In India, the invasion of Fall Army Worm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), was detected as a new exotic invasive pest in May 2018 on maize from Karnataka. By August 2018, the pest had spread to the entire maize-growing areas of South India, including Maharashtra. The study aims to investigate the effects of different temperature levels viz 20 °C, 25 °C, 30 °C, and 35 °C on the growth, development, and reproductive parameters of the fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) under laboratory conditions. One of the major challenges faced during the study was maintaining consistent environmental conditions and managing high mortality rates at extreme temperatures, which affected the continuity of data collection. Despite these difficulties, the study contributes valuable insights into the thermal thresholds and biological responses of FAW under controlled settings. The larva of S. frugiperda passed through six larval instars at all temperatures and successfully completed its life cycle at varying degrees on maize, being shortest at 35 °C (18.13 ± 0.06 days) and longest at 20 °C (60.00 ± 0.07 days). The highest fecundity of S. frugiperda was registered at 30 °C (764.40 eggs per female), followed by 25 °C (696.20 eggs per female), 20 °C (451.60 eggs per female), and lowest at 35 °C (195.20 eggs per female). Highest percent pupation and adult emergence were at 30 °C (92 ± 0.60% and 98.2 ± 0.48%) and lowest at 20 °C (34 ± 0.74%) and 35 °C (68.4 ± 0.70%), respectively. Thus, the optimum temperature for the efficient growth and development of S. frugiperda was within the range of 25 to 30 °C. The findings can support targeted pest management practices and predictive modeling of FAW outbreaks in varying agro-climatic zones.

Tribal communities in India often face food insecurity, malnutrition, and limited dietary diversity due to socio-economic constraints and dependence on subsistence agriculture. This study evaluates the impact of integrated agricultural interventions under the Tribal Sub Plan (TSP) on the dietary patterns, nutritional intake, and economic well-being of tribal households in Sonbhadra district, Uttar Pradesh. A longitudinal study was conducted from 2013 to 2023, assessing pre- and post-intervention dietary habits using structured household surveys, Principal Component Analysis (PCA), and statistical validation through Z-scores and paired t-tests. The intervention introduced high-yielding crop varieties, backyard poultry farming, and nutrition-sensitive agricultural practices, leading to a significant increase in dietary diversity, protein intake, and household income. The study confirms that crop-livestock integration enhances nutritional security and economic resilience in marginalized communities. Additionally, qualitative data from focus group discussions (FGDs) highlighted improved food accessibility, household empowerment, and self-reliance. The findings underscore the importance of scaling up such interventions through policy support, value addition in agriculture, and market linkages for long-term sustainability. This study contributes to the global discourse on agriculture-nutrition linkages and aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on hunger and health.

The research was undertaken within the framework of the Farmer FIRST Programme (FFP) in designated villages, with a primary focus on evaluating the efficacy of selected technologies and enhancing farmers’ livelihood security. Notably, the study incorporated the modified Livelihood Security Index (LSI) developed and introduced six modules to showcase improved agricultural technologies. For this study, a purposive sampling approach was employed, selecting all four FFP villages. The sample comprised 200 beneficiary farmers, randomly chosen for livelihood security assessment. Structured interviews were conducted with farmers, and statistical analyses, including mean, standard deviation, livelihood security index, paired t-test, and correlation coefficient, were applied to the collected data. The findings revealed significant positive impacts of technology adoption, leading to additional net profits and increased man-days in the project villages during the 2022-23 period. Diversification in farm enterprises was evident, contributing to an upward trend in the socioeconomic status of marginal, small, and medium farmers from 2016-17 to 2022-23. Livelihood options expanded during this time, with statistically significant positive changes observed in farmers’ livelihood security. The observed positive changes in livelihood security underscore the success of the FFP in promoting sustainable agricultural practices and improving the overall well-being of farmers. The diversification in farm enterprises and the increase in net profits indicate the program’s positive influence on farmers’ economic outcomes. The noteworthy expansion of livelihood options aligns with the broader goals of FFP, emphasizing holistic rural development. The study’s implications suggest that the Farmer FIRST Programme (FFP) has significantly enhanced farmers’ livelihood security and fostered sustainable agricultural practices. The positive outcomes, including increased net profits, diversified enterprises, and expanded livelihood options, underscore the program’s effectiveness in promoting rural development. These findings advocate for continued support and scaling of FFP initiatives, emphasizing the potential for similar agricultural programs to bring about positive socioeconomic changes and contribute to the overall well-being of farming communities.

French marigold (Tagetes patula L.) is a widely cultivated ornamental species, valued for its vibrant blooms and adaptability. However, low winter temperatures in northern India can adversely impact its vegetative growth and floral development, particularly during the early growth stages that coincide with peak winter. To assess cold stress tolerance, twenty French marigold genotypes were evaluated under natural winter conditions (November 2022–February 2023) in New Delhi. Various morphological traits (plant height, leaf length, and width), floral traits (days to visible flower bud colour, number of petals, petal dimensions, flower longevity), and biochemical parameters (chlorophyll a and b content) were studied. A significant genotypic variability was observed across all traits. Gulzafri Yellow (GY) and Gulzafri Orange (GO) recorded maximum plant heights (25.86 cm and 23.76 cm at 50 DAT, respectively), while ‘IIHR-MO-4’ showed the largest leaves (14.66 cm and 7.70 cm in length and width respectively). ‘Fr. /R-5’ exhibited the highest petal count (180.58), chlorophyll a content (9.78 mg g⁻¹ FW), and longest flower longevity (17.81 days). Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed that leaf size, plant height, petal number, and chlorophyll a were key contributors to cold tolerance, explaining 74.18% of the total variation. Correlation analysis confirmed strong associations between vegetative vigour, chlorophyll retention, and floral traits. The study involved meticulous evaluation during the winter season to accurately record genotypic responses to cold stress under natural conditions, leading to the identification of promising cold-tolerant French marigold genotypes. It established a robust morpho-biochemical framework for genotype selection, highlighting that a combination of morphological, floral, and biochemical traits can serve as reliable indicators for screening cold-tolerant lines. Notably, ‘Gulzafri Yellow’ (GY), ‘Gulzafri Orange’ (GO), ‘IIHR-MO-4’, and ‘Fr./R-5’ emerged as potential candidates for winter breeding programs.

The present study entitled “Yield forecasting of groundnut in Bihar through Auto-
Regressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) models” is based on the ARIMA models
for forecasting groundnut yield in Bihar. The secondary data on groundnut yield were
collected from the year 1980 to 2018 from the Directorate of Groundnut Research,
Directorate of Oilseeds Development and India Agril. Stat. The data from 1980 to 2016 were
used for analysis of forecasting groundnut yield and the data for 2017 to 2018 were kept for
model validation. Instead of conventional or econometric methods, the ARIMA models were
used to forecast the productivity of groundnut in Bihar. The time series data of 37 years from
1980 to 2016 were used for the study. Models ARIMA (0,1,1), ARIMA (0,1,2), ARIMA
(0,0,1), ARIMA (1,0,0), ARIMA (1,0,1), ARIMA (1,1,1), ARIMA (2,0,0) and ARIMA
(2,0,1) were built. The parameters of all these models were computed and tested for their
significance. Various statistics were also computed for selecting the adequate and
parsimonious model i.e., t-test and chi-square test. This is supported by low values of MAPE,
MAE, RMSE and BIC for forecasting of groundnut yield in Bihar. Using the selected
ARIMA models ARIMA (1,0,1) the yield values were forecasted for five five-year period
ahead i.e. from 2017 to 2021 in Bihar. The forecasted values of Bihar are 1026.72 kg/ ha,
1028.74 kg/ ha, 913.00 kg/ ha, 913.00 kg/ ha and 913.00 kg/ ha, respectively for 2017, 2018,
2019, 2020 and 2021. The forecasted values of Bihar exhibit an increasing trend, for 2017
and 2018, in the yield of groundnut. These yield values were presented along with their lower
and upper limits with 95% confidence interval. Using the mathematically sound ARIMA
models, the groundnut yield values were forecasted with 0.90 percent of one step ahead
forecast errors for Bihar. The two steps ahead forecast errors are 1.69 per cent for Bihar. All
the 8 models were subjected to critical examination. Among them ARIMA (1,0,1) model was
chosen as it is stationary, invertible, parsimonious, stable and has minimum error. Thus, the
forecast model for groundnut productivity in Bihar is,

Z t – Z t-1 = 6.879 + 0.855 (z t-1 – z t-2 ) – 0.354 (a t-1 – a t-2 ) + a t

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is one of the most important organically cultivated pulse crops of our
country. The pod borer, Helicoverpa armigera Hubner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is the strategic pest
that determines its production quantum to a great extent. Since last few years the organic agriculture
has been getting attention of consumers as well as growers because of safety concerns. The pod borer
causes huge losses in chickpea crop. It can be effectively managed through synthetic insecticides;
however, they are prohibited under organic crop production system. Under such situation, nuclear
polyhedrosis virus (NPV) is one of the promising crop protection practices for managing this pest.
The Chickpea crop was monitored continuously for two successive cropping seasons (2019-20 and
2020-21) to get the native nuclear polyhedrosis virus. Due to its non-availability, the viral formulation
was procured from the market and evaluated against pod borer under field conditions. The survey
showed that there was no natural infection of the nuclear polyhedrosis virus in pod borer larvae at the
research area of an organic farm. Bioefficacy field trials showed that NPV formulation was effective
in controlling this pest during the 2021-22 and 2022-23 crop seasons. The findings indicated that NPV
at a concentration of 1.5 ml per liter of water reduced 59.4% of the pest population after 7 days of
spray, which reached up to 64.0% after 10 days. A 2.0 ml per liter concentration caused a higher
reduction after 7 and 10 days. There was no positive correlation between male adult catch and ETL
with weather factors. The formulation did not cause any type of toxicity on the crop and it was found
safer for natural enemies viz., honeybees, yellow wasps, and Chrysoperla sp. It is concluded that
HaNPV application can contribute in effective management of chickpea pod borer. In addition, being
natural this virus safe for ecosystem and hence it can be an ideal approach under an organic crop
production system to provide a protective umbrella against this pest without any hazardous effects on
crops as well as beneficial insects.

Landscaping comprises the beautification of different places. It involves softscape and hardscape.
Softscape include the planting of trees, shrubs, climbers, bulbous plants, pot plants, grasses, cacti
and succulents, whereas hardscapes include patio, benches, steps, water features, garden path and
garden drive. Major design areas are: public area, outdoor living areas, service area, and private
areas. To make a successful design we have to follow certain principles like unity, rhythm, balance,
emphasis, scale and elements like line, form, texture, colour, and light. Different types of
ornamental plants can be used for landscaping in combination with hardscape to create picturesque
effect. In this review paper, I am going to discuss the plants that are suitable for landscaping.

The present investigation was conducted for two consecutive kharif seasons
(2021 and 2022) at the Agricultural Research Station, Kampasagar, Nalgonda district,
on sandy clay loam soils using a split-plot design with three main plots and three sub-
plots, replicated thrice. Root parameters such as root volume and root-to-shoot ratio
showed significant variation among establishment methods, with dry direct seeded
rice (M 1 ) recording numerically higher values. However, yield-attributing traits like
number of panicles m⁻² (285.5), panicle length (27.3 cm), panicle weight (4.69 g),
number of spikelets panicle⁻¹ (196.7), filled grains panicle⁻¹ (189.8) and test weight
(26.6 g) were significantly influenced by establishment methods, with wet direct
seeded rice (M 2 ) performing better, on par with manual transplanting (M 3 ) and
superior to dry seeding. Irrigation treatments and interactions had no significant
effect on root traits and yield parameters, although alternate wetting and drying
(AWDI) and continuous submergence performed better than saturation irrigation. A
key challenge in the study was managing uniform field conditions across varying
methods and seasons. Despite this, the study contributed valuable insights into the suitability of different crop establishment methods and irrigation strategies under
semi-arid conditions, highlighting the potential of wet direct seeding and AWDI to
improve rice productivity while optimizing water use.

Agriculture is pivotal for industrial progress, with cotton emerging as a critical component of the
agricultural economy, particularly in India. This study evaluates the technological gaps in cotton
cultivation among farmers in Punjab, a significant cotton-producing region. Cotton, referred to as
white gold,plays a crucial role in India’s economy, contributing to GDP, industrial production,
and export earnings while employing millions. Despite advancements in agricultural practices, a
notable disparity exists between recommended and actual practices among farmers. The research
was conducted in seven cotton-growing districts in Punjab, involving 350 farmers. Data were
collected using an interview schedule focused on nine key cotton cultivation practices. The
analysis revealed significant technological gaps, with the largest discrepancies observed in pest
identification (60.38%) and pest control measures (51.0%). Other notable gaps were in irrigation
practices, seed selection, and disease management. The study underscores the need for enhanced
farmer education and the implementation of recommended practices to bridge these gaps and
optimize cotton production. The primary challenge encountered was the limited awareness among
farmers about scientific agricultural practices. The study contributes by identifying these gaps and
offering targeted solutions to bridge them.

The soil texture has a significant impact on crop yield and soil fertility because it controls
root penetration, nutrient availability, and water retention—all of which are essential for plant
growth and development. This meta-analysis synthesizes data from several agroecosystems to
provide a thorough knowledge of the interactions between soil textural classes (sand, silt, and
clay proportions) and their effects on agronomic results. Sandy soils, which are distinguished
by their coarse particles, have a low capacity to hold nutrients and drain water quickly,
making frequent fertilization and irrigation necessary. On the other hand, clayey soils, which
have fine particles, are more fertile and retain more moisture, but they also present problems
including inadequate aeration and drainage, which can impede root development and cause
waterlogging. The correct ratio of sand, silt, and clay in balanced loamy soils frequently
promotes maximum productivity because of their advantageous physical and chemical
characteristics. In order to address the challenges of food security in a changing climate, the
review highlights how knowledge of the role of soil texture not only allows for targeted
management strategies catered to particular soil types, but also improves crop yields,
fertilizer efficiency, and supports sustainable agricultural practices worldwide.