The global scarcity of irrigation water poses a significant challenge to the sustainable production of rice and its availability worldwide. With a growing population driving increased demand for rice, it is crucial to enhance rice production while minimizing water usage. Achieving this requires a comprehensive understanding of the complex interactions between water and nitrogen dynamics and the formulation of strategies to optimize the application of irrigation water and nitrogen fertilizers. This study aims to investigate the impact of varying irrigation regimes and nitrogen application rates on rice growth attributes, yield performance, overall crop productivity, and economic returns. In the 2021 and 2022 rice growing season, two field experiments were carried out in split plot design with four nitrogen levels in sub plots [N0: Control, N1: 75% RDN (Recommended dose of nitrogen; @ 120 kg N ha⁻¹), N2: 100% RDN, and N3: 125% RDN] and four irrigation treatments in main plots [I1: recommended irrigation scheduling, I2: at field capacity (20 L m⁻²), I3: 10% depletion from field capacity (20 L m⁻²), and I4: 20% depletion from field capacity (20 L m⁻²). The experiments were replicated three times. The suggested irrigation scheduling treatment (flooded) showed improved growth characteristics, such as plant height, dry matter accumulation, leaf area index, tiller count, SPAD (Soil Plant Analysis Development) value, NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) value, leaf relative water content, and yield attributes; however, these were comparable to the application of irrigation water at field capacity. Due to improved plant growth and yield-attributing characteristics, the I1 treatment recorded the highest grain yield of 8.58 t ha⁻¹ and 8.4 t ha⁻¹, although it was comparable to the I2 treatment, which had grain yields of 8.27 t ha⁻¹ and 8.15 t ha⁻¹ in 2021 and 2022. The grain yield reported by the N3 treatment were significantly greater than those of the N2 treatment, IN 2021 and 2022 respectively. Applying nitrogen at 125% RDN (Recommended dose of nitrogen) and irrigation water at field capacity produced the highest benefit–cost ratio (1.64), which was closely followed by the same irrigation regime and 100% RDN application (1.60 BC ratio). Comparable to irrigation at field capacity, the suggested irrigation schedule demonstrated enhanced growth features, yield attributes, productivity, and profitability. The best way to achieve the optimum growth, productivity, and profitability in transplanted rice was to provide irrigation water at field capacity and nitrogen @ 100% RDN.

European honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) is an essential pollinator that contributes significantly to the global ecosystem and agricultural productivity. However, their population has been facing unprecedented threats, primarily due to their exposure to various pesticides, including organophosphates. These pesticides are being widely used in agriculture to control insect pests due to their efficacy, but their non-selective nature raises concerns about their impact on honey bees. Insecticides viz., chlorpyriphos 20 Emulsifiable Concentrate, dimethoate 30 Emulsifiable Concentrate, and profenophos 50 Emulsifiable Concentrate at a range of 0.005-0.09 per cent concentration were evaluated through two modes of application viz., topical and oral. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity was measured at various intervals (1 and 24 hours) to assess enzyme inhibition. Behavioral observations and statistical analyses, including factor analysis with Eigen values, were employed to evaluate the impact of exposure on bee behavior and physiological responses.The results revealed two factors with Eigen value > 0.95 in both topical as well as oral method which accounted for 88.28 and 88.80 per cent of the variation in behaviour, respectively. Insecticides applied to honey bee A. mellifera in both topical as well as oral methods resulted in significant inhibition of the Acetyl choline esterase enzyme (AChE) activity. Studies revealed higher AChE inhibition (%) in oral method as compared to topical method. AChE inhibition percentage increased from 25.15 (1 Hour after treatment) to 58.25 (24 Hours after treatment) with lower concentration (0.005) of chlorpyriphos in topical method while as it reached from 27.66 to 60.94 with same concentration and same time in oral method of application. AChE inhibition percentage increased from 35.81 (1 Hour after treatment) to 78.30 (24 Hours after treatment) with higher concentration (0.06) of chlorpyriphos in topical method while as it reached from 40.35 to 80.18 with same concentration and same time in oral method. Similar trend was observed in dimethoate, and profenophos where AChE inhibition increased from 17.30, 27.15 (1 Hour after treatment) to 57.18, 61.81 (24 Hours after treatment), respectively in topical method and 20.67, 28.80 (1 Hour after treatment) to 59.85 64.04 (24 Hours after treatment), respectively in oral method. Similarly, with higher concentrations of dimethoate (0.07), and profenophos (0.09), per cent inhibition increased from 34.54, 38.60 (1 Hour after treatment) to 75.68, 79.62 (24 Hours after treatment), in topical method and 37.25, 41.23 (1 Hours after treatment) to 77.86, 82.73 (24 Hours after treatment), in oral method, respectively. Thorough risk assessments are vital for evaluating the effects of agrochemicals on Apis mellifera. The findings highlight the necessity for updated pesticide regulations and broadened conservation strategies that take into account the diverse ways pollinators are exposed to agrochemicals in the environment. The study assessed the impact of different insecticides on Apis mellifera by comparing topical and oral exposure methods. The study also aimed to analyze the behavioral effects of insecticide exposure on Apis mellifera, assessing variations in response and enzyme inhibition.The research focused on evaluating Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition to better understand the risks posed to honeybees in agricultural environments.

Apple cankers are extremely destructive diseases threatening the global apple industry through direct and indirect losses. The population structure of the pathogens is of paramount significance for the development of efficient management strategies. Therefore, phenotypic, pathogenic, and genetic diversity of Diplodia seriata causing black rot canker of apple was investigated in this study. All the isolates were included for investigating the in vitro mycelial growth, conidial dimensions, and pathogenic variability on two-year-old potted apple seedlings. The ISSR approach was used to investigate the molecular diversity of D. seriata. Mycelial growth rates were found to vary significantly amongst the isolates; however, there were no major variations seen between the different geographical groupings of isolates. Pathogenicity tests revealed variations in the size of cankers among the isolates indicating the presence of virulence variability. The isolates were segregated into three virulence groups based on canker length. The Bayesian analyses of ISSR data divided the isolates into two genetic clusters. The genetic clustering of the isolates revealed no relationship with geographical origin of the isolates. Furthermore, no direct relationship of genetic clustering was observed with morphological or pathogenic variability. The ISSR primers revealed very high level of variability in D. seriata; however, no distinct populations of the pathogen existed which is an indication of high level of gene flow between the diverse geographical populations. According to our knowledge, this is the first thorough investigation on the diversity of D. seriata associated with apple black rot canker in India.

Apple is considered as an important fruit crop in temperate regions of the world including India. It is one of the major fruit crops, with a considerable area under cultivation throughout the world and a large associated population. Despite this, the productivity of this important fruit is not up to the expected standard. To gain a practical understanding of the low productivity of apple fruit and its probable causes, a study was undertaken to analyze productivity differentials and their determinants to enable sustainable cultivation. A multistage sampling procedure was adopted to select districts, horticultural zones, and villages, and data were collected from randomly selected apple growers (300). The collected data were empirically analyzed with simple descriptive statistics, logistic regression, polynomial plots, and inferential statistics such as t-tests. The results indicated that apple yields followed a sigmoidal pattern, with the average yield per hectare for the current season as 9.43 t/ha, which depends on experience, education, annual income, and the adoption rate of apple growers. This yield average was significantly lower than the yield of the previous season at a probability level of 1%. To determine the root cause of low productivity, different constraints were studied, creating yield disparities in different quarters; hence, their percentage and value contributions (socioeconomic 11.1%, credit 4.2%, pests and diseases 0.05%, technology 0.9%, extension 2.0%, and market 3.5%) were also established in the study. The study will be of great interest to the relevant authorities in the study area, and the areas globally having similar congenial agro-climatic conditions, who are seeking to address the issues raised in this study through sustainable policy decisions. The different constraints that were the fundamental reasons for low productivity and that prevented the apple growers from adopting innovative techniques/improved practices to increase their yields need to be addressed as a matter of urgency.

This study evaluated the impact of differential sowing windows and improved weed management strategies on weed dynamics, productivity, and economic viability of direct drum seeded rice (Oryza sativa L.) in the temperate agro-ecosystem of Kashmir. A two-year field experiment was conducted utilizing a split-plot design with two sowing dates (May 10 and June 3) as main plots and six weed management practices as sub-plots. The earlier sowing date (May 10) resulted in significantly enhanced leaf area index, crop growth rate, relative growth rate, net assimilation rate, and grain and straw yields compared to the later sowing (June 3). Among weed management treatments, four mechanized conoweedings (equivalent to weed-free conditions) and sequential application of bensulfuron methyl + pretilachlor (60 and 600 g a.i. ha⁻¹) as pre-emergence followed by 2,4-D (0.75 kg a.i. ha⁻¹) as post-emergence demonstrated superior efficacy in weed suppression and augmentation of crop growth parameters and yield attributes. These treatments also exhibited the lowest weed index and highest benefit–cost ratio. The May 10 sowing, coupled with efficacious weed control measures, significantly reduced weed density and biomass while concomitantly improving nutrient uptake and economic returns. The results indicate that adopting a May 10 sowing date for direct seeded rice, in conjunction with either four conoweedings or the aforementioned sequential herbicide application, can optimize agronomic productivity and economic profitability under the temperate conditions of Kashmir. The study aided in choosing the best sowing window and efficient weed management strategy for attaining higher productivity and profitability of direct seeded rice in temperate conditions.

This study compares direct-seeded rice (DSR) with transplanted rice under three different irrigation methods: conventional flooding, saturation, and alternate wetting and drying. The findings indicate that DSR outperforms transplanted rice in several key aspects. Specifically, DSR exhibited a greater number of tillers (635–650) and panicles (510–529) m^− 2, along with lower spikelet sterility (9.9–10.8%). Grain yield ranged from 6.69 to 7.8 t ha⁻¹ for DSR, surpassing that of transplanted rice, which yielded between 5.59 and 6.18 t ha⁻¹. Moreover, DSR demonstrated 11–25% higher water productivity, highlighting its greater efficiency in water usage. Economic analysis revealed that DSR also offered superior returns, with a profit per rupee invested of 2.2, compared to 1.48 for transplanted rice. While irrigation method did not significantly impact growth or yield, conventional flooding led to a 28% reduction in water productivity compared to the saturation method and a 25% reduction compared to the alternate wetting and drying method. In terms of benefit-cost ratio, while the differences were modest, the saturation method recorded slightly higher values. Overall, the study indicates that adopting DSR with either the saturation or alternate wetting and drying irrigation methods can lead to higher yields, improved economic returns, and increased water productivity in temperate environments, positioning it as a more sustainable and efficient alternative to transplanted rice cultivation.