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India is the second largest producer of vegetables in the world next to China. The cauliflower, potato, onion, tomato and radish are the major vegetable crops of Haryana. The present investigation was carried out to study the cost structure, returns, resource use efficiency, price spread and marketing efficiency of cauliflower. Present study was conducted in Sonipat district of Haryana. From selected district one tehsil and two villages from tehsil were selected on the basis of highest area and 15 farmers from each selected village were interviewed. Thus, sample of30 cauliflower growers were studied. The vegetable markets of   Sonipat district was purposively selected as these  are near to the main production area. While, Sonipat and Panipat markets were selected for the marketing efficiency. Ten intermediaries from each market were selected randomly making a sample of 20 intermediaries. The cost of cultivation of cauliflower was higher on large farms as compared to medium and small farms.The gross returns were found higher in medium farms as compared to large and small farms. The cost of production per quintal was lower onmedium farms and highest on large and small farms indicating that the medium farms are having economies of scale in production. The net income was higher on medium farms as compared to small and large farms in cauliflower.There was no difference in marketable and marketed surplus because of perishable nature of vegetable and farmers were hard pressed by their cash needs for post-harvest immediate sale. In cauliflower channel-I (Producer → Commission agent cum wholesaler →Retailer →Consumer) was more efficient as it ensured higher percent share of farmer in the consumer's rupee as compared to channel-II (Producer → Village trader → Commission agent cum wholesaler→Retailer →Consumer).

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Exotic plants can potentially modify ecosystem functions like cycling of nutrients by adjusting their decomposition rates. However, these effects are largely unknown for urban ecosystems, though they act as reservoirs of exotic plants. The present study evaluated the decomposition rates of five native and five exotic (three invasive and two non-invasive) species by conducting the litter bag experiment. Our study, however, did not find any significant differences in overall decomposition rates of native and exotic species but decomposition rates were strongly correlated with initial chemical quality of the litter. Further, litter carbon, lignin to nitrogen ratio and carbon to nitrogen ratio seemed to be good predictors for decomposition rates in this study. Interestingly, invasive exotic species had higher decomposition rate while non-invasive exotic species showed a slower rate as compared to the native species. In conclusion, our study indicates that invasive exotic plants try to maintain a higher chemical quality of litter than native and non-invasive exotic species which promotes their rapid decomposition. Thus, the better chemical quality of litter may facilitate the naturalisation and invasion of exotic plants irrespective of their origin.

India is the largest producer of vegetables in the world after China. The cauliflower, potato, radish, tomato, onionare the major vegetables cultivated in Haryana. Present study was conducted in Haryana to study the constraintsfaced by farmers and middlemen in production and marketing of major vegetables. Study was carried out in Sonipatfor cauliflower, Yamunanagar for Potato, Ambala for onion, Karnal for tomato, Gurugram for radish. Present studyfully relies on the primary data and hence data was collected through proper structured schedule for the productionyear 2014-15. Major production related constraints expressed by vegetable growers were lack of information aboutcultivation of vegetables, higher cost of fertilizers, seeds and labour and their unavailability when needed, lack ofsuitable cold storage facilities, high cost of storage, costly weedicides, spurious plant protection chemicals, and lackof credit. Major marketing related constraints expressed in marketing of vegetables were lack of market information,higher price fluctuation, higher amount of price spread, malpractices in weighing and storing of vegetables, problem ofstorage facilities, lack of processing industries/units, higher price fluctuations, high cost of labour, high transportationcost, and delay in payments.

Despite advances in biomedical technology, many communities and local people are still dependent on natural and herbal medications. A large number of different ethnic groups like the Tharu, Kani, Garo and other local inhabitants thrive in the Indian subcontinent and other parts of the world. These indigenous people traditionally use Mallotus philippensis (Lam.) Müll. Arg. (Euphorbiaceae) for a variety of medicinal (ethnoveterinary and ethnomedicines), ritual and economic purposes. Therefore, the present article aims to assess how many various types of disorders are being treated by the ethnic groups using formulations prepared from this tree. In addition, we aim to identify the gaps in knowledge and recommend future investigations based upon them. The present analysis based on 83 articles indicated that different ethnic groups are utilising the tree to treat about 142 health ailments that can be broadly categorised into 11 types of disorders. Among these disorder categories, helminthic infestations, dermatological and digestive disorders are most frequently treated with formulations prepared from this tree. Among plant parts, fruits are the most exclusively used component followed by leaves and bark. The usage of fruits as an anthelminthic is widespread and highly cited for both animals and human beings. Thus, the tree can serve as a promising ethnomedicine to treat helminthic infestations, dermatological and digestive problems. Therefore, the cultivation of this medicinal plant should be encouraged in order to promote the conservation of this species.

Clitoria ternatea L. (Family: Fabaceae) a perennial twing herb, it is also known as Aparajita. Traditionally it is used as a nerves tonic, leaves and roots are utilized to treat various disorders such as body aches, infections, urogenital disorders, eradication of intestinal worms and as an antidote to animal stings. Extraction by different solvents, phytochemical screening, separation and characterisation of bioactive compound carried out in present study. The analysis of bioactive compounds present in the extracts involving the applications of common phytochemical screening assays, chromatographic techniques and also characterisation of compounds by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The results of present study are very helpful to identify the isolated compound from the plant and the data is also used as a monograph for the Clitoria ternatea Linn.(Aparajita).

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