Latest news with #SRB
Time of India
2 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
Beyond DSR, farmers adopt bed-sowing rice for water saving
CHANDIGARH: For the upcoming paddy season, while the state government is promoting Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR), some farmers are, for the second consecutive season, opting for a different method: Seeding of Rice on Beds (SRB), a variant which is also believed to be effective in saving underground water. Being propagated by former bureaucrat Kahan Singh Pannu, who served as secretary, agriculture and is an alumnus of the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), the SRB technique for paddy cultivation involves direct sowing of paddy seeds on raised beds of 18-22 inch width in two rows, and water is applied in furrows of 12 inch width. Farmers in some parts of the state adopted this method last season, and even more are exploring it this time. "Punjab faces an environmental disaster with its rapidly depleting groundwater table," Pannu said, adding, "Experts predict the state's groundwater will be completely gone up to 1,000 feet deep in the next 14 years. The main cause of this crisis is the cultivation of water-guzzling paddy during summer, a practice that has the potential to annihilate the Punjab civilization in the foreseeable future." GS Dhillon, a farmer from Dhanansu village in Ludhiana, said, "With seed companies now introducing paddy varieties that work well with weedicides and herbicides, SRB is emerging as a viable option. We faced some initial challenges last time, but we hope to use that experience to achieve a better yield this season. I like to experiment on my farm and the biggest advantage of this method is that it helps save underground water. " With the Seeding of Rice on Beds (SRB) method, paddy plants meet their water needs primarily through moisture, rather than relying on standing water. Seeds are sown with a row-to-row spacing of 10-12 inches, allowing plants ample natural air, moisture, light, and space to reach their full genetic potential. This method significantly reduces water consumption, requiring only about 25% of the water used in traditional paddy cultivation. Traditional paddy cultivation, which involves creating artificial ponds of water during hot summer months when evapotranspiration is highest, requires approximately 5,000 litres of water to produce just one kilogram of rice. Pannu added that since rice is sown and grown on beds without requiring standing water, there's no emission of dangerous methane greenhouse gas into the environment. This method also keeps soil pores open, aiding in better rainwater recharging and fostering superior conditions for beneficial microbes in the root zone, thus promoting natural environmental activity. Furthermore, plants absorb less water, making them sturdier and less succulent, and consequently, more resistant to insect, pest, and pathogen attacks, he said.
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
French Open 2025, May 30 order of play: Sabalenka, Swiatek and Alcaraz in action in third round
Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek and Carlos Alcaraz are some of the big names who will be in action in the third round on the sixth day of French Open 2025 at Roland Garros, Paris on Friday. Here's the full list of third-round fixtures (singles only) for day six of French Open 2025: Court Philippe-Chatrier Women's Singles - [1] Aryna Sabalenka vs Olga Danilovic (SRB) - 3:30PM IST Men's Singles - [10] Holger Rune (DEN) vs Quentin Halys (FRA) Women's Singles - [4] Jasmine Paolini (ITA) vs [LL] Yuliia Starodubtseva (UKR) Men's Singles - [2] Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) vs Damir Dzumhur (BIH) - Not before 11:45PM IST Where to watch French Open 2025 in India? In India, viewers can watch the live telecast of the French Open on the Sony Sports Network and stream the matches live on SonyLiv, JioTV and FanCode. Court Suzanne-Lenglen Men's Singles - [8] Lorenzo Musetti (ITA) vs Mariano Navone (ARG) - 2:30PM IST Women's Singles - [5] Iga Swiatek (POL) vs Jaqueline Cristian (ROU) Women's Singles - [12] Elena Rybakina (KAZ) vs [21] Jelena Ostapenko (LAT) Men's Singles - [15] Frances Tiafoe (USA) vs [23] Sebastian Korda (USA) Court Simonne-Mathieu Women's Singles - [8] Qinwen Zheng (CHN) vs [Q] Victoria Mboko (CAN) - 2:30PM IST Men's Singles - [12] Tommy Paul (USA) vs [24] Karen Khachanov Men's Singles - [13] Ben Shelton (USA) vs [Q] Matteo Gigante (ITA) Women's Singles - [13] Elina Svitolina (UKR) vs Bernarda Pera (USA) Court 14 Women's Singles - [16] Amanda Anisimova (USA) vs [22] Clara Tauson (DEN) - 2:30PM IST Men's Singles - [25] Alexei Popyrin (AUS) vs Nuno Borges (POR) Men's Singles - Hamad Medjedovic (SRB) vs Daniel Altmaier (GER) Court 7 Women's Singles - [19] Liudmila Samsonova vs Dayana Yastremska (UKR)
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Novak Djokovic Clarifies His Decision to Split With Andy Murray
Novak Djokovic opened up about his recent coaching split with Andy Murray, shedding light on the decision and offering high praise for his former collaborator. The two tennis legends joined forces earlier this year in what Djokovic described as a trial-based partnership. 'There is nothing more I can tell you than what you have read in our statements,' said Djokovic as he addressed the media during his press conference. 'You know, we did say that we are going to, not commit to that relationship on a very long term, so we're going to see, how it works, in a way for us, it was a test in Australia, and then we agreed, that we're going to work, you know, Indian Wells and Miami, and then we're going to see, you know, clay court season was more or less tournament by tournament, and see how it goes,' he added. Andy Murray (L), coach of Novak Djokovic (SRB)(not pictured) looks on in front of Juan Martin del Potro© Geoff Burke-Imagn Images 'So we agreed that we should part ways as coach and player,' said the former world number one. 'We felt like we couldn't get more out of that partnership on the court, and that's all there is to it. My respect towards Andy remains the same- even more actually, I got to know him as a person and I think he has a brilliant tennis IQ.' Advertisement Djokovic went on to say that both of them parted ways amicably and came to the agreement, that they had squeezed what they could, out of their short stint. The partnership had already come as a surprise to fans and critics, most of them questioning Murray's credibility as a coach. 'He has a very rare mind of a champion that obviously has achieved what he has achieved, and he sees the game incredibly well,' said Nole. 'We just, I guess, didn't, what can I say? We didn't reach, what we both hoped that we can reach in a relationship, in terms of results, and that's, that's all there is to it- you know sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, we gave it a try, and that's it,' he added. While it remains doubtful if we will ever see Murray again on a tennis court, Djokovic will be making his presence felt at the Geneva Open, where most of his family members will be in attendance, alongside his new coach Dusan Vemic. Related: Novak Djokovic Gets a New Coach After Andy Murray Split
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Air Force surprises troops with sudden deadline for reenlistment bonuses
With the Air Force retaining the vast majority of its enlisted force, the service has burned through its pot of money that many collect for reenlistment bonuses and set a deadline for Monday, May 19, for any airmen still hoping to cash in. Announced Thursday, the deadline gives Airmen in some of the most high-demand jobs just five days to decide whether to extend their Air Force careers by several years. Those who decide after May 19 will no longer be eligible for a cash reward for reenlisting, which the service calls a selective retention bonus. The Air Force has recorded a retention rate of 89.3% since the fiscal year's start in October, an Air Force official told Task & Purpose on Friday. That rate has created more demand for the money set-aside for reenlistment bonuses than in previous years. Two factors, officials said, drained the available bonus faster than anticipated, the official said. The service opened the bonus program earlier in the fiscal year than it has in the past, and in 2024 the Air Force began allowing airmen to accept a selective retention bonus contract by reenlisting one year ahead of their scheduled end of service. As a result, the Air Force expects to spend all of the $172 million provided by Congress for the bonus program early in fiscal year 2025, the official said. On Thursday, the Air Force announced that its most recent selective retention bonus program will end more than four months before the close of fiscal year 2025, which runs until Sept. 30. 'Those who have accepted an SRB [selective retention bonus] prior to the close date will receive their full SRB bonus, including regular bonus payments for those opted into monthly installments,' an Air Force news release says. In December, the Air Force expanded the number of AFSCs eligible for retention bonuses in fiscal year 2025 from 73 to 89. The career fields eligible for bonuses included maintenance, aircrew, cyber, medical and special operations, the service announced in January. The size of bonuses vary by job and by the length of time an airmen agrees to reenlist for, but members in the most in-demand jobs who agree to the longest contracts could earn up to $180,000. The Air Force caps the total amount of money that airmen can receive in retention bonuses during their careers at $360,000. The Air Force added AFSCs to the bonus program after analyzing which airmen had skill that were in high demand by the private sector, a service spokeswoman told Task & Purpose in December. Army infantry officer calls new XM7 'unfit for use as a modern service rifle' Attempted Fort Leavenworth prison break leaves military inmate tangled on fence When Americans, Germans and POWs fought the SS from the walls of a castle This Army combat medic fought off an active shooter and rendered first aid This 53 aircraft 'elephant walk' has everything you'd need for a war in the Pacific
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Airmen Given Just Days to Reenlist to Claim Bonus for High-Skill Jobs
The Air Force is closing reenlistment bonuses for 89 of the service's toughest career fields several months earlier than anticipated -- and giving airmen who want the financial incentive only days to re-sign for the cash. The selective retention bonus, or SRB, for fiscal 2025 will end Tuesday, a statement from the service said, citing "high retention rates and projected full execution of the program's budget." reported in December on the 89 Air Force Specialty Codes, or AFSCs, that are eligible for the bonuses, which range anywhere from $180,000 to $360,000 over the course of an airman's career. Read Next: Pentagon Will Use Health Screenings, Commanders to Ferret Out Trans Troops for Separations "Air Force-wide enlisted retention levels continue to meet and, in some AFSCs, exceed sustainment needs," the statement said. "These higher retention rates led to more airmen using the SRB program, which is expected to utilize the entire budget for the program for FY25." However, the program may be getting more funding for bonuses in the coming year. A May 15 memo, which was leaked online and confirmed as authentic by a Department of the Air Force spokesperson, stated that the service "has requested funding for a Selective Retention Bonus program in Fiscal Year 2026." The Air Force will not offer a retroactive 2025 bonus once the program is reinstated, the memo added. But airmen who wish to take advantage of the financial incentives -- which are applicable for a wide range of jobs from pararescue and special reconnaissance to dental hygienists and paralegals -- have only until the end of Monday, just three days, to reenlist. The memo added that the suspension of the program this year does not apply to the Space Force, just the Air Force. Selective retention bonuses are used by the service to keep airmen in those often hard and arduous jobs, as well as maintain experience in more technical career paths. "Airmen currently receiving a selective retention bonus are not impacted and will receive their remaining installments," the memo detailed. The end of the bonus program -- put in place just a month prior to the start of President Donald Trump's second term in January -- marks one of the latest positive recruiting and retention trends the Air Force has seen following a pandemic-era slump. Katherine Kuzminski, the director of studies for the Center for a New American Security think tank in Washington, D.C., which specializes in military personnel and family policy, told in an interview Friday that she can "see why that would be frustrating" for airmen who wanted to take advantage of the bonus before it disappeared. But Kuzminski added that it's not "breaking face" if the program accomplished what it set out to do. "If they have achieved their retention goal that they need to meet, to fill requirements, the purpose is to serve the service as opposed to a gift to a service member," she said. Related: Here Are the 89 Highly Skilled Air Force Jobs Eligible for Retention Bonuses in 2025
