The use of wastewater irrigation may contribute to the metal accumulation, and reduction of nutrient level of vegetables, which would then have an adverse effect on human health. Therefore, in the present study we investigated heavy metals contamination and its impact on nutrient quality of vegetables and health risk. The study was conducted from the agricultural fields of Varanasi distinct during the period from March 2022 to June 2023 and all the laboratory work was carried in the department of Botany, Banaras Hindu University. Heavy metal concentrations in water, soil, and vegetable samples were measured using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The physiochemical property (pH), daily intake of metal, metal pollution index and health quotient were also calculated according to the published protocols. All heavy metal were found in higher concentrations in the wastewater irrigated soil that control site. The Lohta site had the highest concentration of heavy metals in the vegetables, followed by Dinapur, and least at control site (BHU). The highest concentration of metals (Cu, Zn, and Pb) were found in the leafy vegetables (S. oleracea and A. esculentus) whereas lowest in fruity vegetables (P. vulgaris). The rise in the Metal Pollution Index (MPI) also provided evidence for the greater metal content of these vegetables. The S. oleracea was found to have the highest DIM (0.061 g/g) while P. vulgaris had the lowest (0.007 g/g). HQ values of these metals were found greater than one ( greater than 1) for both children and adults on the ingestion of the vegetables of wastewater irrigated sites. Further, nutrient contents (Na, Mg, Ca) were also declined in the vegetables of wastewater irrigated site when compared to control site. These findings suggest that the consumption of such vegetables leads to compromised health and might be associated with severe health risk in the human.

Maize productivity is frequently hampered as a result of poor soil fertility, insect pests, weed infestations and agronomic management in sub-Saharan Africa. The purpose of this study was to evaluate how integrated nutrient-pest management and planting geometry affected fall armyworm, stem borer, weed infestation, and maize growth performance. The experiment was laid out in a split-plot design with planting geometry as the main plot and nutrient-pest management strategies as subplots with three replications at Buea, Cameroon, from August to December 2022. Planting geometry significantly influenced weed infestation and maize growth performance but did not affect the incidence and severity of fall armyworm and stem borer. Planting one plant per stand at 25 cm intra-row spacing significantly reduced weed density by 11%, weed biomass by 14%, and increased maize ear formation by 5% as compared to planting two plants per stand at wider spacing. Chem + Org + Bio treatment significantly reduced maize grain damage incidence and severity by fall armyworm and stem borer by an average of 13% and 14%, respectively, as compared to chemical treatment alone. The use of an integrated Chem + Org + Bio nutrient-pest management strategy with planting one plant per stand at 25 cm intra-row spacing is the best and most effective method to reduce fall armyworm, stem borer, and weed infestation, reduce the consumption of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and improve maize productivity in a sustainable way.

Most synthetic pesticides have negative impacts on both human health and the environment, which has led to a global economic and ecological emergency for insect pest control. Crude extracts of phytocompounds from Melia dubia Cav. were tested for their pesticidal effects on a certain enzyme cell line. An in silico molecular docking analysis of phytocompounds showed that the enzymes Glutathione S-Transferase (7RKA), Mytocontrial (5H3F), Acetylcholinesterase (7QAK), GABA receptor (7WGT), and DNA nucleotidylexotransferase (6GO4) interacted strongly with the phytocompounds. Compared to Dichlorvos and Malathion, the substances Guanosine (1) and Medroxyprogesterone (2) showed higher in-silico biopesticidal efficacy against Callosobruchus maculatus (Fab.). A silica gel column chromatographic technique was used to isolate Compounds 1 and 2. In vitro studies revealed that, after 96 hours, Guanosine (90.4% and LC50 value 5.63 mg/ml) caused the maximum toxicity of C. maculatus compared to the reference pesticides Dichlorvos (84.6% and LC50 value 5.94 mg/ml) and Malathion (92% and LC50 value 5.62 mg/ml). Comparing the results to the reference drugs, guanosine (1) showed potential as a pesticidal agent. Therefore, these particular compounds may provide alternative treatments that enhance the plants under investigation's historical use.

Four legume crops, viz., groundnut (Arachis hypogea L.), soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) of Kharif season, chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), and lentil (Lens esculentum L.) of Rabi season belonging to family Fabaceae were taken for investigation of seed-borne mycoflora. Since these are severely affected by many plant-pathogenic fungi at various stages of the whole life cycle, they were chosen for the study. Many post-harvest fungal pathogens cause severe loss by contaminating the grains with various mycotoxins and also deteriorate the nutritional quality of grains. The goal of any agricultural system is to increase the yield of crops as per the population demand. Various eco-friendly management practices were performed on highly mycotoxin-producing isolates of Aspergillus flavus and A. niger isolated from these grains. Four Trichoderma isolates (T2, T3, T4 and T5) were used as a biocontrol agent in the dual culture method to check antagonism between various Aspergillus isolates and Trichoderma isolates. It gave a satisfactory result in controlling mycelial growth. Achyranthes aspera leaf and stem phytoextract (10%, 20%, 30%, and 40%) was used as a botanical treatment in the well diffusion method, which successfully restricts the Aspergillus spp. mycelial growth.

Bananas are one of the most important tropical fruits in the world market, a significant staple food and a major export commodity. In vitro propagated banana plants are steadily becoming the planting material of choice because of disease free, uniformity and the possibility of rapid multiplication. The present investigation was carried out at the tissue culture laboratory, Department of Horticulture, School of Agricultural Sciences, Nagaland University, Medziphema campus during the year 2019-2022. Data recorded for different parameters viz. days to greening, days required for multiple buds’ initiation, number of multiple buds produced per explant and length of multiple buds after 30 days were subjected to completely randomized design (CRD). The present study revealed the importance of various carbon sources and its role in micropropagation of banana through shoot tip culture. The minimum day to greening, multiple buds initiation and maximum length of multiple buds was observed in shoot proliferation medium supplemented (SPM S) with 30g sucrose. The highest number of multiple buds was recorded in shoot proliferation medium supplemented with 30g table sugar. The results indicate the significance of sucrose as carbon sources in micropropagation of banana. They improved plant regeneration and facilitated rapid multiplication of disease and virus free banana plantlets.

An experiment was conducted in the Vegetable Unit, Department of Horticulture, Annamalai University, Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu during 2022 to find out the effective seed priming method in bhendi. The experiment was carried out in Complete Randomized Design (CRD) which includes different organics in different concentrations viz., Panchagavya @ 2% and @ 4%, Cow urine @ 2% and 4%, Vermiwash @ 0.1% and 0.25%, Beejamrutham @ 2% and 4%, Coconut water @ 25% and 50% and Control. The results of the experiment demonstrated that among the organic seed priming evaluated, Coconut water @ 50% has resulted in a higher germination percentage, speed of germination,shoot length,root length,seedling length,seedling fresh weight,dry weight and seedling vigour index.

In vitro propagated banana plants are steadily becoming the planting material of choice because of disease free, uniformity and the possibility of rapid multiplication. The present investigation was carried out at the tissue culture laboratory, Department of Horticulture, School of Agricultural Sciences, Nagaland University, Medziphema campus during the year 2019-2022. Data recorded for different parameters viz. days to greening, days required for multiple buds’ initiation, number of multiple buds produced per explant and length of multiple buds after 30 days were subjected to completely randomized design (CRD). The present study revealed the importance of various carbon sources and their role in micropropagation of banana through shoot tip culture. The minimum days required for root initiation were observed in root induction media (RIM) supplemented with 30g glucose. Rooting percentage (%), number of roots per shoot and length of longest roots (cm) after 30 days was seen in RIM supplemented with table sugar at 40g, 30g and 20g respectively. Meanwhile maximum average length of shoot (cm) after 30 days was observed in RIM supplemented with 40g glucose and highest number of leaves per plantlets was recorded in RIM supplemented with 30g sucrose. The results indicate the significance of carbon sources in micropropagation of banana. They improved plant regeneration and facilitated rapid multiplication of disease and virus free banana plantlets.

Being the national fruit of India, mango possess a significant position in its history, tradition culture and economy. This delicious and nutritious fruit contains considerable amounts of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants in abundance. The plant flowers in panicle at the end of winter and fruit drop is a common problem which is manifested due to several causes and micronutrient deficiency is one of major cause. The present study was conducted at the instructional farm of Institute of Agriculture, Visva Bharati, Sriniketan which comes under humid sub-tropical region of West Bengal, India during the year 2020 and 2021 to study the effect of pre-flowering sprays of zinc and boron on panicle emergence and panicle growth of mango cv. Amrapali. The experiment comprised of 9 treatment combinations of pre flowering sprays of zinc sulphate (ZnSO4, 7H2O) and borax (Na2B4O7, 10H2O) replicated 3 times as T1: Control (distilled water), T2: ZnSO4 @ 0.5%, T3: ZnSO4 @ 1.0%, T4: Borax @ 0.5%, T5: Borax @ 1.0%, T6: ZnSO4 @ 0.5% + Borax @ 0.5%, T7: ZnSO4 @ 0.5% + Borax @1.0%, T8: ZnSO4 @ 1.0% + Borax @ 0.5% and T9: ZnSO4 @ 1.0% + Borax @ 1.0%in Randomized Block Design (RBD). Highest number of total flowers and hermaphrodite flowers per panicle were recorded under ZnSO4 @ 1.0% + Borax @ 1.0% spray (T9). Apart from these, higher percentage of fruit set and lower fruit drop in all the stages have also been observed ZnSO4 @ 1.0% with Borax @ 1.0% treatment (T9). Same treatment also exhibited maximum yield in both the years. Thus, foliar application of ZnSO4 @ 1.0% and Borax @ 1.0% can be used at pre-flowering stage in mango (cv. Amrapali) for good flowering, high fruit set and less fruit drop.

An experiment was conducted at Experimental unit (Pilikothi) Department of Horticulture, Tilak Dhari Post Graduate College, Jaunpur during 2019-20 to assess the effect of organic manures and bio-fertilizers on growth and yield of papaya (Carica papaya L.) cv. Red Lady. The saplings of papaya were transplanted on 15th October with a spacing of 1.8 m×1.8 m. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design with eleven treatments replicated thrice. Result indicated that the maximum plant height (260.48 cm), stem girth (46.52 cm), petiole length (80.38 cm), leaf area (1406.15 cm2) and plant spread (193.32 cm) was recorded with T9 (Neem cake + Azotobacter + PSB) application followed by plant height (255.28 cm), stem girth (42.24 cm), petiole length (76.15 cm), leaf area (1388.22 cm2), plant spread (189.49 cm) with T7 (Vermicompost + Azotobacter + PSB) and minimum in control. Observations recorded on yield and yield contributing characters revealed that the fruit length (35.48 cm), fruit diameter (16.22 cm), fruit volume (1272.45 cc), fruit weight (1274.82 gm), fruit yield per plant (58.4 kg), fruit yield per plot (467.2 kg), fruit yield per hectare (72.6 q) was recorded maximum with T10 (Farm yard manure + Vermicompost +Poultry manure + Neem Cake + Azotobacter + PSB) and the minimum values of these characters were recorded T11 under control.

India has a power capacity of 4,02,817 MW, with over half coming from coal-based thermal power plants like the Kolaghat Thermal Power Plant (KTPP), West Bengal, India. These plants produce harmful fly ash, requiring safe disposal. KTPP alone generated 0.5921 million tons of fly ash in 2020-21, managed using ash ponds. Concerns have arisen regarding contamination of nearby agricultural fields, impacting rice cultivation. The objective of the study was to understand how fly ash affects soil and seed germination and emphasizes the importance of making careful decisions when using industrial residues in agriculture to ensure sustainable and responsible practices that prioritize environmental health and plant well-being.Samples were collected from areas near KTPP, and plant growth substrates were prepared by mixing control soil with varying fly ash concentrations. The study was conducted between 15 February and 19 May 2023 in PnaskuraBanamali College (Autonomous), Purba Medinipur, West Bengal, India. The physical and chemical properties of these substrates were analyzed, and rice seed germination studies were carried out over 30 days. The subsequent transplantation and growth assessments included measuring shoots and roots, analyzing leaf chlorophyll and carotenoids, and conducting statistical evaluations. The experiments were triplicated, and statistical analyses using SPSS 16 indicated statistical significance at p less than 0.05.The study helps to understand how fly ash affects soil and seed germination, revealing both positive and negative effects on soil properties and plant growth. It emphasizes the need for careful decision-making when using industrial residues in agriculture to ensure sustainable and responsible practices that prioritize both environmental health and plant well-being.