Rainwater conservation and recycling by optimal size on-farm reservoir

Hydrologic and economic analysis of the on-farm reservoir (OFR) was carried out in rainfed rice–mustard cropping systems in Eastern India followed by 2 years of field experiments in 1999 and 2000. The average contribution (average of 2 years) of direct rainfall and surface runoff from the diked crop fields contributed, respectively, about 79.5 and 20.5% to the total OFR inflow. The average contribution of evaporation loss, seepage and percolation loss and supplemental irrigation from the OFR contributed, respectively, about 10.0, 31.2 and 58.8% to the total OFR outflow. There was an average increase of rice yield of 44.0% over the rainfed rice because of application of 8.4 cm supplemental irrigation from the OFR. Thus, with an application of 4.5 cm supplemental irrigation from the OFR, 15.40% increase of mustard yield was recorded in 1999. Economic analysis indicated average net profit of Rs. 700 (US$ 1 = Rupees (Rs.) 44.75 in Indian currency) from a farm area of 800 m². Average values of benefit–cost ratio, internal rate of return and pay back period of the OFR irrigation system were evaluated as 1.17, 14.8%, and 16 years, respectively. The study reveals that the OFR irrigation in small landholders is economically feasible system for rainwater harvesting and providing supplemental irrigation in rainfed farming system.     

COMPUTER APPLICATION TO DOUBLE-MASS ANALYSIS1

ABSTRACT: Double-mass analysis for checking consistency of a hydrological record is considered to be essential before taking it for analysis purpose. Because of increasing computer application in hydrological analyses, in the present paper, a simple and efficient method for the double-mass checking has been developed. The problem has been formulated in FORTRAN IV language and the basic steps and a computer output of the program are presented in a flow chart and a table.     

Effects of Incorporating Polycaprolactone and Flax Fiber into Glycerol-Plasticized Pea Starch

This study focused on improving the material properties of pea thermoplastic starch (TPS) with polycaprolactone (PCL) and flax fiber. Accordingly, composites of glycerol-plasticized pea starch, polycaprolactone, and flax fiber were prepared through solid-phase compounding and compression-molding. The specimens were characterized through scanning electron microscopy, tensile test, moisture absorption test, and differential scanning calorimetry. Morphological studies of the tensile fracture surfaces revealed poor TPS-PCL interfacial interaction and limited TPS-flax fiber interfacial bonding. The composites showed significant improvements in tensile strength with reduced moisture absorption capability essentially due to the hydrophobicity of PCL. Individual components of the composites retained their respective thermal properties, an indication of thermodynamic immiscibility.     

The Effect of Fiber Pretreatment and Compatibilizer on Mechanical and Physical Properties of Flax Fiber-Polypropylene Composites

Recently, investigations have been conducted on the use of natural fibers as reinforcement in low-melting point thermoplastics to improve mechanical properties of composites. However, due to some limitations of natural fibers, composite formulation and processing parameters must be controlled to produce a product with improved properties. This study was conducted to investigate the influence of flax fiber loading, use of compatibilizer and pretreatment on physical and mechanical properties of compression-molded composite. In this study, untreated and treated (sodium hydroxide-treated and mild-bleached flax fibers) fibers at 15% and 30% of the total product mass were used in formulations. To investigate the effect of compatibilizer on product properties, maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (MAPP) was added at 5% by mass in the formulations. After extrusion of composites formulations, they were formed using compression molding. Results indicated that using flax fiber in composites without pretreatment and compatibilizer could result into products with inferior physical and mechanical properties; this could be compensated by the use of a compatibilizer. However, the use of compatibilizer had some negative effects on some other physical properties like color and melt flow index (MFI).     

Toxicological effects on some biochemical parameters of fresh water fish Channa punctatus (Bloch.) under the stress of nickel

Toxicological effects of some biochemical parameters of freshwater fish Channa punctatus (Bloch), under the stress of Nickel (NiSO4. 6H2O), at various concentrations of 10, 20, 30 and 40 ppm for 30 days were observed. Gradual decrease in the levels of liver protein and liver ascorbic acid due to proteolysis and liver glucose breakdown respectively was observed. Contradictorily, high liver cholesterol level, may be due to hepatic disfunctioning and accumulation in brain. There was also gradual decrease in the brain protein level showing significant alterations but the brain ascorbic acid level showed no significant alterations. Decrease in the protein and ascorbic acid level and increase of cholesterol level thus indicates stressful condition of the fish.