Bidyut C. Deka

Erratum to: Thin layer drying of tomato slices

Erratum to: J Food Sci Technol DOI 10.1007/s13197-011-0397-x The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake. Image of Figure 5 has been unintentionally replaced with another image. Correct image of Figure 5 is shown below.

Ascorbic Acid, β-Carotene and Antioxidant Activity of Broccoli During Short-Term Refrigerated Storage

Abstract Broccoli ( Brassica oleracea var. italica ) has been described as a vegetable with a high nutritional value due to its important content of vitamins, antioxidants, anti-carcinogenic compounds, and health-promoting phytochemicals. The aim of this paper is to discuss some metabolic changes, namely ascorbic acid, β-carotene, and antioxidant activity in broccoli flower buds during short-term-refrigerated storage of broccoli heads under commonly applied conditions. Qualities of broccoli florets in terms of ascorbic acid, β-carotene, and antioxidant activity were found to undertake rapid changes during post-harvest storage.

Studies on the variability, inheritance, and inter-relationships of mineral macro-nutrients and micro-nutrients in strawberry (Fragariaananassa Duch.)

Summary Strawberry (Fragaria ananassa Duch.) is a rich source of minerals, vitamins, and anti-oxidants, and has a unique flavour and aroma. However, there is little information on the genetic variability and inheritance of mineral elements in strawberry. This is important as it can influence the selection of better genotypes and suitable breeding approaches for improvements in the nutritional quality of fruit. The objectives of the present study were, therefore, to estimate the variability, inheritance, and inter-relationships of mineral elements, to identify mineral-rich and productive genotypes, and to suggest suitable breeding approaches. A significant genotypic mean square for all the minerals studied indicated sufficient variation among genotypes. Our results also indicated that the effect of genotype on the mineral content of fruit was stronger than that of environment. Six genotypes, namely ‘Ofra’, ‘Sweet Charlie’, ‘Elista’, ‘Festival’, ‘Camarosa’, and ‘Douglas’ were found to have higher mineral contents as well as better fruit yields, and therefore could be useful in further breeding programmes. N, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu contents, together with fruit yield, could be improved by selection and hybridisation as these traits showed high heritability (> 80%) and high genetic advance as a percentage of the mean (> 40%), while recurrent selection was suitable for increasing P contents, which showed moderate heritability (> 79.81%) and low genetic advance as a percentage of the mean (> 33.86%). Moreover, Mg and N contents could be used as reliable tools with which to identify the most productive and mineral-rich genotypes, as indicated by correlation and path analysis. Studies on such genetic estimates will increase our understanding of the inheritance of mineral contents and affect the design of crop improvement strategies.

Production potential, profitability and energetics of transplanted rice as influenced by establishment methods and nutrient management practices in Eastern Himalaya

A field experiment was conducted at Agricultural Research Farm of ICAR RC for NEH Region, Nagaland Centre, Jharnapani in two consecutive kharif seasons of 2011 and 2012 to compare the effect of establishment methods and nutrient management practices on production potential, nutrient uptake and energetics in transplanted rice under the hill ecosystem of Nagaland. Results showed that plant height, tillers/m2, dry matter production, root volume and root biomass was recorded significantly higher with system of rice intensification (SRI) followed by integrated crop management (ICM) and conventionally tillage rice (CTR) during both the years. Similarly, the higher number of panicles/hill and panicle length and grain yield were recorded under SRI as compared to ICM and CTR. Among the nutrient management practices, application of 100% RDF+rice straw @ 5 t/ha was recorded markedly higher growth and yield attributes. Further, application of 100% RDF+rice straw 5 t/ha produced the higher grain yield (4.9 and 4.5 t/ha) followed by 100% RDN (farm yard manure)+rice straw @ 5 t/ha (4.7 and 5.4 t/ha), respectively. Among the nutrient management practices, application of 100% RDF+rice straw @ 5 t/ha fetched the maximum net returns and B: C ratio.

Response of summer mungbean to sowing time, seed rates and integrated nutrient management

A field experiment was carried out at Agricultural Research Farm of ICAR RC for NEH Region, Jharnapani in summer seasons of 2010 and 2011 to assess the effect of sowing time, seed rates and integrated nutrition on yield attributes, yield, nutrient uptake, quality and soil health of mungbean. Results revealed that yield attributes, yield, N, P and K uptake of mungbean was recorded significantly higher in 5th April than April 15th sown crop. However, yield attributes, yield, N, P and K uptake of mungbean was noted markedly higher with seed rate of 35 kg/ha, which was significantly superior to 20, 25 and 30 kg/ha. Similarly, application of 50% RDF+50% RDN+PSB produced significantly higher yield attributes, yield, N, P, K uptake by mungbean.

Productivity, Quality and Soil Health as Influenced by Organic, Inorganic and Biofertilizer on Field Pea in Eastern Himalaya

A field experiment was conducted during two consecutive years of 2010–2011 and 2011–2012 to study the effect of biofertilizers in conjunction with organic and inorganic sources of nutrient management on productivity, quality and soil health on field pea at ICAR RC for NEH Region, Nagaland Centre Jharnapani, Nagaland, India. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with five nutrient sources in main plots and four treatment of biofertilizers with zinc in sub plots. Results indicated that the application of 100% recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) through inorganic + 50% recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN) through vermicompost significantly improved root nitrogen (N) content, cation exchange capacity (CEC) of roots, NA activates, seed yield (1153 and 1262 kg ha−1), straw yield (2182 and 2332 kg ha−1) in the year of 2010–2011 and 2011–2012, respectively. Nutrients (N, P, K, S and Zn) uptake by seed and straw, protein content, protein harvest, soil organic carbon (SOC), available N, P, K, S, Zn and economics significantly higher with 100% RDF through inorganic + 50% RDN through vermicompost during both the years. Seed inoculation with biofertilizers along with 5 kg Zn ha−1 markedly enhanced the root N content, CEC of roots, nitrogenase activities (NA), seed yield (1080 and 1193 kg ha−1), straw yield (1978 and 2128 kg ha−1), nutrients [N, phosphorus (P), potassium (K), sulfur (S) and zinc (Zn)] uptake, soil organic carbon (SOC) (%), and available N, P, K, S, and Zn of pea in both the years, respectively. These sources also give more income and benefit cost ratio per rupees invested.

Effect of integrated nutrition, biofertilizers and zinc application on production potential and profitability of garden pea (Pisum sativum L.) in eastern Himalaya, India

A field experiment was conducted during 2010–11 and 2011–12 to evaluate the effect of inorganic, organic and biofertlizers on growth, yield and economics of garden pea. Application of 100% RDF (NPKS i.e. 40:20:20:20) along with 50% RDN (20 kg nitrogen through vermicompost) to garden pea result in higher growth attributes such as plant height (52.05 and 53.85 cm), number of branches plant−1 (5.94 and 6.25), dry matter production plant−1 (31.92 and 33.45 g), root dry weight (1.83 and 2.13 g plant−1), number of nodules plant−1 (20.51 and 21.80) and nodules dry weight (66.63 and 67.88 mg) in the year of 2010 and 2011, respectively. The yield attributes viz, number of pods plant−1 (15.43 and 16.58), number of seeds pod−1 (5.84 and 6.09), 100-grain weight (20.30 and 20.76 g); and grain yield (11.94 and 12.88 g plant−1) and straw yield (21.50 and 22.30 g plant−1) were significantly higher recorded with the application of 100% RDF along with 50% RDN during both the years, respectively. The grain (11.53 and 12.62 q ha−1), straw (21.86 and 23.32 q ha−1) and biological yield (30.95 and 35.93 q ha−1) were recorded with above treatment in respective years. Gross return, net return, B:C ratio, production efficiency (kg day−1 ha−1) and economic efficiency (Rs. ha−1 day−1) were also noted higher with 100% RDF + 50% RDN during both the years. The seed inoculation with biofertilizers + zinc @ 5 kg ha−1 gave the significantly higher growth and yield attributes; seed yield (10.73 and 11.97 q ha−1), straw yield (19.65 and 21.15 q ha−1) and biological yield (30.56 and 33.13 q ha−1) in both the years, respectively. In both the years, gross return (Rs. 36131 and 40151), net return (Rs. 24495 and 28515), B: C ratio (2.07 and 2.42), production efficiency (9.67 and 10.99 kg day−1 ha−1) and economic efficiency (Rs. 221 and 262 day−1 ha−1) were obtained with the combined applied of biofertilizers + zinc @ 5 kg ha−1 during both the years, respectively.

Evaluation of Rajma Bean Landraces for Growth, Yield and Quality under Low Altitude Condition of Nagaland

1 (Fruit Science), ICAR Central Citrus Research Institute, Amravati Road, Nagpur – 440033, Maharashtra, India 2 ICAR Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute, Umiam, Barapani – 793103, Meghalaya, India 3 (Agronomy), ICAR Research Complex for Eastern Region, Patna 800014, Bihar, India 4 SMS (Horticulture), 5 SMS (Plant Breeding) KVK, ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Nagaland Centre, Jharnapani 797106, Nagaland, India

Quality and shelf-life of ready to use brined ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) slices

Ginger ( Zingiber officinale Rosc.) is one of the widely grown commercially important spices of North East India. Storage of fresh ginger for more than one month is problematic due to severe weight loss and sprouting. The present study was conducted to preserve the peeled ginger slices in acidified brine solution in plastic containers at ambient condition. The ginger rhizomes of Bhola variety harvested at 270 days after planting was found better for preservation of ginger slices of 1.5-2.0 mm thickness in brine. The ginger slices treated with 9 per cent brined solution acidified with 2 per cent citric acid and potassium metabisulphite and benzoic acid 50 ppm each as preservative resulted in better retention of biochemical qualities like crude protein (5.67%), total soluble carbohydrate (12.89%), oleoresin (4.17%) with better organoleptic qualities and no microbial growth after 180 days of storage. The ginger slices could be safely stored up to 180 days. The brined ginger slices may serve as substitute for fresh ginger during the lean period.

Weed management practices in upland direct seeded jhum rice under the Eastern Himalayas

In upland direct seeded jhum rice, weed infestation is a serious problem, which results in drastically reduced the crop yield. Average yield of rice crop in North-Eastern Hilly region including the Nagaland is very low due to non-availability of adequate and suitable crop production technology. Among them, the principal factor associated with low yield in jhum rice is severe weed competition. Jhum farmers of this region traditionally apply common salt (NaCl) in upland rice as a post-emergence to manage broad leaf weeds. Keeping the above facts in view, an efforts have been made to study the validation of indigenous technical knowledge for weed management in upland jhum rice to evolve a feasible weed management practices for tribal community of the region. Therefore, a replicated field experiment with rice cv. Bhalum-3 was conducted during kharif seasons of 2013 and 2014 at farmers’ field in Medziphema village of Dimapur district in Nagaland. The following 12 treatments of common salt (2–20% or 20–200 kg/ha) including control and weed free check were imposed in completely randomized block design and replicated thrice. The common salt was applied as foliar spray through flat fan nozzle using water as a carrier @ 500–600 l/ha at 20 and 40 DAS to the rice. Results revealed that altogether 17 weed species were identified in upland jhum rice, among them the broad-leaved weeds viz. Borreria hispida, Urena lobota, Eupotorium odoratum and Biden pilosa noted the prominent weed flora. Application of increasing levels of common salt i.e. 2 to 20% NaCl increased weed control efficiency (WCE%) but highest values were recorded with application of 20% common salt at 20 DAS as compared to salt applied at 40 DAS. Among the levels of common salt, application of 10% NaCl gave significantly higher grain yield (2315.6 kg/ha) as compared to their preceding levels except weed free check (2517.7 kg/ha).