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Assessment of environmental pesticides exposure of farmers living nearby the paddy fields using mathematical modelling
Get PDFPaddy farmers can be exposed to pesticides while handling pesticides, but they may also be indirectly exposed to applied pesticides in the fields, by living nearby the agricultural fields. This study investigates how pesticide usage of the farmers in the paddy field may affect pesticide exposure and associated risk for paddy farmers living 100 m downwind from the treated area. A mathematical model developed by Wong et al (2017) was used to estimate the aggregated daily exposure to pesticide via inhaled vapour and indirect dermal exposure with contaminated ground. Risk was expressed as a hazard quotient (HQ) based on the total estimated exposure from the model and the no observed (adverse) effect level (NO(A)EL) for reproductive/developmental effects for the respective active substances. Results show that the aggregated HQs at 100 m proximity from paddy fields were <1, indicating relatively low risk of adverse development/reproductive effects among the selected paddy farmers
Assessment of farmer exposure to pesticides applied in paddy fields using mathematical modelling
Get PDFThis study investigates how field practices in handling and applying pesticides may influence the patterns of paddy farmers' exposure to pesticides applied in the fields. Exposure of eleven selected paddy farmers was estimated based on the latest European operator exposure model, namely Agricultural Operator Exposure Model and then assessed against the Acceptable Operator Exposure Level (AOEL) for individual pesticide active substances. Overall, the total number of active substances handled by the eleven selected farmers ranged from 2 to 11 compounds across a whole cropping season (March — June 2019). Of eleven farmers, only one farmer had one application with estimated exposure to dimethoate greater than AOEL (1.85 x 10-3 mg kg bw-1 day-1). This study found that the exceedance of AOEL was mainly influenced by the use of powder formulations during mixing/loading that contributed to more approximately 22% of total pesticide exposure across the whole cropping seasons
Optimization of binding, washing and elution buffer for development of DNA isolation kit
No full textDNA isolation is also known as the isolation of DNA from the desired cells. This procedure is one of the most crucial part in DNA analysis for scientists and they can buy any ready-to-use DNA isolation kits as there are many choices in the market. However, the chaotropic salts used in conventional kits for binding step inhibit the downstream process of PCR and deteriorate when exposed to air. Hence, a better and faster DNA isolation process with better performance of DNA isolation will be tested in order to replace the conventional one. Thus, this research is to produce an improved procedure of the DNA isolation that comes with an ideal formulation of binding solution, organic wash solution and elution buffer. Currently, the most recommended way to improve the performance is replacing chaotropic salts to organic solvents and followed by elution after washing step. The reason of replacing these compounds is because they prevent the inhibition of downstream process for PCR. In addition, the tested method will begin with optimization of DNA binding by using selected organic acids and salt, and it is then followed by optimization of wash step. Then, the comparison with DNA extraction kit in the market was carried out and the data collected was analysed by ANOVA test. Thus, a result of an improved process of DNA isolation with optimum formulation of binding solution, wash solution are expected. Binding buffer of glycine is showing the best concentration of DNA result among the others and the washing buffer of 90% ethanol with 10Mm NaCI and 10Mm Tris-Cl is showing the best yield of DNA ratio 260/280
Proximate composition and antinutrients of black sesame (Sesamum Radiatum) leaves in Kelantan
No full textBlack sesame (Sesamum radiatum) is one of the Sesamum L. genus plant, other than its member, Sesamum indicum (common sesame), of family Pedaliaceae. It is a type of commercialised plant in African regions, but the plant itself is naturalised in Malaysia and it is seen as another wild plant by the people. In certain African region, the leaves of S. radiatum are used as medicine and as alternative source of green leafy vegetables. Although the African scientists stated that this plant is heavily neglected and underutilized, many researches were done by them on different parts of the plant at different regions of Africa. Due to plant nutrient content varies by regional factors, it is safe to say that Malaysia lacks knowledge about the plant, especially on the leaves, which the Africans uses the most. Based on the previous researches, a study on proximate compositions and antinutrients of S. radiatum leaves in Kelantan, Malaysia were done. The proximate compositions tested were moisture content (wet basis (79.192 ± 0.083 %) and dry basis (16.842 ± 0.543 %) ), crude fat content (4.860 ± 0.028 %), crude fiber content (13.568 ± 0.544 g), crude protein content (23.323 ± 1.557 %), ash content (10.900 ± 0.086 %), carbohydrates (44.075 ± 1.651 %), and trace minerals (Calcium (Ca): 494.9 ± 142.197 mg/L; Magnesium (Mg): 40.243 ± 14.452 mg/L; Sodium (Na): 2.311 ± 0.081 mg/L; Potassium (K): 1924.667 ± 1059.052 mg/L); while the antinutrients tested were tannins (2.100 mg/ 100 g), oxalate (287.306 ± 0.591 mg/ 100 g), phytate (17.547 ± 0.124 mg/ 100 g), and saponin (490.000 ± 0.194 mg). Overall, all results for the stated parameters were collected, and further research on these results will be needed as knowledge extension
GIS (Geographic Information System) application for distribution of rubber plantation in Surat Thani, Thailand
No full textThe preservation and sustainable management of forest and other land cover ecosystems are very important to every country (Kuhlman, Farrington, Kuhlman, & Farrington, 2010). For this research, rubber trees were subject that been focus on. In the meantime, it will help addressing two major issues to the country which is climate change (Willmott & Matsuura, 2005) and natural disasters. The rubber trees are dominantly distributed in Surat Thani provinces than other provinces. At present, the rubber sector encounters lack of demand and large supplies rubber stock. Natural rubber being replace with synthetic rubber. The price of natural rubber in market also decreasing. To curb the problem, most of rubber plantation holder start to replace their crop to more profitable crop. The changes occur rapidly and lead to massive bare land in the province which in the same time lead to temperature rising. This study is aimed to analyse the spatial distribution of rubber plantation for 2007, 2014 and 2019 in Surat Thani, Thailand. Geospatial data from remote sensors are used to deal with the time and labour consuming problem due to the large scale of spatial coverage and the need of continuous temporal data. Remote sensing imagery that have been used in this study is Landsat 5 Thematic Mapper (TM) and Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager (OLI). The image from the optical sensor was used to sense the land cover (Paiboonvorachat & Oyana, 2011) and further classified for rubber plantation land cover changes. Maximum Likelihood classifier (MLC) was used for the classification and Google Earth Pro was used for the validation. The accuracy was tested during the post classification using the confusion matrix (Sallaba, 2009). The result may help the government in the agricultural sector for future management concern
Analysis of antimicrobial activity by defense fluid of Odontotermes Sarawakensis Holmgren on selected soil microbes
No full textThis study was about using the agar disk diffusion assay to test the antimicrobial activity of methanol extract of defense fluid of termite soldier of Odontotermes Sarawakensis Holmgren. The antimicrobial test was done on two different types of mound soil microbes, Pkh.Umk_01 as Gram positive and Plch.Unik_02 as Gram negative. The termite soldiers were collected and its defense fluid was extracted with methanol that prepared at different concentration. Distilled water was served as negative control while the 6 nun of 10 mg/ml Gentamicin disk was served as positive control. Six crude extract concentration was used to determine the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC), which 10.0 mg/ml, 4.0 mg/ml, 2.0 mg/ml, 1.0 mg/ml, 0.5 mg/ml, and 0.1 mg/ml. From results, the MIC for both microbes was at different concentration, where the Pkh.Unik01 was at 0.5 mg/ml while the MIC of Pkh.Umk_02 was at the lowest concentration of 0.1 mg/ml. The antimicrobial activity were analyzed by using one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Independent t-test to perform a confident level of 95%. From ANOVA test, the results showed that not all concentration of defense fluid were significant as P<0.05 after performed the multiple comparison. There were only at concentrations of 10.0 mg/ml and 0.1 mg/ml that showed the significance as P<0.05. So, these concentrations possibly have a difference ability in antimicrobial activity with another concentrations. The control of 10 mg/ml of Gentamicin and 10 mg/ml of crude extract were significance as P<0.05 at Pkh.Umk_02 (Gram negative) and B. subtilis which it showed the differences in performance of antimicrobial activity in inhibiting microbes growth. In conclusion, it showed that the defense fluid extract of 0. sarawakensis was effective to inhibit the Gram negative of mound soil microbes
Diversity and abundance of non-volant small mammals of agroforest in Merapoh, Pahang using cage trap method
No full textThe information on the diversity of non-volant small mammals in Merapoh, Pahang Agroforest, is not sufficient. Thus, a survey has been done to further clarify the diversity and abundance of non-volant small mammals in the Agroforestry area of Merapoh, Pahang. There are 80 cages baited with banana, and langsat has been deployed within 30 days of the sampling period. There are three families recorded from 29 individuals, which are five species of Scruidae, three species of Muridae, and one species of Tupaidae were documented excluded non-mammals' species and recapture. The Shanon-Wiener diversity index value is 1.946 with maximum diversity is 2.197. Thus, this indicates the diversity of the Agroforest is moderate. Tupaia glis is the most abundant species followed by Sundasciurus lowii. The lowest individuals' accounts are singletons Callosciurus caniceps concolor and Calloscuirus erythereus. In Merapoh, Pahang, there are various kinds of forest open for the researcher to be discovered. Hence, more study needed in other microhabitats for further elucidate
Determination of tree species abundance using line-transect method at Sabak Beach, Kelantan
No full textCoastal areas are environmentally sensitive areas where fill with various local inhabitants where the tree species ecosystem continue to develop according to its environment. The anthropogenic disturbance surrounding like uncontrollable dumpsite will damage the ecosystem at the area. Due to the situation, this study was to identify the forms of the species occurrence and determine the species abundance, density, frequency and diversity found in Sabak Beach, Kelantan. A total of 1240 individuals of 30 species from 30 genera belong to 22 Family with were recorded in the 2 kilometres transect line in Sabak Beach. By using the diversity index which is Shannon-Wiener Diversity Index, H' value is 3.17 where Shannon Wiener Maximum Index, Hmax, is 3.40 and 0.93 is the value for the Shannon Evenness Index, E. The results of abundance, density, frequency and diversity indices are scientifically correlation with the types of soil at the area. Apart from that, the physical types of soils and macronutrient levels in the soils play a vital role in the distribution of the tree species in which the availability of the soil nutrients affects the tree growth. Then, the elements of 5 heavy metals namely Calcium (Ca), Copper (Cu), Potassium (K), Magnesium (Mg) and Zinc (Zn) were examined by using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS) method to clarify the level of pollution of the area because the area was a landfill. The highest abundance species is Jatropha gossypifolia whereby it is proven are closely related with the water quality parameter and heavy metals contamination results achieved
Above ground biomass and carbon stock estimation using optical remote sensing in Gunung Basor Forest Reserve
No full textA study was conducted in Gunung Basor Forest Reserve, Kelantan in order to estimate the above ground biomass and carbon stock. In this study, the optical remote sensing was used to estimate the above ground biomass and the carbon stock as it is the most standard method by using the measurement of the field data. This study was conducted due to the baseline date of the carbon stock in Gunung Basor Forest Reserve still in the scarcity level where it can be established by using the optical remote sensing images. Based on Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) analysis overall, the selected study site of Gunung Basor was merely covered with vast area of dense vegetation. The range of NDVI was between 0.20 to 0.75, where 0.2 — 0.3 referred to grass and shrub whilst 0.5 and above referred as green dense vegetation. The total above ground biomass of Gunung Basor Forest Reserve is 223.2765 Mg/ha. Meanwhile, the carbon stock of the forest is 104.940 Mg C/ha. With the obtained data, it will assist the responsible authorities to manage the forest more efficiently and curb the climate change
Activity pattern of Viverridae in state land forest, Merapoh, Pahang
No full textA series of camera trapping surveys were conducted to observe the activity pattern of Viverridae in State Land Forest, Merapoh, Pahang. A total of 13 camera traps were deployed at study sites, continuously for two months from end of August 2019 until end of October 2019. A total 14 number of independent photo in family Viverridae from 4 species were detected in the study. Large Indian Civet was the most species founded where 10 of the total independent photo were captured by camera traps, Common Palm Civet with 2 images while Banded Linsang and Otter Civet with 1 independent photo only. Camera trap data on activity patterns shown that Large Indian Civet (Viverra zibetha), Common Palm Civet (Paradoxurus hermaphrodites), Banded Linsang (Prionodon linsang) and Otter Civet (Cynogale bennetti) are nocturnal animals since it happened during the night. This defined separation among the Viverridae assemblage for the State Land Forest, Merapoh suggests a probable relationship with resource distribution at the ecosystem level (prey and foraging competition). The basic knowledge thus gained shows the importance of recording and analysing data on tropical rainforest Viverridae community ecology from camera-trap studies