Seed maturity indices in Aisandra butyracea--a multipurpose tree species of lower Himalaya

Fruits of Aisandra butyracea (Roxb.) Lamb. were collected from two sites located at different altitudes in Kumaun Himalaya for analyzing the seed maturity in relation to various fruit and seed characters. The mean seed size (length x width) across the collection dates varied between 186.44 +/- 0.05 and 238.17 +/- 0.5 mm2 across both the elevations. The fruit colour changed from dark green in the beginning to pale yellow on the maturity. The range of seed moisture content (62.83 +/- 1.33 to 63.46 +/- 0.89%) coincided with maximum germination. The colour change and seed moisture content appear to be the major indicators of seed maturation in A. butyracea.     

Carbon supply and storage in tilled and nontilled soils as influenced by cover crops and nitrogen fertilization

Soil carbon (C) sequestration in tilled and nontilled areas can be influenced by crop management practices due to differences in plant C inputs and their rate of mineralization. We examined the influence of four cover crops {legume [hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth)], nonlegume [rye (Secale cereale L.)], biculture of legume and nonlegume (vetch and rye), and no cover crops (or winter weeds)} and three nitrogen (N) fertilization rates (0, 60 to 65, and 120 to 130 kg N ha(-1)) on C inputs from cover crops, cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.), and sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench)], and soil organic carbon (SOC) at the 0- to 120-cm depth in tilled and nontilled areas. A field experiment was conducted on Dothan sandy loam (fine-loamy, siliceous, thermic Plinthic Paleudults) from 1999 to 2002 in central Georgia. Total C inputs to the soil from cover crops, cotton, and sorghum from 2000 to 2002 ranged from 6.8 to 22.8 Mg ha(-1). The SOC at 0 to 10 cm fluctuated with C input from October 1999 to November 2002 and was greater from cover crops than from weeds in no-tilled plots. In contrast, SOC values at 10 to 30 cm in no-tilled and at 0 to 60 cm in chisel-tilled plots were greater for biculture than for weeds. As a result, C at 0 to 30 cm was sequestered at rates of 267, 33, -133, and -967 kg C ha(-1) yr(-1) for biculture, rye, vetch, and weeds, respectively, in the no-tilled plot. In strip-tilled and chisel-tilled plots, SOC at 0 to 30 cm decreased at rates of 233 to 1233 kg C ha(-1) yr(-1). The SOC at 0 to 30 cm increased more in cover crops with 120 to 130 kg N ha(-1) yr(-1) than in weeds with 0 kg N ha(-1) yr(-1), regardless of tillage. In the subtropical humid region of the southeastern United States, cover crops and N fertilization can increase the amount of C input and storage in tilled and nontilled soils, and hairy vetch and rye biculture was more effective in sequestering C than monocultures or no cover crop.     

Ipomoea dasysperma seed gum: an effective natural coagulant for the decolorization of textile dye solutions

An investigation of dye decolorization from synthetic dye solutions using the non-ionic, water-soluble, high molecular weight seed gums Ipomoea dasysperma and guar gum as coagulants was undertaken. The use of galactomannans derived from plants in this system presents a sustainable method of textile effluent treatment. These natural coagulants extracted from plants proved to be workable alternatives to conventional coagulants like polyaluminum chloride, as they are biodegradable, safe to human health, are cost effective when compared to imported chemicals and have a wider effective dosage range for flocculation of various colloidal suspensions. Coagulant dose and coagulation pH are important factors influencing the mechanism of coagulation. Also the type and chemical structure of the dye plays an important role in the coagulation process. The seed gums alone were found to be effective for decolorization of direct dye and in combination with PAC their coagulation efficiency was well extended even for reactive and acid dyes.     

Development of a variable configuration cascade impactor for aerosol size distribution measurement

In atmospheric aerosol studies, it is often required to use two different impactors, namely, the normal pressure and the low-pressure impactor, to measure the mass-size distribution over a wide size range. From the perspective of rendering the system compact for such measurements, it may be more advantageous to combine the two features in a single instrument. In an effort towards exploring this option, a variable configuration cascade impactor (VCCI) comprising of 7 normal pressure and 4 low-pressure stages has been designed and developed. In configuration-1, it operates as a low-pressure impactor, with a sampling flow rate of 10 L min^?1 and classifies the particles from 0.1 to 21 μm in eleven size classes. In configuration-2, it operates as a normal pressure impactor, with a sampling flow rate of 45 L min^?1, and classifies the particles from 0.53 to 10 μm in seven size classes. As part of performance evaluation of the system, the deposit patterns and the integral performance have been studied. For integral performance, a comparative mass-size distribution measurement between VCCI and standard Andersen impactor was carried out. Its performance was also evaluated against the GRIMM Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer (SMPS) in the common size range of both these instruments and against GRIMM Optical Particle Counter (OPC). In addition to this, VCCI was evaluated for its performance in the PM_x configuration obtained by removing a few of the impactor stages sequentially and measuring corresponding size distribution for every stage removed. Changes in the distribution parameters due to spillover of the deposits of previous stage to remaining stages were within 10%. This variation is well within the generally accepted value for all environmental measurement related applications.     

Analysis of different nutrient status of liquid bio-fertilizer of different combinations of buffalo dung with gram bran and water hyacinth through vermicomposting by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eisenia fetida</Emphasis>

The animal, agro-wastes and water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) are a serious problem for the society and ecosystem. The present study carried out the management of water hyacinth and observation of nutritional status like pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total organic carbon (TOC), total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN), C/N ratio, total phosphorus and total calcium (TCa) of liquid bio-fertilizer (vermiwash) before and after vermicomposting of feed materials of different combinations of buffalo dung (BD) with water hyacinth (WH) and gram bran (GB). After vermicomposting of different combinations of BD with WH and agro-wastes, significant decrease in level of pH, EC, TOC and C/N ratio was observed, whereas significant increase in TKN, TK, TAP and TCa level in vermiwash of final vermicompost with respect to initial feed material was observed. The pH of initial mixture in all combinations has tended to basic in nature, while in final vermicompost, it becomes neutral/basic. The significant increase was observed in the level of TKN, TK, TAP in BD + GB + WH (1:2:1) and TCa in BD + GB + WH (1:1:2) vermiwash of final vermicompost of combination, whereas decrease was observed in TOC, C/N ratio, pH and EC in BD + WH (1:1), BD + GB + WH (1:1:1), BD + GB + WH (1:2:1) and BD + GB (1:1), respectively.     

Pollinating efficiency of native bee pollinators of pigeonpea (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cajanus cajan</Emphasis>) in Nagaland

Present study was carried out to determine pollinators’ diversity and their efficiency with modular approach; foraging behaviour, number of loose pollen adhered on their body and number of pollen deposited on the stigma. The observations explicitly indicate that Megachile spp., Xylocopa tenuiscopa, Amegilla zonata and Nomia sp. were true pollinators and out of these, Megachile spp. were key pollinators of pigeonpea. Among megachilids, Megachile lanata was the most efficient pollinator. Sufficient pollination meticulously accomplished in pigeonpea by true pollinators under this agro-ecological region.     

Ecological monitoring of wetlands in semi-arid region of Konya closed Basin, Turkey

Wetland ecosystems are of global significance having productive, regulatory and informative function. These wetlands are crucial for the long-term protection of water sources, as well as the survival of its unique biodiversity. Most of the wetlands of Turkey are now facing serious threat from the anthropogenic sources and now near to the verge of extinction. This study has been carried out to monitor vegetation dynamics and ecological status of wetlands of Koyna basin at spatial and temporal scale. This study has involved MODerate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) images of the year 2000, 2004 and 2008 on daily basis with spatial resolution of 1 km. The MODIS 16 days composite NDVI time series products of 250-m spatial resolution from year 2000 to 2008 has been utilized to monitor the ecological status of the wetlands. The European Nature Information System habitat classification map, meteorological data (precipitation, temperature) coupled with field data has been utilized to validate NDVI values of nine habitats in the wetlands. The time series analyses of NDVI data values have been correlated with the groundwater level depth from 1996 to 2004. The overall analysis has shown a declining trend of NDVI over the year 2000 to 2008, indicated a degraded wetland condition in span of 9 years.     

The recent occurrence of exotic freshwater fishes in the tributaries of river Ganga basin: abundance, distribution, risk, and conservation issues

We record here the recent occurrence, abundance and distribution of six exotic fish species, viz. Oreochromis mossambicus, Cyprinus carpio, Hypopthalmicthys molitrix, Ctenopharyngodon idellus, Clarias gariepinus, and Pterygoplichthys disjunctivus (a new exotic in India) distributed through the four important tributaries of river Ganga basin in India. From the total catch, the abundance index of all exotic species in different rivers ranged from 1.1 to 14.5?% with highest value in River Gomti. The relative abundance of the exotic species in all the four tributaries demonstrated that a single species C. carpio contributed a considerable abundance (43.3?C83?%) than that of the remaining exotic fishes. The Common Carp, C. carpio, was ubiquitous in all the four tributaries of Ganges basin studied and had the highest local distribution (52.63?%). Smaller size groups of endangered (Chagunius chagunio, Chitala chitala, and Tor tor) and migratory species (Bagarius bagarius, Ompok pabda, Wallago attu, and Sperata aor) in the four tributaries were recorded, and the increasing appearance of Common Carp and other exotic fishes is signaling biological invasion. Possible threats to the indigenous fish fauna, as a result of the invasion and proliferation of these exotics, are discussed.     

Combining bioaccumulation and coping mechanism to enhance long-term site-specific risk assessment for zinc susceptibility of bivalves

The purpose of this study is to conduct a long-term site-specific risk assessment for zinc (Zn) susceptibility of bivalves, green mussel Perna viridis and hard clam Ruditapes philippinarum, based on published experimental data by linking the biologically-based damage assessment model with the subcellular partitioning concept. A comprehensive risk modeling framework was developed to predict susceptibility probability of two bivalve species exposed to waterborne Zn. The results indicated that P. viridis accumulates more Zn toxicity, whereas both toxic potency and the recovery rate of Zn are higher for R. philippinarum. We found that negative linear correlations exist in elimination-recovery and elimination-detoxification relationships, whereas a positive linear correlation was observed in recovery-detoxification relationships for bivalves exposed to waterborne Zn. Simulation results showed that the spatial differences of susceptibility primarily resulted from the variation of waterborne Zn concentration under field conditions. We found that R. philippinarum is more susceptible of Zn than P. viridis under the same exposure condition. Results also suggested that Zn posed no significant susceptibility risk to two bivalve species in Taiwan. We suggested that these two species can be used to biomonitor the water quality on Taiwan coastal areas.     

Inhibition kinetics of certain enzymes in the nervous tissue of vector snail Lymnaea acuminata by active molluscicidal components of Sapindus mukorossi and Terminalia chebula

Effect of active molluscicidal components of Sapindus mukorossi and Terminalia chebula on the acetylcholinesterase (AChE), acid and alkaline phosphatase (ACP/ALP) activity in the nervous tissue of freshwater snail Lymnaea acuminata were studied. In vivo and in vitro exposure of saponin (active component of S. mukorossi pericarp) and tannic acid (active component of T. chebula) significantly inhibited the AChE, ACP and ALP activity in the nervous tissue of L. acuminata. The inhibition kinetics of these enzymes indicate that saponin and tannic acid caused competitive and competitive-non-competitive inhibition of AChE, respectively. Saponin also caused competitive and competitive-non-competitive inhibition of ACP and ALP, respectively, whereas tannic acid caused competitive-non-competitive inhibition of ACP and ALP. Thus the inhibition of AChE, ACP and ALP by saponin and tannic acid in the nervous tissue of L. acuminata may be the cause of molluscicidal activity of S. mukorossi and T. chebula.