SUMMARY The distribution of carotenoids, both qualitative and quantitative, during 3 stages of ripening of mango has been studied using chromatographic, spectroscopic and chemical methods. There was an increase in content as well as in number of carotenoids during ripening. The present study showed there were 15, 14 and 17 different carotenoids in the unripe, partially ripe and fully ripe mangoes, respectively. Even though phytofluene (39.26%) was the major carotenoid in the partially ripe mango, β‐carotene constituted the major carotenoid in the unripe (37.47%) and fully ripe mango (50.64%). cis‐β‐Carotene was present only in the fully ripe mango. Only the unripe mango contained ζ‐carotene, whereas γ‐carotene was present in all the 3 stages of ripening. The major xanthophyll present in the unripe mango was mutatoxanthin (9.44%), whereas auroxanthin constituted the major hydroxylated carotenoid of the partially ripe (5.07%) and fully ripe (10.40%) mangoes. The percent of cryptoxanthin dropped to lower levels during ripening. As ripening proceeded, lutein completely disappeared. There were significant quantities of zeaxanthin in the partially ripe and fully ripe mango. Epoxy carotenoids such as 5,6‐monoepoxy‐β‐carotene, mutatochrome, cis‐violaxanthin, luteoxanthin, mutatoxanthin and auroxanthin were observed in all 3 stages of ripening.

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The necessity to intensify agricultural land use has led to the development of multistorey cropping and crop mixtures. The crop combinations in two most intensive multistorey cropping systems practised World wide viz., plantation crop-based systems and homestead agroforestry system have been reviewed in this paper. In the past, much work on allelopathic interactions has been conducted in agriculture and forestry but studies in multi-storey cropping systems are limited. The study of allelopathic interactions in multi-storey cropping systems is highly complicated, owing to the species diversity and interferences arising from competition between different components of the system. This is further complicated by the unique microclimatic and edaphic factors of each system. Allelopathic research in these multi-storey cropping systems demands a multidisciplinary systems approach in which the different biological components of the system viz., microclimate, soil properties, microflora, spatial and temporal dimensions etc., should be investigated in totality. Considering the complexity of allelopathic interactions in multi-storey cropping systems, the thrust areas for allelopathic research are: separating allelopathic interference from competition, screening germplasm of crops/trees for suitability to these systems, monitoring the production of allelochemicals by the different components in relation to the microclimatic and edaphic factors of the system, exploitation of allelopathy for improving the productivity of the system and plant protection.

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Experiments were conducted during 2017-19 at the Integrated Farming System Research Station, Karamana, Kerala Agricultural University for assessing the impact of quantity of potting media, foliar application of multinutrient mixture IISR Power Mix G and microbial inoculants Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) and Trichoderma on the growth, nutrient uptake and yield of ginger variety Karthika grown as pot culture. The study revealed that 12 and 15 kg of potting media filled grow bags could produce comparable yields of ginger significantly higher than that obtained with 9 kg of potting media. Application of IISR Power Mix G @ 0.5% at 2 and 3 months of planting enhanced the yield of ginger to the tune of 11 per cent in comparison to control. Microbial inoculants AMF (5 g plant-1) and Trichoderma (1 kg mixed with 90 kg FYM and 10 kg neem cake and 250 g of the mixture used) applied at planting time followed by Trichoderma at 1 month after planting resulted in higher fresh ginger yield of 596.67 g bag-1 and was comparable to 550 g of fresh ginger obtained with application of AMF and Trichoderma at planting.

Climate change threatens global food and economic security. The decreased availability and import of pulses highlight the urgency of increased production. Pulse included cropping systems are the only way to enhance production as the area available are limited. Increased yield at spatial and temporal dimensions are focused here. Cropping system, including pulses consists of intercropping, sequential cropping, mixed cropping, relay cropping, and paira/utera cropping. They compete for light, space, residual moisture content and available nutrients with companion crops. They improve soil properties, reduce pest and disease incidence. The specific role of pulses in the cropping system includes high carbon sequestration capacity, low carbon footprint, fixing atmospheric nitrogen in soils, low water footprint, hydrogen fertilization of soils and improving soil biodiversity. Since they are easy to cultivate it creates employment opportunities for women. Pulses provide economic profitability to farmers. There lies a promising, sustainable and costeffective solution in these tiniest seeds.

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