Spineless cactus (Opuntia fcus-indica) is a fast growing xerophytic plant well adapted to arid conditions. It remains green even during summer and can serve as a feed resource during scarcity. Its productivity is high in fertile soils and with irrigation facilities but it also grows in poor soils and with little water. It doesn't need well-drained soils and tolerates salinity to a higher extent. Cactus can produce a biomass of 20-200 tonnes DM/ha/year. Cactus pear has the advantage of being a source of water for animals particularly during the dry season. The adaptations enable cactus to convert water 4-5 times more efficiently to DM than the most efficient grasses. Cactus cladodes are high in water, sugars, ash, vitamins A and C but they are low in crude protein and fibre. They exhibit a high Ca: P ratio and are highly palatable. Spineless cactus can be used as a source of alternative green fodder for the livestock particularly in small ruminants and has the capability to combat extreme draught conditions with round the year availability. Though many varieties/clones of spineless cactus have been developed but their potential as animal feed need to be investigated further.
New genes for 'sustainability' traits are being incorporated into ryegrass (Lolium sp.) breeding populations using marker-assisted intra- and inter- specific introgession from a wide range of genetic resources. Mapping families, substitution and introgression lines have been produced to facilitate gene transfer between Festuca and Lolium species. Advanced metabolomic phenotyping techniques (e.g. NIRS and FT-IR) can help close genotype-phenotype gaps to increase the environmental sustainability of grassland and improve the nutritional value of genotypes for forage or their chemical suitability for biofermentation/biofuel.
Twelve genotype of spine gourd (Momordica dioica Roxb.) were evaluated in a Randomized Block Design with three replications at Horticulture Instructional farm, COA, IGKV, Raipur (C.G) during Kharif 2018. Correlation coefficients were carried out to study the Character association and contribution, respectively for fifteen qualitative characters. Results of correlation coefficient analysis revealed that fruit yield per plant showed the highest significant positive association with number of branches per plant, number of fruits per plant, fruit length, fruit width and average fruit weight at both genotypic and phenotypic levels and had negative and significant association with days to first fruit harvest and fruiting periods. Hence, in selection programme, emphasis should be given on these traits for improvement in fruit yield of spine gourd.
Gully in the riparian areas remain at lowest elevation right from gully head cut, a gully link to join any link of higher order and then join any major river comprise of all features of riparian areas. The gullies suffer setback of sewage disposal and finally discharge it into rivers. Objective of this study was to develop an innovative measure so that sewage water is diverted along the down slope and a wetland created instead of allowing the waste water to join the gully network. The innovative measures are treatment of waste water in wetlands, storage facility for fresh water and rearing fish. The fishery in wetland will attract wild birds viz heron that thrives on aquatic primary food chain such as insects, leaches and fingerlings etc and their dropping rich in organic nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P),called as Guano can be harvested. Case study of the treating gully as a sewage disposal channel, spoiling all good features of riparian areas is made to show this innovative development to solve several emerging problems following development of gullies in fulfillment of areas for growing population. Therefore, misdeeds which follow development and spoil entire scenario can be overcome and the riparian areas save from getting worsened. Additionally, innovative measures and their sequential steps create resource for prosperity and employment.
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