Background: The House Sparrow (Passer domesticus L.), is a human-commensal bird species, belonging to the order Passeriformes. The rapid changes in our lifestyle resulted in the decrease of this bird population during the past four decades. Among the various causes viz., lack of food resources, pollution pressure, indiscriminate usage of pesticides etc. Habitat loss is found to be one of the main threats for their rapid decline. Installation of artificial nest boxes was found to be the best alternatives for raising the bird population. 
 
Methods: Jangareddigudem of West Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh, India, was chosen as the study area. The nest boxes were designed by incorporating certain modifications to the basic model specified by British Trust of Ornithology. Installation of the nest boxes was initiated from an area with moderate food resources, located towards south-west edge of the town and was expanded in to other areas in a latitudinal wise towards north and south directions. Data was collected on a regular basis to study the occupancy of the nest boxes by the house sparrows. 
 
Result: The model designed was proved to be protective from predators and also well accepted by the public. Out of 570 nests that were installed in the study area, 550 nests were occupied and being used for breeding, that comes to around 97.6% occupancy indicating the suitability and protectiveness of this model. The sparrow population in the study area has been increased with a count of sparrows from few to 300+ sparrows at each roosting site (two roosting sites) by the end of 2020 by utilizing the nest boxes.&nbsp;

Protective Nest Design for Indian House Sparrow (Passer domesticus L.) - with Reference to Predation and Reuse

Background: A doubly nested partially balanced incomplete block (DNPBIB) design is defined as an arrangement of v treatments each replicated r times in three systems of blocks if, each block of the first system contains m1 blocks of second system and each block of the second system contains m2 blocks of the third system. Each stage of DNPBIB design, treated independently, is a PBIB design.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: Three component designs viz., (i) ignoring the first and second system of blocks, a PBIB design with b3 blocks each of size k3 (&lt; v) units with, &lambda;3i concurrences of any pair of treatments which are ith associates of each other, (ii) ignoring first and third system of blocks, another PBIB design with b2 blocks each of size k2(&lt; v) units with &lambda;3i concurrence of two treatments which are ith associates of each other and (iii) ignoring the second and third system of blocks, a third PBIB design with b1 block each of size k1 (&lt; v) units with, &lambda;1i concurrences of two treatments within first associate of each other, are obtained.&nbsp; 
 
Result: This study provides two new general methods of constructing DNPBIB designs, where the component designs are PBIB designs with two or three associate classes. Group divisible and rectangular association schemes have been used for developing such designs. Methods are illustrated with appropriate examples.&nbsp;

On Construction of Doubly Nested Partially Balanced Incomplete Block Designs

<div style="text-align: justify;">A study was undertaken to evaluate the economics of feeding protected protein and protected fat in crossbred cows. The feeding trial of 4 months duration was conducted on 24 crossbred cattle which were subjected to treatment T0 (Control), T1 (Protected- protein), T2 ( Protected fat) and T3 (Protected protein and fat). Crossbred cows in second to fourth lactation with most probable production ability (MPPA) of average 2300 liter milk production per lactation for each group were selected. All animals were fed with 2/3 DM through roughages (2/3 from dry and 1/3 from green) + 1/3 DM from concentrate mixture. In T0 and T2 groups untreated groundnut cake was given in ration. Whereas, in T1 and T3 groups, groundnut cake was treated with formaldehyde (FA) (@ 1.0 gm FA /100g CP). Also bypass fat (99%) was supplemented in T2 and T3 groups @ 10 gm per liter milk production. Daily DM intake and daily milk yield for individual animals were recorded. The data generated during experimental period were analyzed by Factorial Randomized Block Design (FRBD) with SAS, 9.3 versions.The DMI was significantly (P&lt;0.05) higher in T3 (12.72) followed by T1 (12.59), T0 (12.47) and T2 (12.23). However, the DMI/ 100 kg body weight was 3.05, 3.01, 3.13 and 2.81 kg/d in T0, T1, T2 and T3, respectively with non significant treatment. The average milk production during supplementation period was 9.82, 11.76, 11.41 and 12.43 kg/d in group T0, T1, T2 and T3, respectively which was significantly 16.49% higher in T1, 13.93% higher in T2 and 20.99% in T3 over T0. The net return over feed cost was highest in T3 group followed by T1 and T2 over T0.</div>

Economics of feeding protected protein and protected fat on crossbred cattle

<div>Background:&nbsp;Pasteurellosis is an economically important disease of livestock worldwide and vaccination is effective mean to control the disease outbreaks. One of alternative method for vaccine preparation could be the use of lytic phages as bacterial inactivating agents and employing &ldquo;phage lysate immunogen&rdquo; as an immunizing agent. Therefore, the study was undertaken to explore the protective immune response of novel phage lysate vaccine against&nbsp;Pasteurella multocida.&nbsp; 
 
Methods:&nbsp;A phage lysate vaccine of&nbsp;Pasteurella multocida&nbsp;was prepared using isolated lytic phage and subjected to vaccine response study in rabbits. In this experiment, two mouse fixed-dose of lysate was used and the prophylactic efficacies of lysates were evaluated in rabbits by passive mouse protection test (PMPT), western blotting and direct virulent challenge. 
 
Result:&nbsp;Passive transfer of antibodies to mice using post-immunization sera of rabbits protected the animals against the challenge with A: 1 strain (75%) and B: 2&nbsp;strain (50%). In western blotting, a total number of 4 bands were observed in the region between 130 kDa to 25 kDa in the protein of the phage lysate. The study suggested the significance increase in humoral immunity by phage lysate in murine Pasteurellosis.</div>

<div>Active Immunization with Pasteurella multocida Lysate Elicits Antibody that Protects Rabbits against Virulent Pasteurella multocida and Protects Mice by Passive Immunization</div>

<div style="text-align: justify;">Farm workers are exposed to pesticide vapours and organic dust during various farm activities which may leads to many health problems. To minimize health hazards protective clothes were designed with reference to fabric and functional features. Designed protective clothing was given to twenty five farm workers involved in pesticide application and forty farm workers (25 males and 15 females) engaged in threshing activity, for a period of one month to access their suitability and acceptability. On the basis of suitability and acceptability recommended protective clothing for pesticide applicators were jacket with hood and pyjama of water proof fabric (having lining of cotton hosiery fabric), Chemical Resistant mask, Glasses/goggles, Nitrile gloves and Sports shoes. For threshing activity recommended protective clothing were : apron with hood and full sleeves with elasticized cuffs (elastic in &nbsp;two rows),Pleated mask / beak mask, Glasses/goggles ,Sports shoes, Mittens/gloves (for male) and &nbsp;for female : &nbsp;Kameez with full sleeves preferably elasticized cuffs or apron, hood mask/scarf mask ,glasses/goggles, sports shoes, mittens/gloves.</div>

Development of protective clothing for agricultural workers&nbsp;

<div>Background: Phosphorus, an essential element, plays a central role in cell metabolism and reproduction. It is a structural component of energy transferring molecules (ATP, ADP and AMP), nucleic acids, coenzymes, phosphor-proteins, phospholipids and sugar phosphates. In soils, the P does not occur abundantly as nitrogen or potassium. Despite its importance, only a proportion (~ 0.1-1.0 %) of it is available for use by plants and microorganisms because phosphorous has poor solubility and gets fixed in soil. Many studies had been done regarding nutrient management of soil in various parts of the world, but limited study was done in India and in North-East India, it is relatively unexplored. Thus, the main aim of this experiment was to find out how nutrient management influencing P fractions under protected cultivation. 
 
Methods: The investigation area from which soil samples were collected i.e., Horticultural Farm, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat-13, Assam. The study was carried out under protected poly house condition in the year 2017-18. The test crop was Capsicum (Capsicum annum var. Swarna). The design of the experiment was Split-Split plot technique. Random soil samples were collected from different treatments under protected cultivation at a depth of 0-15 cm. The soil samples were collected at two different stages of the crop viz., flowering and fruiting stages at 45 and 115 days after planting respectively. 
 
Result: The present study revealed that single factor effect of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) had a significant effect on different forms of P The readily available P forms tend to increase in the fruiting stage while the iron bound phosphates registered a decrease. This implies that iron bound phosphate form predominantly controlled available P in acid soils under protected cultivation. The study indicates that iron bound P may be considered as slowly available labile P for fertilizer scheduling under protected cultivation. The present study also revealed that single factor effect of nitrogen(N) and phosphorus(P) had a significant effect on yield of capsicum. Among the various P fractions, Pi-water and Pi-Fe contribute more towards yield of capsicum.</div>

<div>Effect of Soil Nutrient Management on P transformation under Protected Cultivation</div>

<div>In dairy animals, lameness due to hoof and leg ailments is one of the major managemental problems which often results due to improper shoeing. It causes economic losses to the farmer and is also an important animal welfare issue. The main objective of the study was to design and develop affordable and durable Cowslips (rubberized shoes) for dairy animals to protect the hoof from injuries. The size range of the hooves was determined by measuring different hoof parameters on 46 dairy cows maintained at the institutional dairy farm. Based on the size-range data obtained, we designed and developed Cowslip of different sizes (small, medium and large) by using used rubber tyre wastes with the aim of withstanding an average body weight of the dairy animal (400-550 kg). Rubberized Cowslips prepared in the present study were evaluated for their retention periods and compared with the imported Cowslip devices. Rubberised Cowslip was found to be equally comparable with the commercial Cowslip in its efficiency and high affordability. These Cowslips will be helpful for the dairy farmers as a preventive device in the effective management of lame animals under field conditions. The data generated on morphometry of hoof would serve as a baseline data for designing indigenous Cowslips. Thus, effectively utilizing rubber obtained from scrap automobile tyre is not only beneficial in terms of cost reduction but has also the less ecological impact in keeping the environment clean and to achieve the better balance of natural resources.</div>

<div>Preparation of Cowslips from Rubber Wastes to Protect the Hoof of Animals - An Innovative Approach</div>

<div>Background: The food grain and non-food grain crops occupy 48 and 68% area respectively under rain fed condition. Due to uneven rainfall, the rainfed crop suffers for want of adequate soil moisture at critical growth stages. Under such situation, protective irrigation ensures adequate soil moisture which results higher production. Crops like tomato, maize, groundnut and red gram are predominantly grown during kharif as rain fed crops. Relieving the soil moisture stress during the critical crop growth stages with more efficient irrigation system assumes importance in rain fed farming.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: An experiment was conducted for three years during kharif 2008, 2009 and 2010 at the College Farm, Prof. Jayashankar Telangana State Agril. University, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad&nbsp;on a sandy loam soil to study the yield advantage of protective sprinkler irrigation to kharif grown rain fed tomato, maize, groundnut and red gram crops. The trial was conducted in strip plot design with protective sprinkler irrigations as main plots and rainfed kharif crops as sub-plots and replicated thrice. The three main treatments comprised of - one protective sprinkler irrigation at flower/peg/tassel initiation, two protective sprinkler irrigations at flower and fruiting, tassel and grain filling, peg formation and pod filling and flowering and pod filling stages and rain fed (control). The sub treatments consisted of four crops- tomato, maize, groundnut and red gram.&nbsp; 
 
Result: There was an increase in yield with one and two protective sprinkler irrigations by 16.7 and 27.9; 17.7 and 44 5; 26.4 and 34.5 and 21.1 and 28.9% over their corresponding rain fed crops of tomato, groundnut, maize and red gram, respectively. There was an increase of 20.4 and 31.6% in Maize Equivalent Yield (MEY) with one and two protective irrigations as compared to rain fed crop. The water productivity was lower in all the crops grown under rain fed conditions (0.77 kg MEY m-3) as compared to that of one and two protective irrigations.</div>

<div>Influence of Protective Sprinkler Irrigation on Yield and Water Productivity of Kharif Grown Rain Fed Crops</div>

<div>Background: Dendrobiums are most popular high value cut flowers which require special attention during cultivation. In Assam, Dendrobium orchids are normally grown under iron frame shade net houses which are quite vulnerable to cold injury during extreme winter period and heavy rain during monsoon period. Further, the existing structures are very costly which is not affordable by small and marginal farmers of Assam. Keeping in view the current study was aimed to evaluate a suitable low cost protected structure for commercial cultivation of Dendrobium cv. Sonia under Assam condition.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: An experiment was conducted in the Horticulture Experimental Farm, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, during 2018-2019 which was laid out in factorial completely randomized design with 10 treatment combinations replicated five times. The first factors comprised 5 numbers of low cost protected structures viz., G1, G2, G3, G4 and G5. The second factors comprised T1-1 tier and T2-2 tiers. 
&nbsp; 
Result: The results revealed that among the protected structures, healthy growth and better quality flowers were obtained under G1 (Bamboo frame structure covered with fixed 200 micron UV film with top ventilated and 50% agro shade net as ceiling) protected structure followed by G4. Between the tiers, T2 was found to be superior in respect of the growth characters as well as most of the flower characters. So, this treatment combination is merits consideration for commercial growers of Assam to bring about timely and quality flower production of Dendrobium cv. Sonia.</div>

Evaluation of Low Cost Protected Structure for Commercial Cultivation of Dendrobium Cv. Sonia under Assam Condition

Background: Edible bird&rsquo;s nests (EBN) are highly nutritious and valued food for their numerous health benefits. Consequently, their high economic value and increasing global consumption demand for EBN have contributed to a rise in counterfeited food issue. Currently, the common method for identifying the origin of edible bird nests is the DNA barcoding PCR-based technique because of the limitations of morphological identification methods; however, the primers currently used for PCR face specific challenges in amplifying DNA from edible bird nests. Thus, newly designed primers are necessary. 
&nbsp; 
Methods: This study aims to redesign primers from the DNA barcode sequences of the mitochondrial genes cytochrome-c oxidase subunit I (COI), NADH dehydrogenase subunit II (ND2), cytochrome b (Cyt-b) and the nuclear gene &acirc;-fibrinogen intron 7 (Fib7) of Swiftlet belonging to the Aerodramus genus. 
&nbsp; 
Result: Four primer pairs AeroCOIf/AeroCOIr, AeroND2f/AeroND2r, AeroCytbf/AeroCytbr Cyt-b gene and AeroFib7f/AeroFib7r were designed successfully amplifying DNA from Aerodramus spp. The resulting amplicon sizes were 157 bp for COI, 150 bp for ND2, 130 bp for Cyt-b and 173 bp for Fib7 with the optimal annealing temperature of 60oC. For the result of the primers sensitivity investigation, the AeroCOIf/AeroCOIr, AeroND2f/AeroND2r, AeroCytbf/AeroCytbr and AeroFib7f/AeroFib7r primers was able to detect DNA concentration at 15x10-4&nbsp;ng/&micro;L, 15 ng/&micro;L, 15x10-3&nbsp;ng/&micro;L and 15 ng/&micro;L, respectively. These results demonstrate that these new primers could effectively amplify DNA from EBN belonging to Aerodramus spp.