Journal of Applied and Natural Science
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Impact of flucetosulfuron on weed seed bank in wet seeded rice
Get PDFAn experiment was conducted to assess the impact of flucetosulfuron, a new generation sulfonylurea herbicide, on weed seed bank dynamics of wet land paddy field. Field experiments were carried out during two consecutive seasons (Kharif 2016 and Rabi 2016-’17), to assess the bio-efficacy of flucetosulfuron in wet seeded rice which was accompanied by weed seed bank assay. Weed seed bank assay of the soil was carried out before and after the field experiments in both the seasons by the seedling emergence method. The experiment on weed seed bank was laid out in Completely Randomised Block Design (CRD) with 12 treatments replicated thrice. Flucetosulfuron @ 20, 25, and 30 g ha-1applied at 2-3, 10-12, and 18-20 days after sowing (DAS) along with two control treatments viz., hand weeding at 20 and 40 DAS and unweeded control comprised the treatments. The emerging weeds were uprooted at 14 days interval up to a period of two months; categorized as grasses, broad leaved weeds, and sedges and counted. Results revealed that non-herbicidal plots recorded significantly higher count of total emerged weeds compared to herbicide applied plots. In all the herbicide applied plots, effective reduction in weed seed bank could be obtained irrespective of the dose of the herbicide. Regarding the time of application, flucetosulfuron applied at 10-12 and 18-20 DAS recorded significantly lower weed seed bank during both the seasons, compared to its application at 2-3 DAS
Removal of colour from alkali extracted wastewater of Pulp and paper mill using fly ash as adsorbent
Get PDFThe study aims to explore the beneficial use of fly ash and its effectiveness as low cost adsorbent for wastewater treatment of Pulp and paper industry. A comparative study was also carried out for the better colour reduction of industrial effluent using fly ash and commercial activated carbon. Batch mode adsorption experiments were carried out to optimize the different experimental conditions like adsorbent dose, contact time, rotation per minute (RPM) and pH. The treatment showed that the removal efficiency of colour increased to 86 % with the increase in adsorbent dose (0.5 – 10 g), time (30–240 min), RPM (50 - 150) and pH (4–12) of pulp and paper industry wastewater. The removal efficiency of activated carbon was found to be 100 % using 1 g adsorbent dose of commercial grade activated carbon. The Scan Electron Microscope (SEM) results of the fly ash showed that the particles looked like somewhat spherical large particles. It was concluded that though the activated carbon was very efficient adsorbent in comparison to fly ash, the better solution for disposal of solid waste such as fly ash can be good a substitute as the adsorbent for the colour reduction of the paper mill wastewater
Relationship of body perception and stress with obesity, food consumption and eating disorders among working women
Get PDFThe influence of body perception and stress on the rising trend of obesity among working women was studied. Body perception, food frequency, stress and anthropometric parameters and body fat were assessed in female teachers aged 30-59 years from five colleges of Jalandhar, Punjab. Body satisfaction perceived as lesser concern with body shape was positively and significantly (p?0.01) correlated with BMI, body weight, waist circumference and body fat. Body dissatisfaction in terms of higher concern with body shape was significantly correlated with lesser consumption frequency of traditional sweets (p?0.05). Body satisfaction was found to be significantly (p?0.01) correlated with uncontrolled eating and emotional eating. Stress level showed a positive and significant (p?0.01) correlation with the consumption of traditional savoury snacks, western fast food and higher frequency of eating out. The stress level was also significantly (p?0.05) correlated with emotional eating. The study concluded that adiposity, eating behaviours and food choices were influenced by stress and a lesser concern about body shape among working women
Development and validation of a robust high-performance thin layer chromatographic (HPTLC) method for the analysis of Lovastatin in Higher Basidiomycetous mushrooms
Get PDFHypercholesteromia is one of the main risk factors of cardiovascular disease, causing high blood pressure and atherosclerosis. This has necessitated development of methods or substances which would reduce cholesterol uptake from the digestive tract or destroy cholesterol by enzymatic reactions. One of the practical approaches to protect the human body from high cholesterol levels is to inhibit the cholesterol-synthesizing ability of the organism. Lovastatin is a metabolite of mold fungi from the different genera. However, its presence has also been detected in fruiting bodies and submerged cultivated mycelia of some species of Higher Basidiomycetous fungus, especially in the species of genus Pleurotus – P. ostreatus and P. eryngii. We are screening Higher Basidiomycetous mushrooms for identification of commercially recoverable quantities of lovastatin. Since lovastatin quantification in a large number of fungal samples is required, a simple, rapid and accurate analytical method was required. Use of HPTLC for quantitative measurements of lovastatin in fungal biomass has not yet been reported. In the present study a simple, precise, specific and accurate TLC Densitometric method for estimation of lovastatin in Higher Basidiomycetous mushrooms was developed, validated and used for estimation of lovastatin content in the cultured mycelia of Pleurotus spp. The develop method was validated for linearity, accuracy, precision, LOD, LOQ, spiking, robustness as per the ICH guidelines. The Rf and % recovery value for Lovastatin 0.52 and 99.15 respectively. Developed analytical methods showed good separation and recovery of Lovastatin
Assessment of tree diversity in distinctive deciduous forests of Suruli falls, Southern Western Ghats
Get PDFA quantitative inventory was conducted in two distinctive tropical deciduous forests at Suruli falls forest of southern Western Ghats. Two one-hectare plots were established and all trees >10cm DBH measured. Species richness, density, family importance value (FIV) and importance value index (IVI) were calculated and the results varied among the two sites. A total of 777 stems and 52 species were documented in both the sites and moist deciduous forest (MDF) had maximum number species richness and density than dry deciduous forest (DDF). The basal area was higher in MDF (502 stems/ha and 16.52 m2/ha) than in DDF (275 stems/ha and 7.23 m2/ha). However, Shannon and evenness indices showed a negative trend (DDF- 2.62, 0.41 and MDF- 2.37, 0.27). Diameter class-wise distribution of trees showed reverse ‘J shaped’ curve in both the forest types. Pterocarpus marsupium was the mono-dominant species holding one-third of the IVI (113), 27% of the stem density and 30% of the total basal area. DDF site is suspected to recurrence of annual fire. Anogeissus latifolia and Strychnos potatorum were the fire-tolerant species only found in lower diameter class. The maximum species shared contiguous distribution in the deciduous forests. The observed variations in the tree community between the two deciduous forest sites are possibly due to variations in altitude, rainfall, temperature, past disturbance, fire and edaphic characteristics
A comparison of macro and micronutrient intake of adult men with different degrees of abdominal obesity
Get PDFOne hundred and two volunteer male subjects (40-60 years) were divided on the basis of abdominal obesity into three groups - No abdominal obesity i.e. Grade 0 with waist circumference <94 cm; Abdominal obesity i.e. Grade I with waist circumference: 94.1 to 101.9 cm and Grade II with waist circumference: >102 cm. The daily consumption of protein per kg body weight of the subjects was 1.28, 1.21 and 1.06g, the protein intake of the subjects with Grade II AO was significantly (p?0.001) lower than the subjects with either no AO or Grade I AO. The carbohydrate: protein ratio varied between a narrow range of 3.48 to 3.69 among the three groups indicating high carbohydrate diets of all the subjects. Energy and fat intake of the subjects in all the groups was much higher than the recommended dietary allowances. The ratio of animal: plant protein intake was almost similar in the subjects with no AO or with Grade I and II AO, the ratio being 0.74, 0.81 and 0.89, respectively. The micronutrient intake of the studied group was fairly adequate. Out of eight major vitamins, six were more than adequate (>100%) or marginally adequate (>75%), while the intake of minerals namely calcium, iron and zinc was adequate or nearly adequate among the subjects in the all the three groups, thereby indicating a good mineral and vitamin status of subjects in the present study
Study on the ameliorating effect of aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera on Ganga water
Get PDFThe quality of surface water is deteriorating day by day due to various anthropogenic activities. Ganga water is assumed polluted almost in the entire strech of river. The medicinal plants may be useful for amelioration of pollution. The present work deals with the study of several chemical characteristics as well as microbial examination of water samples taken from few sites of Ganga river namely Krishna Ghat, Kali Ghat and N.I.T Ghat (Gandhi Ghat) at Patna. The study was foccused on the evaluation of antimicrobial effect of Moringa oleifera (sahjan) leaves extract in the Ganga water. The aqueous leaves extract of different concentrations (0.1%, 0.16%, 0.23%, 0.3%) showed ameliorating results on pH and chloride content of water as well as microbial activity. Significant ameliorating results were observed on pH and chloride content of water. pH was reduced from 8.1 to 7.4 and chloride was reduced from 82.36 mg/l to 48.14 mg/l under plant extract treatment. Colony Forming Unit (CFU) was assessed by standard plate count (SPC) method and was found to be 468 CFU/ml for raw water, which was reduced to 143 CFU/ml when treated with plant extract. Similar decreasing trend was observed in case of MPN of coliform. So extract of Moringa oleifera may also be applied to purify drinking water. Morever it will be cheaper for the people in comparision to other purification devices
Screening of maize germplasm for Turcicum leaf blight resistance
Get PDF: A study was conducted during Kharif 2012 and 2013 at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar Campus Srinagar with the objective of screening sixty maize genotypes against Turcicum leaf blight caused by Exserohilum turcicum (Pass.) Leonard and Suggs. Field experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with three replications. In order to ensure establishment of infection, artificial inoculation of E. turcicum on test genotypes was made twice at 30 and 40 days after sowing with two different methods of inoculation (spraying on foliage of maize with spore suspension of pathogen @ 5x104 spores/ml at 30 DAS and by whorl drop inoculation of pathogen multiplies on sorghum grains at 40 DAS). Disease severity on test entries was scored at silk drying stage and studies revealed that two inbred lines, viz., NAI-112 and NAI-147, and one hybrid, viz., HQPM-1 were found resistant with pooled disease intensity of 4.12 per cent, 4.04 per cent and 4.38 per cent, respectively. Four inbred lines, viz., KDM 381 A, KDM 918 A, NAI-152 and NAI-167 were found susceptible with pooled disease intensity of 52.82 per cent, 51.02 per cent, 58.58 per cent and 61.33 per cent, respectively. The remaining genotypes were moderately resistant to moderately susceptible
Effect of water stress on leaf nutrient status and frequency of irrigation in various cultivars of kiwifruit
Get PDFThe five cultivars of kiwifruit viz., Allison, Hayward, Abbott, Monty and Bruno during the years 2011 and 2012 in the Department of Fruit Science, Dr. Y. S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, India. Two irrigation treatments i.e. standard irrigation (at 80% field capacity) and deficit irrigation (at 60 % F C) were applied to these cultivars from March to October with three replications in Randomized Block Design (RBD). The leaf nutrient content (%) and frequency of irrigation (irrigation interval in days) were investigated in kiwifruit in response to these irrigation treatments. The leaf nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), Potassium (K), Calcium (Ca) and Magnesium (Mg) contents varied with cultivars under two irrigation regimes. The leaf N content and Ca content (%) was observed highest in cultivar Monty; P content in Allison; K content in Hayward; Mg content (%) in Abbott and Monty under standard irrigation treatment. These nutrient contents reduced significantly at 0.05 % level of significance with deficit irrigation treatment in different cultivars. The % reduction in these nutrients with deficit irrigation treatment was found to be highest in cultivar Hayward and the least in Bruno. The total number of irrigation applied under standard and deficit irrigation were 16 and 10 respectively, during both the years. The response of Bruno cultivar in terms of leaf nutrient content under water deficit condition is much better in comparison to all other cultivars. Bruno is considered to be drought tolerant cultivar and Hayward to be drought sensitive. Thus, the Bruno cultivar should be preferred for cultivation in water scarce regions
Effects of different doses of pig dung on the growth performance of Catla, Catlacatla (Hamilton, 1822)
Get PDFThe experiment was carried out to study the effects of different doses of pig dung on the growth rate of Catlacatla during the summer season. Rate of application of pig dung doses were 10000 kgha-1 yr-1 ,15000 kgha-1 yr-1 , 20000 kgha-1 yr-1 and 25000 kgha-1 yr-1 . The experiment was carried out in a Completely Randomized Block Design. There were four replicates for each treatment where pig dung was applied at 10000 kgha-1 yr-1 (T1), 15000 kgha-1 yr-1 (T2), 20000 kgha-1 yr-1 (T3) and 25000 kgha-1 yr-1 (T4) and control. The control pond did not receive pig dung. After 10 days of application of pig dung, Catla was stocked at the rate of 8,000 nos./ha in the fish ponds. Sampling was done at 15 days interval to study the growth rate and health status of the fishes. At the end of 3 months period, the fishes were harvested, and the performance of growth, survival and total production was recorded viz. 72.92±6.41g.The results of the study clearly indicated that in the indirect integration system of pig-fish farming, where fresh pig dung contains 0.61% nitrogen, 0.50% phosphate-phosphorus (PO4-P), the dung load of 20000 kgha-1 yr-1 is optimum for satisfactory growth of catla, which yield an average production of 5354.00 kgha-1 yr-1