AMA, Agricultural Mechanization in Asia, Africa and Latin America
AMA, Agricultural Mechanization in Asia, Africa and Latin America (AMA) (issn: 00845841) is a peer reviewed journal first published online after indexing scopus in 1982. AMA is published by Farm Machinery Industrial Research Corp and Shin-Norinsha Co. AMA publishes every subjects of general engineering and agricultural engineering.
WOS Indexed (2026)
07 May 2026 (Vol - 57 , Issue- 05 )
31 May 2026 (Vol - 57 , Issue 05 )
Aim and Scope :
AMA, Agricultural Mechanization in Asia, Africa and Latin America
AMA, Agricultural Mechanization in Asia, Africa and Latin America (ISSN: 00845841) is a peer-reviewed journal. The journal covers Agricultural and Biological Sciences and all sort of engineering topic. the journal's scopes are in the following fields but not limited to:
Agricultural and Biological Sciences
Electrical Engineering and Telecommunication
Electronic Engineering
Computer Science & Engineering
Civil and architectural engineering
Mechanical and Materials Engineering
Transportation Engineering
Industrial Engineering
Industrial and Commercial Design
Information Engineering
Chemical Engineering
Food Engineering
Manifestation of Growth and Biochemical attributes of Tree Species Raised on Solid Municipal Waste
The present investigation was carried out at Punjab Agricultural University in collaboration with the State Forest and Wildlife Preservation Department at Forest Nursery, Baddowal (Ludhiana). The experiment consisted of four treatments (main plot) of sludge from different sewage treatment sources and a control, along with three forest tree species as sub-plots: Terminalia arjuna (arjun), Eucalyptus tereticornis clone 413 (safeda), and Melia com-posita (dek). Soil application of sludge significantly affected the physiolog-ical, biochemical, and growth characteristics of the tree seedlings. After twelve months, plant height, collar diameter, root length, number of roots, dry root weight, and dry shoot weight were all markedly higher with sludge application, especially using sludge from the Bhattian treatment plant, compared to control soil. Among the species, T. arjuna exhibited superior growth (height, roots, collar diameter, root length) across sludge treatments. Biochemical attributes, including chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chloro-phyll, carotenoids, total soluble sugars, and starch content, were also signif-icantly enhanced by soil amendment with Bhattian sludge after one year. T. arjuna seedlings accumulated the highest levels of chlorophyll a, total chlorophyll, carotenoids, sugars, and starch (and nearly the highest chloro-phyll b) irrespective of sludge treatment. Overall, T. arjuna performed best on Bhattian sludge, likely due to the higher nutrient content of that sludge compared to control soil and the other sludge sources (Balloke and Jamal-pur). This study suggests that growing trees in sludge-treated soil is a viable strategy for improving seedling quality on waste-contaminated sites. Fur-thermore, it demonstrates a sustainable approach to municipal waste management by recycling sewage sludge as a soil amendment to irrigate and fertilize forests, amenity trees, and greenbelts.
A STUDY ON COMMUNICATION BEHAVIOUR OF TRIBAL MAIZE GROWERS IN REASI DISTRICT OF JAMMU AND KASHMIR,INDIA
Effective communication plays the pivotal role in agriculture and rural development. It is considered as the basic need of human beings and web of society which makes the survival, growth, progress and development of man possible and holds the society intact and progressive. The better the communication, the better will be the development of a society. Electronisation and mechanization in communication systems have provided opportunity to access the information rapidly, accurately and repeatedly. In India tribal farmers live in less accessible and isolated villages where the dissemination of information is difficult. In this situation mass media can play the significant role to cater the information needs of tribal maize growers of hilly areas. Keeping in mind the importance of communication behaviour in the transfer of maize production technologies to the tribal farmers, a study on “Communication Behaviour of Tribal Maize Growers in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir, India” was conducted in Reasi District of Jammu and Kashmir which was selected purposively. Out of 12 C.D. Blocks only 4 C.D.Blocks namely Reasi, Thuroo, Arnas and Pouni were selected randomly. A sample of 20 per cent villages was selected randomly from selected Gram Panchayats. A sample of 20 per cent Gram Panchayats from each selected block was selected randomly. A sample of 20 per cent villages was selected randomly from selected Gram Panchayats. A sample of 20 per cent (150) farmers was selected randomly from selected villages. Finally,a total of 150 respondents were selected for recording their responses for study purpose. Communication behaviour of tribal maize growers has been operationalised as information input, information processing and information output behaviour of the respondents in the study. An index was developed for studying the communication behaviour of respondents, wherein information input was studied in terms of sources of information, processing of information was studied in terms of evaluation, storage and transfer of information and information output was studied in terms of dissemination of information. It was observed that the majority of tribal maize growers were using Extension Personnel of KVK, Extension Personnel of Departments of Agriculture, progressive farmers, television, relatives and friends and neighbourers as arranged rank wise 1, 2, 3,4, 5 and 6 respectively as the main sources of information on maize production technologies referred as the information input behaviour of the maize tribal growers. Majority of tribal farmers used to evaluate (processing) the information by discussing with the elder family members, progressive tribal farmers, neighbourers and local leaders/key communicators as arranged rankwise 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively. Majority of tribal maize growers stored the information by memorization and writing in general notebooks as arranged rankwise 1 and 2 respectively. A large number of tribal maize growers transformed the information by rearranging the important information as per their needs and rearranging the information in local dialect. Majority of tribal maize growers disseminated the information (information output) to their family members, neighbourers, those who cultivate in their lands and friends as arranged rank wise 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively. It was found that majority of tribal maize growers had medium communication behaviour towards different maize production information sources. The research helped to assess the communication behaviour of tribal maize growers.
PATHOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF DIFFERENT ISOLATES OF Dickeya zeae, CAUSING BACTRIAL STALK ROT OF MAIZE
A number of abiotic (unfavorable high and low temperature; nutritional imbalance etc.) and biotic factors such as fungi, bacteria, mycoplasma, insects and nematodes affecting the quantity and quality of the produce are known to attack cereal Among the biotic factors, the diseases caused by fungi and bacteria are economically more important because they cause heavy yield losses to the crops. Bacterial diseases are gaining importance during the recent years with several reports of emerging phytobacterial pathogens. One of them is Dickeya zeae, causing bacterial soft rot disease in Kharif sown cereals, rice and maize. The pathogen infection is typically characterized by tissue disintegration accompanied by alcoholic smell. The pathogen is aggressive especially during the monsoon season in Punjab.
STANDARDIZATION OF DRIS NORMS FOR LITCHI ORCHARDS UNDER JAMMU REGION
To compute the diagnosis and recommendation integrated system (DRIS) criteria, information on the leaf mineral composition, available soil nutrients, and associated mean fruit yield of 50 litchi orchards in the Jammu and Kathua regions of the Jammu area in 2022 and 2023 was used. Due to the DRIS norms derived from leaf analysis, the ideal ranges for macronutrient concentrations were as follows: Phosphorus (P) varies between 0.13 - 0.23%, potassium (K) ranges from 0.73 - 1.04%, sulphur (S) ranges from 0.18 - 0.27%, calcium (Ca) varies at 1.72 - 1.93%, while magnesium ranges from 0.35 - 0.55%. These ranges are appropriate for micronutrients: Molybdenum (Mo): 1.8–2.81%; boron (B): 6.25–1.96%; zinc (Zn): 9.34–11.93 ppm; iron (Fe): 89.24–156.98 ppm; copper (Cu): 7.24–10.42 ppm; manganese (Mn): 8.97–21.64 ppm. Fruit yields within these nutritional ranges ranged from 16.55 to 114.24 kg per tree. Similarly, DRIS indices for soil fertility were created using soil samples taken at 0–15, 15–30, and 30–45 cm, corresponding to comparable fruit yield levels. The following were found to be the optimal limits of nutrients available in the soil (mg/kg or kg/ha): 8.84–15.46 kg/ha in phosphorus (P), 93.17–199.15 kg/ha in potassium (K), 6.79–11.42 mg/kg during sulphur (S), 0.35–4.36 mg/kg with zinc (Zn), 2.81–13.42 mg/kg in iron (Fe), 1.44–4.43 mg/kg in copper (Cu), and 0.28–2.84 mg/kg in manganese (Mn) boron (B) at 28.90-51.80 mg/kg, and molybdenum (Mo) at 0.18-0.30 mg/kg. According to leaf-based DRIS indices, 55% of the orchards had potassium deficiencies, followed by nitrogen (25%), calcium (15%), & magnesium (5%). On the other hand, magnesium was found to be excessive in 45% of the orchards, followed by nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and calcium.
Incubating Rural Innovation: Agri-Startups and the Shifting Paradigms of Indian Agriculture
Agricultural entrepreneurs are turning to a range of technological tools—from artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), remote sensing and blockchain, big data analytics, mobile apps, and GIS mapping—to fill significant gaps in the agricultural value chain. These enterprises are transforming agricultural services using digital payment systems, precision farming, real-time weather forecasting, and farm-to-fork logistics by adopting a user-centric, scalable, and affordable model. Sustainable Development Goals are viewed in this paper as the agrarian start-ups the sustainability of which includes the attainment of zero hunger (SDG 2), decent work and economic growth (SDG 8), industrial and innovation (SDG 9), and climate action (SDG 13). The ecosystem, however, faces several difficulties. Problems include insufficient last-mile digital infrastructure, low digital literacy among farmers, restricted access to early-stage investment, regulatory restrictions, and scalability limits continue to hinder the widespread adoption and efficacy of agritech solutions. This article carefully examines these issues and offers institutional, regulatory, and investment-level remedies to help agri-entrepreneurship flourish. This paper claims that agri-startups are critical for India's agricultural modernization and rural revival. By promoting innovation at the local level and providing data-driven, scalable solutions, these businesses are generating commercial value while also enhancing environmental resilience, income, and food security. As India works to be a world leader in sustainable agriculture, understanding and supporting the agri-startup ecosystem becomes increasingly crucial.