Attitudinal response towards road traffic noise in the industrial town of Asansol, India

The major objective of the investigation was to evaluate the road traffic noise and its likely impacts on the local community of Asansol city (West Bengal, India) by monitoring and modeling. The attitudinal response of local population due to existing vehicular noise is presented in the paper. Noise and Attitudinal Survey was conducted at 25 locations. A total of 869 individuals were surveyed. The relationship between traffic noise levels and annoyance was studied using correlation, linear and multiple linear regressions analysis. The average L(dn) value was 73.28 +/- 8.51 dB(A) (55.1-87.3); The Traffic Noise Index (TNI) was 80.62 +/- 15.88 dB(A) (49.4-115.8). The mean value of percent of population Highly Annoyed (%HA) due to road traffic noise was 26.50 +/- 3.37 (19.44-33.2), whereas the mean dissatisfaction score (MDS) was 2.96 +/- 0.90 (1.04-4.45). Annoyance modeling was also performed based on field data. It can be said that Noise values gives desirable annoyance predicting values in comparison to vehicular data.     

Pesticide residue level in tea ecosystems of Hill and Dooars regions of West Bengal, India

In the present study we quantified the residues of organophosphorus (e.g. ethion and chlorpyrifos), organochlorine (e.g. heptachlor, dicofol, alpha-endosulfan, beta-endosulfan, endosulfan sulfate) and synthetic pyrethroid (e.g. cypermethrin and deltamethrin) pesticides in made tea, fresh tea leaves, soils and water bodies from selected tea gardens in the Dooars and Hill regions of West Bengal, India during April and November, 2006. The organophosphorus (OP) pesticide residues were detected in 100% substrate samples of made tea, fresh tea leaves and soil in the Dooars region. In the Hill region, 20% to 40% of the substrate samples contained residues of organophosphorus (OP) pesticides. The organochlorine (OC) pesticide residues were detected in 33% to 100% of the substrate samples, excluding the water bodies in the Dooars region and 0% to 40% in the Hill region. The estimated mean totals of studied pesticides were higher in fresh tea leaves than in made tea and soils. The synthetic pyrethroid (SP) pesticide residues could not be detected in the soils of both the regions and in the water bodies of the Dooars. Sixteen percent and 20% of the made tea samples exceeded the MRL level of chlorpyrifos in Dooars and Hill regions respectively. The residues of heptachlor exceeded the MRL in 33% (April) and 100% (November) in the Dooars and 40% (April) and 20% (November) in the Hill region. Based on the study it was revealed that the residues of banned items like heptachlor and chlorpyrifos in made tea may pose health hazards to the consumers.     

Evaluating soil quality under a long-term integrated tillage–water–nutrient experiment with intensive rice–wheat rotation in a semi-arid Inceptisol,India

Long-term sustainability and a declining trend in productivity of rice–wheat rotation in the Indo-Gangetic plain, often direct towards the changes in soil quality parameters. Soil quality is decided through few sensitive soil physical, chemical and biological indicators as it cannot be measured directly. The present investigation was carried out to develop a valid soil quality index through some chosen indicators under long-term influences of tillage, water and nutrient-management practices in a rice–wheat cropping system. The experiment consisted of two tillage treatments, three irrigation treatments, and nine nutrient management treatments for both rice and wheat, was continued for 8 years. The index was developed using expert-opinion based conceptual framework model. After harvest of rice, the CFSQI-P (productivity) was higher under puddled situation, whereas CFSQI-EP (environmental protection) was more under non-puddled condition and 3-days of drainage was found promising for all the indices. No-tillage practice always showed higher soil quality index. The treatments either receiving full organics (100 % N) or 25 % substitution of fertilizer N with organics showed higher soil quality indices. Puddling, irrigation after 3 days of drainage and substitution of 25 % recommended fertilizer N dose with FYM in rice could be practiced for maintaining or enhancing soil quality. No-tillage, two irrigations, and domestic sewage sludge in wheat can safely be recommended for achieving higher soil quality.     

Assessment of groundwater pollution in West Delhi, India using geostatistical approach

The exploration, exploitation, and unscientific management of groundwater resources in the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi, India have posed a serious threat of reduction in quantity and deterioration of quality. The objective of the study is to determine the groundwater quality and to assess the risk of groundwater pollution at Najafgarh, NCT of Delhi. The groundwater quality parameters were analyzed from the existing wells of the Najafgarh and the thematic maps were generated using geostatistical concepts. Ordinary kriging and indicator kriging methods were used as geostatistical approach for preparation of thematic maps of the groundwater quality parameters such as bicarbonate, calcium, chloride, electrical conductivity (EC), magnesium, nitrate, sodium, and sulphate with concentrations equal or greater than their respective groundwater pollution cutoff value. Experimental semivariogram values were fitted well in spherical model for the water quality parameters, such as bicarbonate, chloride, EC, magnesium, sodium, and sulphate and in exponential model for calcium and nitrate. The thematic maps of all the groundwater quality parameters exhibited an increasing trend of pollution from the northern and western part of the study area towards the southern and eastern part. The concentration was highest at the southernmost part of the study area but it could not reflect correctly the groundwater pollution status. The indicator kriging method is useful to assess the risk of groundwater pollution by giving the conditional probability of concentrations of different chemical parameters exceeding their cutoff values. Thus, risk assessment of groundwater pollution is useful for proper management of groundwater resources and minimizing the pollution threat.     

Biomethanation of plant materials and agricultural residues using dung samples as wild population of microbes and also with isolated methanogens

Recycling of plant materials and agricultural residues for biomethanation was attempted in vials. The methanogenic activities of certain sewage samples have also been tested. Both sterilized and non-sterilized biomasses were used. Biomethanation was carried out with dung samples (cow, goat, buffalo, piggery wastes and poultry wash) as wild populations of microbes and in combination with other microbial isolates (isolated in the laboratory).Biomethanation had been observed to be good in most cases and particularly with the sterilized biomass. Mixed inoculum (dung samples and poultry wash) was found to be best for biomethanation. Of the microbe isolates, isolates from buffalo, pig and paper mill wastes appear to be most effective. Pretreated sawdust and rice straw were found to be good subtrates for biomethanation. Of the different plant biomass used Spirogyra (algae), Ipomea and water hyacinth were most effective whereas Jatropa gossypifolia and Parthenium sp. were the least effective. Biomethanation of Spirogyra was carried out both in anoxic and oxic conditions. Though methane production decreased enormously under oxic conditions, definite methane production continued indicating that the biomethanation process is not exclusively anoxic. Similarly, biomethanation of sewage samples from different sewage treatment plants were carried out with and without isolated methanogens and methane production was found to be moderate.     

Butachlor degradation in tropical soils: effect of application rate, biotic-abiotic interactions and soil conditions

The degradative characteristics of butachlor (N-Butoxymethyl-2-chloro-2',6'-diethyla- cetanilide) were studied under controlled laboratory conditions in clay loam alluvial (AL) soil (Typic udifluvent) and coastal saline (CS) soil (Typic endoaquept) from rice cultivated fields. The application rates included field rate (FR), 2-times FR (2FR) and 10-times FR (10FR). The incubation study was carried out at 30 degrees C with and without decomposed cow manure (DCM) at 60% of maximum water holding capacity (WHC) and waterlogged soil condition. The half-life values depended on the soil types and initial concentrations of butachlor. Butachlor degraded faster in AL soil and in soil amended with DCM under waterlogged condition. Microbial degradation is the major avenue of butachlor degradation from soils.     

Effect of pencycuron on microbial parameters of waterlogged soil

A laboratory study was conducted to monitor the effect of pencycuron [1-(4-chlorobenzyl)-1-cyclopentyl-3-phenylurea] on microbial parameters of alluvial (AL) soil (Typic udifluvent) and coastal saline (CS) soil (Typic endoaquept) under waterlogged condition. Pencycuron at field rate (FR), 2FR and 10FR affected the microbial biomass C (MBC), soil ergosterol content and fluorescein diacetate hydrolyzing activity (FDHA) differentially. The DCM amendment did not seem to have any counteractive effect on the toxicity of pencycuron on the microbial variables. The change in microbial metabolic quotient (qCO2) and microbial respiration quotient (QR), indicated pencycuron induced disturbance at 10FR. Present study revealed that the metabolically activated microbial population was more suppressed compared to the dormant population.     

Microbial biomass and enzyme activities in submerged rice soil amended with municipal solid waste compost and decomposed cow manure

We studied the suitability of municipal solid waste compost (MSWC) application to submerged rice paddies in the perspective of metal pollution hazards associated with such materials. Experiments were conducted during the wet seasons of 1997, 1998 and 1999 on rice grown under submerged condition, at the Agriculture Experimental Farm, Calcutta University at Baruipur, West Bengal, India. The treatments consisted of control, no input; MSWC, at 60 kgNha(-1); well decomposed cow manure (DCM), at 60 kgNha(-1); MSWC (30 kgNha(-1)) +Urea (30 kgNha(-1)); DCM (30 kgNha(-1)) +U (30 kgNha(-1)) and Fertilizer, (at 60:30:30 NPK kgha(-1) through urea, single superphosphate and muriate of potash respectively). Soil microbial biomass-C (MBC), MBC as percentage of organic-C (ratio index value, RIV), urease and acid phosphatase activities were higher in DCM than MSWC-treated soils, due to higher amount of biogenic organic materials like water soluble organic carbon, carbohydrate and mineralizable nitrogen in the former. The studied parameters were higher when urea was integrated with DCM or MSWC, compared to their single applications. Soil MBC, urease and acid phosphatase activities periodically declined up to 60 day after transplanting (DAT) and then increased after crop harvest. The heavy metals in MSWC did not detrimentally influence MBC, urease and acid phosphatase activities of soil. In the event of long term MSWC application, changes in soil quality parameters should be monitored regularly, since heavy metals once entering into soil persist over a long period.     

Climate change: potential impact on plant diseases

Global climate has changed since pre-industrial times. Atmospheric CO(2), a major greenhouse gas, has increased by nearly 30% and temperature has risen by 0.3 to 0.6 degrees C. The intergovernmental panel on climate change predicts that with the current emission scenario, global mean temperature would rise between 0.9 and 3.5 degrees C by the year 2100. There are, however, many uncertainties that influence these predictions. Despite the significance of weather on plant diseases, comprehensive analysis of how climate change will influence plant diseases that impact primary production in agricultural systems is presently unavailable. Evaluation of the limited literature in this area suggests that the most likely impact of climate change will be felt in three areas: in losses from plant diseases, in the efficacy of disease management strategies and in the geographical distribution of plant diseases. Climate change could have positive, negative or no impact on individual plant diseases. More research is needed to obtain base-line information on different disease systems. Most plant disease models use different climatic variables and operate at a different spatial and temporal scale than do the global climate models. Improvements in methodology are necessary to realistically assess disease impacts at a global scale.