ZERO TEST EMISSIONS OF SULPHUR DIOXIDE FROM LARGE COAL UNDER STAGED FLUIDIZED BED COMBUSTION

This paper reports the emissions of SO₂ from large coal under staged combustion without any additive. A stainless steel combustor, 2 m high and 0.3 × 0.3 m in cross section was used. Fluidizing air was supplied through a multihole distributor. An adjustable secondary air injector was used along the vertical axis of the combustor to introduce secondary air in the freeboard. From 0–40% of total air was injected in the freeboard above the bed. The experiments were carried out at fluidizing velocities of 1–2 m s^-1, bed temperatures of 1103–1153 °K, 20–40% excess air, and bed particle sizes of 665 μm. Bed temperature and level of air staging had the most significant effect on SO₂ emissions.     

Biological control: a sustainable and practical approach for plant disease management

ABSTRACT

This review deals with the mechanism of antagonistic action of bacterial and fungal biocontrol agents such as the production of antibiotics, siderophores, enzyme secretion, competition for nutrition, plant growth promotion by rhizosphere microorganism. The utilisation of synthetic pesticides has been the predominant control processor for diseases brought about by phytopathogenic microorganisms. Notwithstanding, their open and improper application in intensive agriculture has realised issues that have prompted ecological contamination, considerable residues in agricultural products and phytopathogen resistance. They are likewise disrupting the quantity of beneficial microorganism which is available in the soil and capable of expanding soil fertility. Along these lines, there is a need to look through the option of synthetic pesticides that are safe, environmental and monetarily feasible to confront this problem. Biocontrol agent’s utilisation is the best alternative method to control the different kinds of diseases, such as nematode infestation, fungal pathogen and bacterial pathogen. Nowadays, biocontrol agents assume a significant role in the field of agriculture. It is a financially savvy, environment-friendly and inhibits the advancement of pathogenic microorganism sustainably. This review emphasises the role of biocontrol agents against different pathogenic microorganisms and their significance potentiality to improve plant growth and enhance defence system of plants.     

INTERACTION OF BTPYRIDYLIUM HERBICIDES WITH ORGANO-CLAY COMPLEX

The adsorption of diquat (1,1′-ethylene-2,2′-bipyridylium dibromide) and paraquat (1, 1′-dimethyl-4,4′-dipyridylium dichloride) by an organo-clay complex has been investigated. Paraquat was adsorbed by the organo-clay complex in greater amounts than was diquat. Infrared studies suggest the formation of charge-transfer complexes between diquat or paraquat and the organo-clay complex. Organic matter upon interaction with clay may facilitate the adsorption of diquat and paraquat on clay minerals in soil.     

阴离子对应用于红壤中的微生物量的镉毒害的影响

A laboratory incubation experiment was conducted to elucidat the effects of associated anions on toxicity of cadmium applied to microbial biomass in the red soil. Cadmium was applied at six different levels,i.e.,O(background),5,15,30,60 and 100μg g^-1 soil in the form of either cadmium acetate or cadmium chloride. Application of cadmium as cadmium acetate markedly reduced the soil microbial biomass carbon compared to cadmium applied as cadmium chlorde at all the tested levels.Similarly,organic carbon to biomass carbon ration in the soil was markedly increased by increasing the level of the cadmium in the soil as cadmium acetate,while the change wa much smaller in the case of cadmium chloride at the same cadmium levels.The results suggested that due consideration should be given to the source of cadmium while deciding the cadmium levles in experiments.     

Analysis of variation in growth and spline-based growth models for Marecha and Lassi dromedary camels

Tropical Animal Health and Production - Camel is an important domestic animal that is well adapted to extremely harsh environments. Due to its multi-purpose role, the camel is gaining importance,...     

Effects of Phosphorus Fertilizer Source and Plant Density on Growth and Yield of Maize in Northwestern Pakistan

ABSTRACT

Phosphorus (P) fertilizer source and plant density are considered some of the most important factors affecting crop growth and yield. A field experiment was conducted to determine the impact of P source [zero-P control, DAP (diammonium phosphate), SSP (single super phosphate), and NP (nitrphos)] and plant density (D₁ = 40,000, D₂ = 60,000, D₃ = 80,000, and D₄ = 100,000 plants ha^?1) on growth and yield of maize (Zea mays L cv. Azam) on a P-deficient soil (6.6 mg P kg^?1) at New Developmental Agricultural Research Farm, North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) Agricultural University, Peshawar, Pakistan, during summer 2006 in wheat-maize cropping system. Physiological maturity was delayed, plant height was increased and leaf area was decreased significantly when maize was planted at highest (D₄) than at lowest plant density (D₁). Application of SSP resulted in earlier physiological maturity of maize than other P fertilizers. Grain and stover yield, harvest index, shelling percentage, thousand grain weight and grains ear^?1 were maximized at D₃ (80,000 plants ha^?1) and with application of P fertilizer. Highest benefit in growth and grain yield was obtained with application of DAP to maize planted at D₃. Application of DAP at D₃ gave 15, 29, and 19% higher grain yield than its application at D₁, D₂, and D₄, respectively. In conclusion, the findings suggest that growing maize at 80,000 plants ha^?1 applied with DAP can maximize productivity of maize in the wheat-maize cropping system on P-deficient soils.     

Irrigation with brackish water modifies the boron requirement of mungbean (Vigna radiata L.) on typic calciargid

The boron (B) sufficiency range for plant growth is narrow and its management is problematic under brackish irrigation water. This study was conducted to evaluate the B requirement of mungbean at different sodium adsorption ratios of irrigation waters (SAR_iw) [control, 8 and 16 (mmol_c L^?1)^1/2]. The boron adsorption characteristics of a loamy soil were first determined in the laboratory by equilibrating 2.5 g soil with 0.01 M CaCl₂ solution containing different B levels. Boron rates for a pot study were computed against different soil solution levels by fitting sorption data in a modified Freundlich model [x/m = K _f (EBC)^1/n ]. The maximum increase in shoot dry matter was 11.9% when B was applied at 1.29 mg kg^?1 soil at control SAR_iw. Visual leaf B toxicity symptoms appeared at higher B rates and became severe at higher SAR_iw. By contrast to Ca, shoot concentrations of B and Na increased significantly with B application and SAR_iw. For optimum shoot growth, internal and external B requirements were 25 mg B kg^?1 shoot dry matter and 0.39 mg B L^?1 soil solution, respectively, at control SAR_iw. At higher SAR_iw, a lower concentration of B in plant shoots and soil solution had an inhibitory effect on plant growth.