The process of cutting agricultural materials stands as one of the pivotal operations,
primarily employed in harvesting and threshing to achieve the necessary separation and
subsequent fragmentation of plant components. Essential fodder preparation tasks such as
straw chopping, baling, and mulching also heavily rely on cutting processes, demanding a
substantial amount of energy. This article provides a comprehensive overview of research
factors, operational parameters and crop properties that influence the performance of
cutting mechanisms for agricultural crops, offering valuable insights to design engineers
for crafting suitable incentives to adapt to crop variations.The velocity of cutting and the
configuration of blades emerge as critical factors in crop harvesting. The proportion of
energy consumption during crop harvesting and threshing ranges from 7.9 to 35.9 percent
of the total operational energy expended. Cutting velocity and blade angles directly
impact the power demands and efficiency of harvesting machinery. Optimizing these
parameters can lead to energy savings during cutting while simultaneously enhancing
cutting quality.Furthermore, energy consumption during cutting is closely linked to
bending forces. Sharpness and blade material composition significantly influence wear
resistance and durability, making it imperative to select appropriate materials that can
sustain prolonged use in varying crop conditions. High power requirements are observed
with blunt blades, resulting in inefficient cutting. Hence, this paper is expected to
significantly aid design engineers, researchers, and other stakeholders in developing
efficient cutting mechanisms for new machinery and tailoring cutting mechanisms to suit
new species and varieties. It is anticipated that the findings of this study will contribute to
the modification of existing harvesters as well.

The research titled “Evaluation of morpho-physiological parameters of Arvi
[Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott)] genotypes using multivariate analysis” was carried out in
Dr. YSP University of Horticulture and Forestry, Solan (H.P). The experiment was laid out
in randomized block design comprising 23 diverse genotypes of colocasia, to ascertain the
heritability, genetic advance, correlation, path analysis and cluster analysis for yield and
other horticultural traits among the genotypes. The PCV and GCV were recorded high for
the number of cormels per plant, tuber yield per plot, weight of cormels per plant, plant
height and width of cormels and high heritability along with high genetic advance was
observed for width of corms, tuber yield per plot, plant height, dry matter percentage in
tubers, width of cormels and weight of corms per plant. The correlation coefficient studies
showed that tuber yield per plot had a significant and positive correlation with width of
corms, number of cormels per plant, weight of corms per plant, length of leaf lamina,
number of corms per plant, width of cormels and plant height at both genotypic and
phenotypic levels. Path coefficient showed that the maximum positive direct effect on tuber
yield per plot was exhibited by width of corms, number of cormels per plant, length of leaf
lamina, dry matter percentage in tubers, width of cormels, number of corms per plant and
breadth of leaf lamina. The dendrogram reveals three main clusters, each containing multiple
sub-clusters based on similarity. Hence, these characteristics should be given more helpful in
the selection program of high-yielding genotypes in colocasia.

Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) is a sustainable approach aimed at enhancing crop
productivity and maintaining soil health, particularly in cash crop systems. With the rising global
population and increasing demand for food and agricultural products, the need for balanced
nutrient management has become crucial. Conventional reliance on chemical fertilizers has led to
soil degradation, nutrient imbalances, and environmental pollution. INM integrates organic
manures, chemical fertilizers, andbiofertilizers to ensure optimal nutrient availability, improve soil
properties, and reduce the adverse environmental impacts of excessive fertilizer use.This review
highlights the role of INM in cash crops such as cotton, sugarcane, and potato, demonstrating its
effectiveness in improving yield and soil health. Studies indicate that INM enhances nutrient use
efficiency, promotes microbial activity, and sustains soil fertility in the long term. The
combination of organic amendments like farmyard manure (FYM), compost, and biofertilizers
with chemical fertilizers has shown significant improvements in crop productivity, nutrient uptake,
and soil structure. Additionally, INM practices contribute to environmental sustainability by
minimizing nutrient leaching and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.While INM presents a
promising solution to the challenges of soil fertility depletion and declining yields, further research
is needed to develop region-specific INM strategies and increase awareness among farmers
regarding its benefits. The adoption of INM can serve as a long-term strategy for ensuring food
security, sustaining soil health, and promoting eco-friendly agricultural practices.

A two-year study was conducted to assess the impact of tillage practices, irrigation
methods, and nitrogen management on the growth and yield parameters of wheat in the sub-
tropical region of Jammu. The study found that conventional tillage significantly
outperformed zero tillage in terms of growth characteristics, with higher values recorded for
plant height (96.30 cm vs. 95.4 cm), number of tillers (367.27 vs. 352.70), leaf area (2.95 vs.
1.9), and dry matter accumulation (913.77 g/m² vs. 908.48 g/m²) at harvest. Among the
irrigation treatments, the modified Penman-Monteith irrigation method (I 3 ) produced the
highest growth parameters, including plant height (97.05 cm), tiller number (357.90), leaf
area (3.07), and dry matter accumulation (925.55 g/m²). Yield parameters were also superior
under conventional tillage, which recorded the highest spike length (11.6 cm), grain yield
(4287.18 kg/ha), and straw yield (6158.07 kg/ha), compared to zero tillage (10.35 cm,
3962.68 kg/ha, 5884.79 kg/ha, respectively). The I 3 irrigation method resulted in the highest
spike length (11.75 cm), grain yield (4731.25 kg/ha), and straw yield (6209.64 kg/ha).
Among nitrogen management practices, the Sensor-based Green Seeker (N 3 ) application led
to the highest spike length (12.4 cm), grain yield (4872.92 kg/ha), and straw yield (6306.98
kg/ha).
Based on these findings, it is concluded that the combination of conventional tillage,
Penman-Monteith-based irrigation, and sensor-based Green Seeker nitrogen management is
the optimal strategy for enhancing wheat growth and yield in the sub-tropical region of
Jammu & Kashmir.

The present study was conducted in Alluri Sitharamaraju district of Andhra Pradesh during 2023-24.
Purposive sampling was used to choose 15 FPOs that participated in value addition for the study.
Random sampling technique is used in the selection of five respondents each from 15 FPOs and 5
officials making up the total sample size of 80. To ascertain the constraints, Kruskal–Wallis one-way
analysis of variance for independent samples and Friedman’s test for related samples were used. Five
different dimensions of constraints viz., personal, operational, infrastructural, economic and marketing
were identified. Kruskal-Wallis one-way ANOVA non-parametric test (Chi-Square = 39.12, df = 4, p
< 0.05) revealed that the level of influence of different constraints have differed significantly. The
mean ranks were determined and grouped based on the ascribed rank of the statements by the
respondents. The study concluded that marketing limitations (Mean Rank of 46.17) followed by
infrastructural constraints with a mean rank of 42.36 are the major obstacles. Further analysis of the
each group of the inhibiting factors was identified using the non-parametric Friedman’s test revealed
that social norms of members in joining FPOs, land alienation, adoption of local varieties, less know-
how on recommended practices, lack of drying yards, lack of package machinery, contract-based
agreements, poor access to institutional credit, side selling of farmers are the severe constraints. The
study faced few challenges that the selected tribal communities possess entrenched cultural beliefs,
which resulted in a reluctance to share information with those outside their group. Additionally,
geographical isolation and insufficient infrastructure complicated data collection efforts.

Naturally occurring bacteria in wastewater have a significant potential for bioremediation,
making them valuable for biological wastewater treatment. The effectiveness of microbial
communities in breaking down pollutants depends on their diversity and metabolic
capabilities. Therefore, developing environmentally friendly, indigenous microbial
consortia is crucial for efficient wastewater treatment. In this study, 20 bacterial strains
were isolated from wastewater samples collected from the dairy industry, sugar industry,
and hostel sewage water in Pusa, Bihar. These isolates were screened for their ability to
degrade starch, protein, and fat, as well as their potential to reduce Biological Oxygen
Demand (BOD) and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD). Among the 20 isolates, 18
exhibited starch degradation, 10 showed protein degradation, and 11 demonstrated fat
degradation. Notably, seven isolates (DS-13, DS-27, DS-57, DS-58, DS-67, DS-68, and
DS-72) exhibited all three degradation activities and were further analyzed for their
impact on BOD and COD reduction. Out of these seven isolates, three (DS-58, DS-67,
and DS-72) demonstrated the highest reductions in BOD and COD when inoculated into
autoclaved effluents from the dairy industry, sugar industry, and hostel sewage. In
contrast, the blank (un-autoclaved effluents without bacterial inoculation) recorded BOD
levels of 835 mg/L, 1035 mg/L, and 620 mg/L, and COD levels of 1680 mg/L, 2280
mg/L, and 1470 mg/L for the respective effluent sources. To enhance biodegradation
efficiency, these three bacterial isolates were combined into different formulations,
creating four distinct microbial consortia. Among them, consortium C4 (comprising DS-
58, DS-67, and DS-72) exhibited the highest biodegradation efficiency, with starch
degradation of 14 mm, protein degradation of 24 mm, and fat degradation of 18 mm.
Additionally, C4 significantly reduced BOD levels from 115 mg/L to 353 mg/L and COD
levels from 407 mg/L to 641 mg/L. These findings indicated that the formulated C4
consortium has strong potential for biological wastewater treatment by effectively
breaking down organic pollutants and reducing water pollution. Its application in
wastewater management can contribute to environmentally sustainable bioremediation
strategies.

Sustainability in Agriculture is an essential pursuit in this rapidly expanding tech-
driven world. The Farmer FIRST Programme is a flagship initiative of ICAR, aiming to
prioritize farmers by integrating indigenous technologies with newly developed ones. This
approach seeks to preserve sustainable and environmentally friendly technologies. The
present study was conducted during 2024-25 in ATARI Zone-X, where two adopted and two
non-adopted villages were selected from each of the five Institutes. From the adopted
villages, 30 beneficiary farmers were randomly selected, and from the non-adopted villages,
10 non-beneficiary farmers were randomly selected, making a total sample size of 400.
Through a thorough literature search and a preliminary survey among farmers, statements
measuring farmers' perceptions of sustainability were gathered which were then on
consultation with experts were checked and filtered. Using these statements a likert type of
scale was developed using COARSE method which was then used to collect final data the
responses from which were subjected to confirmatory factor analysis to validate the scale.
The responses were collected to assess the perception of farmers regarding sustainability in
agriculture. The majority of beneficiary farmers had a good (48.00%) perception, followed by
fair (37.00%) and poor (15.00%) perceptions. In contrast, most of the non-beneficiary
farmers had a fair (46.00%) perception, followed by poor (29.00%) and good (25.00%)
perceptions. By implementing strategies like public awareness campaigns, peer learning,
regular farmer-scientist interactions and by extension of farmer FIRST programme to non-
adopted villages farmers can be educated about sustainability in agriculture.

The research investigation was carried out in a hyper hyper-arid partially irrigated
western plain zone (Ic) of Rajasthan. Selected zone covered viz. Jaisalmer, Bikaner and some
parts of Churu districts. On the basis of the highest sheep population, Jaisalmer sandBikaner and
Bikaner district were selected for this research study.150 sheep farmers were chosen from each
district and 10 sheep farmers from each village were included in the proportional random sample
used to choose the respondents. With the use of a structured questionnaire, 300 sheep, a mix of
small, medium, and large sheep farmers were questioned. Under the objective 'measure the
contribution of sheep in the economy of sheep farmers ' the findings showed that the cost of feed
and fodders, concentrates, salt and mineral mixture, labour costs, veterinary expenses, and other
miscellaneous costs, as well as interest on fixed capital and capital depreciation, were all used to
help with the economic analysis. The total returns from sheep rearing, including wool, manure,
milk, and sales of animals (lambs, ewes, rams, etc.) were also included. Results shows that the
overall economic contribution from sheep rearing, as perceived by respondents was 43.00 per
cent in Jaisalmer and 42.07 per cent in Bikaner for small sheep farmers. For medium and large
sheep farmers, the contributions were higher, with medium farmers reporting 49.54 per cent in
Jaisalmer and 47.36 per cent in Bikaner. Large farmers reporting reported 58.49 per cent in
Jaisalmer and 56.98 per cent in Bikaner districts. Thus, it could be inferred that sheep enterprise
contribution contributes about 42.07 to 58.49 per cent in to the economy of sheep farmers in the
hyper hyper-arid partially irrigated western plain zone (Ic) of Rajasthan.

Samples of leaf spot disease were collected from a sapota orchard on the university
campus and brought to the laboratory, the pathogen was isolated using the hyphal tip technique,
and its pathogenicity was confirmed in both pot culture and moist blotter paper method.
Neopestalotiopsis protearum isolate was identified based on cultural characteristics,
morphology, pathogenicity tests, and molecular analysis. In the present investigation, biocontrol
agents and homeopathic medications are used to combat the sapota leaf spot pathogen. Isolation,
screening, and field testing of several biocontrol/homeopathic remedies requires substantial time,
people, and resources. A total of 3 fungal and 2 bacterial bioagents were evaluated against N.
protearum usingdual culture technique, out of which Trichoderma asperelloides and
Trichoderma asperellum were found most effective which recorded least mycelial growth of
2.25 cm, and 2.88 cm corresponding to highest mycelial growth inhibition 74.31% and 67.14%
respectively of the test pathogen over untreated control followed by Pseudomonas fluorescens
and Trichoderma harzianum which recorded 3.38 cm and 3.70 cm radial mycelial growth and
61.43% and 57.71% inhibition of the test pathogen respectively. Ten homeopathic drugs at the
concentration of 100 ppm were evaluated by employing poisoned food technique against N.
protearum out of which Arsenicum and Rhus toxicodendrum had the highest mycelial growth
inhibition percentage (100%), which was noteworthy when compared to the other drugs tested.

Sustainable fishing practices are essential for preserving aquatic ecosystems and ensuring
long-term fishery viability. This study assesses the awareness and adoption of sustainable
practices among fishermen in Telangana, India. A stratified sampling method was employed
across six districts, surveying 240 fishermen. Findings indicate that while awareness of
sustainable practices is moderate, adoption levels remain relatively low due to factors such as
limited extension services, economic pressures, and educational constraints. Key
determinants of awareness and adoption include fishing experience, extension contact, and
market orientation. The study underscores the need for enhanced extension services and
policy interventions to promote sustainability in fisheries.