River bank and dumpsites activities are threats to water and soil quality, as elevated heavy metal levels in soils around river banks and dumpsites may result in heavy metal entry into the food chain. This study aimed at accessing the concentration of heavy metals in soils and Telfairia occidentalis leaf grown around Temboga river bank and Oto-fure dumpsite, in Benin City, Nigeria. Surface (0-15 cm) soils and T. occidentalis leaf samples were collected at equidistance from Temboga river bank and Oto-fure dumpsite in 3 replicates. The soil samples were analyzed for some physical, chemical and heavy metal properties while T. occidentalis leaves were analyzed for Ni, Pb, Co, Cr, Se and Cd content in soil science analytical laboratory, University of Benin. Result showed that soil heavy metals content varied with distance from the river bank and dumpsite, Ni and Cr has reached toxic levels, while Pb, Cd, Se and Co accumulation are at potential toxic level in T. occidentalis leaf, with Ni content of 31.50, 13.00 and 12.50 mg kg-1, Cr content of 8.92, 4.36 and 1.77 mg kg-1 at dumpsite, 60 m and 120 m away from dumpsite, respectively. It could be concluded that T. occidentalis leaf grown around the dumpsite was contaminated with Ni and Cr, while T. occidentalis leaf grown around river bank, contained elevated levels of Co, all these will pose health risk to food safety and humans consuming T. occidentalis leaves grown around the river bank and dumpsite studied
A field experiment was conducted at G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar to find out productive maize cultivars for spring season. A total 12 cultivars (Pant Sankar Makka 5, Pant Sankar Makka 6, DH 300, Dekalb 9108, P 1866, Ninja, Bisco Champion 61, P 1899, NMH 589, G-0786, AHC-1212 and Pant Sankul Makka 3) were tested in RBD with three replications. The results showed that Dekalb 9108 produced significantly more cob yield (10700 kg/ha) and grain yield (8264 kg/ha) than other cultivars but was at par with P 1866, P 1899, Pant Sankar Makka 5 and Pant Sankar Makka 6. Grain yield advantage in Dekalb 9108 was 33.5, 36.7, 38.2, 39.4, 39.9, 41.5 and 47.2%, respectively over DH 300, Pant Sankul Makka 3, Bisco Champion 61, AHC-1212, G-0786, NMH 589 and Ninja. The highest net return (₹ 126638/ha) and B:C ratio (2.21) were obtained in Dekalb 9108 which were statistically more than other cultivars but remained at par with P 1866, P 1899, Pant Sankar Makka 5 and Pant Sankar Makka 6. The study revealed that Dekalb 9108, Pant Sankar Makka 5, Pant Sankar Makka 6, P 1866 and P 1899 were productive for spring season in Indo-Gangetic plain.
A field study was carried out on weed infestation in kharif maize in the Tarai region of India in RBD having 12 different weed management treatments, viz., Atrazine 1.0 kg a.i./ha (PE) fb hand hoeing at 21 DAS; Tembotrione 34.4% SC at 120 g a.i./ha at 20 DAS; Topramezone 33.6% SC at 25.2 g a.i. /ha at 20 DAS; Atrazine 1.0 kg a.i./ha (PE) fb tembotrione 34.4% SC at 120 g a.i./ha at 20 DAS; Atrazine 1.0 kg a.i./ha (PE) fb topramezone 33.6 % SC at 25.2 g a.i./ha at 20 DAS; Tembotrione 34.4% SC at 120 g a.i./ha at 20 DAS fb halosulfuron methyl 67.5 g a.i./ha at 30 DAS; Topramezone 33.6% SC at 25.2 g a.i./ha at 20 DAS fb halosulfuron methyl 67.5 g a.i./ha at 30 DAS; Atrazine 1.0 kg a.i./ha (PE) + residue of Wheat as mulch 5t/ha; Maize + Mungbean (1:1) intercropping; at 20 and 40 DAS Hand Weeding, Weed-free and weedy in 03 replications at Pantnagar during kharif 2023. Hand weedings at 20 days after sowing controlled the weed density by 81.1% at 30 DAS and at 40 days after sowing reduced the density of weeds 67.8% after 60 days of sowing and produced the highest grain yield (6.4 t/ha) compared to the weedy check plot, followed by application of atrazine 50% WP at 1000 g a.i./ha fb hand hoeing at 21 DAS (6.14 t/ha grain yield), atrazine 50% WP at 1.0 kg a.i./ha fb tembotrione 34.4% SC at 120 g a.i./ha (6.03 t/ha grain yield), and atrazine 50% WP at 1.0 kg a.i./ha fb topramezone 33.6% SC at 25.2 g a.i./ha (5.96 t/ha grain yield), proving effective weed-free treatments
Litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) is a highly perishable fruit, prone to rapid deterioration due to microbial spoilage, physiological weight loss, and browning of the pericarp. Therefore, an evaluation of study Aloe vera-based composite edible coatings was conducted for preserving the postharvest quality of litchi cv. Rose Scented under ambient storage. Litchi fruits were coated with Aloe vera gel in combination with ascorbic acid and hydrogen peroxide. The coated and uncoated (control) fruits were stored and assessed periodically for key quality parameters, including physicochemical, phytochemical, and sensory quality attributes. Results revealed that the composite coating comprising (30% Aloe vera gel + 1% ascorbic acid + 1% hydrogen peroxide) was the most effective in reducing physiological loss in weight (PLW), decay (%) and browning while significantly retaining acceptable TSS, acidity, ascorbic acid, total sugar, total anthocyanin and total antioxidant capacity compared to the control up to 15th day of storage. Coated fruits also maintained better sensory appeal throughout the storage period. The combined effect of Aloe vera and antioxidant additives helped delay senescence and maintain the structural and nutritional integrity of litchi fruits. These findings suggest that Aloe vera based edible coatings, particularly those with antioxidant fortification, offer a promising and eco-friendly approach for reducing postharvest losses of litchi fruits under non-refrigerated conditions.
Cucumber is a cross-pollinated crop exhibiting diverse flower morphology including male, female and hermaphrodite flowers. Parthenocarpic cucumber varieties produce female or gynoecious flower leading to formation of fruit without fertilization, which poses a challenge in seed production due to the absence of male flowers. Hence, the present study aimed to access the impact of chemical treatments on male flower induction, seed yield and quality in parthenocarpic cucumber (Pant Parthenocarpic Cucumber-3). The experiment was conducted at the V.R.C., Pantnagar, from 2021-22 to 2023-2024 in a RBD layout with three replications. Nine treatments, including different concentrations of silver nitrate, gibberellic acid (GA3), and silver thiosulphate, were applied at the 2 and 4 true leaf stages. On the basis of 3-year pooled data it was observed that application of silver nitrate at 500 ppm induced the maximum number of male flowers (60) followed by 250 ppm (56.89) and 750 ppm (47) silver nitrate. Application of silver nitrate at 500 ppm also recorded the maximum number of seeds per fruit (82.62) and seed yield (462.48 Kg/ha) with no significant difference in seed quality parameters of different treatments. The benefit cost ratio was highest (3.46) in application of silver nitrate at 500 ppm followed by application of 750 ppm silver nitrate (3.22). Therefore, it can be concluded that foliar spray of silver nitrate at 500 ppm at 2 and 4 true leaf stages might be recommended for induction of male flowers in parthenocarpic cucumber under Tarai region of Uttarakhand.
