Interference of three weed extracts on uptake of nutrient in three different varieties of paddy through radio tracer techniques

Interference of three dominant weed extracts viz., Ageratum conyzoides L., Melilotus indica All. and Parthenium hysterophorus L. were examined on seed germination, seedling growth, and nutrient uptake (32P and 65Zn) in three different varieties (PD-10, PD-12 and PB) of paddy (Oryza sativa L.). Among the three different varieties irrespective of weed extracts, PD-10 and PD-12 were resistant and PB was susceptible in terms of seed germination, radicle length and plumule dry weight; and PD-12 and PB were resistant and susceptible, respectively, in terms of plumule length and total seedling dry weight. A. conyzoides caused maximum reduction in seed germination and M. indica in seedling growth in different varieties of paddy. The weed extracts interfered in uptake of both 32P and 65Zn and there was a gradual decrease in uptake of both nutrients with increasing concentration of extracts in both root and shoot. The uptake of 32P and 65Zn was more inhibitory with the extracts of A. conyzoides and M. indica, respectively in different varieties. The inhibition in seed germination, seedling growth and nutrient uptake may be due to the presence of phenolics and other secondary metabolities. The phenolics such as gallic, vanillic, protocatechuic and p-hydroxybenzoic acids were identified from these weed extracts.     

Effect of vegetable oil factory effluent on the gonads of a freshwater teleost, Heteropneustes fossilis (Bl.) --a biochemical study

The effects of three sublethal concentrations (5,10,15% v/v) of vegetable oil factory effluent on biochemical changes in the gonads (ovaries/testes) of a freshwater teleost were studied. The results reveal a significant decline in the total lipid, cholesterol, phospholipid, and glycerine levels, but an increase in the free fatty acid levels, both in the ovaries and the testes of H. fossilis, following 150 days (mid-January through mid-June) of exposure to 10% and 15% concentrations of the effluent. This decrease/increase in the biochemical parameters was more or less dependent on the concentration of the effluent. The functional significance of any decrease/increase in the biochemical parameter(s) has been discussed.     

Differential protection of ethylenediurea (EDU) against ambient ozone for five cultivars of tropical wheat

The antiozonant EDU (ethylenediurea) was used to assess the impact of ambient O₃ under field conditions on five cultivars of tropical wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). EDU solution (0 ppm and 400 ppm) was applied as soil drench (100 ml plant^?1) 10 days after germination (DAG) at an interval of 12 days. EDU-treated plants showed significant increments in stomatal conductance, photosynthetic rate, variable fluorescence, total chlorophyll, ascorbic acid, proline and protein contents and protective enzymes (POX, SOD and APX) activities in HUW468, HUW510 and HUW234 cultivars, while, a reverse trend was observed for lipid peroxidation. EDU application restored grain yield significantly by maintaining higher levels of antioxidants, metabolites and enzymes in cultivars HUW468 and HUW510. Sonalika and PBW343 showed least response of measured parameters under EDU treatment suggesting their greater resistance to O₃. EDU, thus proved its usefulness in screening suitable wheat cultivars for areas experiencing elevated concentrations of O₃.     

Investigations of methane emissions from rice cultivation in Indian context

The increasing demand of the growing population requires enhancement in the production of rice. This has a direct bearing on the global environment since the rice cultivation is one of the major contributors to the methane emissions. As the rice cultivation is intensified with the current practices and technologies, the methane fluxes from paddy fields will substantially rise. Improved high yielding rice varieties together with efficient cultivation techniques will certainly contribute to the curtailment of the methane emission fluxes. In this paper, the system dynamic approach is used for estimating the methane emissions from rice fields in India till the year 2020. Mitigation options studied for curtailing the methane emissions include rice production management, use of low methane emitting varieties of rice, water management and fertilizer amendment. The model is validated quantitatively and sensitivity tests are carried out to examine the robustness of the model.