Journal of Applied and Natural Science
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Multipurpose applications of bamboo as an activated carbon: An overview
Get PDFBamboo is a versatile resource for the synthesis of activated carbon. Low-cost precursors owing to a high growth rate and high carbon content in bamboo have consolidated its suitability as a renewable and notable alternative resource to activated carbon production. The attractiveness of bamboo activated carbon is due to its microcrystalline structure with a high porosity, fast absorption, and highly active surface area. Bamboo activated carbon can be synthesised via carbonisation and activation processes. The carbonisation process produces a substance with a colossal surface area to the mass ratio, which effective in holding various materials, minerals, humidity, odours, etc. Activation process involves the establishment of typical structures and advanced porosity to devise the high porosity of the solid activated carbon. Bamboo activated carbon can be used for energy-related reasons in environmental conservation, agriculture, soil amendment, animal feed additions, and wastewater treatment. It can also be used as a supplement in the composting and fermentation processes, utilised as a tar reduction catalyst in pyrolysis and gasification, as a pelletised fuel, and as a hydrogen production substrate. Numerous studies on activated carbon produced by diverse feedstocks are published in the areas of production, characterisation and possible uses and applications. Bamboo activated carbon is safeguarding its sphere of importance in today\u27s era due to its multipurpose uses. The bamboo activated carbon is mostly used in the industrial, agricultural, and natural environment-related sectors. This paper presents a brief overview of the applications of bamboo activated carbon in numerous areas
Heavy metals and aluminium intake from stored canned tomato, sardines and tuna in Algeria
Get PDFThis study assessed heavy metals intake and their impacts on healthcare in Algeria. Peculiar attention was given to heavy metals found in largely consumed canned foods in Algeria such as double concentrated tomato, tuna crumbs and sardines. Chemical analyses of the metal and aluminium containers (foil, tray) were performed by X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) and EDS spectrometry (Energy Dispersive Spectrometry). The determination of the trace metal content in canned food (element metal trace EMT) was achieved by Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS). The approach proposed in this study aimed to highlight the interaction of the product and packaging material, and thus to identify and quantify heavy metals traces that were able to undergo specific or overall migration to food. The morphology of the contact surface food / packaging was observed by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and showed a slight degradation of the base metal (Black Iron). There was an obvious increase in EMTs during tuna, sardines and tomatoes storage and artificial aging. A special interest was given to cooking modes using aluminium foil and trays. The respective dosages of aluminium, in baked food (fresh tuna) were obtained. Specific Aluminium migration was noticed and was strong for the flame cooking mode
Land use land cover change detection in the lower Bhavani basin, Tamil Nadu, using geospatial techniques
Get PDFLand use land cover (LULC) change detection is essential for sustainable development, planning and management. This study was an attempt to evaluate the LULC change in the lower bhavani basin from 2014 to 2019, using Landsat 8 data integrating Google Earth Engine (GEE) as a web-based platform and Geographic Information System. The CART and Random Forest classifiers in GEE were used for performing supervised classification. The classified map accuracy was assessed using high resolution imagery and evaluated using a confusion matrix implemented in GEE. Five major LULC classes, viz., agriculture, built up, current fallow, forest and waterbody, were identified, and the dominant land use in the study area was agriculture and current fallow, followed by dominant land use of forest. During the study period (2014–2019) the change inbuilt-up area 7.37% in 2019 and 5.45% in 2014, was noted due to urban sprawl. GEE showed significant versatility and proved to be an effective platform for LULC detection
Weed seed bank and weed population as influenced by weed management practices in rice var Co 54
Get PDFWeed seed bank in soil serves as the reservoir of weed seeds which emerge whenever conditions become conducive and affects crop growth. In the present study, a field experiment was performed at Agricultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Madurai, India, during Kharif 2021 and Rabi 2022 to determine weed seed bank present in soil by direct seed extraction using the sieving method at discrete depths of 0-5 cm, 5-10 cm and 10-15 cm after rice harvest with reference to different weed management practices imposed and its effect on weed population in succeeding crop. The average proportion of weeds that emerged in the field ranged from 9 to 38 % of the total weed seed bank. Weed management practices followed during the preceding crop greatly influenced weed seed germination. The higher weed seed reserve (1384 m-2) and consequent weed population (528 no’s m-2) were found at a depth of 0-5 cm in unweeded plots. The lower weed seed density (536 m-2) and weed population (94 no’s m-2) were found in pre emergence application of Pyrazosulfuron + Pretilachlor and early post emergence application of Bispyripac sodium. The results from the present study confirmed that herbicide treatment considerably minimized the weed seed density and population, which will assist in predicting weed infestation and appropriate timing of weed control
Bioefficacy of certain chemical insecticides against rice yellow stem borer (Scirpophaga incertulas Wlk.)
Get PDFRice is the major staple food in Jharkhand in India and is threatened by various biotic and abiotic stresses. Among the insect pests that imperil the rice cultivation in Jharkhand, the yellow stem borer (Scirpophaga incertulas Wlk.) is one of the most notorious ones. The present investigation was conducted in Kharif 2018 to study the bioefficacy of certain chemical insecticidal treatments against yellow stem borers in rice measured in terms of mean values of dead heart (% DH) and white ear (%WE). Ten insecticidal treatments, namely, T1 - Flubendiamide 240 SC + Thiacloprid 240 SC (combination product) @ 200 ml/ha, T2 - Flubendiamide 240 SC + Thiacloprid 240 SC (combination product) @ 250 ml/ha, T3 - Imidacloprid 17.8 SL @150 ml/ha, T4 - Flubendiamide 480 SC @ 50 ml/ha, T5 - Rynaxypyr 20 SC @150 ml/ha, T6 - Fipronil 80 WG @ 65 g/ha, T7 - Dinotefuran 20 SG @ 200 g/ha, T8 - Fipronil 0.3 GR followed by Chlorpyriphos 20 EC @2000 ml/ha, T9 - Chlorpyriphos 20 EC@ 2000 ml/ha and T10 - untreated control were taken for the experiment. The results showed that two of the insecticidal treatments,namely T2- flubendiamide 240 SC + thiacloprid 240 SC @ 250 ml/ha (2.07% DH and 2.30% WE) and T4 - flubendiamide 480 SC @ 50 ml/ha (1.89% DH and 2.49% WE), were at par with each other. They performed better than all the other treatments, suggesting that using these two newer insecticidal treatments could provide all-around protection for the rice crop against rice yellow stem borer in terms of both dead heart and white ear.
Traditional knowledge adopted by the tribal farmers of the Nilgiris district, Tamil Nadu in animal husbandry
Get PDFThe study assessed the awareness and adoption behavior of the tribal respondents belonging to the Kotagiri and Udhagamandalam blocks of the Nilgiris district, Tamil Nadu with respect to indigenous practices in animal husbandry and assessed the rationality of the Indigenous Technical Knowledge (ITK). Three tribal communities viz. Todas, Kotas and Irulas were selected for the study thus comprising 180 as sample of the study. A multistage random sampling method was adopted for the study. The results revealed that the majority of the ITKs had rationality mean scores above 2.5, revealing their wider usage and application in the field of animal husbandry. Turmeric was used to cure ‘bumblefoot’ in chickens, followed by cinnamon which is widely used as a form of oral medicine with feed to poultry. The tribals cured FMD of animals by giving them spider eggs and the ragi flour viz. The rotten horn was cut away with a backstaw leaving a 4cm stub. Traditional knowledge is built on everyday observation and transmitted from the older generation to the young generation through word of mouth. Although, this is more effective in their habitat, it is believed to be totally unscientific and unreliable because it is not recorded. This is recorded only in the minds of the people. The main novelty of this research work is to document and validate the indigenous practices of the tribal communities which are compatible with their traditions and culture. Thus such documented and meaningfully validated indigenous technologies could be promoted among other tribes and farmers of other localities
Microirrigation and establishment methods for water use studies, fodder yields and postharvest available nutrients on Bajranapier hybrid grass [CO (BN) 5]
Get PDFThe availability of quality fodder is becoming a major concern in India. To address this, a field experiment was conducted on bajranapier hybrid grass CO (BN) 5 (Interspecific hybrid between Cumbu (Pennisetum glaucum) and Napier (P. Purpureum Schumach) during 2018-19 in strip plot design with 3 replications. Treatment comprises of main plot viz., Irrigation methods sub plot viz., Crop establishment methods. The results showed that in water use studies, higher WUE (23.74 t/ha/mm) was recorded with sbsurface drip irrigation. Similarly, higher water productivity (WP) (0.024 t/m3) and economic WP (474.78 ₹/ha/mm) were also with the same. In crop establishment methods, horizontal planting of setts with settling treatment recorded higher WUE (21.47 t/ha/mm), WP (0.021 t/m3) and economic WP (429.43 ₹/ha/mm). Significantly higher (0.05 %) green (335.0 t/ha/year) and dry fodder yields (71 t/ha/year) were registered with subsurface drip irrigation (M3). In crop establishment, horizontal planting of setts with settling treatment (S2) registered higher green (331.5 t/ha/year) and dry (71.4 t/ha/year) fodder yields.On postharvest soil available nutrients, higher N (172.3 kg/ha), P (22.2 kg/ha) and K (591.5 kg/ha) were observed with surface irrigation. Vertical planting of setts without settling treatment recorded higher N (172.1 kg/ha), P (23.3 kg/ha) and K (604.8 kg/ha). By adopting this subsurface drip irrigation with horizontal planting of setts with sett treatment, the bajranapier hybrid grass cultivation can be optimized for the betterment of cultivation
Edible cutlery: An eco-friendly replacement for plastic cutlery
Get PDFPlastic has become a significant threat to the entire ecological system, the daily utilization of plastic products has several beyond-description losses like air pollution caused by incinerating plastic, pollution of the marine environment and microplastics damaging internal organs of animals and indirectly harming humans by consuming the sea-food, meat and other products which rife with micro-plastic. This review aimed to assess the replacement of plastic usage with a better alternative, including studies on various types of cutlery, preparation of edible cutlery, therapeutical properties and the market of edible cutlery.They occur in everyday life, which compromises the standard of living. Plastic usage can be minimized with a better alternative, as complete eradication is not possible due to their consistent dependence and usage. So, a better substitute is cutlery made up of plant-based products like rice, sorghum, wheat, soy, and rice bran flour. The edible cutlery has biodegradable and eco-friendly properties and is the finest substitute for plastic cutlery. This cutlery can help change the system of unhealthiness into a better lifestyle by minimizing the health-associated risks such as cancers, endocrine disruption, and impaired immunity with exposure to leaching plastic packages which are used to store food items. It can help to achieve sustainable development goals (SDG) of United Nations Organisation i.e., ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages (SDG-3) and take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts (SDG-13), the ultimate aim of this paper was to reduce the usage of plastic and products made up of plastic
Surface runoff estimation using geographic information system and soil conservation service-curve number method for sub catchments of Karamadai, Tamil Nadu
Get PDFWater conservation becomes essential as the resource becomes scarcer. The most important step in managing water resources is estimating watershed runoff generated from rainfall, as the runoff and rainfall are the key factors in determining water availability for surface storage and groundwater recharge. So, this study is mainly focused on estimating the surface runoff generated from the three sub-catchments of Karamadai, Tamil Nadu, India, using the heavy to extreme daily rainfall events received in the study area within the span of 20 years (2000–2019). The study was performed in the ArcGIS environment using remote sensing data. The SCSCN (Soil Conservation Service-Curve Number) method was used to estimate surface runoff. The changes in the land use in each sub-catchment were analysed in each decade and studied for their impact on the runoff depth. The land use and land cover classification map of the study area was prepared from LISS III satellite imagery for the years 2006 and 2016 by using supervised classification. The curve number was assigned based on land use as well as the hydrologic soil group. The weighted curve number was calculated from the area under each land use and then used to calculate storm runoff. The maximum runoff occurred in 2011 in all the catchments of the Karamadai block. It was found that more runoff occurred in the Mandrai Pallam catchment compared to Periya Pallam and Pare Pallam, as the Mandrai Pallam catchment had less soil moisture retention capacity than the other two catchments. So, more priority must be given to this catchment while planning to implement the soil and water conservation measures
Molecular investigation of cytolysin genes among bacterial isolates recovered from pyospermic patients in Hilla City, Iraq
Get PDFEnterococcus faecalis and Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) are the most common causal agents of urinary tract infections (UTI) and infertility in humans. They secrete many cytolytic toxins that impact sperm functions and spermatogenesis. The current paper aimed to investigate the cytolysins among Bacteriospermia associated bacteria in pyospermic patients. 110 Seminal fluid swabs were collected from pyospermic patients (age Mean±SD, 35.5±2.12 years) from September 2020 to January 2021. All swabs were inoculated on UTI chromogenic medium for primary isolation of bacteria. Then the suspected Es. coli and En. faecalis have been confirmed by PCR using uidA and ddl genes, respectively. The results revealed that Es. coli compile 42.9% of bacteriospermia while En. faecalis 25.71%. Results of PCR for cytolysins reveal that all E. coli isolates have lta, hylA, sta, and stb (100%) genes, sheA (96.7%), stx2 (20%), and stx1(3.3%). All En. faecalis (100%) have Hyl, cylLS, cyILL genes. The current study concludes that both Es. coli and En. faecalis have a set of toxins with possible damage to sperm function, causing indirect infertility.