Ananta Vashisth

• PhD
• Principal Investigator at Indian Agricultural Research Institute

Seeds of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) were exposed in batches to static magnetic fields of strength from 0 to 250 mT in steps of 50 mT for 1-4 h in steps of 1 h for all fields. Results showed that magnetic field application enhanced seed performance in terms of laboratory germination, speed of germination, seedling length and seedling dry weight s...

A study was undertaken to characterize the water sorption properties and enhancement in germination and seedling vigour of maize (Zea mays L.) seeds exposed to static magnetic fields of 100 mT and 200 mT for 2 and 1 h, respectively. Water sorption isotherms were constructed for magnetically- exposed and unexposed seeds by equilibrating over differe...

Seeds of sunflower (Helianthus annuus) were exposed in batches to static magnetic fields of strength from 0 to 250mT in steps of 50mT for 1-4h in steps of 1h. Treatment of sunflower seeds in these magnetic fields increased the speed of germination, seedling length and seedling dry weight under laboratory germination tests. Of the various treatments...

Magnetic seed treatment is one of the physical pre-sowing seed treatments to enhance the performance of crop plants. In our earlier experiment, we found significant increase in germination and vigour characteristics of maize (Zea mays L.) seeds subjected to magnetic fields. Among various combinations of magnetic field (MF) strength and duration, be...

Cotton fiber cellulose synthesis and cellulose content at various post anthesis maturity stages of boll' development were studied in sixteen cotton varieties of Gossypium arboreum and Gossypium hirsutum species, grown in the 2001 crop year in New Delhi, under identical agro-climatic conditions. Cellulose content was estimated using Updegraff's meth...

This study focused on extracting cellulose from corn cobs to create biodegradable plastics enhanced with titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanoparticles. Cellulose was obtained through various processes, including grinding, alkalization, bleaching, washing, and drying. TiO₂ nanoparticles were synthesized using the Sol–gel method from Titanium tetraisopropoxi...

In this research paper, machine learning techniques were applied to a multivariate meteorological time series data for estimating the wheat yield of five districts of Punjab. Wheat yield data and weather parameters over 34 years were collected from the study area and the model was developed using stepwise multi-linear regression (SMLR), artificial...

Weather-based simulation models were developed in the present study to characterise late blight of potato in the Lower Gangetic Plains using AI-based machine learning and multiple linear regression approaches. Weather variables considered in this study were, daily maximum temperature, minimum temperature, rainfall, morning relative humidity, evenin...

Wheat crops are highly affected by the influence of weather parameters. Thus, there is a need to develop and validate weather-based models using machine learning for its reliable prediction. Wheat yield and weather data during the crop growing period were collected from IARI, New Delhi, Hisar, Amritsar, Ludhiana and Patiala. The yield prediction mo...

Wheat crop is highly affected by the influence of weather parameter, adverse weather drastically reduce wheat yield. Thus, there is need to develop and validate weather-based models using machine learning for its reliable prediction at multiple stages. Wheat yield and weather data during crop growing period were collected from IARI, New Delhi, Hisa...

BACKGROUND The continuous cultivation of rice–wheat in the same field is a key element of double‐cropping systems in the Indo‐Gangetic plains. Yields of such cropping systems are increasingly challenged as climate change drives increases in temperature, terminal stress and uneven rainfall, delaying rice harvesting and subsequently delaying sowing o...

Industrial wastes and agricultural by-products are increasingly used in crop production as supplements along with fertilizers. An experiment was conducted during the winter (rabi) seasons of 2021 and 2022 at the research farm of the ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi to determine the individual and combined effects of bioaugment...

The whole world is striving for nutritional security and sustainability in agriculture. The recurring pandemic situations and deadly aftermaths demand that present research efforts be channelized to revamp the existing agricultural methods and technologies for a clean and green environment. Excess use of nitrogen fertilizers causes increasing nitra...

Tomato [Solanum lycopersicum L.] fruits are frequently picked at various growth stages from mature green towards red ripe stages, mainly based on the widely used visual grading schemes. Which in many cases are inaccurate, time intensive and do not support high-tech agriculture, which needs accurate classification of tomato fruit development and rip...

An experiment was conducted during 2020–21 and 2021–22 to evaluate the biophysical and biochemical characteristics of tomato [Solanum lycopersicum (L.)] genotypes (Pusa Rohini, Pusa Cherry-1, S-22, PKM-1 and Pusa Protected-1) grown at Centre for Protected Cultivation Technology (CPCT), ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi. Tomato...

Wheat is the second most consumed staple food grain after rice, cultivated in nearly 26 Mha areas in the northern part of India. Weather variables like maximum temperature, minimum temperature, relative humidity, rainfall, bright sunshine hours, evaporation etc. have a great impact on crop yield. Weather based pre harvest crop yield estimation is h...

Present study reported the development of electrochemical impedance biosensor based on organic nanotubes for nitrate detection. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) technique was used for the fabrication and development of the biosensor. Material impedance to the flow of electric current through was studied in depth. Various performance...

Present study reported the development of electrochemical impedance biosensor based on organic nanotubes for nitrate detection. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) technique was used for the fabrication and development of the biosensor. Material impedance to the flow of electric current through was studied in depth. Various performance...

Mustard is the second most important edible oilseed after groundnut for India. Adverse weather drastically reduces the mustard yield. Weather variables affect the crop differently during different stages of development. Weather influence on crop yield depends not only on the magnitude of weather variables but also on weather distribution pattern ov...

Mustard yield prediction was done at different growth stage of the crop. Daily weather data during crop growing period as well as mustard yield data for the period of 1984-2019 for ICAR-IARI, New Delhi were used for developing model. Stepwise multiple linear regression and principal component analysis was used for the development of suitable statis...

Wheat being highly affected by the weather, adverse weather drastically reduces the wheat yield. Model was developed for multi stage wheat yield prediction by stepwise multi linear regression (SMLR), support vector regression (SVR), least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and hybrid machine learning LASSO-SVR and SMLR-SVR techniques...

Access, efficiency and affordability of agricultural information are a prerequisite for achieving set targets of agricultural productivity. Information and communication technology (ICT) equipped with social media reach can play a leading role in disseminating correct information to needful farmers at the right time. The ICAR-Indian Agricultural Re...

A field experiment was conducted at research farm of Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi during Rabi 2016–17 and 2017–18. Three varieties of mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) Czern and Coss] RH-406, P. Tarak and Girraj were sown on three different dates for generating different weather conditions during different growth stages. InfoCrop-m...

Soybean crop is used as both legume and oil seed contributing for 23% of total vegetable oil production of the country. Soybean productivity and fertilizer P use efficiency (FPUE) is low due to its higher fixation with iron, aluminum and/or calcium minerals in the soil. In order to make the fixed P bioavailable, plant roots secretes low-molecular w...

Phosphorus (P) use efficiency (FPUE) is very low due to fixation of P with the hydrous oxides of iron and aluminum in acid soils and calcium in neutral to calcareous soil. The roots of wheat (Triticum aestivum) excrete low molecular weight organic acids (LMWOAs) to increase P bioavailability in P-deficient soil through acidification, chelation, and...

Field experiments were conducted on the research farm of IARI, New Delhi during Rabi 2016-17 and 2017-18. Three varieties of wheat (PBW-723, HD-2967 and HD-3086) were sown on three different dates for generating different weather condition during various phenological stages of crop. Results showed that during early crop growth stages soil moisture...

Wheat yield production is largely attributed by weather parameters. Model developed by multiple linear, neural network and penalised regression techniques using weather data have the potential to provide reliable, timely and cost-effective prediction of wheat yield. Wheat yield data and weather parameter during crop growing period (46th to 15th SMW...

For generating different weather conditions during various phenological stages, experiments were conducted on two varieties of wheat (HD-2967 and HD-3086) sown on three different dates at the research farm of IARI, New Delhi during rabi 2015-16 and 2016-17. Soil temperature, soil moisture, leaf area index, biomass, chlorophyll content, radiation in...

Magnetic field treatments of seeds have shown significant effects on the enhancement of crop growth. Soil moisture stress is the major constraint in the production of the sunflower crop. Therefore, the experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of a 200 mT magnetic field for 2 h on crop growth, and yield of sunflower crops raised from magne...

The remote sensing technique has been used for diverse applications in agriculture. An array of continuous narrow wavebands in the hyperspectral remote sensing provide an understanding of the subtle changes in biochemical and biophysical attributes of crops and their different physiological processes. Hyperspectral remote sensing has also been used...

Organic cultivation of crops is important for maintaining soil health and improving environmental quality. A field experiment was conducted at IARI, New Delhi to quantify the emission of methane (CH 4), nitrous oxide (N 2 O), and corban dioxide(CO 2), and their global warming potential (GWP), and correlation with physico-chemical properties of soil...

An experiment was conducted during the rabi season, 2017-18 at the research farm of ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi to evaluate the effect of weather parameter on growth and yield attributes of wheat crop under conservation agriculture. The crop was sown under different dates mainly timely sown, late sown and very late sown w...

Experiments were conducted during Rabi 2014–15 and 2015–16 at research farm of ICAR- Indian Agricultural research Institute, New Delhi to study crop water requirement for wheat under different conservation practice along with conventional practice using single crop coefficient, dual crop coefficient and water balance methods. The field experiment w...

Crop yield estimation before harvest is required for marketing, pricing, storage, import, export etc. Productivity of cropping systems under various weather, management and policy scenarios can be predicted successfully by simulation models. Due to increase in input cost of agricultural operation, agriculture produces become costly. Therefore, crop...

In this study, the effect of different row directions, viz. North-South (N-S) and East-West (E-W) on micrometeorological and crop growth parameters of three Brassica cultivars (Pusa Vijay, Pusa Mustard- 21 and Pusa Bold) were studied in the experimental farm of the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi during 2013-14 Rabi season....

A field experiment was conducted at the research farm of ICAR-Indian Agricultural research Institute, New Delhi during the rabi season 2014-15 to study the effects of various tillage practices on biophysical parameters, yield attributes and yield of wheat in pigeonpea-wheat cropping system. The experiment was conducted in a randomized block design...

Weather is one of the most important factors determining success or failure of agricultural production. It effects on every phase of growth and development of plant. Any variability in the weather during the crop season, such as delay in the monsoon, excessive rains, flood, droughts, spells of too-high or too-low temperatures would affect the crop...

Globally rapeseed-mustard (Brassica spp.) is a major oilseed crop. India is the second largest cultivator of mustard followed by China. The oilseed production increased significantly after yellow revolution but increasing population made pressure on production. The major losses in mustard yield occurs due to the attack of different pest and disease...

Although soil conservation practices are being promoted as better environmental protection technologies than traditional farmers’ practice, limited information is available on how these practices affect soil water balance and root water uptake. The root water uptake (RWU) patterns of cotton grown under soil conservation practices and soil water bal...

Standardization of magnetic field was done for maximum enhancement in germination characteristics of maize seeds. Seeds of maize were exposed to static magnetic fields of strength 50, 100, 150, 200, and 250 for 1, 2, 3, and 4 h for all field strengths. Results indicate that magnetic field application enhanced seed performance in terms of percentage...

Forecast of crop production before harvests are required for storage, pricing, marketing, import, export etc. Simulation models have been used successfully to forecast productivity of cropping systems under various weather, management and policy scenarios. The main factors affecting crop yield are weather, soil and genetic coefficient of the crop....

One of the important paradigms of climate smart agriculture (CSA) is building resilience of agricultural systems to climate variability at multiple levels. The paper describes design, development and application of a web enabled decision support system (DSS) for real time crop monitoring at district level and making the information available to dif...

Forecast of crop production before harvests are required for storage, pricing, marketing, import, export etc. The main factors affecting crop yield is weather. Weather variability causes the losses in the yield. Use of weather can be done for crop production forecast. Weather plays an important role in crop growth. Therefore model based on weather...

A study was conducted at research farm of ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, to investigate the effects of microenvironment under different colour shade nets on the growth and development of vegetable spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) during summer and rainy seasons, 2012. Spinach crop was sown under four different colour shade ne...

Field experiment was undertaken at research farm of IARI, New Delhi to study the effect of change in the microenvironment under different colour shade nets during summer and rainy season, of 2012 on yield of spinach. Spinach crop was sown under different colour shade nets such as red, green, black, white along with control (without shade net) durin...

Field experiment was undertaken at research farm of IARI, New Delhi to study the effect of change in the microenvironment under different colour shade nets during summer and rainy season, of 2012 on yield of spinach. Spinach crop was sown under different colour shade nets such as red, green, black, white along with control (without shade net) durin...

Impact of climate on agricultural production is directly linked to food security. Empirical studies through parametric approach have been done focusing on 'mean' of variables, although few studies have dealt with climate impacts in general settings. We characterized the impacts on crop production through a simple statistical approach. Recent studie...

Multistage crop yield forecasts were done by developing district level statistical yield models at midseason (45 days before harvest, DBF) and pre-harvest stage (25 DBF). Crop yield forecasts were generated for wheat crop in rabi season in Amritsar, Bhatinda and Ludhiana districts of Punjab. Long period crop yield data as well as weekly weather dat...

A study was under taken at research farm of IARI, New Delhi for investigating the effects of microenvironment under different colour shade nets on the growth and development of the spinach (Spinacia oleracea). Spinach crop were sown under four different colour shade nets namely white, black, red and green with 40% mesh size along with control (with...

Field experiment was conducted during 2009–10 and 2010–11 rabi season at research farm of IARI, New Delhi for assessing the aphid infestation in mustard. In aphid infested plant the LAI was 67 to 94% lower than healthy plant. Chlorophyll concentration decreased to 50% in infested plant as compared to healthy plant. Infestation was more severe in la...

The effect of magnetic field on different crops particularly germination, root and shoot growth of plants have been studied by several researchers. Florez et al. (2007) reported that the germination and early growth of maize seedlings enhanced when seeds were exposed to stationary magnetic field. Vashisth and Nagarajan (2008a, 2008b, 2010) reported...

Field experiments were conducted at research farm of IARI, New Delhi, during 2010 with an aim to study the effect of pre sowing seed treatment by magnetic field on crop growth, seed yield quality as well as quantity under different irrigation level. Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) seeds (Var. Sun bred-275) were exposed to static magnetic fields of...

Agricultural production depends upon many factors, of which weather is the major factor. Weather varies with space and time, hence, its forecast can help to minimize the farm losses through proper management of agricultural operations. The complete avoidance of all farm losses due to weather factor is not possible but it can be minimized to some ex...

Field experiment was conducted during 2009–10 and 2010–11 rabi season at research farm of IARI, New Delhi for assessing the aphid infestation in mustard. In aphid infested plant the LAI was 67 to 94% lower than healthy plant. Chlorophyll concentration decreased to 50% in infested plant as compared to healthy plant. Infestation was more severe in la...

Experiments were conducted to characterize the changes in water status during imbibition by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy in chickpea seeds exposed to static magnetic fields of 100 mT for 1 h. Water uptake during seed germination showed three phases with rapid initial hydration phase I, followed by lag phase II and steady hydration...

A field experiment was conducted at research farm of IARI, New Delhi with an aim to study the effect of weather variability on crop growth and seed yield. Three cultivars of Brassica were sown on three dates at an intervals of 15 days during 2007–2008 rabi season. The leaf area index, biomass, chlorophyll concentration index and aphid infestation w...

Spectral reflectance was taken in healthy as well as aphid infested canopies of mustard in field as well as in the laboratory. The spectral reflectance of aphid infested canopy and healthy canopy taken in the laboratory had significant difference in NIR region. In the visible region, the reflectance peak occurred in healthy canopy at around 550-560...

Temperature and relative humidity in combination cause rapid decline in seed quality during storage. To maintain the seed quality in storage a number of physical and chemical treatments are used. Magnetic field treatment is one such physical treatment practiced to improve the seed quality. An experiment was conducted to investigate the efficacy of...

An experiment was conducted at IARI, New Delhi during 2005-06 to study the effect of static magnetic field on seeds of different species varying in their chemical constitution on early growth characteristics. Seeds of maize (Zea mays L.), chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) and sunflower (Helianthus annus L.) were exposed to different magnetic fields and...