technology in agriculture

Good quality seeds are those which are of same variety and contain little to no impurities and shows a good performance in the field.  Following criteria can be used to describe the quality of good seed; 1. Varietal characteristics 2. Seed lot characteristics 3. Seed viability Seeds of pulses 1. VARIETAL PURITY CHARACTERISTICS Varietal purity is mainly defined as the genetic or cultivar purity and can be described by its physical & chemical traits and crop attributes. a) Seed factors True varietal seeds can be characterized by its specific traits such as the length, width, shape, size, color and aroma. b) Chemical analysis A range of chemical tests can also be used to differentiate between varieties.  Factors such as alkali digestion, color, amylase content, gel consistency and protein helps to discriminate between varieties. c) Crop factors Physical characteristics of crops are normally constant that includes plant height, time to reach maturity, plant color and plant gro...

Carrot ( Daucus carota ) is a root-crop known for its vitamin rich red/orange roots which are used in making foods and salads. Carrot is known as �apple for the poor� because of its rich in nutrients and low cost. Carrot also has a long list of medical and health benefits for humans. So, farmers should follow modern cropping technology for gaining good yields and profits from this healthy vegetable. Carrots in Pakistan Botanical Classification Carrot is a dicot plant. Daucus carota Kingdom Plantae Division Magnoliophyta Order Apiales Class Apiaceae Genus Daucus Species carota Climatic Requirements Carrot is a crop of cold climate. Thus a temperature of 7 to 24 0 C is good for the germination of the crop. Temperatures between 25 and 35 0 C do not give good germination rates and the size of carrot root remains small. Temperatures between 20-25 0 C are best for healthy crop yield. Soil Requirements Mera soil in good tilth is hig...

Horticulture is science concerned with intensively cultivated plants that are used by people for food, for medicinal purposes, and for aesthetic gratification.  Horticulturists apply the knowledge, skills, and technologies used to grow intensively produced plants for human food and non-food uses and for personal or social needs. Biotechnology is broadly saying, any technique that uses live organisms like bacteria, viruses, fungi, yeast, animal cells, plant cells etc. to make or modify a product, to improve plants or animals or to engineer micro-organisms for specific uses.  It is concerned with upgradation of quality and also utilization of livestock and resources for the well-being of both animals and plants.   Biotechnology in Horticulture Biotechnology offers a vast potential in horticulture. The biotechnological tools may likely to have greater impacts in horticulture, where even minor changes such as in color, aroma quality and postharvest behaviour would make signi...

INTRODUCTION Mealybug is an insect of fruit trees. It not only reduce the fruit production from trees but it also reduces the quality of the fruits hence the fruits are not export quality. The insect larvae and wingless females are most damaging. Mealybug is a sucking insect and it attacks mango from December - January. During this period the larvae attack leaves and inflorescence and deprive them from essential nutrients. It not only feeds on the plants but also secrets a sticky substance which serves as the source of fungal attack. In severe attack of mealybug, fruit does not set and wood is also damaged.  This is a very troublesome insect in the orchards and it is very difficult to reduce its population once it has entered in an orchard. Birds also do not like to prey this insect. Mealybug has been reported on more than a hundred hosts. The insect lays its eggs in closed places. During the end of its life cycle, when the female comes down from the tree, it tries to enter the rhi...

In the modern age of urban life and industrialization, the land for cultivation is continuously decreasing and hence more problems for getting fresh vegetables, grains and other edible commodities is also arising. But to cope with this situation, the concept of kitchen gardening has been introduced formally in metropolitan cities of this world. A representation of Kitchen Gardening in Lahore In kitchen gardening , vegetables for domestic use are grown in home lawn or other space available. This is also a hobby for many people as well as quick source of healthy food. But like any other form of cultivation, kitchen gardening should also be managed and have some inputs. A generalized production technology is given below which is recommended in Lahore. INITIAL PLANNING Following points should be kept in mind before starting kitchen gardening; Different types of vegetables should not be mixed. This is helpful to prepare the land each time for sowing new seeds. Availability to the light...

Vegetables are very important in our daily diet because they contain components essential for the grown and developments of our bodies. Following are a few measures which can be followed in Pakistan to preserve the nutritional value of vegetables both a farmer and consumer level. Vegetables INSECT-PESTS AND DISEASES Insect-pests and diseases are major sources to cut 20-30% of vegetable production and in some cases entire crop may be destroyed. Hence vegetables should be kept safe from insect pests and diseases to control losses in yield and save nutritional value. CONTROL STRATEGIES To control pests and diseases, chemicals with large residual capabilities should not be used rather such chemicals should be used whose effect last only for 24 hours. Such sprayed vegetables should be used after washing. HARVESTING AT PROPER TIME Vegetables should be harvested at physiological maturity . For example, if melon and watermelon are picked before ripening, they will be less sweet. Similarly if...