ID: 56421
Title: Study on wetlands of Guwahati: (5) Effect of sewage on the gills of fish Heteropneustes fossilis
Author: J C Kalita, B K Baruah, R Ahmed, S K Choudhury and M Das
Editor: Dr R K Trivedy
Year: 2012
Publisher: EM International, Vol 31 (1), 2012
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Pollution Research
Keywords: Wetland, sewage, Gill, Heteropneustes fossilis
Abstract: City sewage consists of all types of waste water including domestic, municipal and industrial waste and is highly polluted in terms of physical, chemical and biological characteristics. In the present investigation, aquatic typical fish Heteropneustes fossilis was treated in the sewage of Guwahati city for a period of 180 days and the histology of gill was studied after every 30 days interval. The gill showed a remarkable changes in its histology showing vacuolation, hemorrhage and rupture of gill lamellae thereby impairing gaseous exchange mechanism in the fish.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 56420
Title: Isolation and characterization of pyrene degrading bacteria
Author: Anupama Deora, Rupa Giri, Sneh Goyal and Kamlesh Kukreja
Editor: Dr R K Trivedy
Year: 2012
Publisher: EM International, Vol 31 (1), 2012
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Pollution Research
Keywords: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, bioremediation, enrichment culture, pyrene, Paenibacillus larvae
Abstract: Contamination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) which are toxic environmental pollutants causes public health risks and raises environmental concerns. One hundred and seven bacterial isolates were obtained from PAH (pyrene) contaminated soil samples by enrichment culture technique. Eight bacterial isolates showed zone of pyrene utilization around their colonies in the presence of glucose (0.2%) on L9 Minimal medium agar plates while one showed the utilization zone in the absence of glucose also. All the eight isolates produced zone on complete medium plates also. Pyrene utilization was also checked in L9 Minimal broth using all the isolates. Two bacterial isolates viz. KLR 1 and KRRG 1 which showed more protein content and viable count in L9 broth amended with pyrene (1mM) as compared to others were selected for different carbon and nitrogen source utilization pattern on L9 MM agar plates. Out of 16 carbon sources and 9 nitrogen sources testes, good growth and large zone of pyrene utilization was observed with eight carbon and five nitrogen sources in both the isolates. However in liquid medium, both the isolates showed maximum viable count and protein content wit glucose as carbon source and ammonium sulphates as nitrogen source. These isolates were characterized using morphological, physiological and biochemical tests and both the isolates were identified as Paenibacillus larvae.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 56419
Title: Adsorption potential of agricultural waste cocoa (Theobroma cacao) shell for the removal of methyl violet dye from aqueous solution
Author: C Theivarasu, S Mylsamy and N Sivakumar
Editor: Dr R K Trivedy
Year: 2012
Publisher: EM International, Vol 31 (1), 2012
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Pollution Research
Keywords: Activated carbon, adsorption, Cocoa shell, methyl violet, isother, kinetics
Abstract: The present study is aimed to investigate the adsorption behaviour of Methyl Violet (MV) dye onto Cocoa (Theobroma cacao) Shell Activated Carbon (CSAC). Activated carbon was prepared from cocoa shell, an agricultural waste and batch mode adsorption experiments were conducted to study its potential for removal of dye from aqueous solution. The influence of various factors such as initial concentration and contact time, pH and carbon dosage on the adsorption capacity has been studied. Adsorption parameters for Langmuir, Freundlich, Dubinin-Raduskevich (DR) and Tempkin isotherms were detemined. The adsorption data was well described with Langmuir isotherm model. The pseudo-first order, pseudo-second order and intra-particle diffusion models were used to analyze the kinetic data and the rate constants were evaluated. The kinetic adsorption data fitted the pseudo-second order kinetic model well and also followed the intra-particle diffusion model. The results indicated that CSAC could be employed as low cost adsorbent in waste water treatment for the removal of MV.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 56418
Title: Co-digestion of cattle dung and rice straw for biogas production
Author: Bala Kumari, Leela Wati, Amrita Narula and K K Kapoor
Editor: Dr R K Trivedy
Year: 2012
Publisher: EM International, Vol 31 (1), 2012
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Pollution Research
Keywords: Anaeroci digestion, biogas, cattle dung, rice straw
Abstract: Anaerobic digestion of cattle dung supplemented with rice straw in different ratios was carried out at 15-16% total solid concentration in batch and semi-continuous system under laboratory conditions. The maximum biogas production of 28.97 L/kg was observed on supplementation of cattle dung with rice straw at 5% level under batch conditions which was 26.36 L/kg with cattle dung only. Under semi-continuous mode of digestion volumetric productivity of 0.330 L/L/day was observed at 5% supplementation of paddy straw to cattle dung which was 0.283 L/L/day for cattle dung only. Methane content in digesters was about 60%. Supplementation of paddy straw to cattle dung also enriched the effluent slurry with nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 56417
Title: Decolorization of congo red, a carcinogenic textile dye using semiconductor mediated photocatalysis
Author: Navneet Bhullar and Dhiraj Sud
Editor: Dr R K Trivedy
Year: 2012
Publisher: EM International, Vol 31 (1), 2012
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Pollution Research
Keywords: Diazo dye, congo red, titanium dioxide, photodegradation, photocatalytic
Abstract: In the present study, photocatalytic degradation of congo red (CR), an anionic diazo dye has been investigated in a batch reactor using Titania P-25 (surface area: 50 m2/g) as a photocatalyst under UV light in slurry mode. The rate of decolorization was estimated from residual concentration spectrophotometrically. Similar experiments were carried out by varying pH (2-10) , amount of catalyst (0.25- 2.00 g/L) and concentration (5-100 ppm). The degradation rate of CR was favorable at pH 4. Optimum value of catalyst dose was found to be 1.5 g/L. The complete degradation of CR was achieved in 2.5 h under UV irradiation.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 56416
Title: Clean development mechanism - An overview for Indian scenario and a case study of road transportation sector, Delhi
Author: Pramod Kumar and N C Gupta
Editor: Dr R K Trivedy
Year: 2012
Publisher: EM International, Vol 31 (1), 2012
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Pollution Research
Keywords: CDM, Kyoto protocol, CDM market, Inventory, road trasport, Air pollutants, GHGs inventory
Abstract: India is expected to capture between 20 to 30 percent of the CDM market, bringing in up to US $ 300 million in revenue. Several favorable enabling factors have contributed to India ' s preminent position in the CDM market such as good technical base and pro-active national CDM authority. Projects in renewable energy, improvement industrial efficiency and industrial processes, fuel switching and municipal solid waste disposal can offer the greatest potential for CDM. Greenhouse gas emissions in developing countries are increasing more rapidly in the trans-Greenhouse gas emissions in developing countries are increasing more rapidly in the trans-Greenhouse gas emissions in developing countries are increasing more rapidly in the transportation sector. Even people with low income are meeting their need for mobility, and projected income growth over the next two decades suggests that many more will acquire personal modes of transport in future. How would this affect the earth ' s climate is a great concern. According to World Bank and Asian Development Bank joint study of air pollution for 20 major Asian cities between 2000 and 2003 Delhi is also one of the most polluted city of the Asia. Delhi faces the same transportation, economic, and environmental challenges like other metropolice of the world.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 56415
Title: Interview with Ciaran Cuffe, Irish Green party
Author: Cristina Barbero
Editor: Dr Volker Buddensiek
Year: 2011
Publisher: BVA Bielefelder Verlag GmbH & Co. KG, January, 2011
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Sun & Wind Energy - The magazine for Renewable Energies
Keywords: None
Abstract: None
Location: 232
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 56414
Title: Ireland: The Emerald isle is getting even greener
Author: Rouben Bathke
Editor: Dr Volker Buddensiek
Year: 2011
Publisher: BVA Bielefelder Verlag GmbH & Co. KG, January, 2011
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Sun & Wind Energy - The magazine for Renewable Energies
Keywords: Wind energy, biomass
Abstract: Ireland has expanded its promotional activities in the area of renewable energy. Particularly, the wind energy sector has been abole to profit from the favourable conditions but a new feed-in tariff also makes biomass attractive.
Location: 232
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 56413
Title: Reproductive ecology of Terminalia pallida Brandis (Combretaceae), an endemic and medicinal species of India
Author: A J Solomon Raju, P Vara Lakshmi and K Venkata Ramana
Editor: P Balaram
Year: 2012
Publisher: Current Science Association, Vol 102, No 6, 25 March 2012
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: Entomophily, obligate outcrossing, self invompatibility, Terminalia pallida
Abstract: Terminalia pallida is a semi-evergreen tree species. Leaf fall and flushing events occur during pre-monsoon season; leaf flushing extends into the monsoon season. Flowering occurs during late dry season and early monsoon season. The flowers are bisexual and obligately outcrossed and this is enforced by self incompatibility. Protogyny is a device to promote outcrossing, but is is weak. However, it is partly substantiated by gradual anther dehiscence over a period of six hours. Individual trees flower for a brief period of three weeks with massive floral display. The flowers offer both nectar and pollen for the foragers; the nectar provides five essential amino acids-threonine, arginine, histidine, lysine and methionine, and also some non-essential amino acids. The plant is entomophilous, and cross-pollination is effected mainly by large bees, wasps and butterflies. The natural fruit set is around 6% as against the 62% realized in manual xenogamous pollinations. Fruits fall to the ground when mature and dry, but wind is also instrumental in shedding fruits. The fallen fruits are dispersed by rain water and seeds germinate and establish seedlings depending on the soil status. The study suggests that T. pallida does not suffer from pollinator limitation to maximize fruit set but from the limitation of compatible pollen, flower and fruit predation by a beetle, fruit predation by a rodent and fruit fungal infestation. Nutrient-poor rocky habitat appears to be an important limiting factor for the recruitment and population expansion.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 56412
Title: Improving post-rainy season sorghum productivity in medium soils: does ideotype breeding hold a clue?
Author: P Sanjana Reddy, J V Patil, S V Nirmal and S R Gadakh
Editor: P Balaram
Year: 2012
Publisher: Current Science Association, Vol 102, No 6, 25 March 2012
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: Ideotype breeding, medium soil, specific adaptation, sorghum
Abstract: Improvement in post-rainy sorghum grain yield has been a challenge with M 35-1, a landrace selection released in 1937 dominating the post-rainy (rabi) tracts. It led to stagnation of post-rainy sorghum yields until the importance of specific adaptation was realized in lieu of highly variable soil and climatic conditions of post-rainy growing regions. As a result, Phule Maulee and of late Phule Chitra were released for region of Maharashtra with medium soil depth. These varieties were compared with M 35-1 in medium soil depth under receding soil moisture conditions for grain attributes and physiolgical traits in order to define a crop ideotype that is suitable for such regions, which will further facilitate rapid breeding process. On evaluation of these three varieties (Phule Maulee, Phule Chitra and M 35-1) along with 13 other varieties for three consecutive years, from 2006-07 to 2008-09 in medium soils, it was found that when compared to M 35-1, double the grain yield can be obtained by selecting for double the grain yield can be obtained by selecting for double the per day grain productivity, 50% higher biomass and per day fodder productivity, harvest index above 30, 5-10% more earhead emergence, 5% bolder seed, 5% hgiher relative water content. These traits can lead to the development of new varieties suitable for medium soil situations. Apart from high panicle dry matter (50% of total dry matter), these varieties should also have efficiency in conservsion of photosynthates to the grain.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 56411
Title: Fertilizers and manures
Author: Rajendra Prasad
Editor: P Balaram
Year: 2012
Publisher: Current Science Association, Vol 102, No 6, 25 March 2012
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: Crop response ratio, fertilizers, manures, nitrification inhibitors
Abstract: Fertilizers has been the key input in augmenting food production in India. However, fertilizer use in India is skewed, high in a few states having adequate irrigation and dismally low in the NE states. There is also imbalanced use of N, P and K. Deficiency of secondary nutrient sulphur and micronutrient zinc is widespread in the country and boron deficiency is reported from the eastern states.While attempts are being made to increase the fertilizer use in states where levels of application are low, the focus is on developing and promoting secondary and micronutrient fortified/customized fertilizers. A serious thought needs to be given for increasing the use efficiency of nitrogen, which is very low, specially in rice Therefore, more efficient nitrogen fertilizers using low-cost nitrification inhibitors and coating materials need to be developed and produced. Production and promotion of organic manures also needs due attention.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 56410
Title: Carrying capacity of Indian horticulture
Author: S P Ghosh
Editor: P Balaram
Year: 2012
Publisher: Current Science Association, Vol 102, No 6, 25 March 2012
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: Fruits, horticulture, spices, vegetables
Abstract: Growing population and rise in income level will lead to increase in demand of high-value agriculture (HVA) produce that includes fruits, vegetables, meat, eggs, milk, fish and value-added food products. The annual growth rate in domestic demands for fruits and vegetables is estimated at 3.34% and 3.03% respectively. The required growth rates to meet projected demands in the horticulture sub-sector for 2050 may be lower than the growth already achieved during1998-99 to 2006-07. Economic considerations could lead to diversifiction of cereal land to high value crops like horticultural crops, as in the southern parts of the country, where cultivation of spices generates more income than food crops for the farmers. This is not likely to happen in the northern states of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh that contribute to the food security as buffer stocks of wheat and rice in reserve. Expected climatic changes may increase the overall productivity of coconut in the coastal areas, except in the northern parts. Cultivation of temperate fruits like apples may move to further higher elevations.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 56409
Title: Carrying capacity of Indian agriculture: issues related to rainfed agriculture
Author: B Venkateshwarlu and J V N S Prasad
Editor: P Balaram
Year: 2012
Publisher: Current Science Association, Vol 102, No 6, 25 March 2012
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: Carrying capacity, land degradation, productivity, rainfed agriculture, sustainability
Abstract: Carrying capacity (CC) in the context of Indian agriculture, denotes the number of people and livestock an area can support on a sustainable basis. CC is dynamic in nature, vaying from time to time based on utilization of resources, technology application and management. In India, rainfed agriculture occupies nearly 58% of the cultivated area, contributes 40% of country ' s food production, and supports 40% of the human and 60% of the livestock population. The food grains production has increased several fold in the last four decades. During the last decade (TE 1998-99 to TE 2008-09) the production in coarse cereals, oilseeds and pulses increased by 20%, 16% and 3% respectively, primarily due to the yield gains. There is a need to further increase food production substantially for meeting the requirements of the ever-increasing population. This will put tremendous strain on natural resources which are already under stress due to unsustainable utilization. Continuous decline in groundwater levels, growing deficiency of major and micronutrients, growing deficiency of major and micronutrients, declining factor productivity and looming threat of climate change are some of the issues which will have a bearing on food production in the near future. However, the large realizable yield gaps in many rainfed crops, opportunities to increase yields through rainwater harvesting and recycling, soil fertility improvement, crop diversification and effective dissemination of technologies give a hope that future requirements of food can be met, but it requires substantial resources. This article discusses issues constraining rainfed crop production and possible ways to enhance productivity in a sustainable manner.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 56408
Title: Carrying capacity of Indian agriculture: pulse crops
Author: Masood Ali and Sanjeev Gupta
Editor: P Balaram
Year: 2012
Publisher: Current Science Association, Vol 102, No 6, 25 March 2012
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: Climate change, growth projections, pulses, technology drivers
Abstract: India is the largest producer, consumer, importer and processor of pulses in the world. Ironically, the country ' s pulse production has been hovering around 14-15 Mt, coming from a near-stagnated area of 22-23 Mha, since 1990-91. For meeting the demand of the growing population, the country is importing pulses to the tune of 2.5-3.5 Mt every year. Strong upward trend in the import of pulses is a cause of concern, since an increase in demand from India has shown to have cascading effect on international prices, thus draining the precious foreign exchange. By 2050, the domestic requirements would be 26.50 Mt, necessitating stepping up production by 81.50%, i.e. 11.9 Mt additional produce at 1.86% annual growth rate. This uphill task has to be accomplished under more severe production constraints, especially abiotic stresses, abrupt climatic changes, emergence of new species/ strains of insect-pests and diseases, and increasing deficiency of secondary and micronutrients in the soil. This requires a two-pronged proactive strategy, i.e.improving per unit productivity and reducing cost of production. This article describes the present availability of pulses, demand projections in different time frames, future challenges, and technology drivers for increasing pulse production in the country. A scheme has also been suggested for achieving self-sufficiency in pulses by 2050.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None
ID: 56407
Title: Carrying capacity of Indian agriculture: oilseeds
Author: D M Hegde
Editor: P Balaram
Year: 2012
Publisher: Current Science Association, Vol 102, No 6, 25 March 2012
Source: Centre for Ecological Sciences
Reference: None
Subject: Current Science
Keywords: Agriculture, carrying capacity, fats and oils, oilseeds
Abstract: The carrying capacity of Indian agriculture to support oilseeds production to meet the vegetable oil needs of the Indian population has been considered in the context of available sources of oil from oilseed and non-oilseed origins. India needs to produce 17.84 Mt of vegetable oils to meet the nutritional fat needs of projected population of 1685 million by 2050. This can be easily achieved from various sources like annual oil seeds and also from supplementary sources of oil like rice bran, cottonseed, coconut, oil palm, corn, etc. However, the actual vegetable oil consumption has already exceeded the nutritional needs by a large margin and is likely to further go up sharply in the years to come in response to income growth. This requirement will be difficult to meet by the Indian agriculture given the current status of resources, technology and management.
Location: 241
Literature cited 1: None
Literature cited 2: None