Archives of Agriculture and Environmental Science
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Impact of jute retting on physicochemical profile of Chhariganga oxbow lake in Nadia district, West Bengal, India
Get PDFThe present study was carried out to assess the ecosystem of the Chhariganga, an oxbow lake in eastern India to assess the pollution due to jute retting and trophic status on broader aspects for its sustainable management. The physicochemical analyses of the studied oxbow lake showed the range with annual mean values of surface water temperature in ºC (11-37, 27.64±6.56), water transparency in cm (16-106, 45.82±23.39), water pH (7.4-8.8, 8.17±0.34), DO (2.60-7.85, 4.65±1.52 ppm), BOD (1.10-6.40, 2.98±1.59ppm), COD (70-90, 79±7.38ppm), NH4-N (0.026-0.093, 0.05±0.02ppm), NO2-N (0.008-0.08, 0.03±0.02ppm), NO3-N (0-2.459, 0.81±0.69ppm), OP (0.067-0.62, 0.26±0.18ppm), total alkalinity (82-165, 120±24.03ppm), total hardness (70-138, 102.62±19.60ppm), GPP (0.30-1.80, 1.25± 0.47mgC/l/day), NPP (0.15-1.38, 0.95± 0.40mgC/l/day); sediment pH (6.8-7.9, 7.53±0.34) and sediment organic carbon in % (1.87-2.89, 2.17±0.28). The highest mean values of BOD (4.59ppm), COD (86.67ppm), OP (0.50ppm), sediment organic carbon (2.29%) were observed during monsoon whereas the lowest values of oxbow lake water’s transparency (27.00cm), pH (7.84), DO (3.63ppm) and NO2–N (0.01 ppm) contents were found during monsoon when jute retting process intensified in the oxbow lake. Compared to their values in pre-monsoon, mean values in monsoon showed an increase in BOD (182.57%) and OP content (167.64%) unlike reduction in water transparency (62.54%), GPP and NPP (both reduced by about 50%); The highest concentration of NH4-N and NO3-N were noticed during post-monsoon and OP during monsoon. The water transparency mean values showed sharp fall during monsoon from pre-monsoon. Physico-chemical analyses revealed that almost all parameters in oxbow lake did not show significant changes throughout the year unlike water transparency, BOD, NO2 and especially OP content of water which otherwise showed significant changes throughout the year. The present semi-closed oxbow lake water was of poor to moderate quality and it was classified as oligo-mesotrophic in nutrient status with high to moderate organic pollution due to jute retting process which needs to be controlled and regulated for sustainable aquaculture in oxbow lake ecosystem
Influence of plant nutrient management on the yield performance of transplant Aman rice (Oryza sativa L.)
Get PDFThe experiment was conducted at the Agronomy Field Laboratory, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh during June to December 2016 to investigate the influence of plant nutrient management on the yield performance of transplant Aman rice varieties. The experiment comprised four varieties viz., BRRIdhan70, BRRI dhan71, BRRI dhan72 and BRRIdhan73 and six nutrient managements viz. poultry manure 5 t ha-1, recommended dose of prilled urea, P, K, S, Zn (160, 65, 90, 70, 10 kg ha-1 of urea, TSP, MoP, Gypsum and Zinc sulphate, respectively), 75% of recommended dose of prilled urea and P, K, S, Zn + poultry manure 2.5 t ha-1, 50% of recommended dose of prilled urea and P, K, S, Zn + poultry manure 5 t ha-1, USG 1.8 g/4 hills and P, K, S, Zn recommended dose, USG 1.8 g/4 hills and P, K, S, Zn + poultry manure 2.5 t ha-1. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Number of total tillers hill-1 (10.25), number of effective tillers hill-1(8.85), grains panicle-1 (94.23), 1000-grain weight (27.81), grain yield (5.88 t ha-1) and straw yield (8.83 t ha-1) were found to be the highest in BRRI dhan72. Among the nutrient management, USG 1.8 g/4 hills and P, K, S, Zn + poultry manure 2.5 t ha-1 exhibited its superiority to other treatments in terms of plant height (131.0 cm), number of total tillers hill-1 (10.67), number of effective tillers hill-1 (9.13), grains panicle-1 (92.71), 1000-grain weight (26.82), grain yield (6.0 t ha-1) and straw yield (8.35 t ha-1). The highest grain yield (6.45 t ha-1) was found in BRRI dhan72 combined with USG 1.8 g/4 hills and P, K, S, Zn + poultry manure 2.5 t ha-1 and the lowest grain yield (4.85 t ha-1) was found in BRRI dhan71 fertilized with poultry manure 5 t ha-1. From the study, it can be concluded that transplant Aman rice cv. BRRI dhan72 fertilized with USG 1.8 g/4 hills and P, K, S, Zn + poultry manure 2.5 t ha-1 appears as the promising practice to obtain the highest grain yield
Effectiveness of different plant extracts against Galleria mellonella larvae in laboratory
Get PDFThe present investigation was undertaken to study the effectiveness of different plant extracts against Galleria mellonella larvae in laboratory. Acetone prepared extracts of leaves, stem, seed, root, husk of thirteen medicinal and healthy plants were used to examine their effects on the mortality of the greater wax moth Galleria mellonella larvae in laboratory. Results revealed that only six plant extracts prepared with leaves and stem cause mortality of wax moth. Larval mortality was highest (93.33%) with husk prepared extract of P. psyllium followed by leaf prepared extract of H. sativum (80%), Raphanus sativus (73.33%), Linum usitatissimum (66.66%) Cucurbita moschata (46.66%) and Vicia sativa (46.66%). The larval mortality with stem/root/seed prepared extract was recorded highest in Hordeum sativum (73.33%) followed by Raphanus sativus (80%), Cucurbita moschata (60%) Linum usitatissimum (53.33%) and Vicia sativa (40%) and found significant difference with the control (0.00%). There was no mortality of larvae was found in control and other remaining plant extract. Irrespective of the different plants, highest per cent mortality (52.22%) of wax moth larvae by stem/seed/ root prepared extract followed by leaf extract (48.66). Therefore, the plant extract of different plants were found effective against Galleria mellonella larvae
Response surface methodology based optimization of cadmium and lead remediation from aqueous solution by water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes [Mart.] Solms) and its anatomical study
Get PDFThis experiment was performed to optimize the response surface methodology (RSM) based reduction of cadmium (Cd2+) and lead (Pb2+) from the aqueous solution and to study anatomical effects of Cd2+ and Pb2+ stress on stomata of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes [Mart.] Solms) during phytoremediation. Laboratory experiments were carried out to grow E. crassipes plants in six treatments of Cd2+ and Pb2+ viz., 0 mgL-1 (Control), 2 mgL-1, 4 mgL-1, 6 mgL-1, 8 mgL-1 and 10 mgL-1 in 25 liter capacity glass aquariums. A 2-factor central composite design (CCD) with total 25 experimental runs and the predictor regression model equation was applied to optimize the prime conditions for the Cd2+ and Pb2+ reduction. Different plant growth attributes viz., translocation factor; kinetic plant growth rate, fresh plant biomass and total chlorophyll content were also found highest up to 4 mgL-1 concentration of Cd2+ and Pb2+. Structural damage in the stomata of E. crassipes was evaluated under microscopic view and found that above 4 mgL-1 concentration of Cd2+ and Pb2+ in the medium, significant structural damage to the stomata of leaves of the E. crassipes occurred. The results of this study concluded that E. crassipes can remediate Cd2+ and Pb2+ from the medium more efficiently at 1.22 mgL-1 concentration and the developed model can be used to navigate the design space. Furthermore, the different plant growth attributes were also affected above 4 mgL-1 concentration of Cd2+ and Pb2+ in the medium
Status of fish and shellfish diversity and their decline factors in the Rupsa River of Khulna in Bangladesh
Get PDFThe study was aimed to find out the present status and causes of fish and shellfish diversity reduction in the Rupsa River of Bangladesh. Studies were conducted for a period of 6 months from July to December 2016. Focus group discussions (FGD), questionnaire interviews (QI) and key informant interviews (KII) were done to collect appropriate data from the local fishers and resource persons. A total of 62 species of fish and shellfish from 23 families were found in the river and 9 species disappeared in last 10 years. The species availability status was remarked in three categories and obtained as 14 species were commonly available, 28 species were moderately available and 20 species were rarely available. The highest percentage of fishes was catfishes (24.19%). There was a gradual reduction in the species diversity from previous 71 species to present 62 species with 12.68% declined by last 10 years. Average fish catch per fishermen per day reduced from 8.35 kg to 2.95 kg in last 10 years. Combined effects of some manmade and environmental factors are responsible for the loss of biodiversity. Majority of the respondents (90%) agreed that two manmade factors namely overfishing and navigation are mainly responsible for the loss of fish and shellfish diversity in the river followed by use of illegal fishing gears (86%), pollution (72.5%) and urbanization (64%). During the survey, 93.25% respondents reported water depth reduction as the main environmental factor followed by siltation and sedimentation (91%), temperature (61.75%) and turbidity (56%). The present work recommends preventing water pollution, maintaining fishing gears, increasing fishers’ awareness, implementing fisheries laws and establishing fish sanctuary to conserve finfish and shellfish diversity in the river. Moreover, counter and random surveys are also recommended to crosscheck the fishes’ status and decline causes for ensuring their proper management and conservation
Heavy metals and major nutrients accumulation pattern in spinach grown in farm and industrial contaminated soils and health risk assessment
Get PDFA pot experiment was conducted to study heavy metals and major nutrients accumulation pattern and to assess possible health risk for adult male and female human through consumption of spinach grown in farm and industrial contaminated soils. The concentrations of Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Cr and Pb in aqueous extracts of leaves and roots were determined by an atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). The present study revealed that spinach grown in both soils accumulated higher amount of Cr, which could pose potential health concern to the local residents. On the contrary, it could be a good source of S, Ca and Mg for adult male and female human. Accumulation of heavy metals and major nutrients in leaves of spinach was in the sequence of Fe > Zn > Cr > Mn > Cu > Pb and K > S > Ca > Mg > P, respectively for industrial contaminated soil, while the order was Fe > Mn > Cr > Zn > Cu > Pb and S > K > Ca > Mg ≥ P, respectively for farm soil. The sequence of Zn, Mn, Ca, K and S accumulation in spinach was leaf > root. But in case of Fe, Cr and P the order of accumulation pattern was reverse. Among the metals, the calculated THQ value for Cr surpassed 1, and the values for male were 2.85 and 6.86 and for female were 4.47 and 10.75 due to consumption of spinach grown in farm and industrial contaminated soils, respectively. The study results inferred that Cr health risk through consumption of spinach is unsafe in industrial contaminated sites; and in both places female is more vulnerable than male
Effect of biofertilizer and weeding regimes on yield performance of bush bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)
Get PDFIn order to assess the effect of biofertilizer and weeding regimes and their interaction on the performance of bush bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), a field experiment was conducted at the Agronomy Field Laboratory, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh following randomize complete block design (RCBD) with three replications during winter season, in 2017. The experiment consisted of five treatments of biofertilizer (B0 = no biofertilizer, B1 = 1.0 Kg biofertilizer ha-1, B2 = 1.5 Kg biofertilizer ha-1, B3 = 2.0 Kg biofertilizer ha-1, B4 = 2.5 Kg biofertilizer ha-1) and four level of weeding W0 = No weeding, W1 = One weeding at 15 DAS, W2 = Two weeding at 15 DAS and 30 DAS, W3 = Three weeding at 15 DAS, 30 DAS and 45 DAS. Yield contributing characters were significantly influenced by biofertilizer and weeding regimes. In case of attributes affected by yield factor for biofertilizer the highest plant height, weight of seed plant-1, grain and stover yield in 1.5 Kg biofertilizer ha-1, number of seed plant-1 in 1.0 Kg biofertilizer ha-1, weight of 1000 seeds in no biofertilizer and harvest index in 2.0 Kg biofertilizer ha-1 treatments were observed. Considering yield attributes against weeding regimes, the highest plant height, grain yield, stover yield and harvest index in three weeding, weight of seeds plant-1 and weight of 1000 seeds in two weeding were found. In case of interaction effect highest plant height in B2W3, weight of seeds plant-1 in B4W2, weight of 1000 seeds in B1W3, grain yield in B3W3, stover yield in B3W3 and harvest index in B0W3 were observed. The results obtained in experiment indicate that there is ample scope to increase the yield of bush bean by applying proper dose of biofertilizer and management of weeding regimes
Health risk assessment of metals transfer from soil to the edible part of some vegetables grown in Patuakhali province of Bangladesh
Get PDFThis study was conducted to investigate the contamination and chemical speciation of six heavy metals like Cr, Ni, Cu, As, Cd and Pb in soil, their transfer to the edible parts of vegetables i.e. Brinjal (Solanum melongena), Green amaranth (Amaranthus hybridus), Red amaranth (Amaranthus Gangeticus), Bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria), Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), Pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima), Chili (Capsicum annuum L), Carrot (Daucus carota), Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), Onion (Allium cepa), Potato (Solanum tuberosum) and Lentil (Lens culinaris). The ranges of heavy metals in soil were 3.7-41, 3.9-36, 7.6-46, 2.3-26, 0.61-13 and 4.5-32 mg/kg for Cr, Ni, Cu, As, Cd and Pb, respectively. The metals were mainly associated with the residual fractions of 39%, 41%, 40%, 40%, 34% and 41% for Cr, Ni, Cu, As, Cd and Pb, respectively. In the edible tissues of vegetables, the concentrations of As, Cd and Pb in most vegetable samples exceeded the maximum permissible levels, indicating not safe for human consumption. Target hazard index (HI) value indicates people would experience health risk due to consumption of vegetables. The carcinogenic risk (TR) of As and Pb through consumption of vegetables were higher than the USEPA threshold level (10−6), indicating potential cancer risks
Identification of terrestrial gastropods species in Sohag Governorate, Egypt
Get PDFThe study aims to identify of terrestrial gastropods species in Sohag Governorate during the year 2016 and 2017. The present study was carried out for survey and identification for random land snail in 11 districts, i.e. (Tema, Tahta, Gehyena, El-Maragha, Saqultah, Sohag, Akhmim, El-Monshah, Gerga, El-Balyana, and Dar El-Salam) at Sohag Governorate, Egypt. Samples were collected from 5 different locations in each district during 2016-2017 seasons. The monthly samples were taken from winter and summer crops (areas were cultivated with the field crops such as wheat, Egyptian clover, and vegetables crops. The results showed that found two species of land snails, Monacha obstracta (Montagu) and Eobania vermiculata (Muller). It was also observed that the occurrence of the spread of land snails was increased from the previous periods. The results further indicated that land snails were recorded in Sohag for a second time more widespread and may be that this pest moved to these governorates with transportation, passengers from places spread these new places and happened to her adaptation and after have transferred from infestation regions so, have adapted under weather factors of new region also, several factors e.g., the presence of more preferable food, shelter, intra-specific competition, fecundity increasing, several hosts or habitat in the new ecosystems. Therefore, this study gives an interesting indication of the development of a plan in effective strategy for land snail’s management program in agro ecosystems in Upper Egypt
A review on aflatoxins in stored grain food, their sources, mechanisms and possible health hazard
Get PDFThe aflatoxin producing fungi Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus parasiticus, and Aspergillus nomius are highly hepatotoxic, carcinogenic and immunosuppressive which can spread quickly in environment and contaminate stored food. It can lead to serious threats to both human and animal health hazards by causing various diseases. Aflatoxin can breakdown DNA and causes genomic damage during cell division, leading to cancer even death where these breakdown products accumulate in the liver. The chemistry and biosynthesis process of the aflatoxin is discussed in present review study in a nutshell along with their occurrences and the health hazards to human. This review focuses on sources, production, biosynthesis, toxicology, detection, and control techniques of aflatoxins to assure food safety. Present review study is valuable as it provides knowledge on aflatoxins toxicity which helps in food security and safety as well as reduces human diseases in future