103 research outputs found
Phytofiltration of arsenic and cadmium from the water environment using Micranthemum umbrosum(J.F. Gmel) S.F. Blake as a hyperaccumulator
Get PDFArsenic (As) and cadmium (Cd) pollution in water is an important global issue. Phytofiltration is an eco-friendly technology that helps clean up pollutants using ornamental plants, such as Micranthemum umbrosum (J.F. Gmel) S.F. Blake. After a seven-day hydroponic experiment, M. umbrosum removed 79.3–89.5% As and 60–73.1% Cd from 0 to 1.0 μg As mL–1 and 0.3 to 30.0 μg Cd mL–1 solutions, respectively. For As treatment, root to stem and stem to leaf translocation factors greater than 1.0 indicated that accumulation of As in leaves was large compared to that in stem and roots. However, the accumulation of Cd in roots was higher than that in the leaves and stem. In addition, M. umbrosum completely removed Cd within three days from 0.38 to around 0 μg mL–1Cd in the solution when the plant was exchanged daily. Bio-concentration factors (2350 for As and 3027 for Cd) for M. umbrosum were higher than for other As and Cd phytoremediators. The results show that M. umbrosum can be an effective accumulator of Cd and a hyper-accumulator of As, as it can lower As toxicity to a level close to the limit recommended by the World Health Organization (0.01 μg As mL–1
REVIEW OF NON-HUMAN PRIMATES IN MALAYSIA: CONSERVATION STATUS AND THEIR DISTRIBUTION
Get PDFThe present report provides a summary and updates information on the non-human primates (NHP) species list, conservation status and their detailed distribution in Malaysia from a new multi-author published literature. There are five families of NHP in Malaysia, which includes nine genera and 24 species. For each species reported, their conservation status category based on IUCN and Malaysian laws were included. In order to make the data more informative, their distribution around Malaysia including Malaysian Borneo, their diet and habitats were also recorded and reported.
Keywords: non-human primates, Malaysia, conservation, distributio
Heterogeneity in male and female farmers’ preference for a profit‐enhancing and labor‐saving technology: The case of Direct‐Seeded Rice (DSR) in India
No full textLabor‐saving and income‐increasing technologies may affect women farmers differently from men. However, very few studies explicitly account for women's preferences for new technologies. We carried out a discrete choice experiment with 337 female and 329 male farmers in Maharashtra, India, to measure their willingness to pay (WTP) for direct‐seeded rice (DSR) with drum seeder and to understand the gender differences in marginal valuations of key attributes. We used the Women's Empowerment in Agriculture Index (WEAI) to collect self‐reported data on the role and say of women in different domains of decision making. The respective gender roles of women and men in the family and on the farm are aligned with their preferences. Men have a greater say over how the family spends the cash. Accordingly, men tend to have a higher WTP for attributes that increase income (increase in yield) or reduce cash costs (reduction in seed rate). Women contribute a large share of the labor for transplanting rice, much of which is unpaid work on family farms. Women, therefore, seem to value labor saving more. Women in our sample were more interested in the new technology and had a higher WTP for it
Potential of Micranthemum umbrosum for phytofiltration of organic arsenic species from oxic water environment
Get PDFArsenic (As) is a toxic and carcinogenic metalloid that causes various hazards to human health. Phytofiltration is a more eco-friendly and green approach than chemoremediation, or other traditional technologies, for removing As from aquatic environments. Recently, Micranthemum umbrosum was shown as a promising candidate for phytofiltration of inorganic As species. This work examines the potential application of M. umbrosum to phytofiltration of organic As species, such as monomethylarsonic acid (MMAA, CH5AsO3) and dimethylarsinic acid (DMAA, C2H7AsO2), from oxic water environments. M. umbrosum plants were grown in two test concentrations of MMAA and DMAA, or a control, in a hydroponic experiment. After seven days, leaves accumulated 90 +/- 3.2 and 48 +/- 1.6 A mu g As g(-1) (oven dry basis) from 1 A mu g As mL(-1) of water added from MMAA and DMAA, respectively. Bioconcentration factor values and translocation factor values were always greater than 1.0, indicating that M. umbrosum was a good As accumulator and that leaves accumulated significantly higher amounts of As than stems and roots. Analysis of macro- and micronutrient data showed that M. umbrosum had higher resistance to organic As treatments than the control. These results confirm the potential application of M. umbrosum for phytofiltration of organic As from contaminated oxic water environments
Investigation of Chromium Removal Efficacy from Tannery Effluent by Synthesized Chitosan from Crab Shell
Get PDFThe efficiency of chromium removal from tannery effluents using prepared crab shell chitosan was studied. Adsorption of Cr by chitosan was investigated at various contact times, pH values, adsorbent dosages, and temperatures. The amount of Cr adsorbed under different conditions was evaluated using atomic adsorption spectroscopy (AAS). Subsequently, the changes in the physicochemical parameters were also examined. It was found that the total dissolved solids (TDS), electrical conductivity (EC), and turbidity of the tannery effluent decreased significantly after treatment with crab shell chitosan. No significant changes were found after different soaking times; in most cases, the best adsorption was achieved within the first hour of treatment. On the other hand, the total organic carbon (TOC) and pH increased significantly after treatment with chitosan, possibly owing to dissolution of organic compounds from the adsorbent materials. The concentration of Cr was significantly reduced after treatment with chitosan under different treatment conditions. However, the highest amount of Cr was adsorbed within the first hour of contact. After studying different treatment conditions, it was found that maximum Cr removal from the tannery effluent was achieved at pH 3 (60 °C) using an adsorbent dose of 5 g/100 mL
Insights on the rapid adoption of Pusa 1121 basmati variety in North India
No full textIn this paper we apply duration analysis to study the factors driving the speed of adoption of a popular Basmati rice variety called Pusa 1121. We use data from a primary survey on variety adoption and crop economics conducted in 2017. The sample comprises of 1305 Basmati growing farmers from the north Indian states of Haryana and Punjab. Pusa 1121 was adopted rapidly by 60% farmers between 5 and 10 years from its release in 2005. Results from the duration analysis highlight the key role of superior quality traits of Pusa 1121 and assured market demand. Access to varietal information from extension agents also shortened farmers’ time to adoption. Moreover, we show that early adopters of Pusa 1121 positively influenced other farmers’ speed of adoption within their village network
Exploring farmers’ willingness to pay for crop insurance products: A case of weather-based crop insurance in Punjab, India
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