Journal of Applied and Natural Science
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Soil quality assessment in difference vegetation structures of Surajpur lake: An urban wetland of Upper Gangetic plain, Northern India
Get PDFSurajpur Lake is the prominent wetland site in National Capital Region, India known for its rich avifaunal and other aquatic biodiversity. Present study was carried out to assess the soil quality in different vegetation structures in Surajpur wetland from March 2010 to February 2013. Soil Sampling was conducted in five different vegetation habitats in the study area by applying standard sampling protocols. A total of 9 Physical and 16 chemical parameters were selected for analysis. The overall means of physical parameters of soil sample includes soil moisture content 11.17 ± 3.03 %, bulk density 1.19 ± 0.01 gm/ml, porosity 35.00 ± 5.10 %, water holding capacity 35.00 ± 3.86 %, soil organic carbon 0.09 ± 0.05 %, electrical conductivity 276.42 ± 112.83 ds/m, pH value 9.98 ± 0.42 was recorded. The means of chemical parameters of soil sample includes total Kjeldahl nitrogen 286.76 ± 42.41 mg/kg, available phosphorus 338.50 ± 32.75 mg/kg, potassium 2.85 ± 0.39 mg/kg, calcium level 10.86 ± 6 73 mg/kg, magnesium 10.56 ± 4.43 mg/kg, iron 14.90 ± 1.99 mg/kg, manganese 289.13 ± 42.89 mg/kg, zinc 4.20 ± 0.45 mg/kg, chloride 223.73 ± 62.64 mg/kg, sulphate 150.21 ± 27.99 mg/kg and silica oxide 7.97 ± 1.45 mg/kg. Boron, Copper and Molybdenum nutrients recorded less than one mg/kg in the soil sample. The viable count of bacteria recorded an overall mean of 16,56,000.00 ± 11,06,157.31 cfu/g. The results indicated that the essential mineral nutrients are widely distributed in the soil and are pollution free and also no any organic waste is coming to the site. Soil is good enough to support rich biodiversity to form a complete food web in the Surajpur wetland ecosystem
Character association and path analysis in advanced breeding lines of rabi sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]
Get PDFThe field experiment was carried out using advanced breeding lines of rabi sorghum to study association among the yield and its component traits, direct and indirect effects of traits on the yield. Association studies indicated that seed yield per plot showed significant positive correlation with traits viz., plant height (rp=+0.7243, rg=+0.7409), ear head length (rp=+0.6002, rg=+0.6021), 100 seed weight (rp=+0.1593, rg=+0.1880), fodder yield (rp=+0.9434, rg=+0.9476) and lodging percentage (rp=+0.5263, rg=+0.5646) at both phenotypic and genotypic level.Genotypic correlation was higher magnitude than phenotypic correlation. Revealed increase in ear head length will increase the seed yield. Partitioning of yield and yield components both at phenotypic and genotypic levels into direct and indirect effects revealed that positive direct effects of ear head length (Ppi=+0.2533, Pgi=+0.5241), ear head diameter (Ppi=+0.0669, Pgi=+0.2580), days to maturity (Ppi=+0.0338, Pgi=+0.1193), fodder yield (Ppi=+0.6484, Pgi=+0.7461) were relatively high and followed by less lodging percentage (Ppi=+0.1751, Pgi=+0.2263). Residual effects were Pr=0.1303 and Gr=0.0624 at phenotypic and genotypic levels. Indicating importance of these characters and can be strategically used to improve the seed yield of sorghum
Geochemistry of some ferruginous soils of Kerala, India
Get PDFThe four representative ferruginous soils on lateritic cover developed over Precambrian rocks in parts of Kottayam of Kerala were studied to understand the weathering pattern and genesis through geochemistry. These soils are strongly to moderately acidic, reddish brown with low Cation exchange capacity CEC and base saturation having SiO2 - 33 to 57%, Al2O3 - 16-31%, Fe2O3 - 8 to 15% and TiO2 -0.7 to 1.4%. Kanjirapalli (P3) and Athirampuzha (P4) soil series were more intensely weathered as compared to the Kinalur (P1) and Chingavanam series (P2) with silica to alumina -iron ratio less than 2 and had a significant negative relationship with Chemical index of alteration CIA ( -0.75**), Harnois index ( -0.678**), Richie index (-0.953**) and Plagioclase Index of Weathering (-0.705**). The trace elemental concentration ranges were above the values of world soils having an enrichment index more than 1 in Kanjirapalli series (P3) and Ni contamination in genetic horizons (Ni > 200µgg-1 ). The cluster analysis showed similar major oxide concentration pattern in Group -1 and Group - 2 but varied in trace elemental pattern with Cr > Ba > Cu in Group - 1 and Cu > Cr > Ba in Group- 2 soils whereas Zr > Ni > Mn in Group - 3 to Ni > Mn > Zr in Group - 4 soils. The study further showed that differential rate of weathering in soils under tropical climate was further accelerated due to anthropogenic activities such as improper land use practices and deforestation on sleep slopes
Role of morphological factors of pigeonpea in imparting resistance to spotted pod borer, Maruca vitrata Geyer (Lepidoptera: Crambidae)
Get PDFMorphological characters of eleven test genotypes of pigeonpea, such as growth habit, pubescence of pods and leaves, pod angle and pod wall thickness were studied in order to work out the relationship of these traits vis-à-vis resistance/susceptibility to Maruca vitrata. It was observed that genotype AL 1747 possessed significantlyhighest trichome density on leaves and pods (177.33 and 43.33 trichomes/4.6cm2, respectively), whereas MN 1 possessed lowest trichome density (47.33 and 7.66 trichomes/4.6cm2, respectively). Trichome length on leaves and pods was significantly highest in AL 1747 (66.26 and 180.83?m, respectively) and lowest in MN 1 (33.53 and 43.25?m, respectively). Genotype AL 1747 recorded significantly highest pod angle (65o), whereas MN 1 recorded lowest pod angle (18.66o). There was significant negative correlation between trichome density on leaves and pods with larval weight gain (r = -0.71 and -0.69, respectively) as well as with per cent pod damage ( r = -0.75 and -0.75, respectively) and between trichome length on leaves and pods with larval weight gain (r = -0.81 and -0.81, respectively) as well as with per cent pod damage (r = -0.87 and -0.87, respectively). Pod angle was found to be significantly negatively correlated with both larval weight gain and per cent pod damage. Thus, early maturing pigeonpea genotypes with indeterminate growth habit, higher leaf and pod pubescence with wider pod angles should be preferred for breeding M. vitrata tolerant lines
Effect of rib roughness pitch on thermal and thermo-hydraulic performance of a solar air heater roughened artificially with arc rib having gap
Get PDFThis experimental study on a solar air heater having absorber plate roughened artificially by providing roughness in the form of arc ribs having gap was carried out in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India to study the effect of relative roughness pitch on thermal and thermohydraulic performance as well as to compare the performance of arc rib with gap roughened solar air heater with that of continuous arc rib roughened solar air heater. The roughness geometry parameters included relative roughness height of 0.043, angle of attack of 30 degree, relative gap position of 0.80, gap-width equal to the width of the rib and five values of relative roughness pitch ranging from 4 to 12 for flow Reynolds number range of 2000 to 16,000. The Nusselt number and friction factor were found to be more for relative roughness pitch value of 10 as compared to other values of relative roughness pitch. Thermo-hydraulic performance of solar air heaters roughened by arc with gap and continuous arc roughness geometries were found to be 1.91 times and 1.78 times respectively as compared to that of solar air heater having smooth absorber plate due to generation of turbulence in laminar sublayer region. However, improvement in thermo-hydraulic performance of solar air heater roughened by arc with gap geometry over continuous arc rib roughened solar air heater was attributed to generation of a region of turbulence on downstream side of the gap
Assessment of inter-population genetic diversity and preliminary evaluation of suitable clones of teak (Tectona grandis Linn. F.)
Get PDFProductivity, uniformity and sustainability are the three important characters of the clonally propagated plants. With the increased use of clonal technology, the scarcity of wood products evidently decreased which has also led to reduced pressure on natural forests and ecosystem. However, the success of clonal technology rests on wise selection and deployment of suitable clones by studying the inter-population genetic diversity. The present study was conducted in a clonal seed orchard (CSO) of teak (Tectona grandis Linn. F.) comprising of 13 different clones to estimate the inter-clonal variation in terms of growth performance and genetic variability at 32 and 33 years of age. Clone ORANP2 exhibited maximum DBH (26.61cm), height (23.69 m), and stem volume (235.40 m3ha-1) with MAI of 7.133 m3ha-1year-1. The highest CAI of DBH (1.08 cm) and volume (18.558m3/ha) was reported in ORANP5 and ORANR3, respectively. The study found that clone ORANP2 is a superior genotype and thus can be recommended for vegetative multiplication and ex-situ mass planting in reforestation programmes. Both heritability and genetic advance values were low for all the plant traits studied (DBH, height and stem volume) indicating that these traits are of less use for a tree breeder for furthering the selection and breeding process on teak or other tropical hardwood species across globe
Effect of integrated nutrient management on the nutrient accumulation and status of post-harvest soil of brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) under Nadia conditions (West Bengal), India
Get PDFA field experiment was carried out at the Central Research Farm, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, West Bengal, India to study the effects of integrated nutrient management on the nutrient accumulation (dry weight recoveries) in brinjal and plant nutrient status of the post- harvest soil of brinjal under Nadia conditions. The results revealed that the treatment consisting of 75% RDF (RDF i.e. N:P:K:: 125:100:50) + Azospirillum + phosphate solubilising bacteria (PSB) + Borax @ 10 kg ha-1 recorded the highest oxidizable organic carbon (8.049 g kg-1), total nitrogen (1.05 g kg-1) , available nitrogen (212.67g kg-1), available phosphorus (76.20g kg-1) and available potassium (177.59 g kg-1) in the post harvest soils of brinjal. On the other hand, 75% RDF + Azospirillum + PSB + FeSO4 @ 50 kg ha-1 recorded the highest available iron (26.14 kg ha-1) and the treatment consisting of 75% RDF + Azospirillum + PSB + ZnSOâ‚„ @ 25 kg ha-1 recorded the highest soil available zinc (7.62 kg ha-1) while 75% RDF + Azo + PSB + Borax @ 10 kg ha-1 recorded the highest available Boron content (0.78 kg ha-1) of the post harvest soil of Brinjal. Highest brinjal yield (14.96 t ha-1) was supported by the treatment consisting of 75% RDF + Azospirillum + PSB + Boron @ 10 Kg ha-1. Meager information was available regarding the performance of integrated application of organics and micronutrient on brinjal in the experimental location. The present study may enlighten this unexplored section of nutrient management in brinjal
Effect of integrated nutrient management and spacing on seed quality parameters of black gram cv. Lbg-625 (rashmi)
Get PDFA field experiment was conducted to assess the response of nutrient levels and spacing on seed quality attributes of black gram cv. LBG-625 (Rashmi). Experimental results revealed that fertilizer application of 50:100:100 + Black gram rhizobia (250 g ha-1) + PSB- Bacillus megaterium (250 g ha-1) recorded highest test weight (39.27 g), germination (90.60%), root length (15.77 cm), shoot length (13.43 cm), mean seedling length (29.20 cm), mean seedling dry weight (57.99 mg), seedling vigour index-I (2656), seedling vigour index-II (525), total dehydrogenase activity (0.998), protein content (23.16%), field emergence (86.56 %) lowest electrical conductivity (0.813 dSm-1) were superior over other fertilizer treatments. Among the planting geometry 60 x 10 cm recorded more germination per cent (90.48 %) compared to 45 x 10 cm (87.64 %) and 30 x 10 cm (86.91 %). Interaction of nutrient levels and spacing through the application of 50:100:100 + black gram rhizobia (250 g ha-1) + PSB- B. megaterium (250 g ha-1) with planting geometry 60 x 10 cm recorded more mean seedling length (34.40 cm), mean seedling dry weight (58.30 mg),and field emergence (90.24 %) lowest electrical conductivity (0.776 dSm-1) compared to control. The application of 50:100:100 + Black gram rhizobia (250 g ha-1) + PSB- B. megaterium (250 g ha-1) with planting geometry 60 x 10 cm were considered as seed quality improvement approach in blackgram, therefore conjunctive use of inorganic fertilizers and biofertilizer may be suggested for higher seed quality parameters along with overall betterment of crop
Studies on prevalence of cestode parasites in fresh water fish, Channa punctatus from Meerut (Uttarpradesh ) India
Get PDFThe present investigation deals with the prevalence of three cestode parasites viz. Lytocestus sp., Proteocephalus sp. and Gangesia sp. collected from the intestine of a freshwater fish Channa punctatus in different blocks of Meerut region (U.P.) India during June, 2014 to May, 2015. A total of 125 parasites were collected throughout theyear. The high incidence of infection of all these species Lytocestus sp., Proteocephalus sp., Gangesia sp. was recorded in summer season (70.83%, 77.27% abd 72 % respectively) followed by winter season (63.63%, 57.89% abd 52.38% respectively) whereas infection was low in monsoon season (36.84%, 27.78% abd 23.52% respectively). The present study clearly indicates that the intensity of infection throughout the year was found highest in summer season followed by winter and lowest in monsoon. Findings show that beginning of the breeding period, feeding habitat, presence of intermediate host and environmental factors are influencing the seasonality of cestode parasitic infection
Spatial and temporal analysis of drought in Manjalar sub-basin of Vaigai in Tamil Nadu using standardized precipitation index
Get PDFDrought is universally acknowledged as a phenomenon associated with scarcity of water. Drought characterization is essential for drought management operations. Using drought indices is a pragmatic way to assimilate large amounts of data into quantitative information that can be used in applications such as drought forecasting, declaring drought levels, contingency planning and impact assessment. Using monthly mean precipitation data for a period of 1982-2012 from 12 raingauge stations in the Manjalar sub-basin of Vaigai using Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) is produced for the drought analysis with the time scale of 3 months (SPI-3), 6 months (SPI-6) and 12 months (SPI-12) as they are applicable for agriculture and hydrological aspects, respectively. It was observed that the basin experienced frequent droughts for all months of the year. The highest percentage of occurrence of drought was observed in the month of July (15.3), May (15.4) and August (15.6) at SPI-3, SPI-6 and SPI-12 respectively. On an average we observed 32.6, 8.6, 5.6 and 2.3 percentages of drought occurred by mild, moderate, severe and extreme drought respectively with respect to SPI-12. The results showed that mild droughts occur most frequently and extreme droughts occur least frequently and the basin suffered severe drought during the year of 1985, 2004 and 2006. The central and south eastern parts of the basin had more potential sensitivity to the droughts in comparison with the other areas of the basin