No abstract

Aim: The study was conducted to design pectin beads for achieving slow release of agrochemicals in wetlands via ion gelation method. Place and Duration of the Study: The laboratory experiment was carried out at the Department of Nano Science & Technology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Tamil Nadu during March-July 2021. Methodology: Pectin beads were synthesized varying the concentrations of pectin (4, 6, 8, and 10 per cent) and calcium chloride (CaCl2) concentrations (0.5, 1, and 2 per cent). Calcium pectinate beads of different combinations were synthesized via ion gelation method. Calcium pectinate beads were characterized based on the recovery yield of beads, while surface characterization was done through Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and optical microscope to understand the topography of beads and assess the size of the beads respectively. Pore volume and surface area were also studied using BET (Brunauer-Emmett-Teller) analyzer. Results: The yield of calcium pectinate beads were higher while using the concentration of pectin @ 4 per cent and CaCl2 @ 2 per cent as cross-linking agent. The spherical and smooth surface of beads was achieved with the concentrations of 6 and 2 per cent pectin and CaCl2 respectively, while beads were flat and smooth with concentration of pectin @ 4 per cent. Similarly, complete solubility of pectin was not achieved with concentrations of 8 and 10 per cent. BET results of beads showed that beads are non-porous in nature. Conclusion: Pectin and CaCl2 concentrations @ 6 and 2 per cent respectively were found to be ideal for the delivery of agrochemical based on the yield and surface morphology.

No abstract

Background: Pulses are nutritious edible seeds of leguminous plants, have become an essential part of the human diet. Among the pulses, blackgram (Vigna mungo L.) is an important legume crop cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Even though there are so many factors responsible for the lower yield of blackgram, weeds play a major role. Sulfentrazone is a broad spectrum herbicide belongs to the family of phenyl triazolinone. Sulfentrazone has high persistence and mobility with mean partition coefficient Koc = 43 and sorption coefficient Kd less than 1 and also has high horizontal and vertical leaching potential. Even though generally used herbicides in blackgram like pendimethalin, imazethapyr and quizalofop-ethyl are helpful in managing weeds, they have to apply multiple times or have to integrate with other methods of weed management which is expensive. So as to reduce the usage of multiple herbicides, to avoid manual weeding and to achieve season long weed control without affecting the environment the nano-encapsulated sulfentrazone is the better alternative and it gives better solution for the above constraints besides increasing the productivity.Methods: Laboratory and field experiments were conducted in the Department of Agronomy, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore during 2019-2020. Laboratory experiment was conducted to prepare nano-encapsulated sulfentrazone herbicide using solvent evaporation method. Screening trial was conducted in field with 17 treatments in randomized block design. Main trial was conducted with nine treatments of randomized block design by selecting the best performing treatments in screening trial. A confirmatory trial was also conducted by using same treatments.Result: The encapsulated sulfentrazone particles were characterized in SEM (Scanning electron microscope) and also analysed with EDAX (Energy dispersive X-ray analysis) for elemental analysis, which is followed by particle size analysis and zeta potential to know the size and stability respectively. All these tests concluded that the sulfentrazone particles were encapsulated correctly and might be useful for slow release of the particle and also for reducing vertical and horizontal leachability. The field trials revealed that sulfentrazone @ 0.30 kg a.i. ha-1 with encapsulation applied at 1 DBS is better alternative for the season long weed management in blackgram without affecting the soil and ground water, as well as increasing the productivity.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of agronomic biofortification with zinc on yield, nutritional quality, nutrient uptake and economics of babycorn under irrigated condition. The observations on yield viz., green cob yield, babycorn yield and green fodder yield and quality parameters (crude protein, total soluble sugars, starch and Zn content) were recorded at harvest stage. The nutrient uptake was analysed at different growth stages and economic indices viz., the total cost of cultivation, gross return, net return and benefit cost ratio were worked out for various zinc fertilization treatments. Increased green cob yield and babycorn yield was recorded higher in soil application of zinc sulphate @ 37.5 kg ha-1  along with a foliar spray of 1.0 % on 20 and 40 DAS. Quality parameters of babycorn viz., crude protein, total soluble sugars, starch and Zn content in corn were significantly increased with soil application of ZnSO4 @ 37.5 kg ha -1 along with a foliar spray of 0.5% at 20 and 40 DAS that recorded higher values of these quality characters. Plant nutrient uptake of N, K and Zn in babycorn was significantly increased with the application of ZnSO4 @ 37.5 kg ha -1 in soil with foliar spray of 0.5% at 20 and 40 DAS. Higher net monetary returns and B: C ratio were obtained with application of ZnSO4@ 37.5 kg ha -1in soil with foliar spray @ 0.5% on 20 and 40 DAS.