Effect of municipal solid waste compost on seed germination of rice,wheat and cucumber

Water extracts of municipal solid waste compost (MSWC) were applied to seed of three crops v - v rice ( Oryza sativa, L.), wheat ( Triticum aestivum, L.) and cucumber ( Cucumis sativa, L.). Severe suppression of germination index (GI), root length (RL) and shoot length (SL) were observed with the seeds treated with 1 v : v 7.5 MSWC v : v water extracts. A significant positive relationship was observed between the above mentioned parameters and organic carbon, nitrogen and optical density. A significant negative relationship between the above parameters and the contents of ammonia and heavy metals was also found. When comparing the three different seeds, wheat was most sensitive, followed by rice and then cucumber in terms of germination index, germination (%), root and shoot growth.     

Assessment of a sequential extraction procedure for fractionation of soil arsenic in contaminated soils

A sequential fractionation scheme, based on a soil phosphorous fractionation, was developed to assess the chemical nature, and thus the potential bioavailability and mobility of As, at the sites. Soil As was separated into five fractions with (i) anion exchange resin, (ii) NaHCO₃, (iii) NaOH, (iv) HCl, (v) residual. Most sites contained relatively low concentrations of As in the two most labile fractions. The bulk of the contaminant As at the sites seemed to be associated with soil amorphous Fe and Al minerals and the dominant clay minerals which help in As sorption are montmorillonite and mica. Resin-extractable As in particular might provide a good index of potential As bioavailability and mobility.     

Effect of composting on extractability and relative availability of heavy metals present in Calcutta municipal solid waste

How composting affects heavy metal content is largely unknown. Accordingly, we investigate the total content of six heavy metals, Cd/Zn ratio and the Zn-equiv, the relative availability and fractionation study to assess the suitability of compost derived out of those for environmental concerns. During composting, total metal content increased but their RA decreased. As a result of composting bioavailable form of metals also decreased. High significant correlations between different forms of heavy metals content and degree of humification were found for all the elements. Composting increases humic acid content than fulvic acid. This transformation is mainly responsible to serve as binding agent for metal thereby moderating the rapid metal mobilization.     

Implication of melatonin in oocyte maturation in Indian major carp Catla catla

Importance of melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) in the regulation of oocyte maturation has been studied in a carp Catla catla. Melatonin secretory cells were immunocytochemically localized only in the end vesicle. Diurnal and seasonal studies indicated that the serum levels of melatonin exhibit a minimum diurnal value in the mid-day of all seasons, but the peak value is attained either at mid-night or just before the onset of light. Moreover, highest seasonal value of melatonin was noted in the post-spawning phase. Administration of melatonin at different doses (25, 50, or 100 μg/100 g body weight) for 1, 15, or 30 days resulted in either pro- or anti-gonadal effects depending on the reproductive seasons. In vitro study revealed that incubation of oocytes with melatonin 4h prior to addition of MIH in the medium led to an accelerated rate of oocyte maturation through the formation of a complex of two proteins (MPF), cyclin B and cyclin dependant kinase, Cdc2. Moreover, melatonin pre-incubation considerably increased MIH stimulation of histone H1 phosphorylation as compared to MIH alone. Taken together, gathered information promotes the idea of a physiological role of melatonin in the maturation of oocytes in Catla catla.     

Effects of different doses of dexmedetomidine on anaesthetic induction with alfaxalone – a clinical trial

ObjectiveTo document the effects of two doses of dexmedetomidine on the induction characteristics and dose requirements of alfaxalone.Study designRandomized controlled clinical trial.AnimalsSixty one client owned dogs, status ASA I-II.MethodsDogs were allocated randomly into three groups, receiving as pre-anaesthetic medication, no dexmedetomidine (D₀), 1 μg kg^?1 dexmedetomidine (D₁) intramuscularly (IM) or 3 μg kg^?1 dexmedetomidine IM (D₃). All dogs also received 0.2 mg kg^?1 methadone IM. Level of sedation was assessed prior to induction of anaesthesia. Induction of general anaesthesia was performed with alfaxalone administered intravenously to effect at a rate of 1 mg kg^?1 minute^?1; the required dose to achieve tracheal intubation was recorded. Anaesthesia was maintained with isoflurane in oxygen. Cardiopulmonary parameters were recorded throughout the anaesthetic period. Quality of intubation, induction and recovery of anaesthesia were recorded. Quantitative data were compared with one-way anova or Kruskal-Wallis test. Repeated measures were log-transformed and analysed with repeated measures anova (p < 0.05).ResultsTreatment groups were similar for categorical data, with exception of sedation level (p < 0.001). The doses (mean ± SD) of alfaxalone required for intubation were D₀ 1.68 ± 0.24, D₁ 1.60 ± 0.36 and D₃ 1.41 ± 0.43, the difference between D₀ and D₃ being statistically significant (p = 0.036). Heart and respiratory rates during the anaesthetic period were significantly different over time and between groups (p < 0.001); systolic arterial blood pressure was significantly different over time (p < 0.001) but not between groups (p = 0.833). Induction quality and recovery scores were similar between groups (p = 1.000 and p = 0.414, respectively).Conclusions and clinical relevanceThe administration of alfaxalone resulted in a good quality anaesthetic induction which was not affected by the dose of dexmedetomidine. Dexmedetomidine at 3 μg kg^?1 IM combined with methadone provides good sedation and enables a reduction of alfaxalone requirements.     

Greenhouse gases emission,soil organic carbon and wheat yield as affected by tillage systems and nitrogen management practices

Agricultural activities are responsible for greenhouse gases (GHGs) emission in the environment. Strategies are required to enhance the soil organic carbon (SOC) and nitrogen (N) sequestration to adapt and mitigate the climate change. We investigated GHGs emission, SOC and N enhancement under conventional tillage (CT) and zero tillage (ZT) with N management in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Seasonal carbon dioxide (CO₂) emission and global warming potential (GWP) reduced for ZT treatments over CT without residues and 100% of required N with a blanket split application (CT – R + 100N). The ZT with 5 t ha^?1 maize (Zea mays L.) residues retention and 75% of required N and GreenSeeker^TM (GS)-aided N management (ZT + R + 75N + GS) reduced yield-scaled GHGs emission and increased total organic carbon (C) stock over CT – R + 100N. However, nitrous oxide (N₂O) emission was lower in CT. The GS-based N management saved 26–35 kg N ha^?1 in different tillage systems in both years over blanket application with higher N uptake and associated reduction in N₂O emission. The study recommends that ZT with residues retention and GS-based N management can minimize the GHGs emission and improve the SOC.     

Nitrate leaching,nitrous oxide emission and N use efficiency of aerobic rice under different N application strategy

A field study was conducted in the sub-humid tropical region of India to examine the effect of different nitrogen (N) management strategies on nitrate leaching, nitrous oxide (N₂O) emission and N use efficiency in aerobic rice. Treatments were: control (no N), 120 kg N ha^?1 applied as prilled urea (PU) in conventional method, 120 kg N ha^?1 applied as neem coated urea (NCU) in conventional method, N applied as PU on the basis of leaf colour chart (LCC) reading, N applied as NCU on the basis of LCC reading, and 120 kg N ha^?1 applied as PU and farm yard manure (FYM) in 1:1 ratio. Results showed that 3.4–16.1 kg NO₃-N ha^?1 was leached below 45 cm depth and 0.61–1.12 kg N₂O-N ha^?1 was emitted from aerobic rice during the growing season. NCU when applied conventionally reduced nitrate-nitrogen (NO₃-N) leaching and N₂O emission by 18.6% and 21.4%, respectively However when applied on the basis of LCC reading NCU reduced NO₃-N leaching by 39.8% as compared to PU applied in conventional method. NCU when applied on the basis of LCC reading synchronized N supply with demand and reduced N loss, which resulted in higher yield and N use efficiency.