<p style="text-align: justify;">In this research, convective and microwave drying characteristics, energy requirement and color changes of nettle leaves (Urtica diocia L.) were reported. Samples of freshly harvested nettle leaves were dehydrated under three air temperatures of 50 &deg;C, 60 &deg;C and 70 &deg;C and at three microwave power levels of PL-1, PL-2 and PL-3. Selected drying air velocity was 0.30 m/s for all temperatures. This is coming from the fact that it was understood from the preliminary studies that the temperature less than 50 &deg;C and the air speed more than 0.30 ms-1 increase the drying time and energy requirement, extremely for these products. Nettle leaves were dehydrated from the initial moisture content of 320 (percentage dry basis) to a final moisture content of 7 % to 9 %. During convective drying experiments, product were weighted automatically by the balance per (5 to10) min. Data were transferred to the computer and processed by a software. During microwave drying, the product were weighted and data recorded manually per (15 to 60) min. The influence of drying method, drying air temperature and microwave power level have also been studied. Hunter L, a, b values system was also used to evaluate changes in total color difference (DE) on dried products. The results showed that convective drying air temperature and microwave oven power levels influenced the total drying time, total energy requirement, specific energy requirement and color difference for nettle leaves. The minimum specific energy requirement were determined as 6.95 kWhkg-1 and 23.63 kWhkg-1 for 70 &deg;C and PL-2 respectively. 70 &deg;C drying air temperature and PL-3 was found to yield better quality product in terms of color retention of Hunter L, a, b and &nbsp;DE. As a result, to reduce drying energy consumption and to keep better color retention, convective drying can be recommended for this application.</p>


<p>Convective and microwave drying characteristics, energy requirement&nbsp;and color retention of dehydrated nettle leaves (<em>Urtica diocia</em> L.)&nbsp;</p>


<div>Energy dynamics of the weed control options adopted in rainfed cotton was valuated in a study conducted at College farm, PJTSAU, Hyderabad, Telangana State during kharif, 2017 in red and black soils. Three doses of Diuron (0.5, 0.75 and 1.0 kg ha-1), pendimethalin 38.7% CS at 677 g ha-1 as PE followed by sequential application of pyrithiobac sodium 10% EC 62.5 g ha-1 + quizalofop p ethyl 5% EC 50 g ha-1, intercropping of cotton with green manure crop (Sunhemp), mechanical weeding thrice at 20, 40 and 60 DAS (weed free), polymulch and unweeded control were thQAe treatments included in RBD design which was replicated thrice. The energy balance studies were determined by using direct and indirect energy. The results indicated that the maximum energy input was required for polymulch in both the soils. Highest kapas energy output (EOk) was observed in polymulch and mechanical weeding which was followed by diuron 1.0 kg ha-1PE fb pyrithiobac sodium + quizalofop p ethyl PoEin red soil, whereas in black soils, diuron 0.75 kg ha-1PE fb pyrithiobac sodium + quizalofop p ethyl PoE followed polymulch and mechanical weeding treatments. EUE of both kapas and total output was significantly higher in diuron 1.0 kg ha-1PE fb pyrithiobac sodium + quizalofop p ethyl PoE in red soil. While in black soil, significantly highest EUE of kapas and total output was recorded in diuron 0.75 kg ha-1PE fbpyrithiobac sodium + quizalofop p ethyl PoE.</div>


<div>Energy Balance Studies of Weed Control Practices in Rainfed Cotton</div>


<div>There are different agro climatic zones in the tropical countries hence seasonal change is most evident. Adverse climate might lead to environmental stress and changes of physiological and haemato-biochemical parameters in the body. Of the many types of stresses affecting rate and efficiency of animal productivity, most important are the thermal environment and associated factors of humidity, radiation and air movement than factors such as altitude, animal density, confinement <em>etc.&nbsp;</em>To reduce this condition, adequate nutrient requirement through diet should be fulfilled basically requirement for maintenance and production purpose. Nutrient requirements have been commonly esthablished in conditions presumed to be relatively free of environmental stress and animals are expected to perform near the genetic potential in the intensive production system. For that reason, such requirements are most relevent during optimum environmental conditions and are less appropriate when animals are exposed to stressful environments. Recently the feeding systems followed in tropical countries are ME and NE for energy feeding and for protein feeding CP along with MP system to meet the nutrient requirement. Here, an effort has been made to review the different modifications of feeding system over the earlier one along with influence of climate and related factors that affect nutrient requirement and utilization. The aim of the present manuscript is to modify the requirement with various climatic variables for augmenting production efficiency and cost effective farming.</div>


<p>Seasonal Influence on Nutrient Requirements of Ruminants: A Review</p>


<div><strong>Background: </strong>This study is meant to examine the energy requirement and energy input- output of different cropping sequences&nbsp;.The crucial objective to conduct experiment to understand energy efficiency using inputs and outputs which were disbursed in cropping sequences. Hence, it is need of the hour to identify the most remunerative and cost effective cropping sequence with high energy efficient for UGP of India.</div>

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<div><strong>Methods: </strong>This study was carried out at the research farm of ICAR-Indian Institute of Farming Systems Research, Modipuram, during 2017-2021.The divergent cropping sequences<em> viz.</em>&nbsp;sugarcane-ratoon-wheat (CS1); rice-wheat-dhaincha (CS2); pigeonpea +maize-chickpea-okra (CS3); maize-berseem-black gram (CS4); sorghum-mustard-green gram (CS5) and Napier+cowpea/berseem (CS6) were compared in reference to curtail higher energy inputs&nbsp; through selected alternate cropping sequences. The obtained energy values were calculated by multiplying the amount of inputs and outputs by using energy conversion factors.<br />
<br />
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<div><strong>Result:</strong> Maximum inputs energy consumed by sugarcane crop alone (33.14x10<sup>3</sup> MJ ha<sup>-1</sup>). Results shown that irrigation, seed, fertilizers and diesel required higher energy for the completion of cultural operations. However, higher inputs energy was used in irrigation followed by seed and fertilizers, respectively. In regard to per cent energy intake through inputs, the highest energy spent was for irrigation (35.30 MJ ha<sup>-1</sup>) and fertilizer (23.80 MJ ha<sup>-1</sup>).The wheat equivalent yield was higher in sugarcane-ratoon-wheat (125.58 t ha<sup>-1</sup>). Maximum output energy was with above system (596.70&times;10<sup>3</sup> MJ ha<sup>-1</sup>). Highest net energy returns was counted with sugarcane-ratoon-wheat (549.37x10<sup>3</sup> MJ ha<sup>-1</sup>), energy ratio (12.60) and energy profitability (11.60). Indeed, energy efficiency was highest in same system (1657.50) followed by maize-berseem-black gram (1421.96).</div>

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<p>Energy Budgeting of Different Cropping Sequences in the Indian Upper Gangetic Plains</p>


<div><strong>Background: </strong>Rice is the major crop in India in terms of area, production and consumption. Rice occupies about 23% of the gross cropped area and 35% of the total area under food grains in the country. Rice is of one key importance to the economy as well as a staple food for Telangana people, requiring about 50 lakh tons annually to feed the state population. In recent times the area under rice cultivation has been increased and is expected to hit the one crore acre mark by rabi season 2022. In any type of crop production&nbsp; system an accountability of inputs, energy spent, yield and costs must be monitored, by that one can modify it or substitute it for obtaining the better results.&nbsp;<br />
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<strong>Methods: </strong>Due to decline in the share of agriculture workers in the country, there is a need to adopt new technologies in rice cultivation. Dry direct seeding of rice refers to direct sowing of rice seeds in the dry field rather than by transplanting seedlings from the nursery. A study was conducted to compute the inputs and energy consumptions in manual transplanted rice production (MTR) and dry direct seeding rice production (DDSR) methods of paddy cultivation in the combined Nalgonda district of Telangana State, during 2020-21. Firstly, the different operations performed in these two methods were listed out, then by using suitable energy equivalents total energy consumed in two methods of operations were calculated.<br />
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<strong>Result:</strong> The human energy spent in the manual transplanted rice production and dry direct seeded rice productions were 506 and 92.84 MJ/ha respectively. Specific energy noted for dry direct seeded rice production and manual transplanted rice productions were 2.10 and 2.28 MJ/kg respectively. A total saving of Rs. 16,000/- ha<sup>-1</sup> was recorded by practicing the dry direct seeded rice production method over the manual transplanted rice production method. On comparing both the methods for overall energy consumption, manual energy consumption and cost of cultivation DDSR method was found to be more efficient than MTR method in the district.</div>


<p>Energy Assessment of Manual Transplanting Rice and Dry Direct Seeding Rice Production Systems in Combined Nalgonda District, Telangana</p>


<p>Agriculture in India is characterised by small and marginal farmers and they constitute nearly 80 per cent of the total land holdings. The cultivation of multiple crops under small land holdings results in regular production of lesser quantities of vegetables, which the farmers cannot take to the market regularly, leading to a distress local sale of produce through the middlemen. Facilities to store the produce for a shorter period and taking a bulk of commodity to the market would be a viable option for them. Though the refrigerated storage of vegetables can keep them fresh over a longer period, the high initial investment and energy requirement appears to be the hurdles for small and marginal farmers. The zero energy cool chamber could be the best alternative to such farmers having smaller holdings especially for short term on farm storage of perishables without any recurring expenditure on energy source, as it works on the principle of evaporative cooling. The present study on the storability of vegetables under ZECC had proved its usefulness in extending the storability of tropical vegetables, with reduction in temperature up to 9o C and increase in relative humidity by 18 per cent could be achieved inside the chamber compared to ambience. The ZECC proved useful in storage of vegetables with minimum PLW and decay and the freshness was retained for 3 days in lab lab, 4 days in bhendi, five days brinjal, bitter gourd and radish.<br />
&nbsp;</p>


<p>Studies on storability of vegetables in zero energy cool chamber</p>


<div><strong>Background: </strong>Conservation agriculture (CA), an agricultural production system with optimum inputs, high returns and sustainability while conserving environment is primarily required for command areas and rainfed uplands. CA helps to improve and conserve soil health through crop rotation, mulching, minimum field traffic and mechanical soil disturbance etc and conserve water to achieve economically and ecologically sustainable crop production.<br />
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<strong>Methods: </strong>The field experiment was conducted for two years during 2019-21 to evaluate the influence of conservation agricultural practices on the system productivity, production efficiency and energy use under legume based cropping system in a command area. Treatments comprised of four cropping systems as Groundnut - foxtail millet (C<sub>1</sub>), Groundnut - barnyard millet (C<sub>2</sub>), Daincha - foxtail millet (C<sub>3</sub>) and Daincha - barn yard millet (C<sub>4</sub>) in main plots and foliar application of organics, 3% panchagavya, 1% PPFM and 0.1% humic acid formed subplots.<br />
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<strong>Result: </strong>System productivity in terms of Groundnut equivalent yield (GEY) was significantly higher (8395 kg/ha) in the Groundnut - Barnyard millet cropping system with foliar application of PPFM 1% in CA system than that of conventional method. The production efficiency was maximum in Groundnut - barnyard millet system (34.41 kg/ha/day) and Groundnut - foxtail millet recorded the highest energy use efficiency (6.8%) which shows that maximum energy was effectively utilized under the system. Daincha - foxtail millet system had highest energy productivity of 0.91 kg M/J. Thus, the conservation tillage based Groundnut - barnyard millet system recorded more system productivity, highest resource use efficiency (both production and land use efficiency) and the highest energy use efficiency.</div>


<p>​Conservation Agriculture Practices: Impact on Productivity, Energy Utilisation and Profitability of Legume-based Cropping System</p>


<div><strong>Background: </strong>Energy analysis of agroecosystems and cropping systems is an important tool to assess environmental and soil-related challenges and their relation to sustainability. Chickpea cultivation, being energy-intensive, requires systematic evaluation in terms of energy budgeting, efficiency and productivity under different management practices.<br />
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<strong>Methods: </strong>The present study aimed to compare the economics of chickpea cultivation in terms of energy budgeting, energy efficiency and energy productivity. Data were collected through face-to-face questionnaires with farmers and crop cutting experiments were conducted each year from 2018-19 to 2022-23 by Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Sawaimadhopur. Two management practices were compared: farmers&rsquo; practice and integrated crop management (ICM).<br />
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<strong>Result: </strong>The total energy requirement under ICM plots (5219.18, 5219.18, 5515.14, 5515.14 and 5221.14 MJ ha<sup>-1</sup>&nbsp;from 2018-19 to 2022-23) was approximately 12.73%, 12.73%, 7.72%, 7.72% and 12.74% lower, respectively, than that of farmers&rsquo; practice (5977.32 MJ ha<sup>-1</sup>). The energy use efficiency of ICM plots was higher each year (15.78, 16.73, 15.32, 15.62 and 16.53) compared to farmers&rsquo; practice (11.04, 11.99, 11.14, 12.26 and 12.30). Similarly, energy productivity in ICM plots (0.42, 0.42, 0.39, 0.39 and 0.42) was consistently greater than in farmers&rsquo; practice plots (0.27, 0.30, 0.30, 0.31 and 0.31).</div>


<p>Energy Use Efficiency and Economics of Chickpea Production: A Comparison of Integrated Crop Management and Farmers&rsquo; Practices in Rajasthan</p>


<div style="text-align: justify;">Present experiment was conducted to study the effect of varied levels of metabolizable energy (ME) on performance and antioxidant status of Murrah buffaloes. Advance pregnant Murrah buffaloes (n=16) were randomly divided into three experimental groups i.e., 5, 5 and 6 animals in LME, MME and HME, respectively on the basis of most probable production ability (MPPA) and lactation number. They were fed graded levels of ME, namely low metabolizable energy (LME), medium metabolizable energy (MME), high metabolizable energy (HME) which is 85, 100 and 115 percent of ICAR, 2013 requirements for 130 days, duration i.e., 40 day prepartum to 90 days postpartum. Animals in group LME, MME and HME were offered concentrate with metabolizable energy content (MJ/kg DM) 11.80, 12.18, and 13.85, respectively. Green fodder (maize) and dry roughage (wheat straw) were fed as per the experimental protocol. No significant effect on dry matter intake (DMI), crude protein (CPI) and metabolizable protein (MPI) (% BW) were observed due to dietary variation in ME. ME intake (MJ/100 kg BW) before and after calving was statistical (P&lt;0.05) higher in HME (15.01, 24.66) followed by MME (14.07, 22.11) and LME (12.33, 19.16) groups, respectively. Significant (P&lt;0.05) higher milk yield efficiency (kg/kg DMI) and 6% FCM (kg/kg DMI) were observed in MME in comparison to HME group. The antioxidant profile revealed no significant influence of dietary treatment on superoxide dismutase (SOD) and ferric reducing activity of plasma (FRAP) whereas significant (P&lt;0.05) lower level of antioxidant status i.e., glutathione peroxidase (GPx) (&micro;mol/L) in HME (1834.60) than LME (2240.23) was observed. Considering optimum production performance and similar antioxidant activity among treatment groups, it can be concluded that ICAR, 2013 recommendations are suitable for feeding transition Murrah buffaloes.</div>

<div style="text-align: justify;">Influence of varied metabolizable energy levels on antioxidant status and performance of transition Murrah buffaloes</div>

<div><strong>Background:</strong> High performance hybrid broilers require a high energy diet to exploit their full genetic potential. Therefore, high energy sources are being used in broiler diet which creates interest in the use of emulsifiers along with fat source. Hence, this study was conducted to evolve emulsifier supplementation strategy in low energy diet containing tallow as fat source in commercial broiler chickens.&nbsp;<br />
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<strong>Methods: </strong>Total of 150 day old broiler chicks randomly distributed into three treatments with 5 replicates of ten chicks each. Treatment groups were fed basal diet which contains tallow as energy source (T<sub>1</sub>), basal diet supplemented with emulsifier at 250g per tonne of feed (T<sub>2</sub>) and 80 kcal Metabolizable energy reduced from basal diet supplemented with emulsifier at the rate of 250g per ton of feed (T<sub>3</sub>).&nbsp;<br />
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<strong>Result: </strong>At 6<sup>th</sup> week of age significantly highest body weight was noticed in T<sub>2</sub> group, lowest feed intake was recorded in T<sub>2</sub> group but feed conversion ratio was comparable between T<sub>3</sub> (1.72) and T<sub>2</sub> (1.74) groups. No significant difference in carcass parameters and serum biochemical parameters were noticed. Emulsifier supplementation with reduced metabolizable energy can be used as a feeding strategy in broiler chickens to improve the production performance.&nbsp;</div>


Convective and microwave drying characteristics, energy requirement and color retention of dehydrated nettle leaves (Urtica diocia L.)

Energy Balance Studies of Weed Control Practices in Rainfed Cotton

Seasonal Influence on Nutrient Requirements of Ruminants: A Review

Energy Budgeting of Different Cropping Sequences in the Indian Upper Gangetic Plains

Energy Assessment of Manual Transplanting Rice and Dry Direct Seeding Rice Production Systems in Combined Nalgonda District, Telangana

Studies on storability of vegetables in zero energy cool chamber

Conservation Agriculture Practices: Impact on Productivity, Energy Utilisation and Profitability of Legume-based Cropping System

Energy Use Efficiency and Economics of Chickpea Production: A Comparison of Integrated Crop Management and Farmers’ Practices in Rajasthan

Influence of varied metabolizable energy levels on antioxidant status and performance of transition Murrah buffaloes

Evolving Emulsifier Supplementation Strategy for Low Energy Diet in Broiler Chickens