Agronomic bio-fortification and quality enhancement in okra–pea cropping system through arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi at varying phosphorus and irrigation regimes in Himalayan acid alfisol

A field experimentation was conducted during 2009-2011 at CSK Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University, Palampur, India characterized with wet-temperate climate and acid Alfisol soil having medium available phosphorus content. The study aimed at bio-fortification and quality enhancement of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus)–pea (Pisum sativum) cropping system through arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) (Glomus mosseae) at varying inorganic phosphorus (50, 75, and 100% soil-test-based recommended P dose) and irrigation regimes (40 and 80% available water capacity) in a Himalayan acid Alfisol. The results revealed that AMF and inorganic P significantly enhanced the concentrations and uptake of various primary [nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K)]; secondary [calcium (Ca)]; and micronutrients [iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), boron (B), and molybdenum (Mo)] in okra and pea crops. However, effects of varying irrigation regimes were found to be nominal. In okra, AMF inoculation considerably enhanced N, P, K, B, and Mo uptake by 5, 19, 3, 4, and 15%, respectively, over their non-AMF counterparts. Likewise in pea, a higher amount of N (10%), P (26%), K (7%), Fe (7%), Cu (38%), Zn (20%), Mn (4%), B (7%), and Mo (13%) uptake was registered through AMF inoculation over their non-AMF counterparts. Application of soil-test-based P dose from 50% to 100% P also resulted in significant and consistent improvement in N, P, K, B, and Mo uptake both in okra and pea and in Zn, Cu, Mn, and Fe uptake in pea crop. Magnitude of increase in Ca content was to the tune of 13 and 4%, respectively, in okra fruits and pea pods following AMF inoculation, whereas crude protein content enhanced by 4% each in both the crops. Overall, the current study demonstrates the important role of AMF in nutrient enrichment and quality enhancement of okra and pea crops in acid Alfisol, besides considerable reduction in investment on chemical fertilizers. Results of current study suggest that AMF use in Himalayan production systems is of tremendous significance to harvest nutritionally-rich farm produce for Himalayan communities suffering from malnutrition especially anemia and Zn deficiency, and equally to resource-poor Himalayan farmers who ill-afford expensive external inputs.     

Scaling-up of boron sources for yield and quality of large seeded peanut cultivars under varied agro-ecological conditions in India

Boron (B) deficiency is a common factor in light-textured soils causing poor pod filling and yield in large seeded peanut. Field trials were conducted in soils having 0.20–0.45 mg kg^?1 available B to find out the effectiveness of commercial-grade B sources in large seeded peanuts. B application induced early flowering, increased pods, yield and yield attributes, shelling and 100-seed weight. Soil application of 2.0 kg B ha^?1 as commercial-grade Agricol, Solubor and Borosol increased these parameters to a similar degree as obtained by borax, but were superior over their foliar applications. Similarly, the responses of foliar applications of 1.0 kg B ha^?1 as Chemiebor, Solubor and Borosol were more effective in humid areas. However, foliar applications led to scorching of peanut leaves during dry weather. Thus, soil application of 2.0 kg B ha^?1 is essential to enhance productivity and pod filling in large seeded peanut.     

Infrared Thermal Imaging: A Practical Educational Tool to Improve Smallholder Farmer Postharvest Practice in Fiji

Here we discuss the novel application of handheld infrared thermal imagery as a learning tool to help smallholder farmers improve postharvest temperature management. Farmers in the Fiji Islands were trained in using a handheld thermal camera to view a series of on-farm demonstrations highlighting the consequence of poor postharvest practice. We observed that smallholder farmers accurately interpreted thermal imagery and the implication of poor practices. Our results showed thermal imagery has the potential to better communicate fundamental concepts of postharvest management. The availability of a range of iPhone, iPad, and Android platforms also means this technology can be widely accessible.     

Comparative cytotoxicity evaluation of lanthanide nanomaterials on mouse and human cell lines with metabolic and DNA-quantification assays

Lanthanide nanomaterials are considered a less toxic alternative to quantum dots for bioimaging applications. This study evaluated the cytotoxicity of terbium (Tb)-doped gadolinium oxide (Gd(2)O(3)) and dysprosium oxide (Dy(2)O(3)) nanoparticles exposed to human (BEAS-2B) and mouse (L929) cell lines at a concentration range of 200-2000?μg/ml for 48 h. Two assay methods were utilized-WST-8 assay (colorimetric) based on mitochondrial metabolic activity and Pico-Green assay (fluorescence), which measures total DNA content. The authors' data showed that Tb-doped Gd(2)O(3) nanoparticles were consistently more toxic than Tb-doped Dy(2)O(3) nanoparticles. However, exposure to these nanomaterials caused a decrease in proliferation rate for both cell lines rather than a net loss of viable cells after 48 h of exposure. Additionally, there was some degree of discrepancy observed with the two assay methods. For the mouse L929 cell line, the WST-8 assay yielded consistently lower proliferation rates compared to the Pico-Green assay, whereas the opposite trend was observed for the human BEAS-2B cell line. This could arise because of the differential effects of these nanoparticles on the metabolism of L929 and BEAS-2B cells, which in turn may translate to differences in their postexposure proliferation rates. Hence, the Pico-Green assay could have an advantage over the WST-8 assay because it is not skewed by the differential effects of nanomaterials on cellular metabolism.     

Root activity of young <Emphasis Type="Italic">Acacia mangium</Emphasis> Willd trees: influence of stand density and pruning as studied by <Superscript>32</Superscript>P soil injection technique

Initial spacing and pruning are silvicultural strategies that influence the resource acquisition capabilities of trees. A field study was conducted in the humid tropics of peninsular India to test the assumptions that: (1) high stand density of Acacia mangium induces greater root uptake capacity close to the stem and from the subsoil; and (2) crown pruning stimulates greater root uptake capacity at proximal points. Root activity pattern of two-year-old A. mangium was evaluated as a function of three population densities (1,250, 2,500 and 5,000 stems ha⁻¹), with, and without 50% crown pruning, using ³²P soil injection. The label was placed at 25, 50 and 75 cm lateral distances and at 30 and 60 cm depth. Low density stands (1,250 stems ha⁻¹) generally showed higher ³²P recovery (P < 0.01), which was exaggerated by pruning. Pruned low density stands had 34% root activity at 25 cm, as against 23% for unpruned. The low density stands also showed higher root activity at 75 cm, signifying greater root spread. We suggest that high stem densities favour restricted spread of absorbing roots and may facilitate competitive downward displacement of roots. Pruning the lateral shoots at low stem densities may simulate this to some extent. The net outcome of interactions, however, will depend on trade-offs between stem density and tree management over time.     

Effect of tillage and nutrient management on wheat productivity and quality in Haryana, India

This article reports on field experiments with 4 different rotations that are commonly used throughout Haryana in NW India (rice-wheat, cotton-wheat, pearl millet-wheat, cluster bean-wheat), where we assess wheat yield and chapatti quality measures with different crop establishment methods and input of micronutrients. In a series of experiments conducted on farmers’ fields in 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 winter seasons, the addition of micronutrients and sulphur to wheat crops was used alongside the use of a common farmer practice, the use of farmyard manure (FM) and best practice inputs of N-fertilizer (150 kg N ha⁻¹), P-fertilizer (26 kg P ha⁻¹) and K-fertilizer (33 kg K ha⁻¹). The application of FM with the recommended NPK treatment produced 9-13% more grain yield in the rice-wheat rotation when compared with the recommended NPK only treatment. Given that the farm sites used here had low levels of soil P, this may suggest that the recommended rate of 26 kg P ha⁻¹ for the rice-wheat rotation is too low. The addition of FM did not improve any grain quality outcomes at any of the sites. There were no yield responses with S application with any of the rotations but the S input resulted in more wheat protein from all sites (average 8%). The addition of S also gave similar increases in grain hardness and the chapatti score. The inclusion of micronutrients (boron, copper, iron, zinc and manganese) with the recommended NPK treatment did not increase the grain yield at any of the sites when compared with the recommended NPK treatment, and sometimes, but not consistently, gave small responses with protein, grain hardness and chapatti score. In concurrent experiments wheat growth and chapatti quality were compared in zero till and conventionally sown systems, and with and without S fertilizer amendment. Here too there were no grain yield responses to S, and the protein, grain hardness and chapatti score were increased with S addition. Grain yields with zero till and conventional wheat were similar in the rice-wheat system and zero till sowing resulted in small increases in yield at all of the non-rice sites. The grain from the zero till treatments had higher protein (1-3%), grain hardness (3-10%) and chapatti score from all 4 rotations. Zero till has substantial adoption in the rice-wheat districts of Haryana but little farmer awareness and adoption in the areas where the other rotations are used. The data given here show that with zero tillage and an integrated practice of nutrient management farmers in Haryana can maintain grain yields of wheat whilst improving quality outcomes.     

Evaluation of quality of beef produced and sold in parts of Tigray Region of Ethiopia

Microbiological and physical quality of 83 samples of beef produced and marketed in some parts of Tigray region of Ethiopia were evaluated. The color, marbling, pH, bleeding status and aerobic plate count (APC) were within permissible limits in 35(42.16%), 47(56.63%), 51 (61.44%), 13(15.66%) and 20(24.09%) samples, respectively. Based on these parameters, a high percentage of samples (varying from 38.56%–84.34%) were of unsatisfactory quality. Such a widespread imperfect bleeding (84.34%) and high APC (75.91%) emphasize the need to improve the techniques of bleeding and hygienic conditions at the time of production of meat at abattoir and its marketing.     

Polymorphism of BMPR1B,BMP15 and GDF9 fecundity genes in prolific Garole sheep

Tropical Animal Health and Production - Mutation studies in different prolific sheep breeds have shown that the transforming growth factor beta super family ligands viz. the growth differentiation...     

印度西部5种热带干落叶林中凋落物中生物元素和返回到绿叶中的季节性变化(英文)

本文对印度西部5种热带干落叶林中凋落物里生物元素的季节性变化和它们返回到新鲜叶中季节性变化进行研究。对5个树种:阿拉伯金合欢(Acacia nilotica L.)、金合欢(Acacia leucophloea Roxb.)、柚木(Tectonagrandis L.f.)、绒毛野独活(Miliusa tomentosa Roxb.)和紫矿(Butea mono-sperma Lain.)中凋落物的成熟叶、枝和再生部分的N、P、Ca、Mg、K和Na的浓度,以及老叶和幼叶中浓度间的关系进行调查。对这些树种的总干物质进行记录,并分析它们所含的N、P、Ca、Mg、K和Na的含量。其中阿拉伯金合欢叶子中N的含量最高,而金合欢的叶子里Ca和Mg含量最高。叶中含P最多的是阿托伯金合欢、金合欢和紫矿,而含P最少的是柚木和绒毛野独活。K和Na含量在这些树种中没有明显的区别。观察发现,N、P和K的浓度随季节变化大,但Ca和Mg则不然。唯有钾在所有树种中都是最稳定的,吸收N和P可以用于来年新叶的生长。从老叶和凋落物中吸收的营养会支持新叶的生长,并增加土壤的肥力。图1表4参30。     

利用卫星遥感和GIS技术测定印度切蒂斯格尔地区干旱热带森林的土地利用、生物量和碳贮量

2001-2002年间,利用卫星遥感和GIS技术研究印度切蒂斯格尔邦的赖布尔地区干旱热带森林的土地利用、生物量和碳贮量情况。主要森林类型为:柚木森林、混合林、衰退森林和婆罗双树混交林。在这些不同森林类型中,立地的坡度和坡面影响森林植被类型、生物量和碳贮量。不同森林类型中,木材积蓄积量、生物量和碳贮量的变化范围分别为:35.59～64.31 m3·hm-2、45.94～78.31Mg·hm-2和22.97～33.27Mg·hm-2。混合林中每公顷的木材蓄积量、生物量和碳贮量最大,衰退森林中的最低。混合林、柚木森林、衰退森林和婆罗双树混交林的总碳量分别为8170.72 Mg、81656.91 Mg、7833.23 Mg和7470.45 Mg。蒂斯格尔邦地区干旱热带森林处于不成熟的生长阶段,且具有很强的碳回收潜力。图6表7参49。