Classifying tree planters and non planters in a subsistence farming system using a discriminant analytical approach

Since the 1970s tree planting has been promoted to meet the multipurpose needs of subsistence farmers and to arrest deforestation in many developing countries. Financial support and extension systems were developed as tree growing outside the forest became more important. The limited success of the forest extension approaches used in the 1980s has been attributed to the failure to ascertain householders' priorities and attitudes to tree growing. Although the broader theoretical paradigm of factors influencing householders' planting of trees has been discussed household and regional level analyses are rare. This study used discriminant analysis to assess the extent to which social and economic factors affect smallholder farmer tree planting in Orissa, eastern India. The validity of the predictive model to define the different groups was tested by assessing the accuracy of classification. The significance of the factors was probed using the identified variables in the discriminant functions developed for smallholder farmers in the coastal and inland zones of Orissa. The results contradicted some common assumptions that only large landowners with a substantial income are innovators. The likelihood of adopting agroforestry is dependent on the progressive attitude of farmers, membership of village organisations, their wealth status and, more importantly, their perceived risk concerning agricultural production. This approach enables tree planters and non-planters to be characterised and hence give better targetting of planning and social forestry programmes.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Impact evaluation of SGSY on socio-economic development of women in aquaculture in Eastern Hills of Orissa

Statistical evaluation of the impact of the SwarnJayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY) on socio-economic development of women in aquaculture in Eastern Hills of Orissa was made. A sample size of 60 women self-help groups (WSHGs) was selected from Koraput and Rayagada districts by multistage stratified random sampling method. The data on socio-economic status of the WSHGs were collected from 2006–2007 to 2008–2009. The members of the WSHGs were interviewed to collect information on their financial contribution and its expenditure pattern. There was a high significant difference between two means in yield (410.9 kg/acre, 306.1 kg/acre), employment generation (387 man-days, 277 man-days), financial contribution by the members to their families (Rs. 3,265/-, Rs. 2,490/-) and expenditure on food (Rs. 953/-, Rs. 538/-) of two groups of WSHGs—the treatment group, i.e., WSHGs under SGSY and the control group. By evaluating the level of development of the WSHGs during 2008–2009, it is revealed that 27.8% of WSHGs under SGSY achieved high level of development in economic sector against 11.9% of WSHGs in the control group. Similarly, in social sector, the percentage of WSHGs in treatment group in the category of high level of development (33%) was higher as compared to the percentage of WSHGs in the control group (11.9%). No significant difference in the development level of empowerment was found between these two groups of WSHGs. The state government should take necessary steps for increasing literacy and technical trainings of the members of the WSHGs in addition to micro-finance for successful implementation of SGSY.     

Effect of FMD vaccination on semen quality parameters in Karan Fries and Murrah buffalo bulls

Effect of Foot and Mouth disease (FMD) vaccination was studied on semen quality parameters of 19 Karan Fries (KF) and eight Murrah (MU) breeding bulls during the period 2002 to 2004 at Artificial Breeding Complex, NDRI, Karnal. A total of non-vaccinated 155 KF and 72 MU bulls' ejaculates were taken as control, while 169 KF and 51 MU bulls' ejaculates, collected after vaccination, were used to study the effect of vaccination stress. The results showed that FMD vaccination had no significant (P > 0.05) effect on ejaculate volume and total volume per day of semen in both KF and MU bulls. Volume of semen increased slightly during post-vaccination period in both the breeds. After FMD vaccination, there was significant (P < 0.01) decrease in mass activity (2.27 ± 0.06 vs. 1.67 ± 0.07 and 2.49 ± 0.09. vs. 1.75 ± 0.10, for KF and MU, respectively), initial motility (56.89 ± 0.03% vs. 44.62 ± 0.02% and 62.26 ± 0.04% vs. 47.08 ± 0.05%, for KF and MU, respectively), sperm concentration (754.19 ± 23.96 vs. 554.14 ± 22.95 × 10⁶/ml and 848.61 ± 33.65 vs. 571.57 ± 39.99 × 10⁶/ml, for KF and MU, respectively), and total sperm output per ejaculate (3,685.94 ± 158.40 vs. 2,781.54 ± 151.70 × 10⁶ and 2,218.75 ± 133.14 vs. 1,582.84 ± 158.20 × 10⁶, for KF and MU, respectively). Application of FMD vaccine had significantly (P < 0.05) adverse effect on most of the seminal attributes during post-vaccination in KF and MU buffalo bulls. So, the spermiograms affected following vaccination suggest that in bovines, the semen collection and preservation should be suspended till normal fertility of sperm is restored to avoid the failure of conception from artificial insemination using such semen.     

Identification of Minimum Data Set Under Balanced Fertilization for Sustainable Rice Production and Maintaining Soil Quality in Alluvial Soils of Eastern India

The scarcity of non-renewable fertilizers resources and the consequences of climate change can dramatically influence the food security of future generation. Introduction of high yielding varieties, intensive cropping sequence and increasing demand of food grains day-by-day, application of recommended dose of fertilizers could not fulfill our targets due to outdated fertilizers recommendations are yet in practice. It not only alters soil quality, nutrient balance, microbial and enzymatic ecology but also affected productivity and sustainability of rice in Gangetic alluvial soils of India. The effect of fertilizers application based on “fertilizing the soil versus fertilizing the crop” which insure real balance between the applied and available soil nutrient is urgently needed. Hence, the present study was conducted during three consecutive crop seasons (2010, 2011, and 2012) to assess the effect of imbalance and balance fertilization based on initial soil test values and targeted yields, and to determine the effect of farmyard manure (FYM) when superimposed with balanced fertilizers on identification of minimum data set for the development soil quality, nutrient acquisition, and grain yield of rice. The six fertilizer treatments were laid out in a randomized block design with three replications. The treatments were: T₁-control (no fertilization), T₂-farmyard manure @ 5 t ha^?1, T₃-farmers practice (60:30:30 kg N:P₂O₅:K₂O ha^?1), T₄-precise application of mineral fertilizers based on initial soil test values (77:24:46 kg N:P₂O₅:K₂O ha^?1) for targeted grain yield of 4.0 t ha^?1, T₅-precise application of mineral fertilizers based on initial soil test values (74:23:43 kg N:P₂O₅:K₂O ha^?1) plus FYM (5 t ha^?1) for targeted grain yield of 4.0 t ha^?1 and T₆-precise application of mineral fertilizers based on initial soil test values (135:34:65 kg N:P₂O₅:K₂O ha^?1) for targeted rice grain yield of 5.0 t ha^?1. Result revealed that the targeted rice grain yield of 4.0 and 5.0 t ha^?1 was achieved in T₄ and T₆ treatments with 1.59% (4.06 t ha^?1) and –3.40% (4.83 t ha^?1) deviations, respectively. T₄, T_5, and T₆ significantly increased crop growth, nutrient uptake, available P (P_a) and K (K_a) and augmented rice grain yield by 10.6, 20.2 and 31.6%, respectively, over T₃. Microbial biomass carbon, soil respiration and enzymatic activity were enhanced significantly in T₅ as compared to T₆. Highest soil quality index was found in T₅ (0.95) followed by T₆ (0.90) and, lowest was in T₁ (0.63). The contribution of minimum data set (MDS) toward the SQI was in the descending order of ALP (30.6%) > SOC (21.5%) > K_a (11.3%) > PSM (9.68%) > N_a (8.51%). Overall, rice yield and soil quality was improved by using balance fertilization based on fertilizing the crop Vs fertilizing the soil in alluvial soils of India.     

Genetic variations in survival of rohu carp (Labeo rohita, Hamilton) after Aeromonas hydrophila infection in challenge tests

A challenge test against Aeromonas hydrophila was conducted using 2062 rohu carp (Labeo rohita) fingerlings obtained from 52 dams and 87 sires (87 full-sib families) of two year-classes (2003 and 2004). Attempts to establish a cohabitant challenge model were not successful. Therefore, fish were challenged by intraperitoneal injection with A. hydrophila in two replicate tanks per year-class, and dead fish were collected hourly. The mortality reached its peak at 16–22 h after challenge and had almost completely stopped after 58 h. The test was terminated after 382 h at which the average survival was 43.9 and 48.9% in the two 2003 year-class tanks, and 77.1 and 35.8% in the two 2004 year-class tanks. Heritability estimates for survival were obtained from sire and dam threshold models (THR) and sire and dam linear repeatability models (LINR). For both types of models the heritability estimates based on data from single tanks were not consistent. For both year-classes, data from one of the two challenged tanks demonstrated significant additive genetic variation in survival during the A. hydrophila infection, whereas the heritability estimates were not significantly different from zero for the other tank. Further, genetic correlation between survivals in the two replicate tanks in each year-class was not significantly different from zero. The differential results from the replicate tanks demonstrate that additional challenge test experiments are needed before firm conclusions can be drawn about the magnitude of additive genetic variation for survival to aeromonasis in rohu carp. A cohabitant challenge model that allows the testing of important defence mechanisms in the skin and mucous membranes of the fish might have been more appropriate. To establish a valid cohabitant challenge model for rohu carp should be given high priority.     

Prediction of Ground-Level Concentration of Sulfur Dioxide Downwind of an Industrial Estate in Mauritius Using the ISCST3 Model and Selection of Air Pollution Control Systems

Industries on the island of Mauritius are under increasing pressure from the regulatory authority and from the general public to control the air pollution from their boilers and particularly that of sulfur dioxide emissions from fuel oil combustion. The measures taken by industry are usually ??ad hoc?? in nature, and there has been yet no proper scientific methodology to justify the nature of the pollution control interventions. Air modeling as a planning tool provides a scientific methodology to industries and to the regulatory authority to select the optimum option(s) among various scenarios such as raising stack heights, changing fuels, implementing cleaner production opportunities or installation of wet scrubbers. The aim of this project was to use an air dispersion model for the selection of air pollution control systems for industrial boilers in an industrial estate. Given a number of constraints on small island developing states like Mauritius, it is recommended to start using established and simple modeling methods, as the complexity of the more refined models requires a relatively long learning curve to be able to use the model correctly. The Industrial Source Complex Short Term (ISCST3) is recommended for that purpose. The application of the ISCST3 model to the multiple-source case study helped in the identification of the most cost-effective options.     

Cryopreservation of Ghagus chicken semen: Effect of cryoprotectants,diluents and thawing temperature

The present study evaluated the effects of cryoprotectants, semen diluents and thawing temperature during Ghagus chicken semen cryopreservation. Four different experiments were conducted; Experiment 1—semen was cryopreserved using 6% dimethylacetamide (DMA) and 2% dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO) in Sasaki diluent (SD) and Lake and Ravie diluent (LR), Experiment 2 and 3—semen was cryopreserved using 8% ethylene glycol (EG) in SD, LRD and Red Fowl Extender (RFE), Experiment 4—semen was cryopreserved using 6% dimethylformamide (DMF) in SD, LR and Beltsville poultry semen extender (BPSE). Semen was cryopreserved in 0.5 ml French straws. Thawing was done at 5°C for 100 s in ice water in Experiments 1, 2 and 4, whereas in Experiment 3 thawing was done at 37°C for 30 s. The post-thaw sperm motility, viable sperm and acrosome-intact sperm were significantly (p < .05) lower in cryopreserved samples in all the experiments. No fertile eggs were obtained from cryopreserved samples in Experiments 1 and 2, except for 8% EG RFE treatment where the fertility was 0.83%. In Experiments 3 and 4, highest fertility was obtained in LR treatment 48.12 and 30.89%, respectively. In conclusion, using cryoprotectant EG (8%) and thawing at 37°C for 30 s, and DMF(6%) resulted in acceptable level of fertility in Ghagus chicken. Though the diluents influenced post-thaw in vitro semen parameters, the fertility was not affected. In addition, results indicated that thawing temperature may be a critical stage in the cryopreservation protocol.     

Removal of As(III) from Aqueous Solution Using Fe<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript> Nanoparticles: Process Modeling and Optimization Using Statistical Design

In this study, Extran (biodegradable surfactant) was used for the preparation of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles by microemulsion process to improve removal efficiency of As(III) from aqueous solution. Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles were characterized by XRD, FTIR, FESEM, TEM, HRTEM, and VSM instrumental techniques. The effect of different parameters such as adsorbent dose, initial As(III) concentration, and solution pH were studied by response surface methodology (RSM) based on Box-Behnken design (BBD). The optimized condition for adsorption of As(III) from aqueous solution was obtained as adsorbent dose of 0.70 mg/g, solution pH of 7.7, and initial As(III) concentration of 33.32 mg/L. In this optimum condition, about 90.5% of As(III) was removed from the aqueous solution. Isotherm studies have been done at optimal condition, and it was observed that the Langmuir isotherm models were fitted well with experimental data having a high correlation coefficient of 0.993. From the Langmuir isotherm data, the maximum adsorption capacity of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles was found to be 7.18 mg/g at pH 7.7 in room temperature. This study revealed that Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles can be used as an efficient, eco-friendly, and effective material for the adsorptive removal of As(III) from aqueous system.     

Phenotypic and genetic parameters for body traits in the giant freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) in India

Phenotypic and genetic parameters were estimated for three body traits (harvest weight, carapace length and standard length) and for adult male morphotypes of the giant freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii in a fully pedigreed synthetic population in India. The data set included 9,173 progeny produced over four generations from 162 sires and 234 dams. Variance components and genetic parameters were estimated fitting an animal model using the residual maximum‐likelihood methodology. The heritabilities for harvest body weight (HW), carapace length (CL) and standard length (SL) were moderate (0.22 ± 0.056, 0.22 ± 0.055 and 0.25 ± 0.059 respectively). The common environmental effects for HW, CL and SL were 0.10 ± 0.020, 0.08 ± 0.018 and 0.10 ± 0.021 respectively. As M. rosenbergii is sexually dimorphic, we estimated heritabilities within each sex. Heritability of HW in females (0.27 ± 0.068) was greater than that in males (0.15 ± 0.057). CL and SL followed the same pattern. The occurrence of male morphotypes is a unique characteristic of adult populations of M. rosenbergii. Populations from culture ponds exhibit a wide range of sizes. To examine whether there was a heritable component in male morphotype frequencies, we treated male morphotypes as traits. The additive genetic variance (and hence the heritability) was zero for male morphotype, indicating that selective breeding to increase the proportion of desirable male morphotypes would not be effective. The genetic correlations among body traits were all positive, high and approaching unity. The results are discussed in relation to selection plans for the giant freshwater prawn.