Enrichment of vermicomposts prepared from cow dung spiked solid textile mill sludge using nitrogen fixing and phosphate solubilizing bacteria

Textile mill waste can be vermicomposted if it is mixed in the range of 20–30% with cow dung. This article reports the effect of inoculation, of nitrogen fixing Azotobacter chroococcum strain; Azospirillum brasilense strain and phosphate solubilizing Pseudomonas maltophila, on nitrogen and phosphorus content of vermicomposts prepared from cow dung (CD) and cow dung spiked textile mill sludge (CD + STMS). The CD vermicompost was more supportive to the growth and multiplication of all the three bacteria than CD + STMS vermicompost. In Azotobacter chroococcum treated vermicomposts maximum nitrogen content was recorded between 45 and 60 days [CD␣vermicompost (25.9 ± 0.45 g kg⁻¹) and CD + STMS vermicompost (20.6 ± 0.62 g kg⁻¹)] followed by Azospirillum brasilense inoculation [CD vermicompost (19.4 ± 0.60 g kg⁻¹) and CD + STMS vermicompost (18.6 ± 0.17 g kg⁻¹)]. Phosphorus content in Pseudomonas maltophila inoculated CD vermicompost was 20.8 ± 0.20 g kg⁻¹ and CD + STMS vermicompost was 13.4 ± 0.45 g kg⁻¹ after 75th day of inoculation.     

Pesticide-induced impairment of thyroid physiology in the freshwater catfish, Heteropneustes fossilis

Effects of BHC (8 mg litre(-1)) and malathion (10 mg litre(-1)) exposure for 96 h have been studied on T(3) and T(4) concentrations in plasma, and in pharyngeal thyroid tissue preparations. Thyroid peroxidase (TPO) activity in the pharyngeal thyroid tissue, along with the extra-thyroidal conversion of T(4) into T(3) were measured in a freshwater catfish, Heteropneustes fossilis. BHC stimulated TPO activity in this fish, during both in vitro and in vivo studies. In contrast, malathion was found to stimulate TPO activity during the in vitro experiments but to inhibit it in the in vivo study. Concentrations of T(3) and T(4) increased in the thyroid gland, as well as in the plasma, in response to BHC exposure. However, in both these tissues, malathion increased T(3) concentrations and reduced T(4) concentrations. The extrathyroidal conversion of T(4) into T(3) was stimulated by malathion and inhibited by BHC.     

Catalytic effect on hydrogen de/absorption properties of MgH2 − x wt% MM (x = 0, 10, 20, 30) nanomaterials

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Reversible hydrogen storage in MgH2 under specified conditions is a possible way for the positive reception of hydrogen economy, in which the...     

Tracing the geographic origin of traded leopard body parts in the indian subcontinent with DNA‐based assignment tests

Illicit trade in wildlife products is rapidly decimating many species across the globe. Such trade is often underestimated for wide‐ranging species until it is too late for the survival of their remaining populations. Policing this trade could be vastly improved if one could reliably determine geographic origins of illegal wildlife products and identify areas where greater enforcement is needed. Using DNA‐based assignment tests (i.e., samples are assigned to geographic locations), we addressed these factors for leopards (Panthera pardus) on the Indian subcontinent. We created geography‐specific allele frequencies from a genetic reference database of 173 leopards across India to infer geographic origins of DNA samples from 40 seized leopard skins. Sensitivity analyses of samples of known geographic origins and assignments of seized skins demonstrated robust assignments for Indian leopards. We found that confiscated pelts seized in small numbers were not necessarily from local leopards. The geographic footprint of large seizures appeared to be bigger than the cumulative footprint of several smaller seizures, indicating widespread leopard poaching across the subcontinent. Our seized samples had male‐biased sex ratios, especially the large seizures. From multiple seized sample assignments, we identified central India as a poaching hotspot for leopards. The techniques we applied can be used to identify origins of seized illegal wildlife products and trade routes at the subcontinent scale and beyond.     

Sub-chronic oral toxicity of acetamiprid in Wistar rats

Acetamiprid is a neoncotinoid insecticide that acts as an agonist to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor used as insecticide in crops and to control fleas on dogs and cats. The objectives of this study are (1) to evaluate the sub-chronic toxicity of orally administered acetamiprid, (2) to estimate the tissue residue levels and (3) to assess the reactive oxygen species induction in Wistar rats. Clinical signs of toxicity and changes in the haematological parameters were not observed in the acetamiprid-treated groups. Biochemically, increases in the levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, cholesterol and decreases in body weight, feed consumption, reduced glutathione, catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and AchE were observed. Lipid peroxidation was increased in liver and kidney. Acetamiprid residues persisted in liver, kidney, spleen, muscles, brain, fat and histopathology revealed lesions in the liver. The no observable adverse effect level of acetamiprid was found to be ≤55 mg/kg body weight.     

Causes of salinity and plant manifestations to salt stress: a review

Salinity in agricultutal terms is the excess of salts above the level plant require. Most often it poses constrains in the growth hence productivity of the category of plants called glycophytes, wherein falls major crops, therefore is a serious concern. It is often recognized as excess of sodium ions (sodicity) that imparts life threatening consequences in plant due to mal-textured soil hindered porosity and aeration leads to physiological water deficit. Mingling with other edaphic/environmental factors viz. precipitation, temperature, flooding, soil profile, water table exaggerates the catastrophe synergistically. Improper irrigations system, leaching fraction added with land clearing and deforestation have been marked as the major cause. The present review underlines the different sources of salinity stress and their physiological manifestations, toxicity responses alongwith tolerance in plants and management strategies in affected landscapes.     

Survey of nitrogen use pattern in rice in the irrigated rice-wheat cropping system of Haryana, India

Seeing the sustainability of rice-wheat cropping system (RWCS) of the Indo-Gangetic Plain, adequate crop nutrition in general and nitrogen (N) in particular holds the key to sound crop management. The excessive application or insufficient management of N means an economic loss to the farmer and may lead to yield penalties and environmental problems. Improving N management in consonance with other nutrients is much important to break yield plateaus as breeding for high yielding is not happening in recent years. Findings from farm survey are used to evaluate the on-farm N management practices in rice crop of the study area. The crop management practices (especially time of sowing/transplanting and irrigation requirement) and resource base of the farmers decided the N use pattern of the farmers. The N(Physical optimum) and N(economic optimum) exceeding the recommended levels revealed the apparent need for the revalidation of the existing recommendations. Paddy yield increased significantly within different rice types. This study generated comprehensive data on N use pattern in rice in the study area.     

A review on remediation technologies using functionalized Cyclodextrin

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Modern lifestyle and alleviated anthropogenic activities have increased the pollutant load, ultimately causing stress on the environment. In...     

Utilizing of Sugar Refinery Waste (Cane Molasses) for Production of Bio-Plastic Under Submerged Fermentation Process

In the present study, depending upon the availability and cheaper cost, different carbon source were tested for the production of PHAs (Polyhydroxyalkonoates) by soil bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa and it was found that sugar refinery waste (cane molasses) produced the maximum PHA (biodegradable polymer) which is precursor for bio-plastic development. Urea served as potent nitrogen source over other inorganic nitrogen sources in bio-plastic synthesis. Effect of different physical parameters viz; pH, temperature and agitation speed were also studied on PHA production. Batch cultivation kinetics under optimized cultural and physical condition showed maximum cell mass and PHA concentration of 7.32?±?0.2 and 5.60?±?0.3?g/L, respectively after 54.0?h of cultivation. Sugar refinery waste (Total sugar 4%) and urea (0.8%) improved the economics of the process which exhibited a yield (Y_P/X) of 0.70 with productivity of 0.11?g/L/h. PHA was further characterized as PHB by using Fourier Transform Infra-red Spectroscopy (FT-IR).