Sustainability of organic farming depends on the organic inputs. As such, other than a few fertil... more Sustainability of organic farming depends on the organic inputs. As such, other than a few fertilizers and plant protection measures, there have been scanty resources available to farmers for continuing organic farming. Some farmers in India have evolved traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) based location specific practices to sustain their agroecosystems and continue organic farming. In this paper, an attempt has been made to explore TEK-led adaptations in bio-mulching to grow ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) as a crop and to test empirically the best practices including identifying the best leaves and local bio-mulching materials applied by farmers. The role of TEK-led adaptive practices for controlling moisture loss, temperature regulation, reduced disease incidence, quality yield and economic aspects of ginger production are examined. The study was conducted in nine randomly selected villages of Champawat district, Uttrakhand (Western Himalaya). Data was collected using open ended questions in association with participatory rural appraisal (PRA) tools. Results indicated that farmers have developed major TEK led adaptive practices for organic ginger production after seeding in the field, namely using the leaves of oak (Quercus leucotrichophora A. Camus.), chir pine needles (Pinus roxburghii Sarg.), local mixed grasses (e.g., Chrysopogon fulvus (Spreng.) Chiov, [Cymbopogon distans (Nees ex Steud.) W. Watson], [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R.Br. syn. Setaria glauca (L.) P. Beauv], [Heteropogon contortus (L.) P.Beauv. ex Roem. & Schult]. shrubs [Chromolaena odorata (L.) R.M.King & H.Rob.] syn. Eupatorium odoratum L.) and animal wastage. This last consists of mixed oak, bhimal (Grewia optiva J.R. Drumm ex Burret), kharik (Celtis australis L.), timala (Ficus auriculata Lour.syn. Ficus roxburghii Stud.) leaves, grasses, paddy and finger millet straw and cow dung and urine. Women were observed to be using more of these TEK led adaptive practices than men. Empirical field studies carried out on TEK led adaptive practices under rain-fed agro ecosystems of farmers revealed significant results including longer rhizome length (up to 6.50 cm), higher number of rhizomes per plant (35.30), higher ginger yield (211.50 q/ha), higher B:C (benefit to cost) ratio (1:2.18) and lower percentage of disease (bacterial wilt; soft rot and leaf spot) incidence (17.5%) in oak leaf mulch. Soil moisture conservation (44.75%) and optimum soil temperature (24.80 0 C) were recorded as significantly better under the oak leaves for using bio-mulching as compared to all other TEK led bio-mulching practices for organic ginger production. The oak leaves used as bio-mulch in organic ginger increased yield by 43% and net returns by 61% as compared to no mulching (control). It is concluded that, under temperate climate and rain-fed agro ecosystems, TEK led adaptive practices by farmers in growing ginger are economically feasible, energy efficient and ecologically sustainable, through the addition of soil organic carbon. However, there is need for scientific and institutional promotion in participatory modes for such practices, with a provision for integrating these practices with science and policy on climate adaptation.
The present study was attempted to develop an automated irrigation system for real-time irrigatio... more The present study was attempted to develop an automated irrigation system for real-time irrigation management using soil moisture sensor, decision support system, level sensor, level controller, GSM receiver, transmitter, solenoid valve, water meter and pump. The performance of developed automated irrigation system was evaluated under different methods of irrigation in broccoli crop. The field experiment in Broccoli crop was conducted (2013-14 and 2014-15 ) in split plot designwith three irrigation methods, i.e. check-basin, furrow and drip irrigation as main plot treatments, and irrigation control methods, i.e. automated and manually-controlled assub-plot treatments. Water saving, water productivity and cost economics of developed system were calculated and compared under different studied irrigation methods. It was found in the present study that the sensor based automated drip irrigation system resulted in highest irrigation water productivity (9.7 kg/m3) and crop water productiv...
The biotransformation of sucrose to fructooligosaccharides was investigated using the catalytic a... more The biotransformation of sucrose to fructooligosaccharides was investigated using the catalytic action of fructosyltransferase originated from marine Aspergillus niger, using whole cell immobilization. The biomass production and enzymatic reaction were carried out in shake flask. A fructosyltransferase enzyme producing fungi locally isolated from sea water from South East cost of India, by using potato dextrose broth medium and identified as Aspergillus niger. To evaluate the fructosyltransferase activity two biomass concentrations (6 and 9.5 g L-1) of Aspergillus niger mycelia were used. Cultural and physiological characteristics of the isolate were studied. Aspergillus niger produced an inducible intracellular FTFase enzyme in a high yield (37.04U/ml). Hydrolysis and subsequent analysis showed that the product consisted entirely of D-fructose. The result shows the enzyme reaction reached its maximal activity when the reaction was conducted at 65 ºC, pH 8.0 in 16 hrs.
Sustainability of organic farming depends on the organic inputs. As such, other than a few fertil... more Sustainability of organic farming depends on the organic inputs. As such, other than a few fertilizers and plant protection measures, there have been scanty resources available to farmers for continuing organic farming. Some farmers in India have evolved traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) based location specific practices to sustain their agroecosystems and continue organic farming. In this paper, an attempt has been made to explore TEK-led adaptations in bio-mulching to grow ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) as a crop and to test empirically the best practices including identifying the best leaves and local bio-mulching materials applied by farmers. The role of TEK-led adaptive practices for controlling moisture loss, temperature regulation, reduced disease incidence, quality yield and economic aspects of ginger production are examined. The study was conducted in nine randomly selected villages of Champawat district, Uttrakhand (Western Himalaya). Data was collected using open ended questions in association with participatory rural appraisal (PRA) tools. Results indicated that farmers have developed major TEK led adaptive practices for organic ginger production after seeding in the field, namely using the leaves of oak (Quercus leucotrichophora A. Camus.), chir pine needles (Pinus roxburghii Sarg.), local mixed grasses (e.g., Chrysopogon fulvus (Spreng.) Chiov, [Cymbopogon distans (Nees ex Steud.) W. Watson], [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R.Br. syn. Setaria glauca (L.) P. Beauv], [Heteropogon contortus (L.) P.Beauv. ex Roem. & Schult]. shrubs [Chromolaena odorata (L.) R.M.King & H.Rob.] syn. Eupatorium odoratum L.) and animal wastage. This last consists of mixed oak, bhimal (Grewia optiva J.R. Drumm ex Burret), kharik (Celtis australis L.), timala (Ficus auriculata Lour.syn. Ficus roxburghii Stud.) leaves, grasses, paddy and finger millet straw and cow dung and urine. Women were observed to be using more of these TEK led adaptive practices than men. Empirical field studies carried out on TEK led adaptive practices under rain-fed agro ecosystems of farmers revealed significant results including longer rhizome length (up to 6.50 cm), higher number of rhizomes per plant (35.30), higher ginger yield (211.50 q/ha), higher B:C (benefit to cost) ratio (1:2.18) and lower percentage of disease (bacterial wilt; soft rot and leaf spot) incidence (17.5%) in oak leaf mulch. Soil moisture conservation (44.75%) and optimum soil temperature (24.80 0 C) were recorded as significantly better under the oak leaves for using bio-mulching as compared to all other TEK led bio-mulching practices for organic ginger production. The oak leaves used as bio-mulch in organic ginger increased yield by 43% and net returns by 61% as compared to no mulching (control). It is concluded that, under temperate climate and rain-fed agro ecosystems, TEK led adaptive practices by farmers in growing ginger are economically feasible, energy efficient and ecologically sustainable, through the addition of soil organic carbon. However, there is need for scientific and institutional promotion in participatory modes for such practices, with a provision for integrating these practices with science and policy on climate adaptation.
The present study was attempted to develop an automated irrigation system for real-time irrigatio... more The present study was attempted to develop an automated irrigation system for real-time irrigation management using soil moisture sensor, decision support system, level sensor, level controller, GSM receiver, transmitter, solenoid valve, water meter and pump. The performance of developed automated irrigation system was evaluated under different methods of irrigation in broccoli crop. The field experiment in Broccoli crop was conducted (2013-14 and 2014-15 ) in split plot designwith three irrigation methods, i.e. check-basin, furrow and drip irrigation as main plot treatments, and irrigation control methods, i.e. automated and manually-controlled assub-plot treatments. Water saving, water productivity and cost economics of developed system were calculated and compared under different studied irrigation methods. It was found in the present study that the sensor based automated drip irrigation system resulted in highest irrigation water productivity (9.7 kg/m3) and crop water productiv...
The biotransformation of sucrose to fructooligosaccharides was investigated using the catalytic a... more The biotransformation of sucrose to fructooligosaccharides was investigated using the catalytic action of fructosyltransferase originated from marine Aspergillus niger, using whole cell immobilization. The biomass production and enzymatic reaction were carried out in shake flask. A fructosyltransferase enzyme producing fungi locally isolated from sea water from South East cost of India, by using potato dextrose broth medium and identified as Aspergillus niger. To evaluate the fructosyltransferase activity two biomass concentrations (6 and 9.5 g L-1) of Aspergillus niger mycelia were used. Cultural and physiological characteristics of the isolate were studied. Aspergillus niger produced an inducible intracellular FTFase enzyme in a high yield (37.04U/ml). Hydrolysis and subsequent analysis showed that the product consisted entirely of D-fructose. The result shows the enzyme reaction reached its maximal activity when the reaction was conducted at 65 ºC, pH 8.0 in 16 hrs.
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