Village Common Forest Management in Komolchori,Chittagong Hill Tracts,Bangladesh: An Example of Community Based Natural Resources Management

Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHTs) in Bangladesh covers about 50% of the country’s natural forest resources, providing sources of food, fuel-wood, medicinal plants, timber and water supply to the ethnic communities living in the area. The ethnic communities in CHTs have been managing a small patch of forest known as a village common forest (VCF) adjacent to their village following a community based forest management approach. Taking a case study of Komolchori VCF, this study examined dependency of community people on VCF resources, their conservation-related attitudes and awareness, indigenous management, and forest phyto-sociological structure. A survey and focus group discussions were conducted among the settlers and non-settlers in Thana Chandra para and Jaduram para villages of the Komolchori VCF. Key informant interviews were conducted with two non-government organizations (NGOs) and the headman in the study area. To assess phyto-sociological structure of vegetation, 25 quadrats (10 m?×?10 m) were laid out randomly. Results revealed that non-settlers were more inclined towards VCF conservation and women played a crucial role as they were directly involved in forest products and water collection. Soil erosion caused by shifting cultivation has made community people more aware of forest degradation. Training program provided by NGOs on different horticultural techniques and a “Saving-Credit program” improved livelihood conditions and reduced pressures on VCF resources. Locally devised traditional rules guide the community people to manage the VCF sustainably. The vegetation survey showed that the density of Komolchori VCF was 1420 trees/ha with a basal area of 27.98 m²/ha. The Shannon–Weiner index, species diversity index and index of dominance in the study area were 2.91, 0.62, 0.09, respectively.     

Modelling the impact of climate change on rangeland forage production using a generalized regression neural network: a case study in Isfahan Province,Central Iran

Monitoring of rangeland forage production at specified spatial and temporal scales is necessary for grazing management and also for implementation of rehabilitation projects in rangelands. This study focused on the capability of a generalized regression neural network(GRNN) model combined with GIS techniques to explore the impact of climate change on rangeland forage production. Specifically, a dataset of 115 monitored records of forage production were collected from 16 rangeland sites during the period 1998–2007 in Isfahan Province, Central Iran. Neural network models were designed using the monitored forage production values and available environmental data(including climate and topography data), and the performance of each network model was assessed using the mean estimation error(MEE), model efficiency factor(MEF), and correlation coefficient(r). The best neural network model was then selected and further applied to predict the forage production of rangelands in the future(in 2030 and 2080) under A1 B climate change scenario using Hadley Centre coupled model. The present and future forage production maps were also produced. Rangeland forage production exhibited strong correlations with environmental factors, such as slope, elevation, aspect and annual temperature. The present forage production in the study area varied from 25.6 to 574.1 kg/hm~2. Under climate change scenario, the annual temperature was predicted to increase and the annual precipitation was predicted to decrease. The prediction maps of forage production in the future indicated that the area with low level of forage production(0–100 kg/hm~2) will increase while the areas with moderate, moderately high and high levels of forage production(≥100 kg/hm~2) will decrease both in 2030 and in 2080, which may be attributable to the increasing annual temperature and decreasing annual precipitation. It was predicted that forage production of rangelands will decrease in the next couple of decades, especially in the western and southern parts of Isfahan Province. These changes are more pronounced in elevations between 2200 and 2900 m. Therefore, rangeland managers have to cope with these changes by holistic management approaches through mitigation and human adaptations.     

Assessment of the Allelopathic Potential of Cumin Accessions in Different Soil Water Potential

Allelopathy is one effective solution to reach a healthy life without any pollution. This study was carried out to evaluate the allelopathic potential of 92 Iranian cumin accessions grown under normal conditions and drought stress, according to the sandwich method in the laboratory. In addition, weed infestation of the same cumin accessions was examined in a field by measuring total weed species richness and diversity under normal irrigating conditions. Results indicated that length and fresh weight of radish radicle and hypocotyl are more sensitive than the other germination indices against exuded allelochemicals of cumin seeds. Furthermore, all genotypes showed the average germination percentage to be less than the control samples. They could significantly reduce total species richness and diversity in their surroundings. Weed suppressive percentage of cumin genotypes in the field experiments was positively correlated with inhibition percentage of radicle growth in the laboratory. Water stress increases the allelopathic effects of cumin accessions in laboratory screening. Classification based on principle component method indicated that cumin genotypes were categorized into two clusters in both moisture regimes. Despite having stress factors, only the genotypes 13CGOGK₁, 35CSESH₁, 65CEAAS, 68CKERF₂, 75CYAAR₂, and 84CKRTJ₂ remained in a group with strong allelopathic activity. According to these results, there is the significant diversity for allelopathic strength in the Iranian cumin germplasm, which can be useful in cumin breeding for weed suppression.     

Interval sampling methods in Zagros forests using GIS

In this study, for accuracy and cost an optimal inventory method was examined and introduced to obtain information about Zagros forests, Iran. For this purpose,three distance sampling methods(compound, order distance and random-pairs) in 5 inventory networks(100 m × 100 m, 100 m × 150 m, 100 m × 200 m,150 m × 150 m, 200 m × 200 m) were implemented in GIS environment, and the related statistical analyses were carried out. Average tree density and canopy cover in hectare with 100% inventory were compared to each other.All the studied methods were implemented in 30 inventory points, and the implementation time of each was recorded.According to the results, the best inventory methods for estimating density and canopy cover were compound150 m × 150 m and 100 m × 100 m methods, respectively. The minimum amount of product inventory time per second(T), and(E%)2 square percent of inventory error of sampling for the compound 150 m × 150 m method regarding density in hectare was 691.8, and for the compound 100 m × 100 m method regarding canopy of 12,089 ha. It can be concluded that compound method is the best for estimating density and canopy features of the forests area.     

Study Potential of Indigenous <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudomonas aeruginosa</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus subtilis</Emphasis> in Bioremediation of Diesel-Contaminated Water

Petroleum products which are used in a wide variety of industries as energy sources and raw materials have become a major concern in pollution of terrestrial and marine environments. The purpose of this study was to assess the potential of indigenous microbial isolates for degradation of diesel fuel. Two most proficient bacterial strains among five isolated strains from polluted soil of an industrial refinery were studied. The isolates then were identified as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus subtilis using biochemical tests and 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses. P. aeruginosa showed higher biodegradation efficiency than B. subtilis in shaking flask containing diesel-contaminated water. P. aeruginosa and B. subtilis degraded about 87 and 75% of total hydrocarbons, respectively, in flasks containing 2% diesel and 98% water. The biodegradation efficiency of the isolates decreased as diesel contamination increased from 2 to 5%. The isolates showed significantly higher efficiency on degradation of short-chain hydrocarbons in 20 days, i.e., by using P. aeruginosa, removal efficiency of C₁₀ hydrocarbons was near 90%, while about 69% of C₂₀₊ hydrocarbons and 47% of aromatic hydrocarbons were removed. Therefore, the isolates showed high capability in biodegradation of diesel contamination of the refinery.     

Effects of mycorrhiza inoculation on cucumber growth irrigated with saline water

This experiment was conducted as a factorial based on complete randomized design (CRD) to study the effects of mycorrhiza inoculation density on cucumber cv. Super N3 irrigated with different salinity sodium chloride (NaCl) levels. Treatments were mycorrhiza inoculations; M1 (non mycorrhizal plant), M2 and M3 (mycorrhiza inoculations with 1000 and 2000 spores) and saline water was provided by S1, S2, S3, and S4 (control, 50, 75, and 100 mM NaCl) with 4 replications. The results showed that saline water reduced root, shoot, and fruit weights, and increased proline and electrolyte leakage. Photosynthesis rate, stomata and mesophyll conductance significantly decreased with increased NaCl concentrations. Mycorrhiza inoculation with 2000 spores increased fruit fresh and dry weights, proline and electrolyte leakage, and both mycorrhiza inoculations increased root and shoot dry weights, photosynthesis and stomata conductance. Root volume increased by mycorrhiza inoculation with 2000 spores under non-stress condition, and root length was stimulated by both mycorrhiza inoculations at all saline water levels. Fruit fresh and dry weights were enhanced by mycorrhiza inoculation with 1000 spores at all saline water levels. Photosynthesis rate was reduced by saline water stress and mycorrhiza inoculation stimulated photosynthesis rate. Mycorrhiza inoculation with 2000 spores increased transpiration under saline and non-saline conditions. Proline content of cucumber leaves increased under saline water application. Electrolyte leakage increased by saline water and mycorrhiza inoculation could not improve it. Both mycorrhiza inoculations (1000 and 2000 spores) at all salinity levels, and mycorrhiza inoculation with 1000 spores at 100 mM NaCl enhanced fruit weight, photosynthesis, and proline content of the cucumber leaves.     

Chemical composition of oleo-gum-resin from Ferula gummosa

The chemical composition of oleo-gum-resin from Ferula gummosa collected in the northern part of Iran has been studied. The fraction of oleo-gum-resin soluble in ethanol (ca 67 wt.%) is composed by three major fractions: (i) monoterpenes and monoterpenoids (ca 15 wt.% fraction), (ii) sesquiterpenes and sesquiterpenoids (ca 30 wt.%) and (iii) triterpenes and triterpenoids (ca 55 wt.%). The major families of terpenes and terpenoids were identified employing gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry detector (GC-MS). Almost 25 wt.% of oleo-gum-resin was insoluble in ethanol and, according to wet chemistry analyses, assigned to arabinogalactane structurally associated with protein complex (AGP). This arabinogalactan possessed the molecular weight of ca 30 kDa, as revealed by size exclusion chromatography, and the main backbone was constituted by β-(1 → 3)/β-(1 → 3,6)-linked d-galactopyranosyl residues ramified predominantly by terminal α-l-arabinofuranosyl and β-d-glucuronopyranosyl residues, as assessed by 1D/2D ¹H NMR.     

Investigation of physico-chemical properties and antioxidant activity of twenty Iranian pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) cultivars

Pomegranate is one of the native fruits of Iran which contains high genetic resources, but there are insufficient information regarding properties of the fruit. The objective of the present study was to investigate the physcio-chemical characteristics and antioxidant activity of twenty pomegranate cultivars grown in Iran. This study showed that there were significant differences among the cultivars in all measured factors except the length/diameter ratio of fruit. The fruit weight, skin percentage, aril percentage and juice percentage were within the range of 196.89–315.28 g, 32.28–59.82%, 37.59–65% and 26.95–46.55%, respectively. The total soluble solids content varied from 11.37 (°Brix) to 15.07 (°Brix), pH values from 3.16 to 4.09, titratable acidity content from 0.33 g 100 g⁻¹ to 2.44 g 100 g⁻¹ and total sugars content from 13.23 g 100 g⁻¹ to 21.72 g 100 g⁻¹. The results also showed that the values of ascorbic acid ranged from 9.91 mg 100 g⁻¹ to 20.92 mg 100 g⁻¹. The total anthocyanins content was observed in pomegranate cultivars between 5.56  mg 100 g⁻¹ and 30.11 mg 100 g⁻¹. The level of total phenolics was varied from 295.79 mg 100 g⁻¹ to 985.37 mg 100 g⁻¹. The antioxidant activity of pomegranate cultivars was found between 15.59 and 40.72%. These data demonstrated that the cultivar was the main parameter which influences the physico-chemical properties and antioxidant activity in pomegranates.     

Molecular characterization of a Squalene epoxidase gene in dermatophyte pathogen Trichophyton tonsurans

BACKGROUND: Trichophyton tonsurans is one of the dermatophyte fungi which invades the skin and hair of human. Several properties of this fungus have been investigated so far. However a few studies were carried out in the field of molecular biology of this fungus. In the present study, we tried to identify the Squalene epoxidase gene which is related to synthesis of ergosterol in this fungus. METHODS: Pairs of 23 and 24 nucleotides primers were designed from highly conserved regions of the similar genes in other fungi. Mentioned primers were utilized in PCR by using isolated genomic DNA of T. tonsurans whereas the PCR fragments were then sequenced. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Nucleotides (n = 558) have been sequenced from this new gene which encodes a polypeptide with 186 amino acids. Sequences comparison in gene data banks (NCBI, NIH) for this part of DNA and its deduced amino acid revealed significant homology with members of the eukaryotic Squalene epoxidase.     

Wastewater Irrigation Effect on Soil,Crop and Environment: a Pilot Scale Study at Irbid,Jordan

An investigation was carried out at pilot scale to test the feasibility of using the effluent of a rotating biological contactors (RBC) unit treating wastewater generated from a university campus. The objective of the study was to cerefully monitor the impact of wastewater irrigation on the soil, percolating water, crop growth and the pathogenic condition within the immediate vicinity of wastewater application. Experimental plots with three crops: alfalfa, radish and tomato were irrigated with fresh and waste waters. The irrigation water was applied by sprinklers. Each crop was given two sub-treatments: with fertilizer and without fertilizer. The physical and chemical properties of the soil, the crop yields, and subsurface drainage were measured. In most of the cases, the yields resulted from the uses of wastewater with fertilizer were compatible with those of the uses of freshwater with fertilizer. The washings of tomato fruits grown with wastewater were analyzed for fecal coliforms. It appeared that the fruit skins were free of viable fecal coliforms 24 hours after the wastewater application. Subsurface drainage analyses did not show any alarming levels of constituents irrespective of the source of the water: wastewater or freshwater. The wastewater irrigation applied for a season had no significant effect on a silty loam soil. With wastewater irrigation, slught changes in the soil porosity and salinity were observed.