Carbon Sequestration Potential of Pasture-Based Systems Along an Altitudinal Gradient in the North-Western Himalayas

The present investigation was carried out in the Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh (India) to identify the pasture-based land use systems being practiced by farmers and to find out their carbon sequestration potential along different altitudes. For carrying out the study, the area was divided into four altitudinal ranges viz., zone-I (\u3c1000 m amsl), zone-II (1000-1500 m amsl), zone-III (1500- 2500 m amsl) and zone-IV (\u3e 2500 m amsl), according to agro-ecological zones in the state. Results revealed that the pasture-based systems practiced by the farmers in the altitudinal zone-I and zone-II were silvo-pasture and pastoral-silviculture, while, at altitudinal zone-III and zone-IV, the pasture-based systems being practiced were pastoral-silviculture and horti-pastoral depending upon the composition of the components. The aboveground biomass was found ranging between 27.78- 38.18 Mg ha-1 among different pasture-based land use systems with maximum aboveground biomass under silvo-pasture system and minimum under pastoral-silviculture. Along altitudinal gradient, aboveground biomass was found to have been increased with values varying between 29.09- 34.12 Mg ha-1 . Belowground biomass ranged between 6.93- 9.80 Mg ha-1 in different systems under consideration and generally showed increasing trend with increasing altitude. Overall biological productivity was found to be highest under silvo-pasture system followed by horti-pastoral and pastoral-silviculture system. Being biologically most productive, silvopasture system stored maximum carbon stock and ultimately sequestered more carbon as compared to the other systems. The estimated vegetation carbon sequestration potential of the pasture-based systems was 63.71- 88.06 Mg ha-1 , while, along altitude the carbon sequestration potential varied from 67.14- 78.62 Mg ha-1 showing increasing trend with altitude

Toxicity and neurophysiological impacts of three plant-derived essential oils against the vineyard mealybug Planococcus ficus

Many natural products are able to control pests and can be used as alternatives for chemical treatments. Plant essential oils (EOs) have been found to exhibit some biological activity against many insects including mealybugs. This study aimed at studying the insecticidal activity and behavioral and neurophysiological impacts of three plant essential oils against the vine mealybug Planococcus ficus. The topical and fumigant toxicity of Cymbopogon citratus, Mentha piperita, and Pelargonium graveolens essential oils was evaluated against P. ficus adults. The chemical composition analysis of EOs by gas chromatographic-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) revealed citronellal (31.69 %), menthol (73.78 %), and geraniol (39.6%), as major components, respectively. Bioassays of EOs against vine mealybug adults through fumigation toxicity method revealed lethal concentrations LC50 values of 17.01, 26.27 and 24.52 µL·L-1 air for C. citratus, M. piperita, and P. graveolens, respectively. In both topical and fumigant bioassays, essential oil from C. citratus was the most active altering the behavioral response of treated mealybugs which becomes hyperactive and disoriented. EOs induced general stress in P. ficus adults, as evidenced by oxidative stress biomarker analyses. Biochemical analyses showed that the EOs exposure reduced the activity of acetylcholinesterase and significantly induced the glutathione S-transferases and Malondialdehydes accumulation in the vine mealybug tissues. Mortality caused by lemongrass EO positively correlated with the significant decrease in the AChE activity indicating lethal neurological effects. These toxicity bioassays and neurological impact findings provide new informations for formulating effective essential oil based-insecticides to control P. ficus in the framework of integrated pest management programs

PERBAIKAN TEKNIS BUDIDAYA KELAPA RAKYAT DI KABUPATEN WAJO

Coconut Plant is one of the annual plantations which is generally managed in the form of People's Plantation. Coconut plays an important role in the economic, cultural and social life of rural communities as a Heaven plant and a hundred uses plant. Coconut as a source of income for farming families in rural areas, can produce wealth and improve the quality of life in rural communities. Coconut plantations are generally managed on a small scale and are an important contributor to food security. At the industry level, coconut products have high added value and are an important source of employment and income for rural communities. Coconut oil is consumed by the wider community as food and as a raw material for the chemical industry, making soap, margarine and other products of high economic value. The level of management of smallholder coconuts is still very low and unsustainable so productivity is very low. To improve the productivity of smallholder coconuts, it is necessary to improve plant management systems so that they can be sustainable and can provide better added value.Keywords: Coconut, smallholder plantations, cultivation techniques. ABSTRAKTanaman Kelapa merupakan salah satu tanaman perkebunan yang bersifat tahunan yang pada umumnya dikelola dalam bentuk Perkebunan Rakyat. Kelapa memainkan peran penting dalam kehidupan ekonomi, budaya dan sosial masyarakat pedesaan sebagai tanaman surga dan tanaman seratus kegunaan. Kelapa sebagai sumber pendapatan bagi keluarga tani di pedesaan, dapat menghasilkan kekayaan dan meningkatkan kualitas hidup masyarakat di pedesaan. Perkebunan kelapa umumnya dikelola dalam skala kecil merupakan kontributor penting bagi ketahanan pangan. Di tingkat industri, produk kelapa bernilai tambah tinggi dan merupakan sumber lapangan pekerjaan dan pendapatan penting masyarakat pedesaan. Minyak kelapa dikomsumsi masyarakat luas sebagai makanan dan sebagai bahan baku industri oleokimia, pembuatan sabun, margarine dan produk  lainnya bernilai ekonomi tinggi. Tingkat pengelolaan tanaman kelapa rakyat sampai saat ini masih sangat rendah dan tidak berkelanjutan sehingga produktivitas yang dicapai sangat rendah. Untuk memperbaiki produktivitas tanaman kelapa rakyat diperlukan perbaikan sistem pengelolaan tanaman agar dapat berkelanjutan dan dapat memberikan nilai tambah yang lebih baik.Kata kunci: Kelapa, perkebunan rakyat, teknis budidaya

Optical and photoelectronic properties of a new material:Optoelectronic application

With the aim of studying the optical, electrochemical, and electronic properties of a new porphyrin-based material, we have synthesized a new porphyrinic complex, namely the (4,4$^{\prime}$-bipyridine)(meso-tetratrifluoromethylphenylporphyrinato)zinc(II) 4,4$^{\prime}$-bipyridine disolvate dihydrate complex with the formula [Zn(TFMPP)(4,4$^{\prime}$-bipy)]${\cdot }$2(4,4$^{\prime}$-bipy)${\cdot }$2H2O (I). This species is characterized by single-crystal X-ray molecular structure. The optical study is performed by UV–visible absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. The fluorescence intensity presents an emission in the UV–visible range, indicating that this compound can be used as an optoelectronic material. The optical energy gap is 1.95 eV, and the current–voltage characteristics and impedance spectroscopy measurements have been studied to define the electronic properties of the zinc (II) porphyrin complex. The barrier height ${\phi }_{\mathrm{b}}$ is calculated, and the space-charge limited current mechanism is found to control the conductance. The results from the electronic study confirm that our porphyrin derivative can be used for various optoelectronic applications

Seasonal variation of the diet of the Fennec fox, Vulpes zerda (Canidae, Carnivora), in Algeria

Les variations saisonnières du régime alimentaire du Fennec, Vulpes zerda, ont été étudiées à partir de crottes collectées à Ben Ahmed, région de Ghardaïa (Sahara septentrional algérien). De l’automne 2010 au printemps 2011, 130 crottes ont livré 726 proies animales appartenant à 17 ordres, 30 familles et 75 espèces. Les proies principales ont été les Insectes (554 individus), suivis par les Mammifères (142 individus) et les Arachnides (14 individus). Cependant, en biomasse les Mammifères ont été les proies dominantes (86,5 %) devant les Insectes (10,7 %) et les oiseaux (1,2 %). Un spectre semblable a été trouvé au cours des trois saisons étudiées, toutefois les fréquences des principaux groupes ont varié significativement. L’automne a été la saison de plus forte prédation sur les Mammifères, en hiver les Isoptères ont été les proies les plus nombreuses, au printemps ce furent les Orthoptères et les Arachnides. La prédation des Coléoptères, Squamates et Oiseaux a été stable au fil des saisons. Ces résultats confirment que le Fennec est un prédateur opportuniste.The seasonal diet of the Fennec fox, Vulpes zerda, has been investigated in Ben Ahmed, Ghardaïa region (northern Sahara, Algeria) using scat content analysis. In 130 scats collected from autumn 2010 to spring 2011 we identified 726 animal prey items belonging to 17 orders, 30 families and 75 species. The main preys were insects (554 individuals), followed by mammals (142 individuals) and arachnids (14 individuals). However, biomass was dominated by mammals, (86.5 %), followed by insects (10.7 %) and birds (1.2 %). Similar patterns were observed among the seasons, but the frequencies of the main contributing taxa were significantly different. Autumn was the season when mammals were the most consumed; in winter Isoptera were the most numerous preys; in spring Orthoptera and Arachnida were abundantly fed upon, whereas predation of Coleoptera, squamates and birds were similar along the seasons. These results confirm that the fennec fox is an opportunistic predator