Punjab State Research Articles

Re: Budukh AM, Thakur JS, Dora TK, Kadam PR, Bagal SS, Patel KK, et al. Overall survival of prostate cancer from Sangrur and Mansa cancer registries of Punjab state, India. Indian J Urol 2023;39:148.

Re: Budukh AM, Thakur JS, Dora TK, Kadam PR, Bagal SS, Patel KK, et al. Overall survival of prostate cancer from Sangrur and Mansa cancer registries of Punjab state, India. Indian J Urol 2023;39:148.

Opinion regarding Agri-tourism: Relationship between socio-personal characteristics and opinion

The present paper study the opinion of the respondents regarding agri-tourism and the relationship between their socio-personal characteristics and opinion. The study was conducted in Ludhiana district of Punjab state and 210 were selected for the study. The respondents selected were mainly teachers/principals, students and urban consumers. The findings revealed that majority of all the categories of respondents had high opinion of agri-tourism such as farm stays are the perfect ways to get closer to nature, agri-tourism is less costly than other tourism and agri-tourism creates curiosity to learn about food, plants, animals and rural lifestyle. Educational level of the teachers has positive and significant correlation with opinion of agri-tourism, while non-significant correlation observed between educational level and opinion of the urban consumers. Most of the teachers were having post graduate qualification, whereas the urban consumers were having only secondary education. Positive correlation between service experience of the teachers and opinion was notice and it was due to the fact that opinion may increase as service experience increase.

Hydrogeochemical constraints on uranium contamination of groundwater for drinking water supplies and associated health risks

The groundwater quality of Punjab, India is of huge concern owing to the presence of various toxic contaminants that includes uranium and other trace elements. The focus of this study is to identify the hydrogeochemical processes responsible for uranium mobilization in groundwater and evaluation of groundwater quality in uranium contaminated zones for drinking, irrigation use along with associated health risks. The study was conducted using the water quality data obtained from 302 sampling locations covering the entire state of Punjab reported by Central Ground Water Board between 2019 and 2020. It was observed that around 50% of the samples were exceeding the drinking water acceptable limits for total alkalinity, magnesium, pH, and Total Dissolved Solids. Around 25% of the samples were above drinking water acceptable limit for uranium in groundwater. A comprehensive multiplicative water quality index (MED-WQI) well represented the consolidated perspective of all individual water quality parameters wherein 40 sampling locations in districts viz. Bathinda, Fazilka, Ferozepur, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Ludhiana, Muktsar and Sangrur fall under heavily-polluted water quality class due to high levels of uranium, alkalinity, and hardness. The Piper plots and Gibbs diagram depicted that the majority of groundwater samples were characterized as Na+–HCO3−, Ca2+–Mg2+–HCO3− systems driven by rock-water interactions. Speciation analysis indicates that the dominant uranium species in groundwater of U-affected regions was primarily associated with calcium and alkalinity and exist in the form of CaUO2(CO3)32−, Ca2UO2(CO3)3(aq), UO2(CO3)34−, and UO2(OH)3−. Various irrigation indices depict that the groundwater in majority of the state, barring few districts in Malwa region, was suitable for irrigation. Further, a non-carcinogenic health risk assessment model showed association of high health risk with heavily-polluted water quality class. The results of this study would aid regulatory authorities in designing remedial strategies and frame policy actions toward groundwater quality improvement in the uranium-affected regions of Punjab.

Cosmopolitan honey bee, Apis mellifera, as quick and efficient marker of pesticide pollution in environment through RP-HPLC.

Pesticides are extremely hazardous to human health as well as various kinds of non-target organisms. The honey bee (Apis mellifera) is not only a dominant pollinator, but also a good indicator of pesticide residue and pollutants in the environment. At the time of sample collection in each village, the surrounding flora was Triticum aestivum and Brassica species. The area chosen for this study covered only 15% of the land in the state of Punjab, but pesticide consumption was approximately 75% of the state consumption. Pesticides in the collected samples (from six districts) were analyzed using RP-HPLC chromatography.The chemical methoxychlor (MC) was not found in any of the six villages' honey samples; however, spiromesifen (n = 5) and aldicarb (n = 5) were the most prevalent chemicals and were found in every honey sample. The pesticides carbendazim (n = 1) and parathion methyl (n = 1) were found only in Behman (longitude 29.9224° N and latitude 75.1137° E), and Malumazra (longitude 30.2468° N and latitude 75.8500° E). The carbofuran (n = 3) was discovered in Talwandi Sabo (longitude 29.984° N and latitude 75.8500° E), Himmatpura (longitude 30.5289° N and latitude 75.3616° E), and Malumazra, while atrazine (n = 4) was discovered in all except Malumazra. Three identical pesticides were observed in Chukrian (longitude 29.9759° N and latitude 75.4476° E) and Singo (longitude 29.9092° N and latitude 75.1589° E) indicating the same pesticides used in these villages. The given study gives a summary model to use A. mellifera as a quick monitoring bioindicator of the environment. This model helps to maintain a pesticide or pollutant database of selected areas for regular monitoring of the surrounding environment.

Social marketing framework for anti-littering behavior: an integrated serial mediation model

PurposeLittering has been identified as a significant social issue in India that has negative impact on the environment as well as public health. Social marketing is a powerful tool for changing and sustaining pro-environmental behaviors, but so far no research has been found on the application of social marketing on changing littering behavior in India. This paper aims to integrate the two widely used social marketing models, health belief model (HBM) and theory of planned behavior (TPB), with an extra factor, environmental factors, in a holistic model to understand and predict anti-littering behavior in India.Design/methodology/approachIn total, 750 individuals were interviewed at 34 locations across the states of New Delhi and Punjab (India) in a field survey. For data analysis, confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation model techniques in AMOS 21.0 have been used.FindingsThe results of the study suggest that the perceived benefits and perceived barriers have a significant direct effect on the attitude toward anti-littering behavior. No direct impact of perceived threat has been found on attitude toward anti-littering behavior. The results also confirm the role of attitude, subjective norms and self-efficacy in influencing the anti-littering intention with attitude and subjective norms having a greater impact on intention as compared to self-efficacy. Furthermore, the results also highlight that the environmental factors and intention carry more weights than perceived behavioral control in influencing anti-littering behavior. Recognizing the importance of sequential mediators in the present study, the results of the serial mediation analysis revealed that attitude and intention sequentially mediate the path linking perceived benefits, perceived barriers and anti-littering behavior.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, the current study in terms of theory building appears to be the first to integrate social marketing models HBM and TPB to explain and understand not only anti-littering behavior but also for setting a platform of behavior change in a larger context.

Identification of Different Promotional Strategy and Promotional Tool for Enhancing the Acceptability of Systematic Insecticide in Kurukshetra District, Haryana, India

India’s people live in rural areas and their main occupation is agriculture. A Paddy is the seed of the grass species Oryzasativa (Asian rice) or Oryzaglaberrima (African rice). As a cereal grain, it is the most widely consumed staple food for a large part of the world's human population, especially in Asia. A Paddy is the most important cereal food crop of India. It occupies about 24 percent of gross cropped area of the country. It plays vital role in the national food grain supply. Rice contributes 43 percent of total food grain production and 46 percent of the total cereal production specially for most of the people of South-East Asia. Production of paddy in India is highest in West Bengal state, but productivity of paddy in India is highest in Punjab state. A Sample of 100 respondents were drawn by proportional to area under paddy.

Study on Brand Promotion Strategy of Pre-emergence (Herbicide) in Hoshiarpur District of Punjab, India

Based on information gathered from 120 respondents, a study carried out in the Hoshiarpur area of the Punjab state discovered numerous Rifit Plus herbicide promotional methods. Henry Garrett's ranking test was employed in the study's analysis. The study's main goal was to determine how best to market herbicides to farmers. According to the study, the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh-ranked methods were farmer meetings, demonstrations, company person visits, wall posters, literature displays, phone calls, and van campaigns. Which shows that the respondents' preferred major advertising technique is farmers' meetings.

Village Ponds as Unexplored Habitation Sites for Resident Migratory and Migratory Bird Species in Punjab State, India

Village Ponds as Unexplored Habitation Sites for Resident Migratory and Migratory Bird Species in Punjab State, India

Rumination Moderates the Association between Neuroticism, Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms in Indian Women.

The higher prevalence of depressive symptoms among women demands an in-depth exploration of every possible mechanism through which depressive symptoms may prevail. Identifying any malleable mechanism may open a new pathway through which such symptoms could be targeted. We explored the association between neuroticism, rumination, anxiety, and depressive symptoms and tested a moderated mediation model with anxiety as a mediator in the relationship between neuroticism and depressive symptoms, and rumination as a moderator of the effect of neuroticism on anxiety. This cross-sectional study was conducted on Indian women living in the state of Punjab. A total of 671 adult females responded to the translated versions of standardized questionnaires measuring the relevant constructs. The mean (SD) age of the sample was 23.71 (6.09) years. As hypothesized, anxiety significantly mediated the relationship between neuroticism and depression, and the use of rumination moderated the effect of neuroticism on anxiety. Among women with a high score on neuroticism, those with low ruminating tendencies showed less anxiety and depression than others who scored high on rumination. The findings imply that a reduction in rumination may help women, especially those who are high on neuroticism, manage their vulnerabilities toward anxiety and depressive symptoms. Personality traits being not that malleable, targeting a reduction of rumination usage, which is both a trans-diagnostic factor and a malleable one, can help address the surging prevalence of common mental disorders such as anxiety and depression through appropriately devised interventions.

Spatio-temporal variations of rainfall using innovative trend analysis during 1951–2021 in Punjab State, India

Spatio-temporal variations of rainfall using innovative trend analysis during 1951–2021 in Punjab State, India

Financial literacy and gender gap: a study of Punjab state of India

Financial literacy and gender gap: a study of Punjab state of India

A Comparative Study on Class Characteristics of Devanãgri Script Writers from Three Different States of India

India is a multilingual country. Hindi is the national language of India and Devanãgri script is used to write Hindi language. Various documents with legal value are made in Devanãgri script, which may be questioned for their authenticity and authorship. Sufficient research has been done and reported about different scripts. However, researches based on Devanãgri script are limited. This study focuses on finding the significant class characteristics of writers from three different states of India, namely, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Punjab. The data was also statistically analysed using Pearson’s Chi-Square test for its significance. Handwriting samples from 300 subjects were collected from three different states of India to analyze various class characteristics in Devanãgri script. The samples were examined qualitatively and statistically. Various general characteristics were selected for the analysis and characteristic features were tabulated after qualitative examination. Statistical analysis showed that the data was statistically significant. The general characteristics selected for the analysis and comparison of the handwriting samples in Devanãgri script were found to be significant. The impact of regional scripts on the Devanãgri script should be performed, as the influence of regional language could be seen in the samples collected from Punjab.

Management of damping off disease in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) using potential biocontrol agent Pseudomonas fluorescens

Biocontrol is a potential strategy adapted to control the fungal plant pathogens thus bio-prospecting to find novel native siderophore and enzyme producing Pseudomonas isolate for the management of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) damping off disease under the prevailing conditions of Punjab state. In the present study, a total of 15 isolates of Pseudomonas fluorescens isolated from rhizospheric soils of tomato growing areas of Punjab and evaluated by dual culture plate confrontation assay, of which, two isolates (Pf10 and Pf6) showed maximum antagonistic activity against damping off pathogen (Rhizoctonia solani) with a zone of inhibition 14.30 mm and 11.53 mm respectively. These Pseudomonas isolates (Pf10 and Pf6) were also analyzed for their siderophore production and enzymatic activity. They were found to effectively produce siderophore and cell wall degrading enzymes such as chitinase and β-1,3 glucanase with higher antagonistic activity against Rhizoctonia solani. The present study was carried out at the Plant Pathology Research Farm, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab during 2017 and 2018 to confirm the bio-efficacy of these Pseudomonas isolates. Amongst the isolates, talc-based bioformulation of Pf10 isolate when applied as the seed+soil treatment had exerted strong inhibition against Rhizoctonia solani in tomato. Therefore, based on the findings, it was concluded that Pseudomonas fluorescens played a significant role as a potential biocontrol agent against damping off disease in tomato.

Institutional Arrangements to Enforce the Minimum Support Price (MSP) Policy Effectively in India: A Case Study of Wheat and Paddy Production in Punjab

The paper tries to examine the institutional arrangements to enforce the minimum support price (MSP) in India with a special reference to a highly agricultural-producing state, which is also known as the food bowl of India. The current study is based on the Punjab state which is an agriculturally rich state, here, paddy and wheat farmers suffered low losses as compared to other crop cultivators, but they are not separate from losses. These institutional arrangements to enforce the MSP policy examined by studying cost of Production, FHP, MSP, and crop procurement by the government agencies and their benefited farmers of wheat and paddy. The study calculated the percent change in over the period of 2012-13 to 2020-21 of costs data from the Directorate of Economics & Statistics (DES), and this study analysed the procurement data published by the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India. The percentage analysis is used as a statistical tool for this research, to access the effectiveness of MSP by its institutional arrangements that enforce the MSP effectively. The institutional arrangements to enforcement the MSP of wheat and paddy is found to be effective in Punjab. The MSP seeks to guarantee fair prices for the growers that promote greater investment and output of the produce. The result of the paper revealed that within the time being the cost of production, cost of cultivation, FHP, MSP, and government procurement of wheat and paddy is increasing, whereas the number of benefited farmers has not significantly increased. The findings of this research unravel that wheat and paddy growers of Punjab are getting supported largely due to effective procurement by the government at the MSP. Overall, at the state of Punjab the procurement of wheat and paddy by the government agencies such as FCI and state agencies is satisfactory, and conclude that the institutional arrangements for wheat and paddy procurement at MSP in Punjab is effective in nature.

Marketing Problems Faced by Potato Growers and Intermediaries in Punjab State

Marketing Problems Faced by Potato Growers and Intermediaries in Punjab State

Innovative field methods for residence confirmation and updating follow-up status of cancer cases: Experience from rural cancer registry, Punjab, India

BackgroundThe Sangrur population-based cancer registry, Punjab state, India experienced several challenges in confirming residence as well as updating the follow-up status of cancer cases, which is critical for accurately labelling incidence and providing cancer survival. This study presents innovative field strategies adopted by the Sangrur population-based cancer registry for residence confirmation and updating follow-up status of cancer cases. MethodsA network was developed with the involvement of local community members to validate the address and follow-up status of cancer cases. In addition, social media was used to trace patients who were loss to follow-up. ResultsThe Sangrur population-based cancer registry was unable to trace a total of 31 cancer cases. After implementing innovative field methods, 26 (83.9%) cases were successfully traced back; while 5 (16.1%) cases were untraced despite several efforts. A majority of these 31 cases were from urban areas (93.5%) compared to rural (6.5%). True Caller with the help of WhatsApp contributed significantly by tracing 9 cases (34.6%); followed by 4 cases (15.4%) traced with the help of a postman, 3 cases each (11.5%) with the electoral list and gas agency personnel, and 2 cases (7.7%) through medical shops. Also, 2 cases (7.7%) were traced with the help of treating hospital while Facebook and property tax office traced 1 case (3.8%) each. ConclusionBy engaging with the local community, and with the use of social media, the patient's residence and follow-up status can be updated. Due to this method, accurate labelling of the incidence can be achieved.

Dwindling Ground Water Table: An Ecological Study of Southern Haryana

The dwindling ground water level is one of the critical issues that plague India in the present times. This research study primarily has its basis in the secondary data, gathered from the Ministry of Water Resources. The main aim of the present research study is to highlight the issues related to ground water in various parts of India with the main focus on southern part of Haryana state. The spatial pattern of the ground water depth is studied using the secondary data from various sources. The water table depth and fluctuation maps in Arch GIS 9.3 are analysed by making use of geological analysis extension. The water elevation is examined by employing the Kriging estimator. Also, the different ways of prevention that can help in checking the quick dwindling of ground water table are discussed so that the sustainable use of ground water can be encouraged and achieved. It is observed that the menace of ground water depletion has posed alarming threat to the states of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and some south Indian states. This is attributed mainly to the agricultural, industrial and human needs amidst the ever-rising rate of population in India. In the southern Haryana, the Mahendergarh district and Firozpur block of Mewat area have been identified as most critical zones in relation to water depletion. The study suggests judicious and sustainable use of water resources so as to check the alarming dwindling of the ground water table.

Water security and health risk assessment of an urban household-level drinking water and sanitation system, Punjab, India.

The water scarcity and deteriorating water quality are major issues of concern to the agrarian state of Punjab, India. The focus of the study is to assess the status of drinking water and sanitation systems of Punjab using an exhaustive dataset of 1575 drinking water samples from 433 sampling locations in 63 urban local bodies of Punjab. Water security index(WSI) indicate that out of 63 urban local bodies, 13 are categorized into good class, 31 fall under fair class, and 19 fall under poor class. The access indicator under sanitation dimension shows that Bathinda region has maximum sewerage network coverage relative to other regions, whereas ca. 50% of the ULBs in Amritsar region do not have sewerage facility. It is clearly depicted that the variation in WSI is mainly attributable to sanitation dimension (10-22.5) as variation in water supply dimension (29-35) is relatively less. Hence,emphasis on indicators and variables of sanitation dimension is required for the improvement of overall WSI. The assessment of qualitative aspects of drinking water and health risk depicts that the drinking water quality of southwest part of the state (i.e. Malwa region) is under good quality class contrary to its poor groundwater quality. Kapurthala district shows high health risk due to the presence of trace metals despite being classified into good class within water security index. The drinking water quality is better and health risks are minimal in regions where drinking water is supplied via treated surface water sources (e.g. Bathinda region). Furthermore, the results of health risk assessment correlate with M[Formula: see text]-WaterQualityIndex outcome owing to presence of trace metals in groundwater above permissible limits. These results will help in identification of shortcomings in water supply and sanitation infrastructure and its management in urban areas.

DRRH-4 (IET 27937) - World’s First Public Bred Aerobic Rice Hybrid

DRRH-4 [IET 27937 (IIRRH-124)], is an aerobic rice hybrid developed from APMS-6A / AR 9-18 cross. It was evaluated in AICRIP multi-location aerobic rice trials during wet seasons of 2018 to 2021. DRRH-4 consistently out-performed the check varieties in Punjab, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Tripura and Gujarat states with a mean grain yield 5030 kg/ha, which is 32%, 28%, 22% and 11% higher than national check, zonal, local and hybrid checks, respectively. In addition, it exhibited moderate resistance to leaf blast, neck blast, gall midge, rice stem borer, and whorl maggot. DRRH-4 has early duration of 120 days (seed to seed) and possess desirable grain and cooking quality parameters. It was released for cultivation in aerobic ecosystems of Punjab, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Tripura and Gujarat states through Central Sub-committee on Crop Standards, Notification and Release of Varieties for Agricultural Crops vide S.O. 4065(E) dt. 31st Aug., 2022 [CG-DL-E-31082022-238490].

A rapid assessment of stubble burning and air pollutants from satellite observations.

For the last several years, the air quality of India's capital Delhi and surrounding region (NCR) has been degrading to a very poor and severe category during the autumn season. In addition to the various sources of air pollutants within the NCR region, the stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana states contributes to the poor air quality in this region. The current study employs the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) active fire products and TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) products on carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations for spatio-temporal assessment of stubble burning and associated emissions. The analysis performed in the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform indicated a nearly threefold rise in crop residue burning in November than in October, with 92.58% and 7.42% reported from Punjab and the Haryana states in November, respectively. The study highlights the availability of near-real-time remote sensing observations and the utility of the GEE platform for rapid assessment of stubble burning and emissions thereof, having the potential for developing mitigation strategies.