Background: Mucuna (Mucuna pruriens L.) is an annual herbaceous climber, grown as a medicinal, green manure, cover and smothering crop. The mucuna seeds contains L-DOPA (L-3, 4 dihydroxy phenylalanine), a non-protein amino acid, extensively used for Parkinson and hypertensive drug. Injudicious application of nitrogenous fertilizers leads to deterioration of soil quality which results into loss of crop yield and quality. The application of microbial inoculant containing efficient native rhizobia enhances the nodular properties, N2-fixation and soil quality. Therefore, Rhizobium strain associated with mucuna was isolated, biochemically characterized and identified. The 16SrRNA sequencing revealed that Sinnorhizobium mililoti, a gram negative symbiotic nitrogen fixing bacteria is present in root nodules of mucuna. 
 
Methods: Root nodules were extracted from mucuna grown at ICAR- Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Doddaballapura Taluk, Bengaluru Rural District, Karnataka, then cultured, screened and characterized in the laboratory. The 16SrRNA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis was done to identify the native rhizobial strain. 
 
Result: Identification of native root nodulating bacteria through 16SrRNA sequencing concluded that Sinnorhizobium mililoti strain associated with the root nodules of Mucuna (Mucuna pruriens L.).

Identification of Native Root Nodulating Bacteria from Mucuna (Mucuna pruriens L.)

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

<div>Background: Jack bean is an under-exploited legume species, a source of food, medicine and cover crop. By virtue of its adaptive nature to low fertility soils, it is one of the few pulses that grow well on highly leached, nutrient depleted, lowland tropical soils. But, in India, crop improvement work is very little done. Stability of yield is a major criterion for farmer&rsquo;s acceptability of any variety and there are several methods to estimate the stability and G x E interaction effects of a genotype across seasons. Among these, AMMI analysis is the most recent and widely exploited in different crops for the identification of stable genotypes. In this context, yield stability of 10 accessions of jack bean is studied to identify the stable genotypes. 
 
Methods: The experiment was conducted with 10 Jack bean genotypes in RCBD with two replications under rain fed conditions during 2017-2020 in Kharif for four seasons. The data was subjected to analysis of variance and then taken for AMMI and GGE analysis for identification of stable genotypes. 
 
Result: The combined analysis of variance revealed that there was highly significant variation (p &lt; 0.01) in grain yield and environments and genotype interaction among the genotypes. The average bean yield of the genotypes was 533.1 grams per plant. The highest and the lowest mean yield was recorded in PSR-12202 and CHMJB-02 respectively which was corroborated by the AMMI bi-plot as well. Similar to the AMMI bi-plot, the GGE bi-plot also confirmed that PSR-12202 was the stable genotype across the environments, whereas, G1, G2, G3, G4, G6, G7 and G8 were the other genotypes with low yields in some or all the environments. Kharif, 2018 and Kharif, 2020 are discriminating environments and are declared as the most representative than Kharif, 2017 and Kharif, 2019. Generally, PSR-12202 was the ideal genotype with higher mean yield and relatively good stability; G5 was the moderately good yielding genotype and the most unstable genotype; Whereas, G1, G2, G3, G4, G6, G7 and G8 were the poorly yielding and unstable genotypes. Both AMMI and GGE bi-plot are able to establish the genotypic stability and these models can be exploited for judging the genotypes for their GEI in other crops as well. &nbsp;</div>

<div>Understanding of Yield Stability in Jack Bean (Canavalia ensiformis L.) Genotypes using AMMI and GGE bi-plot Models</div>

<div>Background: Acacia pods are non-conventional protein rich feed resources that could be harnessed as a feed ingredient in sheep production. Though many workers have observed the utility of raw Acacia nilotica pods as a noteworthy feed for small ruminants, the information on nutritive value of urea treated pods is lacking.&nbsp; Hence the present study was undertaken to evaluate the nutritional potential of urea treated Acacia nilotica pods at different dietary levels for supporting growth and nutrient utilisation in lambs. 
 
Methods: Acacia nilotica pods were collected, sun dried and ground in a hammer mill. The ground pods and seeds were treated in bulk with urea. Then the urea treated pods (UTP) was incorporated in three experimental concentrate mixtures @ 0, 15 or 30 per cent (R1, R2, R3) replacing deoiled rice bran. The concentrate mixtures were made isoproteinic and isocaloric. Napier Bajra hybrid grass (CNCO4) was provided as the basal roughage component in the rations. The ingredient and proximate composition of concentrate mixtures. Fifteen ram lambs of native Kilakarsal breed of about six months of age and with an average initial body weight of 9.39 kg were divided on the basis of body weight into three groups with five lambs per dietary group in a completely randomized design. Daily record of feed consumption was maintained. The lambs were weighed at fortnightly intervals. At the end of the feeding experiment, digestion trial was conducted using the same ram lambs. The samples were analysed for proximate composition and the digestibility of nutrients in the three experimental rations were determined.&nbsp; 
 
Result: Based on the data analyzed the DMI worked out to be 64.90, 65.84 and 65.43 g/kg W0.75 in lambs fed with rations containing 0, 15 and 30% UTP in the concentrate mixture respectively. The corresponding values for ADG in the present study were 48.14, 47.43 and 48.57 g. The feed efficiency in terms of DMI required to gain one kg body weight were 8.28, 8.58 and 8.35 kg which did not vary between the treatment groups. DCP of experimental rations increased significantly (P&le;0.05) as the level of UTP in the concentrate mixture increased which could be attributed to the increased crude protein digestibility. The TDN decreased significantly (P&le;0.05) at 15% and level and was unaffected thereafter. Hence, it was concluded that Acacia nilotica pods treated with 5% urea at 40% moisture and stored for 14 days could safely be included up to 30 per cent level in the concentrate mixture of growing lamb ration.</div>

Evaluation of Urea Treated Acacia nilotica Pods as a Feed for Grower Lambs

<div>Background:&nbsp;This study was conducted to evaluate the production of two fodder crops; common vetch (Vicia sativa L.) and Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) irrigated with treated wastewater. The study was implemented during summer 2015.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: Four water regimes were used in the experiment including: Irrigation with fresh water (control), fresh water supplied by 10 ppm N-P-K fertilizer, treated wastewater and treated wastewater supplied with 10 ppm N-P-K fertilizer. The crops were planted in 5 liters plastic pots in 4:1 v/v sandy to clay soil. The soil was analyzed before and after planting. The following plant parameters were recorded: Plant height, fresh weight, dry weight, leaves number/plant, fruit number/plant and fruit weight/plant.&nbsp; 
 
Result: using treated wastewater significantly increased production parameters, the highest production was obtained with treated wastewater supplied with 10 ppm N-P-K fertilizer (81.5 cm/plant higher in vetch and 112.5 cm/plant in alfalfa for plant height). When treated wastewater was used alone compared to fresh water higher fresh weights (62.8 g/plant) (82.33 g/plant (132 and 87.17 g/plant) for vetch and alfalfa were obtained respectively. Regarding the dry weight, irrigation with TWW produced 33.83 g/plant and 44.67 g/plant compared to 22 g/plant and 24.5 g/plant for plants irrigated with fresh water for vetch and alfalfa respectively. The results of soil analysis show an increase in soil content of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, as well as an increase in soil salinity and SAR values.</div>

Effect of Short-term Irrigation of Treated Wastewater on Vetch (Vicia sativa L.) and Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) Growth

<div>Background: Left over feed is still an unnoticed problem at organized dairy farms which often leads to considerable economic losses. This study was done to assess the feasibility of treated left over feed and performance of crossbred dairy cattle for a period of 150 days during winter and spring seasons.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: 24 healthy crossbred (Vrindavani) animals (8-12 months of age) were randomly selected to four different groups viz. Group-1 (Gr-1): 100% treated leftover feed; Group-2(Gr-2): 75% treated feed; Group-3 (Gr-3): 50% treated feed and Group-4(Gr-4) or Control: 100% green fodder. The leftover feed F-1, F-2, F-3, F-4, F-5 and F-6 were treated with combination of 1% urea+5% molasses+0.5% salt, 1% urea+5% molasses+1% salt, 1% urea+10% molasses+0.5% salt, 1% urea+10% molasses+1% salt, 5% molasses+0.5% salt and 10% molasses+0.5% salt, respectively. Each feed was offered for a period of one month to each group and animals were rearranged after every trial. Adjustment period of one week was given after every treatment. 
 
Result: The palatability score was found significantly (P&lt;0.05) higher in Gr-1 than other treatment groups. The Gr-3 animals had equivalent palatability and weight gain in compared with control group. The average feeding cost per animal at farm was 80Rs. under normal circumstances. Analyzed data revealed that feeding cost was reduced significantly in Gr-1, Gr-2 and Gr-3 respectively. It can be concluded that the leftover feed can efficiently and economically be utilized for feeding to various classes of dairy animals under farm conditions and provide a better option during the scarcity period.</div>

<div style="text-align:justify">&nbsp;</div>

Performance Evaluation of Crossbred Cattle Fed Treated Leftover Feed

<div style="text-align: justify;">Mucuna pruriens is a nutritionally and pharmaceutically important underutilized legume belonging to genus Mucuna of Leguminosae family. Extensive intraspecific diversity and adverse morphological features among the members have led to taxonomical confusions in the species. A total of 12 Mucuna pruriens accessions including its two botanical varieties, var. pruriens and var. utilis with six accessions each were analyzed to characterize the intraspecific diversity among them using the three barcode markers viz. ITS2, matK and trnHpsbA. &nbsp;Extensive intraspecific sequence diversity was observed in the trnHpsbA region, where as ITS2 and matK exhibited significant conserved regions. Such intraspecific sequence diversity is a limitation in adapting trnHpsbA as barcode as it may lead to misinterpretations, but in the present study an attempt has been made to extrapolate this diversity to explain within the species variations among Mucuna pruriens genotypes. Intraspecific sequence variations exhibited by trnHpsbA sequences were 83% in correlation with morphological features. The between groups mean distance of var. pruriens and var. utilis was found to be 0.346. Results of this study will complement with the existing molecular, morphological, ytological and biochemical markers towards Velvet bean improvement programs.</div>

<div style="text-align: justify;">Variations in the trnHpsbA region of Mucuna pruriens L. (DC.) varieties of India: an insight on intraspecific diversity&nbsp;</div>

<div>Background: Feed is one of the most important parts of the livestock production system because it can account for 60-80% of production costs, besides that very elements needed by livestock to grow, develop and produce. A study has been conducted to evaluate the effects of chemical and biological urea-treated durian husk on the production performance of Kacang female goats.&nbsp;</div>

<div> 
Methods: The research method used was plotted in the 2 x 3 factorial randomized block design (RBD). The first factor was two processing methods of urease (A) and fermentation (F) and the second factor was three levels of urea, namely 1.0% (L1), 2.5% (L2) and 5% (L3), with four replicates as groups. The data were analyzed using analysis of variances and mean comparison using the least significant difference (LSD) test.</div>

<div> 
Result: The results showed however, the application of durian husk with different urea levels produced a significant effect (P&lt;0.05) on the body weight gain, hematocrit value, non-carcass weight and percentage, internal non-carcass weight and percentage, as well as non-carcass weight and percentage, of Kacang female goats. That administration of chemically and biologically processed durian fruit husk supplemented with urea up to 5.0%, can be implemented without negative effects on production performance, physiological conditions, carcass characteristics, as well as non-carcass characteristics.</div>

Performance of Kacang Goats Fed Chemically and Biologically Treated Durian Husk

<div>Fifty eight germplasm of Mucuna was analysed for L-Dopa using ultra high performance liquid Chromatography. L-Dopa ranges from 2.94% in IC 332432 to 6.91% in IIHR MP62-1. Low L-Dopa accessions identified IC 332432 (2.94%) and IIHR MP95 (2.98%) was highly beneficial to consume as food with proper processing or boiling. The accessions having high L-Dopa is highly beneficial to the industries for preparation of drugs. High L-Dopa accessions IIHR MP62-1(6.91%), IIHR MP21 (6.77%), IIHR MP63-1(6.76%) and IIHR MP102 (6.57%) were itchy types and important for drug industry. Hence these high L-Dopa accessions can be utilised in future breeding programme of Mucuna to develop high yielding cultivars coupled with high L-Dopa. Correlation coefficient analysis revealed that L-Dopa has significant negative association with pod length indicates selection of &nbsp;smaller pods was a measure of selection index &nbsp;to obtain high L-Dopa accession could be used in breeding programme of velvet bean.</div>

<div>Variability of L-Dopa and its association with morphological growth and yield traits of Mucuna pruriens (L.) germplasm</div>

Current study was conducted to evaluate the effect of inclusion of lime treated olive cake in the complete feed of goats. Olive cake was treated with 6% slaked lime to increase availability of cellulose and to alleviate digestibility depression caused by higher fat content. Twelve local adult male goats were randomly allotted to control and treatment groups. Control group was fed ad libitum conventional complete feed and the treatment group was fed &nbsp;complete feed containing 30% lime treated olive cake for a duration of 30 days. The treatment feed was significantly (P&lt;0.05) lower in organic matter, crude fiber and acid detergent fiber, however it was significantly (P&lt;0.01) higher in calcium and acid insoluble ash. Mean body weight and daily feed dry matter and organic matter intake was comparable among groups and periods. The nutrient digestibility for crude fiber and acid detergent fiber was significantly (P&lt;0.05) in treatment feed. Daily nitrogen intake and digestible crude protein intake (g/kg W0.75), was comparable between both groups. Calcium and phosphorus balance was comparable between two groups. No significant difference was observed between groups and periods for blood biochemical and serum enzymes. The results of the present study indicated that lime treated olive cake can be included in complete feed at 30% level for feeding of adult male goats without adverse impact on &nbsp;nutrient intake, utilization and general performance of the animal.