Clusterbean is an important, hardy and drought tolerant leguminous crop of kharif season in arid and semi arid region of tropical India. It can be grown successfully on poor fertile soil and areas of erratic rainfall and important crop of northern M.P., because of its gum content (28- - 32%) which is being utilized in various industries. India has become a leading exporter of guar gum especially, to the U.S.A. and earns every year Rs. 170 million. Clusterbean meal, the by-product of guar industries, is used as concentrated feed for animals, which contains 42% crude protein. So, the research...

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is considered to be one of the most important cereal crops belonging to grass family (Poaceae) having immense importance in Indian diet. On account of peculiar physical and chemical gluten, it makes better leavened bread than any other cereal. Wheat straw is important source of fodder for a large Indian animal population and also utilized in the manufacture of mattresses, straw and art purpose. Apart from food, the industrial use of wheat grain includes starch for paste, alcohol, oil and gluten. In India, wheat and rice serves as life sustaining crops for about...

Pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R.Br.] commonly known as bajra, is an important drought hardy millet crop basically cultivated in the arid and semi-arid areas on light textured sandy soils. It is one of the major coarse grain crop and is considered to be a poor mans food as it provides staple food for the poor in a short period. It is a dual purpose crop, grains are used for human consumption and its fodder as cattle feed. Pearl millet grains are eaten cooked like rice or chapattis are prepared out of flour like wheat or maize flour. It is also used as feed for poultry and green fodder...

Pearl millet Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br. emend. Stuntz] commonly known as bajra, is an important drought hardy millet crop basically cultivated in the arid and semi-arid areas on light textured sandy soils. It is a dual purpose crop, grains are used for human consumption and its fodder as cattle feed. Pearl millet grains are eaten cooked like rice or 'chapattis' are prepared out of flour like wheat or maize flour and also used as feed for poultry and green fodder or dry karbi for cattle. India is the largest producer of pearl millet with an annual production of 10.05 million tonnes from...

Athurveda, Charak Sangita, Sushrut, Sanghita have given an excellent account of medicinal plants. A number of books on medicinal plants known as herbals were written by various herbalists (Fucus, Cordus, Lobel etc.). India was the leading country in the study of medicinal plants before sixteenth century. Withania somnifera L. (Dunal.) and Tephrosia purpurea L. (Pers) occupy a reputable position in India pharmacology. Both these species enjoy considerably therapeutic repute in Ayurvedic, Homeiopathic, Unani and Allopathic systems of medicine. It was concluded that such studies may be useful to...

Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea Var. botrytis L.) belongs to natural order of crucifereae and is one of the important members of Cole crop group of vegetables cultivated in India for its flesh, compact curds that are used as raw cooked vegetables, curries, soups and pickles.The plant growth regulators are being used in horticulture for plant propagation, fruit setting, fruit drop and also for germination of various types of seeds. The recent work on the growth and development of vegetable plants by use of plant growth regulators has brought forward very interesting, attractive and encourageous...

Globally, India ranks second in production under castor after Brazil. The annual production of 10.03 lakh tonnes from an area of 7.52 lakh ha and productivity of 1334 kg ha-1 in India (Anonymous, 2010a). The major castor production states in India are Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Orissa. It is also grown in Tamilnadu, Bihar, Maharashtra and Rajasthan. Gujarat ranks first in India with respect to area, production and productivity, which as 4.22 lakh hectares, 4.31 lakh tonnes and 1972 kg ha-1 respectively (Anonymous, 2010b). Scattered cultivation of castor is found in almost all...