Effects of Nitrogen on the Competitiveness of Echinochloa colona and Amaranthus viridis with Direct-seeded Rice

Information on weed competitiveness responses to added nitrogen （N） is required to assist with the development of appropriate fertilizer management strategies where weed competition is anticipated. A greenhouse study was conducted to examine the effects of four N rates on the competitive ability ofEchinochloa colona and Amaranthus viridis grown together with direct-seeded rice. Rice and each weed species were grown in a replacement series design at added N rates of 0, 50, 100, and 150 kg ha1. Replacement series diagrams for relative yield showed that competitive ability ofE. colona increased with added soil N. Values of weed aggressivity index for E. colona also significantly increased with the addition of N in the soil. In the absence of added N, A. viridis was more competitive than rice but this relationship slightly changed as N was added. However, values of weed aggressivity index of were statistically similar at all N rates. The results suggest that the competitiveness ofE. colona increased with added soil N, and A. viridis unchanged by soil N levels. Both weed species were different in their response to higher N levels. Information gained in this study could be used to demonstrate the importance of effective weed and fertilizer management.     

Preparation nutritional value and acceptability of barleyrabadi — an indigenous fermented food of India

Rabadi fermentation of barley flour-buttermilk mixture (fresh and autoclaved) at 30, 35 and 40°C for 6, 12, 18, 24 and 48 h lowered pH, enhanced titratable acidity and did not change fat and total mineral (Ca, Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn and P) content. Protein content of fermented fresh as well as autoclaved barley flour-buttermilk mixture either decreased or remained unchanged.Rabadi prepared from both types of barley flour at different temperatures and time periods was acceptable; but that which was fermented at 40°C for 48 h was less acceptable in terms of taste.     

Nutritional value of some non-conventional plant foods of India

Thirteen non-conventional foods including fruits, leaves and grains consumed in various parts of the Indian subcontinent were analysed for their nutritional value. Khejri beans (Prsopsis cineria), Pinju (Capparis decidua) and Kachri (Cucumis species) contained considerable amounts of protein (15–18%). Kachri was rich in fat (13%). Bhakri (Tribulus terristris), Gullar (Ficus glomerata) and Peehl (Salvadora oleoides) were found to be rich sources of calcium; Gullar contained about 15 times the amount of calcium present in wheat. Phosphorus content of Santhi (Boernavia diffusa), Khejri beans, Bhakri, Pinju and Lehsora (Cordia dichotoma) were noticeable. Zinc was present in high amounts in Peepalbanti (Ficus religiosa) and Gullar; as was iron in Santhi and Bhakri and manganese in Santhi. Besides iron, zinc and calcium, Pinju contained appreciable amounts of -carotene and vitamin C. However, Santhi contained high amounts of oxalic acid.     

Fermentation of pearl millet flour with yeasts and lactobacilli:in vitro digestibility and utilisation of fermented flour for weaning mixtures

Single as well as mixed culture fermentations by yeasts (S. diastaticus;S. cerevistiae) and lactobacilli (L. brevis;L. fermentum) at 30 °C for 72 h improved the starch and protein digestibility (in vitro) of pearl millet flour significantly. The flour fermented bySaccharomyces diastaticus, a starch hydrolysing yeast, had the highest starch digestibility whereas fermentation bySaccharomyces cerevisiae enhanced the in vitro protein digestibility of the flour significantly. Weaning mixtures prepared from the fermented flour were also found to be organoleptically acceptable.     

Temporal changes in circulating levels of plasma interleukin-8 during peripartum period in Murrah buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) under subtropical climate

The objective of this study was to elucidate the changes in circulating levels of plasma interleukin-8 (IL-8) during peripartum period in Murrah buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis). IL-8 was estimated in blood plasma of healthy peripartum Murrah buffaloes (n = 6) on days ±30, ±15, ±5, ±3, ±1 and 0 pre- and postpartum with respect to the day of parturition (day 0) in each of the two different seasons (hot–humid and spring). The mean microclimate Temperature–Humidity Index (THI) during spring season was significantly lower (p < 0.01) than the corresponding THI in hot–humid season. In both the seasons, plasma IL-8 remained lower in prepartum period (≤46.56 ± 14.08 pg/ml during spring and ≤ 73.18 ± 18.56 pg/ml during hot–humid season) than in the postpartum period (≥51.41 ± 13.82 pg/ml during spring and ≥ 84.13 ± 16.97 pg/ml in hot humid season). During spring, the IL-8 levels were significantly higher (P < 0.05) on days +5 and +15 postpartum in comparison to the IL-8 levels on days −30, −5, and −3 prepartum. During hot–humid season, IL-8 level was significantly higher (P < 0.05) on day +30 as compared to the IL-8 levels on days −30 and −5 prepartum. The correlation between IL-8 and mean microclimate THI was significant (r = 0.25, P < 0.01). From the results, it is concluded that peripartum period in buffaloes is associated with an inflammatory response leading to significantly higher plasma IL-8 during parturition and postpartum period than in the pre-partum period.     

Antinutrients in amphidiploids (black gram × mung bean): varietal differences and effect of domestic processing and cooking

Phytic acid, saponin and polyphenol contents in grains of various varieties of black gram (Vigna mungo) Mung bean (Vigna radiata L.) amphidiploids ranged from 697 to 750, 2746 to 2972 and 702 to 783 mg/100 g, respectively. Domestic processing and cooking methods including soaking, ordinary and pressure cooking of soaked and unsoaked seeds, and sprouting significantly lowered phytic acid, saponin and polyphenol contents of the amphidiploid seeds. Soaking for 18 h removed 31 to 37% of the phytic acid; the extent of removal was higher with long periods of soaking. Saponins and polyphenols were relatively less affected. Loss of the antinutrients was greater when soaked instead of unsoaked seeds were cooked. Pressure cooking had a greater effect than ordinary cooking. Antinutrient concentrations declined following sprouting; the longer the period of germination the greater was the reduction.     

Effect of feeding some plant foods as source of dietary fibre on biological utilisation of diet in rats

Isoproteinous diets containing 1% cholesterol and 10% fibre derived from plant foods namely,peepalbanti (Ficus religiosa),barbanti (Ficus bengalensis),gullar (Ficus glomerata),teent (Capparis decidua) andkhejri beans (Prsopsis cineria) or pure cellulose, were fed to rats for 40 days. Effect of incorporation of these whole plant parts on feed intake, weight gain, feed efficiency ratio (FER), dry matter digestibility (DMD) and true protein digestibility (TPD) in weanling rats was studied. Their inclusion did not affect the weight gain significantly whereas all other parameters were influenced to a varying extent. Foods rich in lignin had relatively lower FER, DMD and TPD whereas cellulose and pectin rich foods had higher DMD and TPD.     

Ludwigia hyssopifolia emergence and growth as affected by light, burial depth and water management

Experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of light, seed burial depth, and flooding on germination, emergence and growth of Ludwigia hyssopifolia. Germination was strongly stimulated by light, suggesting that seeds of this species are positively photoblastic. Seeds sown on the soil surface gave the greatest percentage of seedling emergence in plastic trays, and no seedlings emerged from seeds buried in soil at depths of ≥1 cm. Intermittent or shallow flooding suppressed emergence and growth of L. hyssopifolia. Flooding to a depth of 2 cm for 4 days out of 7 days reduced seedling emergence by more than 71% and seedling dry matter by 97% compared to where the soil had not been flooded. Flooding up to a depth of 10 cm however, when delayed to 21 days after sowing, did not significantly suppress growth of this species. This study illustrates the role of seed burial by tillage and flooding as two important tools for the management of L. hyssopifolia.