Composting is a natural process of decomposing organic materials such as food scraps, yard
waste, and other biodegradable materials under controlled conditions. It is a process that mimics
nature's way of breaking down organic matter into a rich, dark, and earthy-smelling soil
amendment called compost. Composting can be done in various ways, including using a compost
bin, a compost tumbler, or simply creating a compost pile.
Insect-mediated composting is a method of composting organic waste using the larvae of certain
insects, such as black soldier flies, red runner cockroaches, dermestid beetles etc. In this process,
the insects consume the organic waste, breaking it down into simpler compounds and producing
nutrient-rich compost. Insect-mediated composting is a sustainable and efficient way to manage
organic waste, and it has gained attention as a potential solution for addressing the growing
problem of waste management in many countries.
Information on insect-mediated composting was gathered from secondary data sources. These
sources identified black soldier fly larvae, red runner cockroaches, dermestid beetles, dung
beetles, mealworms, and soldier beetles as suitable insects for composting. However, challenges
were encountered while collecting data from various sources. Future research could explore
comparative studies of these insects in the composting process.
The present paper concludes that the insects used in composting are Black Soldier Fly Larvae,
Red Runner Cockroaches, Dermestid Beetles, Dung Beetles, Meal worms, Soldier beetle. It was
observed from table 2 that majority of the insects (Dermestid Beetles , Dung beetles, Meal worm,
Soldier Beetles ) undergo four main stages i.e Egg, Larvae, pupae and adult in life cycle.
However black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) have five stages of family life cycle while red runner
coackroach has 3 stages of life cycle. Larval stage was the longest phase of the life cycle for
dermestid beetles, dung beetles, Meal worms and soldier beetles; adult stage was longest phase
for red runner coach where as larvae and pupae stages are the longest phases for black soldier fly
larvae (BSFL). Table 3 revealed that more or less same steps were found in processing the
compost by these six types of insects. feasibility of rearing of the insects at household level was
observed, only black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) found to have low space requirements, low
maintenance with efficient waste reduction and production of protein(Table 4). It was observed
from table 5 that all 6 types of insects can compost at commercial level by following the same steps that
have been observed in household-level composting. Organic waste, such as fruit and vegetable
scraps, food waste, agricultural waste, and animal manure, is collected from different sources. The waste
is sorted and processed to remove any non-biodegradable materials. Reasons for feasibility of
black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) rearing at commercial level revealed that high reproduction rate,
high feed conversion efficiency, low maintenance, multiple revenue strings and environmental
benefits (Table 6). Various countries were rearing different types of insects for composting the
waste. Except soldier beetle rest of the five types of the insects are being reared in USA (Table
7). When insect rearing places were observed in India it showed that soldier beetle is not being
reared in India at all. While Karnataka, Tamilnadu and Maharashtra states are rearing other five
types of insects (Table 8). Since these insects are pretentious food, its consumption
and acceptance in different countries was observed (Table 9). Mexico Thailand, China, Vietnam,
Cambodia and many African countries consume these insects by roasting or frying. In US and
Europe there is a growing interest in edible insects. However several constraints were observed
to promote insects for consumption in India (Table 10) i.e majorly cultural barriers followed by
lack of awareness, regulatory challenges, environmental concerns and legal barriers. The
technology and equipment is necessary for large scale production and processing of insects for
human consumption is not readily available. Compost generated by these six types of insects has
good nutrient content so that it can be used for plants as fertilizer (Table 11). Insect composting
has a positive effect on reducing the release of green house gases (Table 12).It was noticed that
insect mediated compost reduces the emission of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide.
Benefits of the insect mediated compost were analysed in Table 13.Various advantages observed
were reduced waste disposal cost, increased nutrient value, improved soil health, reduced green
house gases emissions, reduced water usage and enhanced biodiversity, plant growth and yield.
Advantages of insect mediated rearing in India were found to be effective organic waste
management, biodiversity conservation, sustainable lively hood, reduction in chemical fertilizer
use and low maintenance (Table 15). Insect mediate rearing in India found to face certain
disadvantages like high cost of infrastructure and maintenance lack of technical knowledge rules
and regulations , limited market demand and climate sensivity. India has a large growing
population that present’s the significant market for insect based enterprises which depend on
various factors like demand for insect byproducts in the market, interest in sustainable
agriculture, resilient to climate change, regulatory requirements, market demand and rate of
investment (Table18). Different by products are generated from insect mediated composting
which include larvae, oil, frass, chitin and protein powder exclusively from BSFL (Table19).
Table 20 revealed the cost of insect mediated composting affected by several factors such as
labour cost, infrastructure cost, feed stock cost, equipment cost marketing and distribution cost.
Equipment cost includes the cost of containers or bins for the compost, Labour cost include the
size of operation and number of people involved in managing the compost. The cost of insect
mediated compost based on quality revealed that high quality red runner coackroach compost is
very expensive i.e 300 rupees per kg while high quality compost for dung beetles is 150 Rs per
Kg (Table 21). Any insect based compost cost can be estimated based on the amount of feed
stock requirement and amount of labour required, cost of equipment and infrastructure (Scale of
operation) : Cost of feed stock such as food waste, agricultural waste and yard waste and
transportation cost (Table 22).

A Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) marker was used for identifying
and mapping the population in pea (Pisum sativum). The presence of multiple polymorphisms
between cultivars and lines revealed at least one fragment for any given primer was present in
the DNA of one form of pea and absent in the DNA of another line or cultivar. Polymerase
chain reaction (PCR) based molecular marker viz. random amplified polymorphic DNA was
applied to 20 germplasm of Pea to assess the degree of polymorphism within the genes and to
investigate the genetic studies in Pea. This study, using 20 germplasm of pea was evaluated
for variability using a panel of 14 random l0-mer primers. The polymorphisms in PCR
amplification products were subjected to the unweighted pair group method for arithmetic
averages (UPGMA) and plotted in a dendrogram based on similarity data showing that all the
cultivars analyzed were related. Eleven out of 14 primers revealed scorable 60-polymorphic
bands between cultivars of Pisum sativum and the rest did not show polymorphism in their
genetic level. All the 60 amplified bands were polymorphic and the numbers of bands
produced per primer ranged from band 3 to 11 bands. PIC, EMR, and MI values ranged from
0.22 to 0.37, 1.00 to 5.20, and 0.34 to 1.92 with the average of PIC, EMR, and MI values
being 0.34, 2.86, and 0.95 respectively. In addition, the value of resolving power (RP) ranged
from 0.80 to 6.20 with an average value of 2.59. GS (Genetic similarity) value ranged from
0.13 between genotypes VL-3 and Arka Ajit and 0.90 between genotype AP-3 and Arka
Priya.

The present research was conducted on the gizzard of 06 indigenous poultry of the Poonch
region. The gizzard wall consisted of tunica mucosa containing mucosal glands, tunica
submucosa, tunica muscularis and tunica serosa with an additional koilin layer. Lamina
epithelialis consisted of simple columnar epithelium. Lamina propria contained gastric glands
which were simple tubular branched in cranial and middle parts of the gizzard whereas simple
tubular glands in the caudal part. Lamina muscularis mucosae was absent except at few
locations towards the caudal part of the gizzard. The koilin layer, epithelium, lamina propria
submucosa and tunica muscularis were significantly thicker in the middle part of the gizzard.
The koilin layer, epithelium of mucosal folds and secretory material within the lumen of glands
showed positive PAS reaction. Superficial glands showed strong PAS reaction whereas the
deeper glands showed a positive reaction for Alcian Blue. The koilin layer showed a strong
reaction for basic proteins and a moderate reaction for lipids.

This study evaluated spatial and temporal changes in Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, and
Xylene (BTEX) levels of ambient air in high-traffic highways of Tehran (Iran)individually during four
seasons, 2021-2022. High High-traffic areas were selected in the study area. According to the
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health method 1501, air samples were collected from
10 stations by personal air sampling pump and charcoal sorbent, extracted by carbon disulfide, and
analyzed by gas chromatography-flame ionization detector. MATLAB software was used for spatial
modeling of BTEX level changes and GIS software for zoning distribution of parameter level changes.
The highest BTEX level was in the northwest regions, and the maximum pollution corresponded to
autumn, especially the concentrations of benzene and toluene compounds, which were higher than
the ambient air quality standards of Iran and the US Environmental Protection Agency. The highest
amount of benzene was seen in the autumn season with an average value of 34.51 ppb and in winter with an average value of 22.83 ppb, and the lowest amount of benzene was in the summer season with 22.84 ppb. The highest amount of toluene was 427.76 ppb in autumn and the lowest amount was 80.13 ppb in spring. The highest amount of xylene concentration with an average of 187.80 ppb was related to the summer season and the lowest amount was 0 ppb in autumn. The highest amount of ethylbenzene in summer was 95.67ppb. To conclude, there is a need to diminish and control the level of BTEX pollutants caused by transportation sources in Tehran.

Aggregatum or multiplier type onion is grown extensively in Southern states of India, which is
propagated through bulbs. The production of small onion is 12-16 tonnes/ha in a duration of 70
to 90 days. Presently Aggregatum onion manually planting the root portion oriented downwards
as pressed in to irrigated field on ridge and furrows system. Recent days farmers are shifting to
raised bed method of cultivation to adopt micro irrigation system. Manual planting of onion bulb
is highly labour intensive due to the close plant geometry among the vegetable crops. Generally,
about 80-100man days are required to plant one hectare of onion at a spacing of 15 cm with row
to row and plant to plant spacing of 10 cm. Hence development of onion bulb planter is required
and in case of mechanical planter, there is a possibility of four planting position of onion bulbs.
Hence, an experiment was carried at ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bengaluru
to evaluating the suitability of planting position of multiplier onion bulb for mechanized planting
during Kharif and Rabi season. A raised bed of 47 m length and 0.9 m width was formed
manually, and onion bulbs were planted with row to row spacing of 15 cm and plant to plant
spacing of 10 cm. The experiment has four treatments viz., a) root portion down, b) root portion
up, c) horizontal and d) inclined with 5 replications and a randomized block design was imposed.
The growth parameters namely i) germination percentage at 7th and 15th DAP (Days after
planting), ii) Plant height 15th and 30th DAP and yield were observed. The results were
statistically analyzed. It was observed that the growth parameters were on par in all the three
treatments (a, c and d) except in treatment (b).

The study aims to elucidate the constraints faced by sericulturists to pests and disease
management in Tamil Nadu. An ex-post-facto research design was followed for the study
conducted during 2022-2023 in purposively selected blocks of Erode, Tirupur and Coimbatore
districts. Samples of 120 farmers were selected using a proportionate sampling procedure and
information was gathered and analyzed by Garrette’s ranking technique. The results of this study
revealed majority of the sericulturists faced major constraints such as a lack of technical
knowledge regarding the use of recommended IDM and IPM, high mortality of silkworms due to
improper use of insecticides and fungicides, high cost of insecticides and fungicides and less
availability of bio-control agents. In addition, suggestions given by respondents to overcome the
constraints in adopting IDM and IPM were also recorded and ranked.

A comparative study was undertaken to evaluate the antimicrobial and antioxidant efficacy of
Rosemary oil (RO), Oregano oil (OO), and Thyme oil (TO)on physico-chemical, microbial, and
sensory attributes of chicken nuggets. Chicken nuggets were formulated with the addition of a pre-
standardized level of 0.1% essential oils of RO(T 1 ),OO(T 2 ), TO(T 3 ),along with a control. Fresh
chicken nugget developed were analyzed for various physico-chemical (emulsion product pH,
emulsion stability, product yield, shear force value, proximate analysis, calorific value, DPPH
scavenging activity, total phenolic content, fatty acid composition)and sensory parameters. The
physic-chemical, proximate analysis, fatty acid composition and sensory attributes of treatment
groups were significantly (p<0.05) higher than control. In order to evaluate the antimicrobial
efficacy of essential oil, the aerobically packed chicken nuggets were subjected to storage studies
viz., product pH, free fatty acids, DPPHs cavenging activity, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances
value, tyrosine value, microbiological and sensory parameters for 35day’s at 7day’s interval under
refrigerated condition. As the storage period progresses the quality attributes gradually and
significantly (p<0.05) decreases, but were well within the limits of acceptability. Thus it is
concluded that among the three different essential oils used, 0.1% level of thyme oil added to
chicken nuggets was found to be optimum and it can be effectively stored up to 28day’s under
refrigerated conditions (4±1˚C) without marked loss in storage quality.

Pulses enhance the protein content of cereal-based diets and improve the composition of the cereal-based diets. Horse gram
[Macrotyloma unilorum (Lam.) Verdc.] is one of the underutilized pulses which is generally called as protein-rich poor man’s crop which has a good nutritive proile and resistance to various abiotic and biotic stresses. Three different genotypes of horse gram with different colors viz., black, cream and brown were procured from the University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad during the kharif season of 2022 and research on nutrient composition, mineral composition, nutraceutical content, and antinutrient content of horse gram was carried out at Department of Food Science and Nutrition, College of Community Science, Dharwad, Karnataka. Among the proximates, the protein and crudeiber contents were high in brown followed by black and cream-colored variety. The calcium, iron,copper and zinc content were signiicantly higher in black colored variety followed by the brown and cream-colored variety whereasthe manganese content was signiicantly higher in the black and brown-colored variety. The polyphenol, tannin and antioxidan activity of black-colored variety were higher compared to brown and cream-colored varieties. The soluble, insoluble and totasolubleiber content in colored varieties ranged from 1 to 1.03 per cent, 27.70 to 27.74 per cent and 28.70 to 28.77 per centrespectively. A high amount of antinutrients i.e., phytic acid and oxalic acid was found in black colored variety followed by the brown and cream-colored variety.

Plant hoppers are the major yield limiting factor faced by the farmers of Eastern
Vidarbha zone of Maharashtra who failed to achieve the control of hoppers with the
conventional insecticides which paves the way to introduce the new methods of management
practices for the plant hoppers in rice. Therefore alleyways in rice crop and its effect on
incidence of plant hoppers are studied at different location as field experimenti. Multi location
field trial on effect of alley ways on hoppers incidence in rice crop in randomized block design
with five replications of four treatments viz.,T1: Alleyways of 30 cm after every 10 rows or 2 m in
rice crop, T2: 2 Chemical sprays at 15 days interval (Flonicamid 50 % WG @ 3 g/10 Liter water at
60 DAT and Fipronil 5% SC @ 20 ml/10 Liter water at 75 DAT), T3:T1 + T2 and T4: Untreated
control at Agriculture Research Station, Sakoli, Dist. Bhandara and Zonal Agriculture Research
Station, Sindewahi, Dist. Chandrapur during kharif 2019 and kharif 2020. The results revealed
that treatment with alleyways of 30 cm after every 10 rows or 2 m in rice crop + 2 Chemical
sprays viz., Flonicamid 50 % WG @ 3 g/10liter water at 60 DAT and Fipronil 5% SC @ 20 ml/10
liter water at 75 DAT was found effective for management of hoppers and getting higher grain
yield of rice crop and higher monetary return.

The field experiments were conducted at the Livestock Farm Complex, Tamil Nadu
Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. Five years old
Silvipasture and hortipasture systems established in an acre at livestock farm complex were
taken for the study. The species under the storey of the trees were identified, and counted for
calculation of phytosociology indices and palatability. Based on the biomass collected seasonally
were used for calculation of carrying capacity and water use efficiency of pastures. The results
showed that 20 and 6 species were identified under the storey of the trees in the pasture systems.
The phytosociological indices revealed that the major species belonged to graminacea family
followed by cyperaceae and amaranthaceae in silvipasture system and graminaceae and fabaceae
in hortipasture system. Irrespective of the pasture system, higher biomass was produced during
kharif season followed by rabi season. The higher biomass production of 1959.5± 41.4 kg ha -1
was recorded with hortipasture system followed by 1876.2± 39.7 kg ha -1 during rabi season under
hortipasture system. Under silvipasture system, during rabi season, the biomass produced was
1318.2± 15.2 kg ha -1 and during kharif season, the biomass production was 1122.4± 13.0 kg ha -1 .
The carrying capacity of 10.74 sheep ha -1 was calculated for kharif season under hortipasture
system and 7.3 sheep ha -1 for silvipasture system. The lowest carrying capacity was during the
winter season (5.40±0.0012 sheep ha -1 and 4.1± 0.0063 sheep ha -1 ) during hortipasture and
silvipasture system respectively. Water use efficiency obtained during summer season was
highest during the summer season (2.06 kg mm -1 ) under the hortipasture system, whereas
silvipasture system recorded 1.525 2.06 kg mm -1 . The lowest water use efficiency of 0.171 kg
mm -1 was recorded under hortipasture system and 0.103 kg mm -1 was recorded under silvipasture
system during rabi season.