Journal of Applied and Natural Science
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Treatment of textile effluent by using Burflower tree (Neolamarckia cadamba) leaf powder: Batch biosorption study
Get PDFThe textile industry is one of the leading causes of major environmental problems worldwide. The textile dye effluents hold diverse kinds of dyes along with other contaminants. Various environmental legislations have been formulated and obligate the textile industries to treat the effluents prior to discharge into water bodies. The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of removing two dyes, Congo red and Methylene blue, present in raw textile effluent by employing the powdered leaves of the Burflower (Neolamarckia cadamba) tree as adsorbent. The experiment was performed in a laboratory scale. The surface characterization of the adsorbent was carried out using Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area analysis, CHN elemental analyzer, FTIR and SEM-EDX analyses. The effluent was characterised before and after the biosorption process to check the efficiency of the process on the various parameters of the effluent. The values of the examined parameters were found to be decreased after the adsorption process. The removal percentages of the two dyes (Congo red = 76.35% and Methylene blue = 85.8%) using the adsorbent were also estimated by batch experiment studies. The findings of this study infer that the adsorbent as mentioned above, can be used to treat dye effluents.
Phylogenetic monitoring of Escherichia coli in medical wastewater/Baghdad City
Get PDF Clean drinking water access is a main factor that supports general health worldwide, where important investment is made to maintain water quality. The gene sequence of 16S rRNA was applied to study bacterial phylogenesis and classification. This studyaimed to isolate new bacterial strains from wastewater environments. Thisstudy collected water samples from differentwastewater sites for Baghdad Medical City’s Hospital. The results of Vitek 2Compact were with a probability of99% forEscherichia coli isolates .The bacterial isolates were identified using Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based on the universaldiagnostic gene 16SrRNA, and the PCR product was obtained with a molecular weight of 1250bp. The PCR productsequencingshowed 166 isolates of E. coli different from the isolates registered in the NCBI database of E. coli after alignment between them.The present study reported 16 Iraqi isolates in NCBI with an accession number: OM032663.1; OM 032664.1; OM294659.2;ON724178.1; ON724264.1; ON724331.1; ON725076.1; ON725091.1; ON725139.1; ON725141.1; ON739200.1; ON739201.1;ON739207.1; ON739208.1; ON739209.1; ON739211.1. The identity was then observed(96-100%) with strains in Gene Bank.There were many different sequence position substitutions (transition, deletion, transversionfor the registered local isolates whenconducting multiple alignments and comparing themwith the isolates in the Gene Bank. According to the phylogenetic treebuilding by joining-the neighbor method, the local Iraqi isolates clustered into sub-descents. Moreover, local isolates of E.coliappeared more convergent to Saudi Arabia isolates (KY780347.1). This may be due to the geographical proximity of the two countries to the same Arab Gulf region .The present study identified 16 isolates of E. coli from the Iraqi aquatic environment (medical wastewater). The novelty of this study was represented to monitoring the evolution of E. coli in medical wastewater.
Toxicological manifestations in gills, liver, kidney and muscles of Channa punctatus exposed to mercuric chloride
Get PDFAquatic regimes are exposed to a variety of pollutants that are mainly released by anthropogenic activities. Mercuric chloride (HgCl2) pose serious hazards to freshwater fish resource for its toxicity and long persistence. It is also a threat to humans who consume fish as a food resource. This study aimed to determine the consequences of acute exposure to HgCl2 in the freshwater food fish Channa punctatus (Bloch, 1973). The acute study of 96 hours was composed of three groups (in triplicates), having ten fish in each group which includes group I (control), group II (0.112 mg/l of HgCl2) and group III (0.224 mg/l of HgCl2). Results showed induction in reactive oxygen species (ROS) level in erythrocytes of group III (22159 ± 258.036). The biomarkers of oxidative stress, glutathione reduced (GSH) and lipid peroxidase (LPO) showed significant (p < 0.05) decrement and increment in their activity, respectively, in gills, liver, kidney and muscle tissues of the fish treated with HgCl2. Further, micronuclei (MN) and nuclear abnormalities (NAs) were formed in the erythrocytes of the fish of groups II and III, revealing DNA damage, hence showing genotoxicity. Histopathological studies in sample tissues of HgCl2 treated group demonstrated irreversible tissue injuries and anomalies. Thus, the findings from the study demonstrate that biological stress is induced in fish because of acute exposure to HgCl2, leading to health impairmen
Comparative study of phytoremediation of chromium contaminated soil by Amaranthus viridis in the presence of different chelating agents
Get PDFChromium is a harmful heavy metal to the environment due to the toxicity induced by it to plants and other living organisms. High concentration of Cr in soil poses severe toxicological problems ecosystem. Phytoremediation using different plants is an economical and environment-friendly method for removing Cr from soil. The addition of chelating agents augments the phytoextraction using plants.The present study aimed to augment the Cr phytoremediation capacity of Amaranthus virdis, a predominant plant species in the Cr-contaminated open dumpsites of Bangalore. . Phytoextraction of Cr by Amaranthus viridis was studied in the presence of different chelating agents viz. ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), citric acid (CA), growth promoting hormone- indoleacetic acid (IAA) and NPK fertiliser. A. viridis grown under different concentrations (5, 10 and 20 mg/Kg) of Cr were treated with 0.5g EDTA/Kg of soil, 0.5g CA/Kg of soil, 1mg IAA/Kg of soil and NPK (125 mg of nitrogen, 45 mg of phosphorous and 156 mg of potassium per Kg of soil). Results indicated that CA, at 10 mg/kg Cr supply, induced the highest uptake (up to 29.25 µg/plant). Furthermore, the study revealed that CA amendment induced maximum Cr uptake in A. viridis at all levels of Cr supply as compared to other amendments. This was due to the increased solubility of Cr in the presence of citric acid and the amelioration of oxidative stress due to Cr to plants by citric acid. This study inferred that the non-hyperaccumulating plant, A. virdis could be used as a phytoremediator for Cr in the presence of citric acid in the places where it is grown abundantly.
Effect of Coffea arabica L on antibiotic-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Get PDFPseudomonas aeruginosa is considered an opportunistic bacteria that causes many risks and because of its resistance to antibiotics, the virulence of this bacteria has increased. To get rid of the problem of bacterial resistance to antibiotics, effective medicinal plants were used to get rid of pathogenic bacteria so during this study, 200 samples were collected from patients with wounds and burn from Al-Sadiq Teaching Hospital in Babylon Governorate, distributed to 130 burn samples and 70 wound samples. The samples were cultured with specific and differential media. Where 30(15%) samples of P. aeruginosa were obtained and the diagnosis was confirmed by microscopy and biochemical tests and confirmed by VITEK-2 Compact. The sensitivity test showed its resistance to many antibiotics piperacillin 15/30 (50%) , piperacillin - tazobactam (4/30(13.3%), ceftazidime and cefepimewere each one (25/30(83.3%), Aztreonam 8/30(26.6%), Imipenem5/30(16.6%), Gentamicin 12/ 30(40%) 30, Tobramycin9/30( 30%), Amikacin 6/30(20%), ciprofloxacin 13/30(43.3%), ofloxacin 5/30(16.6%). Because of the role of alternative medicine in combating antibiotic-resistant bacteria, the effectiveness of the coffee plant was measured against antibiotic-resistant P. aeruginosa was sensitive to the coffee aqueous extract, Coffea arabica Linn. (Rubiaceae (.The properties of the active substances in coffee were determined using characteristic techniques UV-Visible Spectra analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). The study aims to investigate the effectiveness of the Arabica coffee plant as a bacterial antibiotic to challenge the problem of pathogenic bacterial resistance to the used antibiotics
Impact of soil fertility characteristics on artificial fertility gradient approach developed using sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) in Alfisols
Get PDFIn the advent of precision agriculture, applying fertilizer based on soil testing is a crucial tool to prescribe nutrient levels for crops, to increase nutrient use efficiency and production. A field experiment was conducted in a farmer\u27s field in the Dindigul district, Southern agro-climatic zone of Tamil Nadu to ascertain the effect of artificial soil fertility gradient method on soil fertility, green fodder production of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) (var. CO 30) and nutrient absorption. A fertility gradient technique has been investigated to produce fertilizer recommendations for location-specific in red soils (Alfisols, Typic Rhodustalf). The experimental field was separated into three equal strips: strip I, II, and III, which received applications of the three graded levels of ertilizer N0P0K0, N1P1K1, and N2P2K2, respectively. Urea, single super phosphate, and muriate of potash fertilizers, respectively, were used to apply NPK. As a gradient crop, S. bicolor was raised. The N1 level was set based on the general fertilizer recommendation of feed sorghum, while the P1 and K1 values were set based on the soil’s ability to fix 100 kg ha-1 of phosphorus and 100 kg ha-1 of potassium, respectively. Plant samples were taken at harvest time, and their NPK content and nutrient uptake were determined. With addition of graded doses of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizer in Strip I, II & III increased the soil\u27s available N, P & K status substantially in the order of Strip I<II<III and minimize the heterogeneity in the soil population , management strategies employed, and prevailing climate conditions to induce fertility variations in the same field. The outcomes showed that sorghum crop yields for fodder (Strip III – 25.01 t ha-1) and NPK uptake were significantly impacted by the application of graded amounts of NPK fertilizers
Studies on the relationship of weather on Fall armyworm damage in maize (Zea mays L.) under different growing environments
Get PDFFall armyworm is a recently occurring invasive pest in India, the most important defoliator causing drastic damage to maize production. Hence, the present study aimed to understand the temporal infestation level of Fall armyworms on maize (Zea mays L.) with weather patterns. Field experiments were conducted during Summer (February-May) and Rainy seasons, 2022 (August-December) at Agro Climate Research Centre, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore. Three different growing environments (GE1, GE2 and GE3) were created by providing staggered sowing. Regression models were developed for per cent leaf damage against three-days lagged (LT3) and seven-day lagged (LT7) weather variables. Results showed that irrespective of growing environments, weather variables showed negative correlation (Tmax: r = -0.57, -0.81*, -0.31; SSH: -0.30, -0.48, -0.39; Tmean: -0.49, -0.23, -0.30; and SR: -0.48, -0.94*, -0.40) during summer season whereas same variables (i.e Tmax =0.62*, 0.41, 0.33; SSH = 0.09, 0.68*, 0.24; Tmean = 0.29, 0.32, 0.44; and SR=0.13, 0 .67*, 0.26 ) showed a positive correlation with PLD. Rainfall exhibits positive relation (0.06, 0.54, 0.53) and negative correlation (-0.64*, -0.10, -0.02) during summer and rainy season, respectively. Among the regression models, LT7 model had higher R2 (0.65 and 0.76) than LT3 (0.57 and 0.68) during summer and rainy seasons, respectively. These models had good regression values of 0.56 and 0.70 during Rainy and Summer, respectively. It was concluded that Tmax (32.9 °C), Tmin (23.7 °C), Tmean (28.3 °C), RH-I (85.6%), RH-II (56.4%), SSH (4.1), SR (274.6 cal cm-2 m-2), afternoon cloud cover (4.8 okta) and weekly total rainfall (10.2 mm) were very conducive for the greater leaf damage
Lockdown impact on dolphins as an aquatic health indicator and maintenance of sustainable Gangetic ecosystem: An overview
Get PDFA healthy ecosystem is a subject matter of interest because of its rich biodiversity. But natural climatic changes, as well as various man-made anthropogenic factors, not only emit greenhouse gases into the atmosphere resulting in global warming but influence various ecosystems of the earth. The aquatic ecosystem is one such example where the dolphin, with its complex behaviour, is recognized as one of the most intelligent members. The natural hydrodynamic body system speeds up underwater and the SONAR system communication technology helps dolphins to work as an efficient aquatic health indicator. But human activities, including aquatic poaching and fishing, creating underwater noise pollution and undesirable infrastructures and producing debris from their generated wastes obstruct the proper functioning of these systems and ultimately contribute to their habitat loss. So, dolphins’ ( Gangetic ones in India) disappearance from their comfortable living zone was inevitable and observed in the past few decades as they migrated to areas with more favourable conditions. The available information related to the rejuvenation in the qualities of the Gangetic water and the restoration of the dolphin’s habitat during COVID pandemic confirmed the absence of the negative impact of human activities on the Gangetic ecosystem. Hence, identification of the important steps to be implemented by the concerned authorities in post-COVID situation and their maintenance by the common people is necessary to balance such important aquatic biodiversity in the long run, keeping the country’s developmental activities operational. This review article is an endeavour towards that direction
Effect of mercury on histological alterations in gill, liver and stomach tissues of Indian catfish, Clarias batrachus
Get PDFHeavy metal pollution poses a great threat to aquatic ecosystem, ultimately threatening the survival of safe and healthy life on earth. Contaminated water persuades pathological alterations and behavioural changes in fish. Mercury is highly toxic and seriously affects aquatic organisms, ultimately affecting humans.The present study aimed to assess the histological alterations in tissues like gill, liver and stomach of Indian catfish Clarias batrachus. The fish were divided in to four groups i.e. one control (Group I) and three groups of different concentration of mercury chloride treated groups, i.e.0.0002mg/l (Group II), 0.002mg/l(Group III), and 0.02mg/l (Group IV) for 14 days. Each group contained 25 number of fish.The results indicated degenerative changes in gill, liver and stomach tissues of exposed fish. Level of changes were higher with respect to higher in concentration. Rupture of epithelial layer, club shaped gill filament, broken gill lamellae, hyperplasia of interlamellar epithelium, deletion of secondary lamellae, formation of vacuoles, blood conjugation and necrosis in gill filaments were observed in gill tissues of exposed fish. Liver damage included hepatocellular dissociation, inflamed hepatocytes, cloudy swelling, vacuole formation and hydropic degeneration. Besides, stomach tissues showed alterations such as thinner serosa, vacuolization, muscle damage, and necrosis at several points. The study confirmed that mercury is life hazardous even at very low concentration.
Trend analysis and variability of satellite-based soil moisture data for the Lower Bhavani basin, Tamil Nadu using Google Earth Engine
Get PDFSoil moisture is a significant hydrological component that is dynamic in nature. The variation in soil moisture in the basin scale would affect the vegetation, ecology and environment. Soil moisture trend analysis aids in providing the variation of soil moisture over the basin. The present study aimed to analyse the soil moisture trend in Lower Bhavani basin, Tamil Nadu from 2003-2022. Satellite-based soil moisture Global Land Data Assimilation System (GLDAS) data was extracted from the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform to analyse the variation and trend over the period of time. The highest and lowest soil moisture was observed during monsoon and summer months and its percentage variation was studied. Using Man-Kendall test and Sen’s slope, trend analysis was calculated for two decades (2003-2012 and 2013-2022). In 2003-2012, an increasing trend of soil moisture was observed during winter (October to February); from 2013-2022, an increasing trend was observed during both winter (October to February) and monsoon seasons (June to September). The remaining season did not follow any trend, and there was no decreasing trend in soil moisture. The trend analysis of the study will help to monitor and manage the environmental system across the Lower Bhavani basin