Immunopathological changes in cadmium-treated rats.

Rats treated with cadmium developed an interstitial pneumonitis with intraalveolar hemorrhage. In the spleen there was marked germinal center formation containing reactive B-cells. Lesions of the kidneys resembled those found in cadmium poisoning in man, primarily a proliferative glomerulonephritis.     

An inventory of salt-affected soils and waterlogged areas in the Nagarjunsagar Canal Command Area of southern India,using space-borne multispectral data

Information is presented on the nature, extent and spatial distribution of waterlogged areas and salt-affected soils, derived through systematic visual interpretation of standard false colour composite (FCC) prints on a 1:100 000 scale generated from the Indian Remote Sensing Satellite (IRS-1B) Linear Imaging Self-scanning Sensor (LISS-I) and Landsat–Thematic Mapper (TM) data for the Nagarjunsagar Right Bank Canal Command Area, Andhra Pradesh. A total of 1710 ha of land in the coastal region has been found to be waterlogged. Salt-affected soils cover an area of 42 800 ha, with saline–sodic soils covering 28 480 ha emerging as the dominant category. To make optimal use of these lands and to prevent further degradation both preventive and ameliorative measures have been advocated. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Influence of industrial wastes on physico-chemical properties of soil and germination and mineral composition of wheat

The effect of chemical effluents discharged from a chemical and fertilizer factory on physicochemical properties of soil and germination and mineral composition of wheat was studied at Varanasi, India. Forty times higher concentration of Na was observed in the effluent than that of the nearby well water. It showed a positive (significant) correlation with Na and a negative (significant) with K and Ca of the soil. Cation exchange capacity (CEC), porosity and water holding capacity were reduced by effluent affected soil. the germination percentage of wheat was negatively correlated with the Na of effluent and Na+Mg/Ca of the soil. A significant (positive) correlation existed between Na of effluent and Na content of the plants. Calcium percentage on the other hand, exhibited a reverse trend.     

Effect of cropping system on production and chemical and biological properties of soil

A field study was carried out at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India, for three crop years (2000–2001 to 2003–2004) to find out the effect of cropping systems on the production and chemical and biological properties of soil. Rice-potato-mungbean cropping system gave 59–89% higher productivity, 30–46% higher protein yield, 18–38% higher energy output and resulted in 7–16% higher available P, 60% higher fungi population, 15% higher actinomycetes population, 14% higher microbial biomass and 3% higher CO₂ evolution in soil than rice-wheat cropping system. Rice-rapeseed-mungbean cropping system also gave 12–15% higher productivity, 19–26% higher protein yield and resulted in 11–18% higher available P, 65% higher fungi population, 22% higher actinomycetes population, 12% higher microbial biomass and 2% higher CO₂ evolution in soil than rice-wheat cropping system. However, the rice-potato-mungbean cropping system was significantly superior to the rice-rapeseed-mungbean cropping system in productivity, protein yield and energy output and thus recommended as in alternative to rice-wheat cropping system.     

RELATIVE EFFICIENCY OF DIAMMONIUM PHOSPHATE AND MUSSOORIE ROCK PHOSPHATE PLUS PHOSPHATE SOLUBILIZING BACTERIA ON PRODUCTIVITY AND PHOSPHORUS BALANCE IN RICE-POTATO-MUNGBEAN CROPPING SYSTEM

Field experiments were conducted at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India for three years from 2001–2002 to 2003–2004 to study the relative efficiency of diammonium phosphate (DAP) and mussoorie rock phosphate (MRP) in a rice-potato-mungbean cropping system. Phosphorus application significantly increased productivity, protein yield and energy output of rice-potato-mungbean cropping system and resulted in an increase in 0.5 M sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃) extractable phosphorus (P) content in soil. The MRP at 35 kg P ha^?1 was at par with 17.5 kg P ha^?1 as DAP in terms of productivity, protein yield, and energy output but significantly superior in terms of PSB population in soil. Phosphorus balance (application – crop removal) was generally more positive for MRP than DAP and the highest with an application of 52.5 kg P ha^?1 as MRP. Present study indicates that P requirement of a rice-potato-mungbean cropping system can be met with 76–79% higher dose of MRP as compared to DAP.     

A Study on Identification of Agronomical Methods for Raising Seed Production in Buffel Grass (Cenchrus ciliaris)

Field trials were conducted at Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi to find out appropriate agronomical technique, as method of planting, sowing date, time and dose of nitrogen application and synergistic effect of companion crops. Results demonstrated that (i) six weeks old seedlings of Cenchrus ciliaris have good vigour potential for vegetative propagation, (ii) its planting is most appropriate in last week of June, (iii) it requires 80 kg N in split doses (40 kg N at sowing and 40 kg N 30 days after sowing) and (iv) seed yielding potential of Cenchrus ciliaris further increased with companion crop of Sesame ( Sesamum indicum ). Thus it is pointed out that these agronomical requirement is necessary for reaping potential seed yield of Cenchrus ciliaris.     

Effect of irradiated Ascaridia galli eggs on growth and cell-mediated immune responses in chickens

Growth and cell-mediated immune (CMI) responses were studied in 7-day-old chicks given orally 1000 irradiated (12.5 kR) or normal infective eggs of Ascaridia galli. Chicks immunised with irradiated eggs showed normal weight gains. CMI responses, as assessed by dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB)-induced contact and delayed hypersensitivity reactions, were enhanced in the immunised group as compared with healthy controls, suggesting stimulation of CMI responses due to irradiation of A. galli eggs. CMI as well as growth responses were, however, found to be depressed in the birds administered normal infective eggs of A. galli. The present study highlights the role of the CMI response in protection against A. galli infection.     

Soil hydrophysical properties under different nutrient management practices,their relationship with soil organic carbon fractions and crop yield under pigeonpea-wheat sequence

Soil physical degradation is one of the serious production constraints in the Indo-Gangetic Plain region. The present investigation was undertaken to study the effect of different nutrient management practices involving the use of fertilizer NPK alone or in combination with Farm Yard Manure (FYM), sulphitation pressmud (SPM), or induced defoliation (ID, imposed in pigeonpea through foliar spray of 10% urea solution at physiological maturity) on soil hydrophysical properties of a Typic Haplustepts under pigeonpea-wheat sequence, in a field experiment that continued for 5 years at IARI, New Delhi. Fertilizer NPK at recommended rate to both the crops resulted in a significant increase in macroaggregates, mean weight diameter, geometric mean diameter, water-stable aggregates, and saturated hydraulic conductivity in surface soil. Conjoint use of fertilizers, organic manures, and ID also decreased soil bulk density (0–15?cm) significantly over control. Effectiveness of organics and ID in improving soil physical environment was in the order: FYM?>?ID?>?SPM.     

Dose-Response on the Chemopreventive Effects of Sarcophine-Diol on UVB-Induced Skin Tumor Development in SKH-1 Hairless Mice

Sarcophine-diol (SD) is a lactone ring-opened analogue of sarcophine. It has shown chemopreventive effects on chemically-induced skin tumor development in female CD-1 mice, as well as in a UVB-induced skin tumor development model in hairless SKH-1 mice at a dose of 30 μg SD applied topically and 180 mJ/cm² UVB. The objective of this study was to determine the dose-response on the chemopreventive effects of SD on SKH-1 hairless mice when exposed to a UVB radiation dose of 30 mJ/cm². This UVB dose better represents chronic human skin exposure to sunlight leading to skin cancer than previous studies applying much higher UVB doses. Carcinogenesis was initiated and promoted by UVB radiation. Female hairless SKH-1 mice were divided into five groups. The control group was topically treated with 200 μL of acetone (vehicle), and the SD treatment groups were topically treated with SD (30 μg, 45 μg, and 60 μg dissolved in 200 μL of acetone) 1 h before UVB radiation (30 mJ/cm²). The last group of animals received 60 μg SD/200 μL acetone without UVB exposure. These treatments were continued for 27 weeks. Tumor multiplicity and tumor volumes were recorded on a weekly basis for 27 weeks. Weight gain and any signs of toxicity were also closely monitored. Histological characteristics and the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) were evaluated in the mice skin collected at the end of the experiment. The dose-response study proved a modest increase in chemopreventive effects with the increase in SD dose. SD reduced the number of cells positively stained with PCNA proliferation marker in mice skin. The study also showed that SD application without UVB exposure has no effect on the structure of skin. The results from this study suggest that broader range doses of SD are necessary to improve the chemopreventive effects.