Paddy Varieties Research Articles

Unveiling the effects of post-harvest hydration treatments on physical and engineering properties of different varieties of paddy

Effect of hot water hydration treatments at 70, 75 and 80 °C were studied on physical and engineering properties in 13 rice varieties differing in physico-chemical characteristics. Results revealed considerable effects of hydration temperatures on expression of traits understudy. Maximum percent change of the attributes over the control was observed at 80 °C. Top three characters that exhibited higher percent gain at 80 °C were angle of repose (15.17 %), bulk density (10.96 %), and tapped density (9.57 %), while top three characters exhibiting more reduction were Carr's Index (-8.21 %), equivalent diameter (-6.72 %), and L/B ratio (-5.92 %). Gravimetric and engineering properties depicted a linear relationship with hydration temperature. Intermediate and high amylose rice varieties were found to be more responsive to hot water hydration treatment. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) carried out with both i.e., control treatments and hydrated treatments at 80°C separately. In both the cases, first four principal components could explain 89.91 and 91.58 percent variation, respectively. The PCA-Biplot analysis grouped 13 varieties in four groups and 20 characters in three quadrants with changed composition, suggesting change in the expression of different characters due to the effect of hydration treatments. These results advocated the need for variety specific optimum hydration treatment recommendations for achieving desired output, which will aid in understanding the processing of Indian paddy varieties that possess wide variation in physico-chemical properties.

Comparative study on seed metering units for wet-direct seeding of rice

In sowing operation, seed metering units plays a crucial role in achieving the optimal plant spacing, uniform crop emergence, crop yield, resource efficiency, and overall farm profitability. This research was conducted to access performance of four metering mechanisms (drum type, fluted roller type, inclined plate type-I, and inclined plate type-II) with three distinct paddy varieties (IR-64, JR-206, and Kranti) and at three levels of operating speed (1, 1.5 and 2 km/h). A test rig was developed for conducting the lab experiments to measure the seed rate and mechanical damage for all four metering units. Across all types of metering units and seed varieties, a trend was observed where the seed rate tends to decrease as the operating speed increases and mechanical damage to seeds increases with increase in operating speed. For drum type, fluted roller type, inclined plate type-I, inclined plate type-II metering unit seed rate varies from 21.67 to 27.91 kg/ha, 47.44 to 55.98 kg/ha, 26.5 to 30.09 kg/ha, and 28.98 to 33.23 Kg/ha whereas, seed damage ranged from 1.1 to 2.1%, 8.89 to 12.8 %,0.09 to 0.17 %, and 2.21 to 3.54 %, respectively. Among the metering units, the inclined plate type-I emerges as the preferred choice, showcasing minimal mechanical damage alongside optimum seed rate. These findings have important implications in selecting metering unit for wet-direct seeding method of rice cultivation, with the potential to enhance rice production and productivity.

Effect of different planting methods on growth and yield of paddy variety Bg 360

Rice is the staple food in Sri Lanka. Bg 360 is currently considered the best improved paddy variety cultivated by farmers in Mannar. In the Mannar district, farmers practice different planting methods, and the number of effective tillers obtained varies, which causes yield variation and different production costs in paddy cultivation. To identify the best-suited planting method for the rice variety Bg 360, an experiment was carried out in a randomized complete block design with three replications by adopting five different methods of planting as treatments, namely broadcasting (T1), drum row seeding (T2), SRI method of planting (T3), manual transplanting (T4), and machine transplanting (T5). The parameters such as plant height, leaf area index, tillers, number of grains, panicle numbers and yield per plot were measured. Data were analyzed in the SAS 9.4 version, and mean separation was performed in DMRT to identify the best treatment. The experiment results showed that the planting methods significantly affect the plant height, effective tillers and grain yield. A high number of effective tillers (between 6 – 20 per plant) and yield (number of grains per panicle, 1000 grain weight and number of panicles per plant) were observed in the SRI method, and low value was received from the broadcasting method. The planting methods also significantly affected the time of crop maturity (by two weeks). Direct-seeded rice matured early (110 days), while transplanting took 120 days. Further, transplanted rice, especially in the SRI method, showed low seed requirement, low weeds, pest disease and incidence and low cost of production. Farmers generally do not adopt the SRI method for cultivation because of high time consumption and labour requirements. Based on the study, it can be concluded that transplanted rice, especially the SRI method, is more beneficial than other planting methods to cultivate the Bg 360 paddy variety.

Comparative Field Efficacy of Certain Insecticides against Paddy Leaf Folder Infestation

A field experiment which was conducted during rabi, 2016-17 and 2017-18 in the wetland farm of S.V. Agricultural College, Tirupati to evaluate the efficacy of certain insecticides against rice leaf folder in paddy variety, BPT-5204 revealed that, all the tested ten insecticides had significantly affected the larvae of C. medinalis and reduced the leaf damage over untreated control. The chlorantraniliprole proved as the most effective insecticide with the percentage of leaf damage as 4.95 followed by flubendiamide and monocrotophos with the damage percentage of 5.44 and 5.53. The least effective insecticides were cartap hydrochloride 4 G (7.39%) followed by cartap hydrochloride 50 SP (7.33%) and acephate (7.19%) against paddy leaf folder damage.

Assessment of Yield Potential of Paddy Variety CR 1009 Sub 1 to Impart Resilience to Farmers in NICRA Village, Thiruvarur District, Tamil Nadu, India

The study was conducted in the villages of Rayapuram and Keezhapattu in Tamil Nadu, as part of the National Innovation on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) project in the Needamangalam district of Thiruvarur from 2015 to 2018. These villages frequently experienced floods, particularly impacting the rabi season's crop growth and maturity. The monsoon season (September to December) contributed to about 71% of the total rainfall. A comparative analysis was carried out to assess the economic performance of the flood-resistant paddy variety CR 1009 sub 1 in contrast to the commonly grown CR 1009. Traditionally, farmers in Rayapuram and Keezhapattu favored CR 1009 due to its high market value during the monsoon period. However, they faced low income due to flooding in the rabi season. To address this challenge, scientists from KVK, Thiruvarur, recommended the flood-tolerant paddy variety CR 1009 sub 1 for cultivation during the rabi season under the "National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA)" project. Specific climate-resilient technologies, including flood-tolerant paddy variety "CR 1009 sub 1" and a high-yield, long-duration rice variety, were tested and demonstrated in the project villages to ensure rice production despite climatic variations leading to floods. It was crucial to assess how these varieties responded to climate vulnerabilities and how receptive farmers were to adopting them. Calculations were made to compare paddy productivity and economic returns under the improved technology with the traditional practices of farmers. The results indicated that the "CR 1009 sub 1" variety yielded higher harvests compared to the farmers' practices in the years 2015–16, 2016–17, and 2017–18, with increases of 12.60%, 11.69%, and 12.95% respectively. Furthermore, using improved technologies for paddy cultivation generated higher net returns of Rs. 57233, 60768, and 57728 per hectare in 2015–16, 2016–17, and 2017–18, respectively, in contrast to the farmers' practices (which yielded Rs. 49147, 50295, and 46266 per hectare in the same years). In comparison to the farmers' practices (with an average net return of Rs. 48569 per hectare and a benefit-cost ratio of 2.37), the demonstration fields showed an average net return of Rs. 58576 per hectare and a benefit-cost ratio of 2.56.

Influence of Intercropping Green Gram with Two Paddy Varieties on Growth, Yield and its Components to Increase Economic Returns

A field experiment was conducted at the Faculty of Agriculture, Eastern University, Sri Lanka to investigate the effects of intercropping green gram on the growth and yield parameters of two varieties of paddy; Suwandel (traditional variety) and At 307 (improved variety) during the period of July to November 2022. The experiment was laid out in a 2 x 2 Factorial Randomized Complete Block Design with four treatments as monocropping Suwandel (T1), intercropping Suwandel with green gram (T2), monocropping At 307 (T3) and intercropping At 307 with green gram (T4), that were replicated five times. Significant differences in leaf area, shoot dry weight, 1000 seeds weight and grain yield were observed in the paddy-green gram intercropping system compared to the monocropping of paddy. Significant synergistic responses were also observed among the treatments, where the leaf area and shoot dry weight were the highest in Suwandel + green gram intercropping system and the 1000 seeds weight was the highest in At 307-green gram intercropping system. However, the cost-benefit analysis revealed that the net profit received from Suwandel + green gram intercropping system was 36.6% higher than the At 307-green gram intercropping system. Therefore, it was evident from the present study that the Suwandel + green gram intercropping system is an environmentally friendly sustainable approach to grow paddy without synthetic fertilizers.

An Effective and Efficient Method to Estimate Average Paddy Yield in Sri Lanka Overcoming the Limitations of the Current Method

The Department of Census and Statistics of Sri Lanka carries out an island-wide scheme of estimating paddy's average yield, called the Crop Cutting Survey. It was debated and argued about the accuracy of the data generated through a cumbersome approach which consumes a lot of labour and resources. The objective of this study was to develop an efficient method that would help overcome the limitations of the current method. This study was accomplished through a questionnaire survey and an experimental survey. The GIS technology has been applied to measure the cultivated area and yield measurements by weighting the harvested yield. The weight measurements were subjected to different scaling factors derived through the study. The sample survey of the new methodology was carried out in the Ampara district for 2 paddy varieties namely BG357 and AT362 for the 2017/2018 Maha season. A stratified Random sampling method was used for the selection of paddy parcels. Average paddy yield, scaling factors, and cost of production of these two paddy varieties were calculated separately. The district's estimated paddy yield through the proposed method is 4568.17 kg/ ha, which is not significantly different from the published average (4562 kg ha-1) in paddy statistics of 2017/2018. This is obvious that the proposed method was more effective and efficient than the current method, which assists the government in planning and making policy decisions at the correct time.

Pengaruh Dosis Pupuk dan Tinggi Permukaan Air pada Budidaya Padi Varietas M70D dengan Media Pasir

This study aims to obtain the most suitable combination of water table level and organic fertilizer dosage for the growth and production of M70D rice varieties in sand media. The tools used include glass pots with a thickness of 5 mm, digital scales, floats, pipes, sprayers, tape measure and ruler. The materials used were rice seeds of the M70D variety, husk charcoal, soil, river sand, water, granule organic ghally fertilizer, and liquid ghally organic fertilizer. The research method used was a factorial experiment in a completely randomized design with 2 factors, namely fertilizer dose (d) and water level (a) with each treatment repeated 3 times (U). The growth of rice plants (Oryza Sativa L.) variety M70D will be optimum if given a dose of 5 g of fertilizer in the vegetative phase. Whereas in the generative phase, it will be optimum with a 15 gr fertilizer dose. A water level of -1 cm below the surface had the best effect on plant height and number of leaves of Paddy (Oryza Sativa L.) variety M70D in the vegetative phase. Whereas in the generative phase, will be optimum with the water level of 0.5 cm. The application of a fertilizer dose of 15 g and a water level of 0.5 provides the most optimal effect for the growth and development of rice variety M70D. Keyword: Fertilizer, Glass, Paddy, Potted rice, Sand media.

Impact of Climate Resilient Technology on Growth and Yield of Paddy (Oryza sativa L.) under Submergence Condition

The submergence of rice fields is a significant issue in India's rice production, which is further aggravated by the unpredictable monsoon rain patterns and the impact of climate change. Larger variation in rainfall patterns affected by the timing of nursery raising and transplanting later in the main field therefore, we adopted Climate Resilient Technology (CRT) for rice production, Extended seedbed durations for rice seedlings allow for adequate rainfall during the monsoon season. So that the experiment was conducted at 30 farmer’s fields of NICRA village, Khana Bari, Kishanganj, Bihar, India, in 2022 under the supervision farm science Center, Kishanganj, the experiment was framed in randomized block design with ten replications. All plots received the recommended dose of fertilizers (120:60:40 kg ha-1 N.P.K.) in equal amounts. Urea, di-ammonium phosphate, and muriate of potash were used as the sources of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, respectively. To determine the growth characters i.e., plant height (cm) at harvest stage, number of effective tillers hill-1, LAI, Chlorophyll concentration (SPAD) and days to 50 per cent flowering were recorded at 90 days. Yield attributes viz., After the completion of the harvest, various observations were recorded, such as the number of panicles/m2, the number of grains per panicle, the number of filled and unfilled grains per panicle, the test weight in grams, and the yield. This encompassed grain yield, straw yield, biological yield in quintals per hectare, and harvest index percentage. During the field experiment, both the climate-resilient technology Swarna Sub1 and Sabour Sampans paddy varieties were tested. Swarna Sub1 was found to be significantly superior in terms of plant growth, yield attributes, and yield characteristics. under submergence conditions. The significant maximum grain yield (48 q ha-1), straw yield (84 q ha-1), biological yield (153 q ha-1), and harvest index (45%) were recorded in Swarna Sub-1.

Non-destructive Leaf Area Measurement Using Mathematical Modeling for Paddy Varieties

Leaf area is considered an important parameter in fields such as plant phenotyping and plant breeding. In this study, leaf areas of different rice varieties were measured using a leaf area meter. Subsequently, a mathematical model was developed using leaf dimensions to estimate leaf area. Multiple regression analysis was used in the study to examine how leaf area is related to leaf dimensions. The results showed significant differences in leaf areas among different paddy varieties (Efe, Osmancık-97, Hamzadere, and Paşalı). Additionally, leaf dimensions were found to be a strong predictor for estimating leaf area. The equation of leaf area (LA= a + (b x L) + (c x W) + (d x L²) + [e x (L x W)] for paddy varieties tested. The R² values for paddy varieties between 84% - 99%. The mathematical model is an important tool that can be used in plant phenotyping and plant breeding, and can be further utilized in future research in these fields.

Assessing Paddy Field Health Using High-Resolution Multi-Spectral Camera in Subang Indonesia to Implement Precision Agriculture 4.0

Increasing yield and improving the sustainability of agriculture are needed through data-driven precision agriculture technology. Multispectral sensor measures the light reflected from the plant canopy and generates a reflectance value that indicates the difference between healthy and stressed plants. We use precision agriculture to assess paddy field health in Subang Regency, West Java, Indonesia, especially early detection of bacterial leaf blight and stem borer disease. The condition of the study area has a relatively flat topography, with the Grendel glutinous paddy variety, and has a late vegetative to early generative phase. The data was gathered using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) fitted with a MicaSense Red Edge-P sensor to obtain multispectral images. We employed Normalized Difference Red Edge Index (NDRE) to create a health model and validated using 70 field sampling locations. As a result, accuracy detection was 90% hence the use of UAV technology can be used for early disease detection. We classified the paddy field as healthy and unhealthy in percentage through spectral analysis and data from validation. This research has proven that we could detect disease in paddy fields faster and more efficiently. Utilizing UAVs for precision agriculture will prevent crop failure and increase food security in Subang and Indonesia. However, the limitation of this study is weather conditions and should consider plant varieties.

Growth and Yield of Two Paddy Varieties with Different Water Management Systems and Ameliorant on Tidal Swamps

Growth and Yield of Two Paddy Varieties with Different Water Management Systems and Ameliorant on Tidal Swamps

Mild Hydrothermal Treatment for Improving Outturn of Basmati Rice

Hydrothermal treatment of rice, called “Parboiling”, is an ancient traditional process in Asian countries. It consists of soaking rough rice in water and steaming it, and it both reduces the level of grain breakage and increases head yield of rice during milling. However, parboiling of rice is associated with some drawbacks regarding consumer preferences: the loss of its aroma, reduced rice-kernel whiteness and increased kernel hardness. This research study was carried out to develop a mild hydrothermal treatment that could be applied to basmati paddy by controlling hydrothermal treatment, i.e., soaking water temperature, steaming pressure and time. The Basmati 370 paddy variety was used for this study. The results revealed that, by soaking the paddy in hot water (70 ± 2 °C) for 75 min and steaming the soaked paddy for 20 min with non-pressurized steam at atmospheric pressure, and soaking the paddy for 120 min in hot water (70 ± 2 °C) and steaming the soaked paddy for 4 min with pressurized steam (4 kg/cm2), the optimum treatments are achieved. These optimum hydrothermal treatments were able to produce high head rice yield and preserve the basmati aroma, colour, hardness and palatability characteristics similar to non-parboiled basmati rice. Further, nutritional values such as vitamin B and protein content were also significantly preserved by these mild hydrothermal treatments. These optimized treatment combinations achieved minimized grain breakage while increasing head rice yield during milling and, at the same time, preserved basmati aroma, kernel whiteness, cooking and palatability characteristics similar to non-parboiled rice.

A Study on Brand Promotion of Hybrid Paddy in Koderma District of Jharkhand

This study was on brand promotion of hybrid paddy in Koderma district of Jharkhand. It was mainly focussed on positioning of Arize 6444 with respect to other hybrid paddies and to formulate a proper promotional strategy for enhancing the acceptability of Arize 6444. It was found that lots of providers were present who supplied hybrid seeds. Bayer, Nath Bio Genes, Syngenta, and Pioneer Corteva were the providers whose sales were in demand with other like Dhanya seeds, Sri Ram seeds, JK seeds, Kaveri seeds, Advanta India limited. As this study is on brand promotion, so, positioning of this product would be needed to evaluate. majority of sales of hybrid paddy varieties is from Pioneer Corteva company and the varieties name are 27P31 and 27P22 i.e. 3000 kg followed by the Bayer arize 6444 of sales 2500 kg. So that, it would be giving the path to analysis proper strategy and planning to executive the brand promotion by proper promotional strategy in front of the respondents. Three Main parameters Bayer can look up to create demand generation among major agro based companies are trust worthiness, product value, affordability.

PHOSPHORUS-STARVATION TOLERANCE 1 (OsPSTOL1) is prevalent in upland rice and enhances root growth and hastens low phosphate signaling in wheat.

PHOSPHORUS-STARVATION TOLERANCE 1 (OsPSTOL1) is a variably present gene that benefits crown root growth and phosphorus (P) sufficiency in rice (Oryza sativa). To explore the ecophysiological importance of this gene, we performed a biogeographic survey of landraces and cultivars, confirming that functional OsPSTOL1 alleles prevail in low nutrient and drought-prone rainfed ecosystems, whereas loss-of-function and absence haplotypes predominate in control-irrigated paddy varieties of east Asia. An evolutionary history analysis of OsPSTOL1 and related genes in cereal, determined it and other genes are kinase-only domain derivatives of membrane-associated receptor like kinases. Finally, to evaluate the potential value of this kinase of unknown function in another Gramineae, wheat (Triticum aestivum) lines overexpressing OsPSTOL1 were evaluated under field and controlled low P conditions. OsPSTOL1 enhances growth, crown root number, and overall root plasticity under low P in wheat. Survey of root and shoot crown transcriptomes at two developmental stages identifies transcription factors that are differentially regulated in OsPSTOL1 wheat that are similarly controlled by the gene in rice. In wheat, OsPSTOL1 alters the timing and amplitude of regulators of root development in dry soils and hastens induction of the core P-starvation response. OsPSTOL1 and related genes may aid more sustainable cultivation of cereal crops.

Development of Organic Based Rice Farming on Ecosystem and Culture of Subak In Bali

Green Revolution technology changed the behavior of farmers from low-input traditional rice farming to high-input modern rice farming, which had implications on the use of excessively synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, degradation of rice fields, and the extinction of some local paddy varieties which had high-quality rice. This is contrary to the global issue of food security, which requires high-quality rice products with safety assurance of the absence of pesticide residues and other synthetic chemicals, before entering the international market. The solution on the fourth is back to nature by cultivating environmentally friendly technology through organic-based Cicih Gondrong rice farming. This study aims to facilitate and educate rice farming using the local resource (compost from cattle manure, grass, and rest crop and Cicih Gondrong rice), and reduction of external input. Further rice intensification technology through an approach of eco-farming and subak culture wisdom to improve the efficiency of input allocation toward more profitable and sustainable rice farming. The methods of survey and demonstration plots are used to arrange production functions and efficiency tests on Cicih Gondrong rice farming. The demonstration plot of organic-based rice farming using specific techniques of cultivation. This blended method is expected can produce a Model development of organic-based Cicih Gondrong rice farming on the ecosystem and culture of subak. The significance: (1) to enrich the Agribusiness Management with eco-cultural based rice farming (2) the improvement and conservation local rice farming to increase productivity and profitability and sustainability of rice farming in subak and strengthen Bali's local secure food.

THE EFFECT OF DOSAGE AND TYPE OF FERTILIZER ON THE PERCENTAGE OF ATTACKS OF BROWN PLANTHOPPER (Nilaparvata lugens STALL.) ON SOME VARIETIES OF PADDY (Oryza sativa L.)

<p><em>The effect of dosage anf type of fertilizer on the percentage of attacks of brown planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens Stall.) on Some Varieties of Paddy (Oryza sativa L.). This study aims to determine the dose of cow manure on the percentage of brown plant hopper attack in several varieties of paddy. This research was conducted in Desa Serdang in March-June 2021. This research used Randomized Block Design (RAK) of two factors and three replications. The first factor is fertilizer dose consisting of 4 treatments (anorganic, 50 kg / plot, 100 kg / plot and 150 kg / plot). The other factor is a variety consisting of 2 treatments (Inpari 10 and Inpari 32). The results showed that the dosage of 100 kg / plot cow manure was the best treatment to production per plot and resistant to the pecentage of brown plant hopper attack. Inpari 32 is the best treatment to increase production per plot and resistant to the intensity of brown plant hopper attack. The interaction of fertilizer dosage and variety (Inpari 32 + 100 kg / plot) is the best treatment to increase production per plot and resistant to the percentage of brown plant hopper attack.</em></p>

Ohmic heating using electrolytes for paddy parboiling: A study on thermal profile, electrical conductivity, milling quality, and nutritional attributes

AbstractOhmic heating (OH), a novel thermal technique could be utilized for paddy parboiling to improve milled rice quality. In this research, two paddy varieties (one traditional and one modern variety) were subjected to OH at different salt concentrations (0%, 0.3%, 0.5%, 0.7%, and 0.9%) and voltage gradients (10, 12, 14, 16, and 18 V/cm) and their influence on thermal profile, electrical conductivity (EC), milled rice quality, and nutritional profile were studied in comparison to the conventional steaming method. A factorial design was used to determine the effect of variety, voltage gradient and holding time on head rice yield (HRY), hardness and color difference of parboiled milled rice. Results indicated the significance of salt and voltage on processing time and HRY. On increasing, both enhanced the EC and heating rate leading to a great reduction in parboiling duration whereas HRY increased on lowering the voltage. High significant effects were observed between the factors for HRY and color. The maximum HRY and hardness were obtained for OH at 0.7% salt and 12 V/cm. This treatment when compared to steaming, consumed less energy, and provided less chalkiness, better HRY and hardness for both varieties to a greater extent. OH also positively impacted the nutritional profile of parboiled rice as it retained more protein and fat than the conventional method. These results reveal the superiority of OH in providing a significant favorable impact on the parboiled milled rice quality and has a great potential to be used for paddy parboiling.Practical applicationsOhmic heating is an emerging thermal technique having the potential for rapid uniform heating. In this study, OH was utilized for paddy parboiling by incorporating electrolytes for replacing the conventional steaming method. Steaming requires a boiler for generating steam, which adds to the processing cost and equipping OH eliminates the need for a boiler. This will save water, energy, space, manpower, and maintenance requirements. OH also reduces the parboiling duration, while improving parboiled rice quality. The ohmic behavior of paddy will also facilitate the design of continuous ohmic systems for paddy parboiling which can be immensely useful in the rice processing industry.

Performance Evaluation of Low-cost Grain Dryer

Paddy is India’s most significant agricultural crop, accounting for more than 40% of the nation’s overall production of food grains. The moisture content of 10.0 to 12.0 %, which is suitable for safe storage, must be achieved after the drying of paddy. Drying of materials having high moisture content is complicated process, involving simultaneous heat and mass transfer. In this study the performance of grain dryer was evaluated for paddy grains for two different paddy varieties, Rajshree weighed 372 kg and Rajendra Kasturi weighed 366 kg with Initial Moisture Content IMC of Rajshree 14.00 % w.b. (V1) and of Rajendra Kasturi 13.40 % w.b. (V2). Initial Moisture Content (all in w.b.) of variety V1 was 14.00 % and of variety V2 was 13.40 %. It was reduced to the Final Moisture Content (all in w.b.) of 10.10 % for variety V1 and 9.60 % for variety V2. It was found that 1000 grains weight of paddy grains was reduced due to loss of moisture. It is also observed that average length and average breadth of grains decreases with decrease in moisture content for both the varieties of paddy grains. It was found that the bulk density of paddy grains after drying was 578.9 kg/m 3 and 555.58 kg/m3 V1 and V2. Decrease in bulk density is natural phenomenon during drying which was also observed here. It was observed that percent moisture reduction was lower at initial stage of drying for variety V1, which became higher at later stage of drying. However, the percent moisture reduction was higher at initial stage of drying for variety V2, which became lower at later stage of drying. Paddy was dried up to 10.10 % and 9.60 % for variety V1 and V2 respectively during this time. The drying efficiency for both varieties V1 and V2 was found as 35.36 % and 36.85 % respectively. The heat utilization factor and coefficient of performance was found as 0.948 and 0.052 for variety V1 and 0.960 and 0.040 for V2. Grain dryer is capable of drying paddy grains within reasonable time. Temperature and moisture profiles during paddy drying are found well accepted for drying of paddy. The quality of dried paddy grains was reasonably good and acceptable. Considering the level of technology and the capacity, the dryer meets the requirements of paddy traders and farmers of Bihar.

Effectiveness of Adaptation Mechanisms of Farmers in Flood Prone Area of Bihar

The state of Bihar is most vulnerable to floods in India and farmers in flood-prone areas have undergone adaptation through a combination of technological and institutional innovations. The present study aimed to explore the effectiveness of adaptation mechanisms as perceived by the farmers to mitigate the negative effects of flooding on their livelihoods covering a random sample of 80 farmers in flood-prone areas of Bhagalpur district in Bihar during 2022. The findings suggest that farmers have developed a range of adaptation strategies to cope with the impacts of flooding, the most effective being the changes in cropping patterns, adoption of flood-resistant paddy varieties, pest and disease resistance vegetable varieties, vaccination of livestock and management of fish ponds. Institutional innovations like self-help group, farmers interest group, farmers club, seed bank, village level weather advisories were also found crucial to enabling farmers to adapt to floods. Income, cultivated land, information availability, and use of communication sources have explained about 50 per cent variation in the perceived effectiveness of adaptation by farmers. Future extension efforts need to strengthen the institutional infrastructure to promote the flood resilient technologies to reduce the vulnerability of farm livelihoods.