Journal of Applied and Natural Science
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Indoor air pollution of PM2.5 in urban households of Jammu, (J&K)
The rising problem of Respirable Particulate Matter i.e. PM2.5 and smaller is catching attention of the policymakers, stakeholders as well as common man. The study of the IndoorPM2.5 of the particular area is very important as it is having direct impact on the human health because PM2.5is absorbed into lung alveolar tissues during breathing and causes respiratory and cardiovascular problems. In present study attempt has been made to assess the status of Indoor PM2.5 in Urban Households of Jammu, (J&K). The average indoor PM2.5 in all the sampled households of Jammu was observed to be 99.49±35.84 µg/m3 which is above the permissible limits of PM 2.5 as prescribed by CPCB. This type of study has been done for the first time in the northern region of India. The data generated in present study will act as base line data for further studies pertaining to its ionic analysis as well as suggesting mitigation measure
Judging causes of soil degradation and remedial measures for reclamation in Kaithal district of Haryana state
Soil degradation is a point of evolution which leads to a reduction of resource potential. About 7.40 m ha arable lands globally turn to degraded lands as a result of climate change and deforestation. The problem of soil degradation has been ever since cultivation of soils started because of increasing population of India at the rate of about 1.8% requiring marginal areas to be brought under the plough to meet the growing food demand. The present study was conducted in Kaithal district in the year 2018-19. The study revealed that ‘Excessive use of chemical fertilizers’ (88.33%) followed by ‘non- judicious use of insecticides/pesticides’ (85.83%), ‘less application of organic manure’ (85.00%), ‘deforestation (78.33%), and ‘over uplifting of ground water’ (75.83%) were found as most important causes of soil degradation. The most important remedial action for problematic soil were found as ‘land for equal distribution of resources/irrigation’ (90.83%) followed by ‘application of Gypsum for sodic and saline soil’ (85.83%), ‘introduction of legumes in cropping system’ (80.00%), ‘recharge of ground water during rainy season’ (78.33%), ‘crop residue incorporation by happy seeder’ (77.50%), ‘application of green manuring/ organic manure’ (75.00%) and ‘leaching of salts in saline soil’ (72.50%). Soil conservation is important for the future use and future generation. The study would be helpful in soils conservation which may otherwise cause damage to plant growth which in turn may adversely affect yield and there by food security also
Isolation and identification of azo dye degrading microbes using 16s r RNA sequencing
The aim of the present study was to isolate and identify azo dye degrading microbes using 16s r RNA sequencing. For this, ten effluent and fifty soil samples were collected from textile industry from a discharge panel of textile industries near Peenya and Magadi road Industrial area, Bengaluru, and dying industries near Kerur, Bagalkot, Karnataka, India. The pH, temperature, BOD, COD, Odor, Total dissolved solid (TDS), Total suspended solids (TSS), Chemical oxygen demand (COD), Biological oxygen demand (BOD), Dissolved Oxygen (DO), and Total Hardness values were very high when compared with the values given by the Bureau of Indian Standards. Pure cultures were screened on the basis of colony morphology. Three different types of unique cultures were selected and named as isolates S1, S2 and S3. Outof 6 dyes viz. Corafast blue, Corafast red, Red 3BN, Solophenyl Brown, RemazoleRG , Rubin M2B used, isolate S1 showed degradation on the maximum number of dyes Red 3BN, Corafast blue, Corafast red, in comparison to other isolates (isolates S2 and S3). Thus, isolate S1 was used for the further studies. For this study Red 3BN dye was chosen. The isolated bacterium was gram positive Bacilli. In the biochemical characterization, the isolate was partially confirmed as Bacillus sp. Further, the selected isolate was identified by sequencing the 16S rRNA sequencing. The bacterial isolate was identified as Bacillus species exhibiting 99% similarity, the phylogenic relationship of 16S ribosomal RNA gene, partial sequence of the isolated strain and species related to Bacillus species in the gene bank database. Thus, this organism may be used significantly in effluent treatment such as textile, paper, ink and other industries
Evaluation of morphometric characteristics and watershed prioritization of Bhadar basin of Saurashtra region, Gujarat
Morphometric analysis is one of the important aspects of quantitative geomorphology which is primarily used to study the geometrical aspects of the landforms. The study was undertaken with the objectives of evaluating morphometric characteristic and prioritizing the watersheds of Bhadar basin based on its morphometric characteristics. Linear, relief and aerial aspects were calculated for watershed characterization. The watersheds were ranked on the basis of high values of linear parameters and low values of shape parameters. A total of 16 watersheds 5G1B1, 5G1B2, 5G1B3, 5G1B4, 5G1B5, 5G1B6, 5G1B7, 5G1B8, 5G1B9, 5G1B10, 5G1B11, 5G1B12, 5G1B13, 5G1B14, 5G1B15 and 5G1B16 were identified in the Bhadar basin and morphometric characteristic of each watershed was determined. Highest priority indicated the greater degree of erosion in the particular watershed and it therefore priority should be given in applying soil conservation measures. It was concluded that the watershed 5G1B15 should be given highest priority because of higher erosion problems over other watersheds of Bhadar basin while 5G1B4 should be given the least priority
Adoption of Recommended Package of Practices by Rice Growers in District Baramulla
The present study was conducted to measure the adoption levels of rice growers in 3 tehsils of Baramulla district namely Sopore, Bomai and Pattan. Four villages from each tehsil were selected randomly which makes a total of 12 villages and 10 rice growers from each village those were having above half an acre under rice were purposively selected that makes a sample of 120 rice growers for the study. It was found that majority (55.00 %) of the respondents had medium level of adoption. Majority of the respondents had full adoption of recommended rice varieties (55.83%), sowing time (93.33%), number of ploughings for puddling (71.66%) time of application nutrients for nursery (100%), dosage of nutrients (50.83%), time of application of FYM (97.50%) and time of application of weedicide(74.16%) whereas no adoption regarding seed treatment and dosage for seed treatment (76.66%) and none of respondents had adopted either disease management practices or pest management practices. The main reasons for non adoption were very poor knowledge about SKUAST-K recommendations (51.66%), producing only for consumption purpose (36.66%), poor contacts with officials of agriculture department about acquiring of knowledge regarding rice cultivation (27.50%) as mentioned by rice growers. The present study was not focused solely on adoption level of rice growers but also on constraints in adoption of recommended package of practices which can be the basis for further studies
Composition, richness and floristic diversity along an elevational gradient in a semi-disturbed treeline ecotone, Bhaderwah, Jammu and Kashmir
The paper deals with plant species richness - diversity relationship along the rising elevation in a semi-disturbed tree line ecotone in upper Bhaderwah, a part of lesser Himalaya. 253 plant species distributed over 170 genera and 62 families were recorded during the intensive field surveys carried during May 2014 to September 2016. These included 11 trees, 29 shrubs and 213 herb species with 247 angiosperms and 6 gymnosperms. Family Asteraceae with 37 species dominated the study area. Maximum richness (179) was observed at sub-alpine zone (Site IV) while the trees (H\u27=1.74) and shrubs (H\u27=2.48) revealed maximum diversity at Site III and herbs at Site IV (H\u27=4.60). The maximum evenness for trees, shrubs and herbs was exhibited by sites III (J\u27=0.79), V (J\u27=0.87) and VI (J\u27=0.94), respectively. The diversity and evenness showed an incremental rise along the rising elevation reaching maxima at the mid elevation with Site-IV being the species rich and Site-VII species deficit, which implies that sub-alpine and alpine forests need effective monitoring and conservation
Role of sustainomics and external climate forcing mechanism in biodiversity extinction : An overview
Over millions of years, physiology and anatomy of the living organisms has been changed due to internal climate forcing mechanism. This has influenced the world wide distribution of species. External climate forcing mechanism has caused rapid rise in earth’s temperature and it is expected to rise by 2-4 °C by the end of the century. It has now been recognised as the most complex problem of present scenario and being concerned in almost every field of science. Climate change is the most sensitive issue which is a challenge not only for the government and society but also for each individual. In the present communication impact of external climate forcing mechanism on biodiversity and its extinction is being analysed and role of sustainomics for the same is overviewed. Studies reveal that the rate of speciation of flora and fauna is not in the accordance with the rate of externally enforced climate change. Thus, the increased rate of climate change has caused catastrophic mass extinction threat for plants, animals and insects in the anthrapocene era. The pattern of extinction and threatened species are not yet known. Various solutions for the problem have been suggested by the multidisciplinary researches, rooted by the sustainomics. These suggestions include to diverge from fossil fuel, to use renewables, to make and apply rules for 3Rs etc. Only cooperative involvement of social, scientific and industrial bodies may resolve the problem
Comparative economics of rural and periurban dairy farming in Kalaburagi district of Karnataka
Cost of milk production is an important economic indicator in assessing the farm household efficiency in milk production as well as basis for price fixation. The study was undertaken to analyse the cost and returns of milk production in rural and periurban dairy farms of Kalaburagi district of Karnataka. The per day maintenance cost in periurban dairy farms (` 150.64) was highest compared to rural dairy farms (` 91.29)for local cows, crossbred cows and buffaloes. Among total maintenance costs of periurban dairy farming, feed and fodder costs accounted major share (73.49%) followed by labour cost (15.53%) and total fixed cost (7.73%). The return per litre of milk was highest (` 8.91) for crossbred cows followed by buffalo (` 4.82) and local cows (` 0.14). The net return from crossbred cow was more than that of buffalo and local cows indicating higher profitability in rearing crossbred cow in the study area
Musculoskeletal disorders amongst workers of glass manufacturing unit of Western Uttar Pradesh
Glass manufacturing process is a very tiresome job and the working near by the furnace makes tasks more difficult for workers as the environment is very hot. Apart from working in a hot environment various awkward postures was adopted while performing various activities which are monotonous and repetitive in nature and resulted in discomfort of various body parts. The workers perform various task and activities in extremely hot environment for at least 6 hours a day. In order to identify the various discomfort body regions, a total of 120 samples were selected conveniently from one of the glass manufacturing unit of Western UP for body mapping exercise. The study findings revealed that 37.50 % respondent reported pain in their wrist followed by lower back (30.82 %) and knee pain (27.50 %.) The other discomfort regions in body were neck, shoulder, upper back, elbow/forearm, thigh and ankle and foot. The problem in the wrist were more prominent among blowers (59.46 %) followed by ball makers (50.00 %).While problem of lower back found to be more common among blowers (45.95 %) and mold closers(26.92 %) and helpers i.e.30.43 %. Relationship between task performed and the level of discomfort was found to be significant (at 5%) in neck, lower back, wrist/hand and shoulder region. Thus, the study reveals that due to the monotonous, repetitive and continuous task performed by the workers, there is an onset of musculoskeletal discomfort (MSD) which may lead to disorders in due course of time which will affect their life
Antibacterial activity and phytochemical screening of ethanolic leaf, stem and flower extract of Aerva lanata
Screening of phytochemicals provides the potentiality for serving several illnesses. The current investigation was carried out the antibacterial activity and phytochemical screening of ethanolic extract of leaf, flower and stem of Aerva lanata commonly known as Sirupeelai through spectroscopic analysis. In this screening the major components are carbohyrates, aminoacids, alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, terpenoids and cocumarins. The antibacterial activity showed maximum sensitivity in leaf extract of Staphylococcus aureus(16mm). The FTIR spectroscopic analysis revealed that the functional groups were alkene, alkyne, amines which showed major peaks. Based on antibacterial activity and functional group analysis, GC-MS was carried out in leaf extract of A. lanata. The current report indicated 27 bioactive compounds, in that Uridine is a major peak which showed antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-cancerous activity etc