The crop production in the district of Kasaragod in Kerala State(India)is characterized by low input-low yield concept and rain-fed agriculture.A field study was conducted in Western Ghat region of the district to dev...The crop production in the district of Kasaragod in Kerala State(India)is characterized by low input-low yield concept and rain-fed agriculture.A field study was conducted in Western Ghat region of the district to develop a suitable rainwater harvesting system adoptable to hilly terrains and to test its efficacy for improving the use efficiency of the harvested water by its multiple uses.The cost-benefit analysis of the water harvesting system was also carried out to find out its affordability to farmers.The water harvesting system has been developed by integrating three components:(i)improving the productivity of coconut and component crops in the cropping units(ii)developing multiple water use systems,and(iii)the conjunctive use of the harvested water along with other surface and groundwater resources.Based on the estimated annual costs and returns,the Benefit-Cost ratio was found to be 1.69 and all other financial viability criteria(IRR and NPV)were also found favourable for investment on a lined water harvesting tank integrated with a micro-irrigation system and fish farming.The study suggested that the rainwater harvesting could be implemented as a viable alternative to conventional water supply or on-farm irrigation projects considering the fact that any land anywhere can be used to harvest rainwater.Further,the water use efficiency can be improved through effective harvesting and subsequent multiple uses of stored water.展开更多
Jamun(Syzygium cumini Skeels)is a nutritious fruit and has historically been used as both as an edible and a traditional medicine.The jamun seed is an inedible by-product of the fruit.However,their high concentration ...Jamun(Syzygium cumini Skeels)is a nutritious fruit and has historically been used as both as an edible and a traditional medicine.The jamun seed is an inedible by-product of the fruit.However,their high concentration of phytochemicals makes them valuable components of nutraceuticals.Various studies on diverse biological activities of jamun seeds have warranted their application in human health and biomedical fields.This review paper discusses critically the phytochemical composition of jamun seeds and the bioactivities,including their antioxidant,anti-inflammatory,anti-cancer,antidiabetic,anti-microbial,anti-obesity,hepato-protective,cardio and gastro-protective properties.The bioactivity of jamun seed is related to the presence of phenols,flavonoids,steroids,alkaloids,triterpenoids,tannins,and saponins.Animal research in vivo,and in vitro experiments with human and animal cell models support the idea that jamun seed extract can be valuable additions in food and biomedical fields due to the diverse bio-functional properties.However,in-depth and systematic in vivo clinical trials using human subjects must be conducted to confirm the safe consumption limit and establish other therapeutic roles of jamun seeds for their abundant utilization as a nutraceutical or pharmacological component.Moreover,research is required to understand the exact mechanisms of the bioactivities exhibited by jamun seeds.展开更多
文摘The crop production in the district of Kasaragod in Kerala State(India)is characterized by low input-low yield concept and rain-fed agriculture.A field study was conducted in Western Ghat region of the district to develop a suitable rainwater harvesting system adoptable to hilly terrains and to test its efficacy for improving the use efficiency of the harvested water by its multiple uses.The cost-benefit analysis of the water harvesting system was also carried out to find out its affordability to farmers.The water harvesting system has been developed by integrating three components:(i)improving the productivity of coconut and component crops in the cropping units(ii)developing multiple water use systems,and(iii)the conjunctive use of the harvested water along with other surface and groundwater resources.Based on the estimated annual costs and returns,the Benefit-Cost ratio was found to be 1.69 and all other financial viability criteria(IRR and NPV)were also found favourable for investment on a lined water harvesting tank integrated with a micro-irrigation system and fish farming.The study suggested that the rainwater harvesting could be implemented as a viable alternative to conventional water supply or on-farm irrigation projects considering the fact that any land anywhere can be used to harvest rainwater.Further,the water use efficiency can be improved through effective harvesting and subsequent multiple uses of stored water.
文摘Jamun(Syzygium cumini Skeels)is a nutritious fruit and has historically been used as both as an edible and a traditional medicine.The jamun seed is an inedible by-product of the fruit.However,their high concentration of phytochemicals makes them valuable components of nutraceuticals.Various studies on diverse biological activities of jamun seeds have warranted their application in human health and biomedical fields.This review paper discusses critically the phytochemical composition of jamun seeds and the bioactivities,including their antioxidant,anti-inflammatory,anti-cancer,antidiabetic,anti-microbial,anti-obesity,hepato-protective,cardio and gastro-protective properties.The bioactivity of jamun seed is related to the presence of phenols,flavonoids,steroids,alkaloids,triterpenoids,tannins,and saponins.Animal research in vivo,and in vitro experiments with human and animal cell models support the idea that jamun seed extract can be valuable additions in food and biomedical fields due to the diverse bio-functional properties.However,in-depth and systematic in vivo clinical trials using human subjects must be conducted to confirm the safe consumption limit and establish other therapeutic roles of jamun seeds for their abundant utilization as a nutraceutical or pharmacological component.Moreover,research is required to understand the exact mechanisms of the bioactivities exhibited by jamun seeds.
