Influence of integrated nutrient management (INM) on nutrient use efficiency,soil fertility and productivity of hybrid rice

A field experiment was conducted during the two consecutive kharif seasons of 2011 and 2012 on sandy-loam lateritic soil of Indian subtropics to investigate the impact of integrated nutrient management (INM) on crop productivity, nutrient use efficiency of applied nutrients and soil fertility in restoring sustainability with hybrid rice cultivation. Application of 50% recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) + 50% recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN) through mustard oil cake (MOC) or 75% RDF + 25% RDN through MOC + biofertilizer recorded significantly higher grain and biomass yields, greater NPK removal and higher partial factor productivity of applied nutrient (PFPN) than those of the crop having 100% RDF, 100% RDN through MOC and 25% RDF + 75% RDN through MOC, which showed very poor performance. The former treatments also improved organic carbon and available NPK contents in soil in spite of greater removal of NPK by the crop. Results of study suggested integrated use of 50% RDF + 50% RDN through MOC or 75% RDF + 25% RDN through MOC + biofertilizer for increasing hybrid rice productivity, PFPN and improving soil fertility for sustainability.     

Partial Replacement of Fishmeal by Fermented Fish-Offal Meal in the Formulation of Diet for Indian Minor Carp Labeo bata

Fermented fish-offal (FO) meal was used as a protein supplement to replace fishmeal (FM) in the formulation of experimental diets for the Indian minor carp Labeo bata. The two supplementary diets, one containing 25% FM plus 25% FO and the other containing 20% FM and 30% FO, showed significantly higher digestibility, growth, and protein deposition than the reference diet containing 40% FM. Partial budgeting of diet formulation and net return revealed that 50% replacement of FM by fermented fish-offal meal rendered a total positive benefit of 134% as compared with the reference diet.     

Protection vs. commercial management: Spatial and temporal analysis of land cover changes in the tropical forests of Central India

Tropical forests worldwide are undergoing rapid changes due to increasing human populations and varied land use practices. In an effort to protect these forests and their species, the number of protected areas has increased exponentially in recent decades. Clearly protected areas play a crucial role in conservation efforts and this strategy has been found to be successful in several studies. However, protected areas are often embedded within a matrix of other land cover types, including non-protected forests, agricultural fields, or urban areas. It is therefore critical for park management to think beyond the borders of their protected areas and work to maintain ecological integrity of the surrounding matrix and the connectivity between protected areas. This study integrates remote sensing, GIS and field observations to examine the effects of different management strategies on land cover changes. As a case study we examine a tiger reserve in Central India which is surrounded by commercially managed forests, representative of many protected areas throughout India. Findings of this study show that while protected areas play an important role in conservation, alternative approaches including favorable management policies could also be effective to extend conservation over larger areas.     

Comparative nutrient utilization,growth, and rumen enzyme profile of mithun (Bos frontalis) and Tho-tho cattle (Bos indicus) fed on tree-leaves-based ration

A study was conducted to compare the nutrient utilization, growth, and rumen enzyme profile of mithun (Bos frontalis) and Tho-tho cattle (Bos indicus) reared in the same feeding and managemental conditions. For the purpose, male mithun (n = 8) and male Tho-tho cattle (n = 8) of 1.5 years age, selected from the farm of National Research Centre on Mithun, Nagaland, India, were fed on mixed-tree-leaves-based ration as per the requirement of NRC (2001) for cattle for 12 months. Average daily gain (ADG), average dry matter intake (DMI), and feed conversion ratio (FCR) for all animals were recorded. A metabolic trial was conducted at 6 months of the experiment to assess the digestibility coefficient of different nutrients and nutritive value of ration. At 12 months of the experiment, rumen liquor was collected from all animals and analyzed for rumen enzyme profiles, viz., carboxymethylcellulase, xylanase, α-amylase, β-glucosidase, α-glucosidase, urease, and protease. It was found that ADG (507.8 g vs 392.8 g), DM intake (6.59 vs 5.85 kg/day) and DMI/W^0.75 (98.75 g vs 91.00 g/day), crude protein intake (780 vs 700 g/day), and total digestible nutrient intake (3.65 vs 3.32 kg/day) were higher (p < 0.05) in mithun than cattle. The nitrogen balance was higher and FCR was better (p < 0.05) in mithun compared with cattle. The digestibility coefficient of different nutrients was similar (p > 0.05) between the species. The microbial enzyme profiles of mithun and cattle were not different (p > 0.05). The better growth performance of mithun than cattle as found in the present study clearly indicates that the mithun has higher genetic potential for growth than Tho-tho cattle of north-eastern hilly region of India.     

INTERACTION EFFECT OF POTASSIUM AND SULFUR FERTILIZATION ON PRODUCTIVITY AND MINERAL NUTRITION OF SUNNHEMP

The interactive effect of potassium (K) and sulfur (S) fertilization on productivity and mineral nutrition of sunnhemp (Crotalaria juncea L.) was evaluated in a field experiment during 2008 and 2009 cropping seasons at Uttar Pradesh, India. Potassium and sulfur fertilizers increased fiber yield and nutrient uptake of sunnhemp. It was observed that an application of K and S at 40 kg ha^?1 each significantly increased the total dry matter, fiber yield, and nutrient uptake of sunnhemp. The crop yield response to the added S was greater than for K and the nutrient use efficiency was also higher at lower levels of fertilizer addition. The increased levels of K and S improved the number of nodules and crude protein content of sunnhemp leaves.     

Impact of micronutrient seed priming on germination,growth, development,nutritional status and yield aspects of plants

The present review article is dealing with the potentiality of micronutrients in terms of seed priming treatment and its effect within the plant system is considered. Since last 3 to 4 decades various scientists are working with different planting methods and introduced several seed invigoration techniques, one of them is seed priming. Seed priming is basically a restricted hydration treatment with appropriate timing, in which seeds are treated with various types of organic and inorganic compounds. Whereas in this review, we have discussed the potential of different micronutrients in seed priming treatments for escalating crop growth, development and grain yield. Micronutrient priming has several beneficial effects in the morpho-physiological, biochemical and molecular aspects of the plants. In most cases, micronutrient application through seed treatment has astonishingly performed better than other application methods. Being an easy and cost effective method of micronutrient application, seed priming offer an attractive option for resource-poor farmers.     

Influence of indigenous inputs on the properties of old alluvial soil in a mustard cropping system

Field experiments were conducted at the Crop Research and Seed Multiplication Farm of Burdwan University, Burdwan, West Bengal, India, to evaluate the influence of integrated nutrient management on soil physicochemical properties in a mustard (Brassica campestris cv. ‘B9’) cropping system. The experiment was conducted during the winter seasons of 2011–2012 and 2012–2013 in old alluvial soil (pH 6–7). Seven different doses of biofertilizers (Azotobacter and phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB)), vermicomposts, organic (cow dung), and chemical fertilizers were applied on mustard in both the experimental seasons. The results indicated an improvement in soil quality by increasing soil porosity and water holding capacity significantly, as well as gradual build-up of the soil micronutrient status after harvesting of the crop. Dual applications of biofertilizers and vermicomposts have contributed significantly to higher soil organic matter, available nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) contents as well as micronutrient availability of iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu) and subsequently increased the soil health.     

Isolation and characterization of an Indian ORF virus from goats

Isolation and characterization of an orf virus has been described here. The virus was isolated from an outbreak of 'scabby mouth' in goats in Northern India. Viral morphology from the scab biopsy revealed typical ovoid-shaped particles characteristic of Parapoxvirus. Virus was isolated from sonicated scab suspension and characterized by restriction enzyme (RE) analysis and sequencing of full-length GM-CSF- and interleukin-2 inhibitory factor (GIF) gene. RE pattern of the virus did not show close resemblance to most of the orf viruses published earlier. However, it showed high sequence identity and closer phylogenetic relationship with previously published ORFV-SA00 strain, as evident from the nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequence of GIF gene.