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The term ‘Seaweed’ consists of two words i.e. Sea and Weeds, and literally means any weed-like organisms found in the seas. Taxonomically, it includes marine macroalgae, which grow exclusively in marine habitats and estuaries. The word ‘Seaweed’ is a misnomer, and should not be considered a weed at all, rather, it is one of the potential marine living resources in the world. Seaweeds constitute one of the important components of the marine flora, along with other microalgae, mangroves, and seagrasses, and play an essential role in the marine ecological food chains, oxygen enrichment, carbon sequestration, detoxification, and climate change mitigation. Besides, it has high economic potential in food, fodders and various industrial sectors. Worldwide, about 11,000 seaweeds are reported, among which about 221 are documented as economically important and crucial in various forms. Therefore, the term seaweed should not be considered as weed, rather alternatively termed as ‘Sea-plants’ or ‘Marine plants’. However, because of the popularity of the term, the name seaweed is more relevant and considered as an important marine natural resource. The present article briefly deals with the general introductory and economic aspects of the seaweeds.

The present paper deals with the wood collections of the Industrial Section Indian Museum, BSI, which has vast collections of wood made in exhibit forms. These wood collections can be an essential source of study in wood or timbers collected around in nineteenth century. There are about 566 specimens of wood of various shapes and sizes housed at ISIM. The collection of wood at the botanical gallery for public viewing is displayed based on the mode of use, which helps people understand the versatility of usage patterns. A database has also been prepared with detailed records of each specimen for easy access.

Agricultural residue constitutes an integral part of the larger discussion about the environmental costs of development, covering a range of concerns from green energy to waste management. Research into the potential uses of agricultural waste is aimed at solving two problems at once, namely, waste disposal and the need to create useful products from waste materials. As agricultural turnover increases with each passing year, so does the volume of agricultural residue, and so does the need to extract clean energy from biomass that would otherwise go to waste. The government of India is taking initiatives to promote the use of biomass both in the fields of energy and composite material production. From issuing low-interest loans to providing back-end subsidies, everything is being done at the moment to promote and empower clean-energy startups that aim to contribute to the process of utilizing agro-waste for real, tangible profit, both in environmental and monetary terms. The objective of our research has been to accelerate that process by exploring new and innovative solutions.

Jute is one of the most important cash crops in the alluvial zone of West Bengal and neighbouring states. Jute fibre is eco-friendly, biodegradable and recyclable in nature and hence it creates pollution free environment. In modern era of growing environmentally benign crops, the role of jute as ‘Green Crop’ may be highlighted and the significance of this commercial crop will not be only to produce fibre for industries as raw material but also the equivalent impact on balancing and conditioning the soil-air- environment. Field experiment was conducted during pre kharif season of 2019 and 2020 at Agricultural Farm, Kalyani D block, B.C.K.V, Kalyani, with jute variety “JR0 2407 (Samapti)” to study the Effect of integrated weed management practices on growth and fibre yield of Olitorius jute (Corchorus olitorius L.) under New Alluvial Zone. The field experiment was carried out in randomized complete block design with four replications and six treatments i.e. T1: Pretilachlor 500g/ha within 48 hours of sowing with irrigation + one hand weeding at 15 DAS, T2: Nail weeder 1st at 10 DAS and 2nd at 25 DAS + one hand weeding (within row) at 40 DAS, T3: Jute + Green gram (cv Pant Mung 5) 1:1 replacement series, T4: Pretilachlor 500g/ha within 48 hours of sowing with irrigation + quizalofop ethyl 60 g/ha at 25 DAS, T5: Unweeded check, and T6 : Two hand weeding (HW) at 15 DAS and 30 DAS. Result showed that weed management had positive and favourable influence in improving plant height, yield attributes like fiber yield, stick yield and pod yield of green gram under study. The treatment T4: Pretilachlor 500g/ha at within 48 hours of sowing with irrigation + quizalofop ethyl 60 g/ha at 25 DAS has significantly reduced the weed infestation and registered lower weed density, weed dry weight, weed index, higher weed control efficiency and yield attributes and yield of jute over T1- Pretilachlor 500g/ha within 48 hours of sowing with irrigation + one hand weeding at 15 DAS, T37- Jute + Green gram (Pant Mung 5) 1:1 replacement series, and at par with T2 Nail weeder 1st at 10 DAS and 2nd at 25 DAS + one hand weeding (within row) at 40 DAS. Although for some parameters T2 treatment registered the higher value but it was at par T4 & T3 treatments. Pretilachlor 500g/ha at 45-48 hours of sowing with irrigation + quizalofop ethyl 60 g/ha at 25 DAS appeared as effective and economic for managing broad spectrum weeds of pre kharif jute in new alluvial zone of West Bengal.

Maize (Zea mays L.), the queen of cereals, has a versatile use as food, feed, and industrial purpose, and the area under maize has been increasing in India in recent times. As a widely spaced crop, it offers the provision of adoption for the intercropping system without reducing the optimum plant stand in additive series. Based on the above facts, a field experiment was conducted during the summer of 2021 on intercropping maize with vegetable legumes at the Experimental Farm of Centurion University of Technology and Management, Paralakhemundi, Odisha. The experiment was carried out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) comprising nine treatments and replicated thrice. The results of the research revealed that the dry matter accumulation (g m–2) of maize and legumes was significantly affected at different growth stages. In the case of biological yield, a higher value was obtained in sole maize. It was statistically at par with maize + cluster bean (2:3). In Terms of Land Equivalent Ratio (LER) and Area Time Equivalent Ratio (ATER), the values obtained in all the intercropped treatments were more significant than unity, and this clearly showed that intercropping was advantageous. The economics of the intercropping systems showed that the highest cost of cultivation was recorded in maize + cluster bean (2:3). However, in the case of a gross return, the net return, and B:C ratio, the higher value was noted in 2:3 row proportion of maize intercropped with cowpea followed by sole cowpea and maize + cluster bean (2:3). The study indicated that intercropping 2:3 row proportion of maize + vegetable legumes was advantageous over a pure stand of maize in terms of biomass production and economic importance.

Zero-waste lifestyle is an environmentally friendly way of living life that strives to decrease the amount of waste generated at the individual level on a daily basis. The aim of the study was to scrutinize household waste management and zero waste lifestyle at an individual level. This study presents the verdicts of a case study on a woman who religiously follows ‘zero waste lifestyle’. Dr. (Mrs) Kiran Sinha, a conscientious lady of 52 years old, a well-educated woman, MD (Homeopathy in Paediatrics), who lives at the residential area of RPCAU Pusa, has always attempted to minimize most of the waste generated in her home and convert it into a functional product. Due to her immense and continuous endeavor to convert waste into a resource, only 90-150 grams of waste are generated from her household per day, which involves only dust and litter. Dr. Sinha practices a “Zero Waste Lifestyle” and uses her countless hours to recycle waste and makes everything in her house multifunctional. It is expected that the findings of this research focus on the best practices of a woman towards zero waste lifestyle and to make waste-free and environment-friendly practices at the individual level. The current study is required to continue exploring best practices of households in the relevant fields and to promote their success stories worldwide in various ways.

The aim of the present experiment was to investigate the phenotypic and genotypic variance among different varieties of brinjal (Solanum melongena L.), as well as three check varieties, using a randomized complete block design with two replications. The focus of the study was on yield-related traits, including fruit length, girth, and weight. The results showed that the phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) and genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) was high for these traits, with values above 20%, indicating the presence of high variability within the population. This suggests that there is significant potential for improvement through selection. Additionally, positive skewness and high values of kurtosis were observed for several traits, including several clusters per plant, days to first picking, fruit weight, fruit length, fruit girth, yield per plant, and plant height. This suggests that these traits usually are generally distributed within the population and are likely influenced by complementary gene action. Overall, this study’s results suggest considerable potential for improving yield in brinjal through selective breeding efforts.

A field experiment was conducted at District Seed Farm (AB Block), Kalyani, under Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya during the winter season of 2018 and 2019 in an upland situation to assess the performance of wheat under different sowing dates along with tillage option in late sown condition. The experiments were laid out in split plot design with four dates of sowing (25th November, 05 December, 15 December, and 25th December) confined in main plots and four tillage practices (viz. surface seeding, zero tillage, minimum tillage, and conventional tillage) in subplots and replicated thrice time. Wheat cv. ‘DBW 107’ All yield attributes were significantly influenced by the date of sowings. Early sowing revealed more effective tillers followed by higher grain per panicle and test weight. Various tillage practices, which were studied, showed significant variation for all yield-attributing traits. The effective tiller/m2 was highest with minimum tillage and was at par with zero and conventional tillage practice and significantly superior to other measures. The final yield of a crop is the net result of growth and developmental activities in individual plants, which in turn would depend upon the genetic potential of the cultivars and the environmental condition to which it is exposed during the life cycle. The maximum and significantly more grain yield was obtained with 05th December sowing (34.15 q/ha) and showed parity with 25th November (33.89 q/ha) and 15th December (30 q/ha) sowing. This reduced grain yield drastically by the tune of 32.4, 31.6, and 22.7% less compared to the last date of sowing. Further straw yield was more found with the 25th November, and was at par with the 05 and 15th December sowing. With tillage measures, a significantly better grain yield (35.44 q/ha) was recorded with minimum tillage and was at par only with zero tillage (32.14 q/ha). Nutrient uptake patterns varied significantly concerning different wheat sowing measures. Sowing on 05th December registered more N, P, K uptake and was significantly better than all other main plot treatments, except for phosphorous, which showed parity only with the 25th November sowing. Further with various tillage measures, maximum nitrogen and phosphorus uptake was registered with minimum tillage than the other treatments and was at par only with zero tillage and significantly better than other treatments.

An investigation was conducted in the Godavari delta, upland, and agency areas of East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh to study the reproduction and milk production performance of dairy animals. The results showed that the average age at first calving (44.45±0.34 mon), service period (135.70±1.66 days), calving interval (443.78±1.74 days), and dry period (104.65±1.34 days) of graded Murrah buffaloes was significantly (p ≤ .01) lower in Godavari delta area and the mean peak yield (10.92±0.22 lit), lactation milk yield (2183.72±44.66 lit) and lactation period (339.13±1.86 days) of graded Murrah buffaloes was also significantly (p ≤ .01) higher in Godavari delta. The service period (158.92±1.59 days), calving interval (467.43±1.66 days), and dry period (135.00±2.85 days) of local buffaloes were significantly lower in the upland area. The average peak yield (5.92±0.10 lit), lactation milk yield (1183.78±19.57 lit) and lactation period (332.43±3.68 days)of local buffaloes was significantly (p ≤ .01) higher in the upland area. The mean age at first calving (28.90±0.42 mon) and dry period (68.28±1.03 days) of crossbred cows was significantly (p ≤ .01) lower in the Godavari delta than that in the upland area. The mean age at first calving (43.95±0.80 mon), service period (132.14±2.66 days), calving interval (417.86±2.86 days), and dry period (133.57±2.72 days) of local cows was significantly (p ≤ .01) lower in Godavari delta. The average peak yield (4.48±0.09 lit) and lactation milk yield (895.24±17.56 lit) of local cows was significantly (p ≤ .01) higher in the Godavari delta than in upland and agency areas.

The marine ecosystem is one of the essential components of biodiversity and plays a vital role in the global life support systems. The coastline of West Bengal is c. 220 km in length in the Northern part of the East coast of India and supports the UNESCO heritage Mangrove site, i.e., Sundarban Biosphere Reserves. Seaweeds are marine macroalgae and play a crucial role in the marine food chain and sustainability of marine ecosystems. During the present study, 23 coastal localities were surveyed between 2019-2022, and 28 taxa of seaweeds were recorded, which include 20 taxa of Chlorophyceae (71%) and eight taxa of Rhodophyceae (29%). No, Phaeophyceae member was recorded. The crucial genera include Ulva, Chaetomorpha, Cladophora, Rhizoclonium, Codium, Gelidium, Gracilaria, Catenella, Ceramium, Bostrychia, and Polysiphonia. Further, a red alga Gracilaria gracilis (Gracilariaceae) has been reported here as a new addition to the seaweed flora of the state. In the present paper, an attempt has been made to discuss the diversity and distribution of seaweed resources in West Bengal.

Aconitum novoluridum Munz (Ranunculaceae) and Bistorta longispicata Yonek. & H. Ohashi (Polygonaceae), a narrow endemic plant species confined to the Himalayas. The present study assesses the threat status of these species using the criteria of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species based on the available occurrence records, and both of the species currently categorized as the “Endangered”. As the species is simultaneously experiencing various threats and the known distribution range is relatively more narrow, it is the right time to develop conservation strategies for the sustainable utilization of these narrow endemic alpine plant species of the Himalayas.

To study the energy use in chickpeas, a field trial was conducted at Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, India, during rabi season 2020-21. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with 3 main plot treatments viz. conventional tillage (CT), zero tillage (ZT), zero tillage with black gram crop residue @ 5t/ha (ZT+R), and five subplot treatments viz., control or water spray, salicylic acid (50 ppm), Potassium nitrate (2%), Thiourea (1000 ppm), and Potassium + Multi-micronutrient complex (1%). Among different tillage treatments, ZT+R recorded the highest total energy output, net energy output, energy use efficiency, energy productivity, energy profitability, human energy profitability, energy output efficiency, and energy intensity in economic terms, followed by ZT and CT. Energy intensiveness and specific energy were reported highest under CT followed by ZT and ZT+R. Among bioregulators, foliar applications of KNO3 (2%) at flower initiation and pod filling recorded maximum in net energy output returns, human energy profitability, energy output efficiency, and energy intensity in economic terms as compared to other treatments under ZT+R. While energy use efficiency, energy productivity, energy profitability, and energy intensiveness were reported same levels in KNO3 (2%) and SA (50 ppm) under ZT+R although specific energy was comparatively higher under SA (50 ppm) application. Therefore, it was concluded that the adoption of foliar application of KNO3 (2%) at flower initiation and pod filling stages under zero tillage with the addition of black gram residues @ 5t/ha in rainfed chickpeas could be an energy efficient which may help in realizing higher net returns in Bundelkhand regions of Jhansi.

A study was carried out to examine the influence of different irrigation levels utilizing a drip irrigation system on lettuce grown in polyhouse and open field conditions during the winter months of November to February for two consecutive years at the Experimental Farm of the Centre for Smart Agriculture, Centurion University of Technology and Management in Odisha, India. The FAO-56 Penman-Monteith method was used to calculate reference evapotranspiration. It was determined that lettuce required 219 mm and 339 mm of water for growth in polyhouse and open field conditions, respectively. There were five treatments: four irrigation levels (120%, 100%, 75%, and 50% of crop water requirements) using drip irrigation in polyhouse and one treatment of 100% crop water applied via drip in open field conditions. The effects of these treatments were evaluated in terms of biometric and crop yield results. The results of the experiment revealed that providing 100% of the water requirement through drip irrigation in a polyhouse (T2) resulted in the greatest plant height, head diameter, number of leaves, fresh and dry weight of leaves, and crop yield. Cultivating lettuce in an open field had the lowest yield compared to all irrigation levels used in a polyhouse.

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is widely grown in tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world primarily for its starch-rich roots and, in some cases, its nutritional foliage. The overarching goal of this paper was to generate a comprehensive information on the status of the involvement of plant growth regulators and varieties in the multiplication of cassava planting materials with particular reference to Rwanda. This information will provide a platform and further strengthen the knowledge base on the application of plant growth regulators (PGRs) by stakeholders in producing clean, high-quality cassava plantlets. We demonstrated the interactive effect between different phytohormones and varieties. The study showed the classical plant response to hormones with an increase in triggering an optimal value before inhibition sets in. Phytohormone, 1-Naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), and benzyl adenine (BAP) were reported as being crucial in root and shoot growth, respectively:- with 10 mg/l being optimal doses. The outcome is crucial in recommending users the choice of hormone and specific varietal combinations and points to the fact that various PGRs concentration levels can be conveniently utilized successfully in the multiplication of different cassava varieties. Since the hormonal response has been shown to trigger differential reactions between different varieties, adopting such technologies needs to be considered with caution in consultation with researchers and policymakers to avoid adverse effects. In conclusion, the rapid multiplication of cassava planting materials depends on the PGRs concentration levels and their admixtures, the genetic makeup of the varieties evaluated, subculture type/ number, and shoot tip/nodal segment used.

Banana (Musa Sapientum) plant is cultivated in many countries in the world for the production fruits, which is one of the important fruits. After harvesting the fruit, the other parts of plant biomass are commonly disposed of that causes environmental pollution. The present article highlights the extraction of fibre from the banana pseudostem followed by its details physical and chemical characterization. Banana fibre can be blended with jute fibre in different ratios for development of numbers of apparel and home textile products, like jackets, sofa cover, window curtain, pillow cover, etc. Chemical treatment of banana fibre and jute fibre prior to yarn and fabric formation could improve its strength. Banana pseudostem sap (BPS) can be used as an active ingredient for natural dye, mordant, UV protective and flame retardant finishing of textile. The banana fibre can be judiciously used for making quality paper and micro-crystalline cellulose powder.