School of Agro and Rural Technology
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Browsing School of Agro and Rural Technology by Subject "AGRO AND RURAL TECHNOLOGY"
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Item Assessment and alleviation of soil pollution through agro-ecotechnological interventions: role of areca nut husk biochar and vetiver grass(2021) Gujre, NihalSeveral anthropogenic activities have become the preeminent sources of contamination by heavy metals (HMs), and the resultant deterioration in soil quality. Thus, the present study attempts to address the issues of soil quality degradation and its management in an environmentally compatible manner. Further, it explores agro-ecotechnological measures to improve the soil quality utilizing locally available resources. In the present study, two contaminated areas were selected in Assam to assess soil quality impact on human health and identify suitable management options. To comprehend soil quality, different physico-chemical parameters, and estimation of HMs contamination were carried out using standard protocols. Results revealed that the soil quality in both areas were degraded by increasing HM concentrations and decreased levels of nutrients. Cadmium (Cd), and chromium (Cr) are the two crucial HMs which posed severe ecological and health risk to the surrounding areas. Thus, in the quest for indigenous solutions, the present study has attempted to prepare and characterize biochar (BC) from locally available crop refuse, i.e., areca nut husk (AH). Areca nut husk biochar (AHB) prepared at a lower temperature (250° C), has intermediate stability in soil and higher soil agronomic properties, rendering it ideal for mass production as a soil amendment. The present study also explored the potential of AHB to remediate HMs contaminated soils in conjunction with vetiver grass (Chrysopogon zizanioides L.), which is well known for its various environment friendly characteristics. Results showed that AHB, along with the vetiver, has an additive effect, which includes remediation of Cd and Cr, enhanced mycorrhizal growth, and glomalin production, along with nutrient enrichment. The results demonstrated that AHB at a dose of 15 t ha-1 was most suitable for soil rejuvenation, improving soil physico-chemical, and biochemical properties.Item Formulation and Characterization of Leafy and Non-Leafy Vegetables Based Mix Soup Formulations(2021) Mondal, Imdadul HoqueTo encourage translational and value added product development of endemic and underutilized horticultural produces, current Ph.D. thesis is targets upon a robust experimental and design methodology to formulate and characterize leafy and non-leafy vegetable based mix soup recipes with high nutritional content in terms of proximate, vitamin C and antioxidant activity characteristics. The targeted leafy and non-leafy vegetables in the thesis includes Kolmou (Ipomoea aquatica Forssk.), Pui (Basella alba) and Jatialao sak (Lagenaria siceraria leaves) and Kolphul (Musa balbisiana Colla blossom), Kaskal (Musa splendida), green Komora (Benincasa hispida) and Posola (Musa balbisiana Colla pseudostem), respectively. After ensuring a critical discussion with respect to available prior art, lacunae, objectives and thesis organization in Chapter 1, the adopted overall research methodology has been presented in Chapter 2 of the thesis. Thereafter, Chapter 3 addresses the comparative efficacy of tray and oven drying processes towards the chosen leafy vegetables in terms of the nutritional characteristics of the dried vegetable samples. Chapters 4 and 5 targets upon the optimization of process-product characteristics of the chosen leafy and non-leafy vegetables, respectively. Both trial and error and statistical design approaches have been addressed in these chapters. Thereafter, Chapters 6 and 7 address the findings associated to the optimal leafy and non-leafy vegetable mix constitution based on nutritional optimization and sensory analysis. Finally, Chapter 8 summarizes the subjective and objective conclusions of the Ph.D. thesis and possible directions for future research.Item S & T Intervention in Bell Metal Product Manufacturing: Process Improvisation, Product Diversification and Drugery Free Workstation Design(2022) Sarkar, Pranay KumarThe bell metal industry worldwide enjoys heritage estate. However, field survey and literature review shows the industry is presently encompassed with several difficulties, such as age-old traditional production techniques, limited range of products, lack of modernization in terms of workstation, tools and equipments design, etc. The average annual transactions of the Sarthebari bell metal cluster have decreased from Rs. 11 million in 2017–18 to Rs. 7.5 million in 2019–20 and hence the workers are experiencing a very tough time. Moreover, the young artisans have started to leave the occupations due to the presence of a very high level of drudgeries with the current production units and hence, the bell metal industry is facing the manpower scarcity problem. To encourage the young entrepreneurs, this Ph.D. thesis devotes towards the drudgery reduction from the bell metal products manufacturing industries through S&T interventions. Firstly, the thesis addressed the mechanical properties of bell metal processed in different conditions for improvisation of the present production process. Thereby, oil quenching has been evaluated to be superior for products that required finishing work at room temperature against the present practice of the water quenching process. Another aspect of this study is creating a database on the mechanical properties of bell metal processed in different conditions to help the engineers on selecting the exact processing conditions for the specific applications. Thereafter, this thesis invented that the bell metal can be joined through TIG welding process and then different sets of TIG welding parameter has been proposed based on Pareto optimal solutions for various applications. The outcome of this study will open new markets for the industry by allowing the production of diversified welded bell metal products. Further, the thesis advocated for statistically determining the level of drudgeries associated with the present bell metal production process.. Eventually, a user-centric ergonomically correct workstation has been proposed along with the dimensions of few regularly used tools and equipments to reduce the level of drudgeries experienced by the bell metal artisans. Finally, the amount of copper leached in the drinking water from the bell metal utensils has been measured to prove the existing perceptions of the health benefits of using the bell metal utensils. Overall from the thesis work, it has been expected that due to reduced drudgery and increased efficiency of the designed workstation, on implementation, the young artisans who began to leave the trade will start to return to the occupation and hence the manpower scarcity problem will be resolved. Moreover, due to the opening of new markets and improved production process, the income level of artisans will increase and hence, the standard of living of millions of people engaged with the industry will improve.Item Study of a concurrent development- dissemination model for appropriate technology: Case of improvised Chaak for pottery industry(2020) Bhattacharjya, Bibhuti RanjanIn the present research endeavour, an attempt is made to redesign traditional Pottery wheel with consideration of ergonomic principle and the local people’s anthropometric data. Target users’ anthropometric data are the prime requirement for successful design intervention. However, paucity of anthropometric data of target users from Assam, India, is the major concern. To bridge the void, an attempt is made here to gather and to analyse the anthropometric data of five ethnic groups (Boro, Garo, Hira, Karbi, and Rabha) from Assam, India. Seventy-two anthropometric body dimensions, including the age and body weight of 453 people from different districts of Assam, India, are summarized. The variation in anthropometric data considering gender and ethnic diversity is also examined, and significant differences are observed in relation to gender and ethnicity. T-tests are carried out to verify the statistical significance of the variations in anthropometric dimensions across ethnic diversity within the same gender. Factor analysis and regression modelling are also done as part of the study. Further, the collected data are used to redesign the traditional Chaak i.e. traditional pottery wheel (TPW) and, cater to their comfort with added safety. Treadle mechanism is skillfully adapted in the machine. A four-bar crank rocker mechanism is constructed to obtain the necessary motion. In deciding the different parameters of the four-bar planner crank rocker mechanism, anthropometric data of the target users are considered. A full-scale model of the Improvised Pottery Chaak (IPC) is fabricated and field tested. The field-testing results clearly demonstrate that the design intervention is successful in reducing the health discomfort and energy expenditure besides reduction of increased heart rate. Male artisans' average productivity is found to be almost 1.7 times higher in the case of IPC than that of the TPW. Similarly, female artisans’ average productivity is found to be almost 1.8 times higher in the case of IPC than that of the TPW. The product along with its manufacturing process is successfully transferred to three rural micro-enterprises. Manufacturing process details and maintenance-related issues are demonstrated to them. In the absence of a structured approach and institutionalized intervention, such technology design and innovation efforts do not cater to the needs of the marginalized people living at the bottom of the pyramid (BoP). Hence, in this study, based on the experiences gathered from technology transfer of IPC, an effort is made to study technology transfer framework involving rural micro-enterprises.