Journal of Applied and Natural Science
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Surface modified nano-zeolite used as carrier for slow release of sulphur
Get PDFSurface modified nano-zeolite (SMNZ) was used as carrier to develop nano-zeolite based nano-sulphur fertilizer. A laboratory study on sulphur nano-fertilizer and conventional sulphur fertilizer were studied with percolation reactor system to evaluate the slow release of sulphur from both fertilizers in ambient temperature. SMNZ and sulphur nano-fertilizer were characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), Zeta Analyzer, Raman Spectroscopy, XRD and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). Raman spectroscopy confirmed the sulphur attachment at 480 cm-1 in the SMNZ. The FTIR spectra at 1030 cm-1 confirmed the sulphate attachments in the SMNZ spectrum. Zeta analyzer showed the surface charge of sulphur nano-fertilizer had (-) 52.6 mV. SEM imaged the sulphur loaded SMNZ in irregular flake like structure. A comparative study of the release of sulphate (SO4 2-) from fertilizer-loaded SMNZ and (NH4)2 SO4 fertilizers were performed using the percolation reactor. The results showed that the SO42- supply from fertilizer-loaded SMNZ was available even after 912 h of continuous percolation, whereas SO42- from (NH4)2 SO4 was exhausted within 384 h. These properties suggest that SMNZ has a great potential as the fertilizer carrier for slow release of SO42-
Exploration of wild edible plants used by Gujjar and Bakerwal tribes of District Rajouri (J&K), India
Get PDFThe analysis of wild plant exploration was carried out to document the wild edible plants of district Rajouri (J&K), India. The present investigation of wild edible plants were based on extensive and intensive field survey during 2009- 2011. A total of 58 wild edible plant species belonging to 50 genera and 39 families have been reported from the area. Rosaceae was the dominant family that represented 7 taxa, while Brassiceae, Fabaceae, Moraceae and Poaceae represented with 3 taxa each and other 33 families have less representation. Tree make up was the highest proportion of the edible species 28 (41%) followed by 26 were herbs (38%) and 14 were shrubs (21%). Based on the requirements/edibility, majority of the plant species (26 species) are commonly used as fruits, 14 serve as vegetables, 1 species as flavoring agents (spices), roots, tubers of 3 species are eaten as raw and seeds/grains from 8 species for various substitute of food, whereas 2 species are used in making special drinks
In vitro mass multiplication of Jatropha (Jatropha curcas L.) through axillary bud culture
Get PDFThe present investigation was conducted for mass multiplication of Jatropha curcas L. through axillary bud culture. For this nodal segment from 3-5 months old nursery grown plants were used as explants for axillary bud culture. The sterilization treatment involving dipping explants in 0.1 per cent HgCl2 solution for 5 minutes resulted in minimum contamination and maximum establishment of nodal explants. The treatment MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/L BAP and 1.0 mg/L IAA was the best for culture establishment, shoot proliferation and multiplication of the axillary buds which exhibited highest value in each parameter like establishment (76.1%), number of days taken for shoot initiation (3.1 days), length of longest shoot (6.8 cm), number of leaves on main shoot (7.1) and number of shoots per explant (6.3). Among different treatments for root initiation, half MS media fortified with 1 mg/L IBA, 3 mg/ L NAA and 0.25 g AC gave best result in maximum number of rooting percentage (60) with minimum time taken for root initiation (13.3 days), produced maximum number of roots per shoots (5.1) and length of longest root (4.9 cm) when established shoots were treated with it. Such produced plantlets showed nearly cent per cent survival after hardening and acclimatization. It showed that explants surface sterilized with 0.1 per cent HgCl2 solution for 5 minutes inoculated in MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/L BAP and 1.0 mg/L IAA and half MS media fortified with 1 mg/L IBA, 3 mg/L NAA and 0.25 g AC were best in shoot establishment and root development respectively for mass multiplication of J. curcas L. through axillary bud culture
Optimization of machine parameters of Parvatiya Sugam motorized thresher using response surface methodology
Get PDFA Parvatiya Sugam Thresher was designed and developed at College of Home Science GBPUA & T, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, India. It is a low cost motorized machine for threshing paddy crops especially for hill region, it is user friendly and more efficient in its working. The machine performance was evaluated for optimal design parameters viz, height 755 mm, time 5.1 minutes and crop load 1.5 kg. Comparative performance tests between the newly developed (Parvatiya sugam thresher) and existing thresher were conducted to the optimization. Test result indicates that Parvatiya sugam thresher gives better result compared to existing thresher. It was inferred that ½ hp motor was introduced to have optimum drum speed and threshing performance of paddy thresher
Demand analysis for chicken meat, beef and fish among urban households in Edo and Delta states, Nigeria
Get PDFRecent increases in population growth has created an additional demand for meat in developing countries. Nigeria has the largest population in sub-Saharan Africa, with about 47% of the population residing in the urban areas where the population growth rate is estimated at three times that in rural areas. This suggests a shift in increased food demand from the rural to the urban areas and explains the need to know the demand for meat (which is an important source of nutrient) from different animal sources. This study focused on demand analysis forchicken meat, beef and fish among urban households in Edo and Delta States. The complete demand functions of the various meat types were estimated. The primary data used in this analysis were obtained from a cross-sectional survey of urban chicken meat, beef and fish consuming households in Edo and Delta States. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 300 respondents for this study. The Linear Approximate Almost Ideal Demand System was used in analyzing the demand functions of chicken meat, beef and fish. Findings showed that the demand for chicken meat, beef and fish in the study area was so much a matter of own-price, cross-prices and income. The results of the LA/AIDS showed that for the entire sample, chicken had an expenditure coefficient of -0.0007 (p Ë‚ 0.01). With respect to Edo State, chicken had a budget share of -0.2253, cross price effect of 0.1938 with beef and expenditure coefficient of -0.0006 (p Ë‚ 0.01, p Ë‚ 0.05 and p Ë‚ 0.01 respectively). With regards to Delta State, chicken had a budget share of 0.1939. Chicken had a cross price effect of -0.2790 with beef (p Ë‚ 0.10), while beef had a budget share of 0.5694, cross price effect of -0.2790 with chicken and expenditure coefficient of 0.1170 (p Ë‚ 0.01, p Ë‚ 0.10 and p Ë‚ 0.05 respectively). It is recommended that production of chicken meat and the other selected meat types should be increased to meet the present demand. Prices of these commodities should be regulated to avoid the erratic price fluctuations and efforts should be geared towards improving the income earning capacity of households so as to enable them demand for these commodities effectively
Variation in morphometric and meristic traits of Aspidoparia morar from Brahmaputra and Barak Rivers of Assam, India
Get PDFThe minor carp, Aspidoparia morar is a benthopelagic fish belonging to the sub-family Danioninae under the family Cyprinidae. It has emerged as the single most dominant species in the river Brahmaputra in Assam. In the present study, 240 specimens were collected from Guwahati and Tezpur in the Brahmaputra River and Silchar in the Barak River to investigate the morphometric and meristic variation among the populations. For this a total of 20 morphometric traits and 11 meristic traits were studied. The mean lengths for most of the morphometric traits were higher for the Barak River except eye diameter, inter orbital length and anal fin length which were significantly higher on the Brahmaputra River, while the post orbital length and pelvic fin length were found to be almost equal. The regressions of standard length with all the morphometric traits except pelvic fin length, pelvic fin base, pectoral fin length, dorsal fin length, anal fin length, pre orbital length, post orbital length, inter orbital length and eye diameter showed significant variation between the rivers. Two meristic traits viz. branched rays in anal fin and gill rakers on the first gill arch also showed significant variation in the samples of the rivers
Effect of anthropogenic disturbances on biomass and carbon storage potential of a dry tropical forest in India
Get PDFThe forests of Chhattisgarh are very well known for its species richness, diversity, biomass, carbon stock and productivity. The present study was carried out at Katghora forest division under Bilaspur circle of Korba district, Chhattisgarh considering three sites viz., least, moderately and highly disturbed site to estimate biomass and carbon storage in relation to anthropogenic disturbances. For collection of data quadrats were selected under stratified random sampling design. For enumeration of tree and saplings ten quadrats of 10 m × 10 m were laid and each species counted separately. The tree density varies from 100-510 stems ha-1 across study sites. Total biomass in the present study was between 127.69 t ha-1 and 227.71 t ha-1. Total above ground biomass was between 111.20 t ha-1 and 199.42 t ha-1, whereas total below ground biomass varied from 16.49-28.29 t ha-1, respectively. The total carbon storage across the sites were ranged from 55.125 to 98.548 t C ha-1 found higher under least disturbed site and lowest under medium disturbed site. Carbon storage pattern according to girth class followed the similar trend of distribution as was in the case of biomass. It has least proportion in small girth class and maximum storage under the higher girth class. It is evident from the study that disturbances have significant impact on density, vegetation diversity, biomass accumulation and carbon storage pattern. Conservation affords are required to control on disturbances and for the natural recovery of forest ecosystem
Burkholderia sp. from rhizosphere of Rhododendron arboretum: Isolation, identification and plant growth promotory (PGP) activities
Get PDFPlant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) is beneficial bacteria that colonize plant roots and enhance plant growth by wide variety of mechanism like phosphate solubilisation, etc. Use of PGPR has steadily increased in agriculture and offers an attractive way to replace chemical fertilizers, pesticides and supplements. The present research work was designed to isolate and characterize the PGP activity of Burkholderia sp. For this purpose rhizospheric soil from Rhododendron arboreum of Kumaun Himalaya was collected and efficient bacterial strain was screened on the basis of phosphate solubilization. Further, assessment of various parameters of plant growth promotion activity was done and enhanced production of IAA (16.4 ?gml-1) and (20.8 ?gml-1) was observed in the presence of 250?gml-1 and 500 ?g ml-1 of tryptophan, respectively. Correspondingly, in respect of 7.8 ?g ml-1 IAA without tryptophan, and their confirmation was executed by TLC. A remarkable change in color from green to reddish-brown zone on CAS plates, suggests the positive result for siderophore production, and finally the seed germination and pot trial experiment depicted the growth index of wheat plant. Therefore, the present study suggests that Burkholderia sp. is beneficial for plant growth promotion
Eco-friendly livestock management practices followed by tribal households of Narmada valley region of India
Get PDFA field survey was undertaken in Narmada valley region, four taluka of Narmada district of south Gujarat to collect first hand information on management practices of dairy animals followed by tribal peoples. The breeding, health care and milking management practices were studied using pre tested questionnaire through three stage sampling. Two villages, from four taluka were selected. From each village, 10 tribal farmers were selected randomly with a total of 80 respondents. Study revealed that maximum farmers (41.30 %) of this area were less educated belongs to middle age (53.80% 30-50 years) category having medium size family (5-8 members). The estrus detection in cattle was based on sign and symptoms (100.0%) rather than using teaser, moreover main symptoms for identification of animal in heat were bellowing and thin mucus discharge (58.80%). The farmers (86.30%) were observed to inseminate their animals within 12-18 hrs of heat. Method of breeding adopted in area was mostly (46.30%) by combination i.e., Natural and artificial insemination (A.I.). Mostly the pregnancy diagnosis (P.D.) was practiced by 18.80% of the farmers. Dry period was more than three months in both indigenous cows (92.40%) and buffaloes (91.20%). Castration was performed in 72.70% of male animals of age more than 2 years. Vaccination was adopted by 53.80% of farmers. Regular de-worming was also practiced by 3.80 and 7.50% farmers for milch cow and calf respectively. Clean milk production was well adopted by farmers of the area. Knuckling (95.0%) was common method of hand milking followed by full hand type (3.80%) and stripping (1.30%). The management practices followed by tribal farmers of area were exceptional for few facets however most of the practices required to be improved a lot
A record of anopthalmia in Mystus tengara (Hamilton, 1822) from Assam
Get PDFAn abnormal case of anopthalmia in a striped catfish Mystus tengara (66.8 mm in standard length) from Assam is reported in this communication. Thirty eight morphological characters of the abnormal specimen were also studied and compared with normal specimens to observe variation in the morpho-meristic traits, if any. In the abnormal specimen, the proportionate height of the dorsal fin (31.1 mm) and nasal barbel length (75.9 mm) was found to be higher compared to that of the normal specimens (21.6 – 26.5 mm and 47.9 – 72.5 mm, respectively). While the body depth of anus was higher in case of normal specimens (19.1 – 29.2 mm) compared to abnormal specimen (14.5 mm). However, no marked variation was observed in meristic characters. This anomaly does not seem to have affected morphological aspects. Factors like weed infestation, pesticide and herbicide application adversely affecting the habitat is believed to be the cause of such deformity. The abnormality does not seem to have affected the overall growth of the fish