Soil and nutrients losses under different crop covers in vertisols of Central India

Purpose

Accelerated erosion removes fertile top soil along with nutrients through runoff and sediments, eventually affecting crop productivity and land degradation. However, scanty information is available on soil and nutrient losses under different crop covers in a vertisol of Central India. Thus, a field experiment was conducted for 4 years (2010–2013) to study the effect of different crop cover combinations on soil and nutrient losses through runoff in a vertisol.

Materials and methods

Very limited information is available on runoff, soil, and nutrient losses under different vegetative covers in a rainfed vertisol. Thus, the hypothesis of the study was to evaluate if different crop cover combinations would have greater impact on reducing soil and nutrient losses compared to control plots in a vertisol.

This experiment consisted of seven treatment combinations of crop covers namely soybean (Glycine max) (CC₁), maize (Zea mays) (CC₂), pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) (CC₃), soybean (Glycine max)?+?maize (Zea mays) ??1:1 (CC₄), soybean (Glycine ma x))?+?pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) ?2:1 (CC₅), maize (Zea mays)?+?pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) ??1:1 (CC₆), and cultivated fallow (CC₇). The plot size was 10?×?5 m with 1% slope, and runoff and soil loss were measured using multi-slot devisor. All treatments were arranged in a randomized block design with three replications.

Results and discussion

Results demonstrated that the runoff and soil loss were significantly (p?<?0.05) higher (289 mm and 3.92 Mg ha^?1) under cultivated fallow than those in cropped plots. Among various crop covers, sole pigeon pea (CC₃) recorded significantly higher runoff and soil loss (257 mm and 3.16 Mg ha^?1) followed by that under sole maize (CC₂) (235 mm and 2.85 Mg ha^?1) and the intercrops were in the order of maize?+?pigeon pea (211 mm and 2.47 Mg ha^?1) followed by soybean?+?maize (202 mm and 2.38 Mg ha^?1), and soybean?+?pigeon pea (195 mm and 2.15 Mg ha^?1). The lowest runoff and soil loss were recorded under soybean sole crop (194 mm and 2.27 Mg ha^?1). The data on nutrient losses indicated that the highest losses of soil organic carbon (SOC) (25.83 kg ha^?1), total nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) (7.76, 0.96, 32.5 kg ha^?1) were recorded in cultivated fallow (CC₇) as compared to those from sole and intercrop treatments. However, sole soybean and its intercrops recorded the minimum losses of SOC and total N, P, and K, whereas the maximum losses of nutrients were recorded under pigeon pea (CC₃). The system productivity in terms of soybean grain equivalent yield (SGEY) was higher (p?<?0.05) from maize?+?pigeon pea (3358 kg ha^?1) followed by that for soybean?+?pigeon pea (2191 kg ha^?1) as compared to sole soybean. Therefore, maize?+?pigeon pea (1:1) intercropping is the promising option in reducing runoff, soil-nutrient losses, and enhancing crop productivity in the hot sub-humid eco-region.

Conclusions

Study results highlight the need for maintenance of suitable vegetative cover as of great significance to diffusing the erosive energy of heavy rains and also safe guarding the soil resource from degradation by water erosion in vertisols.

     

Studies on pesticides based on coumarin. II. Synthesis and antifungal activity of ten 2-alkyl-7, 8-dihydro-3-hydroxynaphtho[1,2-c]chromen-6-ones

A series of 2-alkyl-7, 8-dihydro-3-hydroxynaphtho[1,2-c]chromen-6-ones was synthesised by the condensation of ethyl 3, 4-dihydro-1-oxonaphthalene-2-carboxylate with substituted phenols in the presence of POCl₃. The compounds were characterised and tested for their toxicity towards the mycelial growth of seven phytopathogenic fungi in culture. Drechslera oryzae, Rhizoctonia solani and Colletotrichum falcatum exhibited maximum sensitivity to these compounds whereas Macro-phomina phaseolina, Fusarium solani, Alternaria alternata and Pythium aphanidermatum were less sensitive. 2-Ethyl-7, 8-dihydro-3-hydroxy-naphtho[1,2-c]chromen-6-ones possessed greatest toxicity with EC₅₀ values ranging from 0.2 to 2.5 μg ml^?1 against all fungi except A. alternata and P. aphanidermatum.     

One-step RT-PCR for the Detection of Infectious Bursal Disease Virus in Clinical Samples

A single-tube, non-interrupted, one-step RT-PCR has been standardized to amplify the hypervariable region of the VP2 gene sequence of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV). The technique standardized on purified viral RNA was successfully applied to the detection of the virus directly in clinical samples. The amplified products were confirmed to be IBDV specific by their size in ethidium bromide-stained agarose gel, nested PCR and restriction enzyme digestion. Digestion of the amplicons with StyI restriction enzyme also differentiated classical virus from six very virulent field isolates. The sensitivity of the one-step RT-PCR was found to be 0.2 pg of viral RNA.     

Response of Chickens to Infection with Newcastle Disease Virus Isolated from a Guinea Fowl

An isolate of Newcastle disease virus obtained from a guinea fowl was characterized as a viscerotropic velogenic strain based upon pathogenicity index studies. Following inoculation of the viral isolate oronasally into 3-week-old chickens, clinical signs appeared after an incubation period of 4–5 days and included dullness, depression, dyspnoea, diarrhoea and leg paralysis. The virus caused a mortality of 56% with haemorrhages at the tip of the glands of the proventriculus and caecal tonsil. Histopathological changes were prominent in the lymphoid organs, being characterized by depletion, degeneration and necrosis of the lymphoid tissues. The brain was the first organ affected, with changes being noticed 3 days after infection. Isolation of virus from various organs was more frequent from 5 to 10 days after infection, but the virus persisted in some of the organs until 21 days after infection. In spite of the high mortality, a good immune response was elicited by the isolate, as was evident from the antibody titre.     

Fundamental studies on wood/cellulose-plastic composites: effects of composition and cellulose dimension on the properties of cellulose/PP composite

Although wood/cellulose-plastic composites (WPC) of low wood/cellulose content have been more accepted worldwide and are promoted as low-maintenance, high-durability building products, composites containing high wood/cellulose content are not yet developed on an industrial scale. In this study, flow properties, mechanical properties, and water absorption properties of the compounds of cellulose microfiber/polypropylene (PP) and maleic anhydride-grafted polypropylene (MAPP) were investigated to understand effects of the high cellulose content and the dimensions of the cellulose microfiber. The molding processes studied included compression, injection, and extrusion. It was found that fluidity is not only dependent on resin content but also on the dimension of the filler; fluidity of the compound declined with increased fiber length with the same resin content. Dispersion of the composite was monitored by charge-coupled device (CCD) microscope. Increasing the plastic content in the cellulose-plastic formulation improved the strength of mold in addition to the bond development between resin and filler, and the tangle of fibers. The processing mode affected the physicomechanical properties of the cellulosic plastic. Compression-molded samples exhibited the lowest modulus of rupture (MOR) and modulus of elasticity (MOE) and the highest water absorption, while samples that were injection-molded exhibited the highest MOR (70 MPa) and MOE (7 GPa) and low water absorption (2%).     

Recreational angling markets to advance the conservation of a reach of the Western Ramganga River,India

• 1. Mahseer fishes of the genus Tor are ‘iconic species’ in Indian rivers, representing ‘flagship’ species for conservation purposes but with additional exploitable, cultural and economic values. Conservation action is required to address their vulnerability to numerous pressures on multiple habitats, and connections between them, across the extended aquatic ecosystems supporting different life stages.
• 2. Recreational angling for mahseer, along with associated wildlife and cultural tourism, is a growth industry dependent upon healthy river ecosystems.
• 3. A cyclic, ecosystem‐based model in which local people can benefit economically from sustainable mahseer exploitation through catch‐and‐release fisheries can form a basis for conservation of both mahseer and the wider river ecosystem.
• 4. Experience on the Western Ramganga River in the vicinity of the town of Bikhyasen, Uttarakhand State (in the Himalayas in northern India), demonstrates the importance of involving local people in the benefits associated with angling, wildlife and cultural tourism. This creates local incentives for river protection, and may be the most effective means for preventing destructive over‐exploitation in poor rural communities.
• 5. Recognition of this value and its recirculation to local people can form the basis for a ‘paying for ecosystems services’ (PES) market. This will benefit river ecosystems, local people, tour operators and visiting anglers, provided that local people benefit to a greater extent than through the killing of fish for non‐renewable consumption or sale.
• 6. This is the basis for a potentially transferable model which may support regional development through involving local people in markets for iconic species. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

     

Interactions of fungicide-insecticide combinations against Rhizoctonia solani in vitro and in soil

The inhibition of mycelial growth of Rhizoctonia solani in vitro was strongest with pencycuron, followed by tolclofos-methyl, carboxin and thiabendazole. Against cowpea seedling rot in soil infested with R. solani, tolclofos-methyl was most effective, followed by pencycuron, thiabendazole and carboxin. Of nine insecticides tested, only parathion-methyl and quinalphos suppressed mycelial growth of R. solani in vitro, although their activity was much lower than that of the four tested fungicides. The inhibition of mycelial growth by fungicide-insecticide mixtures was antagonistic in only two out of 36 combinations; it was additive in most cases or synergistic, e.g. for most mixtures of pencycuron and insecticides. Quinalphos, applied to the soil, was the only insecticide which reduced cowpea seedling rot in soil infested with R. solani. Soil application of parathion-methyl, phorate, aldicarb or carbofuran and seed treatment with phosphamidon, monocrotophos, endosulfan or dimethoate had little or no effect on seedling rot. Carboxin gave better disease control when applied to the seed already coated with phosphamidon, monocrotophos, endosulfan or dimethoate and when carboxin-treated seeds were sown in soil treated with quinalphos, parathion-methyl, aldicarb or carbofuran. Efficacy of thiabendazole seed treatment was slightly higher in the presence of insecticides, particularly dimethoate. Pencycuron and tolclofos-methyl as seed treatment gave nearly 100% disease control both in the presence and absence of insecticides. The synergistic interactions detected between fungicides and insecticides represent interesting opportunities for the control of R. solani.     

The influence of two herbicides on the antifungal activity of some fungicides against Pythium butleri and Rhizoctonia solani causing damping-off of cowpea

The herbicides fluchloralin and alachlor applied to soil altered the effectiveness of fungicide treatments to seed and soil for controlling cowpea damping-off. These herbicides also modified the in-vitro toxicity of the fungicides to the mycelial growth of Pythium butleri and Rhizoctonia solani in a nutrient medium. Both herbicides reduced the toxicity of 2-methoxyethylmercury chloride (MEMC) and propamocarb to the growth of P. butleri, and of carbendazim to the growth of R. solani, but enhanced the toxicity of captafol and quintozene to P. butleri and R. solani, respectively. In pot tests, quintozene gave better control of R. solani damping-off in soil treated with fluchloralin or alachlor than in untreated soil, whereas disease control by carbendazim was decreased in similarly treated soils. Both herbicides attenuated the effectiveness of MEMC and captafol to control the damping-off caused by P. butleri; the efficacy of propamocarb was increased by alachlor but was decreased by fluchloralin. The implications of herbicide-fungicide interactions are discussed in the context of fungicidal control of root diseases in herbicide-treated soil.