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Surface ozone is one of the most important Green House Gases (GHGs). Five years (2011–2015) measurements of surface ozone (O3) and one of its precursors- oxides of nitrogen (NOx) were carried out at a semi-rural location, Mohal (77.12°E, 31.91°N, 1154 m amsl) in the north-western Indian Himalaya. The concentration of O3, NO, NO2 and NOx was measured maximum 74.6 ± 23.2 ppb in 2013, 27.5 ± 7.5 ppb in 2013, 51.8 ± 13.2 ppb in 2013, and 60.8 ± 13.2 ppb in 2012, respectively. Seasonally, O3 concentration was highest during summer while lowest in monsoon. The O3 concentration shows unimodal peak while its precursors show bimodal peaks. A reasonable decrease in percent change was found in terms of O3 (-13), NO2 (-6), and NOx (-3) due to imposing regulations imposed by local government in compliance with the order of Hon’ble National Green Tribunal (NGT) of the country in 2015. However, NO (9) is increasing due to vehicular activities in the nearby area which is one of the famous tourist spots. Washout effect due to increasing rainfall by 8% might have also affected O3 concentrations. Biomass burning for heating and cooking purposes and forest fire for tender livestock forage and transported gaseous pollutants from the Middle East countries and Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP) could be major contributors of surface ozone and its precursors. HYSPLIT air-mass back trajectories drawn for external ozone sources showed the maximum air masses reached the study location either with the western desert countries or IGP polluted regions.

Eighty two diverse wheat genotypes have been evaluated in Research area of Wheat and Barley Section, CCS HAU trials at CCSHAU during 2021-22 cropping seasons in augmented design with four established checks replicated five times each. Highest average value recorded for grain yield per plot followed by days to maturity while least value expressed by spike length (cm). Of course lowest error also reported by spike length, whereas extreme large by grain yield per plot. Number of wheat genotypes in non-significant groups had observed 54, 12 8, 41, 6, 48, 6 genotypes  for days to heading, days to maturity, plant height, tillers per meter row length, grains per spike, thousands grains weight, spike length, grain yield per plot respectively. First two principal components explained 51.6% of the total phenotypic variation. Biplot analysis expressed high positive correlation of days to heading with spike length, grains per spike, plant height. Positive association also observed between days to maturity with thousands grains weight, grains per spike and grain filling period, as plant height showed with spike length grain yield per plot, TGW. DWAP1108, GW1348, DWAP1608, HS 628, MACS 5052 observed far from other wheat genotypes.  Multivariate hierarchical clustering of genotypes based on Ward’s method observed nine different clusters based on important morphological traits. First group consisted of three genotypes (G1, G8, G82) while the last one contained nine genotypes (G70, G81, G74, G76, G77, G78, G73, G80, G75). Only three genotypes G4, G6, G19 placed in third cluster whereas largest cluster of twenty three genotypes was the fifth one.

Solar dryers have proven to be one of the best environmentally friendly approaches for drying purpose of medicinal plants and agricultural crops. Use of solar radiations in drying purpose of plant parts has proven economically as well as environmentally responsible and sensible application. Plants are the treasure of nature with hidden medicinal properties to treat diseases. Plant material should be processed properly for extraction of medicinal molecules in terms drying to decrease the manufacturing loss and to increase the standard of product. Cognizances of ethnobotanical knowledge on plant wealth are extremely beneficial in utilization and exploration of natural resources. Conventionally, low drying temperatures between 30-40 °C, with economically beneficial techniques are required to protect sensitive active ingredients. Therefore, the objective of reviewing research in medicinal plant drying is to find out optimum drying temperature and best solar dryer for drying purposes of plant parts in terms of quality and drying costs. Rendering to human requisites, solar appliances for drying purposes will be used as the best alternative to standard sun-drying technique. This review focused on effective drying is demand of present scenario for the application of heat trapped from solar radiations for drying purpose in order to maintain the quality and active ingredients of plants. Conventionally, low drying temperatures between 30-40 °C, with economically beneficial techniques are required to protect sensitive active ingredients. Indirect type of solar dryers can easily fulfill all the terms for dying plant products in terms of standard and yield.