eChapters

For crop improvement and more specifically to develop new varieties a number of plant breeding methods are available. CSIR-NBRI from very beginning selected all available techniques and standardized their practical application for all ornamental crops. All crop specific basic information was collected/generated for successful application of techniques for development of new varieties by creating genetic variability. Ornamental plant species fall into two main categories. In the first group the plants that are capable of sexual reproduction, but are commercially propagated vegetatively. The second group of plant species are the apomicts. In obligate apomicts hybridization fails to generate any variability. For development of new variety creation of genetic variability is pre-requisite. Breeder should have all up-to-date knowledge about all the available techniques and their merits and demerits for improvement and development of new varieties.

Introduction
Statistics is a field of mathematics that pertains to data analysis. Statistical methods and equations can be applied to a data set in order to analyze and interpret results, explain variations in the data, or predict future data. A few examples of statistical information we can calculate are:
Average value (mean)

In genetic studies it is necessary to distinguish two causes of correlation; is chiefly pleiotropy, though linkage is a cause of transient correlation, particularly in populations derived from crosses between divergent strains. Pleiotropy is simply the property of a gene whereby it affects two or more characters, so that if the gene is segregating it causes simultaneous variation in the characters as affects. For example, genes that increase growth rate increase both stature and weight, so that they tend to cause correlation between these two characters. The degree of correlation arising from pleiotropy expresses the extent to which two characters are influenced by the same genes. But the correlation resulting from pleiotropy is the overall, or net, effect of all the segregating genes that affect both characters. Some genes may increase both characters, while others increase one and reduce the other the former tend to cause a positive correlation the latter a negative one. So pleiotropy does not necessarily cause a detectable correlation. The correlation resulting from environmental causes is the overall effect of all the environmental factors that vary; some may tend to cause a positive correlation, others a negative one.

The response to selection is the change produced in the population mean through selection. This is achieved through selecting as parents of the next generation, individuals with highest genetic merit and whose progeny will, as a group, have the highest possible genetic merit for the trait in question. 

When a variety is grown under different environmental conditions, phenotype is the result of genotype+environment+genotype×environment interaction. Genotype×environment refers to the interaction effect of the genotype with different environments. Presence of this interaction leads to overestimation of genetical and biometrical parameters and thus may yield misleading results. This interaction also influences the varietal adaptation of new improved genotypes. Adaptation refers to certain varietal features (morphological and physiological) which promote survival under that environment. In production and breeding programmes adaptability is related to economic yield i.e. genotypes producing higher economic yield under different environmental conditions are comparatively more adaptive than those which produce low yield. Varietal adaptability refers to the capability of a genotype to grow normally and perform well in an environment or different environments. Adaptation of genotypes depends upon certain characters i.e. both morphological and physiological which promote survival under an environment. In natural conditions adaptation is brought by natural selection, but in artificial breeding, adaptation is induced by the breeders.

Agriculture is a branch of Applied science. It is the main enterprise in the world. In a true sense, it is a productive unit where the gift of nature i.e. land, light, air, temperature, water, humidity etc. are integrated into a single primary unit – crop plants and their usable parts are thus indispensable for human beings. Secondary productive units are animals (livestock), birds, insects etc. and they  feed on these primary units and provide more solid products such as meat, milk, wool, eggs, honey, silk, leather etc.
The word agriculture is derived from two Latin words i.e. Ager/Agric means soil and cultura means cultivation. Thus, “Agriculture is a science of cultivation of land”. It is an art and science both in which we study all the activities of human beings related to use of soil. 

Several centuries ago, perhaps as early as 6000-8000 BC, ancient man learned to domesticate species of animals for obtaining milk for their consumption. These included cows, buffaloes, sheep, goats, and camels, all of which are still used in various parts of the world for the production of milk for human use. The significance of milk as the most wholesome single food available in nature has never been debated. It is as ancient as mankind itself. The role and consumption pattern of milk in the traditional diet varies widely in different regions of the world. The tropical countries have not been traditional milk consumers, whereas in Europe (especially Scandinavia) and North America, milk and milk products have been traditional parts of the diet.

Abstract
Corporate Social Responsibility is one of emerging term now-a-days in the corporate arena. Sustainable growth is possible only when all sphere of the society is self sustained. Since the early 1990’s, corporate responsibility issues including social obligation of corporations have attained prominence in political and business debates. This is mainly in response to corporate scandals but also due to realisation that development centred only on economic growth paradigms is unsustainable and therefore there is a need for more pro-active roles by states, companies and communities in a development process aimed at balancing economic growth with environmental sustainability and social cohesion. Some people think sustainability is all about environmental issues. Others see it in terms of the bottom line. And then, of course there are the people who use the term synonymously with corporate social responsibility. CSR and Sustainable development are two different concepts having different traits. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) promotes a vision of business accountability to a wide range of stakeholders who are directly and indirectly dealing with corporate entities, besides shareholders and investors. Therefore, there is a need for evaluating the working of CSR on social sustainability. Besides, this paper try to identify the key areas of concern are environmental protection and the wellbeing of employees, the community and civil society in general, both now and in the future (by international institute for Sustainable Development),various issues and challenges faced by corporate bodies.

Abstract
The assistance/credit provided by banks is classified as priority sector lending and non-priority sector lending. Priority Sector Lending (PSL) is one which has got the order of preference over other sectors by the target groups in availing bank credit as per the directives of RBI. It is one of the important steps taken by the government for the cause of rural development. It involves rising the socio-economic status of the rural population on sustainable  basis through the optimum utilization of local resources. In the words of Planning Commission1 rural development could be achieved through strategies, policies and programs  for the development of rural areas and the promotion of activities carried out in such spheres as agriculture, forestry, fishing, rural crafts and industries, the building up of social and economic infrastructure, with the ultimate aim of achieving a fuller utilization of available physical and human resources and earns higher income and better living conditions for the population. According to Desai2, the preamble to the Bank Nationalization Act, 1970 clearly lays down that the banking system has to function in alignment with priorities and objectives. According to Srinivasan3  during 1969-89, the PSL has considerably increased and radical transformation has taken place in the allocation of pattern of credit. The trend analysis in between 1969-89 indicated that banking system has achieved a good blend of social and commercial banking.

Concept and Meaning of Market

Agricultural marketing management offers key insights into the agricultural and rural development today. Agricultural marketing and its management is an essential element of every economic activity. It is a most creative, dynamic and challenging activity for every kind of enterprises. Agricultural marketing management has significantly changed and it comprises numerous aspects of the needs of the customers over the selling and distribution of agricultural goods and services to customer and adds value to agricultural products and facilitates marketing and agribusiness opportunities in the economy. It deals with identifying and meeting human and social needs.

Pricing

Pricing goods and services is a critical job to maximize the profit of business organizations. Price is the most important determinant of the profitability of the business. Setting the right price can influence the quantities of various products or services that consumers will buy, which in turn determines the total revenue and the profit of the business. Price is the only element in the marketing mix of a firm that generate revenue.

The price of a product or service is the number of monetary units a customer has to pay to receive one unit of product or service (Simon, 1989).

Abstract

Radon being the radioactive daughter product of Uranium; the interrelationship between U and Rn has been established in the present study. It is found that Radon coexist with Uranium in the region. A total of 61 samples were collected spatially from hand pumps and bore wells of the study area. Major ions such as Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, F^-, Cl^-, HCO^3-, NO^3-, H₄SiO₄,PO₄- and SO₄^2- and U, Rn were analysed. The lithological influence of U and Radon occurrence is also highlighted. Hard rocks especially Granites are the source for both U and Rn in the study area whereas the lack of correlation exist between U and Rn in sedimentary terrain can be attributed to difference in flow conditions and chemical properties of these elements. 

Key words: Radon, Uranium, Granite, Ground water, Source.
 

Abstract

Deduction of overindulgence fluoride (F)  from the water has been endeavor by numerous investigators by using different materials both natural and artificial. The objective of this paper was to attempt the fluoride removal by using the locally available natural materials such as red soil, untreated charcoal, local powdered brick, fly-ash from Neyveli (thermal power plant) and mineral serpentine were used, adopting column method. Maximum defluoridation occurs immediately after the experiment has started. The morality of fluoride removed per gram is more in red soil when compared to the other materials. Variation of fluoride removal with time was studied after the erection of the column /unit, the defluoridation setup was then connected to the public water supply from the overhead tank of 50,000L capacity. Higher F removal was noted when flow rate was lesser. An attempt on the regeneration of the fluoride adsorbed soil was also made.

At an Agri Summit, I had a very difficult task to chair a session on “Sustainable Future”, with two well-known but extremely opposite personalities. On my left was a globally well-known environment activist talking about all the evils of chemical fertilizers and chemical pesticides. On my right was the President of Pesticide Association with equally strong views about how the chemical pesticides have greatly helped in feeding the hungry world. My task was further made difficult by a large lobby of green activists in the audience and also a number of seasoned industrialists with opposite views. Such a scenario is becoming increasingly common.

Bioshields offer barriers of vegetation, shrubs, small and big trees and if integrated as a well designed system they can greatly help our coastal as well as inland areas. Though primarily looked at for coastal regions, under a broader definition Bioshields can play important role in semi-desert areas, hills, etc. also.

Why Bioshield?

Bioshields or Biobarriers can make a major contribution in minimizing the effects of storms, cyclones and Tsunamis and at the same time offer short and long term ecological and livelihood benefits.

Rivers are the most important system for water, for irrigation and human settlement. Historically, civilizations always nucleated near rivers, and latter also had social and religious significance. Rivers in India are considered holy and play the most important part in the lives of people, fauna & flora and the future environmental system.

The Ganga Basin is the largest river basin in India which includes the Ganga, the Yamuna, the Ghagra, the Gandak, the Kaveri basin etc. Compared to these, the Vishwamitri River, situated between Mahi River in North and Narmada River in South in Central Gujarat is a small seasonal river but it is very important for the city of Vadodara and Central Gujarat region. This seasonal river originates from Pavagadh hills and flows east to west. It is a typical small river with the kind of problems in most rivers in India and other countries – liquid and solid wastes, enouncements, blocking of water ways, floods in monsoon months and dry dumping basin during most other months etc.

Our Soils – Our Waters & COP22

In the last several decades many international forums and institutions have discussed and agreed that food and water security are the most important issues for the future. The damage to the ecology directly affects the food, land, water, health and the livelihood. Agricultural progress serves as the best way to fight poverty, hunger and livelihood problems.

Though in the last few decades, billions of pages about hunger, food and water security have been written, thousands of conferences have been organized, the urgency of action plans and creating holistic models is the most important need. For this, we must require bold reforms and action oriented programs which can reach the smallest farmers and give an optimistic signal rather than a despondent picture. Developmental models that are holistic and close to nature, sustainable and based on inclusiveness considering ‘unto the last’ women and man are the need of the day.

The purpose of PCA 1960 is to protect animals from being subjected to unnecessary pain or suffering. This at consists of 6 chapters covering 41 sections. This has been amended in 1982. The sections under each chapter have been concised for easy understanding. This provides only baseline information about the act.

12.1 Introduction

“Precision farming,” also known as site-specific management, describes a bundle of new information technologies applied to the management of large-scale, commercial agriculture. Precision farming technologies include, for example: personal computers, satellite-positioning systems, geographic information systems, automated machine guidance, remote sensing devices and telecommunications. If they function as designed, ubiquitous wireless sensors will become an essential tool for bringing this vision of precision farming to maturity.

20.1 Introduction
  
Fertilizers play an important role in improving soil fertility and productivity of crops regardless of nature of cropping sequence or environmental conditions. It has been unequivocally demonstrated that one third of crop productivity is dictated by fertilizers besides influencing use efficiencies of other agri-inputs. In the past four decades, nutrient use efficiency (NUE) of crops had hardly exceeded 35-50%, 18-20% and 30-35 % for N, P and K, respectively, despite our relentless efforts. The remaining nutrients stay in soil or enter into the aquatic environment causing eutrophication. In addition to the low nutrient efficiencies, Indian agriculture is facing a problem of low organic matter, imbalanced fertilization and low fertilizer response that eventually caused crop yield stagnation (Biswas and sharma, 2008).The fertilizer response ratio in the irrigated areas of the country  has dcreased from 13.4 kg grain / kg nutrient applied in 1970’s to just 3.7 kg in 2005. In other words, more amounts of fertilizers is required to produce the same quantity of grain output. For instance, 27 kg NPK ha-1 was required to produce one tonne of grain in 1970 while the same level of production can be achieved by 109 kg NPK ha-1 in 2008. 

21.1 Introduction

Nanotechnology is an emerging field of science which is being highly exploited in the sphere of medicine where “nano” plays a vital role in delivery of drugs or chemical molecules to the point it is required in précised quantities in right proportions. Nanoscience infuses intelligence to the truck load of chemical constituents that are to be delivered at appropriate locations and cleave from the site after the task is complete. Such process will likely to reduce the cost besides ensuring environmental safety. Nanoscale devices with its unique properties make the agricultural system more smart and effective; such devices are capable of responding to different situations by themselves, thus taking appropriate remedial action with the need of external directions from humans. In short, these devices act as a detectors and if need arises serve as a solution/remedy for the particular issue. These smart delivery systems of chemicals in controlled and targeted manner can be considered synonymous to the proposed nano-drug delivery system in human (Patolsky et al., 2006). 

Canine mammary gland tumours are the most common type of tumour in the intact female dog. Of all species, dog develops neoplasm twice as frequently as humans, with incidence of skin and mammary tumours being the highest. Tumours of mammary gland are the most common tumours of female dog representing approximately 30-50% of all tumours in bitch and it is the second most common tumour in dog after skin neoplasm and most common malignant tumour in dog.

Defination

Mammary gland tumours arise primarily in the female animal from secretary epithelial, myoepithelial, or, less frequently, mesenchymal elements of mammary tissue.

Theory

Extension Teaching Methods: Methods by using them new information can pass freely between the extension worker and rural communities. Extension education is mainly concerned with the dissemination of useful and practical information relating to rural life and helping the rural people in the practical application of such knowledge to rural situations. Extension teaching methods can be classified on the basis of:

7.1. Introduction

The lactating cows are important assets of a dairy farm. The profitability and viability of the dairy farm mainly depend on the overall milk production. The lactation cycle of the cow can be divided into different phases for efficient management as milk production, DM intake and body weight vary considerably during the different phases. In the early lactation, lactating animals loose body weight drastically and they are prone to various metabolic disorders. Efficient nutritional management during lactation is required to support the high milk production, persistency of lactation and health of the cows. Another most important event is the post partum oestrus and subsequent conception, which depends on the care and management of the cows during this period. Therefore, proper care and management of the lactating cows are essential to harvest maximum amount of milk from healthy cows in a sustainable way.

1.1 Introduction

The human population is growing rapidly at an alarming rate, disproportionately to the production of food supplies, which will necessitate production of more food in the near future. The human population has already crossed the 7 billion mark and is expected to rise over 8-10 billion by 21st century. More than 800 million people are reported to suffer from malnutrition (Matson et al., 1997).  Thereby necessitating the need for more food production. Presently, agriculture faces the double challenge of feeding a fast growing population and at the same time prevents the degradation of the agricultural resource base. There appear to be two options for developing countries; either to improve agriculture through modernization, by emphasizing pesticides, fertilizers, machinery and modern varieties of crops; or use sustainable agriculture, promoting improved traditional, small-scale techniques (Pretty, 1999).

22.1  Introduction

Plant pests have been part of man’s environment for a long time. Traditional agriculture, which included diverse crops and indigenous crop management practices, provided little opportunity for pests to build up and spread rapidly (Smith and Allen, 1954). Crop production is constantly threatened by increasing difficulties in controlling insect pests, which are a major impediment to improved livelihoods of poor farmers. However, in the quest to increase food production for the growing population, use of pesticides became a norm in crop management. Pesticides became an integral part of the process owing to losses from weeds, diseases and pests reducing the harvestable produce. Use of pesticides along with high yielding varieties, irrigation and improved seed did result in increased productivity. But the rampant use of these chemicals, under the adage, ‘if little is good, a lot more will be better’ has played havoc with human and other life forms.

Like other sciences, the insect–pest management research is also based on scientific methods requires formulation of hypothesis from observed facts through logical arguments which in turn, verified through objective methods. For instance, in integrated pest management the entomologists are primarily concerned with the estimation of insect-pest population, its distribution pattern over time and space, its relationship and fluctuation in population with the effect of weather parameters and ultimately its control measure through the judicious use of chemicals, biological control agents and resistant varieties etc. Two major practical aspects of scientific investigation are as 
    ·    collection of data and 
    ·    interpretation of the collected data.

Galactan : It is a polysaccharide in which major monosaccharide subunit is galactose and often found among the pectic substances of cell walls.

Galactoblast : It is also called colostrums. It is female’s first milk after parturition.

Galactometer : It is an instrument used for recording the specific gravity of the milk.

Galactorrhea : A spontaneous flow of milk from the nipple is called galactorrhea.

Abstract

Ladakh, comprising of Leh and Kargil district is truly described as a high altitude cold-arid desert region of J&K state, India, where local people grow barley (Hordeum vulgare) and prepare various food products out of it. The roasted barley flour, locally known as tsampa is one of them, which goes as ingredients in a variety of local dishes and beverages. It is eaten either in raw or in cooked form and the traditional method of tsampa preparation is through the Ran-tak (traditional water mill), for which efforts have been made to describe it in detail. Like other parts of the world, this remote area in the trans-Himalaya has also witnessed exchange with the outside industrial world which has brought with it many changes (both desirable and undesirable) and the traditional foods were also not left behind. One major cause for decline in the traditional tsampa preparation has been the availability of cheap subsidized produce from the lowland India, on the other hand the increase in information exchange with the outside world has also helped local people to realize the need and importance to conserve their own locally grown crops and integrate into the mainstream fooding system. However, tsampa prepared using the traditional method is still being preferred by the local inhabitants

Demand and Supply of Horticulture Produce

India’s horticulture production rose 30 per cent in the last five years — an impressive rise, considering growth in the preceding five years stood at about 23 per cent. India is currently producing 257.2 million tonnes of horticulture produce from an area of 23 million ha.The area under horticulture grew by about 3.8% per annum but production rose by 7.6% per annum. Improvement in productivity of horticultural crops was noted by about 28% between 2001-02 and 2011-12. Of the 140 million farmers in the country, horticulture engages about 20 million and also contributes about 30 per cent of India’s agricultural GDP. Horticulture contributes 37% of total exports of Agricultural commodities. India is among the foremost countries in horticulture production, just behind China.

Introduction

Foods deteriorate in quality due to a wide range of reactions that may be physical, chemical or biological. The various forms of spoilage and food poisoning caused by micro-organisms are preventable to a large degree by a number of preservation techniques, most of which act by preventing or slowing microbial growth. These include freezing, chilling, drying, curing, conserving, vacuum packing, modified atmosphere packing, acidifying, fermenting, and adding preservatives. Thermal processes such as blanching, pasteurization or heat sterilization have long been employed in practice as economic, efficient, reliable and safe food preservation methods.

Introduction

Humans and grass are inextricably linked to each other. The oldest unequivocal grass fossils are 25 million years old, originating in the Oligocene epoch (Thomasson, 1987). Grasses are one of the first permanent vegetation to reappear after disasters, such as volcanic activity, extended droughts, floods, fires, explosions, abandoned urban ghettos, and battlefields. In the past, landscaping was universally regarded as an extravagance for the affluent or as a decorative for mediocre and average structural design. Today, growers offer hundreds of selections for landscape designers who envision their backyard canvases swept with fulsome grasses. Countries are capitalizing on this industry at a furious pace and turfgrass research can be circuitously, the next moolah machine for enhancing lifestyle, real estate values and tourism revenues.

Random workplace surveys in the UK have proven that the staff can get pretty steamed up over hot drinks. Nine years ago, London Underground staff, in fact, threatened to go on strike when kettles were introduced to replace tea urns. Their grouse: it will make them late for shifts. When the credit crunch dried up the free watering holes in many companies, a survey by uSwitchforbusiness.com in 2010 claimed that trouble was brewing. It warned: "Cutting out the free cuppas may add to the bottom line, but there may be a far greater price to be paid in staff morale." Tea or coffee - free or not - is the preferred poison at work.

Liquid milk is the cheapest form of milk whereas value added products like yoghurt and paneer, already popular in India are ways to earn a higher income with some raw materials. Farms should focus on dairy herd improvement, herd management etc. Milk and dairy products are always very helpful to farmers for a constant source of income besides their regular farm products. They do not required to expend extra for their feeding if the number of cattle are less. With slight extra care they can earn enough to meet their daily expenses. Cows, buffalo, all the milk giving animals are easy to care.

1.0 INTRODUCTION

The crop production is as old as human civilization, it is an art, science and business. In the world of ‘Fast Food,’ food safety is a watch word. To accomplish safety food to consumers and fair price to producers through appropriate market channels, the concept of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) has evolved in recent years. The stakeholders include governments, food processing and retailing industries, farmers, and consumers, who seek to meet specific objectives of food security, food quality, production efficiency, livelihoods and environmental benefits in both the medium and long term. GAP offers a means to help reach those objectives.

Table, normal yield: A standard yield table with which to compare actual yields. The values of a normal yield table are derived as averages of the best producing fully stocked areas for given species, sites, and methods of treatment.

Table, stand: A summary table showing number of trees by species and diameter class for any given area.

Table, stock: A summary table showing for any given area the volume of trees by species and diameter class.

More information, more accurate and timely decision. In present high tech world, the more information you have it is easier to make an accurate decision. The information comes in many different ways, from reports to digital photos. A new way to analyze data is a geographic information system (GIS). GIS allows to bring all types of data together based on the geographic and locational component of the data. GIS is a useful tool for seeking innovative ways to solve the problems.

9.1 What is GIS?

A geographic information system (GIS) is a system designed to capture, store manipulate, analyze, manage and present all types of geographically referenced data. GIS can be defined as a computer-based system for digital entry, storage, transformation, analysis and display of spatial data. A geographic information system integrates hardware, software and geographically referenced data for further analysis. GIS allows users to interpret the georeferenced data in many ways that reveal relationships, patterns and trends.

Elephant foot yam, Amorphophallus campanutatus Blume (= Arum campanulatum Roxb.) belongs to the family Araceae. It is also known as elephant yam, Elephant bread, Suran, Sweet yam etc. It is a native to Tropical Asia and is found throughout the plains of the Indian sub-continent and some other parts of South East Asia and Africa growing both wild as well as cultivated. It is a robust herbaceous plant, with an erect solitary stem usually 1-2.5 m in height and bearing at the top one or two tripartite leaves, each part of which is deeply dissected into numerous segments. Towards the end of the plant’s cycle (usually 4-6 years) a large terminal inflorescence is produced, consisting of a short stalk and spathe and a spadix, which emits a malodorous smell, reminiscent of rotten meat.

Mites are small arthropods belonging to the subclass Acari (also known as Acarina) and the class Arachnida. The scientific discipline devoted to the study of ticks and mites is called acarology. In soil ecosystems, mites are favored by high organic matter content and by moist conditions, wherein they actively engage in the fragmentation and mixing of organic matter (Nyle and Ray, 2009). Mites are among the most diverse and successful of all the invertebrate groups. They have exploited an incredible array of habitats, and because of their small size (most are microscopic), go largely unnoticed. Many live freely in the soil or water, but there are also a large number of species that live as parasites on plants, animals, and some that feed on mold. It is estimated that 48,200 species of mites have been described (Halliday et al., 2000).

To reduce the dependence on hazardous pesticides in modern agriculture, one of the most promising ways is to use insect-resistant cultivars. When available, planting resistant cultivars is one of our most effective, economically viable and environmentally sound tactics. The underlying concept of using host resistance to our advantage comes from the knowledge that most plants and animals are resistant to most potential insect attackers. Certain physiological, morphological, and/or behavioural characteristics inherited by organisms form a core of defense against species that would otherwise attack them (Pedigo, 2002).

Mango is the national fruit of India which has been cultivated in India from time immemorial. It is indigenous to India and dates back to around 4000 BC. The wild mango is said to have been originated in the foothills of Himalayas in India and Burma. The mango was cultivated as early as 2000 BC. Gradually, the wild mango developed into an exotic, richly flavoured succulent fruit that is enjoyed even today. In the early stages of domestication, fruits were probably very small and fibrous without much flesh. The Mughals and Portuguese selected and grew mango plants for generations. Centuries of development have produced varieties of mangoes free from both fibre and unpleasant flavour. This eventually led to larger fruits with thick flesh that we are familiar with today. The Chinese traveler Huien T’sang, who visited Hindustan between 632 and 645 A.D., was the first person, so far as known, to bring the mango to the notice of the outside world.

Phytochemistry

Pytochemistry is concerned with enormous variety of organic substances that are elaborated and accumulated by plants and deals with chemical structures of these substances and biosynthesis, and their natural distribution and biological function. Chemical constituents of plants can be classified in different ways. Based on biosynthetic origin, solubility properties and presence of certain key functional groups, it is classified as phenolic compounds, substances that are readily recognized by their hydrophilic nature and by their common origin from aromatic precursor shikimic acid. Terpenoids share lipid properties and a biosynthetic origin from isopentenyl pyrophosphate (Fig. 1). Organic acids, lipids, alkenes and related hydrocarbons, polyacetylenes and sulphur compounds are derived biosynthetically from acetate. Nitrogen compounds of plants like amino acids, amines, alkaloids, cynogenic glycosides, indoles, purines, pyramidines and cytokinins and chlorophyll are basic substances recognized by their positive responses to either ninhydrin or Dragendorff reagent. Monosaccharides, oligosaccharides, sugar alcohols and cyclitols are water-soluble carbohydrates and their derivatives. Macromolecules of plants such as nucleic acids, proteins and polysaccharides are easily separated from other constituents by their high molecular weights (Harborne, 1984). Some of the therapeutically active compounds are discussed below:

Abstract

The forest cover has declined at an estimated rate of 3-3.5% per annum due to huge deforestation in many countries during last decades. Being the prime necessity for forest regeneration, importance of quality seed management and its handling procedures have been genuinely recognized for greater interest of the environmental stability throughout the world. Growing of new trees and forests would play a major role to save the future world particularly under the present scenario of climatic change and this implies an increased demand of quality forest reproductive materials.

Abstract

Forestry in India is very important for its wood, fuel and many non-wood products which were being used from ancient times by our forefathers for different personal and commercial use. Farmers face lots of problem in forestry because of its long gestation period, dependence on nature, bulkiness of outputs, season oriented production, perishable in nature, lack of processing centres for value addition at farm and intermediate levels, price fluctuation of forestry products, forced sale/distress sale of tree growers, low wage rate to workers in forestry activities and farmers in sufficient knowledge on market information. Establishment of institutional setup to promote forestry is urgent in the recent times.

The Indian arid zone is characterized by high temperature, low and erratic rainfall which limits the scope for high crop productivity. However, these conditions greatly favour the development of improved quality in a number of fruits such as date palm, ber, aonla, bael, pomegranate, kinnow, lasoda and in vegetables such as cucurbits, legumes and solanaceous crops, spices, flowers, medicinal and aromatic plants. The existing low productivity could be increased by following improved new technologies and inputs. It is now realized that there is a limited scope for quantum jump in fruit and vegetable production in the traditional production areas.

The hot arid regions are spread over about 31.7 million ha area mainly in the States of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana, which inhabit on an average 61 persons per square km making up a population of nearly 20 million people. The Indian arid zone is characterized by high temperature and low and variable precipitation which limit the scope for high horticultural productivity. However, these conditions greatly favour development of high quality production of fruits such as date palm, ber, pomegranate, citrus, aonla, bael, grapes, guava and in vegetables such as cucurbitaceous crops, spices and some medicinal plants. The optimized technologies and inputs could increase the existing low productivity. It is now realized that there is a limited scope for quantum jump in fruit and vegetable production in the traditional production areas. The amelioration of the extreme conditions is also considered vital for life support to the inhabitants of this area.

Land and water resources are central to agriculture and rural development, and are intrinsically linked to global challenges of food insecurity, land degradation , poverty, climate change adaptation and mitigation that affect the livelihoods of millions of rural people across the world. Current projections indicate that world population will increase from present figure of 6.9 billion to 9.1 billion in 2050. As a result, the world food demand will increase. Since, both land and water resources, the basis of our food production, are finite and already under heavy stress, so future agricultural production will need to be more productive and more sustainable at the same time. The largest contribution to increases in agricultural output will most likely come from intensification of production on existing agricultural land. This will require widespread adoption of sustainable land management practices, and more efficient use of irrigation water through enhanced flexibility, reliability and timing of irrigation water delivery. The prevailing patterns of agricultural production needs to be critically reviewed.

Introduction

Water is the driver of life/ liquid of lift or elixir of life for flora and fauna. It plays an important role in plant as it constitutes about 35-95% part of plant. Water is a mode of transportation of nutrients from roots to shoots and vice-versa, a thermal regulator of temperature inside the plants, source of hydrogen for the reaction of CO₂ for photosynthesis and is essential for maintaining turgidity and servility of plants. Water is required for agriculture as well as for other sectors (domestic, industries, etc) and the demand of water is increasing alarmingly.  Presently agriculture consumes over 80 per cent of total water consumption in India. The country is endowed with many perennial and seasonal rivers. The river, low ever 71 per cent of water resources is concentrated in 36 % of the geographical at area. Water resource of India, population in per capita water ability and estimates of water needs are given below.

Introduction

High population pressure has forced us to plough 46% of our country area for food production. The present productivity of 12.36 tones/ha of fruits needs to be raised to 40.0 tones/ha by using N, P₂O₅, K₂O with other inputs, since recommended ratio is 0.75:0.50:1.00. To achieve this target, the present day requirement of 0.67 million tones N, 0.46 million tones P₂O₅ and 0.91 million tones K₂O has been raised to 1.07, 0.58 and 1.14 million tones, respectively in order to supply the recommended ratio of fertilizers to an area of 3.65 million ha growing fruits (Yadav, 1999). Similarly in vegetables, the present production level of 13.41 tones/ha to be raised to 40 tones/ha requires 1.25 million tones of N, P₂O₅ and K₂O combined at the ratio of 1.33: 0.88 and 1.00.

Introduction

Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L., Family: Palmaceae) also known as Khajoor, Kharek is an ancient important fruit tree of semi-arid and arid regions of the world. It grows well under poor desertic soils due to its hardy plant characteristics and deep root system. It is also one of the most suitable fruit trees to grow under saline irrigation conditions. It is well known fact that date palm has its feet in the water and its head in sun. It requires dry hot climate for growth, development and maturity of fruits. In arid region, crop production is a risky preposition where date palm cultivation contributes in achieving food security, high nutritive value food, crop diversification, desertification control, income generation and foreign exchange earnings. It can be grown at such places where adequate irrigation facility is available besides dry hot climatic conditions (Chandra et al., 1992; Singh and Dhandar, 2007).