Hepatoprotective activity of Adhatoda vasica aqueous leaf extract on D-galactosamine-induced liver damage in rats

Adhatoda vasica leaf showed significant hepatoprotective effect at doses of 50-100 mg/kg, p.o., on liver damage induced by D-galactosamine in rats.     

Relationship between acidity and microbiological properties in some tea soils

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of different forms of soil acidities on microbial biomass C, ergosterol content, microbial metabolic quotient, microbial respiration quotient, and fluorescein diacetate-hydrolyzing activity of some tea-growing soils of India. Total potential and exchangeable acidity and extractable and exchangeable aluminum were higher in Tripura followed by Jalpaiguri and Kharagpur soil. Different forms of acidity were significantly and positively correlated with each other. All the microbiological properties investigated were significantly and positively correlated with soil organic C content. The ratio of organic C with microbial parameters was significantly and negatively correlated with different forms of acidity. Principal component analysis indicated that the microbial activities were not directly affected by the extractable aluminum and total potential acidity. Although the tea soils had higher microbial biomass and activities because of higher organic matter content than other soils, the ratios of microbial parameters/organic carbon indicated that inhibition of microbial growth and activities had occurred because of acidity stress.     

An avenue for replacement of chemical fertilization under rice-rice cropping pattern: Sustaining soil health and organic C pool via MSW-based vermicomposts

ABSTRACT

The impacts of Municipal solid wastes (MSW) vermicompost (VC) on soil-crop interface have rarely been studied. Hence, the influence of vermicompost on soil health and soil organic C (SOC) dynamics was assessed under intensive rice–rice cropping system. A 20–40% of the recommended N-fertilization was substituted by MSW-vermicompost for the crop. SOC storage, degree of humification, humic acid C, and fulvic acid C in soil gradually increased by 55–60% under NPK₆₀ + VC and NPK₈₀ + VC treatments in 2 years. The improvement in N-mineralization was spectacular in NPK₆₀ + VC (2.79 folds) and NPK₈₀ + VC (2.25 folds) treated soil. The carbon pool management index in soil was greatest under NPK₆₀ + VC (2.1) treatment followed by NPK₁₀₀ + VC (1.96) and NPK₈₀ + VC (1.87) treatments. Moreover, the crop biomass and grain yield increased under VC treatments. The correlation and regression statistics revealed that rice production was enhanced due to improvement of SOC pool and humified carbon fractions in soil. Finally, we recorded highest benefit-cost ratio under NPK₆₀ + VC (benefit/cost 5.55) followed by NPK₈₀ + VC (benefit/cost 5.44). The study indicated that MSW-vermicompost sustained soil microbial health and SOC balance, which significantly correlated with rice production.     

Long-term yield trend and sustainability of rainfed soybean–wheat system through farmyard manure application in a sandy loam soil of the Indian Himalayas

A long-term (30 years) soybean–wheat experiment was conducted at Hawalbagh, Almora, India to study the effects of organic and inorganic sources of nutrients on grain yield trends of rainfed soybean (Glycine max)–wheat (Triticum aestivum) system and nutrient status (soil C, N, P and K) in a sandy loam soil (Typic Haplaquept). The unfertilized plot supported 0.56 Mg ha⁻¹ of soybean yield and 0.71 Mg ha⁻¹ of wheat yield (average yield of 30 years). Soybean responded to inorganic NPK application and the yield increased significantly to 0.87 Mg ha⁻¹ with NPK. Maximum yields of soybean (2.84 Mg ha⁻¹) and residual wheat (1.88 Mg ha⁻¹) were obtained in the plots under NPK + farmyard manure (FYM) treatment, which were significantly higher than yields observed under other treatments. Soybean yields in the plots under the unfertilized and the inorganic fertilizer treatments decreased with time, whereas yields increased significantly in the plots under N + FYM and NPK + FYM treatments. At the end of 30 years, total soil organic C (SOC) and total N concentrations increased in all the treatments. Soils under NPK + FYM-treated plots contained higher SOC and total N by 89 and 58% in the 0–45 cm soil layer, respectively, over that of the initial status. Hence, the decline in yields might be due to decline in available P and K status of soil. Combined use of NPK and FYM increased SOC, oxidizable SOC, total N, total P, Olsen P, and ammonium acetate exchangeable K by 37.8, 42.0, 20.8, 30.2, 25.0, and 52.7%, respectively, at 0–45 cm soil layer compared to application of NPK through inorganic fertilizers. However, the soil profiles under all the treatments had a net loss of nonexchangeable K, ranging from 172 kg ha⁻¹ under treatment NK to a maximum of 960 kg ha⁻¹ under NPK + FYM after 30 years of cropping. Depletion of available P and K might have contributed to the soybean yield decline in treatments where manure was not applied. The study also showed that although the combined NPK and FYM application sustained long-term productivity of the soybean–wheat system, increased K input is required to maintain soil nonexchangeable K level.     

Water requirement,crop coefficient and water-use efficiency of ‘Robusta’ banana under different soil covers and soil moisture regimes

Provision and soil covers in a ‘Robusta’ banana plantation considerably reduced consumptive use of water and number of irrigations needed throughout the period of crop growth. Consumptive use ranged from 1024 mm under 800-gauge thick black polyethylene cover at 60% depletion of available soil moisture to 1560 mm under no cover treatment at 20% depletion. There was a perceptible increase in water-use efficiency under soil covers at low available soil moisture depletion levels. Soil covers reduced the periodic crop coefficient values compared with bare soil, indicating the reduced (23–33%) water requirement of banana plants under soil covers. High crop coefficient values recorded up to 5 months after planting indicated high consumptive use of water during that period. Using the crop coefficient values and corresponding period reference crop evapotranspiration, periodic water requirement of ‘Robusta’ banana for profitable production could be estimated.     

Effects of grass vegetation strips on soil conservation and crop yield under rainfed conditions in the Indian sub‐Himalayas

Vegetation strips (VS) along with conservation tillage, application of organic amendments and weed mulching improve crop yields by reducing run‐off and topsoil erosion. To investigate these issues, an experiment was conducted under rainfed conditions using grass VS for four and a half years (June 2007 to October 2011) at Dehradun, Uttarakhand, in the Indian Himalayan region. VS were incorporated in the experimental plots (Entisols) in a randomized complete block design in permanent 100 × 20 m (2000 m²) plots with a 2% slope to evaluate the effects of vegetation strips on run‐off, soil loss and crop yield. Three treatments were evaluated: (i) without VS with recommended NPK under conventional tillage, (ii) panicum as VS with recommended NPK under conventional tillage and (iii) palmarosa+ that consists of palmarosa as VS along with organic amendments (farmyard manure, vermicompost and poultry manure) and weed mulch under minimum tillage. The results show that soil loss and run‐off were significantly lower (P < 0.05) in plots under palmarosa+ than without VS treatment. Mean soil loss of 3.4, 5.2 and 7.1 t/ha was recorded from palmarosa+, panicum and without VS treated plots, respectively. Mean run‐off was 234, 356 and 428 mm from plots under palmarosa+, panicum and without VS, respectively. Maize yield was lower on the plots under palmarosa+ compared with panicum, but significantly higher (P < 0.05) than without a strip. The succeeding rainfed wheat yield was significantly greater in plots under palmarosa+ than in the initial years. The wheat yield equivalent was significantly higher in plots under palmarosa+ followed by panicum and without VS. Thus, vegetation strips are recommended for wider adoption to reduce run‐off and soil loss and to increase crop yield. The long‐term goal is to achieve a palmarosa+ system (palmarosa as a vegetation strip along with organic amendments, farmyard manure, vermicompost and poultry manure) and weed mulch under minimum tillage.     

RESEARCH PAPER: Incidence of elevation of cardiac troponin I prior to and following routine general anaesthesia in dogs

ObjectiveTo estimate the incidence of raised cTnI after general anaesthesia in dogs and to explore major risk factors influencing this.Study designProspective clinical study.AnimalsA total of 107 (ASA physical status 1?2) dogs, 63% male and 37% female, median age 5 years (range 0.3–13.4), median weight 24.4 kg (range 4.2–66.5 kg) undergoing anaesthesia for clinical purposes.MethodsVenous blood samples were taken within 24 hours prior to induction and 24 hours after the termination of anaesthesia. Serum concentrations of cardiac troponin I were measured using a chemiluminescent enzyme immunometric assay with a lower level of detection of 0.20 ng mL^?1 (below this level <0.20 ng mL^?1). Continuous data were assessed graphically for normality and paired and unpaired data compared with the Wilcoxon signed ranks and Mann–Whitney U‐tests respectively. Categorical data were compared with the Chi squared or Fisher’s exact test as appropriate (p < 0.05).ResultsOf the 107 dogs recruited, 100 had pre‐ and post‐anaesthetic cTnI measured. The median pre‐anaesthesia cTnI was ‘<0.20’ ng mL^?1 (range ‘<0.20’–0.43 ng mL^?1) and the median increase from pre‐anaesthesia level was 0.00 ng mL^?1 (range ?0.12 to 0.61 ng mL^?1). Fourteen dogs had increased cTnI after anaesthesia relative to pre‐anaesthesia (14%, 95% CI 7.2–20.8%, range of increase 0.03–0.61 ng mL^?1). Six animals had cTnI levels that decreased (range 0.02–0.12 ng mL^?1). Older dogs were more likely to have increased cTnI prior to anaesthesia (OR = 5.32, 95% CI 1.35–21.0, p = 0.007) and dogs 8 years and over were 3.6 times as likely to have an increased cTnI after anaesthesia (95% CI 1.1–12.4, p = 0.028).Conclusion and clinical relevanceIncreased cTnI after anaesthesia relative to pre‐anaesthesia levels was observed in a number of apparently healthy dogs undergoing routine anaesthesia.     

Photolysis of fluchloralin in aqueous methanol

The photodegradation of fluchloralin by UV irradiation or sunlight in aqueous methanolic solution has been examined. In the presence of titanium dioxide five photoproducts were obtained, but only four in its absence. One photoproduct, 2, 2'-azoxy-bis(alpha,alpha,alpha-trifluoro-6-nitro-p-toluidine) is reported for the first time as a metabolite of fluchloralin. In natural sunlight the rate of degradation was higher than in UV light and titanium dioxide had almost no effect on the rate of degradation.     

Spontaneous Colibacillosis in Infectious Bursal Disease-affected Broiler Flocks

Tropical Animal Health and Production -     

Nutritional quality of sunflower seed protein fraction extracted with isopropanol

This study investigated the nutritional effect of sunflower seed proteinfraction (SSPF) extracted with isopropanol on growth, plasma and tissuelipid profile, protein content and erythrocyte membrane lipid profile ofrats. Dehulled sunflower seeds were extracted with isopropanol at 50±1 ^°C resulting in a protein fraction (71.5%) with low residualchlorogenic acid (0.07%) and fiber (3.3%) contents. Rats fed thesunflower seed protein fraction had a similar body weight gain and foodefficiency ratios in comparison to those fed casein. Rats fed SSPF incontrast had a significantly higher growth and food efficiency ratio thanthe rats fed sunflower meal (SM), extracted with hexane. However,dietary proteins exerted a separate effect on plasma total cholesterol,low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol, low density lipoprotein to highdensity lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C/HDL-C) ratio and triglyceridecontent. Sunflower seed protein fraction resulted in a significantdecrease in plasma cholesterol (p < 0.05) and LDL-cholesterol (p <0.02) levels compared to the casein fed rats. Membrane phospholipidprofile also showed a marked variation with the type of dietary protein.Rats fed SSPF and SM did not show much variation in plasma lipids, plasmaproteins, liver and brain lipids and membrane phospholipid concentrations.Protein content, liver and brain lipid profile of the groups fed SSPF andcasein were comparable, suggesting that the nutritional value of SSPF isbetter than SM and equivalent to that of casein.