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Roasting is a critical step in the preparation of peanuts for use as snacks and in processing of the nuts into oil, butter and flour. A rotary dryer developed at Sandel Engineering, Ile-Ife, Osun State Nigeria, for roasting peanuts, was evaluated. Using the Taguchi experimental design method, nine experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of four operational parameters: quantity of peanuts, drum speed, airflow rate and drum temperature on the quality of roasted peanuts. The moisture content of the roasted samples ranged from 1.13% to 3.22%. The Taguchi method revealed signal to noise ratios of 4.05, 2.26, 0.37, and 5.41 for the four parameters respectively, their contributions were 30.34%, 7.87%, 1.85%, and 59.95%. Drum temperature emerged as the most critical parameter, followed by peanut quantity, drum speed, and airflow rate. The optimal roasting conditions were identified as a peanut quantity of 5 kg, drum speed of 60 rpm, airflow rate of 0.9 m³/hr, and drum temperature of 150°C. The machine’s roasting efficiency ranged between 68.55% and 88.46% across the nine experimental runs. The sensory evaluation revealed a preference for the sample which had a final moisture content of 1.78%, scoring the highest in colour, taste and overall acceptability.

The performance of Valiantzas’ new version of Hargreaves–Samani model for calculating solar radiation from temperature and humidity data was validated in a semi-arid region of India. The validation was done by using the meteorological data (2005-14) obtained from a weather station at Agricultural Engineering College and Research Institute, Kumulur, Lalgudi Taluk of Tiruchirapalli district, located in Tamil Nadu, India. The indexes used for comparison are co-efficient of determination (R2), Standard Error Estimate (SEE) and long-term average ratio (rt). It was found that the mean solar radiation estimated from Valiantzas’ new version and Hargreaves–Samani model were higher compared to the measured solar radiation. The comparison showed a good performance (SEE = 4.412 MJ m-2 day-1 and R2 = 0.543) of the proposed new version of solar radiation equation. Hence, researchers can use this model on the basis of available data to getter better results for agricultural water management studies.

The present study was conducted to evaluate body weight and growth performance of Sahiwal female calves and to assess the effects of period, season, and birth weight. Data were collected over a ten-year period from 1996 to 2005. Body weights were recorded at birth and at 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, and 24 months of age. Growth rates were analyzed across six intervals: birth–3, 3–6, 6–9, 9–12, 12–18, and 18–24 months. The study period was divided into three phases (1996–1998, 1999–2001, and 2002–2005). Seasons of birth were categorized as summer (March–June), rainy (July–October), and winter (November–February), while birth weight was grouped into four classes (<17 kg, 17–19 kg, 20–22 kg, and >22 kg). A least squares model was applied using the R package emmeans (version 2.0.2) in the R programming environment (version 4.5.1). The overall mean body weights at birth, 3 months, and 6 months were 20.29 ± 0.14 kg, 40.52 ± 0.49 kg, and 76.48 ± 1.01 kg, respectively, while corresponding weights at 9, 12, and 18 months were 101.45 ± 1.42 kg, 134.29 ± 1.71 kg, and 197.42 ± 1.78 kg, indicating a steady growth pattern. Seasonal effects were largely non-significant during early growth, though some significant influence was observed at later stages, particularly on growth rates. Period of birth significantly affected body weights and growth rates at several stages, reflecting improvements in management, nutrition, and breeding practices over time. Birth weight had a significant effect on early growth (up to 3 months), but its influence diminished at later ages. Growth rates were highest during the mid-growth phases and gradually declined as calves approached maturity. Overall, the findings suggest that growth performance in Sahiwal calves is primarily influenced by management and environmental factors, while the effect of birth weight is limited to early life stages.

This study investigates the challenges faced by almond farmers in Samangan province of Afghanistan. Through surveys of 60 farmers, the research identifies limitations across the production cycle, including pest management, lack of quality inputs, water issues, limited machinery, traditional harvesting methods, and inadequate storage facilities. Additionally, marketing challenges like limited buyer access and unfair pricing were reported. Weaknesses in local trade unions further hinder farmer support. Findings reveal marketing, production difficulties, and weak unions as the most pressing issues. The study recommends interventions such as improved harvesting techniques, disease-resistant varieties, sustainable water management, and farmer education. Post-harvest improvements like better storage, fairer market access, and stronger unions are also suggested. Increased government/NGO support was seen as crucial. These improvements hold the potential to significantly benefit Samangan’s almond industry and its farmers.

Zooplanktons are microscopic free floating animals, play a vital role in aquatic ecosystem. Zooplanktons are highly sensitive to environmental variations, as a result change in abundance, species diversity or community composition can provide important indication of environmental health. Present investigation was conducted to study the relationship between seasonal variation and the diversity of zooplankton of river Yamuna in the stretch of Delhi. Zooplankton samples were collected for one year during Feb 2024 to Jan 2025 from three different Locations i,e. SW1-Near Wazirabad bridge (Upstream and entry point of Yamuna River in Delhi), SW2-Near ITO (Mid-stream and located in middle of stretch of Yamuna River in Delhi) and SW3-Near Okhla barrage From Kalindi kunj (Downstream and exit point of Yamuna River from Delhi). Zooplankton analysis was carried out during whole sampling period. Four groups of zooplanktons were reported i.e. Rotifers, Cladocera, Copepods and Ostracods. Among all the group of the zooplankton Rotifers were found to be most dominant at all location followed by Cladocera, Copepoda and Ostracoda. The overall population of zooplankton were recorded maximum during summer season followed by winter and lowest in the monsoon season.

Agroforestry systems play a crucial role in enhancing farm income and sustainability in hill regions. The present study evaluated the economic viability of agrisilviculture (AS) and agrihortisilviculture (AHS) systems for selected rabi and vegetable crops in the Garhwal Himalayas, Uttarakhand. Cost-return analysis was conducted using data on input costs and market-based returns from grain, vegetable produce, and crop residues. Economic indicators such as gross return, net return, and benefit-cost (B:C) ratio were used to assess system performance. Results revealed considerable variation among crops and systems. Under AS, lentil and vegetable-based models exhibited higher net returns and B:C ratios compared to wheat and barley. Vegetable crops, particularly garlic and pea, recorded superior economic performance in both AS and AHS systems. In AHS, integration of horticultural species influenced crop profitability, with vegetable-based models showing higher economic returns than rabi cereals. Overall, vegetable-based agroforestry models were moswre economically viable than cereal-based systems, highlighting their potential for income enhancement in hill agroecosystems. The study underscores the importance of crop selection and system design for improving farm profitability in Himalayan agroforestry systems.