Investigation of electrochemical behavior of plasma nitrided Ti-6Al-7Nb alloy in Hanks’ Solution

Titanium alloy Ti-6Al-7Nb was plasma nitrided using inductively coupled RF Plasma with 100% Nitrogen at 750, 800 and 850°C for 4 h. Micro Raman studies show the formation of titanium nitrides. Potentiodynamic polarization studies in Hanks’ solution show the corrosion resistance of the untreated samples to be better than the treated samples. Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) studies show higher charge transfer resistance and lower double layer capacitance for the substrate compared to the nitrided samples. FESEM images of samples immersed in SBF show that growth of apatite is more and the size of deposits are larger on nitrided samples as compared to that on the untreated substrate. Nitrided samples immersed in Hanks’ solution for 7 days show higher amount of calcium, phosphorous and oxygen than the substrate

Helicoverpa—The Global Problem

The legume pod borer or cotton bollworm [Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner)] is one of the most important constraint to crop production globally. It is polyphagous and attacks more than 182 plant species, including cotton (Plate 1.1a), chickpea (plate 1.1b), pigeonpea (Plate 1.1c), peas, cowpea, sunfower, sorghum, groundnut, field beans, tomato (plate 1.1d) tobacco,maize and a range of vegetables, fruit crops and tree species. Helicoverpa armigera is widely distributed in Asia, Africa, Australia and the Mediterranean Europe

Objectives of the expert meeting on alternative uses of sorghum and pearl millet in Asia

On behalf of the Organizing Committee, I would like to welcome all the participants to this Expert Meeting on Alternative Uses of Sorghum and Pearl Millet in Asia. A special welcome and thanks to Mr Andrey Kuleshov from the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC), and delegates from China, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Thailand and USA; and of course my colleagues from ICRISAT, including Dr AB Obilana who has traveled from Nairobi. Special thanks to Mr Myles Mielke, Secretary of FAO’s Intergovernmental Group on Grains for his support to holding the meeting

Global research on pulses

Several pulse crops are grown around the world and approximately 62 million tons are produced on over 82 million hectares. Their relative importance differs from country to country and region to region. It is impossible to discuss research being carried out internationally on all these crops and therefore for the purpose of this article we have selected three pulse crops; namely, pigeonpea, chickpea, and lentil. The main reason for selecting these crops is their importance in the diet of the people as well as their widespread cultivation in the Indian subcontinent

Role of legumes in poverty reduction in Asia: A synthesis

More than two-thirds of the world’s poor are in Asia, and poverty is disproportionately concentrated in the rural areas of : the region. Higher productivity in agriculture is important for improving incomes of the poor. Particularly important are policies and investments to improve infrastructure and support services. Concerted research and development efforts supported by government policies have brought a paradigm shift in favor of rice and/or ricewheat based cropping systems (RWBCS) in the last three decades in majority of the Asian countries. As a result of this shift, legumes were relegated to marginal environments or eliminated from the cereal-based cropping systems. There are increasing concerns about land degradation and declining productivity of the high input rice-wheat cropping systems. It has become necessary to rehabilitate legumes for the sustainability of the RWBCS. The projections of future poverty incidence have also highlighted the need and importance of intensification in RWBCS in Asia. Besides their role in maintaining soil fertility, legumes are important in attaining food security, alleviating poverty, raising the income and improving livelihoods of resource-poor rural farmers. Legumes easily grow with minimum tillage andprovide high quality protein in food and feed. Crop diversification with legumes as component of intercrop, crop rotation or relay crop is identified as one of the strategies to maximize the agricultural productivity and farm incomes. Strengthening the research and extension system will enhance legume productivity and facilitate on-farm diversification. Improved rural infrastructure will reduce transport costs, and increase accessibility of markets and public services. Therefore, sustained R££D activities, concerted efforts of government and private sectors, and sound economic policies to encourage crop diversification with legumes need to be addressed to boost the legumes industry in Asi

Strategies to enhance collaborative research for increased production and productivity of CLAN Mandate Crops

The Country Coordinators Meeting are now organized every year to encourage and facilitate increased interaction among CLAN Country Coordinators and to monitor the progress of collaborative research activities within and across the member countries. The meeting is also useful in charting future course of action with appropriate changes if any Summary of paper presented at the CLAN Country Coordinators Steering Committee Meeting, 24-28 November 1997, Batu Malang, Indonesia have been compiled for ready reference to the interested researchers and research administrators. The summary of discussions and minutes of the CLAN Steering Committee are also inculde

Role of working groups in network collaborative research

An agricultural research network is a group of individuals or institutions linked together by a commitment to collaborate in solving or addressing a common agricultural problem, or set of problems, and to use existing resources more effectively. Collaborative research networks involve joint planning and conduct of research to address common research interests. A Working Group, also called a subnetwork, consists of a group of scientists who share a common interest, and are committed to collectively address a high priority regional problem, and to share their research results with others. Working Groups coordinate and stimulate cooperative research by pooling expertise from both developing and developed countries, international research centers, and specialized research laboratories and institutions, to work together on a common platform as equal partners to find quick answers. Working Groups use existing staff and facilities, and avoid duplication of effort. The advantages of Working Groups (WG) in terms of their ability to carry out collaborative research within a network is discussed with special reference to Botrytis Gray Mold (BGM) of Chickpea Working Group