Forestry University Research Articles

Chemical Quality Parameters of Mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco.) Fruits Influenced by different Organic Sources

A field experiment was carried out during the year 2021-22 and 2022-23 on 12 years old mandarin plants at the Instructional Farm, Department of Fruit Science, College of Horticulture and Forestry, Jhalawar. The experiment was consisting of 21 treatments of different organic source of NPK viz., vermicompost, cotton fortified vermicompost, neem cake, cotton cake, mustard cake and bio fertilizers such as PSB and VAM with three levels of recommendation dose of fertilizers. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with three replications. Among different treatments, treatment T9 (75 % RDF + 10 kg Vermicompost + 7.5 kg Neem cake + 50 g PSB) was found best with regards to maximum pooled TSS (11.74 0B), reducing sugar (6.30%) non-reducing sugar (2.62%), total sugar (8.92%) per cent, sugar/acid ratio (14.40), ascorbic acid (53.08mg/100g) and juice (46.57%). Therefore, based on two years experimentation, use of organic source of nutrients with bio-fertilizers favoured biochemical compounds of Nagpur Mandarin fruits.

Characterization of Fruit, Seed Traits and Seedling Growth Performance of Different Seed Sources of Calophyllum inophyllum

Calophyllum inophyllum is an oil-bearing tree species with seeds containing 50-70 per cent oil, mainly used for non-edible purposes. Belonging to the Clusiaceae family, it is commonly known as Undi in Kannada. This littoral tropical tree grows above the high-tide mark along coastlines and is frequently found on sandy beaches. Its prominence has increased due to high demand as biofuel and commercialization. The study aimed to examine the fruit and seed traits from various sources and the impact of seed source variation on germination and seedling growth of Calophyllum inophyllum. Experiments were conducted at the College of Forestry, Sirsi, with fruits collected from seven different regions from coastal taluks of Uttara Kannada district, Karnataka. Data on fruit, seed, and plant parameters were recorded. Results revealed that there was no such statistically significant difference was observed in fruit parameters, seed parameters, seedling parameters and germination percentage of Callophyllum inophyllum among the selected seed sources inferring no greater variations. However, the seeds from the Ramangindi (48.66%, 17% higher than the next best region, Ankola) region in Kumta taluk performed better in germination of seeds, fruit and seed traits, as well as growth compared to other sources.

Growth and Economic Return of Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) under Different Plant Spacing and Fertility Conditions

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) is a native of the Andes that has sparked a worldwide interest due to its unique nutritional value. Quinoa seed have an orthodox magnificent nutritional food quality and were also called “the mother grain”. To achieve optimal crop yield, farmers must meticulously manage various factors, ensuring a balanced approach to fertility levels, irrigation and pest control. It is crucial for farmers to find a delicate balance in achieving specific nutritional and yield targets. The current investigation was conducted in kharif 2022, with genotype “EC507742” at Research and Extension Centre, Gaja, College of Forestry, Ranichauri, Tehri Garhwal, Uttarakhand, India. The experiment comprised of two factors viz., geometry (S): S1- 20 x10 cm, S2- 30 x 10 cm and S3- 40 x 10 cm in main plot and fertility levels (F): F1- Control, F2- 75% NPKS, F3- 100% NPKS and F4- 125% NPKS in sub plot with total of 12 treatment combinations that were evaluated in split plot design with three replications. The data was analysed using OPSTAT with figures from SAS (proc glm). Among the geometries, S2 (30 x 10 cm) excelled in field conditions and economics relative to others. Among different fertility levels, F3 (100% NPKS) demonstrated the greatest growth, yield characteristics, yield, and higher returns for quinoa compared to other fertility levels. The interactions between geometry and fertility levels were also found significant for growth, yield attributes and yield with higher in S2F3. Thus, it can be concluded that using the recommended fertilizer (100% NPKS) with the ideal spacing of 30 x 10 cm improves growth, yield and profitability of Quinoa.

Optimization of Nano-DAP Fertilization for Improvement in Growth and Yield of Finger Millet (Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn.)

Aim: Optimization of nano-DAP fertilization for improvement in growth, yield and to maximize the production of finger millet. Study Design: Randomized Block Design (RBD). Place and Duration of Study: This investigation was conducted in Kharif 2021 and 2022, with variety VL-352 at the Research and Extension Centre, Gaja, College of Forestry, Ranichauri (Tehri Garhwal), Uttarakhand, India. Methodology: This experiment comprised of ten treatments viz., T1- NK 100% (Control), T2- NPK 100%, T3- 75%P + 100%N + 100%K, T4- 50%P + 100%N + 100%K, T5- 75%P + 100%N + 100%K + Seed Treatment (ST) + Foliar Spray (FS) (2mL), T6- 75%P + 100%N + 100%K + ST + FS(4mL), T7- 50%P + 100%N + 100%K + ST + FS(2mL), T8- 50%P + 100%N + 100%K + ST + FS (4mL), T9- 50%P + 100%N + 100%K + ST + FS(2mL) + FS(2mL), T10- 50%P + 100%N + 100%K + ST + FS (4mL) + FS(4mL) and was laid out in RBD with three replications. Measurements and calculations of plant growth parameters, yield attributes, and economic considerations were made. Result: The plant growth and yield attributing parameters were recorded significantly higher in the treatment T10- 50%P +100%N + 100%K + ST + FS (4mL) + FS(4mL) while significantly lower yield was recorded in T1- NK 100% (Control). Conclusion: The use of 50% P through DAP and 100% NK along with seed treatment by nano DAP @5mL/kg seed as well as two foliar sprays of nano-DAP @4 mL/L of water, first at 30-35 days after germination and second at 45 days after seed germination gave significantly higher plant growth, seed yield and seed quality of finger millet.

Unveiling the Spectacular Performance of Diverse Chrysanthemum Varieties in Flowering, Quality and Yield

A comprehensive research initiative conducted in Jhalawar 2019-20 focused on evaluating the genetic diversity and performance of various chrysanthemum varieties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the genetic variability and assess the varietal performance of chrysanthemum (Dendranthema grandiflora Tzvelev) under the specific agro-climatic conditions of Jhalawar. The study sought to identify high-performing varieties and quantify key genetic traits relevant to yield and quality characteristics, with the goal of supporting selection efforts for enhanced chrysanthemum production in the region. This investigation was conducted at the Floriculture and Landscaping block of the College of Horticulture and Forestry, Jhalawar, Rajasthan. The experimental work was carried out during the winter season of the year 2019-20, capitalizing on the local climate to evaluate varietal responses under Jhalawar conditions. The experiment employed a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with multiple replications to ensure robust data. Different chrysanthemum varieties were planted in designated plots, and observations on traits such as flower yield, flower quality, and growth parameters were recorded periodically. Statistical analysis, including ANOVA, was performed to detect significant differences among the varieties. This analysis helped in identifying high-performing varieties suited for Jhalawar conditions and provided insights into genetic variability for potential selection and breeding programs. Ten different genotypes were carefully chosen for the study, including Marigold, Poornima Pink, Dall White, Calcutta Shantini, Karnool, Poornima Red, Dall Yellow, Poornima White, Poornima Yellow and Dundi for in-depth analysis.A randomised block design with three replications was used in the experiment. Cultivar 'Calcutta Shantini' exhibited the maximum days taken to first flower bud emergence of plant (51.50 days) and the maximum number of flowers per plant (269.90). Conversely, cv. 'Dall Yellow' showed the shortest duration to fifty percent flowering (67.64 days). Notably, cv. 'Dundi' displayed the maximum flower diameter (7.47 cm), while cv. 'Poornima Pink' had the longest flower stalk (13.09 cm). Remarkably, cv. 'Marigold' demonstrated the highest flower fresh weight (63.67 gm), dry weight (14.41 gm), and shelf life (4.67 day).

Seed Morphology and Tetrazolium Quick Seed Viability Test of Malabar Neem (Melia dubia Cav.) Under Laboratory Condition

Melia dubia Cav. commonly known as Malabar Neem, is an economically important fast-growing indigenous multipurpose tree species of India. It has a wide range of applications from medicinal utilities such as treating pain, fever, and infections, to agricultural and industrial uses viz., fodder, seed oil, resin, fuel wood, timber and its wood being utilized in the paper, matchbox, and plywood industries. Malabar Neem generally is distributed in tropical and sub-tropical regions of India and introduced in many countries of South Africa, the Middle East, North and South America, Brazil, Bermuda, Argentina, Southern Europe, Southeast Australia, and Asia Pacific regions. Nevertheless, it is a most promising tree species which is highly suitable for agroforestry or farm forestry with a life cycle of 8 to 12 years that gaining economic importance both in domestic and global markets and plantations in degraded lands. Consequently, the demand of Melia seedlings among Indian farmers has been increased, however the poor seed viability and very low seed germination hampered the good quality nursery production and large-scale plantations. Before seed sowing in nursery, there is need to determine the actual seed viability and to know the required seed quantity of Melia to be sown in forest nursery. Therefore, the present research study was conducted at Dr. Y. S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, Himachal Pradesh of India to study the seed morphology and seed viability testing protocol using tetrazolium (TZ) test. The seeds of Melia species stained with 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 % solution of TZ and incubated at 30°C temperature for 24 hours. The tetrazolium test performed with 100 seeds in 4 replications in CRD design and analyzed with OPSTAT statistical software. The length, width and weight of fruit, drupe and seed were recorded in the range of 9.40-12.97 mm, 6.55-9.70 mm & 2.84-2.99 g; 5.84-14.32 mm, 2.76-9.72 mm & 1.672-1.798 g; and 1.2-1.98 mm, 1.02-2.98 mm & 3.12-3.74 g, respectively. The colour of fruit was yellow with oval shape having smooth surface. The result of TZ test showed that the seeds of Malabar Neem soaked in 0.5 % tetrazolium solution at 30 °C temperature for 24 hours found to be the highest seed viability percentage (40.25 %) which is recommended as a quick seed viability protocol in M. dubia. Overall, the results of the present research study fulfilled all the gaps to test quick seed viability of a seed lot before seed sowing in nursery for accurate knowledge of the seed requirement in quantity for the purpose of quality seedling production in nursery.

REVITALIZING FOREST MANAGEMENT IN INDONESIAN FOREST INDUSTRY POST-COVID-19: EXPECTATIONS FROM YOUNG FORESTERS (A CASE STUDY FROM UNIVERSITY STUDENTS)

The global health emergency triggered by COVID-19 has had a significant impact on Indonesia's forestry industry. This study investigates the expectations of young foresters regarding the post-pandemic landscape, exploring various aspects such as industry performance, focus, worker protection, global strategies, and personal views on the industry's future. In conjunction with descriptive statistics, word cloud analysis was employed to identify salient issues drawing substantial attention. Through purposive sampling at a leading forestry university in Indonesia, the study reveals that young foresters perceive the transition towards developing industries based on non-timber forest products and environmental services as potential areas of growth. However, they acknowledge that the timber-based industry has historically been the backbone of Indonesia's forest industry and is likely to maintain its significance as forest management trends toward plantation forestry. Additionally, the study demonstrates the enduring appeal of the forestry sector to the younger generation, positioning it as a valuable entrepreneurial field.

New Occurrence of Nigrospora oryzae Causing Leaf Blight in Ginkgo biloba in China and Biocontrol Screening of Endophytic Bacteria

Ginkgo biloba is a multifunctional composite tree species that has important ornamental, economic, medicinal, and scientific research value. In October 2023, the foliage of G. biloba on the campus of Nanjing Forestry University exhibited leaf blight. Black-brown necrotic spots were observed on a large number of leaves, with a disease incidence of 86%. After isolating a fungus from symptomatic leaves, pathogenicity was tested to satisfy Koch’s postulates. Using morphological features and multi-gene phylogenetic analyses of an internal transcribed spacer (ITS), elongation factor 1-alpha (EF1-α), and beta-tubulin (β-tub), the isolates YKB1-1 and YKB1-2 were identified as Nigrospora oryzae. N. oryzae was previously reported as an endophyte of G. biloba. However, this study shows it to be pathogenic to G. biloba, causing leaf spots. Two endophytic bacteria were isolated from asymptomatic leaves of diseased G. biloba trees, and their molecular identification was performed using 16S ribosomal DNA (16S rDNA). GBB1-2 was identified as Bacillus altitudinis, while GBB1-5 was identified as Bacillus amyloliquefaciens. The screening and verification of endophytic bacteria provide a new strategy for the control of N. oryzae.

Exploitation of heterosis and combining ability potential for improvement in okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.)

Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) is a vital vegetable crop known for its nutritional and economic significance, especially in tropical and subtropical regions. Studying heterosis and combining ability in okra is crucial for enhancing its yield, quality, and resistance to pests and diseases. Heterosis can lead to superior offspring with enhanced traits while understanding combining ability helps in identifying the best parent combinations for breeding programs. Okra is an often cross-pollinated crop; therefore, exploiting heterosis is advantageous. The study was conducted from 2021 to 2022 at the Experimental Farm and Quality Analysis Laboratory, Department of Vegetable Science, College of Horticulture, Dr Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, India to evaluate the heterosis and combining ability in okra to facilitate the development of high-yielding, resilient cultivars. The experimental material consisted of an F1 population of 30 crosses obtained from 10 parental lines crossed with three testers in a Line × Tester mating design, plus a standard check (Punjab-8). Estimates of heterosis (heterobeltiosis and standard heterosis) of the cross combinations UHFO-6 × Pusa Bhindi-5, UHFO-6 × Arka Anamika and UHFO-9 × Arka Anamika were high for inter-nodal distance, number of pods per plant, average pod weight, pod yield per plant, harvest duration, hundred seed weight, mucilage content, etc. Higher estimates of general combining ability (GCA) effects for pod yield per plant were observed in the parental lines UHFO-6 (123.47) and UHFO-9 (7.49). Among the cross combinations, UHFO-10 × Hisar Unnat (38.81), UHFO-2 × Pusa Bhindi-5 (38.29), UHFO-2 × Arka Anamika (17.42), and UHFO-5 × Arka Anamika (15.06) demonstrated higher estimates of specific combining ability (SCA) effects for pod yield per plant. The cross UHFO-2 × Hisar Unnat (160.00) exhibited the highest heterobeltiosis for mucilage content, while UHFO-10 × Arka Anamika (562.03) showed the highest standard heterosis for total polyphenol content. These cross combinations could produce okra with enhanced nutritional and medicinal properties. The highest GCA and SCA effects for pod yield per plant were observed in UHFO-6 (123.47) and UHFO-10 × Hisar Unnat (38.81), respectively. Identifying these parental lines and cross combinations based on their combining ability can result in the development of okra hybrids with substantially higher yields. In future, after multi-location trials, these parents and crosses can be released to replace existing okra cultivars (hybrids/varieties). Higher yielding and better quality okra cultivars can enhance the profitability for farmers, contribute to food security, and meet market demands more efficiently.

Effect of Foliar Application of Humic Acid on Vegetative Growth Attributes of Jamun (Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels.) cv. Goma Priyanka

A field experiment was carried out at Instructional Farm, Department of Fruit Science, College of Horticulture and Forestry in Jhalarapatan, Jhalawar during 2021-22 and 2022-23 with the object of assessing the response of foliar application of humic acid on growth attributes of Jamun (Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels) cv. Goma Priyanka. The experiment comprised of 4 treatment combinations in randomized block design with three replications consisted of HA0: [Control], HA1: [1000ppm humic acid], HA2: [2000 ppm humic acid], and HA3: [3000 ppm humic acid]. On the basis of the results emanated from present investigation, it could be concluded that foliar application of humic acid HA3 (3000 ppm) was significantly superior plant growth parameters viz. rootstock girth, scion girth, plant height, canopy volume, canopy spread E-W, N-S, of Jamun cv. Goma Priyanka plants.

Biochemical profiling of tetraploid potato (Solanum tuberosum) genotypes

An experiment was conducted out during winter (rabi) seasons of 2021–22 and 2022–23 at Litchi and Mango Research Station (Dr. Y S Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Solan, Himachal Pradesh), Nagrota Bagwan, Kangra, Himachal Pradesh to study the biochemical profiling of tetraploid potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) genotypes. The experiment comprises of 357 genotypes including varieties, advanced breeding lines and exotic germplasm belonging to the tetraploid group of potato were evaluated in augmented block design. Data were recorded on different biochemical attributes. Adjusted mean values indicated that CP 3145 (10.15ᵒBrix) for total soluble solids, CP 1689 (36.89 mg/g) for total polyphenols, CP 1302 (28.68 mg/100 g) for ascorbic acid, CP 3891 (24.41 µg/g) for total carotenoids content, CP 1667 (0.21%,) for total sugars, CP 1667 (0.10%) for reducing sugars and CP 1884 (0.06%) for non-reducing sugars were the top ranked genotypes. High PCV and GCV were observed for total polyphenols and total carotenoids content. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance was recorded for total polyphenols, ascorbic acid content, starch content, total carotenoids content and reducing sugars. Principal component analysis indicated the three most informative principal components with more than one eigen value, accounting for 57.40% of the total variance for all traits.

Influence of direct and staggered sowing of pelleted onion (Allium cepa) seeds on various seed yield parameters under Asian mid-hill conditions

The experiment was conducted during 2021–22 and 2022–23 at Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, Himachal Pradesh to study the impact of precision planting (using pelleted seeds) and sowing dates on the numerous attributes of the onion (Allium cepa L.) variety Palam Lohit. The study was carried out with the objective to determine whether direct seed sowing would lead to successful seed production in onion under mid-hill conditions (which is not the conventional practice). Also, the staggered sowing dates would help to determine the best sowing time for higher seed production. The experiment was laid in randomized block design (Factorial) (F-RBD) with 3 replications having 19 treatments, including 3 pelleting treatments, viz. P1 (wood ash); P2 (ZnSO4 + wood ash); and P3 (H3BO3 + wood ash); 6 sowing dates, viz. D1 (15th September); D2 (1st October); D3 (15th October); D4 (1st November); D5 (15th November); and D6 (1st December); and Da (traditional bulb planting as control). The study revealed that seed pelleting with ZnSO4 + wood ash and early sowing (15th September) gave best results in terms of emergence (%), plant height, number of seeds/umbel and number of seeds/plant, seed yield and 1000-seed weight. The direct sowing treatments produced seeds in one year as opposed to two years using the conventional bulb planting method, which is traditionally being used in the Asian mid-hills.

ALS-Based, Automated, Single-Tree 3D Reconstruction and Parameter Extraction Modeling

The 3D reconstruction of point cloud trees and the acquisition of stand factors are key to supporting forestry regulation and urban planning. However, the two are usually independent modules in existing studies. In this work, we extended the AdTree method for 3D modeling of trees by adding a quantitative analysis capability to acquire stand factors. We used unmanned aircraft LiDAR (ALS) data as the raw data for this study. After denoising the data and segmenting the single trees, we obtained the single-tree samples needed for this study and produced our own single-tree sample dataset. The scanned tree point cloud was reconstructed in three dimensions in terms of geometry and topology, and important stand parameters in forestry were extracted. This improvement in the quantification of model parameters significantly improves the utility of the original point cloud tree reconstruction algorithm and increases its ability for quantitative analysis. The tree parameters obtained by this improved model were validated on 82 camphor pine trees sampled from the Northeast Forestry University forest. In a controlled experiment with the same field-measured parameters, the root mean square errors (RMSEs) and coefficients of determination (R2s) for diameters at breast height (DBHs) and crown widths (CWs) were 4.1 cm and 0.63, and 0.61 m and 0.74, and the RMSEs and coefficients of determination (R2s) for heights at tree height (THs) and crown base heights (CBHs) were 0.55 m and 0.85, and 1.02 m and 0.88, respectively. The overall effect of the canopy volume extracted based on the alpha shape is closest to the original point cloud and best estimated when alpha = 0.3.

Effect of Organic Nutrient Sources on Growth, Seed Yield and Seed Quality of Radish (Raphanus sativus L.) cv. Chinese Pink

Seed is the ultimate economic input in any crop production programme. Two field experiments were conducted to study the effect of organic inputs on seed production of radish at Organic Block of Department of Vegetable Science, Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan (HP) during Rabi season of 2019-20 & 2020-21. Various combinations of organic and liquid manures were replicated thrice in the form of twelve treatments in Randomized Block Design (RBD) Factorial. The pooled data of two years revealed that treatment with Vermicompost @ 8 t/ha + Jeevamrit @ 10 per cent was rated as best treatment for majority of characters like days to 50 per cent initiation of bolting (61.00), days to 50 per cent flowering (93.33), number of primary branches per plant (11.13), plant height (171.50 cm), pod length (5.82 cm), number of seeds per pod (5.01), seed yield per plot (225.25 g) & hectare (417.13 kg) and seed quality parameters like 1000 seed weight (12.02 g), seed germination (97.03 %), seedling length (28.26 cm), seedling dry weight (8.87 mg), seed vigour index-I (2742.07) and seed vigour index-II (860.42). Vermicompost along with jeevamrit recorded 61.41 per cent increase in yield over control. Hence application of vermicompost @ 8 t/ha + jeevamrit @ 10 per cent can be recommended for getting higher seed yield and better growth for organic seed production of radish.

Research on the Construction of Entrepreneurship Education Curriculum Group in Agriculture and Forestry Colleges––Taking Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University as an Example

Although the curriculum construction of innovation and entrepreneurship in colleges and universities has made great achievements in recent years, the problems in the practice process are also more prominent. This study adheres to the principle of combining theory and practice and adopts the interview method in the specific practice process to interview the staff and researchers involved in the design and research of the construction of innovation and entrepreneurship education course groups, to understand and master the real situation of the construction of entrepreneurship education course group. Thus, a college student entrepreneurship education course group integrating classroom teaching, experiment teaching, practice teaching and entrepreneurial competition resources was constructed.

Evolution of agricultural carbon emission research in China: a historical analysis and emerging trends

Agricultural activities constitute the second-largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. Proactively mitigating agricultural carbon emissions is crucial for safeguarding the ecological en-vironment, improving agricultural productivity, and fostering long-term ecological sustainability. This paper employs bibliometric analysis to examine the research status, hot topics, and devel-opment trends of agricultural carbon emissions in China over the past 2 decades. Based on Citespace software, the study primarily conducts visual analysis on 660 academic articles on ag-ricultural carbon emissions collected from the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) between 2001 and May 2023, including publications indexed in Peking University Chinese Core Journals (PKU Core), Chinese Social Sciences Citation Index and Chinese Science Citation Database. The analysis covers publication quantity, author cooperation, institution cooperation, keyword co-occurrence, keyword clustering, keyword burst, keyword timeline, and keyword timezone. Research results indicate: (1) From the annual publication volume changes perspective, research on China’s agricultural carbon emissions demonstrates a rapid upward trend in the new era, with increasing research interest. (2) The core net-work of research authors has been established, primarily concentrated in agricultural and forestry universities, and the core network of institutions in this field is gradually forming. However, collaboration networks between authors and research institutions are relatively dispersed, necessitating strengthened collaboration among institutions. (3) Current research on agricultural carbon emissions predominantly focuses on the challenges of reducing agricultural carbon emissions in China under the “dual carbon” goals, measures, and pathways to achieve agricultural carbon emission reductions; performance evaluation of agricultural carbon emissions, factors affecting these emissions, and their reduction potential; as well as the relationship between agricultural carbon emissions and agricultural economic growth. Future research should delve deeper into the precise accounting of agricultural carbon emissions under the “dual carbon” goals, their underlying mechanisms, and issues related to precise and differentiated agricultural carbon reduction strategies. (4) The development trajectory of domestic agricultural carbon emissions research shows a period of germination from 2001 to 2009, a development stage from 2010 to 2015, and a deepening stage from 2016 to 2023, with a notable increase in publications in 2021, signifying a new upward phase in research output.

Assessing the Relationship between School Culture and Student Empowerment: Basis for Students’ Transformational Leadership Program

This study evaluated the relationship between the school's culture and its commitment to student empowerment, which served as the foundation for the students' transformational leadership program and other school-wide activities that focused on student empowerment. The researcher utilized a descriptive, comparative correlational approach, with the objective of obtaining a thorough comprehension of the associations among school culture, empowerment of college students for transformational leadership, and the efficacy of leadership training programs and was participated by was participated by the 543 students from Changsha University of Science and Technology, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Shaoyang University, and Hunan Communication Polytechnic. The study shows that female education students influence insights, with significant differences in perceptions of the school's leadership initiatives based on sex, academic program, and grade level, emphasizing the need for a more tailored approach; a strong correlation between empowerment efforts and school culture highlights the importance of further strengthening these initiatives, especially for Chinese students. The researcher recommends to develop targeted, culturally relevant leadership programs that address the needs of female students, diverse demographics, and Chinese students, while strengthening and embedding these initiatives into the school's culture to ensure they are inclusive, effective, and impactful.

Influence of Foliar Spray with Different Doses of Zinc (ZnSO4) at Various Crop Stages on Seed Quality Parameters of Harvested Seeds

A laboratory experiment was conducted to analyze the influence of foliar spray and stages of zinc application on seed quality parameters of harvested radish seeds cv. Japanese White in laboratory of the Department of Seed Science and Technology, Dr Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan (HP). There were 12 treatment combinations as 0g/l zinc at bolting stage, 0g/l bolting +14 days after first application, 0g/l at bolting +14days +28 days after first application 1g/l zinc (ZnSO4) at bolting stage, 1g/l bolting +14 days after first application, 1g/l at bolting +14days +28 days after first application, 2g/l at bolting, 2g/l at bolting +14 days after first application, 2g/l at bolting +14 days after first application+ 28 days after first application, 3g/l zinc at bolting stage, 3g/l bolting +14 days after first application, 3g/l at bolting +14days +28 days after first application. The experiment was laid out in CRD (completely randomized design) as well as RCBD( Randomized complete block design) design Among treatment combinations Zn2S1 (2g l-1 at the time of bolting) was found superior in every aspect of quality attributes i.e. 1000 seed weight (14.36g), germination of harvested seeds (85.75%), seedling length (24.20cm), seedling dry weight (11.31mg), seedling vigour index-I (2,075.08) , seedling vigour index- II (966.77), electrical conductivity (0.017 dSm-1), accelerated ageing test (78.25%) and cold test (81.00%).

A Framework for Measuring Tree Rings Based on Panchromatic Images and Deep Learning.

Tree-ring data are pivotal for decoding the age and growth patterns of trees, reflecting the impact of environmental factors over time. Addressing the significant shortcomings of traditional, labour-intensive and resource-demanding methods, we propose an innovative automated technique that utilizes panchromatic images and deep learning for measuring tree rings. The method utilizes convolutional neural networks to enhance image quality, precisely delineate tree rings through segmentation and perform ring counting and width calculation in the post-processing stage. We compiled an extensive data set from diverse sources, including Beijing Forestry University and the Summer Palace, to train our algorithm. The performance of our method was validated empirically, demonstrating its potential to transform tree-ring analysis and provide deeper insights into ecological and climatological research.

Effect of Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) on Soil Physico-chemical Properties in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Intercrop under Beul (Grewia optiva Drummond.) Based Agroforestry System and Open Condition

The raising human health hazards due to excessive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in India leads cancer patients. To overcome such problems there is need of Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) in our major crop wheat and further to improve soil fertility under agroforestry system. Therefore, the present investigation was carried out to study the impact of INM on the physical and chemical properties of soil when wheat intercropped under Beul (Grewia optiva) based agroforestry system in the mid-hill region of Himachal Pradesh at Dr. Y. S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, HP (India). INM practices were applied to evaluate their effectiveness in enhancing soil fertility, crop yield, and overall soil health. The experimental setup included various treatment combinations of organic and inorganic fertilizers viz., T1: RDF, T2: FYM, T3: Vermicompost, T4: Goat manure, T5: 50% RDF+50% FYM, T6: 50% RDF+50% VC, T7: 50% RDF+50% GM, and T8: Control to determine their synergistic effects on the soil and cereal crop. These treatments were randomly assigned to plots under two planting conditions: S1 (under Beul based agroforestry system) and S2 (open condition), with three replications each, following in a factorial randomized block design (RBD). The key physical parameters such as bulk density (g/cm3), particle density (g/cm3), porosity (%), and soil moisture (%) were measured along with chemical properties of soil including soil pH, EC (dS/m1), organic carbon content (%), and nutrient availability of N, P and K in kg per hectare. The soil data of two consecutive years and pooled data were analyzed in R Statistical Software. The results demonstrated that INM significantly improved both the physical and chemical soil properties in agroforestry system as compared to control treatment i.e. open condition. The use of 100 % FYM found to be best treatment during the course of study among various treatments of INM for soil porosity, soil moisture, soil pH, available N, P and K. The soil structure and nutrient availability were increased in second year as compared to first year which will lead to improve the growth and yield of wheat crop. The study underscores the importance of adopting INM practices in agroforestry system to achieve sustainable agriculture as well as chemical free agriculture in hilly regions of Himachal Pradesh which will be helpful for human health. Thus, the use 100% FYM fertilizer is recommended for farmers in hilly area of Himachal Pradesh for sustainable agriculture and natural farming. The findings provide valuable insights for farmers and policymakers aiming to optimize crop production and maintain soil health in similar agro-ecological zones.