<div>Background: Quality determination of frozen semen before using for Artificial Insemination (AI) in cattle is of paramount importance. The success of cattle AI programs is largely depends on the use of good quality semen and thus assessment of semen quality parameters before AI will improve the conception rate and reduces the loss associated with repeated breeding. Among the various semen quality indicators, sperm motility is one of the important parameter and it should be evaluated immediately after semen collection (before freezing) and 24 hrs after freezing as per minimum standard protocol in frozen semen production. Though the motility is a major determinant of spermatozoa ability to reach the site of fertilization and it is affected by cryopreservation and subsequent poor cold storage facilities, motility is not frequently evaluated under field conditions. In the current scenario, many of our government AI sub-stations in remote villages are not equipped with microscope facility for semen quality evaluation before AI.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: In this study, we used foldscope, an origami-based paper microscope which give optical quality similar to conventional microscopes (magnification of 140X and 2-micron resolution), to evaluate the frozen semen motility at field level. In this study, the motility of spermatozoa was observed under foldscope and concluded that foldscope is very useful to asses the motility befor AI and improve the fertility in dairy animals.&nbsp; 
 
Result: We revealed that, utility of foldscope to assess the motility of spermatozoa was evaluated under field conditions and observed that 46% of sperms were motile. Further, evalaution of sperm motility before AI is not very common practice due to lack of microscope in many AI centres. Therefore, foldscope will be very useful at field conditions to avoid AI using poor quality semen and subsequent loss associated with repeat breeding problems.</div>

Assessment of Frozen Semen Quality through Foldscope Microscopy- A Novel Application of Frugal Science to Reduce the Infertility Rate

<div>Background: Assessment and mapping of quality of irrigated groundwater may help the farmers in selection of suitable crops and other agronomic management practices for getting profitable yields without affecting the soil health. The spatial maps of different parameters, prepared using GIS could be valuable for policy makers. 
 
Methods: A survey was undertaken during the year 2021 to assess the quality of groundwater for irrigation in various mandals of Anantapur district, Andhra Pradesh. A total of 492 samples were collected and GPS locations of sampling points were recorded. The water samples were analyzed for various chemical properties viz., pH, EC, Ca+2, Mg+2, Na+ and K+; CO3-2, HCO3-, Cl- and SO4-2.&nbsp; 
 
Result: The pH, EC, SAR and RSC in groundwater ranged from 6.7-8.4, 0.4-10.7 (dSm-1), 0.43-36.4 (mmol l-1)1/2, -66.8-15.4 (me l-1). The concentration of cations viz., Ca+2, Mg+2, Na+ and K+ varied from 0.8-28.4, 0-43.2, 0.73-70.1 and 0.001-51.76 me l-1 with mean values of 4.23, 3.86, 5.29 and 0.22 me l-1 respectively. Concentration of anions viz., CO3-2, HCO3-, Cl- and SO4-2 varied from 0-1.8, 0.88-15.4, 0.4-59.6 and 0.21-17.08 me l-1 with an average values of 0.22, 6.42, 5.33 and 2.29 me l-1 respectively.&nbsp;</div>

Groundwater Quality Assessment for Anantapur District of Andhra Pradesh for Irrigation Purpose

Background: Maintaining soybean seed quality during storage is crucial for sustaining profitable seed production. The weak seed coat and abundant fatty acid content in soybean causes seeds to lose viability more quickly and are very sensitive to the storage environment. The kinds of chemical reactions that take place during storage have been linked to emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), suggesting that these reactions might be used as indicators of the seed quality. Hence, the present study was conducted to profile the VOCs emitted during storage and their relationship to the physiological and biochemical quality of soybean seeds. 
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Methods: Soybean seeds were subjected to VOC profiling using gas chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) and physiological and biochemical quality assessments at monthly intervals over an eight-month storage period. 
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Result: GC-MS/MS identified sixty-eight volatile compounds in the soybean seeds stored over an eight-month period. The aldehyde (37.84%) contributed to the 1/3 of total emission of different groups of volatiles emitted from stored soybean seeds. Concurrently, seed germination, seedling dry weight and vigour declined, indicating deterioration in physiological quality. Biochemical analysis showed increased seed leachate electrical conductivity, lipoxygenase activity and lipid peroxidation, alongside decreased catalase, peroxidase and dehydrogenase enzyme activity, suggesting increased oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation in soybean seeds. The strong link between increased VOC emissions and the decline in seed quality parameters underscores the critical role of VOC in assessing the loss of seed viability of soybean during storage.

The Impact of Volatile Organic Compounds on Assessing Soybean Seed Quality during Storage

Background: Agricultural products are essential for human beings and maintaining their quality and storing them under optimal conditions is important. Sesame is a widely used cooking oil. Oil production and quality are important aspects of&nbsp;the food industry. However, during storage, the quality of sesame seeds can be greatly affected by factors such as moisture content, microbial growth and pests. Conventional techniques for eliminating pests and drying frequently entail the use of chemicals or high temperatures, which could cause health hazards and diminish the nutritional value of the seeds. However, dielectric measurement is a low-cost, rapid and effective technique for the detection and quality assessment of agricultural products. 
 
Methods: A specially designed coaxial sample holder was connected to an LCR Meter by using a computer-controlled interface. It operates on the principle of a cylindrical capacitor and is based on the cavity perturbation technique. The sample was contained in the cavity of a cylindrical sample holder and a specifically constructed temperature controller sensor assembly was used to regulate the temperature. Five different moisture concentrations of sesame oilseeds were prepared to study their dielectric permittivity, electrical conductivity and penetration depth over the frequency range of 100 Hz to 5 MHz.&nbsp; 
 
Result: This study indicates that the dielectric constant tends to change in a more regular and understandable manner as the frequency and moisture content vary, whereas the behaviour of the dielectric loss factor was less predictable and more irregular in response to the same changes. A linear regression model was developed to investigate the impact of the dielectric constant and loss on frequency and temperature. An R2 value of 0.705 indicates that the model is well explained, with 27.6% of the variance in temperature and frequency.

Radio Frequency Treatment of Sesame Oilseed for Quality Assessment

The urgent need to grow more food to feed the growing population has led to intensive farming with a lot of negative impacts on soil health as well as the ecosystem. To mitigate the negative impacts of conventional farming, the concept of organic farming has resurfaced. However, separate study of conventional and organic farming does not give a comparative assessment between two production system. The compensation of yield loss under organic farming could only be overlooked through enhancing the quality of produce. Good quality produce is just as important as quantity, yet quantity is typically prioritized. There is a myth that organically grown produce is superior and tastier than conventionally grown produce, yet this isn&rsquo;t always the case. So, it&rsquo;s high time to screen out the specific nutrient/ vitamin or any other quality parameter that can be enhanced through organic farming. So that agro-technique for organic fortification can be developed for the future researchers. Almost 71 research experiment were carefully studied and tried to assess the impact on organic farming on quality of produce. In developed and developing countries the area is increasing with an average growth rate of 20-25 %. Organically grown produce enhanced the mineral content especially phosphorous, and iron in rice, increased the protein content of maize by 8 to 19%, lysine content in wheat by 25-30%, ash and crude fat content in millets and oats and many more. Besides, improving physical appearances such as kernel length, elongation ratio of cereals, the cooking time has been greatly reduced in organic than inorganic production system. Even, the crude protein and oil contents greatly increased in the oilseed crops in organic production system over inorganic. However, variable response was reported in case of tuber crops, as quality parameters as well as organoleptic taste between conventional as well as organic farming system remained insignificant. However, few researchers reported significant increase in tuber dry matter content (20.92%) as well as quality traits for processing of tubers under organic farming system. Likewise, the oleoresin (5.26%) and essential oil (3.96%) contents of zinger rhizomes and curcumin (5.3%) and essential oil contents (4.2%) of turmeric greatly increased in organic production system over inorganic.&nbsp;

Quality Assessment of Different Agricultural Produce under Organic as Well as Inorganic Production System: A Review

<div style="text-align:justify">Background: Evaluation of the nutritional composition of genetically modified (GM) crops is mandatory for their deregulation. Chickpea is known for its high-quality protein and demonstrating that the seed protein quality of transgenic chickpea remains unaltered is important for its acceptance. Amino acid content, seed storage protein profile and the digestibility of chickpea protein are important determinants of seed protein quality. Thus, in the present study, we assessed the effect of &nbsp;Bt (Cry2Aa) gene expression on the Bt chickpea seed protein quality. 
 
Methods: We assessed the amino acid profile, in vitro protein digestibility and factors affecting protein digestibility like trypsin inhibitor, tannins and phytic acid contents of the transgenic Bt chickpea expressing a codon modified Cry2Aa gene and its non-transgenic counterpart. Furthermore, the seed storage proteins were also fractionated and separated on SDS-PAGE followed by mass spectroscopy of the major peptides. 
 
Result: Amino acid profile and factors affecting protein digestibility revealed no significant variations between transgenic and non-transgenic chickpeas. Seed storage protein profile confirmed the presence of legumin, vicilin and albumin. No potential change in the digestibility pattern of seed proteins was revealed. Our findings suggest no potential unintended changes in chickpea seed protein quality due to the expression of Cry2Aa gene.</div>

<div style="text-align:justify">Assessment of Seed Protein Quality of A Transgenic Chickpea Event Expressing Cry2Aa Protein</div>

<div>Background: This study aims was to assess the water quality and efficiency of the Ouled Mellouk dam treatment plant (North Western Algeria). This plant consists of conventional water treatment units, like other treatment plants in Algeria, these were coagulation- floculation, sedimentation, filtration and disinfection. 
 
Methods: The study was based on analyzes and monitoring of the main physico-chemical and bacteriological parameters of raw and treated water monthly from January to December 2018. 
 
Result: Raw water has relatively high hardness (49&deg;F). Turbidity was high (23.93 NTU), manganese has a max of 0.407 mg/l. These values exceeded the Algerian standards limits. Nutrients and organic matter were in increase and coliforms were present with high levels. All analysed parameters were in decrease in treated water, with the exception of sulphate which was in increase and they were within the Algerian standards. The plant has a moderate removal efficiency of 48%, with a high removal effeciency of coliforms (100%), of turbidity (94.62%) and manganese (88.69%).</div>

​Water Quality Assessment of the Ouled Mellouk Dam Treatment Plant, North Western Algeria

Background: The subtropical regions of Jammu and Kashmir face unique agricultural challenges due to their climatic conditions and irrigation needs. The integration of cereals, legumes and grasses into sustainable forage cropping sequences offer a promising solution to enhance both productivity and nutritional quality of livestock feed. This study aims to assess the nutritional quality of these diverse forage crops under irrigated conditions providing valuable insights for improving agricultural sustainability and livestock health in the region. By optimizing forage cropping systems, this research seeks to contribute to the development of resilient agricultural practices in the subtropics of Jammu and Kashmir.s 
 
Methods: The study was conducted at Research Farm, Division of Agronomy, SKUAST &ndash; Jammu during 2020 and 2021 focused on assessing sustainable forage cropping sequences for continuous high-quality green fodder production in subtropical irrigated zones of India. The experimental field had sandy clay loam soil with slightly alkaline pH, low organic carbon and nitrogen levels and medium availability of potassium and phosphorus. It comprised 24 treatments arranged in RBD and replicated three times with nutrient application following recommended practices. 
 
Result: The experimental results revealed that Multicut Sorghum + Maize with Root slips of Napier planted in July recorded significantly higher ADF, NDF, hemi cellulose and cellulose content at each cut which was statistically at par with Multicut Sorghum + Maize with Root slips of Setaria planted in July, Multicut Sorghum + Maize with Stem cuttings of Napier planted in January and Multicut Sorghum + Maize with Stem cuttings of Setaria planted in January during both the years of experimentation. However, significantly lowest ADF content was recorded with Multicut Bajra + Cowpea with stem cuttings of Setaria planted in January.

Assessing Nutritional Quality of Sustainable forage Sequences Including Cereals, Legumes and Grasses in Irrigated Subtropics of Jammu and Kashmir - India

Background: Simple Sequence Repeat (SSR) markers are crucial tools for molecular breeding and genetic diversity studies in legumes. Traditional SSR marker development relies on subjective quality assessment methods, which are time-consuming, costly and prone to inconsistency. The lack of quantitative frameworks for predicting marker quality limits the efficiency of breeding programs and genomic studies. To develop a comprehensive machine learning framework for automated SSR marker quality prediction, identify key determinants of marker success through quantitative analysis and establish evidence-based design principles for efficient marker development in legume crops. 
 
Methods: We engineered 15 predictive features from primer design parameters and SSR structural characteristics of 99 horsegram SSR markers. Three machine learning algorithms (Random Forest, Support Vector Regression and Neural Network) were trained and validated using cross-validation. Feature importance analysis quantified the contribution of each parameter to marker quality prediction. 
 
Result: Random Forest achieved optimal performance (R&sup2; = 0.378, MAE = 8.106) with 37.8% explained variance in marker quality prediction. Feature importance analysis revealed primer compatibility factors as dominant predictors: GC content balance between primers (35.6% importance) and melting temperature compatibility (32.2% importance). SSR structural features contributed 22.9% importance, with motif complexity (8.6%) and motif length (8.5%) being most significant. Cross-validation confirmed robust model performance (CV R&sup2; = 0.342 &plusmn; 0.089) across different data subsets.

Machine Learning Framework for Automated SSR Marker Quality Assessment in Horsegram (Macrotyloma uniflorum)

Present study was aimed to determine the seed quality of groundnut used for sowing by farmers of Devbhoomi Dwarka district of Gujarat. Eighty two samples of farmers saved seeds of groundnut were collected from four villages of Jam Khambhalia, six villages of Kalyanpur, one village of Dwarka and three villages of Bhanvad talukas of Devbhoomi Dwarka. The study revealed that 96.34 per cent of seed samples conformed to the prescribed seed standards for germination, moisture content, physical purity, insect infestation; while, 76.83 per cent of seed samples recorded equal or higher than 70 per cent field emergence. The results suggest that the quality of groundnut seed used for sowing by farmers was satisfactory in Devbhoomi Dwarka of Gujarat. However, farmers need to be more educated about the importance and advantages of using good quality certified seeds and shall be trained for maintenance of seed quality by adopting pre and post harvest measures so as to harvest good yields of the desired varieties.&nbsp;