Influence of propagule type and plant growth regulators on growth, foliage yield and economic performance of spiny coriander (Eryngium foetidum L.)
Eryngium foetidum L. is an aromatic leafy herb valued as a spice, condiment, and medicinal plant, although its commercial cultivation remains limited because of inadequate propagation practices. A field experiment was conducted during 2018 and 2019 to evaluate the influence of different vegetative propagules and plant growth regulators on plant growth, foliage production, and economic returns. Among the propagules tested, suckers measuring 7 to 10 cm in length exhibited superior establishment and growth compared with stem cuttings. Application of 500 ppm indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and 500 ppm indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) produced significant improvements in plant height, number of leaves, leaf area, leaf area index, foliage yield, and profitability. The treatment combination comprising 7 to 10 cm suckers treated with 500 ppm IBA recorded the highest foliage yield (2258.34 kg ha⁻¹), gross return (₹590 thousand ha⁻¹), and benefit-cost ratio (5.76), while performance remained statistically comparable with suckers treated with 500 ppm IAA. Correlation analysis demonstrated a strong positive association between foliage yield and major growth attributes. The findings indicate that vegetative propagation using suckers in combination with either 500 ppm IBA or 500 ppm IAA offers a practical, rapid, and cost-effective technique for large-scale multiplication and profitable commercial cultivation of this underutilized culinary herb.
Foliage yield, Growth regulator, Mandhonia, Sucker, Benefit:Cost ratio
Copyright (c) 2026 A. Samad, B. Singh, P. R. Gajurel (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Evaluating Soil Fertility, Management Practices, and Economic Viability of Arabica Coffee: A Comparative Study from Nagaland, India
Coffee is becoming an important income-generating crop for smallholder farmers in Nagaland. Nagaland coffee is known for its unique high-quality characteristics, but limited documentation is available about the status of its production. This survey investigated the soil physico-chemical properties, management practices, coffee yield, and income generation during 2020 to 2022 in Khar village and Veyili Keyiqha (V. K. area). Data were collected from 20 farmers through on-site field visits and personal interviews with farmers. Results showed that farmers in both locations practiced organic farming of Arabica coffee. The soil texture in both locations was found to be either loamy sand or sandy loam. Soil pH was found to be acidic. Soil available nitrogen in Khar village ranged from low to medium and very low to low in the V. K. area. Farm size was similar, with an average of 0.87 ha. Expenditure was greater in Khar with an average of ₹13400 spent mainly for labour cost and sapling purchase. Net income during the year 2020 – 2022 was similar between locations, with an average of ₹77200 ha-1. In Khar, the average coffee yield of 522 kg ha-1 in 2020 and 2021 was greater than the yield in 2022, 126 kg ha-1. Coffee yield in V. K. was similar for all three years with an average of 385 kg ha-1. Results from this study suggest that proper management practices and improving soil nutrient status are crucial to potentially increase coffee productivity for smallholder growers in the study areas.
Arabica coffee, Nagaland coffee, Organic coffee, Smallholder farmers.
Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Advancements in Aonla Preservation: Impact of Sweeteners on Quality and Shelf Life of Osmodehydrated Aonla Slices
Aonla is a sub-tropical deciduous fruit crop native to India, known for its high nutritional value. It is the second most abundant source of vitamin C and is also renowned for its medicinal properties. The fruit has an acidic and astringent flavor, making it highly suitable for processing into various products. Aonla slice, characterized by its soft, sweet, and tangy flavor, offers numerous health benefits. However, these slices can be made even more innovative by substituting sugar with different types of sweeteners. The goal of this study was to investigate how different osmotic treatments affected the osmotic dehydration process of aonla slices. Fresh aonla fruits of the Krishna variety were harvested at physiological maturity and subjected to different osmotic treatments. The fruits were soaked in sugar solution (T1), honey solution (T2), and apple juice concentrate solution (T3) to complete the osmotic dehydration process. Aonla slices prepared with the sugar solution were used as the control group. The osmotic treatments were carried out for 4 hours at 50°C, which resulted in increased weight loss, water loss, and solid gain in the aonla slices. After preparation, the aonla slices were packed in aluminum-laminated pouches and stored at room temperature (20–25°C) and 90–95% relative humidity for 0, 30, 60, and 90 days. During storage, the slices were evaluated for their physiological attributes, biochemical characteristics, and enzymatic activities. An increase in total soluble solids and titratable acidity was observed, while ascorbic acid content and antioxidant activity were found to decline over the storage period of time.
Aonla slice. Apple juice concentrate. Honey. Osmotic dehydration
Assessing the Influence of Bioinputs on the Performance of Pea (Pisum sativum L.) under Natural Farming Practices
Natural farming practices, inclusive of inputs like biocultures (Beejamrutha, Jeevamrutha, etc.), native biofertilizers and biopesticides, organic manures, and crop residues, are gaining attention as an alternative for conventional inputs for addressing modern agricultural challenges of chemical pollution, soil degradation, loss of soil biodiversity and impaired biological interactions in agroecosystems. The effect of these biological inputs on crop growth and soil fertility is likely to be influenced by soil type and other local environmental conditions, especially in acidic soils under hilly agroecosystems. This study evaluated the different combinations of biocultures, native biofertilizer, organic manure and crop residue on growth and yield of pea crop and soil fertility in a strongly acid Inceptisol in mid hills of Meghalaya. A pot experiment was laid out during the rabi season, 2023-24, in the Factorial Completely Randomized Design with two different factors, viz., soil management (M) and seed treatments (S). The soil management factor consisted of treatments: M1, organic manure (OM); M2, OM + Crop Residue mulch (CR); M3, OM + Jeevamrutha (JM); M4, OM + CR + JM; and the Seed treatment factor included treatments: S1: No seed treatment (SO); S2: Beejamrutha (BJ); S3: Biofertilizer (BIO). Results showed that the M4 treatment (Organic Manure + Crop Residue mulch + Jeevamrutha) had the most significant effect on soil chemical parameters, particularly with respect to availability of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and also significantly increased the growth, yield and uptake of these nutrients in pea crop. Although seed treatments could not influence the soil parameters, pea crop growth and yield were significantly influenced by the seed treatments, especially with the biofertilizer treatment. Therefore, a biofertilizer consortium may be included along with natural farming soil management components as a potential option for improved performance of the pea crop in acid soil.
Beejamrutha, Jeevamrutha, Biofertilizer, Crop residue mulch, Soil fertility
Pumpkin Seed and Watermelon Seed, a Nutraceutical Adjunct for Health-promoting Cheese Spread: A Review
The use of pumpkin and watermelon seeds as nutraceutical adjuncts in cheese spreads boosts the health benefits and adds nutritional compositions. Spreadable cheese, a popular dairy product, is increasingly being considered for functional food development due to its long shelf life and bioactive properties. Pumpkin and watermelon seeds are both nutrient-dense, containing proteins, essential fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, and bioactive compounds with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and potential disease-preventing properties. Pumpkin seeds, rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, minerals like magnesium, and bioactive peptides, have shown health benefits such as reducing the risk of chronic diseases, while watermelon seeds provide high-quality protein, antioxidants, and essential nutrients that promote heart health, improve skin conditions, and help manage diabetes. This review paper consists of an integration of these seeds into cheese spreads can provide a sustainable and innovative solution to meet the growing consumer demand for functional, nutrient-enriched dairy products. By utilizing these underutilized seeds, the dairy industry can develop healthier, value-added products that align with public health and sustainability goals. This approach highlights the potential of functional foods in supporting consumer well-being while diversifying the dairy sector.
Pumpkin seeds, Watermelon seeds, Bioactive compounds, Functional, Nutraceutical adjuncts.
Adoption Dynamics of Scientific Poultry and Fisheries Technologies under Farmer FIRST Programme (FFP) in Manipur
The study was conducted in the Imphal East district of Manipur with 36 Poultry beneficiaries and 21 fishery Beneficiaries to measure the extent of adoption of recommended poultry and fish farming practices under the Farmer FIRST Programme (FFP) implemented by the Central Agricultural University, Imphal. The study concludes that the majority (55.55%) of poultry farmers and the majority (61.90%) of fish farmers had a medium level of adoption of various FFP-recommended practices. Personal variables such as education level, training received, extension contact, economic motivation and market orientation have shown a highly significant and positive relationship, whereas variable age shows a negative and significant relationship with the extent of adoption of recommended poultry and fish rearing practices. It is evident from the study that extension operations must be strengthened in order to expose more people to scientific farming practices.
Adoption dynamics, Poultry, Fisheries, FFP, Manipur
Comparative Study of Biofertilizers on Growth and Yield of Broccoli in Acid Soil
This study assessed the effectiveness of two different biofertilizer consortia in terms of growth and yield of Broccoli crop (var. NSC Apollo IUS) and their impact on soil properties in a strongly acid Inceptisol. A field experiment on broccoli crop during the Rabi season, 2023-24, was conducted at the farmer’s field, Madan Mawkhar village, Ri-Bhoi, Meghalaya. The experimental layout was a randomized block design incorporating six treatments with four replications. The treatments were comprised of native biofertilizer consortium (NBC), non-native biofertilizers consortium (NNBC), either alone or in combinations with 50% RDF (Recommended dose of fertilizers) and 100%RDF as control. Biofertilizer was applied by the seedling root-dip method for one hour just before transplanting. Application of NBC and NNBC consortia improved growth and yield attributes of broccoli crop, but the effect of NBC on yield attributes of broccoli curd was significantly higher compared to that under NNBC. Leaf length, leaf breadth, leaf area and number of leaves per plant at 30, 45, 60 days after transplanting (DAT) and harvest were higher in 50% RDF+NBC as compared to other treated plots. The fresh curd weight, dry curd weight, and plant biomass were significantly higher in 50% RDF+NBC treated plots, with values of 184.9 g, 19.97 g, and 1036 g plant-1, respectively. Values of soil available N, available P and available K were the highest in 50% RDF+NBC treated plots as compared to other treated plots at harvest. In conclusion, NBC performed better than NNBC in strongly acid Inceptisol and the dual inoculation of NBC and NNBC exhibited an antagonistic effect on the growth and yield of broccoli. Further, integrated use of NBC and 50% RDF reduced physiological stress in broccoli plants, and supported higher yield and better quality of curds.
Consortia, Fertilizer dose, Native biofertilizer, Non-native biofertilizer.
Harmonizing Nutrient Synergy Maximizing Gladiolus Growth and Yield in Hill Terrain through Integrated Nutrient Management
In the 2021-22 agricultural season, the Horticulture Department’s Research farm in NU:SAS conducted a study to assess the impact of various organic liquid fertilizers, including effective microorganisms (EM), indigenous effective microorganisms (IEM), and Jeevamrutha, on gladiolus (Gladiolus grandiflorus L.) growth in a hilly region. Employing a randomized block design (RBD) with 8 treatments, Treatment T3, which involved 500 mL of activated IEM per square meter, produced the most impressive results. This treatment resulted in the longest spike length (89.62 cm), the highest number of florets per spike (10.47), and the greatest number of corms per plant (1.76). EM significantly reduced critical growth stage durations, such as sprouting (6.83 days), spike initiation (68.48 days), first floret opening (74.24 days), and spike harvesting (7.91 days). Treatment T6, combining 50% recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) with 50% IEM, yielded the tallest plant height (108.09 cm), extended shelf life (9.35 days), and prolonged vase life in distilled water (11.17 days). Regarding nutrient content, treatment T2 (EM) had the highest nitrogen content in leaves (4.33%), while treatment T3 (IEM) showed the highest phosphorus content (0.011%). In corms, RDF had the highest nitrogen content (3.08%), and Treatment T3 (IEM) had the highest phosphorus content (0.016%). Treatment T2 (EM) had the highest post-harvest soil nutrient availability, with N (961.71 kg ha-1), P (61.96 kg ha-1), and K (516.50 kg ha-1). Additionally, Treatment T5, combining 50% RDF and 50% EM, recorded the highest organic carbon content (2.81%) in the hilly region. Treatment T3 (IEM) showed the most favourable benefit-cost ratio (1:2.46) and the highest net income (₹676,653/ha), highlighting its economic viability and potential for sustainable floriculture management in hilly regions. This study demonstrates the significant impact of organic liquid fertilizers on gladiolus growth, flowering, corm production, soil fertility, and nutrient dynamics in hilly regions.
Effective microorganisms, Gladiolus, Indigenous, Jeevamrutha, Organic.
Institutional scaffolding and market dynamics in the value chains of NTFPs in emerging economies: A systematic literature review
Non-timber forest products (NTFPs) are central to rural livelihoods in emerging economies, yet their value chains remain fragmented, dominated by intermediaries, and analytically underexplored. This systematic review examines institutional frameworks and market dynamics of NTFP value chains, with particular focus on North East India. Following a PRISMA 2020-compliant protocol, 52 sources were synthesised from 788 identified records (2000–2025) using Global Value Chain governance theory and Price Transmission Theory. Three findings emerge: (1) state regulatory frameworks, including MSP-for-MFP, exhibit weak first-mile enforcement; (2) collective institutions like FPOs and VDVKs hold structural promise; and (3) formal econometric price transmission evidence is near-absent across NTFP chain nodes. A policy-research agenda centred on multi-node price data construction, threshold price transmission modelling, and quasi-experimental evaluation of collective enterprises is proposed.
Non-timber forest products, Value chain analysis, Price transmission, North East India
Copyright (c) 2026 Swarup UPADHYAYA, Mauchumi Kalita (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Agricultural growth in Sikkim: Evidence from multiple break unit root test
The agriculture sector of Sikkim has undergone a significant transformation especially in the last two decades. It serves as a key livelihood activity for about 46% of the state’s population while contributing about nine percent to the gross state domestic product (GSDP) Our study attempts to estimate the growth performance of production and yield of total foodgrains, rice, wheat, maize, pulses, and oilseeds during the period 1981-82 to 2021-22 using modern time series methods allowing for endogenous structural breaks in the growth rates. We find evidences of significant slow-down in growth rates of productions of all of these crops in the decade of 1990s and in the first decade of new millennium, resulting from decline in area and decline in growth rate of yields of crops like rice, wheat and maize during the decade of 1990s. Area under crops declined further for all of the selected crops in the next two decades, but increase in yield have been observed in the first decade of new century, following the shift toward organic farming in the state, in the cases of maize, pulses and oilseeds.
Copyright (c) 2026 Himanshu Narayan Prasad, Kundu Soumitra (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Clinicopathological and molecular investigation of a PPR outbreak in an organized goat farm in Tripura
Morbillivirus caprinae, belonging to the genus Morbillivirus and family Paramyxoviridae, is the cause of peste des petits ruminants (PPR), an acute and infectious viral disease that affects mainly small ruminants, especially goats. The disease is characterized by fever, necrotic stomatitis affecting the inner part of the lower lip and adjoining gum, severe gastroenteritis, inflammation of the bronchi, and often fatality. One privately owned organized goat farm on the outskirts of Agartala procured sixty Beetal and Sirohi goats from Rajasthan. Following a few days of introduction, the animals began exhibiting various symptoms, including fever, anorexia, cough, nasal mucus discharge, and diarrhea. The affected animals died within two to three days of the onset of clinical signs. Morbidity reached approximately 100%, and mortality was recorded to be 50%. Samples collected from ailing animals and necropsied specimens were subjected to histopathological examination followed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) employing primer pairs specific for the nucleocapsid (N) gene of Morbillivirus caprinae. The pathological lesions were suggestive of PPR, which was later confirmed by PCR.
Peste-des-petits ruminants, diagnosis, histopathology, polymerase chain reaction, Tripura
Copyright (c) 2026 Saurabh Majumder, Biplab Debroy, Bikas Chandra Debnath, Parimal Roy (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Performance assessment of Khaki Campbell, Kuttanad, Pati, and Indian runner ducks in field conditions of Assam
The research work was conducted to evaluate the performance in respect to production and reproduction of different duck breeds reared under the traditional backyard production system in Assam. Data pertaining to 400 ducks covering four different breeds/genetic groups, viz. Khaki Campbell, Kuttanad, Pati, and Indian Runner, which were maintained at farmers’ households under a demonstration programme of Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Baksa, Assam Agricultural University, were utilized. The study period was one year. Eight farmers were selected, and an individual farmer was provided with 25 day-old ducklings for rearing under backyard conditions. A highly significant (p < 0.01) effect of genetic group was observed on body weight at different ages (day-old, 5th, 10th, 15th, 20th and 25th weeks), age at first egg, annual egg production, and egg weight among the studied duck breeds. The body weight (g) pertaining to 25 weeks of age was averaged to be 1485.10 ± 14.41, 1639.48 ± 10.98, 1282.70 ± 10.01, and 2026.96 ± 3.37 for Khaki Campbell, Kuttanad, Pati, and Indian Runner ducks, respectively. The age at first egg of Khaki Campbell, Kuttanad, Pati, and Indian Runner ducks averaged to be170.99 ± 0.68, 162.40 ± 0.55, 209.99 ± 1.73, and 154.27 ± 1.15 days. The average annual egg production (numbers) was 254.46 ± 2.40 in Khaki Campbell, followed by 195.02 ± 1.71 in Kuttanad, 193.03 ± 1.65 in Indian Runner, and 69.32 ± 0.27 in Pati ducks. The corresponding average egg weights were 62.26 ± 0.46, 67.68 ± 0.31, 59.28 ± 0.27, and 69.46 ± 0.53 g, respectively. The results revealed considerable variability among the studied duck breeds, indicating the potential for selecting suitable breeds for the agro-climatic conditions of Assam to enhance egg production and overall productivity. The findings provide useful field-level evidence for farmers, extension agencies, and development programmes to promote appropriate breeds for sustainable backyard duck farming and improved livelihood and nutritional security of rural households in Assam.
Ducks, Body weight, Age at first egg, Annual egg production, Egg weight
Copyright (c) 2026 Debajit Deka, Arundhati Phookan, Ashim Kumar Saikia, Arfan Ali, Manoranjan Neog, Ranjit Kumar Saud (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Principal component analysis for evaluating genetic diversity in turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) accessions
Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) is one of the most important spice crops in India and is widely cultivated in the north-eastern region of the country, which represents a rich reservoir of genetic diversity. The current study was undertaken to assess the genetic diversity among turmeric accessions and to determine the contribution of rhizome yield and its associated traits to the overall genetic divergence using principal component analysis (PCA). A total of forty turmeric accessions were evaluated for yield and related morphological traits under field conditions. Principal component analysis revealed that two principal components had eigenvalues greater than one, indicating that these components accounted for a substantial proportion of the variability among the studied traits. The first 3 principal components (PC1, PC2 and PC3) explained 45.73, 6.77 and 6.05% of the total variation, respectively, collectively accounting for 58.66% of the overall variability. Traits viz., plant height, leaf length, leaf breadth, total number of leaves, yield per plant, number of mother rhizomes, weight of mother rhizomes, number of primary fingers and curcumin content showed positive contributions in PC1, PC2 and PC3, indicating their significant role in genetic divergence among the accessions. Among these traits, plant height exhibited the highest contribution towards total divergence (69.62%) in the ranked contribution analysis. The results indicate that these key traits are major contributors to variability and can be effectively utilised as selection criteria in genetic improvement programs aimed at improving yield and quality in turmeric.
diversity, PCA, time rank, Capsicum chinense Jacq
Copyright (c) 2026 M. Bilashini Devi, VK Verma, Hammylliende Talang, H. Rymbai, N. Uttam Singh, M. Bishonath Singh, S. Hazarika (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Gender-Neutral Pedal Operated Paddy Thresher for Small and Hill Farmers
Paddy is one of the major staple crops cultivated in India, occupying approximately 47.82 million hectares, which represents the largest rice-growing area globally. However, Indian agriculture is predominantly characterized by small and marginal land holdings, with nearly 86% of farmers owning less than 2 ha of land. Because of fragmented farm sizes, the adoption of large threshing equipment remains limited, particularly in hilly and remote regions. Conventional paddy threshing practices are generally labor-intensive, require considerable time, and impose high physical drudgery, especially on women workers. To overcome these limitations, a gender-neutral pedal-operated paddy thresher was designed and developed at ICAR–Indian Sugarcane Research Institute (ISRI), Lucknow. The machine performance was evaluated under both institute and farmers’ field conditions using different crop varieties, moisture levels, and feed rates. The developed thresher achieved a threshing efficiency ranging from 91.62 to 98.78% and a threshing capacity of 90 to 106 kg/h. The machine can be operated comfortably by a single person in a seated posture, thereby reducing physical strain and operator discomfort. The operational cost was estimated at approximately ₹55 to 60 per quintal, indicating its economic suitability for small-scale farming. Owing to its portability, ease of operation, low maintenance requirement, and affordability, the developed thresher offers a practical threshing solution for small and marginal farmers.
Gender-neutral, Pedal-operated paddy thresher, Rice threshing, Smallholder farmers, Threshing performance, Portability.
Copyright (c) 2026 Sukhbir Singh, Omprabha, A. K. Singh (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Performance of local landraces of foxtail millet {Setaria italica (L.)} P. Beauv under Nagaland conditions
During the summer season and kharif season of the year 2024 at the Agronomy farm of the School of Agricultural Sciences, Medziphema campus, Nagaland University, this experiment was conducted under a project entitled ‘Agronomic evaluation of local landraces of Foxtail millet in Nagaland’. Randomised Block Design was used for this experiment with 18 landraces and replicated thrice to reduce experimental error. Seeds of different local landraces were taken as different treatments. In summer as well as the kharif season at 60 DAS, Aslisie (T7) recorded the tallest plants (87.11, 95.50, respectively), followed by Akonkon (T8), but at 90 DAS T7 recorded the tallest plants (108.33, 119.0, respectively), and T2 recorded the shortest plants (63.03, 69.50, respectively). At 60 DAS, when most of the photosynthetic activity happened, T9 and T10 (17.60, 17.67, respectively) recorded statistically the maximum number of leaves per plant and T17 (7.60) recorded the minimum during the summer season. Similarly, maximum panicle weight during the kharif season was observed in T9 (3.70) and T10 (3.40), while minimum panicle weight was found in T3 (1.05), which was statistically at par with T1 and T14. Similar to the summer season, seed yield was found maximum in T9 (960) during the kharif season, which was at par with T10 (920), and minimum in T3 (405), which was at par with T1 (453). T9 recorded maximum seed yield (819.33), which was statistically at par with T10 (781.33), while minimum seed yield (337.33) was observed in T3 during the summer season.
Copyright (c) 2026 Lanunola Tzudir, Merentosh, Debika Nongmaithe, Rekha Yadav, Noyingthung Kikon, Kili Awomi, Rinu Sakhong (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Assessment of rice (Oryza sativa L.) field conversion to large cardamom (Amomum subulatum Roxb.) cultivation in West Sikkim using GIS and farmers’ perceptions
Conversion of agricultural land from food crops to cash crops has been increasingly common in the Himalayan region. The present study documented the conversion of rice (Oryza sativa L.) fields to large cardamom (Amomum subulatum Roxb.) cultivation in selected Gram Panchayat Units (GPUs) of West Sikkim during the period 2005 to 2015 by using geographic information system (GIS) techniques and farmers’ perception surveys. Land use change was quantified from temporal satellite imagery from Google Earth and analyzed in ArcGIS 10.0. In addition, a field survey of 47 farmers was conducted through structured questionnaires and semi-structured interviews to identify the factors that contribute to land conversion. The results demonstrated a decrease in the area under rice cultivation from 15.16 ha in 2005 to 11.87 ha in 2015. The GIS analysis revealed that 4.27 ha, or 28.3 % of the rice growing area, had been converted to large cardamom cultivation during the study period. Observed land-use changes were confirmed by ground verification of selected sites. The major reasons for conversion identified by the farmers are: inadequate irrigation water, damage by rodents and wild animals, shading by nearby forests, long dry spells, incidence of pests and diseases, and risk of soil erosion on steep slopes. Farmers also perceived that large cardamom cultivation was more lucrative and less labor-intensive than that of rice. The study reveals a drastic shift in cultivation from rice to large cardamom in West Sikkim due to environmental and socioeconomic reasons. Crop diversification could enhance farm income, but continued conversion of rice fields may constitute a potential threat to the local food security and conservation of indigenous rice germplasm. The results offer useful information for sustainable land use planning and policy formulation in the Himalayan region.
Land-use change, Crop diversification, GIS, Indigenous rice germplasm, Sustainable agriculture.
Copyright (c) 2026 Sudeep Gurung, Laxuman Sharma, Narapati Sharma, Lomash Sharma (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Finger millet performance affected by different nutrient management options under foothill condition of Nagaland
The proposed experiment was performed in the kharif season of 2024 in the Agronomy farm of Nagaland University, SAS Medziphema Campus, entitled ‘Performance of finger millet [Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn. under different nutrient management practices in foothill conditions. The design used for the experiment was RBD (Randomised block design) with 8 treatments and 3 replications, which resulted in a total of 24 plots. Plant height increased with the advancement of crop age, with dwarf plants in the control treatment and treatments where only organic sources were used and all other treatments were statistically at par with each other. Leaf area index increased in all treatments up to 50 DAS and then decreased due to senescence of leaves. During 50 to 75 DAS, T8 treatment showed maximum CGR (1.79), which may be due to better availability of nutrients from FYM decomposition and improvement in soil aeration and temperature and the lowest CGR (0.98) in T1 treatment. At 50 DAS, maximum tillers (2.98) were found in the T2 treatment and minimum in the T1 (1.48) treatment. Maximum number of finger head-1 were found in T5 treatment (7.99), which was statistically at par with all treatments except T1. T3 treatment achieved maximum seed yield (2459.3 kg/ha), which was statistically at par with T2 and T4 treatment because of good photosynthesis area, which was indicated by leaf area index, good number of tillers.
Finger millet, poultry manure, FYM, Chemical fertilizer, Yield
Copyright (c) 2026 Rekha Yadav, Debia Yashi, Chau Naccaseng Pomoung, Gyan Prakash, Rinu Sakhong, Lanunola Tzudir, Debika Nongmaithem, Noyingthung Kikon (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Assessment of Nanocellulose Membrane Filters for Improving Water Quality in Silchar City: A Comparative Study with Conventional Methods
The quality of water is a major concern worldwide, especially in areas where polluted water sources present considerable health hazards to the local population. Nanotechnology has emerged as a possible remedy for enhancing water quality, providing advanced techniques to efficiently address complex contamination concerns. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of nanocellulose membrane filters in enhancing water quality parameters of wastewater and groundwater samples, specifically in Silchar city, Assam, India. This study evaluates the efficacy of nanocellulose filters fabricated from waste paper and wood fibre in comparison to conventional methods in terms of their ability to remove contaminants, cost effectiveness, and filtration efficiency. The experimental findings demonstrate that the utilization of a nanocellulose membrane filter led to a significant decrease in several water contaminants. Specifically, the total dissolved solids were reduced by 73.94%, turbidity by 93.42%, iron by 58.82%, nitrate by 20.57%, chloride by 42.86%, hardness by 44.68%, alkalinity by 20.83%, sulphate by 35.19%, and colour by 85.71%. Conventional filters, on the other hand, obtained reductions of 43.76%, 84.21%, 35.29%, 5.29%, 26.53%, 27.66%, 12.50%, 19.05%, and 71.43% for the identical settings. Moreover, the utilization of nanocellulose filters demonstrates encouraging outcomes in enhancing the overall quality of water and reducing health hazards linked to polluted water sources. The results of this study highlight the potential of using nanocellulose-based filtering technologies as sustainable and efficient solutions for resolving water quality issues in Silchar city and other similar areas.
Nanocellulose, Water quality, Membrane filtration, Contaminant removal, Public health
Economic Analysis of Jhum Farming System of West Garo Hills, Meghalaya
This study focuses on the economic dimensions of Jhum cultivation- a traditional slash-and-burn agricultural practice, among indigenous communities in the West Garo Hills District of Meghalaya. By examining production element, the research aims to identify opportunities for improving farming techniques and enhancing the livelihoods of Jhum farmers. In the study researcher identified that the Darechikgre village has the largest share of Jhum land (24.58 per cent) while Rengsangre has the smallest (15.08 per cent) respectively. The participants' literacy levels vary across the study area, with most farmers having completed secondary education. The average cost of cultivation (Cost A1) per hectare differs by village: Rs. 4879.20 in Darechikgre, Rs. 3081.60 in Waribokgre, Rs. 3819.90 in Asanang, Rs. 2996.00 in Rengsangre, and Rs. 4280.00 in Chandigre. Jhum cultivation follows principal of natural farming and do not incur additional cost for irrigation and manure. Significant variability in production costs, gross yield, total revenue, and benefit-cost (B:C) ratios is observed across the study area, with soil fertility, climate conditions, and agricultural techniques influencing yield differences. Darechikgre, with a B:C ratio of 1.8, is the most profitable, while Asanang (0.5) and Rengsangre (0.6) operate at a significant loss. The overall B:C ratio for the Rongram block is 1.2, indicating that, on average, the regions are operating at a profit. A regression model was used to assess the factors affecting productivity, showing that total Jhum land, Jhum experience, and quantity of seed significantly influence total production.
Jhum cultivation, Natural farming, Sustainability, B:Cratio, Cost of Production.
Determination of the P critical limit for French bean in the acidic soil of Mizoram
An experiment was conducted through pot culture from soils collected across the upland and lowlands of Kolasib district, Mizoram, to study French bean cv. Zorin bean response to different doses of phosphorus (P) application to determine the P critical limit. The critical limit of a nutrient and a suitable extractant is necessary for site-specific nutrient management. The collected soils across the region were acidic with a mean pH value of 4.64 ± 0.11, SOC content 8.13 ± 0.93 g kg-1 and soil texture ranging from loam to sandy clay loam. Phosphorus (P) was applied @ 0, 50 and 100 kg ha-1, while nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) were applied @ 50:50 kg ha-1. Available P in soils and concentration in the plants increase significantly with an increased in the level of P application. Dry matter yield and plant uptake were also found to increase with P application @ 50 kg P ha-1. Bray’s percent yield (BPY, r=0.79**) and Bray’s percent uptake (BPU, r=0.72**) showed the highest significant positive correlation with Melich-1 extractant. The P critical limit in soil was 15 mg kg-1 for Olsen, 8 mg kg-1 for Bray‒1, and 10 mg kg-1 for Mehlich-1, respectively. The P critical limit in the French bean (Zorin bean) plant was observed to be 0.16%.
Degraded soil, Stunted growth, P deficiency, Zorin bean, Extractant.
Terrestrial snails diversity of Lower Dibang Valley, Arunachal Pradesh
A total of 75 species belonging to 36 genera, 14 families under 3 orders from 256 specimens were reported during the study from the Lower Dibang Valley district of Arunachal Pradesh. Surveys were conducted in various parts of the district under different institutional projects conducted during 2015 and 2016. Snails were hand-picked and randomly preserved in 70% Ethanol. Order Stylommatophora with 49 species under 10 families and 25 genera was the most common group, followed by Architaenioglossa with 26 species under 3families and 10 genera. The present study is the first of its kind under this group of animals since no work has been done on the comprehensive taxonomy of terrestrial mollusca of the district.
Mollusca, terrestrial, biodiversity hot spot, Endemic, Arunachal Pradesh
A Comparative study on sodium acetate and enrichment methods of Bacillus thuringiensis isolation
Bacillus thuringiensis is a very important soil bacterium that plays an immense role in managing insect pests in the agriculture field. These bacteria, as they reside in different habitats, have to be isolated in order to use them as a successful biological control agent. There are different methods of its isolation. Here, in our studies, we have compared two important methods of isolation of Bt from soil samples, viz., the sodium acetate method and the enrichment method. From the results, it’s evident that the sodium acetate method has yielded the maximum number of Bt-like isolates as well as the maximum number of Bt colonies as compared to the enrichment method. The method has yielded 733 Bt-like isolates from which 26 Bt strains were confirmed. Whereas, the enrichment method contributed only 301 Bt-like colonies and of which there were only eight confirmed Bt strains. The statistical analysis using a paired t-test has also given evidence that the two methods are significantly different in isolating Bt strains. Hence, the sodium acetate methods can be confidently recommended for the isolation of Bt from soil samples.
Issues and challenges faced by the kiwifruit growers in Phek district of Nagaland
Kiwi is one of the focus horticultural crops of Nagaland. The fruit is commercially grown in districts like Phek, Kohima and Zunheboto. The varieties grown are Hayward, Allison and Bruno. Phek district covered the largest area of cultivation with 109.00 ha in the year 2020-2021 in Nagaland. Yet, with so much potential and future prospects, the farmers faced challenges and issues in their farming. Therefore, the present study was conducted with the aim of ranking different problems faced by the farmers in Phek district, Nagaland, with a total of 120 respondents. Information regarding their problems is procured from the farmers through a structured interview schedule. To find out the most important problems faced by the respondents, Garrett’s ranking techniques were used, which convert the order of problems into numerical scores. The study concluded that ‘lack of irrigation facilities’ was the main problem faced by the respondent with the highest Garret score of 8385 and an average score of 69.87%, followed by lack of storage facility (62.87%), lack of tools, equipment, machinery, etc (57.99% ), Inadequate farm credit (55.10%), pest and disease problem (50.30%), shortage of labour (49.42%), marketing problem (44.95%), high cost of investment (39.06%) and lack of adequate transportation facilities (30.32%).
Irrigation, Kiwi, farming, Garrett ranking, problems
Status of farm mechanization in Nagaland: A review
In Nagaland, 90% of the state’s land is mountainous, and 70% of the population is engaged in agriculture. In 2022-23, 28.42% of the total reported area was used for crop cultivation, and 52% of the total land area was covered by forest. The majority of the landholding in Nagaland belongs to medium (4-10 ha), i.e., 37.7%, and the average landholding is more than 10 ha. Schemes like SMAM and RKVY were initiated in the state to promote farm mechanization in areas with limited farm power in agricultural fields and to meet the needs of small and marginal farmers. The level of farm mechanization remains poor at present, but there is great potential for growth with the help of the government and funding agencies by providing subsidies to the farmers. Also, the hilly topography of the region makes it impossible to operate heavy machines. Therefore, to mitigate the problem, prior importance has to be given to strengthening the research and development to develop small, lightweight, and portable implements and machinery. Providing frequent training and establishing more CHCs would contribute immensely to improving the level of farm mechanization in the state.
Agriculture, Landholdings, Hilly and mechanization, etc.
Performance assessment of horticulture scheme under the Jhumia Rehabilitation Programme in Tripura
Shifting cultivation (jhuming) is a predominant form of agriculture practice in the state, mainly cultivated by the indigenous tribes of Tripura. The impacts on the life and livelihood of the people and the harmful effects on the environment led the state government to rethink its policy toward jhumia’s development. Since the 1950s, the state government has taken various rehabilitation schemes to wean away the jhumias from practising jhum cultivation; such schemes were colony housing, plain land agriculture, animal husbandry, plantation and horticultural crops. The study finds that various government agencies work in corporations to rehabilitate the households, such that the horti-croppers’ livelihood opportunities and the possessions of household assets have improved positively. Besides, marketing problems were relatively minor to the growers. Also, they have adopted precise strategies to counter various threats experienced during plantation development and after that. From the business turnover, cultivating horticulture crops could be considered viable. The schemes provided were also rated excellent, indicating a positive change in jhumias economic development.
People, Jhuming, Rehabilitation, Living conditions, and Economic issues
Variation of in-situ soil moisture under different irrigation regimes: An Experience under potato production in Meghalaya
Under limited availability of water, maximization of water productivity can be possibly achieved with deficit irrigation regimes. A field trial was taken with potatoes as the test crop during the winter season of 2022-23 to study the variation of soil moisture under different irrigation scenarios and crop performance under mid hills of Meghalaya. The experiment was conducted in split plot design with four different levels of irrigation regimes, viz., 45% (M1), 60% (M2), 75% (M3) and 90% (M4) as main plot treatment and three potato varieties, viz., Kufri Jyoti (V1), Kufri Megha (V2) and Kufri Giriraj (V3) under sub plot treatment and replicated thrice. The maximum variation recorded was 18.46, 21.73, 24.73 and 27%, under M1, M2, M3, and M4, respectively. Similarly, the total range of water used varied between 575.3 to 124.8 mm. The highest value of water productivity (75.34 kg ha-1 mm-1) was recorded under M4 irrigation regime. Similarly highest water productivity was recorded for V1 (54.50 kg ha-1 mm-1), over V2 and V3, but was statistically at par with V2 (50.83 kg ha-1 mm-1).
Deficit irrigation, Maximum Allowed Depletion, North Eastern Region (NER), Potato variety, Water productivity
Assessing foxtail millet (Setaria italica (L.) P. Beauv.) adaptability for fodder yield in the foothills of Nagaland using GGE biplot analysis
Foxtail millet is a major millet crop cultivated in the foothills of Nagaland for both fodder and grain production. Hybrid development in foxtail millet is extremely challenging due to its minute flowers and highly self-pollinating nature. Therefore, identifying high-yielding pure lines for both specific and general adaptation is a priority in foxtail millet breeding programs. The present study evaluated 30 foxtail millet genotypes under different sowing dates in the foothills of Nagaland. Pooled analysis revealed significant effects of genotype, environment, and genotype-by-environment interactions on fodder yield. GGE biplot analysis showed that the first two principal components accounted for 75.14 and 12.96% of the total variation, respectively. Discriminativeness and representativeness analyses in GGE biplots identified early kharif as the most representative environment, while late kharif demonstrated the highest discriminative ability. The “Which Won Where” biplot indicated that Genotype G1 was stable across environments, a finding further confirmed by the mean vs. stability biplot.
Foxtail millet, Fodder yield and GGE biplots.
Bio-Priming of African Marigold (Tagetes erecta) cv. Pusa Narangi Gainda Seeds
This investigation was done to determine the effect of biopriming on African marigold (Tagetes erecta) cv. Pusa Narangi Gainda. Biopriming is a process of invigoration seeds with a solution containing beneficial micro-organisms. Randomized block design with seven treatments was used and replicated thrice, in which biopriming agents, namely phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB), Trichoderma harzianum, microbial consortia, Psuedomonas fluorescens, jeevamrutha, and indigenous effective micro-organisms (IEM) were used, and water was used as a control to study their influence on seed germination, seedling growth and development parameters. Parameters like germination percentage (83.67%), speed of germination (19.89), mortality (5.33%), and germination rate (18.74) were observed to be maximum with the seeds primed with Trichoderma harzianum, which was on par with microbial consortia and the observations from PSB were on par with Pseudomonas fluorescens. These parameters were observed to be lowest in control, followed by IEM and Jeevamrutha. Parameters for seedling, such as shoot length (12.97 cm), root length (14.33 cm), seedling length (27.30 cm), seedling vigour index (2283.27), seedling dry weight (6.96 g), were also maximum in the seeds primed with T. harzianum, followed by consortia. In contrast, control showed minimum seedling growth and development.
Biopriming, Trichoderma harzianum, microbial consortia, Seed germination, African marigold.
40 Content list available at http://epubs.icar.org.in, www.kiran.nic.in; ISSN: 0970-6429 Indian Journal of Hill Farming 2018, Special Issue, Page 40-43 Assessment of Impact of Frontline Demonstrations in North Eastern-Hill Region of India
Pulses are important components of balanced diet and playing key role in alleviating malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies in third world countries. Among the pulses, lentil is recognised as nutritious pulse crop and grown in different agro-ecology of India. Several high yielding varieties have been developed in the past, however, only few of them could reach to the farmers field, particularly in NEH region. Frontline demonstration is the best established strategy to popularize the newly developed technology at farmer’s field. Therefore to assess the yield gap and impact of demonstration in North-eastern region present attempt has been made. The results revealed that there was more than 29 Percent increase in grain yield through demonstrations over the farmer’s practices being followed. Similarly, the average technology gap was 372 kg/ha which exhibited the feasibility of improved technology at the farmer’s field. The average technology index was 31% during the study period which is in accordance with technology gap. On the contrary, average extension gap was 183 kg/ha, which might be attributed to adoption of improved technology in demonstrations that resulted in higher grain yield than the traditional farmers practices. Finally it may be concluded that in eastern hill region of India, frontline demonstrations of lentil was found more productive, profitable and feasible in local conditions as compared to existing local technology and got success in increasing productivity of lentil during last fifteen years.
Copyright (c) 2018 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Time Utilization Pattern among Hill Women
The present study was carried out in Karbi Anglong district of Assam, considering the women folk of the Karbi tribe. The socio-economic profile of the respondents showed that majority of the respondents belongs to the age group of 30-40 yrs of age and higher percentage of the respondents is found to be illiterate. Nuclear family is more prevalent and having large family size. Majority of the respondents resides in kutcha (mud floor and thatched) house and belongs to poor economic group. Observation showed that all the respondents performed almost all the activities while working towards upliftment the family. Time utilization pattern reveals that the majority of the respondents spent 11–13 h in home and allied activities during non-agricultural season and 7–9hrs during agricultural season and spend 5 -7 h in farm activities during agricultural season. Thus, it can be divulged that respondents engage themselves in economic activities from dawn to dusk in order to uplift their financial status to meet the family needs.