Controlled release of thiram fungicide from starch-based hydrogels

In order to make the judicious use of thiram fungicide and to exploit the potential of agri-polymers, we have developed the starch- poly(acrylamide) and starch-poly(acrylic acid) based agrichemical delivery system (hydrogels) for its controlled and sustained release. Polymeric networks have been prepared by using N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide (N,N-MBAAm) as crosslinker and ammonium persulfate (APS) as initiator and characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and swelling studies. Release dynamics of thiram fungicide from polymeric matrices has been studied for the evaluation of the diffusion mechanism and diffusion coefficients. It has been established that Non-Fickian diffusion mechanism has occurred for the release of thiram from these polymeric matrices. Furthermore, the initial rate of diffusion of thiram from these polymeric matrices is more as compared to the late stages of diffusion, which is analogous to the trends obtained for the diffusion of water molecules from these polymer matrices.     

Precipitation Chemistry and Occurrence of Acid Rain Over Dhanbad, Coal City of India

The present study investigated the chemical composition of wet atmospheric precipitation over Dhanbad, coal city of India. The precipitation samples were collected on event basis for three years (July 2003 to October 2005) at Central Mining Research Institute. The precipitation samples were analyzed for pH, conductivity, major anions (F, Cl, NO₃, SO₄) and cations (Ca, Mg, Na, K, NH₄). The pH value varied from 4.01 to 6.92 (avg. 5.37) indicating acidic to alkaline nature of rainwater. The pH of the rainwater was found well above the reference pH (5.6), showing alkalinity during the non-monsoon and early phase of monsoon, but during the late phase of monsoon, pH tendency was towards acidity (<5.6~pH) indicating the non-availability of proper neutralizer for acidic ions. The observed acidic events at this site were 91, (n = 162) accounting 56% for the entire monitoring months. The (NO₃ + Cl)/SO₄ ratio in majority of samples was found below 1.0, indicating that the acidity is greatly influenced by SO₄. The calculated ratio of (Ca + NH₄)/(NO₃ + SO₄) ranges between 0.42–5.13 (average 1.14), however in most of the samples, the ratio is greater than unity (>1.0) indicating that Ca and NH₄ play an important role in neutralization of acidic ions in rainwater. Ca and SO₄ dominate the bulk ionic deposition and these two ions along with NH₄ accounts 63% of the annual ionic deposition.     

马来西亚油棕业：在环境无害与可持续作物生产方向上的进展

在社会经济上,油棕是马来西亚一种高度重要的作物.同热带雨林一样,它也是大气CO2的一种高效吸收者.其稠密的、伞一样的树冠提供有助于长期土壤稳定性的连续地面覆盖.棕榈油加工业有与环境保护有关的良好轨迹记录,其中包括废物管理以及废物和副产物利用.多年来,它已经采取了适当措施来防止土壤、空气和水体的退化.油棕是一种高能效作物.与其它主要一年生含油种子作物比较,它的栽培和加工需要投入较少的农业化学品和化石燃料就能生产一吨油,而且产生较少的排放.     

Combinatorial effects of distillery and sugar factory effluents in crop plants

Under the reutilization and recycling strategy of industrial effluents, treated distillery and sugar factory mixed effluent was used in petridish culture experiments to investigate its effect on seed germination and seedling growth in wheat, garden pea, black gram and mustard. The seed germination and seedling growth were significantly reduced with increase in concentration of the effluent. The fresh matter was found significantly increased in barley (1.16 g per seedling in 25% dilution level of effluents in comparison to 0.93 in control), while other higher dilution levels reduce it. Wheat, garden pea, black gram, mustard invariably showed inhibition in fresh weight. Dry weight was found consistently reduced or unchanged in different treatments. Total chlorophyll contents in barley were significantly increased in different treatments (2.351 and 2.721 mg/g fresh weight of tissue at 25, 50% dilution levels in comparison to 1.781 of control) while in other crop it was reduced alloverthe treatments. Amylase activity in wheat, garden pea, black gram and mustard was reduced in all the treatments. Only in barley its level was enhanced from 0.76 to 0.85, 0.96, 0.81 in 25, 50, 75% dilution levels of the effluent mixture respectively Based on the data of different crops barley was found to be highly tolerant as the 25 and 50% dilution levels of combined effluents. It showed no change in germination %, while seedling growth was increased in lower dilution levels of combined effluent as compared to control Barley>garden pea>wheat>black gram>mustard gradually showed increased level of sensitivity respectively Most detrimental effects were seen in mustard. This toxicity might be due to excess of nutrients, beyond the limits of tolerance. Therefore, the higher concentration of mixed effluent was not advisable for irrigation purpose, however it could be used for irrigation purpose after proper treatment and dilution (one part treated effluent and five parts of available irrigation water), as this dilution level was found growth and yield promotory     

Tree plantations for restoration of degraded lands and greening of India: a case study of tree growers' cooperatives

India has over 100 m ha (million hectares) of village common lands. De jure, these lands are owned by the state but, de facto, they are used in common by villagers. Most of the village commons are degraded and denuded and are almost nonproductive. Several attempts have been made in the recent past to restore them through planting of trees by governmental and non-governmental organizations. Tree Growers' Co-operative Societies (TGCS), as an organisational innovation of relatively recent origin, have proved to be more cost-effective than other forms of organisations engaged in greening the village commons in India. This paper attempts to assess the financial viability of tree plantations carried out by three selected TGCS and to distil lessons of their experience useful for policy purposes. The study revealed that plantations founded by the sample TGCS were financially viable, and that the plantations had transformed the desolate village commons into 'green wealth'. The authors conclude that the TGCS have a high potential as an instrument for promoting the afforestation of India's degraded village common lands and thereby improving village economy and the quality of the environment.     

Illinois State Water Survey Bulletin 75: New Precipitation Frequency Study for Illinois

Storm frequency estimates and their temporal distributions are important in determining estimates of runoff or peak flow rates in many engineering and hydrological problems. Illinois State Water Survey Bulletin 70 has been serving as the design rainfall standard in Illinois since its publication in 1989. Although Bulletin 70 represented the best available data at the time of its publication, the standards needed to be reevaluated and updated after more than three decades and with the growing evidence of the nonstationary nature of heavy precipitation. The trends in heavy precipitation in Illinois prompted the creation of a new frequency study named Bulletin 75, providing precipitation frequencies for event durations ranging from 5 min to 10 days and for recurrence intervals ranging from 2 months to 500 years. The results are presented for the same 10 geographic sections in Illinois as in Bulletin 70 to maintain the continuity of hydrologic studies and compatibility with regulations. The primary goal of this paper is to outline some of the key methodological issues and challenges, to compare the results with the previous sources, and to highlight the effects of the changing precipitation standards on the development of amendments to existing ordinances. Lake County in Illinois, as one of the most affected urban areas with the highest change in heavy precipitation, was selected to illustrate issues related to the application of modified precipitation standards.     

Should tobacco products’ waste be considered as hazardous in India?

Tobacco and its associated products are known to be harmful for health. Moreover, the waste emanating out of the production, processing, packaging, and consumption of these products is equally harmful for humans as well as other biotic/abiotic agencies. Taking into account the toxic nature of these waste products, it is necessary to have a well-defined approach to deal with this waste. Consideration of tobacco products’ waste as municipal solid waste has serious implications in the long-term as it results in dumping of these wastes mixed-up with domestic waste in landfills. With time, toxic components become part of the leachate which contaminates water and soil, further leading to the contamination in food chain. Therefore, many countries are now considering this waste under the hazardous category and evolving various measures to safely dispose it off. In the light of recent researches and policies, it is time to re-consider this important public health issue.     

Controlled sintering for cadmium stabilization by beneficially using the dredged river sediment

● Dredged river sediment was proved as a ceramic precursor rather than a solid waste. ● Cd was stabilized in Cd-Al-Si-O phases at low temperatures via sediment addition. ● < 5% of Cd was leached out from sintered products even after a prolonged time. ● A strategy was proposed to simultaneously reuse wastes and stabilize heavy metals. Cd-bearing solid wastes are considered to be a serious threat to the environment, and effective strategies for their treatment are urgently needed. Ceramic sintering has been considered as a promising method for efficiently incorporating heavy metal-containing solid wastes into various ceramic products. Mineral-rich dredged river sediment, especially Al and Si-containing oxides, can be treated as alternative ceramic precursors rather than being disposed of as solid wastes. To examine the feasibility of using waste sediment for Cd stabilization and the phase transition mechanisms, this study conducted a sintering scheme for the mixtures of CdO and dredged river sediment with different (Al+Si):Cd mole ratios. Detailed investigations have been performed on phases transformation, Cd incorporation mechanisms, elemental distribution, and leaching behaviors of the sintered products. Results showed that Cd incorporation and transformation in the sintered products were influenced by the mole ratio of (Al+Si):Cd. Among the high-Cd series ((Al+Si):Cd = 6:1), CdSiO₃, Cd₂SiO₄, CdAl₂(SiO₄)₂ and Cd₂Al₂Si₂O₉ were predominant Cd-containing product phases, while Cd₂Al₂Si₂O₉ was replaced by CdAl₄O₇ when the mole ratio of (Al+Si):Cd was 12:1 (low-Cd series). Cd was efficiently stabilized in both reaction series after being sintered at ≥ 900 °C, with < 5% leached ratio even after a prolonged leaching time, indicating excellent long-term Cd stabilization. This study demonstrated that both Cd-containing phases and the amorphous Al-/Si-containing matrices all played critical roles in Cd stabilization. A promising strategy can be proposed to simultaneously reuse the solid waste as ceramic precursors and stabilize heavy metals in the ceramic products.     

Determination of Path Coefficients and Its Application in Road Traffic Noise Annoyance – a Theoretical Approach

This paper elucidates the basic approach of determining the path coefficients and its significance in the road traffic noise annoyance. Path model not only outline the direct effect of the traffic noise on the nearby residents but also indicate the indirect effect via other variables. In this study seven variables were considered for determining road traffic noise annoyance. However the same would be equally applicable for other situations like aircraft noise, rail noise, and industry noise with the different variables. At the outset a priori path model was designed and then on the basis of the partial regression coefficient values for the different paths, the revised path model was developed. The standardized partial regression coefficients known as path coefficients, determine the strength of the linkage among variables. Some of the paths in the model were not statistically significant. Revised path models were developed by deleting the insignificant paths whose values were found above 5% level. In the revised path model, thus the direct and indirect effect due to a particular variable causing the road traffic noise annoyance could be observed.     

Trace Level Determination of U, Zn, Cd, Pb and Cu in Drinking Water Samples

The concentration of uranium has been assessed in drinking water samples collected from different locations in Bathinda district, Punjab, India. The water samples are taken from hand pumps and tube wells. Uranium is determined using fission track technique. Uranium concentration in the water samples varies from 2.23± 0.05 to 87.05± 0.29 μg/L. These values are compared with safe limit values recommended for drinking water. The uranium concentration in almost all drinking water samples is found to be more than the safe limit. Analysis of some heavy metals viz. Zn, Cd, Pb and Cu in water is made. The concentration of sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, chlorine and total hardness along with the pH value and conductivity of the water samples are measured. Some of the samples show stunningly high values of these parameters.