Successful restoration of over exploited species ( Asparagus racemosus ) depends upon variability, conservation and cultivation. Twelve elite accessions were characterized for fifteen quantitative and qualitative traits for sustainable cultivation and industrial uses. The evaluated accessions varied in morphology, herbage, root yield and shatavarin IV content. The accession DAR-7 was showing maximum herbage yield (1860 and 1850 g plant −1 ), fresh root weight (36.33 and 37.33 g plant −1 ), root girth (18.25 and 18.45 cm) and root yield (14.26 and 12.79 kg plant −1 ) in both the harvesting years. Shatavarin IV content in roots was maximum in DAR-14 (152.06 and 151.72 μg g −1 ), followed by DAR-28 (81.16 and 83.16 μg g −1 ). For economic yield accessions DAR-7, DAR-19, DAR-14, DAR-28 were found superior therefore, they may be further used in crop improvement program as valuable selection. In the cropping system they may act as a viable replacement of traditional crops viz. , cumin, gram, cotton and groundnut. Asparagus cultivated under high density plantation ensured high economic return (Rs. 4.87 l ha −1 year −1 ) with 3.66 B: C ratio, therefore, it could be considered a high returns substitute for traditional crops.

Pigeonpea ( Cajanus cajan L.) is an annually cultivated food and forage crop, attacked by a large number of pests mainly pod borer ( Helicoverpa armigera ). For the control of this insect pest, a combination of broad-spectrum insecticides viz., chlorantraniliprole and λ-cyhalothrin have been in use to reduce the pod damage and increase crop production worldwide. Therefore, a field trial was conducted to study dissipation and persistence behavior of insecticides combination (Chlorantraniliprole 9.26 % + λ-cyhalothrin 4.63 % ZC) in/on pigeonpea at the recommended dose (RD) 30 g a.i./ha and double recommended dose 60 g a.i./ha (2RD). The quantitative analysis was performed using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) for chlorantraniliprole and Gas chromatography with electron captured detector (GC-ECD) for λ-cyhalothrin. The Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe (QuEChERS) method was validated for its accuracy, precision and sensitivity. The chlorantraniliprole persisted upto 30 days and λ-cyhalothrin persisted upto 10 days at RD and 20 days at 2RD. The half-lives (DT 50 ) of chlorantraniliprole and λ-cyhalothrin were from 4.95 to 5.78 days and 2.48–4.33 days at recommended and double recommended dose in pigeonpea, respectively. However, residues of both insecticides measured from soil at 30 th day and harvest time were below the limit of quantification (LOQ). The waiting period deciphered for chlorantraniliprole and λ-cyhalothrin applied as combi-product was 9 days at recommended dose. Dietary risk assessment (Risk quotient<1) was performed on the basis of field trial suggested the application of chlorantraniliprole and λ-cyhalothrin as combi-product at recommended dose is safe for the consumers.

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Sapota, a prominent and economically important fruit crop of India is susceptible to several species of insect and mite pests. Several pesticides formulations are used to control the pest damage in sapota. The present investigation was aimed to study the dissipation and persistence behaviour of combi-product profenofos 40% + cypermethrin 4% (44EC) at the standard dose (SD) (1162 g a.i. ha-1+106 g a.i. ha-1) and double to standard dose (2×SD) (2324 g a.i. ha-1+212 g a.i. ha-1) in/on sapota under tropical agro-climatic conditions of South Gujarat in India. Prior to quantitative analysis of pesticide residue on Gas chromatography with electron captured detector (GC-ECD), the modified Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe (QuEChERS) based method was validated on its accuracy, precision, linearity and sensitivity. Profenofos persisted in sapota up to 30 days with the half-lives of 5.65 and 7.34 days at SD and 2×SD, respectively. Cypermethrin dissipated at a rapid pace and was below quantitation limit (BQL) on 7 days at either dose of application; the half-life values recorded were 3.27 and 4.43 days at SD and 2×SD, respectively. This is the first case study that reflects 14 days as a waiting period after the last spray of combi-product (44EC) at standard dose facilitates the residue-free sapota fruits. Further, the health risk index (HRI<1) and Health Index (HI %< 100%) indicates that the application of combi-product profenofos 40% + cypermethrin 4% (44EC) at standard dose could not pose any health risk to Indian consumers.