<div style="text-align:justify">Auger drilling, which is a digging method that a large helical drilling part gets out the soil from the earth. Different types of auger&nbsp;drillers are available today, and they are widely used in agricultural works. In this study, an 300 mm diameter auger drill was modeled, for agricultural works, and it was analyzed efficiently in Autodesk Inventor software with the help of Nastran in computer-aided design (CAD) module. According to the analysis, Von Misses stress analysis result was found as maximum 2266 MPa and minimum 0 MPa. Also,&nbsp;Safety Factor analysis result was found as maximum 15 uL and minimum 0.11 uL.</div>

Computer-aided Stress Analysis of a Model of Tractor&nbsp;Mounted Auger Drill

<div style="text-align: justify;">The present study was undertaken to investigate design values of pressurized pumping system. To begin with the estimated range of moisture requirement required to attain sowing moisture for different soil type was determined. For loamy sand soil an application range of aqueous fertilizer was 0.15-092 liter per meter for raising moisture from 3 to 7% to germination moisture of 14 per cent. Whereas, for sandy loam soil the same was 0.17-1.34 liter per meter for raising moisture from 4 to 12 % to germination moisture of 20 per cent and for loam soil it was 0.23-1.59 liter per meter for raising moisture from 8 to 16 % to germination moisture of 27 per cent. Based on estimation, an aqueous fertilizer requirement of 5500 to 8000 l/ha was required in experimental field with clay loam soil. To optimize different pump variables for required discharge rate five levels of pump rotational speeds i.e. 1998, 1665, 1332, 999 and 666 rpm, four levels of line pressure staring from fully opened valve i.e. gauge pressure of 0 kg/cm2, by reducing valve opening area up to 2, 4 and 6 kg/cm2 and three levels of nozzle sizes i.e. 8, 10 and 12 mm were taken. Pump rotational speed influenced discharge directly in a linear manner at fully opened valve for all pump speeds for each nozzle. As line pressure increased the discharge rate decreased. A reduction to the flow of 2 to 6 times was obtained by creating the line pressure through control valve at rotational speed of 1998 to 666 rpm. The selected design values for pressurized pumping system were pump rotational speed from 666, 999, 1332 and 1665 rpm, line pressure of 0, 2 or 4 kg/cm2 and nozzle size of 10 mm.</div>

Design and development of tractor drawn seed cum pressurized aqueous fertilizer drill

<div style="text-align: justify;">The glycemic index (GI) provides an indication of carbohydrate quality whereas glycemic load (GL) provides carbohydrates quantity in a food and the insulin demand. Diet with low glycemic index and glycemic load have been shown to improve glucose tolerance on normal healthy subjects so there is a need for a more diversified range of foods with a low glycemic response. The objective of present work was to formulate ashwagandha based food products by utilizing their root powder as an ingredient and their glycemic responses on normal healthy subjects. The products (Chappati, Naan and Thepla) were developed by incorporation of 2%, 4%, 6% and 8% aswagandha root. The result showed that the products with 2% root powder were most acceptable by semi trained panels. Further, study was conducted on randomly selected 30 healthy subjects were fed most acceptable test recipe i.e. thepla and their glycemic response was anticipated. GI and GL values were 37.30 and 11.36 found to be lower 2% root incorporated in thepla while comparing with standard thepla. The data demonstrated that the test thepla belongs to &nbsp;low glycemic index and medium glycemic load. Thus, the inclusion of ashwagandha powder as a constituent can be used to achieve a wider range of low glycemic functional foods possessing sensory attributes that could be valuable for managing the diabetes mellitus.</div>

Value added Indian flat breads with Ashwagandha and its glycemic response among normal healthy subjects

<div>Background: The present investigation was undertaken during the Kharif season of 2025 at the Agricultural Research Farm of Doon School of Modern Agriculture and Forestry, DBS Global University, Dehradun, to evaluate the impact of different sowing methods and plant spacing on the growth, yield attributes and productivity of maize (Zea mays L.). 
&nbsp; 
Methods: The study employed a randomized block design (RBD) with three replications, comprising two sowing methods-flat drilling and ridge sowing-and three spacing treatments: 70 x 15 cm, 70 x 20 cm and 70 x 25 cm. The maize hybrid VL Maize 57 was used for the experiment. 
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Result: The results demonstrated that both sowing method and spacing significantly influenced physiological and agronomic performance. Ridge sowing produced taller plants, higher leaf area index (LAI), greater dry matter accumulation and superior yield attributes compared to flat sowing. Among the spacing treatments, 70 x 25 cm exhibited better performance in terms of plant height, LAI, dry weight, cob length (13.67 cm), number of kernels cob-1&nbsp;(304.31) and test weight (19.87 g), culminating in the highest kernel yield (44.87 q ha-1) and stover yield (59.14 q ha-1). On a relative basis, kernel yield at 70 x 25 cm and under ridge sowing was about 6.2 and 3.2% higher, respectively, than at 70 x 15 cm and under flat drilling, while the harvest index remained within a narrow range of about 42-43% across all treatments. The study highlights the importance of optimizing plant geometry and sowing techniques to enhance resource-use efficiency and maximize yield potential. These findings offer actionable insights for maize cultivation strategies under mid-Himalayan agro-climatic conditions.</div>

An assessment of the Effect of Sowing Methods and Spacing on Growth and Yield Attributes of Maize (Zea mays L.)

<div>Background: With the unparalleled growth in area and production, soybean has established itself as a leading oilseed crop of India. The crop is mainly grown under rainfed conditions, and the distribution of rainfall plays an important role in yield realization. The changed landform management with broad-bed furrow seed drill is gaining popularity as the system helps in in situ moisture conservation and draining out excess rainwater. A field experiment was conducted at Regional Sugarcane and Rice Research Station, Rudrur. The yield advantage by adoption of broad-bed and furrow (BBF) method over flat bed was 7.06%. Seed rate of 50 kg ha-1&nbsp;recorded significantly higher mean seed yield of 2804 kg ha-1 over 75, 38, 20 kg ha-1. The total benefit from adoption of BBF method recorded net returns of ₹ 53,233 ha-1&nbsp;and B:C ratio of 2.58 over flatbed planting. Seed rate of 50 kg seed ha-1 recorded the highest net returns and B:C ratio this was followed by 75 kg ha-1 seed rate. 
 
Methods: A field experiment was conducted for three years (2017-19) at Regional Sugarcane and Rice Research Station, Rudrur, situated at an altitude of 286.3 m above mean sea level at 18&deg;49&rsquo;41&quot; N latitude and 78&deg;56&rsquo; 45&quot; E longitude. Indeterminate variety of soybean ASB 22 was selected. The experimental plots (6m &times; 6m= 36m2) were laid out with split plot design with three replications. Main&nbsp; plot treatments were methods of planting: M1- Flat bed, M2- Broad bed and Furrow, and sub plot treatments were : seed rates; S1- 75 kg ha-1 (30 &times; 10 cm), S2- 50 kg ha-1 (30 &times; 15 cm),&nbsp; S3- 38 kg ha-1 (30 &times; 20 cm),&nbsp; S4- 20 kg ha-1 (30 &times; 30 cm). 
 
Result: The grain yields, water productivity, harvest index and economics of soybeans under BBF method of planting (in-situ water conservation) and flatbed practices were studied. BBF method increased seasonal soil water storage by 5.37%, 5.78% and 6.20% respectively compared with flatbed planting for 2017, 2018 and 2019 respectively. Seed rate of 50 kg ha-1 recorded significantly higher mean seed yield of 2804 kg ha-1 over 75, 38, 20 kg ha-1. The yield advantage by adopting seed rate of 50 kg ha-1 was 16.08%, 56.02% and 67.6% over 75, 38 and 20 kg ha-1 respectively. The total benefit from adoption of BBF method recorded net returns of ₹&nbsp;53,233 ha-1 and B:C ratio of 2.58 over flatbed planting. Seed rate of 50 kg ha-1 recorded the highest net returns and B:C ratio this was followed by 75 kg ha-1. Broad bed and furrow method of planting and optimum seed rate in soybean will enhance the soybean productivity.</div>

Enhancement of Soybean (Glycine max L.)&nbsp;Productivity through Sowing Methods and Seed Rates in Telangana State

Background: The field experiment was conducted at the Research Farm of Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, India during Rabi season 2023-24 to find out the role of planting patterns and weed control methods on growth and development of Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.). 
 
Methods: The experiment was laid out in split plot design with three replications. In main plots, four planting patterns i.e. two rows per bed (90 cm), ridge sowing (45 cm), flat sowing (45 cm) f.b. earthing up, flat sowing (45 cm) and in sub plots, four weed control treatments, i.e. black plastic mulch, white plastic mulch, hand weeding f.b. straw mulch (5 t ha-1) and unweeded (control) were kept. 
 
Result: The results of the study revealed that weed count and weed dry matter in flat sowing (45 cm) f.b. earthing up was significantly less than flat sowing (45 cm) and among weed control treatments, black plastic mulch recorded significantly less weed count and weed dry matter than other treatments. Plant height, dry matter per plant, seed yield and biological yield were found significantly higher in flat sowing (45 cm) f.b. earthing up as compared to flat sowing (45 cm). Black plastic mulch and white plastic mulch recorded significantly higher growth and yield parameters than unweeded (control). The seed yield in flat sowing (45 cm) f.b. earthing up was 33.5% higher than flat sowing (45 cm). Black plastic mulch recorded 85.28% higher seed yield over control, which was significantly more as compared to all other treatments. It was concluded that the combination of flat sowing (45 cm) f.b. earthing up and black plastic mulch gave better results as compared to all other treatments. 
&nbsp;

Role of Planting Patterns and Weed Control Methods on Growth and Development of Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.)

<div style="text-align:justify">Background:&nbsp;With extensive adoption of mechanised harvest in paddy, the population of blackgram in the rice-blackgram relay cropping system is drastically affected due to the chain traverse by combine harvester. This has emerged as another major abiotic stress in addition to moisture stress at flowering stage of the crop, which resulted in poor yield. 
 
Methods:&nbsp;The studies were conducted during post rainy seasons of 2015-16 to 2017-18. with six treatments viz., T1 - Sowing blackgram by broadcasting 7-10 days prior to manual harvest of paddy, T2 - Sowing blackgram by no till seed drill on the day of harvest of paddy, T3 - Sowing blackgram by broadcasting 4-6 days prior to harvest of paddy by combine harvester, T4 - T1 + Life saving irrigation with mobile sprinkler once at 30-35 DAS, T5 -T2 + Life saving irrigation with mobile sprinkler once at 30-35 DAS, T6 -T3 + Life saving irrigation with mobile sprinkler once at 30-35 DAS. 
&nbsp; 
Result: The results indicated that higher grain yield of 875 kg ha-1 was obtained with blackgram sown 7-10 days prior to manual harvest of paddy plus life saving irrigation on 30-35 DAS with mobile sprinkler using farm pond water, which was 31.6% higher than that of blackgram sowing with no till seed drill. The study also indicated that farm pond dug at an area of 100 m3 would be sufficient to irrigate 1 ha of blackgram through mobile sprinkler once at flowering stage (30-35 DAS by which the net return could be increased by ₹ 61416 ha-1.</div>

<div style="text-align:justify">Crop Establishment Methods and Moisture Mitigation Practices in Rice Fallow Blackgram for Productivity Enhancement in Cauvery Delta Zone of Tamil Nadu</div>

<div>Background: Pulse require less water than other crops. It plays a significant role in combating soil erosion and degradation. Pulses are the main sources of dietary protein in the vegetarian diet in our country. They preserve soil fertility by biological nitrogen fixation in the soil, as well as being a rich source of protein and thus play a vital role in sustainable agriculture. In Tamil Nadu, the Cauvery Delta Zone (CDZ) has a total land area of 1.45 million ha which is equivalent to 11% of the state area and this zone is the potential zone for pulse cultivation. The cultivation of blackgram faces many problems like water logging and inadequate aeration, which affect the growth and yield in flatbed conditionsadversely. Further the major causes of poor productivity and soil fertility are imbalanced application of nutrients. Hence there is a need to evaluate the appropriate land configuration and nutrient management methods. 
 
Methods: The field experiment was performed at Soil and Water Management Research Institute, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, during the summer seasons of 2018 and 2019 in split plot design with four replications. In main plot three land configuration methods viz., broadcasting seeds and forming ridges (30 cm width), broad bed (100 cm width), flatbed and in sub plot three nutrient management methods viz., control (S1), recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) (S2), RDF+biofertilizers (S3) in a plot size of 40 m2. In all the land configuration methods 30 cm row spacing is adopted. Line sowing is followed in broad bed (M2) and flat bed method (M3). In broadcasting seeds and forming ridges (M1) the seeds will be broadcasted after land preparation and ridges (30 cm) will be formed with ridge former. Uniform seed rate is adopted in all the methods. 
 
Result: Sowing of blackgram in broad beds along with 100% RDF + biofertilizers was found to be superior over flat bed and broadcasting seeds and forming ridges by producing higher grain yield and B:C ratio and achieved the higher productivity and profitability.</div>

​Effect of Land Configuration and Nutrient Management Methods on Growth and Yield of Blackgram (Vigna mungo)

A field experiment was conducted during rabi seasons of 2012-13 and 2013-14 to study the effect of moisture conservation and zinc fertilization on quality, nutrient uptake, profitability and moisture use indices of chickpea in pearlmillet-chickpea cropping sequence under limited moisture conditions. Moisture conservation and zinc fertilization brought considerable improvement in quality, nutrient uptake, profitability and moisture use indices of chickpea during both the years of study. Chickpea planted under flat bed with 5.0 t/ha crop residue recorded significantly higher protein yield and total uptake of N, P and K during both the years of study as compared to flat bed without crop residue and flat bed with 2.5 t/ha crop residue. However, in terms of protein content during 2012-13 and soil profile temperature during both the years all the treatments received crop residue remained at par with each other and proved significantly superior over flat bed without crop residue. Planting of chickpea under narrow bed and furrow fetched significantly higher net returns ( &nbsp; 55,871 and 55,263/ha) and production efficiency ( &nbsp; &nbsp;372.5 and 337.0/ha/day) and moisture use efficiency (12.34 and 11.05 kg/ha-mm) during both the years of study over flat bed without crop residue and flat bed with 2.5 t/ha crop residue. Whereas, this treatment recorded significantly higher B:C ratio over flat bed with 5.0 t/ha crop residue. Under zinc fertilization, direct application of 5.0 kg Zn/ha significantly improved the protein content in grain during 2013-14 and protein yield, total uptake of N and P, net returns and production efficiency during both the years of investigation over lower levels. But application of 5.0 and 2.5 kg Zn/ha being at par with each other proved significantly better over control in terms of protein content during 2012-13 and total uptake of P, B:C ratio and moisture use efficiency of chickpea during both the years. Residual effect of zinc fertilization was also found to be significant on chickpea. The significant improvement in quality, nutrient uptake, profitability and moisture use efficiency were observed only up to 2.5 kg Zn/ha.&nbsp;

Moisture conservation and zinc fertilization impacts on quality, profitability and moisture use indices of chickpea (Cicer Arietinum L.) under&nbsp;limited moisture conditions&nbsp;

<div style="text-align: justify;">To investigate the effect of planting methods and irrigation levels on irrigation water productivity and onion (Allium cepa L.) yield, a field experiment was conducted on sandy loam soil at the Research Farm of Department of Soil Science, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana during rabi 2011-12. Three planting methods tested include drip irrigated beds, furrow irrigated beds and flat flood irrigation. In drip irrigated beds and furrow irrigated beds three onion rows were planted on 55 cm wide beds at a spacing of 15 cm from row to row. Three levels of irrigation water were tested i.e. IW/PAN-E ratio of 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5 in drip irrigated onions and 1.2, 1.6 and 2.0 in both bed furrow and flat flood methods of irrigation. The results of the experiment indicated that in drip irrigated beds by applying same quantity and 50 per cent of water as of flat flood irrigation, the yield was increased by 43 and 25 per cent, respectively. Irrespective of irrigation levels, highest onion yield (32.5 t ha-1) was recorded under drip irrigated beds followed by furrow irrigated beds (28.5 t ha-1) and least under flat flood irrigation method (25.0 t ha-1). The onion yield increases with the increase in irrigation level in all the planting methods. The highest irrigation water productivity was observed under drip irrigated beds (1.26 t ha-1 cm) followed by furrow irrigated beds (0.84 t ha-1 cm) and least under flat flood irrigation (0.48 t ha-1 cm) with equivalent IW/PAN-E ratios. Bigger size onions (40 mm and 50 mm) were observed under drip irrigated beds followed by furrow irrigated beds and smallest size bulbs under flat flood method of irrigation. The results revealed that drip irrigation could successfully be used for onion production with significant water saving and higher production. &nbsp;</div>

Computer-aided Stress Analysis of a Model of Tractor Mounted Auger Drill

Design and development of tractor drawn seed cum pressurized aqueous fertilizer drill

Value added Indian flat breads with Ashwagandha and its glycemic response among normal healthy subjects

An assessment of the Effect of Sowing Methods and Spacing on Growth and Yield Attributes of Maize (Zea mays L.)

Enhancement of Soybean (Glycine max L.) Productivity through Sowing Methods and Seed Rates in Telangana State

Role of Planting Patterns and Weed Control Methods on Growth and Development of Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.)

Crop Establishment Methods and Moisture Mitigation Practices in Rice Fallow Blackgram for Productivity Enhancement in Cauvery Delta Zone of Tamil Nadu

Effect of Land Configuration and Nutrient Management Methods on Growth and Yield of Blackgram (Vigna mungo)

Moisture conservation and zinc fertilization impacts on quality, profitability and moisture use indices of chickpea (Cicer Arietinum L.) under limited moisture conditions

Effect of planting methods and irrigation levels on water productivity of onion (Allium cepa L.)