Projecting Future Crop Evapotranspiration and Irrigation Requirement of Potato in Lower Gangetic Plains of India using the CROPWAT 8.0 Model

A study on evapotranspiration from potato fields was conducted in the Lower Gangetic Plains of India. The input data required for the CROPWAT irrigation management model was collected, and evapotranspiration (ET) and irrigation water requirement (IWR) for potato crops were calculated using the model. Firstly, the CROPWAT model was validated by comparing simulated crop evapotranspiration (SET) with actual ET calculated through the field water balance method. Thereafter, SET and IWR for nine locations in the lower Gangetic plains of India were calculated for the period from 1996–1997 to 2008–2009, for the current situation (using 20-year-average weather data of the stations), and for elevated thermal conditions, i.e. considering 2 and 3 °C increases over the current temperature. The future change in IWR for potato up to 2050 was also calculated considering the projected climatic scenario generated by the PRECIS model. The CROPWAT calculated IWR values showed an increasing, though not statistically significant, trend in requirement of irrigation water for potato across the nine locations during the period from 1996–1997 to 2008–2009. At a temperature increase of 2 °C over normal, the mean SET of potato would increase by 0.06 mm per day and the average IWR would be 6.0 mm per season more. If the mean temperature would be 3 °C more than normal, the SET would be 0.16 mm day^?1 higher and the IWR 16.6 mm. Also based on the projected climatic scenario generated by the PRECIS model, the future SET up to 2050 showed an increasing trend. The present study indicates increasing demand for irrigation water, which may significantly affect the agricultural scenario in the region.     

Comparative evaluation of IHA and CIEP in the diagnosis of Toxocara vitulorum in pregnant cows and buffaloes

Tropical Animal Health and Production -     

Field performance of somaclones of rose scented geranium (Pelargonium graveolens L’Her Ex Ait.) for evaluation of their essential oil yield and composition

Several randomly selected glasshouse grown somaclones of rose scented geranium, Pelargonium graveolens L’Her Ex Ait. cv. Hemanti were successfully transferred to the field in Northern India for evaluation. Two distinct morphotypes were described on the basis of leaf dentation-one resembling the parental cultivar in having highly dentated leaves (HDL) and the other with less dentated leaves (LDL). After repeated field-testing for 3 consecutive years, the HDL clones closely resembled the parental cultivar with respect to the different quantity and quality determining traits, while the LDL group was clearly different. The field established LDL somaclones possessed higher herb yield, number of branches and other oil yield attributing traits as compared to the HDL clones and the parent cultivar. The chemical investigations of the essential oil revealed significant differences between the LDL clones, the HDL clones and the control. Selection of such somaclones, which are superior to the parental in most of the quantitative and qualitative traits and show better adaptability to different areas of cultivation, will help towards commercialization of geranium in India.     

Pharmacokinetics of streptomycin with particular reference to its distribution in plasma,milk and uterine fluid of shebuffaloes

The study elucidated the pharmacokinetics of streptomycin in healthy lactating she-buffaloes after a single intramuscular (IM) injection (10 mg/kg). The drug attained its peak concentrations of 24.39±2.67, 0.45±0.05 and 5.06±0.18 g/ml at 1, 4 and 1 hour in plasma, milk and uterine fluid respectively. Calculations based on the assumption of a 2-compartment model gave a plasma t1/2 () of 4.01±0.44 h and an apparent volume of distribution [Vd(area)] of 0.47±0.06 l/kg. The drug was detectable in the plasma, milk and uterine fluid for 30, 8 and 12 hours, respectively. A therapeutic concentration of the drug was maintained for 6 to 7 hours in the plasma and for around 1 hour only in the uterine fluid. However, a therapeutic level could not be achieved in milk at any time. The results suggest that the drug can be used clinically by the IM route against streptomycin susceptible systemic infections but not those in the uterus and mammary gland.     

A MICROBIOLOGICAL AND FLUOROMETRIC TEST FOR MINUTE AMOUNTS OF ALLOXAN

A microbiological and fluorometric test for the determination of minute amounts of alloxan has been described. The test involves the conversion of the alloxan to riboflavin which is measured by microbiological or fluorometric techniques.     

Impact of different combined doses of fertilizers with plant growth regulators on growth, yield attributes and yield of mustard (Brassica campestris cv. B9) under old alluvial soil of Burdwan, West Bengal, India

Field experiments were conducted with mustard (Brassica campestris cv. B₉) consecutively for three years (2005, 2006 and 2007) in the Crop Research and Seed Multiplication Farm of Burdwan University, Burdwan, West Bengal, India. In the first year, varietal screening of mustard under recommended dose of chemical fertilizer (100:50:50) were performed with seven mustard varieties during November 2005 to February 2006. In the second year, two experiments were conducted to study the effects of six different combined doses of chemical fertilizer and biofertilizer and six different levels of growth retardant cycocel. In the third year, six different levels of compost along with the best screened dose of growth retardant (CCC-300 ppm) and the best combined dose of biofertilizer and chemical fertilizer (3/4thchemical fertilizer:1/4th biofertilizer) from the previous year were applied to study the effects on agronomic traits and growth attributes of mustard, and the field data were analyzed statistically. The variety B₉ recorded a significant higher seed yield along with other yield contributing factors, which was found to be superior to other varieties under old alluvial soil of Burdwan, West Bengal, India, in 2005. In 2006 and 2007, seed yield was found to be the best for CCC-300 ppm treatment and the best combined dose of biofertilizer and chemical fertilizer was found to be 3/4th chemical fertilizer:1/4th biofertilizer. In 2007, the best yield was given by the treatment of 7.5 t·hm^?2 compost along with the best dose of growth retardant cycocel and the best combined dose of biofertilizer and chemical fertilizer.     

沙棘叶水提物适应原性及安全性评价

本文评估了沙棘叶水提物在大白鼠体内的适应原活性和毒性.提取物的剂量依赖性适应原活性的研究采取将小鼠置于低温(5℃),低压(428mmHg),抑制(C-H-R)的环境下的30min前口服不同剂量的沙棘叶水提物.在亚急性毒性中,连续14d每天口服10倍和20倍最大有效剂量（每天口服1g/kg体重和2g/kg体重）和连续30...     

Antidiarrhoeal activity of carbazole alkaloids from Murraya koenigii Spreng (Rutaceae) seeds

The bioassay guided fractionation of the n-hexane extract of the seeds of Murraya koenigii Spreng (Rutaceae) resulted in the isolation of three bioactive carbazole alkaloids, kurryam (I), koenimbine (II) and koenine (III). The structures of the compounds were confirmed from their ¹H-, ¹³C-, and 2D-NMR spectral data. Of the three compounds (I) and (II) exhibited significant inhibitory activity against castor oil-induced diarrhoea and PGE₂-induced enteropooling in rats. The compounds also produced a significant reduction in gastrointestinal motility in the charcoal meal test in Wister rats.     

A computable general equilibrium analysis of forest concessions in Brazil

The management of natural forests in Brazil is concentrated in the states of the Legal Amazon with almost all legal timber extraction occurring on private land. While the government has historically promoted the development of forest plantations through economic incentives, state involvement with natural forests has focused on regulation. Over 1 million km² in the Legal Amazon have been identified as suitable for the production of forest goods and services and other resource-based activities (Veríssimo et al., 2000, p. 6). Only recently, however, has the state taken action to harness the potential this vast public resource holds for promoting sustainable development. In March 2006, the Public Forest Management Law was passed by the government of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. A key feature of this law is a framework for creating forest concessions on public lands. With the goal of establishing up to 13 million ha of forest concessions by the end of the decade, such an initiative for the development of the forest sector is unprecedented in Brazilian history, marking the state's recognition of the Amazon's vocation as one of forest-based development.A static computable general equilibrium (CGE) model is developed to evaluate the short-run socio-economic and environmental implications of implementing forest concessions in the Brazilian Amazon. Results indicate that household income and private consumption increase with the implementation of forest concessions. With the expansion of natural forest management in the north, forest plantations contract significantly in all regions and to a lesser degree, natural forest management in the north east and center west. As forest plantations demand less agricultural land for production, the price of agricultural land decreases and the excess supply is taken up by the agricultural sector which pays less for the land and consequently produces more of a less expensive product. The implementation of forest concessions results in a 3.8% increase in legal deforestation with the largest increase in the north, followed by the north east and center west.