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The importance of organic manure as soil amendment is increasing day by day especially for the improvement of soil health. Flower waste has a high moisture content and easily degradable carbon content. A long duration leachate and odour problem arises during accumulation of flowers. The study aimed on changes in the physico-chemical parameters during the pit method composting of flowers using effective microbial consortium. Four different composting mixturemarigold flower waste + Dried Leaves (1:1), Marigold flower waste + Dried leaves (1:1) + Microbial consortium, Rajnigandha flower waste + Dried leaves(1:1) and Rajnigandha flower waste + Dried leaves (1:1) + Microbial Consortium were prepared. Results revealed that the temperature profile in all the treatments in cemented pits showed a rapid procedure from ambient temperature of 32ºC to 55ºC. The maximum temperature obtained was 55ºC within six days in the pits and pH varied from 4.5 to 5.5 and after 30 days it was found to be 7.0. The measurement of humus content was observed more in the treatments where fungal inoculants were applied as compared to un-inoculated treatments. The final product was rich in carbon, nitrogen content and was found non-phytotoxic.

A tricycle type manually operated foliar applicator was developed with ground clearance of 74.15 cm that can be operated on standing wheat crop having row spacing of 20-22 cm. The physical properties of urea ammonium nitrate (UAN) with 3% N were found nearly equal to water with respect to dynamic viscosity, surface tension and specific gravity of UAN. Based on pressure, discharges requirement and corrosiveness of UAN, reciprocating typePVC pump (2 no.) with capacity of 4.53 l/min each was selected for the sprayer. Three type of nozzles, i.e. flat fan, stream jet SJ7 and stream jet SJ3 were evaluated in terms of discharge, spray pattern and spray angle at different heights and pressures. Spray pattern and uniformity of spray distribution of nozzles (flat fan, stream jet SJ3 and SJ7) were determined on patternator test rig. Flat fan nozzles showed most uniform pattern at 2 kg/cm2 pressure and 500 mm nozzle height, whereas streamjet SJ7 showed maximum uniformity at 1.6 kg/cm2 and 600 mm height. Streamjet SJ3 nozzles were found suitable for low boom height and directed application of fertilizer. Variation in discharge of nozzles among the boom was observed less than 10% while operated in field. Field capacity of the developed foliar applicator was found 0.3 ha/h. Operating pressure of 1.5 kg/cm2 was found ergonomically suitable with an average heart rate and energy expenditure of 119 beats/min and 26.7 kJ/min, respectively for operating the prototype. The break-even point (BEP) and payback period (PBP) of developed foliar applicator were estimated as 113.43 h/year and 4 years at the operational cost of Rupees 94.68/ha.

Response surface modeling approach was applied to optimize the ingredients level for barnyard millet based Nutri-Functional Snack (NFS) food using a D-optimal mixture design. The effect of ingredients level of barnyard millet (50–70%), quality protein maize (20–50%) and flax seed (0–20%) with constant level of skim milk powder (5%) on the physical and functional properties of NFS such as bulk density, colour, expansion ratio,water absorptionindex, water solubility index, crispiness and sensory were investigated. The regression models that explained the significant effects of different percentages of ingredients level on all the response variables were determined. The developed regression model of all the responses had a coefficient of determination (R2) and adjusted R2 value of higher than 0.9245 and 0.8490, respectively. The optimum conditions for maximum acceptability of NFS food having 70% barnyard millet, 28% quality protein maize and 2% flaxseed.

An experiment was conducted to optimise the desired concentration of urea ammonium nitrate (UAN), a liquid fertilizer, and its suitable depth of application in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) during 2016-17 in a completely randomized factorial design. The wheat seed germination was affected both on blotting paper and in soil mixed with different UAN:water dilutions. Viability test showed that when soil was mixed with UAN:water dilution ratio of less than 1:20, all the embryos were destroyed. The cultivar HD 2967 was grown in cylindrical poly vinyl chloride tubes where two different dilution ratio of UAN:water, viz. 1:5 (U1) and 1:10 (U2) were used as fertilizer @ 120N kg/ha. The fertilizer was placed at three depths below the seed, i.e. at 1 (D1), 2 (D2) and 3 cm (D3).The shoot and root growth parameters up to 34 days after sowing were recorded. Both fertilizer concentration and depth of its placement significantly affected plant height, root length, root surface area and root tips at 8, 20 and 34 DAS. At higher concentration of UAN (U1), the root growth significantly reduced by about 43% as that of U2 after 8 DAS. However, after 34 DAS, it was reduced to 16% which shows that the plants were able to overcome the initial shock given by high concentration of UAN. Root surface area was maximum at U2D3 (7.04, 18.26 and 40.89 cm2) and minimum at U1D1 (0.91, 7.46 and 15.24 cm2) after 8, 20 and 34 DAS, respectively. Root tip numbers were also affected at 8 DAS. However, it was non-significantly affected by concentration and depths at 34 DAS. Deep placement of fertilizer at 3 cm showed significantly better growth of both root and shoot in plants. Higher fresh root weight at all the growth stages was observed in D3, which was at par to D2 at 8 DAS. Similarly, highest root and shoot growth were observed at U2D2 which was statistically at par to U1D3. The UAN may be applied in 1:10 dilution ratio at 2 cm depth or 1:5 dilution ratio at 3 cm depth below the seed in order to get better growth of seedlings. Hence, sowing machines for wheat shall be developed keeping in mind these application depths of liquid UAN.