Journal of Applied and Natural Science
Not a member yet
2928 research outputs found
Sort by
Wild edible plants in the Ehotilé, a fishing people around Aby lagoon (eastern littoral of Côte d\u27Ivoire): Knowledge and availability
Get PDFThis study is set within the important framework of the imperative need to safeguard traditional knowledge at historical, nutritional levels, and as an element of sustainable management of natural resources. Thus, it aimed to identify, through four ethnobotanical surveys (2007, 2009, 2015 and 2019), the wild edible plants used by the Ehotilé around the Aby Lagoon, on the Ivorian eastern littoral, to evaluate the use, preference and availability related to these plants and to discuss the evolution of food practices since the observations of missionaries three centuries earlier. The level of knowledge was analysed using Smith\u27s Index and the availability of edible fruits was assessed with a new cognitive index. Compared to the era of the first settlement, the diet of the Ehotilé has undergone many modifications. Current observations showed that wild plants were rarely used in the diet which was essentially cassava-based. Thirty-nine edible ethnospecies corresponding to 40 scientific plants species were recorded for 46 uses, of which, wild fruits with 54.17 % were the most important. Edible fruits were available all year round, but irregularly and the availability index suggested that 10 species of the fruits sought were rare in the region. The study has shown that gathering plants are well known by the Ehotilé. However, they are not very present in their diet. In addition, they have a good knowledge of the availability of their edible plants and could therefore be key resource persons in any assessment of the dynamics of plants in their environment
Epidemiology and control strategies of novel coronavirus disease in the context of India
Get PDFAn outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) occurred for the first time in Wuhan, China which spread as a pandemic to various countries of the world, resulting in high morbidity and mortality. Death toll in India on 8th February 2021 was 1,55,080. India had implemented steps such as lockdown and advised social distancing, washing of hands, and wearing masks to reduce the burden of Covid-19. This review discusses the epidemiological features, the population at risk and control strategies of novel coronavirus disease in India. The data was collected from various sources on individual details of Covid-19 cases, population density and affluence percentage from the literature studied. The data was used to analyse the susceptibility of the population to this disease. It was found that Indian males, age group 20 to 40 (based on morbidity) and above 60 (based on mortality) were at high risk. The authors compiled epidemiology, management and control strategies of covid-19 in India. Therefore, because of various early implementations, India has managed the disease well earlier, but in the current scenario (30 Nov 2020) morbidity and mortality have been at peak. Immunization of frontline workers started on 16th January 2021. Initially, 7,017,411 doses of Covishield and Covaxin vaccines have been given by 10th February 2021. Thus, the existing strategies like proper diagnosis, treatment, and successful implementation of vaccine inoculation will reduce covid-19 burden and may lead to normalcy
Occupational and environmental health hazards associated with food processing and the use of personal protective equipment: A case study of Gari processing in southern Ghana
Get PDFThe processing of cassava into different staple foods, including gari, comes with occupational and environmental hazards. This research aimed at assessing the awareness of occupational health hazards associated with the processing of cassava (Manihot esculenta) into Gari, environmental impact and factors that influence the wearing of personal protective equipment. Ninety (90) Gari producers were randomly selected from Awutu Senya, Central Tongu and Ayensuano Districts of Ghana and interviewed using structured and semi-structured questionnaire. Results revealed that Gari producing industry was dominated by women (78.9%). The majority of cassava processors in the study area were aware of health hazards associated with the production of gari. However, most did not take measures to reduce or mitigate exposure to health risk. The Gari industry was less attractive to people above 60 years (8.9%). Training on occupational safety and health risk was low among processors. The usage of personal protective equipment (PPE) by processors was low. Only 3.3%, 16 and 17.8% used footwear, working gear and coat, respectively, during processing. Factors that influenced processors\u27 decision to use PPE included years of experience in processing, knowledge of health risk associated with the processing of cassava into Gari, awareness of protective equipment and a visit to health facility relating to condition sustained at work. Producers were aware of the environmental effects of Cassava-mill effluent but did not treat effluents before discharge into the environment. Some environmental effects of mill cassava effluent identified by the gari producers were; reduction in soil productivity, destruction of vegetation cover, the killing of trees and bad odour. The low level of education and training accounted for the low usage of PPEs
Assessment of Indian cooking practices and cookwares on nutritional security: A review
Get PDFFood provides us nutrients and the energy required for growth, reproduction, and maintenance. Energy is required to perform all voluntary and involuntary activities like digestion, respiration, circulation, carrying out professional, household and recreational activities. Despite having rich food diversity, we are using only a few items as our staple food. With the adoption of eastern cooking practices and cookwares, risk of both pre-and post-transitional diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, malnutrition, obesity, etc. has increased significantly. Aluminium toxicity and nutrients breakdown has become a common problem in pressure cooking. To overcome this problem, it is important to shift from the modernized cooking methods to our traditional cooking practices, i.e., use of earthen cookwares, clay pots and some selected metal utensils, e.g., copper, iron, brass, etc. It has been shown that earthen, copper, iron, and soapstone cookwares do not leach toxic trace elements into the food and enhance the sensory qualities without decreasing the food nutrients. Adoption of traditional Indian cooking practices (such as fermentation, roasting, germination, etc.), cookwares (such as earthen, copper, iron, soapstone, etc.) and increasing the consumption of healthy diet grains like millets, etc. can easily combat the pre- and post-transition health problems in India, effectively. This review would provide a deep understanding to the people to decide the best cookware and cooking processes that will improve their health and provide ample nutritional value to them
Design and performance of subirrigation system in maize (Zea mays) in Kumulur farm, Trichy district, Tamil Nadu, India
Get PDFSubirrigation system can furnish water to plants. The upward flux and the discharge rate must satisfy the plant’s lifesaving irrigation needs during summer. The experiment was laid out in A-block of Eastern farm, Agricultural Engineering College and Research Institute, Kumulur, Trichy, Tamil Nadu. Subirrigation system spacing was arrived using Moody\u27s equation calculated as 10 m. The experiment was laid out in spilt plot design with three replications. Four drain spacing levels (7.5, 10, 12.5 and 15 m) were the main plot treatments and two levels of depth and diameter of drain pipes (75 cm, 60 cm & 75 mm, 63 mm) were the sub plot treatments. The highest volumetric water content was recorded in 7.5 m spacing + 45 cm soil depth + lower reach (S1T3T1). Capillary rise on water table management system under subirrigation mode was fixed as 33.5 cm and the average deep percolation loss was obtained in 0.3 cm/d at development stage of crop period. The highest maize yield (4.30 t/ha) was obtained in 7.5 m spacing + 60 cm drain depth + 75 mm diameter (S1D3). The highest water use efficiency of (0.86 kg/m3) was recorded in 7.5 m spacing + 60 cm drain depth + 75 mm drain diameter (S1D3). This subirrigation system could furnish water to plants due to upward flux and the same system also functioned efficiently under drainage modes and removed the waterlogging during wet periods.
Mathematical modelling for solar cell, panel and array for photovoltaic system
Get PDFRenewable energy is considered as next alternative to fossil fuels and nowadays, it attracts much attention in agriculture and environmental protection. Application of solar photovoltaic system is drying and dehydration of products, heating, irrigation, greenhouse and power generation etc. Temperature and sun radiation varies nonlinearly. Power generation varies with reference to radiation and temperature in photo-voltaic (PV) system. PV characteristic is nonlinear and PV cell is the basic unit for electricity generation. To get the characteristic response of PV, it aimed to develop a solar cell/panel model and array on a platform like MATLAB. In this research paper, step by step procedure has been defined for modelling solar cell, panel, and array models of the photovoltaic system. Kyocera solar KC-200GT 200W solar panel is used as a reference model for further modelling. The PV array characteristic are simulated for different irradiance(200W/m2,400 W/m2 ,600 W/m2 ,800W/m2 ,1000W/m2)and temperature variation(25°C, 35°C, 45°C, 55°C, 75°C). The output characteristic of the reference model matches with simulated results. The output reduced when the solar irradiation reduced from 1000 to 200 W/m2. As the temperature increased, the output voltage decreases, whereas the output current increases slightly. This model would be useful for investigating the effect of different parameters like series resistance, shunt resistance, thermal voltage, solar cell temperature coefficient of short circuit current etc. It would also be useful for investigating the working parameters like temperature & radiation condition and different series and parallel combinations of panels. This modelling is useful in investigating the performance of solar arrays in different applications of solar power generation, as well as modelling provides a major role in the mounting of PV panels.
Assessment of variability and association for seed yield and yield attributing traits among the interspecific derivatives of greengram x blackgram cross
Get PDFThe present investigation was carried out with 24 progenies in F4 generation of interspecific cross derivatives of Vigna radiata cv. VBN(Gg)2 x Vigna mungo cv. Mash 114 to study the variability and association among the yield and the yield component traits. A set of 24 F4 progenies from the interspecific cross between greengram (VBN(Gg)2) and blackgram (Mash 114) formed the basic genetic material for the present investigation. Variability studies recorded high Phenotypic Coefficient of Variation (PCV) and Genotypic Coefficient of Variation (GCV) for the traits viz., number of branches/ plant, number of clusters/ plant, number of pods/ plant and seed yield /plant. High heritability (h2) along with high genetic advance as per cent of mean (GAM) were recorded for the traits, plant height, number of clusters/ plant, number of pods/ plant and seed yield/ plant. Association studies revealed that the trait number of pods/ plant alone recorded high direct positive effect on seed yield/ plant. The results indicated that high magnitude of variability was present among the interspecific progenies for these traits. The high heritability and genetic advance might be due to presence of additive gene action. Hence selection based on these traits might be effective for genetic improvement among the interspecific progenies of Vigna radiata x Vigna mungo. The study indicates that the trait, number of pods / plant should be given due importance in selection programme for seed yield improvement in the interspecific progenies of greengram and blackgram
Agronomic biofortification with zinc on yield, nutritional quality, nutrient uptake and economics of babycorn
Get PDFThe aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of agronomic biofortification with zinc on yield, nutritional quality, nutrient uptake and economics of babycorn under irrigated condition. The observations on yield viz., green cob yield, babycorn yield and green fodder yield and quality parameters (crude protein, total soluble sugars, starch and Zn content) were recorded at harvest stage. The nutrient uptake was analysed at different growth stages and economic indices viz., the total cost of cultivation, gross return, net return and benefit cost ratio were worked out for various zinc fertilization treatments. Increased green cob yield and babycorn yield was recorded higher in soil application of zinc sulphate @ 37.5 kg ha-1 along with a foliar spray of 1.0 % on 20 and 40 DAS. Quality parameters of babycorn viz., crude protein, total soluble sugars, starch and Zn content in corn were significantly increased with soil application of ZnSO4 @ 37.5 kg ha -1 along with a foliar spray of 0.5% at 20 and 40 DAS that recorded higher values of these quality characters. Plant nutrient uptake of N, K and Zn in babycorn was significantly increased with the application of ZnSO4 @ 37.5 kg ha -1 in soil with foliar spray of 0.5% at 20 and 40 DAS. Higher net monetary returns and B: C ratio were obtained with application of ZnSO4@ 37.5 kg ha -1in soil with foliar spray @ 0.5% on 20 and 40 DAS.
Life cycle and morphometry of Rugose spiraling whitefly, Aleyrodicus rugioperculatus Martin (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) on coconut
Get PDFThe present study investigated the biology and morphometric analysis of rugose spiralling whitefly (RSW), Aleyrodicus rugioperculatus on coconut under mini net house condition at Department of Agricultural Entomology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University-Coimbatore during 2019-2020. The biology of rugose spiralling whitefly was studied by clip cage method and morphometrics were done using Leica image analyser. Total lifecycle of rugose spiraling whitefly was 56.23 ± 2.20 days. Developmental period of egg, nymphal, pupal and adult period was 8.47 ± 0.26, 17.46 ± 0.76, 10.30 ± 0.29 and 20.00 ± 1.00 days, respectively. In morphometrics, Length and width of egg (0.31 ± 0.01 mm and 0.11± 0.02 mm), nymphal (0.94 ± 0.01 mm and 0.82 ± 0.01 mm), pupal (1.23 ± 0.01 mm and 1.00 ± 0.01 mm) was recorded. A nymphal parasitoid, Encarsia guadeloupae can be potential natural enemy for effective management of rugose spiraling whitefly.
In vitro anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic and antioxidant potential of Cissus quadrangularis along with its orexigenic activity in Drosophila melanogaster
Get PDFPlants with diverse pharmacological activities are actively being explored for human health. Cissus quadrangularis (L) has been reported to possess numerous phytochemicals and is used to relieve various disorders. This article aims at providing evidence of the diverse pharmacological activities in terms of orexigenic, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic and antioxidant activities of C. quadrangularis for further application in clinical development. The results revealed that inhibition of hemolysis was within the range of 8-9-25.6% at concentrations of 12.5-200 µg/ml. Methanol extract of C. quadrangularis stems exhibited porcine pancreatic ?-amylase (PPA) inhibition (p?0.05) at concentrations of 0.25 and 0.30 mg/ml. The glucose adsorption capacity of the C. quadrangularis was observed to be inversely proportional to the molar concentration of glucose. The higher food intake by Drosophila in food medium with plant extract is presumably related to orexigenic property of C. quadrangularis. Protease activity of C. quadrangularis stem extract revealed total activity 975 U/ml and specific activity as 3768 U/mg. The absorbance of C. quadrangularis in reducing power assay were between 0.91and 1.85. Highest total antioxidant activity of 67.2 µg TE/g was observed and the hydroxyl radicals scavenging activity was observed in a dose dependent manner. The results provide supporting data that C. quadrangularis may contain active compounds useful in treating anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic disorders