Agricultural Background Research Articles

Expert System for Hydroponic Vegetable Cultivation Using Forward and Backward Chaining Inference Technique

Hydroponics systems require tremendous attention both in nutrition, plant growth, the risk of pest and disease attacks. Thus, this hydroponic farming system requires high experience and expertise that is the main obstacle for business actors who want to start a vegetable cultivation business with a hydroponic system, especially for business actors who do not have a background in agriculture. The hydroponic cultivation expert system in this study aims to detect plant diseases and pests and provide solutions to these diseases. In addition, this expert system application also aims to monitor plant needs, so this application can help farmers grow up hydroponic vegetable cultivation businesses. The combination of the forward and backward chaining methods is applied to detect plant diseases and pests. Whereas the forward chaining method use to monitor plant needs. The combination of the forward and backward chaining methods in identifying plant diseases and pests can make it easier for users to determine the suffered by plants and provide information about these diseases. The application of the forward chaining method in monitoring plant needs can identify the level of fulfilment of entails of each component of plant needs according to the type of plant and the day after planting. The application of this hydroponic expert system can overcome the limited number of hydroponic experts in helping farmers identify plant diseases and pests and monitor plant needs.

Adaptive potential of the new winter durum wheat varieties and lines in the conditions of the Rostov region

Currently, with the growth of scientific and technological progress, the issue of the effect of negative anthropogenic factors on the environment is of great urgency. Due to it there is a necessity to develop the most adaptive agricultural varieties, which is the basis of environmentally friendly agriculture. The current study was carried out on the basis of the FSBSI Agricultural Research Center “Donskoy”, located in the southern part of the Rostov region in 2018–2020. The objects of research were 8 varieties sent to the State Variety Testing in 2017–2020 and 5 promising breeding lines of the FSBSI “ARC “Donskoy”. The weather conditions during the years of the study were contrasting, with the most favorable ones in 2018, when there was obtained a record yield of winter durum wheat from 11.25 to 14.04 t/ha. Differences in the yields of the winter durum wheat varieties over the years were characterized by the variation range from 31.9 to 52.4%. There has been identified insignificant deviations in the yields of the variety ‘Solntsedar’ (+3 – -1.9 t/ha) and the variety ‘Zoloto Dona’ (+3.2 – -2.3 t/ha). The greatest deviations from the average yield were established in the varieties ‘Khrizolit’ (+4.5 – -3.6 t/ha), ‘Almaz Dona’ (+4.3 – -2.9 t/ha) and the line ‘721/15’ (+4.8 – -3.3 t/ha). Due to the assessment according to the adaptability parameters, there have been identified 3 groups of varieties. They are the adaptable varieties ‘Lakomka’, ‘Ellada’, ‘Khrizolit’, which will produce maximum yields under cultivation in the areas with favorable agro-climatic conditions at high agro-backgrounds; the weakly responsive varieties ‘Zoloto Dona’ and ‘Solntsedar’, for cultivation on a low agricultural background, which maintain stable yields with the mean values of 6.88–7.04 t/ha), they react poorly to external conditions, i.e. better adapted to bad and worst environments. The varieties ‘Kristella’, ‘Uslada’, ‘Dinas’, ‘Almaz Dona’ are suitable for cultivation on a medium agricultural background, because they are adaptable varieties with bi = 0.97–1.00. However, the variety ‘Almaz Dona’ turned to be unstable in terms of yields. The promising lines that participated in the analysis with different ecological characteristics will be further involved in breeding programs to increase the adaptability of new varieties. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the new varieties and promising lines according to productivity, homeostaticity, adaptability; to identify ecologically adaptable varieties and lines and to give recommendations for further use.

Broadening Our Understanding of Farm Children's Risk Exposure by Considering Their Parents' Farming Background.

While farm safety researchers have seldom considered the association between farm parents’ background and their children’s safety, researchers who have compared first- and multi-generation farmers have found differences that may shape safety outcomes. We draw on the farm safety and family farm bodies of literature and a survey of 203 United States farm parents to assess the role of farming background in farm children risk exposure. Exploratory in nature, the bivariate analysis revealed no statistically significant differences between first- and multi-generation farmers in children injury, agricultural safety perceptions, knowledge, and practices but revealed differences in key demographic characteristics and parenting styles. A range of factors likely explain these findings with meso- and macro-level factors likely impacting farm parents’ ability to adopt safety practices. In contrast to the emphasis on knowledge and behaviors, we call for the integration of lived realities in farm safety research and to do so in a way that connects realities and choices to larger contexts. We also call on the need to expand the toolkit of interventions to address meso- and macro-level factors. A shift towards addressing social and economic conditions in agriculture could reduce farm children’s injuries while supporting the sustainability of farm labor systems.

David W. Schindler—Icon and Iconoclast

David W. Schindler—Icon and Iconoclast

ЭКОНОМИКА ПЛАНИРУЕМЫХ УРОЖАЕВ ЯРОВОЙ ПШЕНИЦЫ НА ПАХОТНЫХ ЧЕРНОЗЕМАХ ЗА СЧЕТ ВНЕСЕНИЯ МИНЕРАЛЬНЫХ УДОБРЕНИЙ

In modern conditions of agricultural intensification, the use of a scientifically based fertilizer system becomes extremely necessary. It is she who will allow you to get economically viable crop yields. Studies to obtain the planned yield with the introduction of increasing doses of mineral fertilizers were carried out in 2018-2020 in the forest-steppe zone of the Urals. The soil is old leached chernozem. Experiment scheme: control (without fertilization); application of mineral fertilizers to the planned yield: by 3.0 t/ha of grain N40 P75; 4.0 t/ha - N95P110; 5.0 t/ha - N150P200 and 6.0 t/ha - N185P160 kg of active ingredient. On average, over the years of research, the planned yield of spring wheat was achieved. The cost of growing spring wheat without mineral fertilizers amounted to 16850 rubles/ha. The introduction of mineral fertilizers for the planned harvests increases costs up to 34200 rubles/ha. Such high costs are explained by the use of phosphate fertilizers, whose price is twice as high as ammonium nitrate. In the structure of costs for obtaining a yield of 3.0 t/ha of grain, the share of mineral fertilizers accounts for 17 %. A further increase in the level of mineral nutrition through fertilizers increases the share of fertilizer costs up to 45 %. The profit from the sale of grain on the option with NPK of 6.0 t/ha of grain reached 27400 with a profitability of 80 %. On the control, the corresponding indicators were 5150 rubles/ha and 31 %. The optimal and economically justified is the level of mineral nutrition, providing 4.0 t/ha of spring wheat grain. A further increase in the agricultural background is associated with a risk due to the peculiarities of weather conditions in the forest-steppe zone of the Urals

Yield and quality of carrots when using the Gumiton organo-mineral complex in conditions of radioactive contamination

The aim of this work is to assess the impact of Gumiton peat-based organo-mineral complex on the productivity and quality of carrots and the transition of 137Cs from soil to root crops under conditions of radioactive contamination. According to the results of field experiments on gray forest and soddy-podzolic soils of the Kaluga region of Russia, it is shown that leaf treatment with Gumiton of carrot plantings in different phases of crop development increases the yield of root crops by 20-40%, depending on the variety, soil type and agricultural background. Analysis of studies in the growing experiment on soddy-podzolic soil showed that Gumiton treatment increases the yield of carrots by 30%. The rate of decrease of 137Cs content is 1,2-1,25 times. Gumiton is a highly effective preparation for carrots, which increases the productivity and quality of the crop and helps to reduce the intake of 137Cs in root crops in radioactively contaminated areas.

Yield and quality of carrots when using the Gumiton organo-mineral complex in conditions of radioactive contamination

The aim of this work is to assess the impact of Gumiton peat-based organo-mineral complex on the productivity and quality of carrots and the transition of 137Cs from soil to root crops under conditions of radioactive contamination. According to the results of field experiments on gray forest and soddy-podzolic soils of the Kaluga region of Russia, it is shown that leaf treatment with Gumiton of carrot plantings in different phases of crop development increases the yield of root crops by 20-40%, depending on the variety, soil type and agricultural background. Analysis of studies in the growing experiment on soddy-podzolic soil showed that Gumiton treatment increases the yield of carrots by 30%. The rate of decrease of 137Cs content is 1,2-1,25 times. Gumiton is a highly effective preparation for carrots, which increases the productivity and quality of the crop and helps to reduce the intake of 137Cs in root crops in radioactively contaminated areas.

FAKTOR-FAKTOR YANG MEMENGARUHI KEPUTUSAN MAHASISWA DALAM MENYEWA TEMPAT TINGGAL DI KAMPUS INSTITUT PERTANIAN BOGOR DRAMAGA

Bogor Agricultural University (IPB) Dramaga is one of the universities with the best agricultural background in Indonesia. Many people are willing to leave for education at IPB. However, many of the overseas students have problems regarding where to live. The purpose of this study (1) To identify the factors that influence the rental of temporary housing in the Bogor Agricultural University area. (2) Analyze the factors that influence the decision to lease a temporary residence while studying at the Dramaga Bogor Agricultural University. The type of data in this study is quantitative data, primary data is obtained through questionnaires and secondary data is obtained from the Bogor Agricultural University website, as well as various relevant literature and reports. The method used is descriptive analysis and factor analysis with the variables used in this study is the 7P Marketing Mix. Based on the results of the factor analysis, 20 new factors were formed that greatly influenced consumers in choosing a temporary residence. In addition, the alternative that can be given from this research is that the owner of the residence should be able to optimize the promotion in terms of advertising so that it is right on target.Keywords:IPB Students, Marketing Mix, Temporary Residence

Understanding different levels of segregation in urban China: a comparative study among 21 cities in Guangdong province

ABSTRACT It has been suggested that more globalized cities are more polarized and segregated than other cities. However, this is mainly evidenced by advanced capitalist cities and other selected developed cities, while less developed cities are clearly under-researched. This paper draws on both developed and less developed cities in Guangdong province, and asks how socio-economic segregation levels differ among cities of varying economic development levels. We find that, contrary to expectation, less developed cities are showing higher levels of segregation than well-developed cities. We suggest that the key contributing factor is that the well-developed cities in Guangdong province are characterized by manufacturing-dominant economic structures and industrialization-based economic transformation. Correspondingly, their occupational structures are predominantly characterized by employees with a recent agricultural background; the restructuring process is therefore dominated by professionalization of the lower class. The stronger and faster industrialization and professionalization processes produce lower segregation levels in those more developed cities.

Combined cotton picker with interchangeable devices

Weather conditions in the risky cotton growing area largely determine readiness of the agricultural background of the cotton field for machine harvesting of cotton. A combined cotton picker with replaceable horizontal spindle and vertical spindle devices was invented. At full (85-90%) opening of cotton bolls, an option of a cotton picker with horizontal spindle is applied, and at incomplete (55-60%) opening – an option with vertical spindle devices is applied. Field trials of a cotton picker with removable devices were carried out. The estimated parameters were completeness of cotton harvest, residue on bushes, losses to the ground, debris and moisture of harvested cotton. Use of a combined cotton picker allows to harvest cotton selectively at full and incomplete opening cotton bolls. Productivity and cotton-picking quality has increased.

The farm worker and the ‘drift to the land’. Roots, routes, opportunities and constraints to career pathways in farming

The mass decline in agricultural labour in Britain since the industrial revolution has, until recently, led to the farm worker being fundamentally overlooked within the agricultural research agenda over the last fifty years, while labour shortages in farming persist at a global scale. Data regarding those who actively work at the ‘frontline’ of agriculture is minimal, as are understandings of the career pathways linked to non-capital related occupational succession in agricultural occupations. Using empirical evidence from a survey of 1251 farms in the South West of England, as well as 45 semi-structured interviews with farmers, farm workers and agricultural contractors, this study employs the Human Capability Framework to examine the career trajectory of the farm labour contributor, and identifies potential constraints to a sustained career in agriculture. Findings demonstrate that farm labour contributors largely, but not always, stem from an agricultural background, arriving via one of three pathways; direct, further/higher education or post-travel, and that farm-level, local-level and national-level constraints exist which influence the capacities and opportunities available to a potential farm worker. Such constraints ultimately affect the ability not only to recruit staff and contend with labour shortage issues in the sector, but also to match employees' and employers' suitably to one another.

The influence of near-field fluxes on seasonal carbon dioxide enhancements: results from the Indianapolis Flux Experiment (INFLUX)

BackgroundNetworks of tower-based CO2 mole fraction sensors have been deployed by various groups in and around cities across the world to quantify anthropogenic CO2 emissions from metropolitan areas. A critical aspect in these approaches is the separation of atmospheric signatures from distant sources and sinks (i.e., the background) from local emissions and biogenic fluxes. We examined CO2 enhancements compared to forested and agricultural background towers in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, as a function of season and compared them to modeled results, as a part of the Indianapolis Flux (INFLUX) project.ResultsAt the INFLUX urban tower sites, daytime growing season enhancement on a monthly timescale was up to 4.3–6.5 ppm, 2.6 times as large as those in the dormant season, on average. The enhancement differed significantly depending on choice of background and time of year, being 2.8 ppm higher in June and 1.8 ppm lower in August using a forested background tower compared to an agricultural background tower. A prediction based on land cover and observed CO2 fluxes showed that differences in phenology and drawdown intensities drove measured differences in enhancements. Forward modelled CO2 enhancements using fossil fuel and biogenic fluxes indicated growing season model-data mismatch of 1.1 ± 1.7 ppm for the agricultural background and 2.1 ± 0.5 ppm for the forested background, corresponding to 25–29% of the modelled CO2 enhancements. The model-data total CO2 mismatch during the dormant season was low, − 0.1 ± 0.5 ppm.ConclusionsBecause growing season biogenic fluxes at the background towers are large, the urban enhancements must be disentangled from the biogenic signal, and growing season increases in CO2 enhancement could be misinterpreted as increased anthropogenic fluxes if the background ecosystem CO2 drawdown is not considered. The magnitude and timing of enhancements depend on the land cover type and net fluxes surrounding each background tower, so a simple box model is not appropriate for interpretation of these data. Quantification of the seasonality and magnitude of the biological fluxes in the study region using high-resolution and detailed biogenic models is necessary for the interpretation of tower-based urban CO2 networks for cities with significant vegetation.

Radiatively driven NH3 release from agricultural field during wintertime slack season

A chemical ionization mass spectrometer (CIMS) was deployed to measure ambient ammonia (NH3) with a time-resolution of ~5 min. Unexpectedly high levels of NH3, peaking at 15.5 ppbv and averaging at 2.1 ± 1.9 ppbv, were observed near an agricultural field in Nanjing, China, during wintertime, a slack season for farming. Re-partitioning from aerosols can only explain a small portion of this NH3 due to the considerably low air temperature, whereas the major source was emission from soil, as indicated by significant positive correlations of the NH3 concentration with the ground surface temperature, solar radiation intensity, and particularly the surface-air temperature difference. The dissolved/adsorbed NH3 and NH4NO3 in soil likely originated from conversion of nitrogen-containing organic matter by microorganisms through ammonification and nitrification. The upward transfer of NH3 released from the soil was facilitated by convective mixing driven by solar radiation, which produced the required high soil-air temperature gradient. This winter release of NH3 from the soil is not captured by commonly used long-term, passive-sampler based methods, giving rise to an incorrect assumption that during winter, a slack season for farming, soil emits no NH3 and so this source has remained unresolved by typical emission inventory models. Our results indicate that contrary to the common assumption, agricultural background emissions are a non-negligible source of NH3 even in wintertime, which may exert a significant impact on regional air pollution formations. Hence, a refined NH3 emission inventory is critically needed to account for the haze events in wintertime northern China.

Socio-demographic influences on the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among workers in Qatar

BackgroundThe rapid growth of Qatar in the last two decades has been associated with an enormous expansion of building programs in its cities and in the provision of new service industries. This in turn has attracted a large influx of immigrant workers seeking employment in jobs associated with food handling, domestic service, and the building industry. Many of these immigrants come from countries in the tropics and subtropics where intestinal parasitic infections are common. In this study, we explored the environmental and socio-demographic characteristics of immigrant workers in Doha Qatar, which might explain the persistence of the parasites that they harbor.MethodologyThis cross-sectional survey was conducted among 2486 newly arrived immigrant workers and those who visited Qatar previously during the period 2012–2014. Through questionnaires and census data, we characterized the socio-demographic conditions at an individual, family, and neighborhood levels.ResultsOverall, the prevalence of combined protozoan infection was 11.7% and that of helminth was 7.0%. Combined protozoan infections were significantly associated with immigrant workers arriving in Doha for the first time. In univariate log-linear statistical models fitted in phase 1 of the analysis, significant associations were observed between the prevalence of combined protozoan infections and personal and familial factors that included religion, the level of education of subjects, both parents’ educational levels and their jobs, and the number of siblings. Furthermore, environmental effects on the prevalence of protozoan infections including the country of origin, the floor of the house, toilet type, household content index, provision of household water, farming background showed strong associations with protozoan infections. However, in phase 2, multifactorial binary logistic generalized linear models focusing only on the significant effects identified in phase 1, showed that only five factors retained significance (age class, floor of the house, household contents index, father’s education, and the number of siblings). The only factors that had a significant effect on the prevalence of helminth infections were the subjects’ age class and the mother’s educational level.ConclusionsThe prevalence of intestinal protozoan parasites among immigrant workers in Qatar is clearly multifactorial in origin determined by key familial relationships of subjects and also the environment, in which the subjects lived prior to their arrival in Qatar. Moreover, our results suggest that screening protocols for applicants for visas/work permits need to be revised giving more careful attention to the intestinal protozoan infections that potential immigrant workers may harbor.Graphical

Assessment of the Influence of Meteorological Factors and Agricultural Background on the Productivity of Spring Wheat Ulyanovskaya 105 in the Predkamye of the Republic of Tatarstan

The most valuable and widespread food crop is spring wheat. Soil and climatic conditions influence the grain productivity and quality. The grain quality is affected by air humidity, insolation, nitrogen content in the soil and agricultural technologies. In 2019–2020, on the experimental field of the agronomic faculty of Kazan State Agrarian University, studies aimed to identify the reaction of the Ulyanovskaya 105 spring soft wheat to meteorological conditions and agricultural background were carried out. The soil was light gray forest, medium loamy. The predecessor was winter rye after pure fallow. Meteorological conditions were favorable for the growth and development of spring wheat. In 2019, the HMC was 1.36, in 2020 – 1.13. The maximum yield in 2019 and in 2020 was obtained with the application of calculated doses of fertilizers when sowing 6 million viable seeds per hectare – 3.0–3.44 tons and 3.67–4.21 tons per hectare.

An Assessment of Youth Involvement in Agricultural Activities in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

Youth, who make up the majority of South Africa’s population and will be the future responsible citizens, confront numerous obstacles, including a lack of access to land, finance, markets, practical training, and incentives. The low interest of youngsters in agriculture is attributed to the poor status of agricultural output in Africa’s rural areas due to a lack of government support. The study was conducted to assess the involvement of youths in agricultural activities in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. The convenient sampling technique was used, and qualitative data were collected from 104 participants using a pre-tested structured questionnaire. The questionnaire covered demographic characteristics, land ownership status, contact with extension personnel, and involvement in farming activities, funding, and constraints. Descriptive statistics and chi-square test were used for data analysis. The results showed that there were more males (59.6%) participants than females (40.4%) and the majority (74%) were between 20 - 35 years of age, 52.9% had senior secondary school level of education and came from a household size ranging from 6 - 19. Approximately 88.5% of participants had an agricultural background with an annual income of less than R20,000.00. More than half (51.9 %) of the study population, had farming experience less than 5 years, while 52.9% owned less than 2 hectares of land, and 78.8% were self-employed. Findings revealed that age (χ2 = 5.519, P χ2 = 43.981, P < 0.001) had a significant association with extension contact and farming enterprises respectively. Furthermore, lack of land ownership, high input costs, access to credit, visibility of extension personnel, lack of market access, low returns, high cost of mechanization, and lack of farming knowledge were the most ranked constraints hindering youth involvement in agricultural activities. Youth involvement in agricultural activities can be improved through land availability, financial support, and information dissemination on rural development programs by extension personnel.

СОЗДАНИЕ ИСХОДНОГО МАТЕРИАЛА ЛЬНА С МАРКЕРНЫМ ПРИЗНАКОМ – ЖЕЛТОЙ ОКРАСКОЙ СЕМЯН

Creation of the initial material of fiber flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) with marker signs is a promising direction of breeding, which determines the efficiency of breeding varieties with improved properties. The purpose of the research was to create initial flax material for obtaining seeds with a marker sign (yellow color) and increased weight. The studies were carried out at the Federal Research Center for Bast Fiber Crops in 2015–2018. In our work, we used flax varieties ‘Smolich’, ‘Antey’, ‘C-108’, as well as forms obtained from these varieties. These varieties were used as control. Nurseries were laid under conditions of a leveled agricultural background. Seeds were sown in a square way (2.5×2.5 cm). The experiments were conducted according to the current methods, including phytopathological testing. Soil – sod-podzolic, medium loamy, cultivated. Selyaninov Hydrothermal Coefficient (HTC) in 2015 was 1.3; in 2016 – 2.2; in 2017 – 1.8; in 2018 – 1.3. During the flax plants selection, we obtained three forms with yellow-colored seeds. Yellow-seeded form No. 1 was valuable from the breeding point of view. It exceeded standard variety ‘Smolich’ in seed weight by 0.8 mg (16.0%), in seed yield – by 0.06 t/ha (9.8%). Form No. 1 belongs to the improved fiber flax line. Form No. 3 had a higher seed mass (5.6 mg) compared to standard variety ‘C-108’. In terms of seed yield and 1000-seed weight, this form exceeded the standard by 0.08 t/ha or 14.8% and 0.49 g or 10.6%, respectively. Form No. 3 is a breeding material for creating varieties of bilateral use. Form No. 2 had signs of the oil flax line. It exceeded standard variety ‘Antey’ in seed yield by 0.18 t/ha (40%); 1000-seed weight – by 0.53 g (11.2%). The created material has a breeding value. It was transferred to the bioresource collection of flax for its replenishment, to the bank of the characteristic collection and was additionally included in the breeding process.

The design parameters optimization of the oscillating ploughshare mechanism of the root harvester

The problem of optimizing the design parameters of the oscillating ploughshare drive is solved. The purpose of optimization is to ensure the technological process of digging up the soil and harvesting root crops while expanding the speed range of the harvesting machine. The optimization criterion is the torque amplitude on the drive shaft determined from the dynamic drive model. The value of the optimization criterion depends on the parameters of agricultural background and kinematics of the drive mechanism. The load levels and reliability indicators of the optimized and original design of the digging mechanism are investigated.

The influence of mineral fertilizers on the mass of plant-root residues of grain crops on chernozem soils of the Western Siberia

The influence of various levels of mineral nutrition on the accumulation of plant-root residues of spring wheat and oats in the conditions of the forest-steppe zone of Western Siberia is studied. The natural agricultural background of leached chernozem was taken as a control. The research was carried out at the station of the Department of Soil Science and Agrochemistry of the State Agrarian University of the Northern Trans-Urals. In the experiment, various doses of mineral fertilizers were used, ensuring the yield of grain crops from 3.0 to 6.0 t/ha. It was found that the mass of plant-root residues of spring wheat and oats has no significant differences and depends on the level of mineral nutrition. On the natural agricultural background, the mass of plant-root residues is 3.24-3.88 t/ha. Fertilization increases the yield of grain crops to 6.0 t/ha, and also increases the amount of plant-root residues: spring wheat - 4.47; oats – 6.04 t/ha. Increasing the doses of mineral fertilizers reduces the ratio of yield to the mass of plant-root residues from 1:1.6 to 1:1.10 units. It was found that almost half of the root system of spring wheat and oats is located in a layer of 0-10 cm, while the share of roots in a layer of 30-40 cm accounts for no more than 16% of the mass.

Farmers' Preferences of Improved Wheat Varieties in Wheat Subsector Kailali, Nepal

Kailali is the second highest district regarding wheat production and area coverage. A study was carried out in the Kailali district for preference of farmers on different wheat varieties that were being cultivated in the district. The objective of the study was to assess farmers’ preference and perception on the different improved wheat varieties in the area. Five commonly grown wheat varieties and seventeen important wheat varietal traits were selected through focus group discussion, key informant interview and preliminary survey. Sixty households were selected for face-to-face personal interview, twelve for each selected variety, at random from Ghodaghodi Municipality, Gauriganga Municipality and Kailari Rural Municipality of Kailali. The weightage of the seventeen selected traits were determined using an online survey conducted among individuals from different designation with the agricultural background who were well known about wheat cultivation practices in Kailali district. Yield, flour quality and tillering were found to be the trait of higher weightage and stem thickness was the trait of lowest weightage. The preferences of the farmers were measured using wheat preference index (WPI). The varieties Vijay, NL-971, HD-2967, Gautam and Aditya were ranked as I, II, III, IV and V respectively. The incorporation of farmers' preferred traits in future wheat varieties would increase the likelihood of adoption of the varieties. Similarly, proper participatory field trial of new improved wheat varieties would also help in the selection of the suitable varieties in the area concerning the farmers’ criteria of selection.&#x0D; Int. J. Appl. Sci. Biotechnol. Vol 8(4): 432-436