American bollworm Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) is a notorious pest of different agronomical and horticultural crops. Different synthetic insecticides are recommended to control H. armigera but widespread and repeated use has led to pesticide resistance in this pest. It is, therefore, necessary to develop a novel strategy to manage the population of H. armigera. Nanotechnology is the most effective and eco-friendly approach to mitigate this problem. In the present study, the bioefficacy of green synthesized nanoparticles and two different silver and zinc oxide nanoparticles with different concentrations, viz. 100, 125, 150, 175 and 200 ppm were used against the larvae. UV-vis spectrophotometer, SEM and EDX were used for nanoparticle characterization. Data were recorded daily. The result showed that in silver nanoparticles maximum larval mortality was 97%, while in zinc oxide nanoparticles, 82% was recorded against the 3rd, 4th and 5th instar of H. armigera. The effect of nanoparticles on demographic parameters was also evaluated, which increases the net reproductive rates, mean generation time and intrinsic rate in the control group compared to the treated population. After bioassay, larval and pupal duration was prolonged in the treated population compared to the control. The longevity of males, females and fecundity was also reduced. This technique will be a valuable tool in integrated pest management regimens.

The analysis of innovation, natural resource consumption, and eco-efficiency is widely discussed in firm-level studies. However, there is little literature on the assessment of eco-efficiency and its determinants in the macroeconomic framework. This study focuses on the empirical estimation of the eco-efficiency index with and without undesirable output at the aggregate level using a non-radial, non-oriented slack-based model (SBM) with the help of data envelopment analysis (DEA). SBM-DEA reveals that the level of eco-efficiency falls by incorporating undesirable output. The system generalised method of moments (GMM) applied to the panel data from 116 developed and developing countries for the period 2010–2019 to identify the determinants of eco-efficiency. The findings of system GMM show that innovation has a dynamic impact on eco-efficiency in developed and developing countries compared to natural resource consumption which adversely impacts it. The study also confirms exports and foreign direct investment (FDI) as an integral determinant of eco-efficiency. The findings confirm the ecological modernization theory which assures improvement in environmental quality due to innovation. The findings suggest that innovation and conservation of natural resources promote eco-efficiency in developed and developing countries.

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Combined application of press mud compost and inorganic fertilizers is a cost effective way to manage soil fertility in a sustainable way. To evaluate the results of press mud compost and inorganic based synthetic fertilizers, the present study was planned and research was conducted at Sheikhoo Sugarcane Research Farm located at Sheikhoo Sugar Mills, Kot Addu. The experiment was consist of six treatments namely T1 = No fertilizer, T2 = NPK 228-114-124 kg ha-1, T3 = 25 t ha-1 compost, T4 = NPK 228-114-124 kg ha-1+ 20 t ha-1 compost, T5 = NPK 114-57-62 kg ha-1+ 20 t ha-1 compost and T6 = NPK 228-114-124 kg ha-1+ 10 t ha-1 compost and was laid out in RCB design having four replications with a net plot size of 6 m x 8 m. Sugarcane growth and yield parameters including soil fertility levels (pre planting and post harvesting) were studied. Results showed that lower pH value (8.42) and higher organic matter contents (0.42) were recorded in treatment having compost @ 25 t ha-1. Whereas, higher N (0.028 %), P (7.27 ppm) and K (68.25 ppm) were found in those soils which were treated with NPK 228-114-124 kg ha-1+ 20 t ha-1 compost. Results regarding sugarcane growth and yield showed that maximum number of tillers (138.50 x103 ha-1) 135 days after planting, number of millable cane (104.25 x103 ha-1), number of nodes (25.25/ cane), cane girth (7.54 cm), cane length (3.89 m), cane yield (111.75 t ha-1), brix (22.08 %), pol (19.80 %) and sugar recovery (10.75 %) were observed in those plots treated with NPK 228-114-124 kg ha-1+ 20 t ha-1 compost. It can be concluded that the combined use of press mud compost and inorganic NPK fertilizers remained successful to promote the growth as well as the yield of sugarcane and soil fertility improvement in an efficient way.