A study of water distribution from a branch to distributary canals: A case study of Gugera Branch,Punjab, Pakistan

This study was conducted on Gugera Branch of Lower Chenab Canal, Punjab, Pakistan. Sample distributaries off taking from Gugera Branch were selected for the study. The existing conditions of water distribution among the distributaries were studied. Field data were collected during the whole of 1988. Field observations suggested that the variability at the head of distributaries is much greater than the variability in the Gugera Branch under existing operational practices. The distribution of water among the distributaries is rarely in accordance with design criteria. Some channels get priority over other channels. The annual closure period varied from 17 to 41 days for different channels. The discharge at the head of distributaries remained lower than the standard operational range for 69 to 183 days in a year. The data suggested that a regulating gate at the head of the distributary can reduce discharge variation up to 2.4 times compared with a Karrees System (wooden stop logs used for water regulation). The data indicated that the adjustments in the head gate of a distributary on daily basis can substantially improve discharge conditions at the head of distributary. Rotational schedules are not being followed as per design and need to be improved. Most of the existing head discharge relationships of discharge measuring structures are not reliable. A frequent calibration of these structures is recommended.     

Kinetic and Equilibrium Modeling for Cr(III) and Cr(VI) Removal from Aqueous Solutions by Citrus reticulata Waste Biomass

The pulp left after the extraction of juice from Citrus reticulate (kinnow), is a waste material, which was used as a potential sorbent for Cr(III) and Cr(VI) in the present study. The effect of experimental parameters such as pH, biosorbent dosage, biosorbent particle size, initial metal concentrations, temperature, shaking speed and sorption time on the Cr removal is apparent from the obtained results. The Freundlich isotherm and pseudo second order kinetic models fitted well to the data of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) biosorption by Citrus reticulata waste biomass. Effect of several pretreatments such as gases, natural coagulant and many other chemicals on Cr(III) and Cr(VI) sorption capacity of Citrus reticulata waste biomass was first time analyzed in the present study. The metal sorption capacity of Citrus reticulata waste biomass after a specific pretreatment was not only related to the nature of chemical but also strongly dependent on the oxidation state of the metal.     

Genetic tracking of the brown bear in northern Pakistan and implications for conservation

Asian bears face major threats due to the impact of human activities as well as a critical lack of knowledge about their status, distribution and needs for survival. Once abundant in northern Pakistan, the Himalayan brown bear (Ursus arctos isabellinus) has been exterminated in most of its former distribution range. It presently occurs sparsely, in small populations, the Deosai National Park supporting the largest isolate. This decline might imply a reduction in genetic diversity, compromising the survival of the population. Using a combination of fecal DNA analysis and field data, our study aimed at assessing the size and genetic status of the Deosai population and give guidelines for its conservation and management. Using fecal genetic analysis, we estimated the population to be 40-50 bears, which compares well with the field census of 38 bears. The northern Pakistani brown bear population may have undergone an approximate 200-300-fold decrease during the last thousand years, probably due to glaciations and the influence of growing human population. However, in spite of the presence of a bottleneck genetic signature, the Deosai population has a moderate level of genetic diversity and is not at immediate risk of inbreeding depression. Gene flow might exist with adjacent populations. We recommend careful monitoring of this population in the future both with field observations and genetic analyses, including sampling of adjacent populations to assess incoming gene flow. The connectivity with adjacent populations in Pakistan and India will be of prime importance for the long-term survival of Deosai bears.     

Comparison of protection and viral shedding following vaccination with Newcastle disease virus strains of different genotypes used in vaccine formulation

Tropical Animal Health and Production - Newcastle disease (ND) is a devastating disease and cause high t mortality and morbidity in poultry and nonpoultry avian species worldwide. An intensive...     

Renal excretion of digoxin in swine and goats.

In experiments on swine and goats the renal excretion of digoxin was examined, and it was found that the renal clearance of non-protein-bound digoxin in swine was lower than creatinine clearance which expresses filtration clearance. Correlation analysis showed that the renal clearance of digoxin in swine was not significantly influenced by the concentration of non-protein-bound digoxin in plasma and the pH of the urine, while there was a significant positive correlation between the clearance and the urine flow rate (Table 4). On the other hand, the renal clearance of digoxin in goats was significantly influenced by the concentration of non-proteinbound digoxin in plasma and by urine pH (Table 4). From these results it is concluded that glomerular filtration and back-diffusion are involved in the renal handling of digoxin in both swine and goats. In addition active tubular secretion is also involved in the renal excretion of digoxin in goats.     

Pharmacokinetics and urinary excretion of sulphadimidine in sheep during summer and winter

Pharmacokinetics and urinary excretion of sulphadimidine were investigated in sheep during summer and winter seasons. Average minimum and maximum environmental temperature in the summer ranged from 22.6 to 40.2 degrees C and in winter from 4.5 to 21.1 degrees C. The determination of plasma volume, plasma protein and packed cell volume during summer and winter revealed a significant decrease in plasma volume and a significant increase in plasma protein in the summer indicative of haemoconcentration. Packed cell volume did not differ significantly between the seasons. The pharmacokinetics of sulphadimidine were determined following a single intravenous injection (100 mg/kg) in summer and winter. Zero time plasma concentration of the drug was higher during summer than in winter. The elimination half-life of the drug was similar in summer and winter, but the apparent volume of distribution was lower in summer. Likewise, total body clearance was significantly lower in summer. Based on these studies a satisfactory intravenous dosage regimen might consist of 86 and 100 mg/kg for priming and 78 and 88 mg/kg as maintenance doses during summer and winter, respectively, the doses being repeated at 12 hour intervals. Twenty four hours after sulphadimidine administration 90 and 73 per cent of the dose was excreted in urine during summer and winter, respectively. The drug was excreted mainly as free amine.     

A novel rhizobacterium Bk7 for biological control of brown sheath rot of rice caused by Pseudomonas fuscovaginae and its mode of action

The study presents the first report on biocontrol of brown sheath rot disease of rice caused by Pseudomonas fuscovaginae using rhizo-bacterial isolate Bacillus amyloliquefaciens Bk7. Four potential bioactive antagonists were selected from 120 Bacillus isolates. Results obtained from in vitro laboratory assay showed that rhizosphere bacterial strain Bk7 and its metabolites significantly suppressed the growth of Pseudomonas fuscovaginae with 93 % efficacy. In glasshouse experiments, strain Bk7 exhibited biocontrol efficacy of 76.6 % by reducing the disease incidence to 16.9 %, compared to 72.8 % observed in control treatment. In addition, the isolate Bk7 showed the growth promotion efficacy of plant height (GPE, 46.4 %) and fresh weight (GPE, 84.3 %). Characterization of isolate Bk7 revealed its strong capability for biofilm formation, inorganic phosphate solubilization and production of high amounts of Indole-3 acetic acid, siderophores and ammonia in vitro. Results obtained from multiplex PCR assay confirmed the presence of five lipopeptide biosynthetic gene markers (srfAA, fenD, bmyB, bacA and ituC) in the genome of strain Bk7. Moreover, Real-time qPCR of these genes demonstrated that surfactin, iturin and bacylisin coding genes were highly expressed in response to P. fuscovaginae exposure in vitro. Rhizosphere bacterial strain Bk7 was identified as B. amyloliquefaciens strain Bk7 based on the analysis of 16S rDNA internal transcribed spacer sequences and a fatty acid methyl ester analysis. The results obtained from this study showed the potential usefulness of Bk7 as a biocontrol agent in disease control of rice brown sheath rot.     

Combined Application of Biochar and Biocontrol Agents Enhances Plant Growth and Activates Resistance Against Meloidogyne incognita in Tomato

Gesunde Pflanzen - Biochar (BC) is known to enhance plant growth and may activate plant resistance to various soil borne pathogens. In this experiment, the rice husk (RH) BC was combined with...     

Effect of co-cultivation and crop rotation on corm rot disease of Gladiolus

Field and pot experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of co-cultivation and crop rotation on the growth and corm rot disease of gladiolus (Gladiolus grandiflorus sect. Blandus) cv. Aarti caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. gladioli (Massey) Snyd. and Hans. In the field experiment, gladiolus was co-cultivated with 10 agricultural/horticultural crops viz. Allium cepa L., Brassica campestris L., Capsicum annuum L., Eruca sativa Mill., Helianthus annuus L., Tagetes erectus L., Zea mays L., Vinca rosea L. and Rosa indica L., in a soil infested with F. oxysporum. All the crops except V. rosea and R. indica reduced disease incidence. The effect of H. annuus and T. erectus was significant and more pronounced than other co-cultivated crops. In general, root and shoot dry biomass, corm fresh weight, number of cormlets and number of flowers per spike decreased as compared to the un-inoculated monoculture gladiolus treatment (negative control) but these parameters enhanced as compared to the F. oxysporum inoculated monoculture gladiolus treatment (positive control). In a pot experiment, all the crops of the field experiment except V. rosea and R. indica were sown in rotation with gladiolus. Pot grown plants of different species were harvested at maturity and the soil was inoculated with F. oxysporum. Gladiolus was cultivated 1 week after inoculation. Disease incidence was significantly suppressed in all the treatments ranging from 29% to 53%. The highest suppression of disease incidence was recorded in T. erectus (53%) followed by B. campestris (49%). The effect of preceding crops on various vegetative parameters was similar in the pot experiment to that of the field experiment. The present study suggests that corm rot disease of gladiolus can be managed by mixed cropping of H. annuus and T. erectus or cultivation of T. erectus and B. campestris in rotation.