Narendra Kumar

Paddy is normally grown on nearly 2.5 lakh acres in the region—around two lakh acres in Nandyal and 50,000 acres in Kurnool.

The locals are facing severe hardships due to damaged pipelines, widespread leakages, and erratic supply schedules

Questions have emerged over RTI activist Muralidhar Reddy's complaints and conduct amid allegations of financial disputes, criminal cases, and intimidation.

Questions have surfaced regarding Kurnool RTI activist Muralidhar Reddy over allegations concerning past IPC and SC/ST Act police cases registered

Internal rivalries within the ruling TDP in Kurnool district have escalated following reports that District party president Gudise Krishnamma lodged complaints against senior constituency leaders with the party high command

Zinc (Zn) deficiency in both soil and grain remains a constraint to crop productivity and human nutrition across the alluvial soils of eastern India. The strong fixation of Zn in soil limits its availability, creating interest in microbial Zn solubilization, but the low survivability of inoculants in conventional solid carriers has restricted its use. In this backdrop, we assessed the survivability, and biofortification potential of three rice rhizosphere Zn-solubilizing bacterial (ZnSB) strains (B1: Burkholderia caribensis and B2 and B3: Bacillus subtilis), formulated in liquid medium. Liquid formulations containing polyvinylpyrrolidone, glycerol, and phosphate buffer maintained high population (> 1 × 108 cfu/mL) even after nine months, whereas the microbial population showed rapid decline in solid carriers. To understand the effect of ZnSB, a pot experiment with rice was conducted with different treatments, including vermicompost (applied vs not applied), bacterial inoculation (no inoculation vs B1, B2, and B3), and Zn sources (ZnO, ZnS, ZnCO3, and Zn3(PO4)2) arranged in a three-factor factorial design. ZnSB inoculations significantly enhanced soil available Zn (1.7 folds) and Zn solubilization potential (2.7 folds) over the uninoculated control. Maximum concentration of Zn in rice grain (23.75–29.30 µg/g) and straw (19.10–21.40 µg/g) was recorded with the combined application of ZnSB, vermicompost, and ZnO. Principal component analysis identified B1 + ZnO + vermicompost as the most effective treatment for maximizing Zn availability and rice yield. Overall, the integration of liquid ZnSB bioformulation, ZnO, and organic amendment provides a sustainable solution for improving Zn biofortification and rice productivity in Zn-deficient alluvial soils of eastern India.

Kurnool DCC President Boya Kranti Naidu stressed party discipline, rejected caste and factional politics within Congress, and affirmed the party's

Devotees at Kondrayi hill in Kodumur, Kurnool district, picked up live scorpions and placed them on their palms, heads, and tongues as part of a centuries-old Sravana tradition

In Short DEO orders probe into certificate verification lapses SGT appointed under sports quota without mandatory TET

During his five-year tenure as Chief Minister, Jagan faced persistent criticism over accessibility. YSRCP president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy with the public (File photo)