Journal of Applied and Natural Science
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Forecasting the monthly inflow rate of the Palar-Porundalar dam in Tamil Nadu using SARIMA model
Get PDFDam inflow forecasting information is essential for planning and management of the dam system. Time series analysis is the most commonly employed technique to forecast the future values based on historical information. In this study, Palar-Porandalar dam in Tamil Nadu inflow series were forecasted in R software package using ARIMA model with seasonal factors. The monthly inflow series of the dam from 2003 January to 2017 December were used as an input source for modeling and forecasting process. Mann-Kendall’s trend test and various Stationarity test were performed to verify the Stationary nature of the data set. From the Correlogram plot, different models were identified; their parameters were optimized and residuals were diagnostically tested using Autocorrelation plot and Ljung Box test. Finally, the best model was selected based on minimum Akaike Information Criteria (AIC), BIC, RMSE and Theil’s U statistic values. From various models, SARIMA (0, 0, 1) (1, 0, 2)12 model was selected as the best one for forecasting the inflow series
Exploration, collection and conservation of multicrop germplasm from Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir, India
Get PDFSystematic exploration and germplasm collection trips were conducted across Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir state covering Chatroo valley, Padder valley and Kishtwar main including areas of Dachan, Surror, Sarthal, Bhonjwa and Drabshala during 2013, 2015 and 2018. A total of 113 germplasm accessions belonging to 29 species of crops and wild relatives from as many as 40 collection sites were collected at altitudes ranging from 1340-2670 m. Several areas in Sarthal, Bhonjwa, Dachan and Gulabgarh Padder were first time explored. Crop group wise accessions collected are pulses (39) mostly common beans, cereals (30) mostly maize, vegetables and spices (25), pseudocereals and millets (16), besides one accession each of Glycine max, Solanum pseudocapsicum and Nicotiana tabacum. The germplasm has been conserved in National Gene Bank (NGB), New Delhi. This study highlights information on the germplasm collected/observed and threats leading to biodiversity loss/genetic erosion in the highly fragile region of Kishtwar
Induction of genotoxicity after subchronic treatment with 4-nonylphenol in blood cells from gill and kidney and restoration of DNA integrity after recovery by Channa punctatus
Get PDFThe aim of present study was to assess the genotoxic effects of endocrine-disrupting compounds 4-nonylphenol (NP) on Channa punctatus after sub chronic exposure. Blood cells from gill and kidney were used for the study and micronucleated cell (MNC) and aberrant cell (AC) frequencies were used as biological indicators. The exposure was given to C. punctatus for 90 days, and the effect was seen after 30, 60, and 90 days of exposure. Three sublethal concentrations were decided after calculating the safe application rate. Exposure resulted in increased frequency of MNC and AC in both the tissues. Gill tissue was found to be more sensitive to 4-nonylphenol exposure. Highest MNC and AC frequency was found at 90 days of exposure in gill tissue and the values were 4.45±0.28 and 63.71±0.84 respectively. After exposure for 90 days, post-30 days recovery was also studied and we found a significant reduction (p?0.01) in the values of both the parameters showing a great capacity of C. punctatus to restore its DNA integrity
Taxonomic studies on species belonging to subgenus Eutricharaea Thomson of the genus Megachile (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae)
Get PDFSolitary bees belonging to genus Megachile are important pollinators very crucial for the wellbeing of the ecosystem. Large scale surveying will return a wealth of spatio-temporal species data which is critical for systematics, taxonomy and conservation of biodiversity. Detailed taxonomic characterization of solitary bee species belonging to subgenus Eutricharaea collected from the Sutlej basin of Indian northern plains is being described. A total of four species viz. Megachile hera Bingham, M. femorata Smith, M. vera Cameron and M. argentata Cameron belonging to subgenus Eutricharaea with 18 examples were studied. Detailed morphological descriptions, zoogeographic records, specimen examined, floral associations with illustrations and morphological measurements have been provided. Various areas finalised from different parts of Sutlej basin of northern plains were surveyed for the first time for the documentation of Megachile fauna. Hence, all these four species are first records for the studied area
Performance of Toria (Brassica campestrisvar. toria) on sulphur nutrition and soil test based nutrient management practice in farmers’ field of West-Bengal Himalayan range
Get PDFAn on-farm trial was conducted in the farmers’ field during 2013-14 and 2014-15 to assess the technology of application of sulphur on Toria (Brassica campestrisvar. toria)along with soil test based nutrient management practice under rain-fed condition at brown forest soil of the Himalayan range of West Bengal. The experiment was conducted at the seven villages namely Bong Busty, Charkhol, Sangsey, Bungkulung, Sakyong, Pudung, Didabling of Kalimpong district at an altitude ranged between 1210 m to 1300m . Significantly higher values of no. of primary branches (9.78); no. of siliquaplant-1 (82.12); no. of seeds siliqua-1 (35.51) as well as seed yield (1023 kg ha-1) were recorded with soil test based nutrient management practice along with soil application of sulphur (80%) @ 20kg ha-1as basal compared to the farmers’ practice. The soil application of sulphur and soil test based nutrient management practice also fetched higher return per rupee invested (1.61) compared to the other treatments. No remarkable change was observed in soil fertility status after two years of experimentation. As it was an adoptive trial with the participation of farmers, the necessity of soil test based nutrient management practice and application of sulphur have been well realized by the participating farmers
Preliminary investigation of Nauclea latifolia ripe fruits for antioxidant and antidiabetic activities
Get PDFFruits of Nauclea latifolia (Family Rubiaceae) have been used as food and medicinal plants. The ethnomedicinal reports indicated that it can be traditionally used for the treatment of dysentery, diarrhea, diabetes, malaria etc. The aim of this work was to evaluate the antioxidant, ?–amylase and ?–glucosidase activities of methanol extract of N. latifolia fruits at varying concentrations (20-100 µg/ml) using standard methods. The results of the DPPH and nitric oxide free radical scavenging capacity showed IC50 values 92.0µg/ml and 30.0µg/ml respectively indicating a good inhibitory capacity but lesser when compared to the standard, ascorbic acid which are < 10.0µg/ml and < 20.0µg/ml respectively. The analysis shows total phenolic contents of 147.9±3.35mg/g and ferric reducing antioxidant potential of 1604.1±9.20mg/g supporting the fact that phenolics are highly potent antioxidants. Based on the results obtained from ?–amylase and ?–glucosidase inhibition, the IC50 > 100µg/ml showing a lesser inhibitory activity when compared to the standard Acarbose with IC50 values of 50.1µg/ml and 44.0µg/ml respectively. The results clearly indicate that the methanol extract of N. latifolia has a moderate free radical scavenging activity resulting from various interaction between different components of the plant. It can be concluded that the fruits may provide natural source of bioactive compounds which is beneficial to human health and can be used as basis of folkloric remedies for diabetes
Analysis and interdependence of morphometric characters in the Hill stream fish Mastacembelus armatus (Lacepede) from Garhwal Himalaya
Get PDFStudy of morphometric characters is generally carried out for species identification in fish biology. It includes the measurements of all body lengths and their inter relationships in terms of ratios and percentages to the independent lengths (Total length, standard length and head length). Present paper deals with the analysis of various morphometric characters with species characteristics in Mastacembelus armatus (Lacepede), which is one of the most important eel like hillstream fish belonging to order Mastacembeliformes and family Mastacembelidae from river Western Nayar (290 45’ to 300 15’ latitude and 780 34’ to 790 12’ longitude ). Total length, standard length and head lengths were considered as an independent variables in ratio of which other lengths (caudal length, pre orbital length, post orbital length, maximum body depth, snout length and eye diameter) were analysed. The maximum size of fish was observed as 60 cm and the minimum being 10 cm. By using regression and correlation analysis, the modelling of data is presented to find out their interrelationship. The closest correlation was in between total length and standard length (r= 0.999) and the farthest between total length and caudal length ( r= 0.878). The linearity of regression was tested by the analysis of variance (ANOVA) which showed that all the relationships were significant at the level of 5 % significance. The multivariate analysis was also done by using cluster technique which sowed except caudal length rest all characters were forming a close cluster
Seed priming: An approach towards agricultural sustainability
Get PDFSeed priming is controlled hydration of seeds to a level that allow pre-germinative metabolic activity to continue, but interrupt the emergence of the radicle. Seed priming improves seed performance, ensures uniformity and better establishment, enhances the yield in diverse environments, greater tolerance to environmental stress and helps to overcome dormancy. Change in seed water content, cell cycle regulation, modification of seed ultrastructure, management of oxidative stress and reserve mobilization are the major physiological and biochemical changes takes places during seed priming. Priming methods adopted should be simple and affordable for its easy spread and adaptability. Seed priming should be influenced by factors such as light, aeration, temperature, time and seed quality. Different methods of priming are hydropriming, osmopriming, halopriming, solid matrix priming, biopriming and hormonal priming. Seed priming had significant effect on agriculture. It will hasten and synchronize the germination, enhances the plant growth, have better stress resistance, increase the use efficiency of nutrients and water and have better weed suppression effect. The review paper discusses about seed priming, physiological and biochemical changes in seed priming, different methods of seed priming and its role in sustainable agriculture
Study on fungicidal effect of plant extracts on plant pathogenic fungi and the economy of extract preparation and efficacy in comparison to synthetic/chemical fungicides
Get PDFProviding food security to devastatingly increasing population with limited natural resources along with destruction caused by pre- and post-harvest pathogens are the foremost concerns for the developing countries. Numerous pesticides, herbicides and chemical fertilizers are being applied by the farmers to deal with the existing situation but leave very disastrous and undesirable after effects on ecosystem as non-degradable molecules.. Botanicals can be utilized as an ecofriendly and effective alternative against chemical as they are of natural origin. In this context, two chemical/synthetic fungicides namely Manzate and Nystanin in three different concentrations namely 500ppm, 1000 ppm and 1500 ppm were evaluated against Sclerotium rolfsii, Alternaria alternata, Fusarium monilifrome, Rhizoctonia solani and Aspergillus niger in vitro to compare them with ethanolic botanical extracts of spices (clove, cinnamon, thyme) and weeds (parthenium and calotropis) at 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 25%. Results revealed the high efficacy of botanicals i.e. clove extracts showed maximum inhibition (100%), followed by reduced inhibition in cinnamon, thyme, Parthenium and Calotropis treated plates against all five pathogens even at 5% concentration in comparison to chemical of 500 ppm concentration i.e. 100% in case of S.rolfsii only. Hence the herbal products can be further analyzed and applied as a potent, ecofriendly and economical substitute to chemicals
Developing a standardized tool for assessing the ICT competence of the agricultural extension personnel
Get PDFKnowledge and information is the key ingredient for driving the engine socio-economic progress of an economy in the present century. Therefore, development in 21st century is driven by the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) for collection, storage, processing, retrieval and dissemination of the agriculture information to farmers. ICTs offer means of facilitating two-way interaction in an easy, fast and reliable way between research-extension-farmer systems. In order to reap the potential benefits of ICTs in agriculture, development functionaries must be well competent in using all means of information and communications technologies for extension. Extension personnel’s competence in using ICTs for agriculture and allied activities benefit’s the individual, organizations and nation. Accordingly, the thrust of training for extensionists’ should be aligned towards designing competency-based ICT trainings. The preliminary step for planning a competency-based ICT training programme is assessment of the training gap i.e. difference between existing and required ICT competencies of extension personnel. Studies done earlier in this context are very diverse and focus on specific ICTs, rather than whole. This paper presents a set of standardized 45 statements for measuring the ICT competence of the extension personnel. A total of 118 statements were sent to 154 experts for relevancy testing through online Google form. The data obtained was analyzed using SPSS software and MS Excel. With the use of outlier analysis, factor analysis and reliability analysis, ICT competence tool for extension personnel were finalized. The competency tool will contribute towards effective human resource development interventions for the extension personnel