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Dr. Y. S. Parmar University of Horticulture & Forestry, Solan
Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Solan, was established on 1st December, 1985 with the objective to promote education, research and extension education in the fields of Horticulture, Forestry and allied disciplines. Late Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar, the first Chief Minister and the architect of Himachal Pradesh perceived the importance of Horticulture and Forestry to develop and improve the State economy which led to the establishment of this University. Its history lies in erstwhile Himachal Agricultural College, Solan, established in 1962 and affiliated to the Panjab University. It became one of the campuses of Agriculture Complex of Himachal Pradesh University on its formation in 1970. Consequent upon the establishment of Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya in 1978, this campus became its Horticulture Complex and finally in 1985, assumed the status of a State University, being the only University in the country engaged exclusively in teaching, research and extension in Horticulture and Forestry.
The University is located at Nauni in Solan District of Himachal Pradesh, 13 km from Solan on Solan-Rajgarh Road, at an elevation of 1300 metres above mean sea level. Solan town is situated on national highway (NH-22) and is well connected by train and bus services.
The University has four constituent colleges, out of which, two are located at the main campus Nauni, one for horticulture and the other for forestry, having 9 and 7 departments, respectively. The third College i.e., College of Horticulture & Forestry is located at Neri in Hamirpur District on Nadaun-Hamirpur state highway, about 6 Km from Hamirpur town and is well connected with bus service. The college offers three Undergraduate Degree Programmes i.e. BSc (Hons.) Horticulture, BSc (Hons.) Forestry and B. Tech. Biotechnology and MSc degree programme in a few subjects. The fourth college i.e. College of Horticulture and Forestry, Thunag (Mandi) is located at Thunag District Mandi. This college offer BSc (Hons.) Horticulture and BSc (Hons.) Forestry degree programme. In addition, there are five Regional Research Stations, 12 Satellite Stations and five Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) situated in different zones of the State.
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ThesisItem Open Access STAND STRUCTURE AND SITE CHARACTERISTICS OF KHAIR (Acacia catechu Willd.) WORKING CIRCLE IN NURPUR FOREST DIVISION OF HIMACHAL PRADESH(UHF,NAUNI, 2021-12) DHIRENDER KUMAR; THAKUR, C LABSTRACT The study entitled “Stand structure and site characteristics of Khair (Acacia catechu Willd.) working circle in Nurpur Forest Division of Himachal Pradesh” was carried out in differently managed forest classes to access the floral diversity, stand structures, biomass and carbon stock, site characteristics natural regeneration and impact of lantana infestation. The Shannon Index of diversity (H’) for trees ranged from 2.13 (DPF) to 1.24 (UF), for shrubs 1.48 (DPF) to 1.30 (CFS) and for herbs 1.29 (CFS, UF) to 0.85 (UF), respectively. The maximum number of trees under diameter class D1 (251.67 number ha-1) and D2 (105.00 number ha-1) were recorded in RF however, the maximum number for D3 (49.17 number ha-1) were present in UF. The minimum number in D2 (44.17 number ha-1) and D3 (8.33 number ha-1) diameter class were recorded in CFS. The maximum tree carbon accumulated in different forest classes was found maximum in UF whereas, the minimum was recorded in CFS. The under storey carbon stock was recorded maximum in CFS and minimum in UPF. However, the soil carbon stock was found maximum in DPF. The maximum ecosystem carbon stock (85.50 t ha-1) potential and Co2 mitigated (313.79 t ha-1) was recorded in UF whereas, it was minimum in CFS. Further the overall regeneration success was fair in RF, DPF and UPF whereas, deficient regeneration success and establishment stocking index was recorded in CFS and UF. The soil properties vary significantly along soil depth. The maximum value for soil parameters was recorded in DPF and RF whereas, the low soil nutrients were recorded in CFS. Further the impact of lantana infestation in different forest classes was significant which have negatively affected the shrub diversity and regeneration success. We reiterate that the management that retains and enhances tree size inequalities and protects the diversity can help and store larger quantities of biomass and carbon as live tree biomass and play an important role in climate mitigation while providing other key ecosystem services.ThesisItem Open Access REPRODUCTIVE BEHAVIOUR OF Pinus wallichiana (A.B. Jacks) ALONG AN ALTITUDINAL GRADIENT IN NORTH WESTERN HIMALAYA(UHF,NAUNI, 2021-12) KAUR, AMANPREET; BHARDWAJ, D RABSTRACT The present study entitled “Reproductive behaviour of Pinus wallichiana (A.B. Jacks) along an altitudinal gradient in the North Western Himalaya” was carried out in the Department of Silviculture and agroforestry, Dr.YSP University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni Soaln (HP) during 2019-2021 with the objectives to determine morphological, physiological and reproductive traits of Pinus wallichiana on the germination and growth behavior of the seedlings. The samples were collected from different altitude ranges: 1800-2100 m a.s.l. (A1), 2100-2400 m a.s.l. (A2), 2400-2700 m a.s.l. (A3) and >2700 m a.s.l. (A4) and three aspects: southern (As1), eastern (As2) and south-eastern (As3) aspect from the representative population of the P. wallichiana. On the basis of outer appearances, the higher proportion of leaf shedding (49.6 %), dead branches (51.8 %) and the foliage discoloration (21.4 %) recorded in the uppermost altitudinal range. Apical shoot of Pinus wallichiana were more severe at higher altitudinal ranges and declined towards the decreasing altitudinal ranges. Where, the minimum leaf shedding (33.7 %) and dead branches (37.4 %) and foliage discoloration (17.1%) showed at lower range of P. wallichiana. However, among aspects minimum leaf shedding (39.6 %) and dead branches (40.8 %) were in south-eastern aspect and foliage discoloration (17.3 %) in southern aspect where the stress condition index (SCI) values were low. The biochemical attributes in needles and seedlings of Pinus wallichiana, the total nitrogen, carbon, chlorophyll, sugar and starch content were found higher in both needles and seedlings at lowermost elevation range on southern aspect. Whereas, total phenol content increased along with increasing altitudinal ranges and recorded maximum in value at uppermost altitude. The total nitrogen, total carbon, chlorophyll and sugar or starch content decreased with increasing altitudinal ranges in both tree needles and seedlings. The sugar and starch content in seeds recorded maximum at lowermost altitudinal range on southern aspect whereas, the maximum total phenol content and moisture percent was found maximum at uppermost distribution range in seeds were collected from southern aspect. In the reproductive traits the highest cone weight (105.8 gm), cone length (18.2 cm), number of scales/cone (139), 100 seeds weight (7.37 gm), number of seeds cone-1 (78.4) and seed weight cone-1 (2.16 gm), seed length (9.67 cm), seed width (5.29 mm), seed thickness (3.29 mm) at A2 while cone width (4.36 cm) at A1, and the minimum at A4 at higher altitudinal range. Among three aspects, all the cone, seed and needle parameter showed maximum value in southern and/or south-eastern aspect. The trees growing at the altitudinal range of 1800-2100 m a.s.l. and 2100- 2400 m a.s.l. which is under least stress displayed better cone development, seed characteristics, increased germinability and seedlings growth characters than those from altitudinal ranges. This study concluded that for better success of P. wallichiana afforestation and reforestation programs, the seeds/cones should be collected from the respective altitude and aspect should be tried at immediately their upper distributional range so as to counter the warming impact and facilitate adaptation processes.ThesisItem Open Access STAND STRUCTURE AND SITE CHARACTERISTICS OF KHAIR (Acacia catechu Willd.) WORKING CIRCLE IN NURPUR FOREST DIVISION OF HIMACHAL PRADESH(UHF,NAUNI, 2021-12) DHIRENDER KUMAR; THAKUR, C LABSTRACT The study entitled “Stand structure and site characteristics of Khair (Acacia catechu Willd.) working circle in Nurpur Forest Division of Himachal Pradesh” was carried out in differently managed forest classes to access the floral diversity, stand structures, biomass and carbon stock, site characteristics natural regeneration and impact of lantana infestation. The Shannon Index of diversity (H’) for trees ranged from 2.13 (DPF) to 1.24 (UF), for shrubs 1.48 (DPF) to 1.30 (CFS) and for herbs 1.29 (CFS, UF) to 0.85 (UF), respectively. The maximum number of trees under diameter class D1 (251.67 number ha-1) and D2 (105.00 number ha-1) were recorded in RF however, the maximum number for D3 (49.17 number ha-1) were present in UF. The minimum number in D2 (44.17 number ha-1) and D3 (8.33 number ha-1) diameter class were recorded in CFS. The maximum tree carbon accumulated in different forest classes was found maximum in UF whereas, the minimum was recorded in CFS. The under storey carbon stock was recorded maximum in CFS and minimum in UPF. However, the soil carbon stock was found maximum in DPF. The maximum ecosystem carbon stock (85.50 t ha-1) potential and Co2 mitigated (313.79 t ha-1) was recorded in UF whereas, it was minimum in CFS. Further the overall regeneration success was fair in RF, DPF and UPF whereas, deficient regeneration success and establishment stocking index was recorded in CFS and UF. The soil properties vary significantly along soil depth. The maximum value for soil parameters was recorded in DPF and RF whereas, the low soil nutrients were recorded in CFS. Further the impact of lantana infestation in different forest classes was significant which have negatively affected the shrub diversity and regeneration success. We reiterate that the management that retains and enhances tree size inequalities and protects the diversity can help and store larger quantities of biomass and carbon as live tree biomass and play an important role in climate mitigation while providing other key ecosystem serviceThesisItem Open Access ANTIOXIDANT RICH BAKERY PRODUCTS(UHF,NAUNI, 2021-12) SHARMA, BABITA; SHARMA, K DABSTRACT The present investigation entitled “Antioxidant rich bakery products” was carried out in the Department of Food Science and Technology, Dr YSPUHF, Solan, India during 2017-21. The antioxidant rich bakery products were developed from whole wheat flour enriched with dried green vegetable and oilseed powder blends and further evaluated for their quality and storage stability. Five vegetables viz., purple cabbage, broccoli, mustard, spinach leaves and bottle gourd and five oilseeds viz., soybean, linseed, sesame seed, pumpkin seed and sunflower seed were used for the enrichment purpose. The ultrasound-assisted blanching for purple cabbage, broccoli, mustard leaves, spinach leaves and bottle gourd for 2, 2, 1, 1 and 2 min, respectively was effective to inactivate catalase and peroxidase enzyme as pre-treatment before drying. Similarly, microwave roasting before grinding to powder for 7, 5, 3, 5 and 8 min in soybean, linseed, sesame seed, pumpkin seed and sunflower seeds, respectively was effective to maintain an overall quality of powder. The developed powders were analysed for various physico-chemical attributes including, FTIR, SEM and HPLC techniques used for ascertaining functional groups, microstructure and sinigrin content. The highest antioxidant potential was recorded as 65.21% in sunflower seed followed by 51.23% in purple cabbage, 48.66% in linseed and 43.20% in broccoli powder. Among different proportions of whole wheat flour, vegetable and oilseed powder tried for making biscuit and bread, the best ratio ranged in between 80:10:10 to 70:15:15 by sensory evaluation. Accordingly, the chemical analysis values of the enriched biscuits with powder blends of vegetable and oilseed ranged in between 4.33-5.48%, 10.88-15.91%, 61.72-65.25%, 51.39- 61.93% and 495.26-505.79 Kcal/ g for ash, protein, carbohydrate, antioxidant activity and energy, respectively while for enriched bread the values ranged in between 1.89-4.12%, 12.91-20.25%, 41.60- 57.19%, 33.40-38.43% and 194.58-304.68 Kcal/ g for ash, protein, carbohydrate, antioxidant activity and energy, respectively. The developed functional bakery products packed in polyethylene and laminated pouches exhibited marginal decrease in antioxidant activity, protein, carbohydrate and energy value during storage however, there was a significant decrease in sensory score. The biscuits were best for consumption up to 90 days of storage study in laminated pouches (ALP) retaining an excellent color, flavor and nutrients as compared to Polyethylene poches (PEP) at ambient storage temperature (10-25˚C). Subsequently, bread packed in ALP and PEP could be palatable only for 6 days at ambient temperature (24-36ºC). The cost of production for developed functional bakery products varied from Rs. 22.25-35.85 for biscuit and Rs.14.95- 26.32 for bread. Therefore, the blending of whole wheat flour with dried green vegetables and oilseeds powder could be an economic pursuit for the production of bakery products containing functional food constituents with well ascertained health benefitsThesisItem Open Access POTENTIAL OF EPIPHYTES, ENDOPHYTES, BACTERIOPHAGES AND RESISTANCE INDUCERS FOR MANAGEMENT OF BACTERIAL BLIGHT OF POMEGRANATE [Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. punicae (Hingorani and Singh) Vauterin et al.(UHF,NAUNI, 2021-12) KARN, MONIKA; SHARMA, SATISH KABSTRACT Bacterial blight (Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. punicae) is one of the most serious foliar pathogens of pomegranate in orchards causing extensive yield losses in crop growing area of Himachal Pradesh. In order to unravel the biological threats of X. axonopodis pv. punicae, amongst five IR chemicals tested, maximum disease control in pot conditions was recorded in salicylic acid @ 300 ppm (68.47%), which also provided maximum disease control under field conditions (66.65%), and also effective in improved plant health as compared to other treatments. The induced resistance through SA persisted in seedlings for next consecutive years leading to induction of resistance by increasing the control of disease to 84.29 per cent. out of 103 epiphytes and endophytes isolated from four genotypes/cultivars of pomegranate, 58 were bacterial epiphytes and endophytes (31 and 27 isolates each), and 45 were fungal epiphytes and endophytes (26 and 19 isolates each). Most promising twelve isolates of epiphytes and endophytes (three of each bacteria and fungi) were identified through gene sequencing. Out of twelve bacterial and fungal epiphytes and endophytes (three each) screened under in vitro, and potted plants, maximum zone of inhibition, disease control, plant health parameters, and biochemical changes and microbial count were recorded in bacterial endophyte Bacillus anthracis strain BDEn-1, fungal epiphyte Ascochyta rabiei strain FDEp-1, bacterial epiphyte Bacillus paramycoides strain BKEp-1, and fungal endophyte Albifimbria verrucaria strain FGEn-2 in descending order. Salicylic acid (300ppm), bacterial endophytes and epiphytes (BDEn-1 and BKEp-1), fungal epiphytes and endophytes (FDEp-1 and FGEn-2) evaluated alone and in combinations under pot and field conditions revealed maximum disease control (77.34%) in salicylic acid + B. paramycoides + B. anthracis and salicylic acid + A. rabiei + A. verrucaria (75.68%). Likewise, in field conditions maximum disease control was observed in treatment salicylic acid + B. paramycoides + B. anthracis (61.61%) and salicylic acid + A. rabiei + A. verrucaria (60.04%). Also increment in plant growth parameters, biochemical changes and microbial count were recorded with the application of salicylic acid + B. paramycoides + B. anthracis and salicylic acid + A. rabiei + A. verrucaria. Two bacteriophages i.e. ϕS13 and ϕS14 were evaluated against X. axonopodis pv. punicae under in vivo conditions including pot experiments as foliar spray, alone and in combinations of phages with or without host bacterium. They are morphologically characterized through transmission electron microscopy which showed that ϕS13 belongs to Myoviridae and ϕS14 belongs to Siphoviridae family of same order Caudovirales. Maximum disease control (75.04%) and plant growth parameters were observed in ϕS13 + ϕS14 + Xap. Additionally, SEM micrographs revealed interaction of bacterial and fungal epiphytes with the host plant through surface colonization. Likewise, confocal microscopy has been revealed the colonization of bacterial and fungal endophytes within the host plant. Thus, distribution and colonization of host plant by various bacterial and fungal epiphytes and endophytes as compared to inoculated and un-inoculated control suggested the establishment and persistence of inoculated strains in phyllosphere of pomegranate seedlingsThesisItem Open Access IN VITRO PROPAGATION AND SECONDARY METABOLITE PRODUCTION IN Podophyllum hexandrum ROYLE (INDIAN MAYAPPLE)(UHF,NAUNI, 2021-12) SHARMA, NEHA; THAKUR, MANISHAABSTRACT The present study reports an optimized protocol for high frequency in vitro propagation through seeds and rhizome buds, molecular analysis and podophyllotoxin production in Podophyllum hexandrum. Maximum percent uncontamination of seeds (89%) was achieved on treatment with 0.1% HgCl2 for 3 minutes and highest percent surviving rhizome buds (82.62%) were obtained after surface sterilization with 0.1% HgCl2+1.0% NaOCl for 4 minutes with maximum in vitro establishment (95.97%) on MS medium fortified with 0.2mg/l BA and 0.1mg/l GA3. Maximum in vitro establishment through seeds (89.00%) and buds (90%) was achieved during spring, followed by 68 and 79% in winter season. The proliferated shoots from seeds showed highest multiplication (1:11) on MS medium fortified with 2.0mg/l BA + 0.2mg/l NAA+ 0.7mg/l CaCl2. Addition of CaCl2 (0.7mg/l) into the medium was done to prevent shoot chlorosis. For shoot regenerating from rhizome buds highest multiplication rate of 1:5 was achieved on MS medium fortified with 2.0mg/l BA +0.2mg/l NAA. Molecular analysis was done using SCoT and CBDP markers. SCoT markers showed 71% polymorphism in samples from different altitudes in comparison to 50.90% polymorphism depicted by CBDP markers. However, both the makers showed 100% monomorphism among mother plants and their tissue culture raised progeny. In vivo leaves and petioles as well as in vitro roots and leaves were used as explants for callus induction. Highest callus induction was observed under dark incubation in in vivo leaves (81.07%), petioles (87.19%), in vitro roots (90.67%) and leaves (89.20%).HPLC analysis revealed maximum (0.267%) production of podophyllotoxin from callus initiated from in vitro roots procured from experimental material of district Kinnaur followed by 0.258% from in vitro root callus of Lahaul – Spiti. For enhancing podophyllotoxin yield callus induced from in vitro roots of P. hexandrum plants of district Kullu were subjected to elicitation by incorporating different concentrations (0.5-1.5 mM) of elicitors (methyl jasmonate and chitin) in production medium. Highest podophyllotoxin content (0.33%) was observed after elicitation with 1mM methyl jasmonate followed by its higher concentration of 1.5 mM (0.31%).ThesisItem Open Access IDENTIFICATION AND CHARACTERISATION OF BUD SPORTS IN APPLE (Malus × domestica BORKH(UHF,NAUNI, 2021-11) ANSHUL KUMAR; SHARMA, D PABSTRACT The apple (Malus x domestica Borkh.) is among the most diverse and economically important fruit species in the family Rosaceae. Its popularity in terms of market demand is dependent on its nutritional value, broad health benefits and high quality, which includes size, flavour, sweetness, texture as well as excellent peel colour. Apple as highly commercial temperate zone crop in India, and breeding for horticuturally important traits and fruit quality is thus a major concern for plant breeders. Genetic improvement by conventional methods is a very slow and cumbersome process owing to perennial nature, long juvenile phase, heterozygosity, and sexual incompatibilities, in such cases spontaneous mutation can be used as speedy method of improvement. Keeping the above in mind present investigation entitled “Identification and characterisation of bud sports in apple (Malus x domestica Borkh.)” was undertaken during 2018- 2021. Field surveys were conducted in different orchards of Shimla, Kinnaur, and Lahaul & Spiti districts of H.P. and efforts were made to identify bud sports in apple. Around 100 orchards were examined, and over 10000 bearing trees were screened to locate bud sports relying on pre-selection criteria, resulted in the identification of 19 bud sports that varied from their respective mother trees in one or more important traits. Out of nineteen 10 were early and solid coloured (AKM, GRK, KRT, KCS, PCS, PSK, VMK, SNR, TKL and DDK), six late colouring (SK2G, CK, SK1, KAH-1, SLN, MNSR), one half red half green colouring (JCS), one late and distinctive fruit colouring (UKL) and one Early, solid and unique fruit peel colour development (DSK) bud sports were observed in different orchards and marked for further evaluation studies. In the current study, 50 genomic and 10 EST derived simple sequence repeats (SSR) markers were used to determine differences between identified bud sports and their corresponding mother trees in order to validate the observed variations in the bud sports out of 19 only 11 showed variations among bud sports and their mother plant. Out of all 19 identified bud sports in current study, 11 bud sports (DSK, VMK, KCS, DDK, SK2G, PCS, SNR, MNSR, KRT, CK and SK1) showed the genetic variations between bud sports and mother plants. Whereas, remaining 8 show no variation through SSR primers. These bud sports may require more specific SSRs to validate the variation among them or these bud sports may be simply epigenetic modifications. The identified bud sports were vegetatively propagated for further studies in futureThesisItem Open Access STUDIES ON POPULATION DYNAMICS OF RHIZOSPHERE AND NON RHIZOSPHERE SOIL BACTERIA IN CHIRPINE AND DEODAR FORESTS AS INFLUENCED BY DIFFERENT ALTITUDINAL RANGES OF HIMACHAL PRADESH(UHF,NAUNI, 2021-10) VIBHA SINGH; CHAUHAN, ANJALIABSTRACT Species diversity refers to the richness of species and also balanced species distribution. Forests are essential for the availability of a variety of ecosystem services that are crucial to human well-being and also are critical habitats for the wide range of biological diversity. The high spatial variation in microbial activity is due to the spatial heterogeneity of forest soils (e.g. enzyme activity or respiration) and microbial biomass content. Coniferous trees are cosmopolitan within the world and have tremendous environmental and economic importance. Large numbers of bacteria resides in the rhizosphere or rhizoplane of their roots, and a few of those may promote tree growth through various mechanisms. Tree species like Pinus roxburghii Sarg. (chirpine) and Cedrus deodara (Roxb.) Loud (deodar) are known among the foremost magnificent conifer trees for the dynamic bacterial communities due to decomposing organic matter under these trees. Though lots of research has been done on PGPR in agricultural systems yet research on this bacterial group in forest ecosystem remains at its nascent stage. Hence, investigation entitled “Studies on population dynamics of rhizosphere and non rhizosphere soil bacteria in chirpine and deodar forests as influenced by different altitudinal ranges of Himachal Pradesh” was carried out to explore the diversity of plant growth promoting rhizosphere and non rhizosphere soil bacterial communities associated with Cedrus deodara and Pinus roxburghii and their characterization for plant growth promoting traits followed by their genetic diversity. A total of 168 rhizospheric and non rhizospheric bacteria were isolated from soil samples of Cedrus deodara and Pinus roxburghii collected from four different sites of Shimla, Kullu, Solan and Sirmour valleys of Himachal Pradesh. A significant variation was recorded in rhizosphere and non rhizosphere bacterial population in deodar and chirpine which increases from lower to higher altitude. All these bacterial isolates were screened for multifarious plant growth promoting traits i.e. P-solubilzation shown by 76.78% , siderophore production shown by 79.16%, IAA shown by 69.04% of isolates and zinc solubilization was shown by 76.78% of total isolates. Maximum plant growth promoting traits were shown by rhizosphere soil samples of deodar. After this, they were subjected to test for various antagonistic traits (HCN, Chitinase, Protease, Amylase) and also test for antifungal against Fusarium sp. and Phytophthora sp. Fifty seven isolates exhibiting maximum PGP traits were subjected to study their biochemical tests. Then, a total of 19 representative isolates were selected to study genetic diversity among them using 16S rDNA sequencing. In silico analysis grouped these isolates into three major genera i.e. Bacillus and Pseudomonas being predominant while other is Alcaligenes. Overall, present study conclude that, isolates from rhizosphere soil exhibit higher multifarious PGP traits than non-rhizosphere soil. Also the soil under deodar is well enriched by various soil nutrients which supports the proliferation of large number of beneficial bacteria as compared to chirpine forests.ThesisItem Open Access ECONOMICS OF SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF LAND AND WATER RESOURCES IN MID HIMALAYAN AREAS OF HIMACHAL PRADESH-INDIA(UHF,NAUNI, 2021-09) KAPIL DEV; SHARMA, RAVINDERABSTRACT The present study entitled “Economics of sustainable management of land and water resources in Mid Himalayan areas of Himachal Pradesh-India” was carried out in the purposively selected Sirmaur, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kangra, Chamba and Kullu districts of the state. Multistage random sampling technique was used to obtain the representative sample of 280 respondents comprising of 140 adopters and 140 non-adopter respondents from selected districts. Results revealed that average family size at overall level comprises of 5.74 and 5.57 persons for adopters and nonadopters farms, respectively. The overall literacy rate was found to be 87.91 and 89.14 per cent, while literacy index were worked out to be 2.61 and 2.81 for adopters and non-adopters farms, respectively. Agriculture was found to be the main occupation as 69.26 per cent of workforce practice farming on adopter farms and 66.55 per cent on non-adopter farms. Overall adult cattle unit was found to be 3.60 on adopter farms and 2.21 on non-adopter farms. The average size of total land holding was found to be 1.22 ha and 1.16 ha on adopters non-adopters. The cultivated area and orchard area accounted for 50.74 and 22.35 per cent of the total land holding in case of adopter farms whereas 42.10 and 21.28 per cent for non-adopter farms at overall basis. The irrigated land was found to be 37.62 and 16.39 per cent of total land holding in case of the adopter and non-adopters farms, respectively. Overall cropping intensity with and without orchard area of adopter farms was found to be 160.22 and 186.76 per cent which was significantly higher than the overall cropping intensity with and without orchard area of non-adopter farm i.e., 149.18 and 174.04 per cent, indicating a shift towards high value cash crops and better use of land and water resources. The average value of Simpson index in adopter and non-adopter farms were estimated as 0.85 and 0.77 respectively at overall level, which indicated that the adopter farms were found more diversified as compared to nonadopter farms. Crop yield index value of adopter farms was higher than the non-adopter farms. Productivity, gross farm income, net farm income and output input ratio have been found to be higher on adopter farms as compared to non-adopter farms. The wages and salaries contributed the most to overall household income on both type of farms followed by agriculture and horticulture, respectively. The Gini index of total income for adopter farms (0.221) is higher than that of nonadopter farms (0.206), indicating that the income of households has been found to be more unevenly distributed in adopter farms as compared to non-adopter farms. In functional analysis, the included variables explained 95 per cent of variation in major agricultural crops for adopters and 97 per cent for non-adopters in overall farm category which were found to be significant for both type of farms and both type of farms were found decreasing return to scale (<1) indicating over optimal use of all the inputs which needs to be increased in order to achieve higher levels of input efficiency, which will lead to higher levels of net profits in the study area. Mean technical efficiencies of the adopters and non-respondents respondents were found to be 83 and 79 per cent. Thus, there is a potential for adopters and non-adopters respondents to increase their efficiency by 17 and 21 per cent, if they use their existing farm resources efficiently. In tobit regression, among included variables rainfall, area, literacy index and crop yield index showed a positive relationship with the dependent variable and significantly influenced the resource use efficiency while temperature and crop diversification were found negative relationship with the dependent variables on adopters and rainfall, temperature, area, literacy index and crop yield index showed a positive relationship with the dependent variable and significantly influenced the resource use efficiency while crop diversification was found negative relationship with the dependent variables on non-adopter farms. Major problems of adopter farmers in producing agricultural crops were found to be lack of appropriate prices of produce with garret mean score 6.42 per cent followed by high commission and cost of inputs (6.21 %), lack of transport facilities (6.10 %), whereas that on non-adopter farms were high commission and cost of inputs with garret mean score 6.23 per cent followed by lack of knowledge regarding recommended practices for crops and livestock (6.16 %), untimely availability and insufficient amount of irrigation water (6.09 %). Study suggested that the farmers involved in agriculture farming in the study area should be provided with additional proper technical knowledge for optimum utilization of resources which would help to increase the production and return of major agricultural crops.