severely infected leaves. Phenol content was increased as disease advanced from milder to severe symptoms stage from 2.24 mg/g to 2.68 mg/g, respectively, as compared to healthy leaves i.e., 1.85 mg/g. Molecular characterization of Sesamum phyllody phytoplasma was done from all the agro-climatic zones of Assam and all the phytoplasma isolates were grouped into 16SrI-B. Restriction Fragment Length Analysis (RFLP) was done with three restriction enzymes viz., BamHI, EcoRI and RsaI. Sequence analysis, iPhyClassifier and the comparison between virtual and actual RFLP pattern revealed that there is no genetic difference among the Sesamum phyllody phytoplasma isolates of Assam.ThesisItem Open Access ASSESSMENT OF POTASSIUM USE EFFICIENCY IN TRANSPLANTED RICE(2021) Seema Bhagowati; Das, Kulendra NathPotassium (K) the third major essential plant nutrient with diverse roles to play in plant metabolism is required in large amount by crops and is the seventh most abundant element in the earth crust. The total K reserves are generally large in most soils but large portion of soil potassium (90 – 98%) remains chemically bound in the crystal structure of minerals and thus unavailable or slowly available for plant uptake. Based on availability to plants, potassium is categorized into four groups viz., water soluble, exchangeable, non-exchangeable/fixed and lattice K. Potassium supply to crop is a complex phenomenon involving relationships among various K fractions, potassium fixation and release patterns in soil and quantity-intensity relationships. Moreover, the net negative balance for K in current agriculture scenario is 69% which is very high as compared N (19%) and P (12%). This vast difference is partly because of crop removal where 1.5 times more K is removed than N and the application of potassium through fertilizer is considerably lower than that of N or P. Keeping these points in view, a study was carried out on “Assessment of Potassium use efficiency in transplanted rice” in Nagaon district which is famously known as the 'Rice bowl of Assam'. A series of laboratory analysis along with field experiments was carried out to assess the potassium use efficiency in transplanted rice. The soil of the experimental plot was analysed for salient characteristics such as texture including mineralogy of sand, silt and clay, pH, EC, OC, CEC, available NPK contents and various forms of K. An incubation study was conducted upon imposition of ten different treatments for a period of 150 days to know the availability of various forms of potassium in the soils at 20, 40, 60 and 90 days after incubation. After completion of incubation period, soils from various treatments were taken for study the release pattern of step K, constant rate K and cumulative K and fixation of potassium in these soils. Along with the incubation study, a field study was also conducted consecutively for two years with the same ten treatments in rice crop (var. Ranjit) with three replications in RBD design. Post harvested soils were analyzed for various physico-chemical characteristics and different K forms. Crop related data were recorded to study the effect of potassium management on growth and yield of rice. The texture of the soil of the experimental plot was clay loam with very strongly acidic pH (= 4.92). Initial status of SOC (0.91%) was high in upper surface (0-15 cm) and medium (0.65%) in lower surface (15-30cm), available N and P medium and K was low in upper surface and low available N and K and medium P was found in lower surface. X-ray diffraction study clearly indicates that clay fraction of this soil contains minerals like clay mica, mixed-layer minerals, vermiculite, smectite and kaolinite. Sand fraction is dominated by resistant minerals like quartz, zircon and weatherable minerals like mica, feldspars and chlorite and silt fraction contains same minerals as that of sand along with kaolinite. Initial water soluble K (WS-K), exchangeable K (Exch. K), non exchangeable K (Non Exch. K), lattice K and total K were 9.20, 41.00, 1020.00 8856.00 and 9480.00 mg kg-1 respectively in the upper surface (0-15 cm) of the soil. In the lower surface the values were 5.40, 28.40, 1454.00, 10222.00 and 10885.00 mg kg-1 respectively for WS-K, Exch. K, Non Exch-K, Lattice K and total K. In incubation study, where biofertilizers (T2 and T4) and organic manures (T9 and T10) were applied increase in WS-K was found with progression of the incubation period and in field study, it was highest with 21.35 mg kg-1 in the plot receiving T10 = INM Package (50% NP + Full K + 5t/ha Vermicompost) and was the lowest 8.17 mg kg-1 in the control plot. A perceptibly significant increasing trend of Exch-K was found, irrespective of the nutrient source except control treatment in incubated soil. In field condition, Exch. K corresponded to the amount of chemical K fertilizer applied and also to the INM package including microbial consortia and highest amount was observed in INM Package (50% NP + Full K + 5t/ha Vermicompost). Exchangeable K was found to be highly and significantly correlated with available K (r= 0.993**), non-exchangeable K (r=0.602*), total K (r=0.826*) and lattice K (r=0. 769**). With the increase in incubation time the non exch. K decreased in the treatments T2 = Microbial consortia (Azospirillum + PSB + KSB) @ 4 kg/ha, T4 = 100% RDF + KSB @ 4 kg/ha and T6 = Potassium nano-fertilizer @ 100 ml/1.2 L. Lower values of non-exchangeable K were recorded in all the treatments with different levels of potassium as compared to initial (1.020 mg kg-1) in the field experiment maximum being found in 100% RDF application. The increase of non exchangeable K in the control treatment with concurrent decrease in exchangeable K indicates the existence of dynamic equilibrium among different forms of potassium. Lattice K content of the treatments varied differently with different treatments but the changes were statistically insignificant in all the treatments in 40 DAI (Days after incubation) to 60 DAI and the changes was statistically at par in 60 to 90 DAI. Maximum amount of lattice was recorded in plot receiving 100% K fertilizer along with N & P fertilizers and INM components while lowest was recorded in plots which did not receive any fertilizer in field condition. The lattice K was significantly and positively correlated with available K (r= 0.791*), water soluble K (r=0.801**), exchangeable K (r=0.769*), nonexchangeable K (r=0.697*) and total K (r=0.865**). Increased levels of fertilizers brought about significant increase in total K content i.e. in the treatments where application of full dose of recommended fertilizers were done the total K tended to increase. In field condition, treatments where 100% K fertilizers were applied alone or in combination with INM components for 2 years continuously observed an increase in total K, highest being observed in T10 = 100% NP + Full K + 5 ton/ha Vermicompost) (11015.50 mg kg-1). Highly significant positive correlation values among various forms of K implied the existence of dynamic equilibrium. The amount of K released in successive extraction with boiling 1N HNO3 decreased step wisely in all treatments and reached to a constant level at 8th number of extraction. Reverse was happened in cumulative K. K release was higher in INM packages than plots received either organic or inorganic fertilizer alone. Cumulative K release was significantly correlated to lattice K (r=0.881**) suggesting that 1.0 mol L−1 HNO3 chiefly extracted K from nonexchangeable K pool in the soil. The amounts of step K of the treated soils ranged within a limit of 1837.0 to 3529.0 mg kg-1, which is high and thereby expected to be nonresponsive to K fertilization for a longer duration to the growing crops. The absolute amount of K fixed in soil progressively increased while percent K fixation decreased with increase in level of added K in all the treatments. Least percent K fixation was observed in T10 and the maximum in control. As this soil contains minerals like mica, vermiculite and smectite in clay fraction so K fixation is also high in this soil. Grain and straw yield was significantly affected by various treatments with the highest yield (= 56.22 q ha-1) in T10 which received 100% NP + Full K + 5 ton /ha vermicompost and the lowest in control. Yield was always better in INM package plots. Grain yield exhibited significant positive correlation with NPK uptake (r = 0.891**, 0.946** and 0.970**), water soluble K (r = 0.785**) exchangeable K (r = 0.897**) and available K (0.867**), suggesting their availability to rice crop. The highest potassium use efficiency (PUE) of 51.96% was found in the plot receiving 50% NP + Full K + 5 t/ha Vermicompost (T10) while the lowest of 40.49% in the plot receiving Potassium nanofertilizer @ 100 ml/1.2 L of water (T6) treatment. The information generated in the present study related to the status and distribution of different forms of potassium and its availability, releasing behavior and fixation evaluated through plant utilizable non-exchangeable K i.e. step K and constant rate K gave a general idea about the availability of K under the influences of varying doses of applied K and INM packages. Finally it can be concluded that INM Packages were found to be better for maintaining available K status, K release from none available pools and low K fixation in the soil and the resultant crop yield compared to inorganic treatments.
