Comparison of organic and conventional farming for onion yield,biochemical quality,soil organic carbon,and microbial population

In an ongoing field experiment, organic and conventional farming (control) were compared for onion bulb yield, biochemical quality, soil organic carbon (SOC), and microbial activity after the sixth cropping cycle. The treatments used for organic production were farmyard manure (FYM, 20,000 kg ha^?1), poultry manure (PM, 10,000 kg ha^?1), vermicompost (VC, 10,000 kg ha^?1), neem cake (NC, 5000 kg ha^?1), and a combination of FYM (5000 kg ha^?1), PM (2500 kg ha^?1), VC (2500 kg ha^?1), and NC (1250 kg ha^?1); all treatments were compared with the control. Organic treatments produced 24.6–43.6% lower yield consistently for 6 years than the control treatment. No significant difference was observed between PM, FYM, and VC treatments for the bulb yield. Bulb analysis during the sixth year indicated that plants that received FYM, PM, or VC had higher levels of total phenol, total flavonoid, ascorbic acid, and quercetin-3-glucoside than the control plants. All the five organically treated sets had significantly higher values of SOC, microbial population, fungal-to-bacterial ratio, and dehydrogenase activity than the control and the initial values in each treated set. The results indicate that FYM, PM, or VC application enhances biochemical quality and organic farming is more sustainable than conventional farming.     

An outbreak of Shiga toxin‐producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 linked to a mud‐based obstacle course,England, August 2018

In August 2018, Public Health England (PHE) was made aware of five probable cases of Shiga toxin‐producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O157:H7 among individuals reporting participation in a mud‐based obstacle race. An additional four cases, identified via routine whole‐genome sequencing, were subsequently linked to the same event. Two of the nine cases were due to secondary household transmission. Despite an agreement between the event organizers and the local authority, to ensure that all livestock were removed from the site 28 days before the event, sheep were observed grazing on some of the routes taken by the runners 2 days prior to the race taking place. A retrospective review of incidents reported to PHE between 2015 and 2018 identified 41 cases of gastroenteritis associated with muddy assault course events. Of these, 25 cases were due to infection with STEC O157:H7, of which all but one were associated with outbreaks. Due to the environment in which such events take place, it is impossible to entirely remove the risk of exposure to potentially pathogenic zoonoses. However, race organizers should ensure that livestock are removed from the course 28 days before the event. They should also ensure that participants are made aware of the risk of contracting gastrointestinal disease from the environment, and to stress the importance of hand hygiene post‐event and the risk of secondary transmission, particularly to children who are at risk of developing haemolytic uraemic syndrome.     

Effects of Bacillus subtilis metabolites on larval Aedes aegypti L

The culture supernatant of a strain of Bacillus subtilis isolated from soil samples killed larvae of the mosquito Aedes aegypti. The metabolites produced by B. subtilis were characterized using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Mortality rate was dose-dependent for all larval instars of A. aegypti. Log probit analysis (95% confidence level) revealed an LC₅₀ of 1.73 and an LC₉₀ 3.71 μg/ml. Molecular weights/masses of B. subtilis metabolites were confirmed using SDS–PAGE analysis. B. subtilis metabolites were confirmed using HPLC analysis. We demonstrate that secondary metabolites from B. subtilis have larvicidal activity against A. aegypti and may be suitable for the control of this and other mosquito vectors of human disease. The larvae to the metabolites, significant reduction in the activities of acetylcholinesterse, α-carboxylesterase, and acid phosphatases were recorded.     

Dry matter accumulation and nutrient uptake patterns of onion seed crop

Abstract

Dry matter accumulation and nutrient uptake patterns of crops must be determined to optimize fertilizer scheduling. This study assesses the dry matter accumulation and nutrient uptake patterns of onion seed crop. Plant samples were collected between 0 and 120?days after planting, and their nutrient content was analyzed to determine the dry matter accumulation and nutrient uptake patterns. The quantity and period of nutrient uptake and the mobility of nutrients within the plant parts varied for different nutrients. The absorption of nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) was the highest during vegetative stage, whereas phosphorus (P) and sulfur (S) uptake was the highest during flower initiation stage. N, P, K, and S, which had accumulated in the vegetative parts, moved from the senesced vegetative parts to the inflorescence during the reproductive stages owing to their high mobility in the phloem. The onion plants continued to absorb zinc, copper, manganese, and iron throughout their growth owing to the immobility of these elements in plant system. The result of this study may facilitate efficient scheduling of fertilizer application to increase nutrient uptake and yield.     

Food intake,growth, food conversion,and body composition of catfish exposed to different salinities

The effects of different salinities (0, 2, 4, 6 and 10‰) on food intake, growth, food conversion, and body composition of the freshwater catfish Mystus vittatus (Bloch) were studied. Under a restricted feeding schedule daily intake of food was found to be salinity dependent. Fish reared in 10‰ consumed more Tubifex tubifex, converted less efficiently and displayed poor growth as compared to individuals reared in fresh water. Fish flesh production decreased from 483 g (fresh water) to 177 g (10‰ salinity) as the salinity was increased. Water content of the fish was found to decrease with increase in salinity, while maximum ash (25.56%) and fat (42.25%) were exhibited by fish reared in 10‰ salinity.