Annals of Library Science and Documentation

1982,29(4),187-192

ORGANIZATION OF INDIAN AGRO·BIOLOGICALINFORMATION BASED UPON USERSINFORMATION NEEDS

Characteristics of Indian agro-biological infor-mation is outlined specifying the variety ofsources, variety of users and different types ofinformation, Stresses the necessity of designingthe organizational patterns of information basedupon users information needs, Users informationneeds in Agro-biological areas are enlisted,Methodology of designing. an organizationalpattern is outlined, An experiment conductedat the Maratbtnada Agricultural UniversityLibrary, Parbbant (Mabarasbtra) is described,Five levels of information needs of users areidentified and shown schematically, It is con-cluded that users information needs are thedeciding factors for the effectiveness of aninformation storage and retrieval system,

1. CHARACTERISTICS OF AGRO-BIO-LOGICAL INFORMATION

Indian agro-biological information is scatteredover a variety of sources, such as, books, jour-nals, reports, schemes, current research pro-jects, proceedings of conferences and symposia.The users of such information are also of di-verse nature. On the one hand there are thespecialist research workers and on the otherhand there are illiterate farmers who haveinherited the traditional skills and want to learnor to be trained on modem lines. In betweenthese two groups there are the technical per-sonnel, administrators, bankers, businessmen,industrialists, extension workers and so on.Agro-biological information covers (i) statis-tical data and information like climatological

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R. SUBBAIAHAssistant LibrarianMarathwada Agricultural UniversityPorbhani 431 452

data; irrigation and rainfall data, crop produc-tion data; fertilizer statistica etc. (ii) Researchand training information like university andcollege publications, journals, bulletins, re-search projects, newsletters, pamphlets in dif-

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ferent languages, etc. (iii) Extension informa-tion like extension lectures, bulletins, pamph-lets; transfer of technology programmes etc.(iv) Biological data and information like insectcollections, germplasm collection, fungi, nema-todes etc. (v) Other information like geogra-phical information; soil profiles; physical andchemical phenomena like radiation and atomicenergy applications and engineering informa-tion applied to agriculture. Agricultural infor-mation comprises not only agriculture but alsoanimal sciences, veterinary medicine and sur-gery; dairy; poultry, food science and techno-logy; home science; fisheries, sericulture, fores-try, lac culture, bee culture etc.

2 BIBLIOGRAPHICAL CONTROL OFINDIAN AGRO-BIOLOGICAL 'INFOR-MATION

Bibliographical control of Indian agro-biologicalinformation can be effectively gained throughsound organization of information sourcesbased upon users information needs. Organiza-tional pattern of information sources has alwaysto be closely linked with users informationneeds. Users' approach to information should bethe main criterion in framing the organizationalpattern of information sources. Secondly, theefficient retrieval of information is dependent

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upon the sound organizational pattern of infor-mation sources. If organization is sound theretrieval of information is also efficient andquick. Therefore, users information needs,organization of information sources and effici-ent retrieval of information are interlinkingfactors in any information storage and retrievalsystem.

3 ORGANIZATION OF SOURCES OFINDIAN AGRO-BIOLOGICAL IN-FORMATION

Proper organization of information sources isan important factor for the effective retrieval.This should be based upon the users informationneeds.

31 Users Information needs

Users information needs in agro-biologicalareas may be grouped under five levels.

(i) Crop level, (ii) Subject level (bothmajor and minor), (iii) Geographical level,(iv) Time level and (v) Author level. The impor-tance of these levels are in descending orderfrom Crop level to Author level.

311 Crop level: Agriculture is essentially ,acrop science. Cultivation of useful plants ascrops for food and other essential commoditiesis the main purpose behind agriculture. Fieldcrops like cereals, fibre crops, sugar crops,alkaloid crops, plantation crops, horticulturalcrops, spices, forests etc. are major crops ofcommercial importance. The predominant ap-proach of an information user is to get informa-tion about the cultivation of a particular cropof his interest. Hence, organization of informa-tion should be done at its first level by thecrops.

312 Subject level: Next approach of theusers for information is the subject aspects ofa particular crop - crops and their plant science,plant material, plant propagation, plant repro-duction, plant genetics and breeding; physicaland chemical properties of plants, histologyand cytology, agronomy, farm management,farm. engineering, soils. climate; cultivation

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methods, fertilizers, manures, nutrients, irriga-tion and water management, seeds and techno-logy; harvesting, yield, storage and preservation,plant protection, plant diseases; control methods-and chemicals; pests and their control methods;weeds and their control methods. Next is thehasic sciences approach as a supporting one. Theinformation on crop as a plant, morphology,anatomy, physiology, varieties, growth andgrowth regulators, photosynthesis, and leaf area;reproduction on both sexual and asexual; here-dity and genetics etc. Soils; geographical pheno-menon; soil physics; soil chemistry; soil classi-fication; soil amendments; soil improvement;soil fertility; soil erosion and conservation; clayminerology and soil resources and management;engineering; mechanical engineering; civil engi-neering; irrigation engineering; farm appliances;physics and mechanics; energy; electrical energy;kinetic and potential energies; fuel; petroleumand petroleum products; oil energy; solar energyetc; atomic energy; radiation and other pheno-mena; climate; meteorology; oceanography;rainfall etc. The third aspect is relating tosocial sciences: economics; econometrics; agri-cultural/rural economics; production economics;prices and price policy; distribution and distri-bution policy; farm finance and farm credit;banks and bankersj . farm management andmanagerial economics; labour, farm labour andtheir regulation, law .etc.; sociology; ruralsociology; rural education; rural development;communication; migration; extension education;agricultural extension and transfer of technologyfor agricultural development. The fourth aspectis foods and foodstuffs; large scale manufactur-ing and .preservation; foo'd industries; foodmanufacture; food chemistry; food microbio-logy; food engineering; food storage; packagingetc. The fifth aspect is home science; homemanagement; cooking; food preservation; tex-tiles; home decoration; child psychology; childlearning etc. The sixth aspect is animal sciences;domestic animals; animal management; animalnutrition; animal feeds; animal management;animal nutrition; animal feeds; animal diseases;

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ORGANIZATION OF INDIAN AGRO-BIOLOGICAL INFORMATION

veterinary medicine; veterinary pathology;veterinary pharmacology; veterinary surgery etc.dairy science and technology; poultry science;fisheries; bee culture; sericulture; lac culture;forestry etc.

313 Geographical level: Within the subjectand crop, users also look for geographical areaof the information - information pertinent toa continent, country, region or in respect ofparticular aspect of a crop. Seasons, climaticzone, land and soil conditions of a particularregion or a country may be of interest to users.

314 Time level: Within the levels of crop,subject and geographical area, time factor isan important consideration. Latest availableinformation is asked for in most cases.

315 Author level: Author approach is ofleastimportance when compared with other appro-aches.

32 Methodology

Method or scheme adopted for organizingthe agro-biological information sources need tobe based on an empirical approach. Informationneeds are so varied and complex that it is onlythrough some experimentation that an usefulorganizational scheme or pattern may be solved.The methodology for doing this may be dividedunder three heads:

(i) Evaluation of information needs of usersin consultation with a band of subject specialists(ii) Preparing a schedule or scheme of organi-zation for information sources.(iii) Classifying the inform ation sources withthe scheme to ascertain and test its applicability.

33 Experiment

In 1976 at the Marathwada AgriculturalUniversity library a bibliographical Research Cellwas set up in collaboration with some seniorscientists. An information file has been main-tained in the form of loose paper slips. As anexperiment literature for ten years from 1966.onwards has been collected starting with thediscipline of horticulture. Later, soil sciencewas also covered. Then, commercial crops like

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oil seeds, pulses, sugarcane, have also beencovered. From plant protection side, weeds andweedicides and pesticides have been added tothe file. The process of updating the file andfilling up the gaps have also been taken up.

Organization of information is done underfour levels. (i) Crop level, (ii) Subject level,(iii) Time level, (iv) Author level.

331 Classification schedule adopted

(i) Crop level: In the discipline of horticul-ture, classification at crop level is done with thehelp of Dewey Decimal Classification, 18thedition.(ii) Subject level : In the case horticulture,and other commercial crops the followingscheme of subject headings are prepared basingupon the users information needs. This is donein consultation with subject specialists.

Scheme of subject headings adopted.

A GeneralB BotanyB 1 Morphology/AnatomyB 2 VarietiesB 3 PhysiologyB 31 Leaf area/PhotosynthesisB 32 CirculationB 33 Growth/Growth regulators.B 34 Reproduction/SexualB 35 Plant propagation/Root stocksB 36 DormancyB 37 Physiological disordersB 4 Cytology /HistologyB 5 GeneticsB 51 HeredityB 52 Mutation/VariationB 53' Plant breedingB 6 BiochemistryC AgronomyC 1 Farm managementC 2 Farm engineeringC 3 SoilsC 4 Cultivation methodsC 5 IrrigationC 6 Fertilizers, manures/nutrientsC 7 Climate/Season

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C 8 HarvestingC 9 YieldC 10 QualityC 11 StorageC 12 SeedsC 13 PreservationD Diseases & controlD 1 Bacterial diseasesD 11 Control methodsD 2 Viral diseasesD 21 Control methodsD 3 Fungal diseasesD 31 Control methodsE Pests 7 Control methodsE 1 InsectsE 11 Control methodsE 2 NematodesE 21 Control methodsE 3 MolluscsE 31 Control methodsE 4 BirdsE 41 Control metnodsE 5 MammalsE 51 Control methodsE 6 WeedsE 61 Control methods

In the case of Soil Science the followingscheme is adopted:

S 1 Soil Science (General)S 2 Soil PhysicsS 3 Soil ChemistryS 4 Soil BiologyS 5 Soil Classification and GenesisS 6 Soil Surveys and mappingS 7 Soil improvementS 8 Soil Resources and water managementS 9 Soil erosion and conservationS 10 Clay mineralogy

In the case of Weed Science the followingschedule is foUowed:

WIW2W21W 22W 23

GeneraliaWeeds and their controlWoody weeds and their controlAquatic weeds and their controlOther weeds and their control

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W 3 Weed biologyW 31 Biology of cryptogamic weedsW 32 Biology of phanerogamic weedsW 33 Weed taxonomyW 34 Weed ecologyW 35 Weed anatomyW 36 Weed physiologyW 37 Parasitic weedsW 38 Weed predator/disease relationshipW 39 Biological controlW 4 WeedicidesW41 Chemistry and propertiesW 42 Analysis and residuesW 43 Toxicology and environmentW 44 Soil relationW 5 Weed control in crops

(Cropwise by Dewey Decimal classifica-tion 18th edition).

In the case of Pesticides the followingscheme is adopted:

P Pesticides GeneralP 11 ManufactureP 12 Chemistry and propertiesP 13 Analysis and residuesP 14 Toxicology and environmentP 15 Application (cropwise)P 2 InsecticidesP 21 ManufactureP 22 Chemistry and propertiesP 23 Analysis and residuesP 22 Chemistry and propertiesP 23 Analysis and residuesP 24 Toxicology and environmentP 25 Application (cropwise)P 3 FungicidesP 31 ManufactureP 32 Chemistry and propertiesP 33 Analysis and residuesP 34 Toxicology and environmentP 35 Application (cropwise)P 4 Other pesticidesP 41 ManufactureP 42 Chemistry and PropertiesP 43 Analysis and residuesP 44 Toxicology and environment

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ORGANIZATION OF INDIf.l'i AGRO-BIOLOGICAL INFORMATION

P 45 Application (cropwise)P b Biological controlP 51 Cropwise

(iii) Geographical level As the informationcollected is of Indian work, this level is ignoredwhile classifying the literature,

(iv) Time level: No scheme as such is adop-ted. Arrangement is done year wi:;: in chrono-logical sequence.

(v) Author level: No scheme as such is adop-ted. Arrangement is done by the surname/popu-lar name of author(s) in alphabetical sequence.

The information file consists of 25,226references and 5,272 abstracts to Indian agro-biological literature. The details of the informa-tion file and the publications brought out areoutlined in another paper [2]. Organization ofthe information file is done with the classifica-tion schemes outlined earlier in four levels.

34 Merits andOrganizational patterndemerits

Classification of Indian agro-biologicalliterature poses many problems. The existinglibrary classification schemes do not providesoiutions to all the problems. Readers oftenask fur approach which are not adequatelyprovided by the classification schemes. DeweyDecimal Classification being an enumerativescheme, fails to enumerate many things,especially of agro-biological literature. Classi-fication of microliterature needs to be done byan analyticosynthetic scheme like the Colonclassification scheme. However this scheme,especially the Main Class. Agriculture needsrevision according to the demands of infor-mation users. The Universal Decimal Classifi-cation fails to satisfy all the demands.

341 Crop level: While classifying the litera-ture at this level, Dewey Decimal classification18th edn. is -used. This scheme enumeratesfield crops under '633 '; orchards, fruits, forestryunder '634'; vegetables under '635' and orna-ments under '635.9'. A number of crops grownin India are not enumerated in the schedule.

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Under horticultural crops; especially ornamen-tal horticulture, the crops are not always enu-merated in a helpful sequence. Under fieldcrops, crops coming under pulses, oilseeds,spices and condiments etc. are not enumerated.It is very difficult to determine their logicalplace. While classifying the information some250 crops have been identified. A separate cropschedule in a helpful sequence "is now underpreparati.on.

3"'2 Subject level : While classifying the infor-mation it is observed that in the majority ofcases two or more than two subject aspects arefound. One major subject, one minor subjector two minor subject aspects:

Ex - Chemical changes in grape buds ofAnabe-Shahi variety.

Crop heading is GrapesChemical changes - BiochemistryBuds - MorphologyAnabe-Shahi - Varieties

In organizing this information it has to be de-cided whether it should go under Biochemistryor Morphology or Varieties? The major aspectcan be Varieties or Biochemistry. The organi-zation of this particular information eithershould be under Biochemistry or Varieties;preferably under Biochemistry. Varieties andMorphology could then be dealt with by thesubject index.

343 Geographical level : This aspect is notdealt, as the information classified is relating toone country only. Classification on regionalbasis is not attempted.

344 Time level: Time factor is always veryimportant in modem research. Users always lookfor current information. Hence, organization ofinformation on the basis of time factor is useful.Year by year arrangement also quickens thenrocess of interpolation of new information and,1

thus updating the file.

345 Author level ; Users' interests about theauthor of the information is less important thanother four approaches. Therefore organizationof information is done by author in the last

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level. Title approach is not seen. Hence, it isnot considered.

35 Organizational pattern versus users infor-mation needsUsers' information needs in agro-biologi-

cal areas are identified in five levels in thedescending order starting from Crop level toAuthor level. Therefore, organizational patternof information is also done on this basis in fivelevels starting from Crop level to Author level.Retrieval of information can be made in thereverse manner in the ascending order startingfrom Author level to Crop level. In other words,information produced by a particular author,of a particular geographical area, in a particularyear, of a particular subject aspect, of a particu-lar crop can be located easily in this organiza-tional pattern.

351 Schematic representation

0 Crop level Crop level RR .\. t EGA Subject level Subject level TN .\. t RI

Geographical level Geographical level IZA l t ET Time level Time level VI0 .\. t AN Author level Author level L

4 CONCLUSION

It is emphasised that retrieval of information iseffective through a sound organizational patternof information sources based upon users infor-mation needs. The categorization of users infor-mation needs is found to be useful in organizingthe agro-biological information, because retrievalof information is effective in this pattern. For

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example Chemical changes in grape buds ofAnabe-Shahi variety under Parbhani conditionsof Maharashtra (India) by V.K. Patil publishedin 1981 is the information required.

In organizing this information, the patternwill be as follows:

Crop

Subject

Grape

Chemical changesvarietiesBuds (Morphology)

Parbhani (India)

1981

V.K. Patil

Geographical

Time

Author

In retrieval, Author is the specific needwhereas crop is the general need. In between,Time, Geographical location and Subject aspectsfall in ascending order.

Organizational pattern is not complete byitself for effective retrieval of information. It isto be supplemented by efficient indexing policy.Organizational pattern can cover one aspect onlywhile the other aspects should be covered by theindex. A work covering two or more crops, twoor more subjects, two or more geographicalareas and two or more authors need to be dealtby indexing only. Crops by crop index; subjectsbu subject index; Geographical areas by Geogra-phical index and Authors by Author index.

REFERENCES

1. Phadnis, S.P. and Ahsan, Abushoib:Indian Agricultural data and information.Ann.Lib.Sc.Doc.1976, 23(1), 87-97.

2. Subbaiah, R. Towards bibliographicalcontrol of Indian agro-biologicalliteratureAnn.Lib.Sc.Doc. 1982,29(1), 12-15.

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