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The cultivation of green leafy vegetables is crucial for improving our nation's nutritional security. Challenges like limited arable land and excessive fertilizer use have become significant concerns on cultivating in open field. To address these issues, vertical farming technology, with a focus on space optimization and hydroponic integration to manage fertilizer use, is gaining attention. This experiment aims to determine the best growing media and nutrient solutions for palak in an A-framed vertical unit. Three growing media were tested: coir pith (M0), Rockwool (M1), and a 1:1 mix of coir pith and vermiculite (M2). Various combinations of water-soluble fertilizers [Ca (NO3)2, MAP, and SOP] were used for each crop's nutrient recipe preparation. Optimal yields were achieved when palak were grown in a coir pith and vermiculite mix with nutrient concentrations of 60:50:60 ppm. Despite high yields, green leafy vegetables face rapid spoilage and storage challenges. The study examined factors affecting post-harvest quality, including storage conditions (ambient at 35 ± 5°C, refrigerated at 5 ± 5°C), packing substrates (low-density polyethylene, high-density polyethylene covers), and gas compositions with modified atmosphere packaging. Results showed that refrigerated storage with low-density polyethylene packing and a gas composition of 6% O2, 5% CO2, and 89% N2 (G2) resulted in the least deterioration in physiological attributes and overall visual quality. This study highlights the potential of vertical farming technology, precise nutrient management, and advanced post-harvest techniques for sustainable production and preservation of green leafy vegetables to meet our nation's nutritional security needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total of 50 genotypes were evaluated during Kharif 2022 in three different locations in Tamilnadu, India. The data on seed yield per plant was subjected to AMMI and GGE biplot analysis for stability study. The IPCA values explained 100% and 98.8% variation in AMMI and GGE biplot respectively. Results from both analyses inferred that the genotypes viz., Mash 114, Mash 1008, VBN (Bg) 4 and VBN 10 were stable across the environments with high mean seed yield per plant. Hence these varieties can be utilized for cultivation in varied environments of Tamilnadu. Besides, the genotypes; MASH 1008, MASH 114, VBN (Bg) 4, VBN 8, VBN 10 and VBN 11 were found to be resistant to MYMV based on the field screening at National Pulses Research Centre, Vamban, Pudukkottai. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Over the years, the excessive P fertilizer application to crop fields resulted in the build up of insoluble phosphorus pool in soil known as legacy phosphorus. This represents a vast and largely untapped resource in soil. The current study was conducted to evaluate the potential of some P activators (Phosphorus solubilising bacteria, phytase, humic acid, farmyard manure) on increasing the plant availability of legacy P in calcareous soil. Methods: A field experiment was conducted with maize hybrid COH(M) 6. The P activators were combined and applied along with the different doses of P fertilizer (100%, 75% and 50% soil test dose of single super phosphate). Result: Farmyard Manure (FYM) application with Humic acid (HA) showed the increased Olsen P under 100% and 75% of P application. The phosphorus activation response of FYM+HA applied plots showed a higher value than other treatments. The maize yield and P uptake obtained with FYM and HA were statistically comparable at 100% and 75% soil test dose of P. The findings have illustrated that even the reduced amount of P fertilizer application can support the crop growth due to the release of legacy P if they are applied along with P-activators such as FYM and HA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]