Geophysical and Geochemical Approach for Seawater Intrusion Assessment in the Godavari Delta Basin, A.P., India

Coastal lands around Bay of Bengal in Central Godavari Delta are mainly agriculture fields and two times annually paddy crops putting in the study area. Canals of Godavari River are the main source of water for irrigation. Geophysical and geochemical investigations were carried out in the study area to decipher subsurface geologic formation and assessing seawater intrusion. Electrical resistivity tomographic surveys carried out in the watershed-indicated low resistivity formation in the upstream area due to the presence of thick marine clays up to thickness of 20-25?m from the surface. Secondly, the lowering of resistivity may be due to the encroachment of seawater in to freshwater zones and infiltration during tidal fluctuation through mainly the Pikaleru drain, and to some extent rarely through Kannvaram and Vasalatippa drains in the downstream area. Groundwater quality analyses were made for major ions revealed brackish nature of groundwater water at shallow depth. The in situ salinity of groundwater is around 5,000?mg/l and there is no groundwater withdrawal for irrigation or drinking purpose in this area except Cairn energy pumping wells which is using for inject brackish water into the oil wells for easy exploration of oil. Chemical analyses of groundwater samples have indicated the range of salt concentrations and correlation of geophysical and borehole litholog data in the study area predicting seawater-contaminated zones and influence of in situ salinity in the upstream of study area. The article suggested further studies and research work that can lead to sustainable exploitation/use and management of groundwater resources in coastal areas.     

A quantitative immunopolymerase chain reaction method for detection of vegetative insecticidal protein in genetically modified crops

Vegetative insecticidal protein (Vip) is being employed for transgenic expression in selected crops such as cotton, brinjal, and corn. For regulatory compliance, there is a need for a sensitive and reliable detection method, which can distinguish between approved and nonapproved genetically modified (GM) events and quantify GM contents as well. A quantitative immunopolymerase chain reaction (IPCR) method has been developed for the detection and quantification of Vip protein in GM crops. The developed assay displayed a detection limit of 1 ng/mL (1 ppb) and linear quantification range between 10 and 1000 ng/mL of Vip-S protein. The sensitivity of the assay was found to be 10 times higher than an analogous enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for Vip-S protein. The results suggest that IPCR has the potential to become a standard method to quantify GM proteins.     

Trade-off expression of melatonin receptor subtypes (Mel1a and Mel1b) and androgen receptor in lung of a tropical bird,Perdicula asiatica

The role of circulatory steroid hormone along with melatonin in lung of any seasonally breeding bird has never been explored so far. This could be interesting because steroid hormones are immunosuppressive while melatonin is immunostimulatory in nature. In our present study, we report the effect of exogenous melatonin and testosterone on expression of melatonin receptor subtypes (Mel_1a and Mel_1b) and androgen receptor in lung of a tropical bird Perdicula asiatica. Birds were collected from vicinity of Varanasi and acclimatized in laboratory with sufficient food and water. The birds were treated with melatonin and testosterone at dose of 25 µg/100 g B.wt./day and 1 mg/100 g B.wt./day, respectively, for 28 days. At the end of the experiment, the birds were sacrificed and lung tissue and blood sample were collected for immunohistochemistry, Western blot analysis and hormonal assay. Testosterone treatment increased circulatory testosterone and upregulated expression of androgen receptors whereas downregulated expression of melatonin receptor subtypes Mel_1a and Mel_1b. Melatonin administration increased peripheral melatonin and upregulated expression of melatonin receptor subtypes Mel_1a and Mel_1b while downregulated androgen receptor. Thus, our results suggest that a trade-off relationship between melatonin and testosterone exists in regulation of their receptors in lung of Perdicula asiatica.     

Production potential and competitive indices of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.) based intercropping with wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and lentil (Lens culinaris L.) under different row ratios of eastern Uttar Pradesh

A field experiment was conducted during the (rabi) seasons of 2009–2010 and 2010–2011 at the research farm, Department of Agronomy, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, to find out the suitable row ratio of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.) intercropping with wheat (1:9, 2:9, 1:6, 2:6) and lentil (1:4, 1:5, 2:4, 2:5) row ratios, respectively. The highest yield attributes of mustard were recorded with mustard + lentil (2:5), which was significantly superior to mustard + wheat (1:9) and mustard + lentil (1:5). Maximum seed yield and stover yield of mustard was recorded with mustard + lentil (2:4), which was being significant over other row ratios of mustard + wheat (1:6, 1:9, 2:9) but was at par with mustard + lentil (1:5) and mustard + wheat (2:6) row ratios. Mustard equivalent yield (3128 kg ha^?1) recorded under intercropping of mustard with wheat in 1:9 row ratio was significantly higher than sole cropping of mustard, wheat, and lentil, and other remaining intercropping systems. Intercropping of mustard with wheat in 1:9 row ratio showed the highest land equivalent ratio (1.51), aggressivity index (+0.15), net return (60,468 Rs ha^?1), and benefit:cost ratio (4.3) among all other intercropping treatments.     

Soil respiration rate and its sensitivity to temperature in pasture systems of dry-tropics

Abstract

Tree clearing is a topical issue the world over. In Queensland, the high rates of clearing in the past were mainly to increase pasture production. The present research evaluates the impact of clearing on some soil biological properties, i.e. total soil respiration, root respiration, microbial respiration, and microbial biomass (C and N), and the response of soil respiration to change in temperature.

In-field and laboratory (polyhouse) experiments were undertaken. For in-field studies, paired cleared and uncleared pasture plots were selected to represent three major tree communities of the region, i.e. Eucalyptus populnea, E. melanophloia, and Acacia harpophylla. The cleared sites were chosen to represent three different time-since-clearing durations (5, 11–13, and 33 years; n=18 for cleared and uncleared plots) to determine the temporal impact of clearing on soil biological properties. Experiments were conducted in the polyhouse to study in detail the response of soil respiration to changes in soil temperature and soil moisture, and to complement in-field studies for estimating root respiration.

The average rate of CO₂ emission was 964 g CO₂/m²/yr, with no significant difference (P<0.05) among cleared and uncleared sites. Microbial respiration and microbial biomass were greater at uncleared compared with those at cleared sites. The Q ₁₀-value of 1.42 (measured for different seasons in a year) for in-field measurements suggested a small response of soil respiration to soil temperature, possibly due to the limited availability of soil moisture and/or organic matter. However, results from the polyhouse experiment suggested greater sensitivity of root respiration to temperature change than for total soil respiration. Since root biomass (herbaceous roots) was greater at the cleared than at uncleared sites, and root respiration increased with an increase in temperature, we speculate that with rising ambient temperature and consequently soil temperature, total soil respiration in cleared pastures will increase at a faster rate than that in uncleared pastures.     

EFFECT OF NEEM-OIL COATED PRILLED UREA WITH VARYING THICKNESS OF NEEM-OIL COATING AND NITROGEN RATES ON PRODUCTIVITY AND NITROGEN-USE EFFICIENCY OF LOWLAND IRRIGATED RICE UNDER INDO-GANGETIC PLAINS

The nitrogen (N) fertilizer-use efficiency (20–50%) is low in rice fields in India. The neem-oil coated urea can increase N-use efficiency in lowland rice, but the desirable thickness of neem-oil coating onto urea is not known yet. Therefore, field experiments were conducted during kharif (rainy) season years 2004 and 2005 at the Research Farm of Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi to know the suitable thickness of neem-oil coating on prilled urea (PU) for increased N-use efficiency and yield. The treatments comprised of twelve combinations of four N sources (PU coated with neem-oil thickness of 0, 500, 1000 and 2000 mg kg^?1 PU) and three N levels (50, 100, and 150 kg N ha^?1) plus a no-N control. Prilled urea (PU) refers to the common urea available commercially in prills, which is different from urea super granules. Application of urea coated with neem-oil thickness of 1000 mg kg^?1 PU resulted in significantly higher growth, yield parameters, grain yield, N uptake, and efficiency of aromatic rice (Oryza sativa L.) over uncoated PU. Nitrogen application at 122 kg ha^?1 was optimum for increased yield of rice. Nitrogen-use efficiency decreased significantly and substantially with each successive increase in levels of N from 50 to 150 kg ha^?1.     

Plant-derived ribosome-inactivating proteins involved in defense against plant viruses

European Journal of Plant Pathology - Plant viruses are the most serious pathogens causing severe damage to crops worldwide. A variety of conventional strategies are currently being employed to...     

Comparative analysis of mechanical properties of size film. I. Performance of individual size materials

Starch has been the most popular and economic size material. Synthetic binders have also been developed to be used as size material to improve weaving loom efficiency. Some synthetic size materials have got restrictions in use mainly because of ecological reasons. In the recent years, many modifications have come up in the starch as a sizing agent. Different modification can give different properties, which can be suited for a particular application. In the present study, for comparative analysis of different varieties of natural starch, modified starch and synthetic size material have been evaluated and mechanical properties like cohesion power, adhesion power, abrasion resistance, bending rigidity etc. were studied. PVA shows best properties among all size material. Among modified starch, starch ester shows better properties.     

Comparative analysis of mechanical properties of size film. II. Effect of blend composition and lubricants

The advent of very high speed shuttleless looms has increased the importance of sizing. Starch has been the most popular and economic size material. Synthetic binders are also being blended with starch to improve weaving loom efficiency. Blending may lead to give different properties, which can be suited for particular application. In the present study effect of blend composition in modified starch and synthetic size blends have been evaluated and mechanical properties like cohesion power, adhesion power, abrasion resistance, bending rigidity etc were studied. In general, it is being observed that paste characteristics and film properties of polyester resin blends are better but because of economic reasons PVA and acrylic polymers are preferred. In this study the effect of lubricant is also observed. It is analyzed that lubricant improves the various mechanical properties and hence the weaving performance of the material.