Ready Reckoner Research Articles

Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices (KAP) of Anganwadi Teachers and Asha Workers with Regard to Nutrition Education Intervention

Nutrition is one of the important aspects that deals with good health and wellbeing of people. Nutrition education helps to resolve the nutrition problems by imparting nutrition education and bring desirable changes in terms of Knowledge, Attitude and Practices (KAP). The existing study was conducted to know the knowledge, attitude, and practices of AWW and ASHA’s with regard to nutrition education for pregnant women and lactating mother. Data was gathered using pre-tested questionnaires with a sample size of 90 respondents chosen from three mandals (area) in the Guntur district. Random sampling procedure was used for selection of the respondents. The results of the study found that Anganwadi teachers and ASHA Workers had low to medium level of knowledge, poor attitude and poor practices during baseline test. After implementing intervention programme to the Anganwadi teachers and ASHA Workers for a period of one month a significant improvement in the Knowledge, Attitude and Practices was observed during Endline test (t=10.5; t=10.3). The above findings can be used to plan a digital material on nutrition education interventions which aiming at bringing change in the behavior of the respondents i.e., KAP and it can be used as ready reckoners during sudden epidemics.

Review of Indian green building rating systems by using Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) on various parameters

Sustainable development is essential for the survival of the planet. The massive increase in GHG emissions due to human activities has put the world in unrest. The Indian construction industry is emerging and evolving at a rapid rate and has understood the grave situation, and for saving the environment has come up with innovative solutions for developing green buildings or sustainable construction. In this paper, the two different (the GRIHA Rating System and the IGBC Green New Building Rating System) of India were studied. The sample size was 40 construction professionals working on green building projects. An interview schedule was used for data collection. The data was subjected to a suitable analysis and the AHP method was applied. Based on the research findings, strategies to go green has been suggested for the IGBC and GRIHA rating system which may serve as a ready reckoner for enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of the construction management process. Therefore, keeping in mind the above view this research paper “Review of Indian Green Building Rating Systems by Using Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) on Various Parameters” becomes indispensable. Hence, this research study can be considered an effort to empower construction professionals to create an extensive analysis of green building concepts and develop sustainably in India.

Determination of sample size for various study designs in medical research: A practical primer.

Formulating a research question and selecting an appropriate study design for answering that question are crucial initial steps in the research process. The population, intervention, control group, and outcomes measures (PICO time and setting [TS]) framework provides a practical guide in this regard, which stands for population, intervention, control, outcome, type of research question, and study design. The various study designs have their own merits and demerits, and implementing the methodology meticulously requires knowledge of all of these. Similarly, different methods of sample size calculation are warranted based on the most appropriate study design and outcome variables of interest. Sometimes, a post hoc power analysis can be performed after the sample size calculation, to check whether the study was adequately powered or not. There are multiple validated free software tools for sample size calculation, including Open-Epi, R, StatCalc, etc. The practice by most researchers of reporting significant P values is to be replaced by reporting effect sizes, as the latter is a much better estimate of the strength of association. This review provides a comprehensive, ready reckoner for busy family physicians to quickly identify the appropriate study design for answering any applied research questions in their minds and estimating the sample size required for the same.

Understanding Life Goals – A Narrative Review Paper

Background: Life goals play a significant role in every individual’s life. They are one of the important components of meaning-making, the purpose of life, and accomplishment. There is an exhaustive literature on life goals and their influence on an individual’s life. Only a few papers in the past have focused on the underlying mechanisms of life goals, nonetheless, they are scattered. Comprehensive knowledge and a one-stop guide on the underlying mechanisms to understand life goals in totality are scarce. Objective: This narrative review study aims at compiling the existing literature on the underlying mechanisms of life goals. The paper also aims at providing a ready reckoner / quick guide to understand life goals. Methods: The search was conducted in PubMed, ResearchGate, APA PsycNet, MEDLINE and ScienceDirect published from January 2000 to September 2023. Two Reviewers independently reviewed the articles and books which met the criteria. The final set includes 36 academic articles, 9 additional articles related to the topic and 3 books. Results: Results are grouped thematically as follows: a) Types of life goals, b) Factors that influence Life goals, and c) Goal attainment process. Conclusions: Life goals hold greater importance in the wellbeing of an individual, therefore holistically understanding them in depth becomes necessary. The current review paper was able to provide the nitty-gritty of different types of goals, factors that influence life goals, and their attainment process. This review paper has successfully attempted to provide a comprehensive outlook to life goals and can serve as a quick reference guide to health practitioners and the population in general to study life goals and plan any life goal-related intervention. Goal setting along with mentoring and guidance has been demonstrated to be effective in past research. These findings may help researchers to better understand life goals and ways to promote these in individuals through goal setting and goal management.

Optimizing Nutrient Recommendations for Bottle Gourd Crop by Formulation of Targeted Yield Equations in an Inceptisol of Odisha, India

A field experiment was conducted to formulate targeted yield equations for bottle gourd under a rice-vegetable cropping system in an Inceptisol of Odisha. The experiment started with the creation of three soil fertility gradient stripes by applying no fertilizer, recommended dose and double the recommended dose of fertilizer in rice (cv. Lalat) during the kharif season. Each fertility gradient strip was divided into 24 sub-plots and superimposed with 21 different combinations of nutrients containing N, P, and K; FYM in two plots at 5t and 10t ha-1 and one plot was kept as absolute control following which, bottle gourd was grown during the rabi season. The highest yield (116.3q ha-1) of bottle gourd was achieved in S-III with an application of 70, 100, and 100 kg N, P2O5, and K2O per hectare, respectively. The nutrient requirement (NR) for producing one quintal of bottle gourd yield was 0.30, 0.20, and 0.30 kg N, P2O5 and K2O, respectively. The effect of graded doses of fertilizers on nutrient requirement, yield and nutrient uptake of bottle gourd were studied and subsequently, fertilizer prescription equations were derived for targeted yield of bottle gourd. A ready reckoner chart has also been prepared for facilitating farmers to achieve the desired yield target of bottle gourd by applying the required quantity of plant nutrients in the existing soil fertility level. The equations provide a basis for site-specific nutrient management based on desired yield targets under varying soil fertility conditions.

Snapshot of digital transformation from the perspective of human resource management: a bibliometric approach

PurposeThe study aims to explore digital transformation from the viewpoint of human resource management to uncover possible threads of relationship using bibliometric analysis. It also aims to identify the trending research themes within the domains of digital transformation (DT) and human resource management (HRM) collectively.Design/methodology/approachThe research employs a mix of quantitative bibliometric techniques and qualitative content analysis. A corpus of 227 articles retrieved from the Scopus database was analyzed using the R-based Biblioshiny and VOS viewer.FindingsThe study shows publication trends, influential authors, leading journals, highly productive institutions, and, countries in the domain of DT and HRM. Co-citation and co-occurrence analysis was undertaken to identify the research clusters, depicting trending research themes that extensively dominate the research under this domain.Research limitations/implicationsThis study will serve as a ready reckoner for academicians and business leaders, giving them useful insights to make their road towards digital transformation less challenging with the assistance of human capital.Originality/valueThis study is one of the initial efforts to quantitatively synthesize the results of earlier publications using bibliometric techniques in the domain of DT and HRM together. It will aid researchers in locating research gaps and filling those gaps in the future.

A review of integrated battery thermal management systems for lithium-ion batteries of electric vehicles

Lithium-ion batteries have emerged as a promising choice for electric vehicle applications. However, thermal runaway and related catastrophic issues perplex the research community when batteries are subjected to varying charging/discharging and different ambient temperatures. In order to keep the batteries under a safe zone of temperature, battery thermal management occupies utmost importance and hence researchers are switching over to a combination of either two or three strategies since single stragaty could not meet effective thermal management. In a combined strategy, the use of phase change materials and is highly essential due to their inherent thermo-physical properties; both organic and inorganic types have been explored. To enhance the heat dissipation, the phase change materials, regarded as composite phase materials, are being added with graphite powder, nanomaterials, metal foams, and fins are being arranged to the battery cells. The present review enumerates the recent progress made in achieving good thermal performance with hybrid/integrated battery thermal systems with an emphasis on the use of composite phase change materials. The review revealed that the hybrid strategy is performing well, machine learning and advanced optimization methods are being applied to understand the state of health of batteries. Few works are focussed on the mitigation of thermal runaway propagation serving the composite phase change materials as effective flame retardants. The current status and challenges being faced in the use of LIBs is also briefed. It is essential to develop economical integrated battery thermal management systems with parasitic power losses that are compact and safe to attract many city dwellers to adopt pure electric vehicles besides meeting the mandate of sustainable development goals. The review is an attempt to provide a ready reckoner in the area of integrated battery thermal management involving composite phase materials.

Correlating pipe dimensions and success of local heat treatment: Developing nomograms to deduce heat treatment parameters

Local post-weld heat treatment (PWHT) is the only option for heat treating field welded joints. Quite often, the success of local PWHT in alleviating the residual stress and tempering the material within the soak band (SB) is dependent on the ability to achieve the required heat treatment temperature and maintain through-thickness temperature gradient (TTG) within the specified limits at the end of heating cycle, whence soaking begins. Field observations reveal the inadequacy of AWS D 10.10 specified parameters viz. rate of heating (ROH), heat band (HB) and insulation band width in not achieving the required TTG for certain pipe dimensions. Although prior works have attempted to address this issue by widening the HB, the capacity of the heating equipment often pose a limitation. In such cases, reducing ROH is a plausible alternative. With, no such prior studies seen in literature, an exhaustive finite-element analysis simulating the local PWHT on 81, SA106GrC pipe samples (diameter and thickness varied in 9 levels each) was performed, thrice. First as per AWS recommendations, second by halving the code deduced ROH and third by doubling the code deduced HB. The trend of important outcomes (TTG, power source rating and energy consumption) with great significance to the heat treatment industry were also compared and analysed. Two nomograms were developed to serve as a ready reckoner for field heat treater in not only assessing the adequacy of heat treatment parameters but also with possible alternatives in achieving the desired TTG using field-available power source.

Ni-kshay SETU, a Digital Health Intervention for Capacity Building in Tuberculosis under the National TB Elimination Program in India: A comprehensive mHealth app review

This mHealth application review explores the evolution, design, and impact of Ni-kshay SETU, a digital health intervention tailored for India's National Tuberculosis Elimination Program (NTEP). Faced with escalating TB incidences, the NTEP prioritized capacity-building, leading to the conception of Ni-kshay SETU. This review describes the narrative of Ni-kshay SETU's concept from the beginning to the present day. It starts with the National Strategic Plan 2017–25, which says that capacity building of health care workers is important for reduction of tuberculosis morbidity and mortality by 2025. The digital platform materialized as a web app with Android and iOS versions, constituting a user-friendly interface. The app, embodying a ready reckoner and decision-making tool, offers cadre-specific modules in local languages, promoting ease of comprehension and applicability. The app's development, rooted in a consultative process, aligns with the nuanced needs of healthcare personnel across various geographies and cadres. With more than 40,400 subscribers and 1,450,000 visits, Ni-kshay SETU serves as a notable example of digital health intervention, providing a comprehensive and context-aware approach to TB care. However, it's important to acknowledge the limitations of Ni-kshay SETU. While the app aims to address various challenges in TB care, its effectiveness is contingent on factors such as digital literacy and access to smartphones. Additionally, the app's success relies on consistent updates and continuous user engagement for its usage, posing potential challenges in sustaining the momentum. In summary, Ni-kshay SETU is not just a tool for building capacity but also acts as a driver for affordable digital solutions in areas with limited resources, aiming to strengthen healthcare systems on the path to eliminating TB.

Soil test crop response based site specific integrated nutrient management in mungbean

Imbalanced and excessive use of chemical fertilizers has brought many soil fertility problems. Soil test crop response (STCR) approach aims to estimate precise fertilizer requirement for target yield under varying soil test values and gaining prominence for site-specific nutrient management. A field experiment to estimate STCR based fertilizer requirement for targeted yield of mungbean was conducted during 2019–2020 at G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, India. Three fertility gradient plots of varying soil fertility levels were created by applying graded dose of N, P2O5 and K2O and growing wheat as an exhaust crop. Each of three soil fertility gradient plot was divided into 24 subplots (21 plots with different combinations of varying levels of N, P2O5, K2O and FYM, remaining 3 plots as controls) and mungbean was grown as main crop. Results revealed the requirement of 6.72, 0.883, and 3.52 kg of N, P and K, respectively for producing one quintal of mungbean grain. Soil, FYM, fertilizer and fertilizer along with FYM contributed 28.06%, 5.94%, 113.22%, and 135.01% for N; 24.73%, 3.18%, 15.1%, and 18.85% for P; 13.19%, 7.21%, 39.52%, and 55.84% for K, respectively. This information is used to develop STCR based fertilizer prescription equations along with ready reckoners of fertilizer doses at different soil fertility levels and yield targets of mungbean for providing balanced fertilization. The maximum response of mungbean in terms of grain and protein yield was obtained with the application of 20:50:30 kg ha−1 N: P2O5: K2O, respectively.

Nomographs for Polymeric Material Selection for Environmental Conscious Design of Industrial Products

Environmentally-conscious product design using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) deserves the utmost attention to save and sustain our planet’s lives, flora and fauna. The choice of materials during the design stage needs to address environmental concerns from their sourcing to production and ultimately going up to the disposal stage. A good majority of industrial products are still not designed, focusing the environmental concerns. The inclusion and practice of the LCA approach during product designing are in a nascent stage not only in India but even over the rest of the world. Nowadays, polymers share a major chunk of the volume of goods produced worldwide and thus have a significant effect on the environment. The available design books or nomographs guide the selection of materials considering several criteria but not considering the related environmental issues. This paper attempts to bridge this gap only for the selection of polymeric materials by providing some easily interpretable and visually ready reckoners in the form of 3-D nomographs. These 3-D nomographs, graphical representations developed using the Solidworks software, echo the material’s Environmental Impact (EI) potential on an axis with some two material properties (e.g., tensile strength and density) on the other two axes. 3-D nomographs are suitably transformed into 2-D nomographs without the loss of any information. EIs on these nomographs were computed using SimaPro software. The potential EI of any product and the overall environmental burden due to them can be significantly reduced, and more so when they are mass-produced, by selecting the right materials using these nomographs. Such an approach will help in fulfilling long-term sustainable development goals of society and the globe.

Development and Testing of the Novel Sugar Meter for Informing Sugar Intake Guidelines to Parents of Three- to Six-Year-Old Children: A Cross-Sectional Study.

In recent years, the consumption of refined sugar has increased manifold. Added sugar is implicated in dental caries, cardiovascular risk and obesity amongst other conditions. The 1025 World Health Organization (WHO) Sugar Guidelines recommends sugar intake below 10% of energy, but there is limited awareness about the same in the general population. The aim of this study was to test the Novel Sugar Meter for informing the WHO Sugar Guidelines to the parents of three- to six-year-old children. Twenty consenting parents and their three- to six-year-old children from an English-medium school in Navi Mumbai, India, were selected. The parents were asked to record their child's baseline dietary data for three consecutive days including one weekend day. The Novel Sugar Meter, an indigenously developed ready reckoner for identifying the quantity of sugars consumed, was used. The parents were counselled using the Novel Sugar Meter (intervention) and standard instructions on the WHO guidelines (control). The dietary data were recorded again to assess and compare dietary behaviour modifications. Comparison of pre-intervention versus post-intervention sugar consumptions showed a statistically significant reduction in the Novel Sugar Meter group (t(10) = 3.70891; p = .001388) but not in the control group (t(10) = 0.94081, p = 0.35926). Both groups showed a reduction in the frequency of daily sugar exposure, with significantly more reduction in the Novel Sugar Meter group (p = .000049). Novel Sugar Meter-based counselling has the potential for application for reducing the quantity and frequency of sugar consumption in children.

Enabling the Shift to Electric Auto-rickshaws: A Guidebook for Electrification of Auto-rickshaw Fleets in Indian Cities

This guidebook is a ready reckoner for governing authorities and policy makers to help them adopt a programmatic and integrated approach to create a robust ecosystem for a just e-auto transition. Tailored for sub-national governments, it outlines a roadmap equipped with policy and regulatory levers to accelerate e-auto adoption and overcome the challenges involved. Three case studies on auto-rickshaw electrification initiatives in Indian cities form the core of the guidebook, highlighting enabling measures such as efficient charging networks and accessible financing options.

Development of Soil Test based Fertilizer Prescription Equation Using Integrated Nutrient Management Approach for Targeted Yield of Maize Crop in a Vertisol of Chhattisgarh Plain, India

Field experiments were conducted at the research farm of Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur (C.G.) during kharif 2021, and kharif 2022. To study the fertilizer requirement and. Yield performance a regression model was performed to evaluate the variation between yield and fertilizer and found that fertilizer N contribute 87% and 88% (R2 value 0.87,0.88). When applied through NPK variation found about 91 % and 90% (R2 value 0.91, 0.90), for recommendation of fertilizer prescription a ready reckoner was prepared based on these equations for a range of soil test values and for yield targets of 50,60 and 70 q ha-1 for maize, it was found that for a soil test value of 200 kg ha-1 of KMnO4 -N the fertilizer N doses required 91 kg ha-1, 133 kg ha-1 and 175 kg ha-1. For a soil test value of 12 kg ha-1 of Olsen-P, the dose of fertilizer P2O5 required for the yield target was 33 kg ha-1,48 kg ha-1 , 63 kg ha-1 respectively. Similarly for a soil test value of 250 kg ha-1 of NH4OAc-K the fertilizer K doses required 54 kg ha-1, 72 kg ha-1, 91 kg ha-1.

Investigating calendrical methods of calculating sunrise and sunset times in the Shixian calendar

The Shixian calendar is the general name for Chinese calendars implemented in China’s Qing dynasty (1636–1912) and Korea’s Joseon dynasty (1392–1910). This calendar made under the influence of Western sciences was revised several times. Referring to the Yuzhi lixiang kaocheng, compiled by Mei Juecheng et al. in 1724, we analyze calendrical methods employed in the Shixian calendar for calculating sunrise and sunset times in terms of astronomy and mathematics. In astronomy, the Polaris was used to measure the latitude, and the Sun’s diurnal parallax was considered to increase accuracy. In mathematics, Western mathematics, such as trigonometric functions and properties of similar spherical triangles, were used to calculate sunrise and sunset times. In addition, ready reckoner tables were used to obtain the trigonometric values. The reproduced sunrise and sunset times are compared the results recorded in Shixian annual almanacs published in China and Korea to obtain the rules regarding dates on which these recording were made in the almanacs. We find that sunrise and sunset times were changed before and after around 1726 and in 1728 in the Shixian almanacs of China and Korea, respectively. Furthermore, we verify the values of the latitude and obliquity of the ecliptic used for calculating the sunrise and sunset times in the almanacs in each dynasty. This study will help understand the Shixian calendar and its annual almanacs in China and Korea.

Soil test-based fertilizer prescription for targeted yield of sesame (Sesamum Indicum L.)

ABSTRACT To develop targeted yield-based integrated nutrient recommendation of sesame, soil test-based crop response field studies on major nutrients were undertaken during two consecutive seasons (2016 and 2017) in an Inceptisol. For this, quantitative estimations of basic parameters viz. nutrient requirement (NR), percentage contribution of nutrients from soil (CS); from fertilizer (CF); from farm yard manure (CFYM) were done. The essential informations obtained from soil and crop testing were used for development of fertilizer prescription equations for different nutrient management practices using organic (FYM) and inorganic chemical fertilizer alone or in combinations. The mean nutrient requirement for the production of 100 kg of sesame grain was 6.98, 1.61 and 3.92 kg of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K), respectively. The CS, CF and CFYM values were 21.84, 49.35 and 6.95 for N; 40.23, 26.25 and 4.57 for P; 12.80, 53.13 and 4.07 for K, respectively. Those parameters were used for preparation of ready reckoners of fertilizer prescription for range of soil test values of N, P and K to get targeted yield (±5 to ±10% of potential yield of variety) of 9 q/ha for sesame grain using FYM and inorganic chemical fertilizer alone or in combinations. Amount of N, P and K fertilizer could be reduced by a significant amount if fertilizers were applied on soil test basis in integration with FYM.

Balanced Nutrient Recommendations for Dry Chilli in an Inceptisol of Tamil Nadu based on a Targeted Yield Model

Background: Considering the high cost of fertilizers and adverse effect of its overuse on environment and soil health, proper organic manure-fertilizer recommendations on the basis of soil test values, residual effect and yield targets of chilli becomes vital. Methods: Field experiment was carried out on Periyanaickenpalayam soil series of Inceptisol soil order at farmers holding, Dindigul, Tamil Nadu during 2021-2022 after establishment of marked fertility gradient with respect to soil available N, P and K by gradient experiment with fodder sorghum. The test crop experiment with chilli was laid out in a fractional factorial design comprising of 24 treatments with 4 levels of N (0, 50, 100 and 150 kg ha-1), 4 levels for both phosphorus pentoxide (P2O5) and potassium dioxide (K2O). Farmyard manure (FYM) levels were 0, 6.25 and 12.5 kg ha-1.From the field experiment data, the fundamental parameters- nutrient requirement (NR) and nutrients contributions from soil (Cs), fertiliser (Cf) and farmyard manure (Co)-were determined. Result: The percentage of nutrients estimated from fertiliser (%Cf) that contributed towards the total amount of nutrients taken up by dry chilli was calculated to be 44.09, 39.29 and 76.91 per cent of N, P2O5 and K2O, respectively. K2O greater than N greater than P2O5 was seen as the order of the fertiliser nutrient per cent contributions to total nutrient uptake. Incase of nutrient contribution form soil (% Cs) the order is P2O5 greater than N greater than K2O. FYM contributed (% Co) 29.42, 14.40 and 38.73 per cent of N, P2O5 and K2O. One quintal of dry chilli production was estimated to require (NR) 4.24 kg of nitrogen, 1.91 kg of phosphorus pentoxide (P2O5) and 4.80 kg of potassium oxide (K2O) as nutrients. Fertiliser prescription equations (FPEs) for dry chilli and ready reckoners for the operating range of soil test values for the intended yield target experiment under NPK alone and IPNS were built using basic data.

Capacity Building, Knowledge Enhancement, and Consultative Processes for Development of a Digital Tool (Ni-kshay SETU) to Support the Management of Patients with Tuberculosis: Exploratory Qualitative Study.

Achieving the target for eliminating tuberculosis (TB) in India by 2025, 5 years ahead of the global target, critically depends on strengthening the capacity of human resources as one of the key components of the health system. Due to the rapid updates of standards and protocols, the human resources for TB health care suffer from a lack of understanding of recent updates and acquiring necessary knowledge. Despite an increasing focus on the digital revolution in health care, there is no such platform available to deliver the key updates in national TB control programs with easy access. Thus, the aim of this study was to explore the development and evolution of a mobile health tool for capacity building of the Indian health system's workforce to better manage patients with TB. This study involved two phases. The first phase was based on a qualitative investigation, including personal interviews to understand the basic requirements of staff working in the management of patients with TB, followed by participatory consultative meetings with stakeholders to validate and develop the content for the mobile health app. Qualitative information was collected from the Purbi Singhbhum and Ranchi districts of Jharkhand and Gandhinagar, and from the Surat districts of Gujarat State. In the second phase, a participatory design process was undertaken as part of the content creation and validation exercises. The first phase collected information from 126 health care staff, with a mean age of 38.4 (SD 8.9) years and average work experience of 8.9 years. The assessment revealed that more than two-thirds of participants needed further training and lacked knowledge of the most current updates to TB program guidelines. The consultative process determined the need for a digital solution in easily accessible formats and ready reckoner content to deliver practical solutions to address operational issues for implementation of the program. Ultimately, the digital platform named Ni-kshay SETU (Support to End Tuberculosis) was developed to support the knowledge enhancement of health care workers. The development of staff capacity is vital to the success or failure of any program or intervention. Having up-to-date information provides confidence to health care staff when interacting with patients in the community and aids in making quick judgments when handling case scenarios. Ni-kshay SETU represents a novel digital capacity-building platform for enhancing human resource skills in achieving the goal of TB elimination.

Sustaining Soil Fertility and Yield by Inductive cum Targeted Yield Model-based Fertilizer Prescriptions for Finger millet (Eleusine coracana L.) in Alfisols of Tamil Nadu, Southern India

Background: Finger millet cultivation in Alfisols (Typic rhodustalf, Palaviduthi soil series) demands an optimal integrated plant nutrient supply to achieve desired yields. In order to develop the soil test crop response to fertilizer and farm yard manure (FYM) through integrated plant nutrition system (STCR-IPNS) in terms of nutrient uptake, yield and pre-sowing STVs, a field investigation on Finger millet [Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn.] was conducted at the farmer’s field of Thoppupatti village, Dindigul district, Southern Agro-climatic zone of Tamil Nadu, Southern India during December 2021-August 2022. Methods: By adopting the Inductive cum Targeted Yield Model before the test crop of Finger millet, a artificial soil fertility gradient was created by the application of graded levels of NPK fertilizers with fodder sorghum as a gradient crop. Result: The basic data viz., N, P and K nutrients for producing 1 tonne of finger millet grain were 48 kg, 23 kg and 44 kg; the soil contributed 14.86%, 19.18% and 18.95%; fertilizer contributed 44.16%, 32.79% and 59.75% for N, P and K and farmyard manure (FYM) contributed 28.47%, 11.77% and 33.78%, respectively. Fertilizer prescription equations for finger millet and ready reckoners for the operational range of soil test results for the intended yield target under NPK alone and IPNS (NPK + FYM) were produced using the basic data.

Integrated nutrient management prescription for late-sown wheat (Triticum aestivum)

Integrated nutrient management prescription was developed for late-sown variety of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) (HD 3059) through soil test based crop response study. A field experiment was conducted at the research farm of ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi during winter (rabi) season of 2020–21 and 2021–22 to develop the integrated nutrient management prescription for late-sown wheat. Experiment was laid out in factorial randomized block design with 24 treatments having 3 levels of each N (60,120,180 kg/ha), P2O5 (30, 60, 90 kg/ha) and K2O (20, 40, 60 kg/ha). The basic parameters, viz. nutrient requirement (NR), percentage contribution of nutrients from soil (CS); fertilizer (CF) and farmyard manure (FYM) (CFYM) were quantified. Fertilizer prescription equations in integration with FYM were developed from the data obtained in the study. In order to produce 100 kg of late-sown wheat, the amount of major nutrients needed were 2.24 and 2.27, 0.45 and 0.47, 1.89 and 1.92 kg of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) during 2020–21 and 2021–22, respectively. Phosphorus as soil nutrient contributed the maximum towards crop production; while the contribution of K from fertilizer (118.38 and 125.03) was highest for both seasons. Contribution of N from fertilizer (50.05, 51.38) was more than that of soil (33.81, 33.65). However, contribution of all the nutrients from FYM was lower. The equations developed were used to formulate ready reckoner for a range of soil test values to get a yield target of 55 q/ha for late-sown wheat. Nutrient management of late-sown wheat involving inorganic fertilizer in integration with FYM (10 t/ha) was prescribed through the ready reckoner. The study suggests that the excessive amount of fertilizer consumption as well as the subsequent adverse effect on the environment can be curtailed if FYM is used in combination with inorganic fertilizer.