<div style="text-align: justify;">Sugarcane press residue (SPR), a nonconventional feed ingredient is a soft, spongy, amorphous, dark brown to white material was fed to 32-week-old white-leghorn-layer at 0, 5, 10 and 15 per cent either in the soya-based or fish-based diets to form T1 to T8 diets, respectively. Each diet so formulated was offered to five-replicates of four laying-hens each constituting a total of one-sixty birds reared for 84-days. Results revealed that the cumulative efficiency of protein utilization values of layers fed different experimental diets were 29.36, 28.62, 27.20, 29.11, 27.90, 28.21, 28.02 and 25.95 in T1 through T8 groups, respectively. Likewise, efficiency of energy utilization values ranged non-significantly from 28.18 (T1) to 24.84 (T8). Whereas, average EPU and EEU values due to main factors were found to be statistically non-significant. It was concluded that SPR can be included up to 15% in soya and fish based layer diets for energy and protein utilization apart from inorganic-matter. &nbsp;</div>

<div style="text-align: justify;">Gross efficiency of protein and metabolisable energy utilization of sugarcane press residue incorporated in layer diets</div>

Four batches of fresh sugarcane press mud (SPM), an agricultural waste were collected from the sugar mill near Bareilly city to analyse the chemical composition for exploring this unconventional feed as a suitable alternative feed in the livestock ration. A representative sample from each batch was taken and run in triplicate for the chemical composition study. It was found that the SPM on DM basis contained relatively more crude protein (18.01&plusmn;0.57%) and low crude fibre (12.38&plusmn;0.33%) and ash content (17.73&plusmn;0.36%) than the earlier reports. Besides, it was proved as a good mineral source as it contained high level of calcium (5.90&plusmn;0.27%) with excellent micro minerals status. Linoleic acid, one of the important essential fatty acid was found in the maximum percentage (34.85%) of the ether extract fraction of the SPM with others, proved its ether extract composition as equivalent to the oil of plant and marine origin. Further, mean gross energy (GE) of SPM was 4294.51&plusmn;79.64 kcal/kg DM which was very close to the GE value of corn. The detailed chemical analysis of SPM revealed that it was a valuable source of both organic and inorganic nutrients and comparable to the nutrient composition of some cereal grains and by-products and appeared to be a potential alternate feed ingredient for the livestock.

Screening of sugarcane press mud as a potential alternative feed for livestock

<div>Background: Sugarcane press mud (SPM) is one such agro-industrial by-product sufficiently available in sugar factories which contains more protein and soluble calcium. The aim of the study is to evaluate the effect of supplementation of sugarcane press mud on haematological, blood biochemical and immune response of crossbred calves. 
 
Methods: A total of 18 male crossbred calves (68.51&plusmn;4.40 kg body weight) were divided into 3 groups of each based on complete randomized design. Calves of T1, T2 and T3 groups were fed concentrate mixture with wheat bran, concentrate mixture with 20% SPM replacing wheat bran and concentrate mixture without 20% SPM/wheat bran, respectively. The experiment was conducted for 150 days. Blood was collected from each calf on 0, 75 and 150 days of experimental periods. 
 
Result: Concentration of Hb, PCV, WBC and RBC were non-significant in different groups. Non-significant difference was also observed in serum biochemical and enzyme profile of crossbred calves. Humoral immune response was significantly (P&lt;0.05) higher in T2 and T3 groups. Study concluded that supplementation of sugarcane press mud (20%) improved humoral immune response without affecting the haematological and biochemical profile in crossbred calves.</div>

Effect of Supplementation of Sugarcane Press Mud on Haematological, Blood Biochemical Parameters and Immune Response of Crossbred Calves

<div style="text-align:justify">Background: Among the diseases of sugarcane, Sugarcane yellow leaf disease (YLD) is one of the most prevalent diseases of sugarcane posing serious threat to the sugarcane cultivation worldwide. The current study aims at studying the distribution of SCYLV in the major sugarcane-growing of Andhra Pradesh and determining sequence identities, sequence variations and phylogenetic relationships between the SCYLV isolates reported earlier from India and&nbsp; worldwide. 
 
Methods: ORF1 and ORF2 regions of the viral genome coding for RNA dependent RNA Polymerase (RdRP) was amplified from twelve of the samples using the gene specific primers viz.,&nbsp; SCYLV-F3 and SCYLV-R3. The ORF1 and ORF2 regions were studied for sequence similarity at nucleotide and aminoacid level and phylogentic relationships were established with the other SCYLV isolates.&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 
Result: The multiple sequence analysis of the isolates under the study with 22 similar sequences of SYLCV isolates reported from India and worldwide revealed 90.6-100% identities with IND, REU, BRA, CHN, HAW, CUB, COL and PER genotypes reported worldwide.&nbsp; The Indian isolates showed close phylogenetic relationship with the CUB and COL isolates. Hence it was confirmed from the study that SCYLV isolates collected from major sugarcane growing regions of Andhra Pradesh closely related to SCYLV-CUB and SCYLV-COL genotypes.</div>

Studies on Distribution of Sugarcane Yellow Leaf Virus in Commercially Grown Sugarcane Varieties in Andhra Pradesh

Background: One of the main reasons for India&rsquo;s decreased food production is the depletion of soil fertility. The primary causes of soil deterioration are lack of awareness among farmers and lack of land use regulations. By limiting the erosion and enhancing the nutrients available to the crops, conservation agriculture increases the organic matter content of the soil and contributes to the improvement of field conditions. But compared to conventional agriculture, the practise of conservation agriculture is less advanced. And also there is a dearth of research on the use of crop residues for the management of soil fertility. So this study was undertaken in order to examine the impacts of crop residue, inorganic fertilizers and cropping system as a component of an integrated crop residues and fertility management system on nutrient uptake and net returns of greengram. 
 
Methods: The experiment consists of strip plot design and was carried out during 2020-21 and 2021-22 under zero till conditions at college farm, Rajendranagar, PJTSAU to study the effect of previous crop residues and fertility levels on succeeding greengram.&nbsp; 
 
Result: According to the data, greengram absorbed more nutrients at various growing stages. The residual effect of incorporation of residues treated with microbial consortia composed of Trichoderma viridae, Aspergillus awamori and Phanerocheate spp. along with 300:100:100 kg ha-1 of N, P2O5 and K2O (125% RDF) and phosphorous supplied in the form of single super phosphate (SSP) resulted in significantly higher financial returns. In greengram, residue incorporated plots outperformed residue burning, removal and retention plots with 125% RDF in terms of nutrient uptake, as well as monetary returns like gross returns, net returns and B:C ratio. In a similar vein, yield in residue-incorporated plots was higher than it was in residue-removal and in-situ burning plots during summer, 2021 and 2022.

Nutrient Uptake and Economics of Summer Greengram as Influenced by Residual Effect of Paddy Residues and Fertility Levels

Background: Farmers&rsquo; conventional tillage and residue removal practices in rice-maize-greengram systems in India are input-intensive, costly and soil degradative. A number of soil quality issues have emerged due to continuous cropping and burning of residues threatening the sustainability of rice based cropping systems for the last more than four decades. Nevertheless, the in-situ or in-field decomposition of crop residue using microbial inoculum is rarely studied. This necessitated the use of microbial consortia developed by a combination of potent strains of fungi which can perform harmoniously for rapid decomposition of crop residues. 
 
Methods: A field experiment was conducted during 2020-21 and 2021-22 with eight residue-management treatments and three fertility levels to zero till maize at college farm, Rajendranagar, PJTSAU using strip plot design and the residual effect on the succeeding greengram was studied. 
 
Result: Greengram growth and yield were significantly higher under residual effect of incorporation of residues treated with microbial consortia consisting of Trichoderma viridae, Aspergillus awamori and Phanerocheate spp. along with 300:100:100 kg ha-1 of N, P2O5 and K2O (125% RDF) and P supplied in the form of single super phosphate (SSP) under zero tillage during summer, 2021 and 2022. Growth parameters like plant height, leaf area index, dry matter production and yield attributes like number of pods plant-1, pod length and number of seeds pod-1 in greengram were higher under residue incorporated plots compared to residue burning, removal and retention plots with 125% RDF.

Residual Effects of Microbial Treated Paddy Residues Applied to Zero Till Maize on Growth and Yield of Summer Greengram

Background: To work out the residual effect of rice residue, FYM and fertilizers on summer moong (Vigna radiate L.) in Rice-potato-summer moong cropping system. 
&nbsp; 
Methods: The present study was carried out at research farm, department of Agronomy, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab. The experiment was laid out in factorial randomized block design with two factors. Factor A contains&nbsp; five nutrient management treatments in potato (Rice residue+ 125 % NPK + 25 t ha-1&nbsp;FYM, Rice residue+ 100%&nbsp; NPK + 25 tha-1&nbsp;FYM, Rice residue+ 75 % NPK + 25 tha-1&nbsp;FYM, Rice residue + 125% NPK + 0 tha-1&nbsp;FYM and Without rice residue + 100% NPK+ 50 tha-1&nbsp;FYM) and factor B contains three&nbsp; nitrogen levels in&nbsp; summer moong&nbsp; (0 kg ha-1&nbsp;N, 6.25 kg ha-1&nbsp;N and 12.5 kg ha-1&nbsp;N ). 
&nbsp; 
Result: The plant height, branches, dry matter accumulation, LAI and chlorophyll content index were significantly affected with the treatments applied to preceding potato crop. The application of rice residue+ 125% NPK + 25 tha-1&nbsp;FYM to potato crop resulted significantly higher plant height, branches, dry matter accumulation, LAI and chlorophyll content index of moong crop as compared to rice residue+ 75% NPK + 25 t ha-1&nbsp;FYM and rice residue+ 125% NPK + 0 tha-1&nbsp;FYM while at par to rice residue+ 100% NPK + 25 tha-1&nbsp;FYM and without rice residue + 100 % NPK+ 50 tha-1&nbsp;FYM. The significantly higher biometric parameters were observed with 12.5 kg ha-1&nbsp;N which was significantly higher than the 0 and 6.25 5 kg ha-1 N. The application of rice residue+ 125% NPK + 25 t ha-1&nbsp;FYM to potato crop resulted significantly higher yield and yield attributing characters as compared to rice residue+ 75% NPK + 25 t ha-1&nbsp;FYM and rice residue+ 125% NPK + 0 tha-1&nbsp;FYM while at par to rice residue+ 100% NPK + 25 tha-1&nbsp;FYM and without rice residue + 100% NPK 50 tha-1&nbsp;FYM. The application of higher dose of nitrogen @ 12 kg ha-1&nbsp;also significantly increased the yield and yield attributing characters as compared to lower doses of summer moong. The nutrients uptake ( N,P and K) was also maximum with rice residue+ 125% NPK + 25 t ha-1&nbsp;FYM which was at par to rice residue+ 100% NPK + 25 tha-1&nbsp;FYM and without rice residue + 100% NPK+ 50 tha-1&nbsp;FYM while significantly higher than other treatment. The application of higher dose of nitrogen @ 12 kgha-1&nbsp;in summer moong also significantly increased the nutrient uptake and protein content as compared to lower doses.

Residual Effect of Rice Residue, Fym and Fertilizers on Growth, Yield and Quality of Summer Moong (Vigna radiata L.) in Rice-Potato-Summer Moong Cropping System

<div>Sugarcane is one of the major cash crops, used for the production of sugar and ethanol. Sugarcane processing, results in many by by-products like bagasse, molasses and press mud which have economic value. Also, the by-products serve to generate many value added products. Sugarcane wax is a value added product obtained by the processing of press mud. It has pharmaceutical, agricultural and industrial applications. n-Triacontanol, Policosanol, D-003 acids and waxes are some of the products derived from the sugarcane wax. This article attempt discusses the various methods of extraction of sugarcane wax, its constituents and its characteristics and applications of the products derived from the sugarcane wax.</div>

<div>Sugarcane Wax - A Par Excellent by-Product of Sugar Industry - A Review</div>

Background: Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) is a giant grass, belonging to the Poaceae family, and is considered as a crop of economic importance. It is the second largest agro based industry involving nearly 50.00 million farmers, their dependent and a large mass of agriculture labours. It is also known as noble cane, due to its high sucrose content and is mostly used for manufacturing of jaggery and crystalized sugars. Its consumption is very popular worldwide but there are few studies that focus on post-harvest storage of sugarcane stalks. The objectives of this study was to evaluate the quality of stored sugarcane stalks as well as fresh juice extracted from stored canes. 
 
Methods: During the investigation sugarcane variety Co238 were cleaned and grouped into bundles containing 5 stalks for each replicate (3) and then stored under both ambient (17-22&deg;C temperature and 45-52% RH) and refrigerated temperature (4&plusmn;1&deg;C temperature and 60-65% RH). The parameter studied were weight loss, juice yield, total soluble solids, titratable acidity and pH at every 15 days interval for 120 days.&nbsp; 
 
Result: Study showed that among both the storage, refrigerated condition for storage of sugarcane stalks was found better to retain the maximum juice yield (40.09%) with minimum weight loss (5.15%) and maintain the quality for longer period as compared to ambient storage condition.

Storage Stability of Sugarcane Stalks

To increase the area, production and productivity of sugarcane and legumes/oilseeds for increasing the profit of the farmers&rsquo;, field experiments were conducted at Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Regional Research Station, Karnal during 2005-06 and 2006-07 followed by demonstrations on intercropping of legumes/oilseed with sugarcane at farmers&rsquo; field in Kaithal district during 2009-10 and 2010-11. Cane yield did not reduce significantly due to intercropping except raya during 2005 -06. The percent incidence of pink borer, shoot borer, top borer and root borer remained below economical threshold level (ETL). In all intercropping systems, total land equivalent ratio (LERt) was greater than unity, indicated yield advantage for the intercropped plots. Land equivalent coefficient (LEC) followed the same pattern as LERt. Total area time equivalent ratio (ATERt) values showed an advantage (22-28 %) with all intercropping systems than sole cropping with maximum advantage from sugarcane + chickpea. Sugarcane was more competitive than pea and lentil intercrops, whereas, raya and chickpea were more competitive than sugarcane. Higher competitive ratio values for the intercrops (CRi) indicated that all the intercrops were more competitive than sugarcane. Total values of actual yield loss (AYL) showed an advantage of 22-38% from intercropping compared to sole cropping. Highest monetary advantage index (MAI) value was obtained from sugarcane + pea intercropping system (75779). However, the minimum MAI was obtained from sugarcane + lentil intercropping system (62382). &nbsp;Demonstrations on intercropping at farmers&rsquo; field also resulted in higher gross returns, returns over variable cost and benefit: cost ratio.&nbsp;