Vegetative propagation of Azadirachta indica (Neem), Air Layering:

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Vegetative propagation of Azadirachta indica (Neem), Air Layering:

Air Layering:

What is air layering?
Air layering is a vegetative propagation technique in which a plant stem is wounded and wrapped in a
medium to allow for the growth of adventitious roots.
Roots around the cut area can grow until they are well developed and the new plant is severed from the parent plant by cutting it off just below the roots and potting it up separately.

Vegetative propagation of Azadirachta indica (Neem)

Select Shoots of uniform growth and size i.e. grade 50-60 cm length and 2-3 cm diameter on the tree. Remove a 4.0 cm wide strip of bark around the shoot.

Scrap the Exposed surface with a sharp knife to ensure the complete removal of both phloem and cambium.

Apply 3000 IBA and 2000 NA parts per million to the wound's surface.

Soak well-chopped sphagnum moss in water for three days and subsequently treat it with copper fungicide.

The stem is wrapped with moss to encourage roots to form. 

 

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Wick irrigation system

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Wick irrigation system:

It is a sub-irrigation system in which water and nutrients are supply to the substrate through capillary action.

A wick irrigation system operates in a closed cycle, without runoff, permitting appropriate plant nutrition and creating alternatives to improve production uniformity.

Advantages:

1) independence of electricity for operation

2) High water and nutrient use efficiency

3) Less need for manpower, as the management is simplified compared with conventional cultivation, providing cost reduction

4) Increase in the uniformity and quality of production

5) Water savings

6) Temperature control of the root system.

Wick irrigation systems can be used for the cultivation of ornamental plants, such as chrysanthemums and poinsettias.

Best material used for wick system:

Cloth material composed of polyester is the most suitable material for capillary wick-based irrigation.

 Best media:

3 parts soil+ 2 part sand+ 1 part manure

 2 parts forest soil, 4 parts cocopeat, 1 part manure and 1 part pumice

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Production Technology of Barley

Land Requirement:

. The field should be first ploughed by a disc harrow or soil-turning plough to uproot weeds and kill overwintering pests and weeds. Then after precisely leveling the land irrigation is done before sowing. Barley crops is sensitive to water and nitrogen hence proper leveling of land using laser land leveler should be done before sowing. The field may attain optimum soil moisture after 5-15 days of irrigating depending on soil type. Afterwards, two to three ploughings is done with harrow to make soil well pulverized.

Seed Selection and Treatment:

Before sowing seeds can be treated with Bavistin @2kg/kg seed as preventive measure to control loose smut disease. Seed treatment with 150ml of Chlorpyriphos (20 EC) in 5 liter of water per 100 kg seeds can control termite attack in field but soil should have enough moisture content. Among the physical treatment seed thermal treatment with hot vapors (100°C) for one to 10 seconds on spring barley can reduce fungal infection (Fusarium, Alternaria, Penicillium etc.) and improve seed germination. 

3 Nutrient Management:

After field preparation well rotten FYM (20-30 T/ha) shall be ploughed with soil. For timely sown crop fertilizer dose of 60 kg N:30 kg P:20 kg K is required. Entire dose of phosphorus and potash with 1/3rd amount of nitrogen fertilizer should be broadcast in soil before followed by ploughing or better if placed at the time of seed sowing by seed cum fertilizer drill at a depth of 7 to 10 cm. Balance amount of nitrogen is splitted into two equal top dressing first at tillering stage or 30 days after sowing and second top dressing at boot stage or 60 days after sowing. In case of Zinc deficiency ZnSO4 @ 20 kg/ha can be applied [48]. A nitrogen fertilizer dose @ 100-120 kg/ha applied in splits with two third applied at seeding time can result in a greater number of ears per meter square and seed yield higher as compared to single application (Moreno 2003). Integrated nutrient management always have an added interest in obtaining maximum seed yield and quality. An integration of 75% NPK + 5 T FYM ha-1 along with biofertilizer and vermicompost instead of 100 % NPK alone can cause a substantial increase in number of seeds per spike and test weight [56]. Response of plants to Phosphorus fertilizer at early growth and tillering stage is maximal but it diminishes as the plant transits into the reproductive phase as there is elongation stem.

Seed Rate and Sowing Method:

For varietal seed production seed rate of 100 kg/ha is needed with a row spacing of 15-20 cm. Seed is sown at a depth not more than five cm. Sowing barley at 20 cm depth as compared of at a five cm has shown to reduce the establishment of plants (about 76 %) with a reduction in grain yield by 62% [57]). Optimum time of sowing winter barley is 1-25 Nov and for late sown crop it is 1-25 December in case of irrigated conditions. Raised bed up to 120cm wide can also be opted for barley sowing other than flat bed method of sowing. By using raised bed technique an increase in seed yield Chapter 1: Seed Production Technology of Wheat and Barley 21 can be achieved along with compressed irrigation requirement. This consequently ameliorates water productivity and nitrogen use efficiency in comparison with seed drilling method [58]. Raised bed seed production interprets better ability of plant roots to anchorage on beds and capacity to withstand water stress. Therefore, plants become less susceptible to distress caused by climate change. Traditional method of sowing Barley is dropping seeds with a Chonga (a tube connected with a funnel like structure behind country plough). If sowing using traditional method, it should be kept in mind that there is proper row to row spacing for roughing operation to be taken up for quality seed production. 4.5 Weed Management: Along with roughing few manual weedings of field can add up to the improved physical quality of seeds. Two manual weedings are required to be done at 30-35 and 55 to 60 days after sowing [53]. Isoproturon a.i. @1.75kg/ha + 0.5 kg/ha 2,4-D @ in 800-1000 litres of water can control post emergence grass and broad-leaved weeds 30-35 days after sowing e.g., bathua (Chenopodium album), hirankhuri (Convolvulus arvensis), wild carrot (Cronopus didymus). Pendimethalin (Stomp) 3125 to 3750 ml/ha in 350-375 L of water can control both broad and narrow leaved weeds when spray 3 days after sowing.

Harvesting:

Barley seeds get ready for harvest by March end and second week of April. It is when the seed moisture is 25 to 30 per cent. But there is shattering tendency in barley seeds therefore it should be harvested before achieving maturity so that spikes do not break open. At the time of harvesting chances of occurrence of rain and hailstorms is high in Northern zone hence it may affect seed health therefore harvesting of seed crop should not be delayed. It can be harvested using Combine machine. But it should be made sure that the machines are cleaned properly off the seeds of other varieties or crops so as to maintain genetic purity and physical purity of the harvested seeds. Seeds are dried well up to 10-12 % seed moisture content before it is processed

 

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Natural Organic Hair Dye:

Plant sources:

Natural products are obtained from plant sources to replace the synthetic dyes.

 Lawsonia inermis, Henna

Hibiscus rosa –sinenis (leaves and flowers),

Murraya Koenigii, curry leaves

Eclipta alba, Guntagalagaraku

Punica granatum, pomegranate

Emblica officinalis,Amla

 Azadirachta indica, Neem

Ocimum Sanctum, Tulasi

Trigonella Foenum Fenugreek

Alo vera

Juglone walnut

Formulation of dye:

Fresh leaves of aloe vera were collected and washed thoroughly the outer surface was peeled off and the inner mass was collected with the help of a scoop. Finally

50 gms of Lawsonia inermis,

 20 gms of Hibiscus rosa –sinenis (leaves and flowers),

20 gms of Murraya Koenigii,

20 gms of Eclipta alba,

20 gms of Punica granatum,

30 gms of Emblica officinalis,

5 gms of Azadirachta indica,

5 gms of Ocimum Sanctum,

5 gms of Trigonella Foenum,

 20gms of Juglone Hussk

Powders were blended with 5 gms of aloe vera gel along with 2 gms of Iron filings and soaked the mixture for 1 hour in water along with tea decoction to obtain a dye. The soaked dye composition has been applied to the hair to check the color imparted to it. When the formulated paste is applied on the hair shaft, the dye molecule penetrates inside the hair shaft and binds with the keratin fiber. When the light falls on the dye-applied hair, the outer layer of the hair shaft shimmers / reflects the light in such a way to present the hair to be in a brownish-red color.

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Role of Grafting in yield increase of vegetables under flooding, drought, and salinity condition

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Role of Grafting in yield increase of vegetables

Environmental stress, 

because a changing global climate is the primary reason for crop loss or failure. Among the various environmental stressors, extreme temperatures, drought and flooding (due to erratic rainfall), and salinity are the major limiting factors for the sustainable production of agricultural and horticultural crops.

Vegetable grafting

 a plant surgical technique that is eco-friendly, rapid, and efficient, is currently the best alternative approach to climate change-resilient plant production that addresses these abiotic stressors.

There are following examples of top-performing rootstock and scion combinations in vegetable crops under different environmental stresses.

 

Examples of top-performing rootstock and scion combinations in vegetable crops under induced flooding

 

Examples of top-performing rootstock and scion combinations in vegetable crops under induced drought stress

Examples of top-performing rootstock and scion combinations in vegetable crops under induced salinity stress

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Production Technology of Garlic

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Production Technology of garlic

Soil:

 For Garlic fertile, well drained and loamy soil is required for high yield. Heavy and hard

soil significantly affect the bulb size and yield.

Climate

 Garlic is frost resistant crop and it requires cool period during early growth and dry period

near maturity. The increase in day length from 8 to 12 hours. increases the bulb weight, bulb

diameter and number of cloves and reduces the number of secondary leaves.

Time of Planting & Method of Sowing

 Garlic is planted in single clove but bulbils (a small young plant that is produced vegetatively

from axillary buds on parent plants stem) are also used occasionally. The quantity of planting

material required per area depend on clove size and number of cloves per bulb. A distance of 15 to 20 cm (row to row) and 8 to 10 cm (plant to plant) is recommended. The sowing of garlic in the provinces is as under:

Province	Sowing time
Punjab	October
Sindh	October-November
Kpk	October-November
Balochistan	October-November

 

Manuring and Fertilizer Requirement Garlic responds very well to organic manure, Application of 5-10 tonnes/acre at the time of field preparation is recommended. Application of N: P: K @ 75:85:55 kg produces higher yield. At the time of planting, half of nitrogen along with full dose of P and K should be used, the remaining half of nitrogen be applied 30-45 days after planting. 2.1.5 Irrigation and interculture Garlic crop needs irrigation once in a week during vegetative growth and at 10-15 days’ interval near maturation. Garlic is a closely planted crop which requires 3-5 manual hoeing for higher yield. However, weeding is tedious, expensive and often damages the plants therefore, weeds can be controlled by using oxadiazon (0.5 lit/acre) and pendimethalin (1.0 lit/acre), as preemergence weedicides.

Harvesting :The crop is ready for harvest when the tops turn brownish and show signs of drying up and bend over. The bulbs mature in 4-6 months after plantation depending upon the climate. The harvesting time is as under:

Province	Harvesting time
Punjab	April
Sindh	April-June
Kpk	March-June
Balochistan	March-June

 

Storage Garlic bulbs can be best stored for 3-4 months in well ventilated room. Storability is also affected by enzyme activity and the cultivars most suitable for storage generally have low ascorbate and polyosenol oxidase activity. Application of 2500 or 5000 ppm MH as foliar spray before harvest is reported to inhibit sprouting in storage up to 300 days without any appreciable adverse effects on yield. The treatment also reduces the loss in weight of bulbs stored at low temperature (1.0 to 8.0

 

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How to apply Humic acid in soil and for plants

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How to apply Humic acid in soil and for plants

There are different methods of application of humic acid for different crops.

Priming seeds:

Seeds of crops can be primed at different concentrations at different times.

Soil application:

Humic acid can be applied at the rate of 1, 2, and 3 kg h^-1

Foliar spray:

Humic acid can be applied as a foliar spray, a solution of (0.01 %, 0.05 %, and 0.1 %).

Foliar spray can be applied at different stages of different crops.

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How to apply Humic acid to soil and plants

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How to apply Humic acid in soil and for plants

There are different methods of application of humic acid for different crops.

Priming seeds:

Seeds of crops can be primed at different concentration for different time.

Soil application:

Humic acid can be applied at the rate of 1, 2 and 3 kg h^-1

Foliar spray:

Humic acid can be applied as foliar spray , solution of (0.01 %, 0.05 % and 0.1 %).

Foliar spray can be applied at different stages of different crops.

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How to control High blood pressure with Medicinal plants

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Medicinal plants:

Hypertension:

High blood pressure, termed "hypertension," is a condition that afflicts almost 1 billion people worldwide and is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality.

Herbal Medicine:

Several herbal medicines and supplements have been studied as potential therapeutic agents in the management of hypertension and its related complications.

Herbal plants:

Any plant with leaves, seeds, or flowers used for flavouring, food, medicine, or perfume.

PLANTS CONTAINING ANTIHYPERTINSIVE ACTIVITY

Plant name	Common name	Parts used
Errachidia province	Errachidia	Leaves
Phyllanthus urinaria	Bhuiaonla	fruit, leaf, flower
Cuscuta japonica	Japanese dodder	Leaves
Agastache Mexicana	Mexican Giant Hyssop	Bark
Tropaeolum majus	Indian Cress	Seed, leaf, flower
Laelia anceps	The bull	Roots
Cocos nucifera	Coconut palm	Seed
Coriandrum sativum	Coriander	Fruit
Elettaria cardamomum	Cardamom	Fruit
Guazuma ulmifolia	Rudrakshi	Bark
Fritillaria ussuriensis maxim.	Spring wild flower	Bulb
Clerodendron trichotomum	Glory Tree	Stem
Tanacetum vulgare L.	Saunf	Leaf
Aronia mitchurinii	Chokeberry	Fruit
Hibiscus sabdariffa	Jamaica sorrel	Leaves
Cecropia pachystachya	Ambay	Leaves
Borago officinalis	Borage	Leaves
Loranthus ferrugineus	Benalu	Leaves
Lepechinia caulescens	Pitcher Sage	Leaves
Periploca laevigata	Periploca laevigata	Bark, Roots
Leonurus cardiaca var	Guma	Aerial parts
Eugenia uniflora	Pinang	Leaves
Citrus limetta	sweet lemon	Fruit
Cirsium japonicum	Five flavour berry	whole plant
Averrhoa carambola	Starfrui	Leaves
Valeriana wallichii	Valerian Jatamansi	Rhizome
Allium sativum	Garlic	Fruit
Astragalus	Gurmar	Seeds
Erythroxylum gonocladum		Aerial parts
Melothria maderaspatana	Melon-gubat	Leaves
Sclerocarya birrea	Marula	Stem- bark
Achillea millefolium	Plumajillo	Leaves
Phyllanthus acidus	Rai awla	Leaves
Panax ginseng	Ninjin	Roots
Geum japonicum	Daikon-sou	Leaves
Cudrania tricuspidata	Mandarin melon berry	Leaves
Graptopetalum paraguayense	Ghost Plant	Leaves
Echinodorus grandiflorus	Corazón	Leaves
Antrodia camphorata	Niuchangchih	Fruiting bodies
Polyalthia longifolia	Ashoka	Bark, Root
Jatropha gossypiifolia L.	Red physic nut	Leaves
Solanum torvum	Susumber	Fruits
Globimetula cupulata	Guinea-bissau balanta	Leaves

 

 

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How to make humic acid:

Humic acid is an organic matter found in the sediment, terrestrial soil, and natural water.

Methods of making humic acid:

Thermophilic composting

Vermicomposting

Fermentation

Thermophilic composting:

Compost generally undergoes mesophilic, thermophilic, and stable phases. Among the phases, the thermophilic phase has the peak temperature, from 45 c°up to 70 c°.

Thermophilic compost is a product that undergoes the process to achieve a sanitary and stable

compost with a controlled biological decomposition of biodegradable materials such as agricultural and kitchen waste, mainly under aerobic conditions, and allows the development of thermophilic temperatures biologically.

A good quality compost has moist, fine-textured, pathogen-free, and comprises high beneficial microbes, soluble mineral nutrients, phytohormones, humic substances, and low phytotoxic organic acids and heavy metals. Humic substances can be used as an indicator of the maturity of compost (Wei et al., 2007).

Humic acid substance can be make from red mud composting.

It can be make from co-composting of chicken manure and rice straw.

Add manganese dioxide (MnO2) to fast the process.

Bokashi: 

Bokashi is one example of organic matter fermentation. Bokashi is fermented organic matter (e.g., cooked and raw plant and animal-based materials)  made by fermenting with effective microorganisms, molasses, and water for about two weeks and sun-dried within twodays (to avoid secondary fermentation).

Alkaline Extraction:

 First, the water mixed sample and 1:1 ratio of potassium hydroxide (KOH) and potassium pyrophosphate (K4P2O7) were stirred at room temperature. Then, the liquid was separated from the solid to obtainthe humic acid extractant (Stevenson, 1994). Still, it was not easily extracted by farmers. Potassium pyrophosphate (K4P2O7) is a type of food additive, and thus it is nontoxic to use. However, KOH is very high in pH (base) and harm human if not handled carefully. Therefore, the use of KOH is only recommended in laboratories.

 

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What is Humic acid and its Effect on Soil

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What is humic substance:

Humic substance is a mixture of exceedingly complex organic molecules that lack structural regularity.

Where humic acid substances are found:

They are found in soil, sediments and natural water .They present organic matter in peat bogs, carbonaceous shales and brown coals.

Classical fractions of humus:

Humic acid:

The fraction of humic substances not soluble in water at pH values lower than 2 but soluble at higher pH values. It is dark brown to black in color.

Fulvic acid:

The fraction of humic substances is soluble in water under all pH condition. It change color on all pH. At low pH they are straw yellow color. At pH 3 its color is orange and wine red at high pH.

Humin:

The fraction of humic substances not soluble in water at any pH value.

Effect of humic acid on soil:

Humic acid enhances soil nutrient availability and soil water holding capacity. What is humic substance:

Humic substance is a mixture of exceedingly complex organic molecules that lack structural regularity.

Where humic acid substances are found:

They are found in soil, sediments and natural water .They present organic matter in peat bogs, carbonaceous shales and brown coals.

Classical fractions of humus:

Humic acid:

The fraction of humic substances not soluble in water at pH values lower than 2 but soluble at higher pH values. It is dark brown to black in color.

Fulvic acid:

The fraction of humic substances is soluble in water under all pH condition. It change color on all pH. At low pH they are straw yellow color. At pH 3 its color is orange and wine red at high pH.

Humin:

The fraction of humic substances not soluble in water at any pH value.

Effect of humic acid on soil:

Humic acid enhances soil nutrient availability and soil water holding capacity. Therefore, humic acid extracted from pulverized weathered coal was suitable to apply in the field since it decreased the ammonia (NH3) volatilization and carbon dioxide (CO2) emission. In addition, humic acid significantly decreased water evaporation and enhanced water use efficiency by plants in low clay content and water holding capacity soils (e.g., sandy and arid soils).

Humic acid significantly improved soil macroaggregates and could efficiently reduce soil salinity (M. Liu et al., 2019). By boosting up the cohesive forces of very fine soil particles(<0.002 mm), humatereduced soil erosion (Khaled & Fawy,2011).

Humic acid could affect the soil microbe community; for instance, fungal and bacterial community structures in the different growth stages were enhanced soil critical nutrient level and plant nutrient sufficiency range (M. Liu et al., 2019), where humic acid promoted nutrient chelate and made nutrients available to plants (Khaled & Fawy, 2011).

Furthermore, humic acid had the potential to act as a washing agent for the soil’s toxic elements, including arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) in the in- or ex-situ remediation mechanism (Mosa et al., 2021). Biochar-humic acid wood vinegar acted as a radiation material to immobilize nickel (Ni) metal in soil effectively (Zhu et al., 2021). In addition, the role of wood vinegar was to increase the oxygen-containing group (Zhu et al., 2021).  In short, humic acid can improve soil properties and microbial activity and remediate contaminated soil.

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