eChapters

7.1 Introduction

The practice of greenhouse management has become a crucial method for extending growing seasons, improving crop quality, and maximizing yield potential in modern agriculture. Shedding and ventilation are critical elements that determine the effectiveness of greenhouse operations. They are pivotal in creating a delicate ecology where plants can find shelter in a controlled environment that protects them from the elements while enabling exact changes to temperature, humidity, and light.

There are many migratory, semi-migratory and sedentary shepherd communities in India with sheep rearing along with goats as the main livelihood)Besides scores of land less wages-earning families keep small numbers of goats for crucial supplementary income. Sheep and goat farming, due to its quicker and better returns on investment provides an additional source of income to farmers who normally depend on crops for their livelihood) Thus these animals fit in ideally in a mixed farming system. In India, goats and sheep are mostly maintained under extensive system which includes migratory, transhumance, free range, grazing community pastures, stubbles of cropped lands supplemented with crop residues and tree-lopping. Although a number of management systems are in practices varying from region to region these may be conveniently divided in to extensive, Semiintensive and Intensive systems.

According to the karyotyping the domestic sheep (Ovis aries) has 54 chromosomes. The following is a brief summary of their chromosome composition:

Autosomes: There are one pair of sex chromosomes, 52 autosomes and three pairs of these autosomes are submetacentric (having a centromere slightly off centre), while the rest are acrocentric (with the centromere near one end).

Sex Chromosomes: The X chromosome is acrocentric and the Y chromosome varies from submetacentric to metacentric.

Important features

• According to the Food and Agriculture Organization Corporate Statistical (FAOSTAT) Database (2019) and database of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, the top three countries by the number of heads of sheep were: China (163.48 million heads), India (74.26 million) and Australia (65.75 million). • India has second largest sheep population in the World.

• Sheep milk is an important product in the Near East and North Africa (9% of total milk production) and sub-Saharan Africa (4%).

• The countries with the most dairy sheep are China, Sudan, Turkey and Algeria (FAO).

• Major sheep milk producers are China, Turkey and Greece.

• More than half of the world’s sheep population is found in developing countries. Sheep are more prevalent than goats in cold climatic conditions. The major produce from Sheep production are milk, meat, skin, fibre and manure. However, most of the small-scale producers in developing countries raise sheep for meat or sale.

A lot of infrastructure in the form of sheep breeding or production facilities such as sheep breeding research stations with adequate number of animals have been established and research technologies generated. The research technologies generated have however not been fully adopted by State Animal Husbandry Departments in the field except in Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Parts of Rajasthan because of artificial insemination under field conditions due to migratory and semi-migratory practices in sheep husbandry, illiteracy among sheep farmers, their prejudices and convictions and difficulties in the preservation and storage of ram semen and main power requirement.

There is need to study the factors associated with adoption and rejection of sheep rearing as a subsidiary occupation and to know the attitude and knowledge of rural people. So that measures could be suggested to bring greater adoption of sheep rearing. The present study was undertaken to reveal the knowledge and attitude of adopters and non-adopters towards sheep rearing with the identification of factors helping and hindering the adoption of sheep rearing enterprise.

This chapter deals with the review of problems, objectives, hypothesis, research methodology and summary of major findings and conclusions based upon them. In addition, recommendations have also been made to accelerate adoption of sheep rearing programme in the five villages of Block Rajouri, District Rajouri, Jammu and Kashmir.

The present study was conducted to measure the knowledge and attitude of rural people towards sheep rearing and to find out the factors responsible for adoption and rejection of sheep rearing. Suitable measures are therefore suggested to bring greater adoption of sheep rearing in the hills of Jammu & Kashmir.

Abstract

Sheep milk is one of the superior quality of dairy foods and it is also considered as nutritional powerhouse. The beneficial role of sheep milk results from its fatty acid, immunoglobulin and non-immune protein contents. Apart from different dairy products and functional foods; this milk is used in anti-ageing and cosmetic soap preparations. In India Sheep make a valuable contribution to the livelihood of the economically weaker sections of the society. In our country the major portion of sheep milk is consumed as fluid milk and in certain areas converted into ghee and dahi.

Synonyms : Variola ovine, ovine pox

Sheep pox causes a severe and highly contagious disease in sheep which is listed in group A disease of the OIE. It is defined as a malignant pox of sheep characterized by fever and generalized development of pock lesions. Lesions first appear as vesicles which later turn into pustules on the exposed parts of the body. There is high mortality rate in lambs.

Distribution :  The disease is in existence since very long in Asia and Europe. It is prevalent in many areas of middle East countries, Africa, Asia and  Mediterranean countries. There are lot of disease outbreaks in India around the year. European Union with the exception of occasional sporadic outbreak in eastern areas of Greece, U.S.A. and Australia are free from the disease.

Origin and Domestication of Sheep

The domesticated sheep belongs to phylum-Chordata, class-Mammalia, order- Artiodactyla, family - Bovidae, sub-family - Caprinae, genus - Ovis and species- aries. They are hollow horned, cloven-hoofed ruminants of relatively smaller size. Sheep plays an important role in Indian agrarian economy as it is having multi facet utilities like meat, wool, skin, manure and to some extent milk and transport also. Marginal and sub-marginal lands of arid and semi-arid tropics are well adapted by sheep. Among the different wild species, Asiatic (Ovis orientalis) species of mouflon is considered to be the ancestor of present day sheep. Sheep were domesticated by man at around 9000 BC. The reference of role of sheep in the economy of mankind is found in the history of civilization of Mesopotamia, Mohen-jo-Daro and Harappa in Northern India.

14.1 Introduction
The other topics of the metal forming are as listed below.
a. Stretch forming operation
b. Formability of sheet metal
c. Test methods
These topics are presented in this chapter.
14.2 Stretch Forming Operation
A sheet metal is simultaneously stretched and curved over a die during the stretch forming process to create big shaped parts. Stretch forming is done using a stretch press, where jaws are gripped firmly to fix a sheet metal along its edges. To stretch the sheet, the grasping jaws are individually coupled to a carriage that is drawn by a hydraulic or pneumatic force. A stretch form block, also known as a form die, is the tooling utilized in this procedure. It is a solid contoured piece that the sheet metal will be pressed against. The most common type of stretch press is vertically orientated with the form die situated on a press table , which will be elevated by a hydraulic ram into the sheet. Tensile stresses build and the sheet plastically deforms into a new shape when the form die is pressed into the firmly gripped sheet. The sheet is pulled horizontally around the form die by the gripping jaws of a horizontal stretch press, which mounts the form die sideways on a stationary press table

13.1 Introduction
Any metal that is shaped into thin, malleable sheets is called sheet metal. The sheets come in a variety of predetermined thicknesses, known as gauges, and are made of materials ranging from titanium to brass. Although sheets can vary in thickness from fractions of a millimeter to several inches, most are typically less than ¼ inch thick. In sheet metal forming, different techniques are used to exert force on a sheet of metal to plastically change it into the required shape and changing its geometry instead of removing any material. Because sheet metal can be bent or stretched into a wide range of intricate shapes, it can be used to create sophisticated structures that are both very strong and use little material. The most economical forming method available today for producing large quantities of parts is sheet metal forming. On the other end of the spectrum, it can be manually operated in metal workshops for small series items or fully automated in factories. It is a flexible, reliable, and superior process that produces precise metal parts with little material waste. Sheet metal forming components are everywhere in our daily lives, from metal cans to protective housing for hardware. Sheet metal process is an extensive cold working procedure that involves shearing, punching/cutting, folding, riveting, splicing, and moulding such as vehicle bodies using metal sheets that are typically less than 6mm in thickness.
13.2 Sheet Metal Characteristics
The characteristics of the sheet metal are as listed below.
i. Because of its ductility, sheet metal may be shaped into a wide variety of shapes without shattering or cracking.
ii. Because it allows the material to be bent, stretched, and stamped throughout the production process, its malleability is essential for manufacturing.
iii. Another crucial element is the thickness of the sheet metal, which can vary from incredibly thin to several centimeters. Typically, a gauge number is used to indicate the thickness of a sheet metal. A lower gauge number denotes a thicker material and a higher gauge number denotes a thinner material. Sheet metal can be used for a wide range of purposes, from heavyduty machinery parts to lightweight electronic enclosures.

Introduction

A sheet metal shop is a kind of workshop where different types of materials are used to make sheet metal and then it is flattened into thin sheets of desired shape and size. Sheet metals are used for the production of automobile bodies, utensils, almirah and cabinet appliances, etc.Sheet metal parts have many advantages, like they are less expensive, lighter in weight and can be modified into versatile shapes. Low-carbon steel is commonly used. The use of casting and machining is being replaced by metal stamping. The stamping press is a kind of machine tool in which most of the operations occur, and the sheet metal products which are obtained by the machine are called stampings.

28.1 Introduction

The majority of eggs produced in the world are sold in-shell for consumers to utilize in the home in traditional ways or for baking. Traditionally, surplus eggs not required for the shell egg market (normally the smaller sizes) and downgraded eggs were turned into egg products. Today, farmers have specific contracts to produce eggs for further processing, and any egg that is damaged cannot be used for this purpose. There are essentially three types of egg products, liquid, dried, and frozen, with small markets for peeled, hard-boiled, and hard-boiled pickled eggs.

1. P. monodon (green tiger prawn) is the most candidate species for cul ture.

2. Testis have 6 lobe all lobes are connected on the inner margin leading to vasdeferens.

3. Spermatozoa are stored in the terminal of ampulae.

4. Inhibitory hormone are secreted in the early maturity stage.

5. Matured ovary has dark color due to the accumulation of the carotenoid pigment.

6. The first abdomen segment assumed that have diamond shape called as saddle.

7. Male have petasma on the first pair of pleopod.

8. Female have thelycum on the 4 & 5th pair of walking leg.

9. Male has Gonophore on the fifth pair of the walking leg.

10. Female has Gonophore on the third pair of walking leg.

Shellfish are aquatic invertebrates characterized by a hard outer shell or exoskeleton, encompassing a wide range of mollusks and crustaceans. This group includes economically and gastronomically important species such as crabs, lobsters, shrimp, clams, oysters, mussels, and scallops. In addition to their value as seafood, many shellfish species are commercially harvested or cultured for various purposes. Reproductive strategies among shellfish are diverse. Most species exhibit sexual reproduction with distinct male and female individuals, though some, like certain gastropods, are hermaphroditic or reproduce through parthenogenesis. Fertilization is typically external in many mollusks, such as oysters, where gametes are released into the water column. In contrast, crustaceans like crabs undergo internal fertilization. The fertilized eggs develop into planktonic larvae that drift with currents before settling to the bottom and metamorphosing into juvenile shellfish. This complex life cycle plays a critical role in population dynamics and aquaculture practices.
PENAEID SHRIMP, FRESHWATER PRAWNS (MACROBRACHIUM)
Penaeid shrimp, members of the family Penaeidae in the suborder Dendrobranchiata, include numerous economically significant species such as the tiger prawn (Penaeus monodon), whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei), Atlantic white shrimp (Litopenaeus setiferus), and Indian prawn (Fenneropenaeus indicus). These crustaceans are integral to both commercial fisheries and aquaculture operations in marine and, increasingly, freshwater environments. Reproduction in penaeid shrimp involves external fertilization following mating and spawning in open water, typically at depths shallower than 50 meters. During copulation, the male transfers sperm via a spermatophore, while the female releases mature oocytes. Fertilization occurs in the water column. Penaeid shrimp are iteroparous, capable of spawning multiple times annually with short intervals between reproductive cycles. This high fecundity supports their success in aquaculture systems.

In India, majority of the people live in rural areas and are engaged in agriculture, earning a subsistence wage. Development which has been focused on them seems to have just passed by them. In India out of the 147.90 million rural households around 60 per cent are cultivation households. Eighty-eight per cent are headed by small/marginal farmers with holding less than 2 hectares (Throat, 2005). Therefore to finance this category of the poor, there is an obligation to create opportunities where credit can be used in a meaningful way.

The main purpose of this chapter is to summarize the results to draw the conclusions on the basis of the foregoing analyses and to indicate some of the significant implications of the present study.
 
In previous Chapter, the study described a detail account of 12 SHGs, three SHGs from each of four schemes viz. NABARD’s SHG-Bank Linkage Programme (SBLP), National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP), Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) in Chhattisgarh state. However, looking back to this study with the salient findings and implications would be the precursor for looking ahead.

Findings of the present investigation on effectiveness of self-help groups (SHGs) in improving livelihood and empowerment of rural poor in Kanker district of Chhattisgarh are presented under the following headings:
    6.1 Features of SHGs formed under different programmes 
    6.2 Socio-personal, socio-economic and communicational profile of the members of SHGs
    6.3 Dynamics and effectiveness of SHGs  
    6.4 Impact of SHGs on livelihood of the members 
    6.5 Influence of SHGs on empowerment of rural poor
    6.6 Overall impact of SHG approach 
    6.7 Constraints faced by SHGs 

The various adverse effects of Shifting cultivation, the need for its replacement have been widely discussed at various levels. It has been a matter of concern not only for the Government of India and the Planning Commission but also to the various state governments and the union territories of the region. Although considerable data on the extent of Shifting cultivation and its various adverse effects including its effect on agricultural production have been discussed in various forums, yet detailed scientific studies on shifting cultivation from various angles were not taken up until recently. The prevalence of shifting cultivation is so extensive in the region that it would not be possible to tackle the problem within a short period of time whatever, large the efforts may be. It will, thus, be necessary to approach the problem so that alternative systems of farming can be introduced in areas where the cycle of rotation has been greatly reduced.

Agriculture is an important economic activity for a large population of the developing world. The view that industrialization is the main hope of the developing countries has undergone remarkable changes in more recent times. Today, agriculture and rural development are viewed as the sine qua non of national development. A reorientation where in rural development is well balanced with industrial growth is now considered essential to correct serious imbalances in the economy, for equitable distribution of wealth and for social justice. It is against this background that increases in agricultural production in the developing world need to be viewed and evaluated.

Introduction

Shifting cultivation, developed over centuries of experience is known as “Swidden”, “Slash-and–burn agriculture”, “Rotational bush-fallow agriculture.’ or by a variety of local names; in India, it is commonly referred to as Jhum cultivation. This farming system is believed to have originated in the Neolithic period around 7000 B.C. This is the most primitive form of agriculture and is still common amongst the tribal people in various pockets. Shifting cultivation is mainly confined to medium to high rainfall zones between 100 meters and 2,000 meters above sea level. It is practised in three types of vegetation, such as forests, bush and grasslands.

INTRODUCTION

Fish is a dependable source of animal protein in developing countries like India. In recent years, with the rapid development of the aquaculture enterprises, the infectious diseases caused by fungus, bacteria, virus and parasites became more severe, resulting in huge economic losses. Due to certain unavoidable problems for diagnosing and treating diseases, losses are being born by the poor fish farmers of the country.

The issue is more relevant to rural area like north-east India, where soil and water are highly acidic due to the high content of ferrous ions and high rainfall and their management needs high inputs. The situation gets shoddier when the farmers do not get the access to water and soil laboratory to test their pond samples. It is very hard for the rural farmers to monitor their culture pond condition without any scientific tools and technical knowledge. Moreover, stresses due to over-crowding, wide temperature fluctuations, cold stress, global warming, microorganism, pesticides, insecticides, chemicals, contaminants etc.

Shock is a life threatening condition which is usually manifested by serious pathophysiological abnormalities. In most cases it is due to poor tissue perfusion with impaired cellular metabolism.

       It is a clinical state resulting from an inadequate supply of oxygen to the tissues or an ability of the tissues to properly use oxygen.

       Shock can also be defined as imbalance between oxygen supply and oxygen consumption. In other words, the delivary of oxygen does not meet the needs of the tissues.

       Shock is a state in which the vital functions of the body are depressed because of acute reduction in cardiac output and effective circulating blood volume.

Shock is a sequel to trauma or severe diseases such as heart failure, sepsis or acute inflammatory conditions like pancreatitis. Shock is generally associated with decreased supply and utilization of oxygen. The term shock is a chain of physiological events that can result in death if immediate rational treatment is not instituted.

Key Points

• Shock occurs when the circulatory system fails to provide adequate blood flow to essential organs.

• Oxygen deficiency is a clinical condition caused by insufficient oxygen delivery or tissue incapacity to use oxygen effectively.

• Successful shock management requires early recognition, aggressive monitoring, and appropriate interventions.

Introduction

Shock is a complex physiological syndrome marked by widespread circulatory irregularities that result in inadequate tissue perfusion. In other words, it is a clinical condition caused by an insufficient delivery of oxygen to tissues or the tissues' inability to correctly use oxygen. It is a complication of trauma and diseases typically seen in emergency rooms, such as heart failure, inflammatory conditions (e.g., pancreatitis), and sepsis. In shock, tissue perfusion and oxygen delivery are insufficient to support the tissues' baseline metabolic demands. Whatever the cause, shock is distinguished by reduced blood flow, which is typically accompanied by low blood pressure (hypotension).

ABSTRACT

Cycas is the largest genus among cycads - the surviving remnants of an ancient line of plants of the early Mesozoic period. The IUCN has classified more than half of the 182 species of Cycadales as endangered, vulnerable or rare. The use of in vitro techniques could permit a way to conserve many of the endangered species. None of the in vitro studies has been successful in establishing a functional protocol for artificial propagation of cycads. The objective of the present investigation is to explore the possibilities of in vitro plant regeneration from megagametophyte explants of Cycas circinalis - the only species of Cycas grown in Kerala. Megagametophyte from the ovules of ten-year-old Cycas circinalis plant was used as explant. Standard tissue culture techniques were adopted for the in vitro culturing of the explant. The basal medium involved major salts of B5 and minor salts of MS media. Glutamine, casein hydrolysate, coconut water and megagametophyte extract were used as supplements. The plant growth regulators - Kn, BAP, 2iP, IAA, NAA and 2,4- D - were incorporated alone and in combinations. Highest percentage of shoot induction and highest average number of shoot buds per culture were observed in PGR combination involving Kn + BAP along with one of the auxins (2,4-D or NAA or IAA). Shoot buds developed did not show further growth even after one year. The protocol employed in the present investigation may lead to multiple shoot proliferation and help in large-scale propagation of Cycas circinalis.

HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENTS

Food Preservation 1782 ó Canning of vinegar was introduced by a Swedish chemist.

1810 ó Preservation of food by canning was patented by Appert in France. ó Peter Durand was issued a British patent to preserve food in ìglass, pottery, tin or other metals or fit materials.î The patent was later acquired by Hall, Gamble, and Donkin, possibly from Appert.

Scooping: It involves `Removing’ of basal plate and destroying the `Central Shoot’ of the bulb, thus encouraging the formation of bulblets round the cut edges of the scale leaves. Scooping is achieved by using a special knife or a spoon with a `Sharpened edge’ to leave a `Concave depression’ at the base of bulb. The depth of the cut is important, because the bulblets are formed on `cell tissues’ at the lowest point of the `scale leaves’.

Introduction

Potato is the fourth most important food crop in India after rice, wheat and maize. India is second largest producer of the world after China having a production of more than 45 million tones. The major producers of potato  are Uttar Pradesh (14.43 million tones) followed by West Bengal (11.6 million tones) and Bihar (6.6 million tones) during 2012-13. In Uttar Pradesh during rabi 2013-14 the total production of potato is expected to be 46.2 million tones. The major potato producing districts in Uttar Pradesh are Agra, Farrukhabad, Firozabad, Hathras, Kannauj and Barabanki. Potato arrival is maximum in Farrukhabad, Kanpur and Varanasi  APMC Mandi and the highest arrival is in the month of march and lowest is in the month of October.

Indication

Irreparable injury.

Frost bite, burn.

Malignant neoplasia.

Incurable peripheral vascular disease.

Necrosis, gangrene, extensive injury of nerve of fore limb.

Marine shrimp farming is a century-old practice. Until a decade ago, this commodity was generally considered a secondary crop in traditional fish farming practices. Shrimp fry trapped in salt beds, coastal paddy fields, or brackish water fishponds are allowed to grow to marketable size and harvested as a secondary crop. However, in recent years when higher income are derived from the harvest of shrimp than the principal crop, many farmers have converted their rice fields, salt beds and fishponds into shrimp farms.

In the traditional farming system, the ponds are stocked with fry either collected from the wild or concentrated through tidal water entering the ponds. Shrimp production is inconsistent and varies from year to year due to the dependence on seasonal supply of fry from the wild. Pond yield is also low (100–300 kg/ha/ year) because of inefficient control of predators and competitors, full dependence on natural food and inadequate pond depth.

Some improvements of the traditional farming methods have been made in the past years. The stocking density of shrimp ponds can be increased through the concentration of fry by pumping more tidal water into the pond. Pond depth is increased to minimize fluctuations of environmental parameters. As a result, pond yield has correspondingly increased. However, the expansion of the shrimp farming industry is still restricted due to the inconsistency in fry supply.

Abstract
The global shrimp market has experienced steady growth, driven by rising consumer demand and advancements in aquaculture. Valued at US$ 69.0 billion in 2023, the market is projected to reach US$ 100.2 billion by 2032, with a CAGR of 4.1%. Shrimp farming, a major contributor to this growth, offers economic benefits such as foreign exchange earnings, job creation, and increased land value. However, the sector faces significant environmental and socio-economic challenges. These include mangrove deforestation, groundwater depletion, water pollution, and socio-economic disruptions such as land salinity and reduced local employment. Addressing these issues through sustainable practices and inclusive policies is essential for balancing economic gains with environmental and community well-being. Shrimp farming’s future lies in adopting eco-friendly technologies and equitable strategies that ensure long-term viability.
Keywords: Shrimp farming, aquaculture, environmental impact, socio-economic challenges, sustainability.

Shrubbery-An area of cultivated shrubs in a parkor garden is known asshrubbery or any area in the garden fully solely devoted to the shrub plantation is called shrubbery. These shrubs are maintained in formal way therefore require regular training, pruning and clipping. Maintenance of shrubbery is easy and become less costly if planted properly considering following point (See plate 22).

• Selection of hardy shrubs.
• Shrubs having profuse flowering and beautiful foliage.
• Selection of shrub according to soil.
• Shrub having slow growing habit and required less pruning and management.

Shrubs are the most diverse groups of ornamentals grown in tropical gardens. In habit they are hardy perennials having low spreading woody branches. They vary widely in stature and include dwarf bushes to those attaining the stature of small trees.

IMPORTANCE AND USES OF SHRUBS

Shrubs are quick growing and many of them flower continuously in the humid tropics. Their variability in flower colours and foliage characteristics and their easiness in propagation by vegetative means make them garden favourites. The various uses to which shrubs are put to in gardens are detailed below: -

In A Shrubbery : Grouping of shrubs in a shrubbery is done to display the attractiveness of their flowers and foliage. In temperate situations shrubs grown in shrubberies include Rhododendron, Peony, Fuchsia, Buddleia, and Camellia while in the tropics and subtropics, the range of shrubs available for planting are very wide.

As Focal Point Plants : Shrubs that are ever flowering like Hamelia and Hibiscus or those that have spectacular flowers such as Mussaenda, Neerium and Ixora are grown as focal point plants in small gardens. They are also grouped for mass effect in large gardens.

1. Introduction

Arid lands, the “dry domains”, cover ~ 32 % of the continental surface of the world. This geographical region is defined by low precipitation and usually highly variable rainfall patterns (Heathcote, 1983; Groombridge, 1992; Watson et al., 1995). These lands are extremely diverse with respect to landforms, soils, fauna, flora, water balance, human activities and the binding element of all arid lands.

I. General information

1. Shrub is a woody or semi-woody perennial plant with little or no trunk and grows up to a height from 50 cm to less than four meters.
2. Shrubbery border is an area of the garden devoted exclusively for growing shrubs planted in a row of rectangular fashion.
3. Plants suitable for shrubbery border.

Definition: Shrub is a woody plant with several stems/branches arising at or near the ground level from the main stem, which is perennial in nature and smaller than a tree.

Shrubs are the integral part of a garden and have immense importance in landscaping as these are used for various purposes. Shrubs produce flowers, foliage, fruits, berries and enhance beauty of garden tremendously. They are hardy in nature and require less care than other ornamental plants. Availability of a large number of species and cultivars, a wide range of variations in shape, size and growth habits, remarkable range of sizes, shape and colour of flowers and fragrance have made the shrub an important garden plant.

Annuals Border

In this type of border annuals are planted according to their height to beauty of the garden. Annuals border are found two types.

• Single face border.
• Double face border.

Single face border- In this type dwarf plant is kept on front of beds, medium height annuals are planted in the centre while the taller annuals are planted in the back.

Double face border- In this type tall annuals are planted in the center and medium and dwarf annuals are planted in both sides of tall annuals so that full view can be seen from both side.

ABSTRACT

Male crickets use acoustic signals for long-distance mate attraction. Each cricket species has a unique calling song, used by females to recognize and localize conspecific males. Field cricket songs have wavelengths of several centimeters, which pose a difficult problem for these small animals in terms of localizing males, particularly in choruses. The chorus structure in terms of spacing, call intensity and timing, are important determinants both of the ability of males to synchronise their calls and of female mate-finding strategies.

There are countless biomarkers present in cells related to and determining the progress of a disease. Identifying these markers could aid in detecting cells with metastatic potential (Ramaswamy et al., 2003).

The elevation of cyclo-oxygenase (Cox-2) expression was observed in CMT cases through enzyme immunoassay (Queiroga et al., 2005). In further study, enhanced expression of BRAC1and BRAC2 genes, certain enzymes such as matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2 and MMP-9) by immunohistochemical examinations, and Bcl-2 & Bcl-XL elevated level in dogs with mammary neoplasm have been reported by Queiroga et al. (2011b).

India is endowed with rich treasure of aromatic plants of great industrial importance in its forests, wetlands and marine areas. India is among the 12 mega biodiversity centers of the world, which accounts for about 8 percent of the total biodiversity recorded so far. Despite of having only 2.4 percent land area of the world, India has been divided into 16 Agroclimatic zones having about 49000 plant species. Out of which 15000 species belong to medicinal and aromatic plants group. Out of these, 1500 medicinal and aromatic plants have identified, but only 500 species are commonly used in the preparation of ISM&H drugs. Besides, more than 150 plant species have been found endangered and are at the verge of extinction.
Indian export of raw drugs based on medicinal and aromatic plants has grown steadily at 25 % over the last few years. WHO has forecasted that the global market for herbal products is expected to be around US$ 5 trillion by 2050, and further emphasized the need for revitalization, and expansion of traditional system of medicines. But merely 150 medicinal and aromatic plants species are being reported to be used commercially on fairly large scale (Chandel et al.,1996).
The global market in plant based pharmaceuticals in growing rapidly day-byday leading to a sizeable increase in demand for herbal plants. Even today, 80-90% of naturally growing wild populations have remained the main source of raw materials used for drugs in India without applying scientific management techniques essential to sustain the growth and preserve useful properties essential to determine the efficacy of the medicines. The wild source is now being depleted and exploited without scientific harvesting techniques/ practices.

Abstract

This review assesses the nutritional attributes of Amaranth grains and its utilization as food and as formulated foods. Amaranth is a pseudo-cereal and one of the most ancient cultural food plants with excellent source of superior quality protein (rich source of lysine) which is deficient in wheat and other cereals. Amino acid composition of amaranth protein is close to ideal and, as a result, has high food value. Amaranth grain is loaded with phytochemicals including phenolic acids, tannins, anthocyanins, and phytosterols. Amaranth is potentially a good dietary source of the pro-vitamin A carotenoid (f-carotene), antioxidants (nutraceuticals) and canthaxanthin (which has also been reported to be an antitumor agent) and lutein, which is reported to slow down the development of age-related eye diseases. There are also some anti-nutritional factors (Phytic acid, Tannin and Trypsin inhibitor etc.) that may be reduced by certain processing treatments. Several epidemiological studies show Amaranth grains are helpful in reducing several kinds of chronic diseases like cancers, cardiovascular diseases, type II diabetes and various gastrointestinal disorders. Grain amaranth has been tested and recognised by many authorities as a gluten-free foodstuff appropriate for incorporation into the diet for celiac disease patients. Amaranth grain or young leaves could completely or partially substitute common ingredients, so the crop could be potentially exploited as an ingredient in foodformulation in form of flour, flakes, sprouts, grain undergoing fermentation, popping, malting, extrusion cooking, nixtimisation, and special compounds isolation. The interest in this crop is developing due to its several advantageous properties. The nutritionists find that the grain has higher nutritional value than conventional cereals.

Introduction

After the discovery that low concentrations of antibiotics included in livestock diets had a beneficial effect on production efficiency, the use of antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) became a common practice, benefiting both the livestock industry and consumers. Antibiotic growth promotion in agricultural and animal production has been practiced for about 50 years (Dibner et al., 2007). Orally ingested antibiotics promote growth and efficiency of poultry and other animals. Early indications of a beneficial effect on production efficiency in poultry and swine were reported by Moore et al. (1946) and Jukes et al. (1950).

Introduction

Our traditional knowledge of medicine has been one of the strongest areas of research because of our rich heritage in herbal plants & great biodiversity in our fauna & flora. Consumption of plant foods and the structurally diverse natural products provided by them have long been associated with health-protective and therapeutic effects. Natural products in plant foods have been shown to have pleiotropic therapeutic and chemopreventive properties. These bioactive products are known to potentiate the efficacy of other drugs and have synergistic effects too. Most of the prescription drugs discovered so far is from plant sources and 75% drugs had been claimed in folklore claims and traditional medicinal system (Reynold, 1991; Benowitz, 1996). The traditional Indian medicinal system utilizes multicomponent formulations of plant extracts which may either act synergistically or avoid many side effects and might have added up trace element through combination of different plant extracts which could have additive effects. However the effort to utilize traditional knowledge in the light of modern scientific findings is lacking in India. Accumulating evidences as well as in-vitro studies implicates inverse relationship between regular consumption of fruits vegetable and the risk of specific cancer. Diet derived nutritional compound mediated interventions in the process of tumorigenesis may be promising chemopreventive strategy with minimal toxicities to the physiological system.

Aromatic plants are the life line of essential oil trades all over the world. India is considered to be botanical garden on account of prevalence of rich plant biodiversity owing to varied topography and wide range of climatic conditions present in different parts of the country About 1300 plant species have been reported to be of aromatic value and 80 plant species are commercially grown and in high demand, but only 42 plant species
are being exploited by modern pharmaceutical and essential oil industries as a source of raw materials for a range of natural perfumes, flavours, cosmetics, food and flavouring and aroma–therapy.
Plant-genetic diversity is the key component of agricultural production system, and no natural evolutionary adjustment of the system to changing environment and biotic conditions would be possible without it. India is richly endowed with plant wealth, utilized either directly for cultivation or as source of useful traits for breeding improved varieties. Collection, conservation and sustainable use of available gene pool and their wild relatives require specific attention keeping in view their overall importance and significance in agriculture and food security vis-à-vis day–to-day needs.
Cultivation of aromatic plants having aroma due to presence of an essential
oil in their various parts needs to be made competitive against other seasonal crops, so that production from cultivated harvests are preferred over collections from the wild. There are possibilities of using the produce in cosmetic, perfumery and aromatherapy industries of several aromatic plants. So, the breeding strategy of aromatic crops should aim for improving the contents of therapeutic compounds, yield of grains, biomass yield, roots yield and oil quality & quantity.

Abstract

Cyanobacteria comprise a group of photosynthetic prokaryotes, which exhibit versatility in their morphological, biochemical and molecular characteristics and represent an untapped source of novel metabolites and genes. Their structural-functional flexibility makes them successful in diverse and extreme environments including high temperatures or levels of UV light and salinity, and co-exist in symbiotic/parasitic/mutualistic associations with various members of Plant and Animal kingdom. The intracellular colonization of cyanobacteria in wheat and rice roots and their potential as plant growth promoting agents for several crops, besides rice, has led to the deployment of novel formulations of cyanobacteria and agriculturally useful bacteria as biofilms and disease suppressive options in field studies.

The separation of essential oils responsible for odour/fine smell from different plantparts by gentle heating is known by centuries ago. A large number of such components being volatile are called as ‘Essential oils’. Presently, it also covers many of the less volatile constituents. The essential oils (extracts of the plant) with different types of flavours/odours are aromatic components, which can be separated by steam/hydro-distillation or extraction by solvents.
Essential oils largely contain terpenic compounds, made up of two or more isoprenyl units (C-5). Besides, a large number of other compounds which have nothing to do with isoprene units, have also been reported by various workers. Essential oils are of quite use in perfumes, flavour and aroma-therapy industries and their economic production is very much essential from farmers’ point of view. The optimum stage of harvest is very crucial for high quality and quantity of the essential oil from different parts of the plants (leaves, inflorescence, entire herb, roots, seeds, rhizomes etc.).
The quality of the essential oils largely depends on the kinds of the metals (copper, aluminium, mild steel, stainless steel) used in distillation unit, as some of the essential oils react with free acids present in the oil and thus imparting off-smell of aroma and colouration. Presently, distillation units made up of stainless steel are preferred which has no reaction to phenolic, acids, etc., and oils produced are very clean, less coloured and of high quality preferred by the cosmetic and perfumery industries engaged in formulation of various types of essence and scents.

Mangrove forests are ecologically significant and economically important (Kathiresan 2018). They provide ecosystem services worth at least US$ 1.6 billion each year and support coastal livelihoods worldwide (Costanza et al. 1997). They serve as the nursery, feeding and breeding grounds for crabs, prawns, molluscs, finfish, birds, reptiles and mammals. A large amount of global fish catches (up to 80%) is dependent on mangroves, thereby ensuring the food security of coastal people (Ellison 2008). The mangroves provide firewood, timber, cattle feed, honey, medicines and tourism development. They protect groundwater aquifers from seepage of seawater, thereby ensuring water security for coastal population. Mangrove forests remove coastal pollution particularly toxic heavy metals. They offer coastal protection against the fiery effects of natural calamities such as tsunami, storm surges, cyclone and floods (Kathiresan and Bingham 2001; Kathiresan and Qasim 2005; Kathiresan and Rajendran 2005). The potential of mangroves in carbon capture and sequestration is remarkable in mitigating the impacts of global warming and climate change (Kathiresan et al. 2013, 2014).

Abstract
 
Within the time scale for soil formation, humans appeared to the planet within the last 1 million years. They shifted their lifestyle from hunter-gatherer to nomadic animal husbandry and finally to cultivation of domesticated crops only within the last 10,000 yrs. Earlier, these crops were cultured in a semi-nomadic style as land was plentiful, so when soil lost its productivity, people abandoned it in favor of new-land. Gradually, as land became scarcer and population exploded, agriculture evolved to continuous cropping of the same parcel of land. This discovered the major concern for soil health. As organic matter is key to soil health, humus is the last stage of organic matter decomposition. Humus is a complex aggregate of dark brown colored amorphous substances, which have originated during the decomposition of plant and animal residues by microorganisms, under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Humus and living microorganisms are connected by numerous ways which must be appreciated in order to understand the origin and nature of humus. Our attempt is to narrate the role of organic matter and vital role of microbes in humification process.

Livestock nutrition is a complex field that involves the interplay of various nutrients to ensure optimal health, growth, reproduction and productivity. Nutrients do not function in isolation; rather, they interact in multiple ways synergistically or antagonistically affecting digestion, absorption, metabolism, and overall animal performance. Understanding these interrelationships is crucial for formulating balanced diets that meet the specific needs of different livestock species at various physiological stages. Nutrients in livestock diets can be broadly classified into macronutrients (carbohydrates, proteins, and fats) and micronutrients (vitamins and minerals).
Each nutrient has a specific role, but their interactions influence bioavailability and utilization. For instance, dietary proteins and carbohydrates have a direct impact on energy metabolism, affecting the animal’s ability to utilize other nutrients efficiently. Excess protein can increase energy expenditure due to deamination, while a deficiency in energy can limit protein synthesis. Similarly, the balance between dietary fat and carbohydrate affects energy density and digestion, influencing growth performance and body composition.
Among minerals, calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) exhibit a well-known interrelationship. Both are essential for bone development, but their absorption and utilization depend on the Ca:P ratio in the diet. An imbalance whether an excess or deficiency of one can result in metabolic disorders such as rickets or osteoporosis. Additionally, excess phosphorus reduces calcium absorption, leading to skeletal deformities, while excessive calcium can interfere with magnesium and zinc absorption, affecting overall metabolic functions. The interaction between iron, copper, and zinc is another critical aspect of mineral
nutrition. High dietary iron can interfere with copper absorption, leading to anaemia, while excessive zinc can inhibit copper metabolism, causing growth retardation and immune suppression.