Evaluation of MSW Compost as a Component of Integrated Nutrient Management in Wetland Rice

The potential of municipal solid waste compost (MSWC) was evaluated for rice cultivar, IET- 1444, during the wet seasons of 1997-99. Field experiments were conducted at the Agriculture Experimental Farm of Calcutta University, West Bengal, India using MSWC and cow dung manure (CDM), with or without urea (U), and fertilizers (F). Dry matter accumulation was highest with CDM + U, followed, in a descending order, by MSWC + U and F. Panicle length was largest and thousand–grain-weight were highest for F. Application of CDM alone gave 30% higher grain yield over MSWC but the latter, along with urea, increased grain yield by 49% over MSWC alone. Uptake of N by straw and grain was significantly higher with CDM as compared to MSWC. Percent N recovery was higher when fertilizer in the form of urea was applied with either CDM or MSWC. Uptake of heavy metals (Zn, Cu, and Pb) by straw and grain of rice was lower with the application of MSWC alone than with the other treatments except control. Uptake of Cd was below detection limit. There was no significant variation between the physico-chemical properties of soil due to the application of these treatments. Results indicated that MSWC application to rice was effective and safe to be used as an alternative organic supplement.     

Antimicrobial activity of Eupatorium ayapana

Petroleum ether and methanolic extracts of leaves of Eupatorium ayapana were tested for their antimicrobial activity. The petroleum ether extract showed higher antibacterial and antifungal activity than the methanolic extract.     

Antibacterial activity of Urena lobata root.

The methanol extract of Urena lobata root showed a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity.     

Relative Agronomic Effectiveness of phosphate rocks and P adsorption characteristics of an Oxic Rhodustalf in Eastern India

The Relative Agronomic Effectiveness (RAE) of rock phosphates as compared to water soluble Triple Super Phosphate was measured on direct, residual, and cumulative application of the P fertilizers in a field experiment with rice on an Oxic‐Rhodustalf in the eastern plateau region of India. The fertilizers were Morocco Rock Phosphate (MORP), Mussoorie Rock Phosphate (MRP), Partially Acidulated Rock Phosphate (PARP), and Triple Super Phosphate (TSP). The RAE of the rock phosphates were lower for direct application (54–80 %) and cumulative application (70–93 %) of P but roughly equal or larger for the residual effect (92–142 %) as compared to TSP. The P adsorption characteristic of the experimental soil conformed to the linear relationship of both Freundlich and Langmuir isotherm equation. The adsorption data when plotted according to Langmuir equation deviated from a single linear relationship at higher concentration (10 μg ml^–1), thereby giving two adsorption maximum values ( 68.49 μg g^–1 and 256.41 μg g^–1) and binding energies ( 2.86 ml μg^–1 and 0.089 ml μg^–1) for the soil. Two populations of P adsorption site with widely different affinity for P probably existed in the soil.     

Energy use,emissions, and air pollution reduction strategies in Asia

In contrast to Europe and North America, air pollution in Asia is increasing rapidly, resulting in both local air quality problems and higher acidic depositions. In 1989, an east-west group of scientists initiated a multi-institutional research project on Acid Rain and Emissions Reduction in Asia, funded for the past two years by the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank. Phase I, covering 23 countries of Asia, focussed on the development of PC-based software called the Regional Air Pollution INformation and Simulation Model (RAINS-ASIA). A 94-region Regional Energy Scenario Generator was developed to create alternative energy/emission scenarios through the year 2020. A long-range atmospheric transport model was developed to calculate dispersion and deposition of sulfur, based upon emissions from area and large point sources, on a one-degree grid of Asia. The resulting impacts of acidic deposition on a variety of vegetation types were analyzed using the critical loads approach to test different emissions management strategies, including both energy conservation measures and sulfur abatement technologies.     

Ammonium Losses Through Subsurface Drainage Effluent from Rice Fields of Coastal Saline Sodic Clay Soils

Subsurface tile drainage systems with drainspacings of 15 m in 0.4 ha and 25 m in 3.2 ha wereinstalled at the farmers' field in 1986 and 1987,respectively, to study their effect on the reclamationof the coastal saline sodic clay soils. The system'sperformance in terms of the changing physical andchemical properties of the soil and rice yield wascontinuously monitored for a decade. Field datasuggested the possibility of adopting wider drainspacings and thus, drainage system with 35 and 55 mspacings was laid in 1997 in a 4 ha area. On theseinstallations the losses of NH₄ ⁺-N throughsub-surface drainage effluent were estimated. Thearea under 25 m drain spacing was the control with nocrops, fertilization and irrigation. Analysis ofwater samples collected daily for 10 days startingfrom 40 DAT from the drain laterals revealed thatthere were no trace of NH₄ ⁺-N in theeffluent from 15 and 25 m drain spacings. However,the effluent from 35 and 55 m spacings contained anaverage of 6.704 mg L^-1 and 4.205 mg L^-1 of NH₄ ⁺-N, respectively, before irrigation and2.438 and 1.650 mg L^-1 after irrigation. Themagnitudes of the losses of NH₄ ⁺-N duringthe crop season were 6.43 kg ha^-1 in 35 m spacingwith a drainage rate of 5.6 mm d^-1 and 2.14 kgha^-1 in 55 m spacing with a drainage rate of 3.5 mm d^-1. The rice yield was 6.5 Mg ha^-1 in15 m drain spacing where no ammonium losses throughsubsurface drainage effluent occurred. The rice yieldsunder 35 and 55 m drain spacings were 1.9 and 1.8 Mgha^-1, respectively. The poor yield was due tosignificant loss of ammonium form of nitrogen throughthe drainage effluent and lesser availability of totalnitrogen to the plants. The plant uptake of nitrogen in the unreclaimed area with 55 m spacing was half ofthat in the reclaimed area with 15 m spacing.     

Toxicokinetics, recovery, and metabolism of metamitron in goat

Toxicokinetic behavior and metabolism studies of metamitron and its effect on the cytochrome P(450) content of liver microsomal pellet were carried out in black Bengal goats after a single oral administration at 278 mg kg(-1) and consecutive oral administration of 30 mg kg(-1) for 7 days. Metamitron was detected in the blood sample at 0.08 h (12.0 +/- 0.87 microg mL(-1)), maximum at 4 h (84.3 +/- 8.60 microg mL(-1)) and minimum (14.6 +/- 1.67 microg mL(-1)) at 36 h blood sample after a single oral administration. The absorption rate constant was 0.69 +/- 0.09 h(-1). The Vd(area) (2.00 +/- 0.08 L kg(-1)) and t(1/2)beta (8.98 +/- 0.70 h) values suggested wide distribution and long persistence of the compound in the body. The values of T approximately B (0.80 +/- 0.04), F(c) (0.55 +/- 0.01), Cl(B) (0.15 +/- 0.00 L kg(-1) h(-1)), and K(21) (0.41 +/- 0.03 h(-1)) suggested that metamitron retained in the blood compared to that in the tissue. Maximum concentration of metamitron residue was found in the adrenal gland followed by bile on day 4 of single oral administration. The higher Cl(R) compared to Cl(H) value indicated the excretion of the major portion (34-40%) through urine compared to feces (20-26%). Maximum concentrations of metamitron and its metabolite, deaminometamitron, were excreted through urine and feces at 48 and 24 h samples, respectively. The recovery of metamitron including its metabolite in terms of parent compound varied from 69.3 to 80.1%, of which contribution of metabolite in terms of parent compound varied from 53.1 to 63.0%. Repeated oral administration of metamitron at 30 mg kg(-1) for 7 days caused induction of the cytochrome P(450) content of liver microsomal pellet of goat, suggesting oxidative deamination of metamitron.     

Synthesis and pesticidal activities of some substituted 1,2,4-triazines

A series of 5,6-diphenyl-3-substituted-thio-1,2,4-triazines ( II-V ) was prepared by treating 5,6-diphenyl-1,2,4-triazine-3-thiol ( I ) with corresponding electrophiles. Condensation of IV or V with 1,2-phenylenediamines gave 2-[(5,6-diphenyl-1,2,4-triazin-3-yl) thiomethyl-1H-benzimidazoles] ( VI ). IV was converted into its corresponding hydrazide ( VII ) by the action of hydrazine hydrate. N-Benzylidene derivatives ( VIII ) were prepared by the condensation of VII with appropriate aryl or heterocyclic aldehydes. The pesticidal activities of all the compounds thus synthesised were determined.