Dynamic effects of fiscal and monetary policy instruments on environmental pollution in ASEAN

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - This study aims to re-examine the impacts of monetary and fiscal policy on environmental quality in ASEAN countries from 1990 to 2019. We utilized the...     

Low digestibility of phytate phosphorus,their impacts on the environment,and phytase opportunity in the poultry industry

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Phosphorus is an essential macro-mineral nutrient for poultry, needed for the body growth, development of bones, genomic function, good...     

Tourism: economic development without increasing CO2 emissions in Pakistan

Environment, Development and Sustainability - Globally, the national and cultural resources of a country are major sources of attraction for tourism. Pakistan is gifted with abundant natural and...     

210Po bioaccumulation in coastal sand dune wild legumes--Canavalia spp. of southwest coast of India

In view of considerable natural background radioactivity reported from southwest coast of India, the current study documents bioaccumulation of 210Po in two dominant coastal sand dune perennial mat-forming wild legumes, Canavalia cathartica and C. maritima. Root, stem, leaf, mature beans, dry seeds and rhizosphere sand were analyzed for 210Po concentration. 210Po activity decreased in the order of leaves > roots > seeds > stems > beans. The highest 210Po activity was recorded in rhizosphere sand samples (5.78-5.88 Bq kg(-1)) followed by the leaf samples (3.27-3.07 Bq kg(-1)), while it was lowest in mature beans (0.13-0.20 Bq kg(-1)). 210Po activities or tissue moisture between plant species were not significantly different (p > 0.05; t-test). But 210Po activity vs. moisture differed significantly in all tissues (p = 0.0001), vegetative tissues (root, stem and leaf) (p = 0.0016), seeds (p = 0.0393) and proteins in seeds (p = 2.355 x 10(-6)) indicating the importance of moisture and protein in 210Po accumulation. Although 210Po has affinity for proteins, it did not concentrate too much in seed proteins of Canavalia. Concentration of 210Po in mature beans is at safe levels as fisher folk only consume tender pods occasionally. 210Po activity in Canavalia is compared with other plant materials. As the landraces of C. cathartica and C. maritima are distributed throughout pantropical coastal areas, the current study emphasizes on considering them as bioindicators to monitor 210Po in coastal sand dune biomes and in turn the health of coastal population.     

Soil properties and crop productivity as influenced by flyash incorporation in soil

Field experiments were carried out during 1996–97at Gulawathi, Muthiani and Salarpur Villages, IARI Farm, NewDelhi and NCPP Campus, Dadri to evaluate changes in soilcharacteristics and growth of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.),mustard (Brassica juncea L.), lentil (Lence esculentaMoench.), rice (Oryza sativa L.) and maize (Zea mays L.) byvarying amounts of flyash addition (up to 50t ha^-1) in soils atsowing/transplanting time of crops. Flyash addition in areasadjoining NCPP Thermal Power Plant, Dadri, Ghaziabad, U.P.ranged from 5–12 t ha^-1 yr^-1 in 1995–96. Shoot and root growthand yield of test crops at different locations after flyashincorporation resulted in beneficial effects of flyashaddition in most cases. The silt dominant texture of flyashimproved loamy sand to sandy loam textures of the surfacesoils at the farmers' fields. The increased growth in yield ofcrops with flyash incorporation was possibly due tomodifications in soil moisture retention and transmissioncharacteristics, bulk density, physico-chemical characterssuch as pH and EC and organic carbon content. The response offlyash addition in the soil on soil health and cropproductivity needs to be evaluated on long-term sustainableaspects.     

Effect of vermicast generated from an allelopathic weed lantana (Lantana camara) on seed germination,plant growth,and yield of cluster bean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba)

In perhaps the first-ever study of its kind, the effect of vermicompost, derived solely from an allelopathic weed, on the germination, growth, and yield of a botanical species, has been carried out. In test plots, the soil was treated with the vermicompost of lantana (Lantana camara) at the rates of 5, 7.5, and 10 t ha^?1, and cluster bean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba) was grown on it. The performance of these systems was compared with the systems in which the soil was fortified with inorganic fertilizers (IFs) in concentrations equivalent to those present in the respective vermicompost (VC) treatments. Additionally, a set of control was studied in which the soil was used without fortification by either VC or IF. It was seen that up to 51.5 % greater germination success occurred in the VC treatments compared to controls. VC also supported better plant growth in terms of stem diameter, shoot length, shoot mass, number of leaves, and leaf pigments. The positive impact extended up to fruit yield. In addition, vermicast application enhanced root nodule formation, reduced disease incidence, and allowed for a smaller number of stunted plants. The results indicate that allelopathic ingredients of lantana seem to have been totally eliminated during the course of its vermicomposting and that lantana vermicompost has the potential to support germination, growth, and fruit yield better than equivalent quantities of IFs.     

Phyto-management of Cr-contaminated soils by sunflower hybrids: physiological and biochemical response and metal extractability under Cr stress

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Chromium (Cr) is a biologically non-essential, carcinogenic and toxic heavy metal. The cultivation of Cr-tolerant genotypes seems the most favorable...