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Preparing chitosan solutions from shrimp shells for rice production was investigated. The chitosan produced from shrimp shells using dilute acetic acid proved effective in controlling plants infection by microbial agents leading to higher yields. The field data of our studies showed that the yields of rice significantly increased (~31%) after applying chitosan solution. In general, applying chitosan increased rice production and reduced cost of production significantly.

the summer season of 2012. Observations pertaining to various aspects were taken throughout the blooming period (April to August). Twenty-four insect species visited cucumber flowers at Hisar, which constituted 12 Hymenopterans, 6 Lepidopterans, 3 Dipterans, 2 Hemipterans and 1 Coleopteran. Among these, Halictus sp., Ceratina sexmaculata and Apis dorsata were dominant. Abundance of C. sexmaculata (2.79 bees/m 2 /5 minutes) was highest followed by Halictus sp. (2.69 bees/m 2 /5 minutes) and A. dorsata (0.78 bees/m 2 /5 minutes) on cucumber flowers. The population irrespective of their species was observed maximum at 08.00~10.00 h of the day. Based on pollination index (Number of loose pollen grains sticking on the body of bee x abundance x foraging rate), Halictus sp. was the most efficient pollinator of C. sativus followed by C. sexmaculata and A. dorsata under ecological conditions of Hisar (Haryana).

The antimicrobial activity of chitosan was thoroughly investigated. The prepared chitosan solutions at diluted concentrations and in aerosol form, of which applied to apples and bananas had considerably prolonged the storage time of the fruits and prevented them from microbes contaminating and growing. The study has reconfirmed that chitosan exhibits high antimicrobial activity against pathogenic and spoilage microorganisms , including fungi, and both Grampositive and Gram-negative bacteria. This study has also found that the Minimum Inhibition Concentration (MIC) of chitosan solution on Staphylococcus aureus was 3.97 mg/ml and the Minimum Inhibition Concentration of chitosan solution on Pseudomonas aeruginosa was 3.49 mg/ml.