International Crop Research Institute For Semi-Arid Tropics Research Articles

Data analytics in ensemble learning for effective crop yield prediction

In agricultural research, Crop Yield Prediction (CYP) offers the best decision-making to assist farmers in agricultural yield forecasting efficiently. Most of the existing studies have not considered the exhaustive exploration of data analytics techniques in Machine Learning (ML) for CYP due to which the existing models have not given the optimal results. The main objective of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of data analytics in Ensemble Learning (EL) techniques for more reliable and high-performance CYP models. This article proposes an expert system model, Blended Expert System for Crop Yield Prediction (BESCYP), designed to predict the precise crop yields for specific agricultural lands in the Assam state of India. The proposed BESCYP employs Expectation–Maximization (EM) algorithm to treat missing values, the Isolation Forest (IF) technique to analyze outliers, the Genetic Algorithm (GA) to perform feature selection, Robust Scaling (RS) technique to perform data normalization and the Extra Tree (ET) for classification that overcome the variance and overfitting problem commonly associated with standard ML algorithms. The evaluation of the proposed BESCYP model has been performed using accuracy, precision, recall, and F-1 score on a dataset obtained from International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT). The proposed model is compared against different standard ML algorithms, EL algorithms and various existing models available in the literature, and the experimental results show that the proposed BESCYP model outperforms other models.

Effect of Varieties, Planting Densities and Phosphorus Levels on Seed Yield and Post-Harvest Soil Physico-Chemical Properties of Rice Fallow Redgram

Aim: To assess the effect of varieties, planting densities and phosphorus levels on yield and physico-chemical properties of post -harvest soil in rice fallow redgram. Study Design: The experiment was laid out in strip-split plot design with three varieties as vertical factor viz., V1: ICPV-21333, V2: ICPV-21444 and V3: ICPV-; two levels of spacings viz., P1: 0 kg P2O5 ha-1, P2: 25 kg P2O5 ha-1, P3: 37.5 kg P2O5 ha-1 and P4: 50 kg P2O5 ha-1. Place and Duration of Study: RL 12, block 3 and 4, International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Patancheru, Hyderabad, during rabi, 2022-23 and 2023-24. Methodology: The investigation consisted of three varieties as vertical factor, two levels of spacing as horizontal factor and four levels of phosphorus as sub-plots with a total of 24 treatment combinations and replicated thrice. Data recorded on various parameters was subjected to scrutiny by ANOVA technique for split plot design concept. Data was subjected to analysis of variance procedures as outlined for strip-split plot design. Results: From this investigation, it was found that seed yield was significantly higher with the variety ICPV-21333 (812 and 750 kg ha-1), but remained statistically comparable to ICPV-21444. Among the spacings, it was highest with 30 cm x 10 cm (792 and 740 kg ha-1) and with respect to phosphorus levels, crop fertilized with 50 kg P2O5 ha-1 registered higher seed yield (797 and 740 kg ha-1) but, was statistically at par with 37.5 kg P2O5 ha-1. Available post- harvest soil N, and K2O was not influenced by the various treatments, but available P2O5 was significantly influenced by phosphorus levels. Higher available P2O5 was observed with the application of 50 and 37.5 kg P2O5 ha-1 kg P2O5 ha-1, while the lowest status was noticed with 0 kg P2O5 ha-1. Similarly, bulk density, pH, EC and OC were not significantly influenced by varieties, spacings and phosphorus levels and due to their interaction during both the years of study.

Hybrid Pigeonpea (ICPH 2740) Nodular Activity and Biological Nitrogen Fixation as Influenced by Agronomic Practices

Background: To explore the impact of agronomic practices on nodulation, nitrogenase activity and biological nitrogen fixation in hybrid pigeonpea, a field investigation was under taken at BW5 block ICRISAT development center (IDC), International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Patancheru, Hyderabad, during kharif, 2021 and 2022. Methods: The seedlings were raised in portrays in advance to onset of monsoon during last week of May (28th May in 2021 kharif and 30th May in 2022 kharif) in both the years by filling portrays with cocopeat and vermicompost in 1:1 ratio. Transplanting of 24 days and 25 days old seedlings were done on 20th June in 2021 kharif and 23th June in 2022 kharif, respectively, on the same day of dibbling in the main field at 100 cm × 100 cm ,120 cm × 120 cm square geometry and 150 cm × 60 cm. Nutrient management treatments were imposed one week after sowing. Result: Among the planting methods higher nodule number and nitrogenase activity with transplanting compared to dibbling. 120 cm × 120 cm found higher nodule number plant-1 and nitrogenase activity but biological nitrogen fixation was higher with 100 cm × 100 cm ha-1 basis. With respect on nutrient management practices, control performed well in terms of higher nitrogenase activity and biological nitrogen fixation and on par with integrated approach of 100% soil test based NPK + vermicompost + PSB + seed treatment with Rhizobium. So, with transplanting method of establishment, 100 ´ 100 cm square plant geometry and 100% soil test based NPK + vermicompost + PSB + seed treatment with Rhizobium was recommended agronomic practices for hybrid pigeonpea.

Understanding micronutrient bioavailability and the impact on micronutrient malnutrition

Jayashree Arcot received her Bachelor's degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from the University of Madras, India and a Master's degree in Food Science and Nutrition. She received her PhD in Foods and Nutrition from the Andhra Pradesh Agricultural University in Hyderabad, India in 1988 while being a recipient of the prestigious Senior Research Fellowship from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research. While in Hyderabad she had the opportunity to collaborate with several leading scientists in the field of nutrition at the National Institute of Nutrition, a premier organization under the auspices of the Indian Council of Medical Research in India and the International Crops Research Institute for Semi-arid Tropics (ICRISAT). She mastered the analysis of vitamins in foods using the microbiological assay during her PhD. When she arrived in Australia in the early 1990s, as an academic at the University of New South Wales, Sydney, she had the opportunity to establish a research group in the field of food science and nutrition. She pursued several projects funded by government and industry with her food-based approaches to solve nutrition problems particularly micronutrient malnutrition. Fascinated by the complexity of vitamins in foods and their matrix effects, she established a laboratory for vitamin methodology for foods using the microbiological assay, high-end chromatography (LC-MS/MS), to measure different forms of vitamins, for example, folates; studying vitamin bioavailability in humans. Her lab was the first in the Oceania region capable of measuring vitamins in foods using the microbiological assay. She has conducted several international workshops and short courses in food composition and vitamin assays for researchers. She has pursued her interest in vitamins through several fortification projects and bioavailability of folate-fortified foods in humans and in vitro cell culture techniques. Her other interests are in developing accurate methods for the bioactive compounds in foods and studying their bioactivity using cell culture techniques. She has several publications in the field of 2D culture models for the bioaccessibility and bioavailability of compounds such as phenolic acids, flavonoids, and carotenes from foods. Her publications in this field are related to interactions between these bioactive compounds in foods and their health properties such as cellular anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects. More recently, she has focused on food and health security with a particular focus on complementary feeding in infants, and malnutrition in middle-income and lower income countries. In this context, she has been studying ways of recovering nutrients (protein) from food manufacturing stream wastes and collaborated with industry on several projects. She has over 100 research publications and has graduated several research students in the last 20 years. She is a professional member of the Australian Institute of Food Science and Technology, Nutrition Society of Australia, and the American Society of Nutrition. She is an Associate Professor of Food and Health at the School of Chemical Engineering, UNSW, Sydney, Australia.

Rural Transformation of a Village in Telangana, A Study of Dokur since 1970s

The structural changes taking place in villages are partly due to market forces and also because of public policy. The article examines the transformation and development of a village namely Dokur in Telangana, India which has undergone changes since mid-1970s. The village was initially studied in 1975–1984 by the International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), but resurveyed from 2001 to 2014. There has been seen a significant change since 1980s in its livelihood diversity. Until the mid-1970s, there was more focus on green revolution technologies under the assumption that the trickle-down effect would take care of poverty. Hence, in the initial years, very few development programmes existed and were mostly focused on agriculture growth. Although public distribution system was in place from the mid 1970s, a new government initiative targeted poverty directly through a 20-point plan. From the 1990s, more specific schemes were introduced, which often targeted poor, scheduled castes and tribes (SC and ST) and other backward castes (OBC) as well as small and marginal farmers also. After realizing that most of the benefits were captured by village elites and large farmers, the focus shifted to self-targeting of various developments and social safety net programmes targeting lower castes and poorer households in the late 2000s, especially after the introduction of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). This was also an attempt to reduce gender bias in the programmes. The participation of poor, SC and ST and women increased after the self-targeting schemes were introduced in the country. The Public Distribution System (PDS), Indira Awas Yojana (IAY), pension schemes, complete sanitation programmes, agricultural input subsidy programme, million wells programmes, loan waiver scheme and the drought relief programmes had positive impacts on livelihoods, but with less targeting. Most of the gains from agricultural subsidies were enjoyed by medium and large farmers, although small SC and ST farmers benefited some what. However, all indicators show a systematic and considerable increase in living standards.

Development of molecular map and identification of QTLs linked to Fusarium wilt resistance in chickpea.

A number of genetic maps for Fusarium wilt resistance in chickpea have been reported in earlier studies, however QTLs identified for Fusarium wilt resistance were unstable. Hence, the present study aims to map novel molecular markers and to identify QTLs for Fusarium wilt resistance in chickpea. An intraspecific linkage map of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) was constructed using F10-F11 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from a cross between K850 and WR315 segregating for H2 locus. A set of 31 polymorphic simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers obtained by screening 300 SSRs and were used for genotyping. The linkage map had four linkage groups and coverage of 690 cM with a marker density of 5.72 cM. The RILs were screened for their wilt reaction across two seasons in wilt sick plot at International Crop Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Hyderabad, India. Five major quantitative trait loci (QTLs) were detected in both seasons for late wilting (60 days after sowing). A stable QTL (GSSR 18-TC14801) for wilt resistance was identified in both the seasons, and the QTL explained a variance of 69.80 and 60.80% in 2007 and 2008 rabi respectively.

Root Length Density in Maize/Cowpea Intercropping under a Basin Tillage System in a Semi-Arid Area of Zimbabwe

A study to assess the effect of intercropping maize (Zea mays L.) and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) within the same basin or outside the basin on root length density (RLD) was conducted at the International Crop Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) Matopos Research Station from December 2009 to April 2010. The experiment was laid out in a Randomised Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four treatments replicated four times namely; sole maize, sole cowpea, maize-cowpea intercrop with cowpea and maize planted within the same basin and maize-cowpea intercrop with cowpea planted 20 cm outside the maize basin. There was significant difference (P

Genetic Diversity Analysis of Eritrean Sorghum (<i>Sorghum bicolor</i> (L.) Moench) Germplasm using SSR Markers

Eritrea is considered a center of origin for sorghum, the main cereal crop in terms of area under cultivation and production in the country. There have been very little genetic diversity studies done on the Eritrean sorghum before. To improve this crop, the knowledge of genetic diversity estimation is needed on the available germplasm. The aim of this study was therefore to asses the extent of genetic diversity within and among 98 sorghum genotypes collected from Eritrea alongside 42 regional reference accessions from the International Crop Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) using a set of 29 Simple Sequence Repeat (SSR) markers. An average of 4.8 alleles per marker was recorded. The mean polymorphism information content (PIC) value for the SSR loci was 0.52. The Analysis of Molecular Variation (AMOVA) revealed that 12% of the variation resulted from the difference among populations, 31% within individual populations and 57% among individual accessions of the sub populations. Neighbor joining phylogeny tree based on genetic similarity coefficient revealed three distinct groups of clustering with the Eritrean populations further sub clustered into three groups. The Eritrean sorghum accessions from Gash Barka and South regions and South Sudan accessions recorded the highest private alleles. The results of Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCoA) also classified the sorghum accessions into three major groups . Genetic distance matrix revealed that the Eritrean accessions are more related to each other compared to the regional accessions. The existence of higher level of allelic richness, close genetic distance and an isolated clustering of the Eritrean population indicates that the accessions have not been introgressed with foreign genes and are valuable resource for future breeding programs of this crop.

Variation of Nutritional and Anti-Nutritional Contents in Finger Millet (Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn) Genotypes

Variation in nutritional and anti-nutritional contents among six finger millet genotypes was determined. Improved finger millet genotypes Gulu-E and FMV-1 from Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, KNE-479 and KNE 1034 from International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) and local landraces Ateso and Nyaikuro, were compared. There was no significant (p>0.05) difference in calcium (Ca), iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) contents among the genotypes. Genotypes Ateso and Gulu-E had the highest crude fat contents while KNE-479 had the lowest. Genotypes KNE-479 and Nyaikuro had the highest crude protein content. Lowest crude protein contents were observed in genotypes Gulu-E and Ateso. Genotype Ateso followed by FMV-1 and Nyaikuro had high isoleusine, leusine, methionine, threonine and cysteine amino acid contents. High levels of phenylalanine were observed in genotypes Nyaikuro and Ateso. Ateso had the highest P- hydroxybenzoic, sinapic and syringic acids, while Nyaikuro had high ferulic and vanilic acids. Except for genotype KNE-479 with highest sinapic acid contents, the ICRISAT developed genotypes had the lowest anti- nutritional contents. Anti-nutrients tannins, vanilic acid and ferulic acid were negatively correlated to Fe and Zn contents. Therefore when selecting finger millet for Fe and Zn the levels of anti-nutritional contents need to be considered.

RESPONSE OF PIGEONPEA GENOTYPES AGAINST PIGEONPEA LEAF WEBBER GRAPHOLITA CRITICA (MEYR.) (LEPIDOPTERA: TORTRICIDAE)

Fifty three pigeon pea genotypes were screened against leaf webbber, G. critica of which 11 genotypes were from Multilocation trial Medium duration (MLT-MD), 18 genotypes from All India Crop Improvement Project (AICRP) trials and 24 genotypes from International Crops Research Institute for Semi-arid Tropics (ICRISAT) trials. Under MLT-MD trials the variety Asha and TS 3R C4 (2.67 webs/ 5 plants) recorded the lowest number of webs. In AICRP trials the lowest number of webs per five plants was observed in RVSA 81 (1.33 webs/ 5 plants), Rajeev lochan, P-703 (2.00 webs/ 5 plants), RVSA 34, RVSA 64, WRG 157 and WRG 98 (2.33 webs/ 5 plants). The leaf webbber population in genotypes under ICRISAT trials ranged from 2.33 webs / 5 plants in ICPHRL 4979-7 to 4.67 webs / 5 plants in ICPHRL 4985-1 and ICP-7035.

Genetic Divergence, Character Correlations and Heritability Study in 22 (Arachis hypogaea L.) Accessions of Groundnut

Twenty two groundnut genotypes collected from International Crops Research Institute for Semi Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) and local sources (Samaru, UNILORIN and UNAAB) were cultivated in Lagos (60º 36’N, 30º 34’E) and Abeokuta (70º 10’N, 30º 20’E) during 2010 planting seasons, to determine the genetic variability and performance of the genotypes. Data collected on ten (10) characters and yield was subjected to multivariate analysis to determine genetic divergence among the genotypes. Number of pods per plant showed significant positive correlation with yield per plant in both environments also had the largest direct positive effect on yield per plant (0.66, 0.70). Days to maturity showed the largest direct negative effect of -0.33 and -0.36 in Lagos 2003 and Abeokuta 2004 respectively. Heritability estimates ranged from 62.34% to 90.67 and 24.75 to 89.46 for number of branches per plant at flowering and days to maturity in (E1) Lagos and (E2) Abeokuta, respectively. The mean squares of the combined analysis of variance revealed significant genotypes and Genotype x Environment interactions on yield per plant.

Evaluation of Pigeonpea Genotypes for Intercropping with Maize and Sorghum in Southern Guinea Savanna: Economic Benefits

The economics of production and profitability of intercropped pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp) geno- types with maize (Zea mays L.) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) were studied in two separate field experi- ments in 2007 and 2008. Each experiment was a 2 x 15 factorial set out in split plot design in three replications with the main objective of evaluating the economic potentials of recently introduced pigeonpea genotypes from International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) with a view to increasing and diversifying household income in Southern Guinea Savanna of Nigeria. Though it depressed pigeonpea grain yields, intercropping consistently gave higher net benefits than sole cropping in the pigeonpea/maize systems. ICPL 87 gave the highest net benefits in both pigeon- pea/maize and pigeonpea/sorghum intercropping systems (N200, 082.00/ha and N110, 399.00/ha respectively). It also pro- duced the highest marginal rate of returns and returns per naira investment in the pigeonpea/maize systems. Sole pigeonpea was more remunerative than many intercropped pigeonpea with sorghum. Most of the new varieties proved superior to the Farmer's variety in both cropping systems, with consequent higher profitability. This implies potential increase in house- hold incomes and alternative farm enterprise with the adoption of any of these new varieties in the intercropping systems studied.

Transgenic Strategies for Improved Drought Tolerance in Legumes of Semi-Arid Tropics

Water deficit is the most prominent abiotic stress that severely limits crop yields, thereby reducing opportunities to improve livelihoods of poor farmers in the semi-arid tropics (SAT) where most of the legumes, including groundnut and chickpea, are grown. Sustained long-term efforts in developing these legume crops with better drought tolerance through conventional breeding have been met with only limited success mainly because of an insufficient understanding of the underlying physiological mechanisms and lack of sufficient polymorphism for drought tolerance-related traits. Exhaustive efforts are being made at the International Crop Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) to improve crop productivity of the SAT crops by comprehensively addressing the constraints caused by water limitations. The transgenic approach has been used to speed up the process of molecular introgression of putatively beneficial genes for rapidly developing stress-tolerant legumes. Nevertheless, the task of generating transgenic cultivars requires success in the transformation process and proper incorporation of stress tolerance into plants. Hence, evaluation of the transgenic plants under stress conditions and understanding the physiological effect of the inserted genes at the whole plant level is critical. This review focuses on the recent progress achieved in using transgenic technology to improve drought tolerance, which includes evaluation of drought-stress response and protocols developed for testing transgenic plants under near-field conditions. A trait-based approach was considered, in which yield was dissected into components. Yield (Y) is defined as transpiration (T) x transpiration efficiency (TE) x harvest index (HI).

Content of phytic acid and HCl-extractability of calcium, phosphorus and iron as affected by various domestic processing and cooking methods

ICPL-87, the high yielding cultivar of pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) released by ICRISAT (International Crop Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics), India was subjected to various domestic processing and cooking methods, i.e. soaking (6, 12, 18 h, 30°C), soaking (12 h) and dehulling, ordinary as well as pressure cooking and germination (24, 36 and 48 h, 30°C). The unprocessed seeds of this variety contained considerable amounts of phytic acid, (857 mg per 100 g). This was reduced significantly (P<0.05) by 6–28%, 30%, 4–32%, 4–36%, 35–45% in soaked, soaked-dehulled, ordinary as well as pressure cooked and germinated seeds, respectively. Except for soaking and dehulling, the remaining processing and cooking methods did not lower the contents of total calcium, phosphorus and iron. HCl-extractability of these dietary essential minerals, an index of their bioavailability, was enhanced significantly when the pigeon pea seeds were processed and cooked, possibly due to reduction in phytate content, which is known to chelate the minerals. A significant and negative correlation between the phytic acid and HCl-extractability of minerals further strengthens these findings.

Biochemical Screening of Some Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) Genotypes for Drought Tolerance

A pot experiment was conducted for screening of ten drought tolerant groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) genotypes. Ten genotypes were collected from the International Crop Research Institute for Semi Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), India. Plants were grown in Hoagland solution and by adding 4% polyethylene glycol-6000, water stress was imposed. As index of drought tolerance, change in free proline content and stability of nitrate reductase activity in the leaves of water stressed plants was monitored. In the drought tolerant plant, the increase in proline over the control varied from 5.44 to 7.16 fold and the decrease in nitrate reductase activity ranged from 4.97 - 6.69%. On the basis of increase in proline accumulation and degree of stability of nitrate reductase, 3 genotypes were selected as drought tolerant and they were 3203, ICGV-93269 and ICGV-93232

Monitoring adult sorghum shoot fly,Atherigona soccataRondani (Diptera: Muscidae), and related species in Burkina Faso

Abstract Fish meal was used as attractant in four trap types for assessing the relative abundance and species composition of sorghum shoot flies, which are major pests in the wetter southern zones of Burkina Faso. Trapping was carried out in 1988 and 1989 during the rainy season in Bobo‐Dioulasso. Three trap models were effective in catching Atherigona soccata: (1) water trap, (2) Multi‐Pher and (3) ICRISAT (International Crops Research Institute for Semi‐Arid Tropics) traps. Multi‐Pher and water traps were the most efficient. The advantages and disadvantages of each model are discussed. Identification of male flies demonstrated the presence of 34 species of the subgenus Atherigona and two species of the subgenus Acritochaeta with Atherigona soccata, A. occidentalis Deeming and A. tomentigera van Emden being predominant. Thirteen species were new records to Burkina Faso: A. aberrans Malloch, A. africana Deeming, A. fililoba Deeming, A. gabonensis Deeming, A. gilvifolia van Emden, A. griseiventris van Emde...