An experimental study was conducted during the kharif 2023 season at the Agricultural
Research Station, Mugad, to assess the effects of different Site-Specific Nutrient
Management (SSNM) techniques on nutrient uptake and use efficiency of primary nutrients
in transplanted rice. A split-plot design was used with three replications, featuring two rice
varieties, Mugad Siri (M 1 ) and Mugad Sugandha (M 2 ), as the main plots and various SSNM-
based fertilizer treatments as subplots. These treatments included Soil Test Crop Response
(T 2 ), Rice Crop Manager (T 3 ), Nutrient Expert (T 4 ), the Recommended Package of Practices
(T 1 ) and an absolute control (T 5 ). Soil samples were collected and analysed for N, P 2 O 5 and
K 2 O. The Rice Crop Manager (RCM) treatment (T 3 ) achieved the highest recovery efficiency
(57.07% N, 59.74% P, 128.25% K) and agronomic efficiency (19.17 kg grain kg -1 N applied,
80.72 kg grain kg -1 P applied). STCR (T 2 ) showed the highest agronomic efficiency for K
(83.85 kg grain kg -1 K applied) and physiological use efficiency for N (39.95 kg grain kg -1 N
uptake) and K (69.54 kg grain kg -1 K uptake). M 2 showed more recovery efficiency (38.86%,
38.52% and 96.32%) and agronomic use efficiency (13.81kg grain kg -1 N applied, 56.54kg
grain kg -1 P applied and 43.69kg grain kg -1 K applied)of N, P and K respectively. M 1 showed
Physiological use efficiency (30.03kg grain kg -1 N uptake, 131.15kg grain kg -1 P uptake and
39.03kg grainkg -1 K uptake) of N, P and K respectively. No actual gain of soil N, P 2 O 5 and
K 2 O was observed. an apparent gain of N (23.68 kg ha -1 ), P 2 O 5 (21.18 kg ha -1 ) and K 2 O (9.74
kg ha -1 ) was observed.

Pink brinjal or kashmiri baingan, is one of the most popular and widely consumed vegetables
in J&K. It is preferred for its attractive colour, silky texture, tiny seeds and delectable flesh.
The majority of farmers use their own saved seed or landraces, regionally accessible
germplasm, as well as readily available private seed company cultivars from the local market
. Pink brinjal growers in the Jammu region suffer greatly due to the lack of high yielding
varieties/hybrids as well as the prevalence of insect pests and diseases during the summer and
rainy season. The present investigation was conducted during the year 2024-2025 to estimate
the magnitude of genetic variability, to find out the correlation between the traits under study
and work out the path analysis for twenty-one quantitative, qualitative, seed and biotic stress
traits in pink brinjal. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design
with 37 genotypes (8 parents, one check and 28 F 1 hybrids) replicated thrice. The analysis of
genotypic and phenotypic coefficient variance revealed a higher magnitude of PCV than the
corresponding GCV for all characters which indicated the effect of environment on the
character expression. The highest PCV and GCV were obtained for unmarketable fruit yield
per plant. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance was observed for fruit weight
showing the influence of additive gene action on the characters hence, may be useful for
selection. Fruit yield per hectare showed a positive and significant correlation with plant height,
fruit diameter, number of fruits per plant, fruit weight, total phenol content, marketable fruit
yield per plant, unmarketable fruit yield per plant and total fruit yield per plant while fruit
yield per hectare showed a negative and significant correlation with days to first flowering,
days to first harvest, number of branches per plant, plant spread and fruit length. Marketable
fruit yield per plant, unmarketable fruit yield per plant and seed vigor index showed
maximum direct effect on fruit yield per hectare. The high direct effect of these traits appears
to be the main factor for their strong association with fruit yield per hectare. Besides direct
selection for fruit yield indirect selection through total fruit yield per plant, fruit diameter and
fruit weight should be considered for further improvement in fruit yield per hectare of brinjal.
The findings suggest that the identified traits can be considered as reliable selection indices
for yield improvement in pink brinjal.

Food security is challenged by many issues i.e. poverty, illiteracy, lack of technology innovation
and damage by insect-pests. Survey was carried out in Sirsa, Hisar and Bhiwani which are major wheat-
growing districts of Haryana, India. A total of 300 farmers from 30 randomly selected villages were
interviewed with the help of well-structured questionnaire. It was evident from the data that high
percentage of farmers was aware of wheat stored grain insect-pests and was able to identify the insect
pests of stored wheat grains. It was reported that metal bins were the most preferred structure for wheat
storage followed by gunny bags, though the lack of scientific storage was the major problem during
storage. It was evident that the adoption of ancient management practices was common among the
farmers along with chemical treatments. The study revealed that most preferred management practice
among the farmers to control the insect-pest was sanitation and drying the grains. The study also
concluded that farmers faced many problems during storage but loss due to rats and insect-pests were the
major constraints during storage.

The Farmer FIRST Programme (FFP), launched by the Indian Council of Agricultural
Research (ICAR), represents a paradigm shift in agricultural research by positioning farmers
as central stakeholders in the innovation process. This study explores the participatory model
adopted across five ICAR institutes – ICAR-IIMR, ICAR-CRIDA, ICAR-IIOPR,
TANUVAS, and ICAR-IIOR – emphasizing the co-development and validation of context-
specific technologies. Through extensive farmer-scientist interface activities including
trainings, field visits, and exposure programs, over 24,000 farmers were engaged in adaptive
problem-solving. Empirical findings reveal significant gains in crop productivity, resource
efficiency, and household incomes. Notable successes include enhanced millet yields,
improved irrigation efficiency, reduced input costs, and the empowerment of women through
value-addition initiatives. The participatory approach has not only bridged extension gaps but
also enabled farmers to emerge as community knowledge leaders. The FFP offers a replicable
model of inclusive innovation, showcasing the transformative potential of collaborative
research in addressing the socio-economic and environmental challenges of smallholder
agriculture in India.

A field experiment was conducted during the Kharif season of 2023 at the College
Agronomy Farm, B.A. College of Agriculture, Anand Agricultural University, Anand. The study
aimed to evaluate the impact of various organic sources on the quality of Kodo millet and the
associated soil properties under organic farming conditions. The trial site's soil had a loamy sand
texture, was medium in accessible potassium and phosphorus, and had low levels of organic
carbon and available nitrogen. The experiment was conducted in a Randomized Complete Block
Design with three replications and ten treatments. Experiment results showed that application of
75 % N through castor cake fb soil drenching of Bio NPK consortium (1.0 L/ha) at 30 and 45
DAS reported higher protein content, nitrogen and phosphorus content and uptake by grain and
straw, phosphorus content and zinc uptake by straw, calcium and iron uptake by grain and straw.
Iron and potassium content in grain and zinc content in straw was significantly higher where 100
% nitrogen was applied through vermicompost. Nitrogen content in straw was observed higher in
treatment 75 % N through neem cake fb soil drenching of Bio NPK consortium (1.0 L/ha) at 30
and 45 DAS. After harvest soil nutrient status like nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium as well as
soil microbial population were significantly higher by application of 75 % N through castor cake
fb soil drenching of Bio NPK consortium (1.0 L/ha) at 30 and 45 DAS. The application of
various organic treatments had no significant effect on the calcium content in grain and straw,
iron content in straw, and post-harvest soil parameters such as electrical conductivity (EC), pH,
and organic carbon.

Assessing the degree to which paddy farmers knew and implemented the
suggested bio-fertilizers techniques for paddy cultivation was the goal of the current study.
The researcher conducted the study in the selected six villages located in Gudiyattam Taluk
of Tamil Nadu’s Vellore District. A total sample size of 120 respondents selected, considering
time constraints and resource availability. From the selected six villages, 120 respondents
selected using a proportionate random sampling technique. A structured interview schedule
used to collect data, ensuring that information gathered in a methodical manner. The
researcher conducted face-to-face interviews with the respondents for data-collection and the
gathered data gone through examination and tallied for the proper statistical assessment to get
information. The findings of the study indicated that little less than half of the respondents
(45.83%) knew very little about the recommended bio-fertilizerss practices for paddy
cultivation, followed by medium-level knowledge (39.16%) and high-level knowledge
(15.00%). Slightly more than half of the respondents (56.66%) fell into the low
adoption category, while 33.34 per cent demonstrated a medium level of adoption, and only
10.00 per cent achieved a high level of adoption of bio-fertilizers practices in paddy
cultivation.

The study was conducted from 2022 to 2025 in the Ayodhya region of Uttar Pradesh, which had
the highest number of farmers registered under the PM-KISAN scheme compared to other
regions in the state. The research focused on beneficiaries in the Ayodhya and Amethi districts.
A list of beneficiary farmers was obtained, and 32 villages were randomly selected based on
beneficiary availability across the Milkipur, Haringtonganj, Mawai, Amaniganj, Amethi,
Musafirkhana, Gauriganj, and Jagdishpur blocks. Using a proportional random sampling method,
a total of 320 farmers were selected as the study sample. Data was collected through a semi-
structured interview schedule. A semi-structured interview schedule was used to collect the data from
the respondents. The results of the study revealed that 64.68 per cent respondents has medium level of
attitude towards PM-KISAN Scheme followed by 18.13 per cent High and 17.19 per cent have low level
of attitude. There was similarity found in the rank assignment pattern regarding attitude of beneficiary and
non-beneficiary respondents about PMKISAN, though there was a difference in the magnitude of Mean
Percent Scores (MPS) of beneficiary and non-beneficiary farmers. A positive and significant association
was found between the attitude and some selected characteristics like education, age, occupation,
exposure to mass media and contact with extension agency. The factors like caste, social participation,
annual income, land holding, source of irrigation, information seeking behavior and information sharing
behavior have not shown any significant contribution to the multiple regression analysis and were non-
significantly associated with attitude of overall respondents. Challenges of the study included logistical
constraints in reaching remote villages, language and cultural barriers during interviews, and occasional
non-cooperation from respondents due to political or personal biases regarding the PM-KISAN scheme.
Additionally, maintaining the consistency and neutrality of responses across a diverse sample posed
methodological challenges.
The major contribution of the study lies in its empirical insights into the attitude levels of farmers towards the PM-KISAN scheme and the identification of key socio-personal variables that significantly influence
these attitudes. The findings can inform policymakers and extension personnel in tailoring
communication strategies and interventions to improve farmer engagement and satisfaction with
government welfare programs.

This study evaluates the soil fertility status of diverse agro-ecosystems in Samastipur District,
Bihar, using the Nutrient Index Value (NIV) approach. Soil samples from five land use patterns –
mango orchard, forest land, sugarcane field, dhab land, and uncultivated land – were analyzed for key
physical, chemical, and biological properties. The highest NIV for organic carbon (2.08) was
observed in mango orchard and forest land, while uncultivated land had the lowest (1.00). Nitrogen
availability followed a similar trend, with mango orchards showing a medium NIV (2.00) and other
systems classified as low. Phosphorus and potassium levels varied, with sugarcane fields exhibiting
the highest phosphorus NIV (2.08) and forest land showing the highest potassium NIV (2.00).
Biological parameters, such as microbial biomass carbon, were significantly higher in mango orchards
(124.47 mg kg⁻¹) compared to uncultivated land (64.67 mg kg⁻¹). These findings emphasize the importance of tailored soil management practices to enhance land-use sustainability. This paper
highlights NIV’s role as a pragmatic tool for soil fertility assessment, aiding in informed agricultural
decision-making.

Suryapet district in, Telangana state of, India is a semi-arid region facing frequent
droughts and depleting groundwater levels despite receiving an average annual rainfall is 820
mm. Dependance on deep bore wells causes severe water shortages during summer,
making groundwater recharge essential for sustainable water management. in this region.
This study uses geospatial techniques—integrating GIS and remote sensing—to identify
groundwater recharge zones and potential artificial recharge sites. Thematic layers
comprising of rainfall, geomorphology, drainage density, slope, and Land Use Land Cover
were prepared and used. The study introduces a comprehensive methodology categorizing the
zones into five classes namely, very poor, poor, moderate, high, and best. The findings
indicated that the best groundwater recharge area spans 488.54 km² (13.54%), followed by
high potential zones covering 2077.97 km² (57.61%), and moderate zones spanning 754.6
km² (20.92%). Conversely, poor potential zones account for 285.79 km² (7.92%). The study
identified additional recharge sites characterized by low drainage density, optimal water
storage capacity, flat terrain, and agricultural utility. By intersecting lineament and drainage
maps, an artificial recharge site map was generated, identifying 1102 potential sites. Among
these, 502 sites fall under the moderate potential zone, while 49 sites lies in the best zone.
The results were verified against field data, demonstrating strong concurrence. The
research underscores the efficacy of GIS innovation coupled with RS and weighted overlay
analysis in identifying groundwater recharge zones and artificial recharge sites. This method
not only enhances accuracy but also optimizes resource utilization, reduces time, and curtails
costs.

Water is the source of life. Identifying small water bodies in rocky terrain (Guelta) becomes important
especially in desert regions with limited rain throughout the year. Saudi Arabia has many of these gueltas yet
their locations are not entirely known nor the ecosystem surrounding it is sufficiently studied. In this project
we have combined GIS with remote sensing to build an automated supervised classifier to identify these
gueltas. Before that can be used, the full cycle of data preprocessing and data quality checks were
implemented to clean the data. In terms of accuracy of known gueltas, ground truth locations were assessed
which revealed 70% of gueltas were correctly classified. Further more, random sampling technique was used
for 20 random coordinates, out of which five turned out to be gueltas. Also spectral signature plots were used
to study each Guelta independently. In this work we have identified an initial