Assessing soil spatial variability and delineating site-specific management zones for a coastal saline land in eastern India

ABSTRACT

The present study was to delineate management zones (MZs) in salt affected Mahakalpada block in eastern India by capturing both spatial variability of soil parameters along with satellite derived Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI). Grid wise 237 soil samples collected from the study area were analyzed and spatial maps were generated for physicochemical properties, DTPA extractable micronutrients, i.e. iron, zinc, copper, and manganese and major nutrients, i.e. available nitrogen (AN), phosphorous (AP), and potassium (AK). Soil electrical conductivity and AK showed a high CV of 100% and 56.7%, respectively. Principal component analysis was performed using the soil spatial maps, NDVI and EVI maps and only four principal components which produced eigenvalues > 1 and accounting for 75.4% of the total variability were retained for further analysis. Further, fuzzy c-mean clustering was used to delineate the MZs based on fuzzy performance index (FPI) and normalized classification entropy (NCE) was used for identifying the three MZs. There was a significant difference between MZ1 and MZ2 for all the variables except AN and EVI whereas all the variables were significantly different between MZ1 and MZ3 highlighting the usefulness of MZs delineation technique for site-specific nutrient management.     

Absorption and accumulation of potassium in component parts of sugarcane as affected by age,phosphorus deficiency and phosphorus fertilization

Like nitrogen and phosphorus, the amount of potassium taken up by the sugarcane plant, varies enormously with the conditions of soil and climate, the amount of potassic fertilizer applied singly or in combination with N and P, the general cultural conditions and above all the age of the plant at which potassium was estimated. Even individual tillers and leaves of various stages of development show marked variations in potassium content. Very often it has been suggested that a certain critical concentrations of N, P and K in actively growing leaves was necessary for good growth. Below such critical limits, conditions of deficiency set in while above a certain critical limit state of sufficiency often resulted in very little proportional growth.     

Persistence of chlorpyrifos residues in potatoes and the effect of processing

Summary Chlorpyrifos was sprayed on the ridges and foliage of potato plants at 0.4, 0.5 and 0.6 kg a.i./ha 21 days after planting (single spray) and repeated 21 days after the first spray (double spray) to control cutworms (Agrotis sp.). In unprocessed (i.e. not washed, boiled or peeled) potatoes, the residues persisted above the permitted level of 0.10 ppm on several sampling dates. Residues decreased with the time interval between spraying and sampling. Processing potatoes (i.e. washing, boiling followed by peeling) removed the toxicant to a considerable extent. Storing potatoes from chlorpyrifos-treated plots in country stores for 30 days after normal harvest reduced residues to below the detectable level irrespective of the application rate.

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Zusammenfassung Feldversuche mit sieben Behandlungen in vier Wiederholungen mit randomisierter Blockanlage wurden w?hrend des Herbstes 1979–80 und 1980–81 in der zentralen Kartoffelforschungsstation in Jalandhar (Punjab, Indien) durchgeführt, um die Rückst?nde des Insektizids Chlorpyrifos in Kartoffelknollen zu bestimmen. Chlorpyrifos wird eine Wirkung gegen Erdraupen (‘cutworms’),Agrotis sp., zugeschrieben. Es wurde auf Reihen und Kraut mit 0,4, 0,5 und 0,6 kg aktiver Substanz pro Hektar, einmal 21 Tage nach dem Pflanzen (Einfachspritzung) und dann 21 Tage sp?ter (Doppelspritzung) ausgebracht. Die Rückst?nde in den Kartoffelknollen wurden anhand der kolorimetrischen Methode von Getz & Watt (1964) bestimmt. In unverarbeiteten Kartoffeln (d.h. nicht gewaschen, gekocht oder gesch?lt) verblieben Rückst?nde oberhalb der erlaubten Grenze von 0,10 ppm bei zahlreichen Terminen der Probenahme. Die Mengen nahmen mit der Zeit zwischen Spritzen und Probenahme ab. Kartoffelverarbeitung (d.h. Waschen, Kochen mit anschliessendem Sch?len) hatte starke Reduzierung des Giftstoffes zur Folge. 30-t?gige Lagerung in l?ndlichen Lagern nach normaler Ernte reduzierte die Rückst?nde unter die Erfassungsgrenze, in beiden Jahren und bei allen Dosierungen. Die detaillierten Daten für die Rückst?nde werden in den Tabellen 1 und 2 gezeigt.

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Résumé Des essais de plein champ comprenant 7 traitements à 4 répétitions dans un dispositif à blocs randomisés ont été réalisés sur la Station de recherche de la pomme de terre à Jalandhar (Punjab) en Inde au cours des automnes 1979–80 et 1980–81, afin de déterminer les teneurs en résidus de l'insecticide chlorpyrifos dans les tubercules de pommes de terre. Le chlorpyrifos est un produit efficace contre les larves d'Agrotis sp. Il fut appliqué sur buttes et sur feuillage à la dose de 0,4, 0,5 et 0,6 kg de matière active à l'hectare, 21 jours après la plantation (une seule application), ou encore 21 jours après (en double application) puis les résidus dans les tubercules furent déterminés par la méthode colorimétrique de Getz et Watt (1964). Dans les tubercules non transformés (c'est-à-dire sans lavage, sans cuisson ou pelage) les teneurs en résidus étaient au dessus du seuil de tolérance de 0,10 ppm dans plusieurs échantillons. Les pommes de terre transformées (après lavage, cuisson et pelage) avaient beaucoup moins de résidus. La conservation dans les batiments de stockage de pays, pendant 30 jours après une récolte normale, a permis de réduire les teneurs en dessous du seuil décelable au cours des 2 années, quelle que soit la dose testée. Les teneurs en résidus sont détaillées dans les tableaux 1 et 2.

     

Breeding Potential of Potato Somatic Hybrids: Evaluations for Adaptability,Tuber Traits,Late Blight Resistance,Keeping Quality and Backcross (BC<Subscript>1</Subscript>) Progenies

Ten tetraploid interspecific potato somatic hybrids developed earlier through protoplast fusion between the dihaploid Solanum tuberosum L. ‘C-13’ and the diploid wild species Solanum pinnatisectum Dun. were used in this study. Somatic hybrids and standard control cultivars were evaluated for adaptability, tuber traits, late blight resistance and keeping quality attributes (dormancy, sprouting, weight loss and appearance after 75 days of storage) during two successive winter crop seasons (short-days) in the sub-tropical plains of India, where nearly 90% of India’s potatoes are grown. Somatic hybrids showed medium to good plant vigour and late to very late plant maturity. Though none of the somatic hybrids produced equal or higher tuber yield than the control cultivars, except clone P7, all other somatic hybrids produced significantly higher marketable and total tuber yield after a 90-day growth than the parent C-13. Most of the somatic hybrids possessed higher tuber dry matter concentration, resistance to late blight and better keeping quality attributes than the control cultivars. Notably, the tubers of somatic hybrids showed a tendency for colour change from white to purple on exposure to sunlight. Breeding potential of somatic hybrids was further assessed by crossing them with commonly grown local potato cultivars for the development of backcross (BC₁) progenies. In the hybridization programme, berries were formed while somatic hybrids were used either as male or female parents with common cultivars. Our results revealed that the use of bulk pollen of somatic hybrids not only resulted in higher pollination success but also helped to achieve higher numbers of true potato seeds (TPS) per berry. Despite the formation of berries, TPS was absent in 22 crosses using somatic hybrids as a female or male parent which may be due to ovule or embryo abortions. Segregating BC₁ generations were evaluated under the same sub-tropical conditions for further exploitation in potato breeding. Based on our study, the somatic hybrids P4, P8 and P10 can be utilized for the introgression of important characters such as high tuber dry matter concontration, resistance to late blight and excellent keeping quality attributes into the cultivated potato via conventional breeding methods for cultivar development in the sub-tropical plains of India.     

Isolation and Characterization of Large Marine Bacteriophage (Myoviridae), VhKM4 Infecting Vibrio harveyi

Abstract

The causative agent responsible for vibriosis in tropical fish aquaculture, Vibrio harveyi, has become a major bacterial pathogen. Studies suggest that this bacterium has developed resistance to antibiotics commonly used in aquaculture. In view of this situation and the requirement for the proposed postantibiotic era, bacteriophage therapy seems to be a promising control strategy for fish vibriosis. In this study, a lytic Vibrio phage VhKM4 belonging to a member of large, marine Myoviridae was successfully isolated. It exhibited bacteriolysis to both V. harveyi VHJR7 and V. parahaemolyticus ATCC 17802. The latent period of the VhKM4 phage was recorded at 60 min. It also recorded average burst size of approximately 52 plaque-forming units per infected cell. A strong bacteriolytic activity at low multiplicity of infection of 0.01 indicates the effectiveness of this large marine myovirid against fish pathogenic strain of V. harveyi VHJR7.

Received June 16, 2016; accepted October 7, 2016 Published online February 6, 2017     

Morphology and anatomy of the burl disorder of mango (Mangifera indica L.) in India

Summary

Burl, typically manifest as a swelling of the trunk and lower branches, is a relatively unknown disorder of mango (Mangifera indica L.). We studied the incidence of the disorder in trees of each of three mango cultivars in India, and its effect on fruit yields over 2 years. Information was also collected on the relationship between the growth of the burl and the age of the trees, together with details of the anatomy of the affected tissues. ‘Langra’ had the highest incidence of the disorder (80.3% of 24 studied trees affected) and the largest burl (31.8 cm diameter), followed by ‘Chausa’ (17.5%; 16.4 cm), then ‘Gulab Jaman’(7.5%; 4.0 cm). Burl significantly reduced fruit yields in ‘Langra’ (121 kg tree^–1 in affected trees vs. 162 kg tree^–1 in normal trees), but not in ‘Chausa’ (110 vs. 129 kg tree^–1) or ‘Gulab Jaman’ (100 vs. 98 kg tree^–1). The sizes of the burls increased as the ages of the trees increased from 15 to 55 years, especially in ‘Langra’ and ‘Chausa’. No pathogens or insects were found to be associated with the affected tissues. The woody tissues in the burl lacked orientation and were not specifically aligned in a transverse, radial, or tangential direction. Further studies are warranted to determine the cause of this disorder and how it can affect fruit yields.     

Salinity Preference of Two Diatoms and Their Growth Performance in Three Prepared and Two Alternative On-Farm Media Sources

ABSTRACT

Salinity and preferred nutrient composition of Chaetoceros affinis and Skeletonema costatum were tested. Salinity was tested at 12, 16, 23, 28, and 32 ppt. Three compositions of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) and two on-farm low-cost alternative media sources, cow urine (CU) and hatchery waste water (HWW), were tested to find the suitable NPK ratio and to determine the efficacy of the on-farm media respectively. Chaetoceros affinis preferred 23 ppt salinity, while Skeletonema costatum preferred both 28 and 32 ppt. Among the NPK treatments, higher cell density was observed in 4:1:1 followed by 4:2:1 ratios. Significant differences in maximum cell density of both species were observed in the NPK treatments while only S. costatum showed significant difference in CU and HWW.     

尼泊尔中部山区Melamchi流域农户类型及其土地利用方式

农户生计策略变化为土地利用变化提供了新的研究视角。基于问卷调查、半结构访谈、数理统计等方法,对尼泊尔中部山区Melamchi流域4个典型村进行了系统调查,分析了不同类型农户的生计策略及土地利用特征。结果表明:农为主和非农为主型农户生计策略组合较优,生计多样性指数相对较高,生计风险相对较小。不同类型农户在耕作面积、土地利用结构、劳动力投入、土地增产性投入等方面均表现出不同特征。不同类型农户对改善生计的认识及策略不同,其对土地的作用及影响也有所差异。非农生计活动不仅降低了生计脆弱性和生计风险,同时也降低了农户对土地的依赖程度和垦殖率,促进了土地所有权改变和土地再分配,提高了农业生产率,但也增加了土地质量退化和环境污染的风险。针对尼泊尔山区资源环境特点及影响农户生计改善的不利因素,从农户和区域层次分别提出农户生计优化及土地可持续利用的建议。     

Effect of 13 Years Long Minimum Tillage Cum Conjunctive Nutrient Management Practices on Soil Fertility and Nitrogen Chemical Fractions under Sorghum (Sorghum bicolour (L.) Moench)–Mungbean (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek) System in Semi-Arid Tropical Alfisol (SAT) in Southern India

A long-term experiment was conducted at the Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture for 13 years to evaluate the effect of low tillage cum cheaper conjunctive nutrient management practices in terms of productivity, soil fertility, and nitrogen chemical pools of soil under sorghum–mung bean system in Alfisol soils. The results of the study clearly revealed that sorghum and mung bean grain yield as influenced by low tillage and conjunctive nutrient management practices varied from 764 to 1792 and 603 to 1008 kg ha^?1 with an average yield of 1458 and 805 kg ha^?1 over a period of 13 years, respectively. Of the tillage practices, conventional tillage (CT) maintained 11.0% higher yields (1534 kg ha^?1) over the minimum tillage (MT) (1382 kg ha^?1) practice. Among the conjunctive nutrient management treatments, the application of 2 t Gliricidia loppings + 20 kg nitrogen (N) through urea to sorghum crop recorded significantly highest grain yield of 1712 kg ha^?1 followed by application of 4 t compost + 20 kg N through urea (1650 kg ha^?1) as well as 40 kg N through urea alone (1594 kg ha^?1). Similar to sorghum, in case of mung bean also, CT exhibited a significant influence on mung bean grain yields (888 kg ha^?1) which was 6.7% higher compared to MT (832 kg ha^?1). Among all the conjunctive nutrient management treatments, 2 t compost + 10 kg N through urea and 2 t compost + 1 t Gliricidia loppings performed significantly well and recorded similar mung bean grain yields of 960 kg ha^?1 followed by 1 t Gliricidia loppings + 10 kg N through urea (930 kg ha^?1). The soil nitrogen chemical fractions (SNCFs) were also found to be significantly influenced by tillage and conjunctive nutrient management treatments. Further, a significant correlation of SNCF with total soil nitrogen was observed. In the correlation study, it was also observed that N fraction dynamically played an important role in enhancing the availability pool of N in soil and significantly influenced the yield of sorghum grain and mung bean.     

Isolation and characterization of influenza A virus (subtype H5N1) that caused the first highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak in chicken in Bhutan

We characterized Influenza A/H5N1 virus that caused the first outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in chickens in Bhutan in 2010. The virus was highly virulent to chicken, killing them within two days of the experimental inoculation with an intravenous pathogenicity index (IVPI) of 2.88. For genetic and phylogenetic analyses, complete genome sequencing of 4 viral isolates was carried out. The isolates revealed multiple basic amino acids at their hemagglutinin (HA) cleavage site, similar to other "Qinghai-like" H5N1 isolates. The receptor-binding site of HA molecule contained avian-like amino acids ((222)Q and (224)G). The isolates also contained amino acid residue K at position 627 of the PB2 protein, and other markers in NS 1 and PB1 proteins, highlighting the risk to mammals. However, the isolates were sensitive to influenza drugs presently available in the market. The sequence analysis indicated that the Bhutan viruses shared 99.1-100% nucleotide homology in all the eight genes among themselves and 2010 chicken isolate from Bangladesh (A/chicken/Bangladesh/1151-11/2010) indicating common progenitor virus. The phylogenetic analysis indicated that the Bhutan isolates belonged to sub-clade 2.2.3 (EMA 3) and shared common progenitor virus with the 2010 Bangladesh virus. Based on the evidence of phylogeny and molecular markers, it could be concluded that the outbreaks in Bhutan and Bangladesh in 2010 were due to independent introductions of the virus probably through migratory birds.