Informatics Publishing Limited

J. K. Sharma , M. Prabhakar , Kamal Sharma

Abstract

The macronutrients (N, P, K, Ca and Na) concentration was studied in the leaves of Terminalia arjuna, the potential fodder species of low hills of Himachal Pradesh. The leaf samples were selected from leaf emergence (May month) to leaf senescence (April month). N, P and K contents decreased in the foliage of the species with the increase in the leaf age and leaf size whereas Ca concentration increased in the leaves throughout the growing season till the leaf fall. Na contents did not reveal any particular trend. The seasonal average of N, P, K, Ca and Na was 1.45, 0.194, 1.55, 4.39 and 0.19 per cent, respectively. Further, based on the seasonal average and seasonal nutrient trend, the optimum lopping time to harvest nutrient rich fodder for cattle is recommended as November and December months

Keywords

Terminalia Arjuna, Micro-nutrient, Fodder

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Y. G. Prasad ¹, M. Prabhakar ¹, G. Sreedevi ¹

Affiliations
1 Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Santoshnagar, Hyderabad, 500059, Andhra Pradesh, IN

Abstract

The mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley, a polyphagous pest with a wide host range is of recent occurrence on Bt cotton in all the three major cotton growing zones in India. The first perceptible appearance of the pest on cotton in Warangal district of Andhra Pradesh was noticed in Kharif 2008. P. solenopsis was recorded on several plants other than cotton which include cultivated crops and weed hosts. The mealybug population is naturally regulated by Aenasius bambawalei Hayat (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae). This paper reports the dynamics of this key parasitoid in a spatio-temporal perspective. Monitoring of the parasitoid on P. solenopsis occurring on weed hosts found on field bunds, crop fallows, barren lands, roadsides and village backyards indicated its activity on eight weed hosts late in the cotton growing season of 2009. During the year 2010, its activity started early in the season on few weed hosts while many more supported parasitization late in the season. Parasitoid activity was higher (11.3 to 15.3%) initially on the key hosts (Corchorus olitorius L., Abutilon indicum L., and Sida acuta Burm. F.) early in the season (August) which later shifted gradually to the main host (cotton) during the later part of the season. Cropping system and spatial perspective indicated that cotton fields adjacent to roadside and crop fallows supported higher parasitization during September (8.3 - 9.1%) and cotton fields adjacent to barren lands in December (13.3%). These findings have implications for the management of P. solenopsis mealybug on cotton from an agro eco-system perspective.

Keywords

Phenacoccus solenopsis, Aenasius bambawalei, Gossypium hirsutum, Cotton, Mealybug, Parasitoid, Alternate Hosts, Weed Flora, Cropping Systems, Diversity.

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M. Prabhakar ¹, Y. G. Prasad ¹, B. Venkateswarlu ¹

Affiliations
1 Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Santoshnagar, Hyderabad 500 059, Andhra Pradesh, IN

Abstract

Natural parasitism of the red hairy caterpillar, Amsacta albistriga (Walker) by a mermithid nematode, Hexamermis dactylocercus Poinar Jr. and Linares is reported for the first time. Higher parasitisation by H. dactylocercus was recorded during epidemic outbreak of A. albistriga during 2007 (28.5%) and in 2008 (6.5%) when the pest incidence was relatively lower due to late onset of monsoon. The mermithid activity was associated with high rainfall in both the years. Seasonal dynamics of H. dactylocercus is discussed.

Keywords

Nematode, Mermithid, Hexamermis dactylocercus, Red Hairy Caterpillar, Amsacta albistriga.

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P. Naveen Kumar ¹, Y.G. Prasad ¹, M. Prabhakar ¹, A. Phanidhara ¹, B. Venkateswarlu ¹

Affiliations
1 Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Santoshnagar, Hyderabad, 500 059, Andhra Pradesh, IN

Abstract

Bio-efficacy of granulovirus (GV) infecting the semilooper, Achaea janata L., a serious defoliating pest of castor bean, Ricinus communis L., was established through leaf disc bioassays. Ovoid occlusion bodies (OB) of A. janata GV (AjGV) measuring 480±20.9 by 240±13.7 nm contained a singly embedded nucleocapsid. Estimated molecular weight of viral genomic DNA obtained with three restriction enzymes was in the range of 124 and 127 kb with a mean of 125.7±0.9 kb. Estimated median lethal concentration (LC₅₀) of AjGV mother culture to second instar larvae was 2.2±0.21×10⁶ OB/ml or 85.4±9.7 OB/mm² leaf, while for the formulation it was 3.1±0.89×10⁶ OB/ml or 123.3±35.1 OB/mm² leaf. Kaplan-Meier survival estimate of median lethal time (LT₅₀) for second instars was 7 days at 5×10⁸ OB/ml concentration and 12 days at 5×10⁶ OB/ml. AjGV mother culture and formulation were found to be non-toxic in all the mandatory mammalian toxicity tests. This study fulfills the key data requirements on identification of the AjGV Hyderabad isolate, its bio-efficacy and safety in mammalian toxicity tests.

Keywords

Granulovirus, Baculovirus, Bioassay, Achaea janata, Ricinus communis.

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Javeria Ambareen ¹, Pritam Gajkumar Shah ², M. Prabhakar ³

Affiliations
1 Reva University, Bangalore - 560064, Karnataka, IN
2 Department of ECE, Jyothy Institute of Technology, Bangalore - 560082, Karnataka, IN
3 School of Computing and Information Technology, Reva University, Bangalore - 560064, Karnataka, IN

Abstract

Background: Internet of Things (IoT) has the potential for societal, environmental as well as economic impact. This comes with a huge responsibility, that of securing all the communications, data and participating things. Method: Surveys and comparative studies are used for understanding the security in IoT. Findings: This paper surveys the IoT at the architectural and protocol stack level. We outline an effective architectural and stack level restructuring. The integration issues at the IPv6 enabled Low Power Wireless Personal Area Network (6LoWPAN) layer along with the security challenges and existing solutions are discussed and summarized under the chosen parameters. These parameters are Privacy, Authentication, Confidentiality, Denial of Service (DOS) Protect, Replay Protect, Impersonate Protect, End-to-End(E2E) Security.

Keywords

Internet of Things, 6LoWPAN, Security.

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Tabassum Ara ¹, Pritam Gajkumar Shah ², M. Prabhakar ³

Affiliations
1 School of Engineering Science and Technology, Reva University, Bangalore – 560064, Karanataka, IN
2 Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, Jyothy Institute of Technology, Bangalore – 560082, Karanataka, IN
3 School of Computing and Information Technology, REVA University, Bangalore – 560064, Karanataka, IN

Abstract

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a novel paradigm which is rapidly gaining ground in the scenario of modern wireless telecommunications among devices associated with Internet. Objectives: The main objective of this paper is to discuss the various architectures of IoT from the RFC perspective and layered approach. It also focuses on applications of IOT in various areas and analysis of security protocols of IoT for the resource constrained devices. Method/Analysis: In view of this, the study is carried out by systematic review of scholarly articles and research papers. Findings: The device can communicate with each other directly within the same network, through the cloud services or indirectly through some gateway application and even through some third party where aggregation and analysis of data can take place. When the cloud services are used to communicate, interoperability among the IP and Non-IP based devices is the major concern. In case of layered architecture the number of layers decides the complexity of the architecture. Five layered architecture is the ideal architecture from the perspective of security as well as compatibility. In all the architectures discussed it is observed that, there is a need to focus more on interoperability and standardization which is essential for the security features.

Keywords

Applications, Architecture, Internet of Things, Interoperrability, Securit, Standardization.

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M. Prabhakar ¹, S. S. Hebbar ¹, A. K. Nair ¹

Affiliations
1 Division of Vegetable Crops, Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Hesaraghatta Lake Post, Bangalore - 560 089, IN

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at Bangalore during 2006-2008 to study the effect of fertigation on growth and yield of rabi-summer grown watermelon. Seven treatments comprising varying rates and sources of fertilizers were applied. Application of water soluble fertilizer @ 70:70:70kg N:P₂O₅:K₂O per hectare through fertigation gave significantly higher vine length, number of branches per plant and leaf area index. In general, fertigation treatments recorded higher values for number of fruits per plant, fruit weight and total soluble solids than conventional soilapplication of fertilizers. All the fertigation treatments recorded higher average marketable watermelon yield over conventional soil-application of fertilizers amounting to 7.22 to 26.4% increase. Among fertigation treatments, though recommended dose of fertilizer applied as water soluble fertilizer resulted in highest marketable-fruit yield, highest net income (Rs. 229775) and B:C ratio (3.03) was obtained in treatment with 70% of recommended dose of NPK using conventional fertilizers supplied through fertigation.

Keywords

Watermelon, Fertigation, Rabi, Summer, Growth, Yield, Economics.

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B. Varalakshmi ¹, V. Kesava Rao ², D. V. Sudhakar Rao ³, R. B. Tiwari ³, M. Prabhakar ¹

Affiliations
1 Division of Vegetable Crops, Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Hessaraghatta Lake Post, Bangalore – 560 089, IN
2 Division of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, IIHR, Bangalore, IN
3 Division of Post Harvest Technology, IIHR, Bangalore, IN

Abstract

Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) is one of the important leafy vegetables having a pleasant aroma. Very little research work has been done on improvement of leafy coriander and only a few local varieties, low-yielding and with low aroma, are available in the market. Research work at Indian Institute of Horticultural Research has resulted in development of a leafy coriander variety, Arka Isha, with a high yield potential and good aroma. It is a multicut variety where the plants are bushy, leaves are broad and leaf lobes are short, and the variety is late flowering. Yield is 3.74t ha^-1 by pulling at 40 days after sowing, and 11.98t ha^-1 by cutting. Leaves have 167.05mg 100g^-1 of Vitamin C, with good aroma and keeping-quality.

Keywords

Leafy Coriander, Variety, Yield.

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M. Prabhakar ¹, S. S. Hebbar ¹, A. K. Nair ¹

Affiliations
1 Division of Vegetable Crops, Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Hessarghatta Lake Post, Bangalore-560089, IN

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during rabi 2005-2006 at Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bangalore, to study the performance of onion cv. Arka Niketan as influenced by microsprinkler fertigation using different sources and levels of fertilizers. Results indicated that crop growth in terms of leaf production, plant height, radial and equatorial diameter was not significantly influenced by the treatments. Fertigation treatments were superior for marketable bulb yield as compared to soil application of fertilizer. Also bulb yield through soil application of fertilizer increased by changing over from surface-irrigation to microsprinkler irrigation. However, bulb yield did not significantly decrease by applying just 75% of the recommended NPK fertilizers, using common or water soluble fertilizers supplied through fertigation. For achieving maximum yield, however, it is recommended to apply 100% recommended dose of fertilizers through sprinkler fertigation using water soluble fertilizers.

Keywords

Onion, Microsprinkler, Fertigation, Growth and Yield.

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D. Sreenivasa Murthy ¹, B. S. Prabhakar ², S. S. Hebbar ¹, V. Srinivas ³, M. Prabhakar ²

Affiliations
1 Section of Economics and Statistics, Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Hesarghatta Lake Post, Bangalore – 560 089, IN
2 Division of Vegetable Crops, Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR), Bangalore 560 089, IN
3 Bangalore, IN

Abstract

Polyhouse cultivation of vegetables is emerging as a specialized production technology to overcome biotic and abiotic stresses and to break the seasonal barrier to production. It also ensures round the year production of highvalue vegetables, like capsicum, especially, during off-season. Cost is the major issue in sustaining this technology. The present study examined the economic viability of production of capsicum and tomato in a naturally ventilated polyhouse of medium cost category with drip irrigation system. Data were generated by cost accounting method for estimating the feasibility of production and was analyzed by using project evaluation methods, like Pay Back Period (PBP), Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR), Net Present Value (NPV) and Internal Rate of Return (IRR). Cultivation of capsicum in a polyhouse was found to be highly feasible as reflected in higher values of NPV (Rs.3,23,145/500 m²), BCR (1.80) and IRR (53.7%) with payback period of less than two years. Breakeven price for capsicum production in a polyhouse (Rs.11.80/kg) was lesser than average wholesale price. Production of tomato in a polyhouse was found not feasible, as the breakeven price was more than the average market price and all the project appraisal parameters indicated that it was not feasible. Only at about 48% premium price over the prevailing market price or reduction of cost of polyhouse structure by 60% from Rs.400 to Rs.160 /m², could make the tomato production viable in a poly house.

Keywords

Capsicum, Economics, Polyhouse, Production, Tomato, Vegetables.

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Ruizhe Yu ¹, M. Prabhakar ¹, J. Christopher States ², Yunxia Jiang ¹, Jiguo Wu ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Environmental Health Science, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, CN
2 Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, US

Abstract

There is controversial evidence from cross-sectional, ecological, cohort and case-control studies that arsenic exposure in drinking water is a risk factor for stillbirth. The objectives of this meta-analysis were to evaluate the association of stillbirth and arsenic exposure in drinking water and to improve the precision of estimates. A database search was conducted to identify relevant studies. The odds ratios (ORs) extracted from each study were pooled by using Mantel-Haenszel fixed effect model, while subgroup analysis was conducted by using random effect model. Heterogeneity of ORs in the included studies was analysed using I² statistics. Publication bias was tested by Begg’s test. Eight studies involving 51,476 participants met the inclusion criteria. The pooled ORs of studies was 1.54 (95% CI: 1.32-1.79) with a small heterogeneity (I^² = 25%, P =0.23) across studies and no publication bias was evident. This meta-analysis provided evidence that chronic arsenic exposure above 50 μg.L^-1 in drinking water is a significant risk factor for stillbirth.

Keywords

Arsenic, Drinking Water, Stillbirth, Meta-Analysis.

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