Removal of Zn2+ from Aqueous Solution using Castor Seed Hull

The effects of various experimental parameters on adsorption of Zn²⁺ metal ion from its aqueous solution by castor seed hull and also by activated carbon have been investigated using batch adsorption experiments. It has been found that the amount of zinc adsorbed per unit mass of the hull increases with the initial metal ion concentration, contact time, solution pH and with the amount of the adsorbent. Kinetic experiments clearly indicate that adsorption of zinc on both castor hull and activated carbon is a three-step process??a rapid adsorption of the metal ion, a transition phase, and an almost flat plateau. This has also been confirmed by the intraparticle diffusion model. It has also been found that the zinc adsorption process followed pseudo-second order kinetics. The kinetic parameters including rate constants have been determined at different initial metal ion concentration, pH, amount, and type of adsorbent, respectively. The Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherm models have been used to interpret the equilibrium adsorption data. The Langmuir model yields better correlation coefficients. The monolayer adsorption capacities (q _m ) of castor hull and activated carbon have been compared with those for others reported in the literature. The value of separation factor (R _L ) derived from the Langmuir model gives an indication of favorable adsorption. Finally, from comparative studies, it has been found that castor hull is a potentially attractive adsorbent as compared to commercial activated carbon for the removal of zinc from aqueus effluents.     

Growth,Nutritional, and Yield Parameters of Wetland Rice as Influenced by Microbial Consortia Under Controlled Conditions

A pot culture experiment was undertaken under controlled conditions in the National Phytotron Facility to investigate the interactive effect of microbial inoculants—blue-green algae (BGA), Azospirillum, phosphate-solubilizing bacterium (PSB) Pseudomonas striata, vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (VAMF), and Azolla, individually and in combination with chemical fertilizers and/rock phosphate on the wetland rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivar ‘PNR 381’. The microbial inoculants—BGA, PSB, VAMF, and Azospirillum—positively interacted with one another, resulting in significant improvement in yield and nutritional parameters. Application of biofertilizers also substantially improved soil (peat) fertility status by increasing the nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P), and organic carbon content. The biofertilizer combination BGA + PSB + VAMF + Azospirillum was best for improved growth and yield traits, nutritional status of rice, and sustained soil (peat) fertility. Azolla, which is a highly competitive organism, suppressed the growth of the other four inoculants. The inclusion of VAMF and PSB was observed to significantly improve the zinc nutrition of the paddy and the P utilization of the applied rock phosphate. A basal dose of nitrogenous fertilizer was essential for deriving maximum benefits from applied inoculants, thereby underlying the supplementary/complementary role of biofertilizers in efficient nutrient management in agriculture.     

Fatty acid and carotenoid composition of eggs from two nonanadromous Atlantic salmon stocks of cultured and wild origin

Two Swedish landlocked (nonanadromous) salmon (Salmo salar) stocks were investigated with the aim of characterising their egg fatty acid (FA) and carotenoid profiles. Fish from one of the stocks were also cultured over the past few decades as part of the Swedish program for genetic preservation, allowing a comparison between the eggs from females on a diet based on lipids of limnic (natural food chain) origin and eggs from females fed an artificial diet of marine origin. No significant differences in the FA profile of the phospholipid (PL) or triacylglycerol (TAG) fraction were found between the two wild stocks. The content of EPA (20:5n-3, eicosapentaenoic acid) in PL fraction was significantly higher in eggs from cultured females (13.0%) compared with eggs from both wild stocks (5.7 and 6.4%). Further, in PL fraction, AA (20:4n-6, arachidonic acid) levels in these eggs were significantly lower (2.4% versus 6.7 and 6.2%). The AA content of the TAG fraction differed greatly between wild (4.4 and 4.9%) and cultured (1.2%) eggs, whereas this fraction showed almost no corresponding difference in EPA content. The level of DHA (22:6n-3, docosahexaenoic acid) did not differ between the two wild stocks or between wild and cultured fish. This was in spite of widely different levels of DHA in the diet. The composition of carotenoids was altered in the cultured eggs which had a higher proportion and higher content (1.16 g egg^–1) of astaxanthin than the wild eggs (0.56 and 0.62 g egg^–1, respectively). Hatching success varied markedly between wild (>95%) and cultured fish (40–75%). We conclude that changes in the lipid source in the diet of female salmon during gonadal maturation will alter the egg fatty acid composition with an increased risk of disturbances in embryonic development as a consequence. Further, the lack of any difference between wild and cultured females in terms of their egg DHA content indicates that there is a strong genetic influence on levels of this fatty acid in salmon eggs.     

Plant diversity, population structure, and regeneration status in disturbed tropical forests in Assam, northeast India

We investigated the plant population structure and the phy-tosociological and regeneration status in two disturbed tropical forests in Assam Province, the Hojai Reserve Forest and Kumorakata Reserve Fo...     

Broadening the genetic base of lentil cultivars through inter‐sub‐specific and interspecific crosses of Lens taxa

Wild Lens taxa are invaluable sources of useful traits for broadening genetic base of cultivated lentil. Nine inter‐sub‐specific and interspecific crosses were made successfully between cultivated (Lens culinaris ssp. culinaris) and wild lentils (L. culinaris ssp. orientalis, odemensis, lamottei and ervoides). The effect of species groups, day length and temperature on crossability in lentils was evident under normal winter sowing in New Delhi and in summer Himalayan nursery at Sangla in Himachal Pradesh, India, although pollen fertility assessed in all the cross‐combinations showed no significant variation. True hybridity of nine inter‐sub‐specific and interspecific crosses was confirmed through morphological and molecular (ISSR) markers, in which three of 120 primers could confirm the hybridity of all the crosses. All cross‐combinations were also studied for important quantitative traits related to yield. The range, mean and coefficient of variation were estimated in parental lines, F₁ and F₂ generations to determine the extent of variability generated in cultivated lentils through the introgression of genes from wild L. taxa. A high level of heterosis was observed in F₁ crosses for important traits studied. Substantially higher variations for seed yield and its attributing traits were exhibited in F₂ generations indicating transgressive segregation. The results of the present investigation revealed that wild L. taxa can be successfully exploited for lentil improvement programmes, and the variations generated could be easily utilized for broadening the genetic base of cultivated lentil gene pool for improving the yield as well as wider adaptation.     

Concentrations of Free and Conjugated Estrogens at Different Landscape Positions in an Agricultural Watershed Receiving Poultry Litter

Animal hormones can enter the aquatic environment along with runoff as a result of manure or litter application on agricultural landscapes. Our understanding of the transport of these hormones and their concentrations at various points along the watershed drainage is however limited. We investigated the transport of naturally produced poultry hormones in an agricultural watershed located on coastal plain soils of Delaware receiving land application of raw poultry manure. The objective of this study was to determine the concentrations of free and conjugated forms of estrogens in agricultural runoff at selected landscape positions in the agricultural watershed. Estrogen concentrations were determined for surface water, soil water, and runoff sediment. Estrogen forms that were analyzed were: Estrone (E1), Estradiol (E2?? and E2??), Estriol (E3), and their sulfate and glucuronide conjugates. Poultry litter application occurred at a rate of 9 Mg ha^?1 in early spring (April 2010). Sampling was performed for surface runoff, subsurface drainage, and sediment for nine storm events extending over 187 days before and after manure application (March?COctober 2010). Runoff was collected from the field edge, upland and lowland riparian positions and from the stream. Samples were analyzed by for liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Concentrations of estrogens were low (<20 ng l^?1) for most of the samples and decreased from the field edge into the riparian zone. Estrogens were not detected in soil water and runoff sediments. Overall, this study suggests that manure application practices at our sites in Delaware such as incorporation of litter into the soil likely reduced the concentrations of estrogens in runoff and reduced the threat posed to aquatic ecosystems.     

Thyroid hormone modulation of ovarian recrudescence of air-breathing catfish Clarias gariepinus

In the present study, thiourea-induced thyroid hormone depletion and thyroxine (T₄) ‘overdose’ were used as a strategy to understand the influence of thyroid hormones on ovarian recrudescence of juvenile (3-months-old), immature (8-months-old) and adult (1-year-old) air-breathing catfish, Clarias gariepinus. Thiourea-induced thyroid hormone depletion in juvenile catfish impaired ovarian development, but no significant effect was observed in immature catfish and during late stage of ovarian recrudescence of mature catfish. T₄ treatment in females undergoing late stages of ovarian recrudescence induced rapid oocyte growth by promoting its early entry into maturational phase as evident from the presence of more number of vitellogenic and post-vitellogenic follicles, decrease in aromatse immunoreactivity and reduced estradiol–17β levels. Hence, thyroid hormones have an important role to play during early stages of ovarian development and vitellogenesis of catfish and also indicating that thyroid has a stage dependent effect on ovary.     

Management practices of macronutrients for potato for smallholder farming system at alluvial soil (Entisols) of India

In the present study, seven fertilizer treatments [T₁, 50% NPK; T₂, 100% NPK (Recommended dose of fertilizer, 200–65.4–124.5 kg N-P-K ha^?1); T₃, 150% NPK; T₄, 100% PK; T₅, 100% NK; T₆, 100% NP and T₇, control (zero NPK)] with four replications were assessed in the new alluvial soil zone (Entisols) of West Bengal, India. The objectives of the study were to generate information on potato productivity, profitability, indigenous nutrient supply and net gain/loss of NPK in post-harvest soil. Plants grown under higher NPK supply resulted in higher tuber yield and there were significant (p ≤ 0.05) reductions in total yield with nutrient omissions. Nutrient?limited yields were 19.78, 2.83 and 1.77 t ha^?1 for N, P and K, considering total tuber yield (28.24 t ha^?1) obtained under 100% NPK as targeted yield. Indigenous nutrient supply of N, P and K were estimated at 24.1, 22.34 and 110.22 kg ha^?1, respectively that indicates higher K?supplying capacity of experimental soil as compared to N and P. Net income (US$1349 ha^?1 year^?1) and B:C ratio (1.91) was highest with 100% NPK, and further addition of NPK (150%) resulted in decrease on net return (US$1193 ha^?1 year^?1) and B:C ratio (1.73).     

A glimpse into the compatibilities and conflicts between arthropods and fungal biological control agents of aquatic weed waterhyacinth

Interspecific interactions play an important role in ecosystem functioning. Several biocontrol agents are being introduced for the control of invasive species like the aquatic macrophyte, waterhyacinth, Eichhornia crassipes, in the hope of improving the eco-friendly natural control mechanism. Due to their overlapping niches, interspecific interactions among the biocontrol agents is high and there is a paucity of information on possible positive or negative impact they may have on each other hence affecting the biocontrol. Therefore studies on their interaction become even more important. In order to understand such possibilities, three potential fungi, Fusarium oxysporum (FO), F. roseum (FR), Paradendryphiella salina (PS) and two host-specific arthropods Orthogalumna terebrantis (OT) and Neochetina bruchi (NB) were applied on water hyacinth plants singly and in various combinations (OT, NB, FO, FO + OT, FO + NB, FR, FR + OT, FR + NB, PS, PS + OT, PS + NB). Observations were made on percentage damage caused by these agents to water hyacinth. Biocontrol agents applied in combination had cumulative impact on the target weed. FO + NB and FO + OT treated plants showed enhanced damage percentage of about 90%, after 120 h. But FR + NB and PS + NB treated plants were far less damaged compared to when these agents were applied separately. PS also had a repelling effect on NB. Results of such interactions are often variable and less predictable, especially under field conditions. These results demonstrate the need for studies on biotic interactions among biocontrol agents, prior to release of the biocontrol agents of weeds.     

Arsenic contamination in cropping systems under varying irrigation sources in the deltaic plain of India

A field experiment was conducted in an arsenic endemic area of West Bengal, India (22°57?N, 89°33?E) in 2010–2012 to understand different prevalent cropping systems of the area as to nature of arsenic uptake by the crops and influence of different sources of irrigation water. The experiment was laid out in split plot design consisting two irrigation managements [I₁: irrigation with shallow tube well (STW) and I₂: irrigation from harvested pond water (PW)] in main plot and four cropping systems in sub plot were C₁: pea- summer rice- cowpea, C₂: potato- green gram- elephant foot yam (EFY), C₃: wheat- jute- winter rice and C₄: French bean- sesame- winter rice. Irrigation from PW recorded less arsenic uptake compared to STW. Arsenic uptake was minimum with French bean- sesame- winter rice (C₄), followed by potato – green gram – EFY (C₂). System equivalent yield was the highest with C₂. The highest return was recorded with C₂ and the return per dollar (USD) investment was the maximum with C₁, followed by C₂. Potato- green gram- EFY (C₂) proved to be the better option for the farmers in arsenic contaminated area with greater yield potential, highest return per dollar investment and less arsenic uptake.